The door to Lin Ming's room swung open as he slowly stepped out, his body reeking.
Why the stench?
Because he had just broken through two minor cultivation realms in a row. That kind of transformation expelled a large amount of bodily impurities.
The other team members looked at him with evaluative eyes.
"My dear commander, you really need to take a shower. The bubble tea I drank five minutes ago is dangerously close to resurfacing," Quynh Nhu joked, pinching her nose.
Pham Tuan chimed in, "Yep, totally agree."
Lin Ming gave a helpless smile. "Heading straight to the shower, milady." Then his eyes shifted to the datapad on the table. "Minerva, what's the status of White Rabbit? Is it ready for departure to Yunnan?"
Minerva's voice, sharp and precise, came from the main communications console of the base. "The ship has been fully prepped and loaded with long-range supplies. The route to the Yunnan Dead Zone has been charted. We can depart in thirty minutes."
"Well done," Lin Ming said. "Nhu, Tuan, get ready. Here's the plan. First: we land the ship about sixty kilometers away from their base. Then we proceed silently toward the enemy HQ. We'll observe their patrol routes and track all enemy movements without being seen."
He paused for a beat. "Plan number two—I'm hitting the shower first."
The team immediately sprang into action, busily preparing for the Yunnan Dead Zone operation.
Quynh Nhu, fiddling with the assembly of her rifle, muttered, "I wish all the enemies in Yunnan were just at Qi Refining stage. Then it'd be one shot, one down. So chill."
Pham Tuan grunted, "Life ain't that easy. If they were all at Qi Refining level, even I could save the world."
Quynh Nhu smirked. "True. I should be grateful I'm on Commander Lin Ming's team. How the hell does he even have that kind of cultivation? It's only been a few decades since humanity even began to cultivate."
Minerva chimed in. "He's an anomaly. Even the ASEAN High Council considers him a strategic asset. Someday, he might leave all of us in the dust."
Quynh Nhu and Pham Tuan fell silent, reflecting on that.
Minerva added, "But don't be disheartened. It only means he could one day become Earth's hero."
Even so, her words weren't quite enough to lift the weight from their hearts. After all, one person's strength may not be enough to save all of humanity.
Still, each of them knew they had to grow stronger—otherwise, history would simply forget them.
Yet, working under Lin Ming's command brought them a deep sense of reassurance. He had that effect—always calm, always in control, always making people feel like everything would be okay.
Twenty Minutes Later
Lin Ming stood facing his team.
Quynh Nhu – the sharpshooter, never missing a single shot.Pham Tuan – Chimera Squad's one and only tank.
Why the only one?
Because Chimera didn't have another tank.
And finally, the datapad glowing with Minerva's smiling icon.
"Alright everyone, listen up," Lin Ming said. "I don't know if this mission will be safe, or if it'll be a death trap. Just like the fate of humanity—we don't know if it's survival or extinction."
His gaze turned sharp, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He paused for five seconds, then continued. "But our higher-ups trusted me. And you—each of you—have placed your trust in me too. As your commander, I swear this: I may die on the battlefield. But even in death, I'll make damn sure there's a path for you to live."
"Now—MOVE OUT! Let's tear those Madakaros bastards apart in Yunnan and save our people!"
"MOVE OUT!" Quynh Nhu and Pham Tuan echoed in unison.
Minerva: "Let's go, comrades."
They boarded White Rabbit—the familiar, ugly, toaster-shaped ship that had somehow become their second home. As they strapped in, Lin Ming spoke once more.
"Our target: Inquisitor Vex. Peak Golden Core. Soul arts specialist. He's planning a mass sacrifice of thousands of survivors to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. This isn't just an assault. It's an exorcism."
His eyes hardened like steel. "We're not just rescuing them. We're sending a message to every Madakaros: Human lives are not stepping stones for your power."
He pressed the launch button on the console.
Minerva's voice rang out in the cockpit. "All systems green. Initiating spacefold. Next stop: the rooftop of hell."
3…2…1… ISEKAI—wait, I mean LAUNCH!
The ship shuddered violently, then blinked out of existence in a flash of light.
Inside the Ship
Slurp… slurp…
A loud slurping noise roused Lin Ming from his rest. Pham Tuan, curled up with space-sickness, groaned awake too.
"What's that sound?" Lin Ming asked, turning his head.
His eyes twitched.
Quynh Nhu was holding a bowl of spicy instant noodles, casually munching away. "What? I can't eat noodles on the ship?"
Lin Ming chuckled dryly. "Haha, sure you can. But with us traveling at warp speed, I wouldn't bet on that bowl staying in one place once we stop."
Pham Tuan groaned, "The ship already smells bad. Add your noodles to the mix and we'll all be puking."
Minerva: "We'll be arriving in thirty seconds. Buckle up, everyone—I don't want any of you flying out the window."
They all scrambled to fasten their seatbelts. Quynh Nhu hurried to slurp the last of her noodles, grumbling, "Next time, give me a three-minute warning, would ya?"