Interstellar Survival: Invasion

Chapter 186: Battlefield of Thoughts

Everyone focused on me after hearing Baron Sisse's question.

"It's nothing. I was just asking," I explained with a laugh.

"Something is wrong with you. Why are you wasting time during a critical moment like this?" said Zhang Bao'er as he assumed a reproachful expression.

The simple Zhang Bao'er had also always been rather simple-minded. But I did not have too much time to explain it to him. Since we had saved Wind Spirit while the water production droid was still nowhere to be found, we had to do something to locate the droid.

"Senior, I believe if we follow this path to the peak and reach the topmost part of the waterfall, we might be able to find the droid's hiding place," I said to Li Yizhi.

"That fellow might really be hiding there. Otherwise, it wouldn't have needed to create so many illusions to hide. But we need to pay attention to not be misled by its illusions. We will have to rely on the Storm race's unique ability," said Li Yizhi.

"Canyue, is Bulu still sleeping? If it's awake, it might be able to help us," suggested Old Du.

I took off my backpack and checked inside. Bulu was still sleeping peacefully. The little fellow seemed to have been greatly exhausted from the encounter with the four-dimensional toad and would need a long time to recover. We probably wouldn't be able to rely on Bulu for now.

The prolonged high-intensity situation had greatly exhausted all of us. Zhang Bao'er took some rations out of his backpack as we prepared to take a short meal before resuming our mission.

I accepted a pack of space crackers from Zhang Bao'er and started eating. Dondon and Wind Spirit were hungrily gorging down food as well, looking like they had gone several lifetimes without food. At that time, I noticed Li Yizhi standing in the same spot and maintaining full alertness. She even refused the food Baron Sisse offered her. Shortly after, everyone was done eating. We then followed Li Yizhi and traveled up the path quickly.

"After we're free, I'll build an illusion of delicacies for myself. Baron, can you hand me the relevant technologies to create such illusions?" Zhang Bao'er voiced his desire to Baron Sisse.

"Why do you need to bother the baron with something small like that? Lord Bao'er, I can help you with that," said Wind Spirit.

"For real? Can I trust you, Princess?" replied Zhang Bao'er. The pure Zhang Bao'er probably thought that with Wind Spirit's identity, she could really fulfill that wish of his.

"Of course. Delicacies are basically food, right? You don't need an illusion for that. I'll just build a pigsty for you to stay in," sneered Wind Spirit.

"Little fellow, don't push it." Zhang Bao'er was furious.

"Shut it, both of you. There is movement ahead of us," Li Yizhi suddenly said.

Baron Sisse and I stepped forth and looked at where Li Yizhi was pointing. At a spot on the path near the peak, we saw constantly changing scenery through some sort of transparent object. The changes were frequent, and the transparent object looked like a blurry lens that functioned to project the scenes on the other side to the observer.

"There must be some invisible creatures up there," said Baron Sisse.

"Yes. In fact, there seem to be a lot of them," I added.

"These monsters must have seen us. Since they're waiting for us, they must be confident that they can deal with us. There is definitely a big trap waiting at the end of this path," said Li Yizhi.

"What should we do, then? Do we shoot now?" asked Zhang Bao'er.

"I don't think it's that simple. If firing at them works, they won't be so confident. They had already experienced the prowess of our bullets and arrows earlier. They must have made some preparations to deal with us. We need to think of something," said Li Yizhi.

"If we really have no choice, just blast open a path with a nuclear warhead. We'll bomb them to death. They are just some fake creatures created by the program anyway. We won't even be killing by wiping them out," suggested Zhang Bao'er, who was visibly becoming excited.

"No. Our target is to capture the water production droid. A nuclear explosion might be so powerful that all equipment in this room is damaged, which would cause our mission to fail," objected Master Crystal.

"I've never considered a word of what the fatty said. I need to think of a new plan," said Li Yizhi, showing no concern for Zhang Bao'er's feelings.

"I have an idea. If this whole place is an illusion, what they can kill is probably the brain of sentient life forms, not their bodies," said Master Crystal.

"Master, what do you mean? Tell us more," said Baron Sisse.

"The brain waves of us Storms seem capable of resisting the illusions here. I want to try walking up to them and see if I can break this roadblock," said Master Crystal.

