C5 The Legacy of Civilization

Gu Xian trailed behind Ludwig, making their way to the rest area.

Ludwig treated him with much warmth; after all, talent commands respect anywhere.

"The project isn't rushed, but it's pretty dangerous since it involves high-altitude work. We initially planned to use explosives, but the investors vetoed it. Blasting a pure steel structure is not only extremely challenging but also highly risky. It would require a comprehensive plan and a significant financial investment, so Vian decided against it.

"Be careful when you're cutting. The investors specified that each piece of steel should be no larger than one square meter. Don't ask me why; it's the first time I've seen such an odd request. But then again, the world's full of oddities.

"The engineering mecha and all the tools we're using are rented, so handle them with care. Damaging them means paying for them.

"You don't have to start work today. Take the time to get acquainted with the Pioneer-12 or familiarize yourself with the surroundings.

"As for accommodations, we've got plenty of space here. Everyone's a notable figure, and no one likes to be crammed together, so we all sleep in double rooms. You'll be in my group—I've got a spare bed. How's that sound? You don't mind, do you?"

Gu Xian shook his head, feeling an unexpected sense of kinship.

He was reminded of his childhood in the training camp, where he and Old Charlie shared a room.

They were in a building of classic design, with a long corridor flanked on one side by open space and on the other by a row of neatly aligned doors.

Ludwig led Gu Xian to the very last door and knocked. It wasn't long before it swung open.

A wiry old man with short, bristly white hair greeted them. He appeared to be in his sixties, his face friendly and his expression turning to one of curiosity upon seeing Gu Xian. He shared a knowing smile with Ludwig and pursed his lips.

At his feet, an orange tabby cat wound itself around his legs, meowing softly.

"This is Chen, and here's the new guy, Gu Xian. Quite the talent for a student—I'm impressed. You don't mind him staying here, do you, Chen?" Ludwig had assumed Gu Xian was a student based on his age.

Chen quickly gestured with a welcoming smile, choosing to remain silent.

Ludwig led Gu Xian inside.

The room was modest, with two desks and two unoccupied beds, all meticulously clean.

One desk was adorned with delicate clay sculptures, including an unfinished piece that was in the process of being painted.

"Old Chen has been passionate about these his whole life," Ludwig explained with a grin. "He's got a real knack for sculpting clay dolls."

Chen blushed, waving his hands and stepping in front of the table to block their view.

Gu Xian caught a glimpse of the sculptures. They were beautifully crafted, almost lifelike.

"You didn't bring any clothes or bedding, did you? Follow me, I'll get you some essentials—the site provides them," Ludwig called to Gu Xian.

Once they were a good distance away, Ludwig leaned in and whispered, "Did you notice anything off about Old Chen?"

"He's not much of a talker?" Gu Xian ventured, having paid close attention to the details.

"It's not that he doesn't like to talk; his tongue was forcibly removed," Ludwig said, mimicking the gruesome act. "During his military service, he was captured by pirates. They tried to make him talk, but he wouldn't budge, so they ripped out his tongue. He nearly died; now he just can't speak."

Gu Xian's expression remained unchanged.

Ludwig observed him discreetly, curious at the lack of reaction. "Doesn't this kind of thing bother you?"

Gu Xian simply shook his head.

Relieved, Ludwig chuckled. "You know, you two might just get along—both of you are men of few words. Living together should be conflict-free."

With his mind on the paycheck at the project's completion, Gu Xian inquired, "When is the work here expected to finish?"

"Roughly six months," Ludwig pondered. "We could wrap up sooner, but the financiers prefer this pace. They say it's just right, no need to rush. I can't figure out why. But with bureaucrats, who can tell what they're thinking? We just focus on the work and leave those concerns aside."

Gu Xian followed Ludwig back to the house, arms laden with a heap of daily necessities. Chen had already tidied up his area, though there wasn't much to organize. A plump orange tabby cat eyed the newcomer with curiosity. Ludwig offered a quick greeting before busying himself with other tasks.

Settling in, Gu Xian arranged his bedding and propped himself against it, pondering ways to boost his work efficiency. He was eager to wrap up the engineering mecha project, get paid, and fulfill Old Charlie's wish sooner rather than later.

Out of the blue, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he was met with Chen's grin, his face's wrinkles smoothing out in mirth. One hand crunched through his wiry hair while the other presented a clay sculpture of an orange tabby. It was a charming fist-sized replica of the cat lounging on the floor.

Caught off guard, Gu Xian froze, staring at the gift. Chen's awkward, almost ingratiating smile faltered under Gu Xian's startled reaction, the lines on his face deepening once more as if trying to retract the smile. His hand shook slightly, about to withdraw the sculpture, but Gu Xian caught it.

"Thank you, Uncle Chen. I really like it," Gu Xian said, his smile genuine.

Chen's face beamed with a rosy glow as he chuckled and returned to his table to craft another sculpture.

Gu Xian examined the clay cat, running his fingers over its paws, only to feel a sharp prick. Frowning, he inspected closer and found the paws were fashioned from a murky white crystal, dangerously pointed. A tiny cut formed on his finger, and inexplicably, he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

Dizziness?

His eyes darted to Chen's back, a shiver running down his spine. Was Chen out to hurt him, or was something else amiss? His mind grew foggy, unable to conjure further thoughts, and he slipped into an odd trance.

It was as if his soul had detached, floating above. Slowly, the bed below, his own body, the orange cat on the floor, and Chen at the desk all vanished, swallowed by an enveloping mist.

What was happening?

Gu Xian was taken by surprise, his vision momentarily blurred, revealing an all-too-familiar sight.

Where was he?

Surveying the surroundings, the place felt both known and strange. Deep down, he knew the answer, yet his entire being resisted it. He instinctively rejected the thought, making excuses like the similarity of places, convincing himself that recognition was normal.

But then, he saw the withered tree, and it was as if lightning had struck him.

The dead crabapple tree!

It was indeed the training camp!

Impossible!

He had escaped the training camp, which had been destroyed a year ago. How could he possibly be here again?

Gu Xian was certain he had fled the training camp.

It was his nightmare, as it was for everyone else.

The memory of the fight against the instructors and guards still sent chills to his hands and feet.

Blood was spilled, mechas exploded, and fallen comrades lay everywhere.

"Run! Run!"

Old Charlie's shouts echoed in his ears.

The training camp had fallen to the Anti-materiel Bombs, and Gu Xian was sure no one could have survived that blast.

So what was this scene before him?

He would never forget this crabapple tree.

The instructor had said the blossoms were as red as blood, a sight Gu Xian had sadly never witnessed.

As a child, he would sit beneath its branches during breaks, squinting into the harsh sunlight, imagining the tree in full bloom.

Every twig and branch matched his memory perfectly.

Could this be a dream?

Gu Xian vividly recalled speaking with Chen just moments before, only to find himself here in an instant.

It couldn't be a dream; dreams weren't this vivid.

So what was really happening?

He steadied himself, resolving to investigate the training camp.

The camp was silent, devoid of even the slightest breeze.

Gu Xian combed through the living quarters, the engineering mecha armory, and the training fields.

All were deserted. The living quarters lacked their usual rows of bunk beds, and the armory was void of the towering mechs that once stood in formation.

Except for the crabapple tree, the place was barren.

Gu Xian found himself back under the tree, resting against its trunk. He tilted his head skyward, mimicking his childhood self.

Then, his gaze sharpened.

High up in the branches, a striking orange-yellow caught his eye.

This is... How could it be!

A chill ran through his limbs, reminiscent of the cold he felt during that battle, when he finally confronted his instructor...

Gu Xian scaled the tree and retrieved the orange-yellow object. Indeed, it was the clay sculpture of an orange cat, a gift from Chen.

But how did it end up here?

Cradling the orange cat in his hands, he studied it intently for a long while. Eventually, as if a mission had dawned on him, his eyes fixed on a specific point.

The orange tabby faded away like light, leaving behind only its bloodied claw. The entire training camp trembled.

Dazzling white light erupted everywhere, the ground quaking incessantly.

Alloy walls burst into fragments, the solid earth fissuring into countless chasms.

Roars of legions echoed from every direction, merging like a tidal wave, growing louder and more distinct.

Boom! Boom!

The sound seemed to be the only thing left in Gu Xian's ears, threatening to tear his eardrums.

The dreadful noise bore into his ears.

Boom! Boom!

Amidst the overwhelming din, Gu Xian discerned a different sound.

It was as if someone was speaking... No, there was definitely a voice!

He heard it, he truly heard it!

"Captain, Captain!"

"Charge, charge!"

"Guardians of Eon, charge!"

"Captain, are we going to lose? Are we going to die?"

"Kid, don't be scared. Stick with me, keep up! Charge!"

"Captain, Captain, I think I'm dying. I'm so afraid."

"Captain, what's happening? Captain, charge! Charge!"

"Wuwu, Captain, Captain, what's happening to you?"

The voices cut off suddenly, leaving only the angry howling of the wind.

Yet within that howling, Gu Xian sensed a profound silence and calm.

Abruptly, the weeping voice burst forth like thunder, like an eagle surging skyward beside a cliff in a tempest.

"Guardians of Eon, charge!"

The white light vanished in an instant. Gu Xian saw only a battered blue and white mech taking great strides toward the darkness beyond.

Behind it, a multitude of lifeless engineering mechs stood silently.

They had become ruins, interred in this place, standing sentinel over it.

"Legacy! Legacy! The legacy of civilization!"

A round, grayish-white crystal dropped from the void with a "ding-dong" and shattered into innumerable fragments, one of which landed in Gu Xian's palm, transforming into the shape of a cat's claw.