"That won't work, right? It's too dangerous. If they are only capable of mind attacks, why were they able to capture Wind Spirit and carry her into the air before dumping her onto the path?" said Zhang Bao'er.

"That makes sense, Bao'er. I did consider that, but since the creature that had kidnapped Wind Spirit had not harmed her, it is proof that the program here can only use illusions to cause the intruders to kill each other. The program itself is incapable of doing any sort of direct damage," said Master Crystal.

"But Master, an illusion won't be able to lift someone into the sky," I said doubtfully.

"Wind Spirit's capture isn't an illusion. Instead, it is some tool under the control of the program. The tool is not capable of harming someone," said Master Crystal confidently.

"I understand. If we can see through the true nature of this water program and ignore its illusions, we will have nothing to fear even if we are captured by it. All so-called damage coming from this program will be illusions. So long as our brains reject the deception, we will be fine," concluded Baron Sisse.

Master Crystal nodded in confirmation.

"Only Storms have the brain waves capable of resisting the illusions here. Thus, I intend to go up there alone and deal with this program," said Master Crystal.

"Master, I'll go with you," suggested Li Yizhi.

"No. None of you are suitable for this job. If you can't control yourself well, your brain might even burst apart from the pressure. Only a Storm can take this mission," said Master Crystal.

"Master, I'll go with you," said Dondon as he stepped forth.

Master Crystal blanked out when he saw Dondon volunteering in his ragged suit. Shortly after, Master Crystal shook his head and said, "You need to stay and protect Wind Spirit. She is Master Wind's daughter. She must remain safe."

"Who needs protection? Maybe I'll be the one doing the protecting instead? I'm going as well!" Master Crystal's words seemed to have triggered Wind Spirit's rebellious nature.

"Fine. The three of you can go together. Go now and stop wasting time," ordered Li Yizhi in a straightforward manner.

The rest of us looked at each other speechlessly. This Li Yizhi was really treating herself as our commander, ordering us around as she wished. At that moment, Great Princess Wind Spirit threw one of her tempers again. She stood up, ignored everyone, and set off toward the peak in big strides.

Master Crystal and Dondon hurriedly followed her with their guns raised. We could only stay behind and watch as the three program-destroying warrior cats advanced, awaiting their success.

And thus, three small yet imposing figures strode toward danger hand in hand. Soon, they arrived at the peak. The thick fog that we saw when we first arrived reappeared, covering the three cats completely, causing them to vanish from our vision.

"Canyue, what now? I keep feeling like the three fellows are just there to throw their lives away," said Zhang Bao'er anxiously.

Zhang Bao'er might argue with the three cats a lot, but when it mattered, he showed that he was actually concerned about them.

"Calm down. Didn't Master Crystal say earlier that this is just an illusion? We need to stay calm," I said.

"Dondon, Master Crystal, can you hear me? We have lost sight of you. We can still see your positions with our probes, but we won't be able to see what is actually going on there," said Old Du.

"Yes, we hear you. The fog here is very thick. The droid must be nearby. Be on standby for capture. The three of us can't see each other clearly. We have to hold hands to not get separated," said Master Crystal.

The situation was rather awkward for strong, healthy adults like us as we were helpless and could only let the three little cats carry out such an important mission. Old Du took out a strong steel net in preparation. Zhang Bao'er and I understood his plan and took out our nets as well.

"Y-y-you! Who are you?" Wind Spirit's alarmed voice suddenly came from the communicator.

"Wind Spirit, don't move. You're either looking at me or Dondon. Anything else is an illusion. Do not fall for it!" reminded Master Crystal.

"Why did Dondon turn into a ferocious black wolf? It's coming to bite me!" shouted Wind Spirit as she trembled.

"Don't move. If we die, we'll die together. Wind Spirit, I'm still here. In my eyes, you're a fire-breathing dragon. Do not fall for the illusion," said Dondon.

It seemed like the water program was doing its best to ravage the three pitiful Storm warriors.

"Wind Spirit, Dondon, hang in there. From our perspective, you have merely been covered by fog. There are no wolves or dragons anywhere," said Old Du loudly through the communicator.

"Calm. Stay calm. Continue ahead. In my eyes, both of you are burning skeletons. Remember, this is an illusion. Continue walking ahead," said Master Crystal calmly.

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