Eliminating the Fortress Bug

"You like guarding jump points, don’t you? Now I’m going to guard your teleportation point too."

The Fortress Bug sneered. Unlike the modified, mindless insect warships, the Fortress Bug possessed self-awareness. Before the insect army arrived, it had secretly infiltrated Xandar, waiting to block the reinforcements.

The Fortress Bug could hide within spatial layers. Unless someone was proficient in spatial abilities, they would never be able to detect it.

"Stop passing through. Prepare the stealth fighters."

After some thought, Centurion Lindy dispatched five stealth fighters. The moment they exited the portal, energy cannons destroyed them. The Fortress Bug looked disdainful. Did they really think mere stealth fighters could fool it? Their stealth was merely optical camouflage, not true invisibility. How could they hide from an insect that specialized in concealment?

"Damn it."

Centurion Lindy cursed and requested aid from Nova Prime. "Nova Prime, can you help us deal with the insect fortress? We can’t get out."

The portal Crystal had opened was not small. It was large enough for one flagship or three warships to pass through. The problem was that, against the fortress’s firepower, neither a flagship nor three warships would be enough.

Moreover, the portal stood vertically. They had to emerge before they could attack the Fortress Bug above them.

Only then did Centurion Lindy truly understand the pain of the insects being suppressed at jump points.

After requesting aid from Nova Prime, Centurion Lindy informed Skye of the situation and told her to be wary of Fortress Bugs. The same situation might be occurring near other planets.

"The insects are actually ambushing us outside the portals?"

When Skye received the news, she drew a sharp breath and hurriedly warned the reinforcements. Then she asked Crystal, "Crystal, can the portal’s direction be changed?"

"It can, but it won’t help much," Crystal replied. "Changing a portal’s direction is slow. The insects can adjust along with it."

The Shi’ar Empire’s staff officer frowned. "This is troublesome."

"What’s troublesome about it? I can rush out and solve it with one swing of my axe."

Thor spoke disdainfully. Hulk and the others nodded. The Fortress Bug might indeed be troublesome for the major forces of the universe, but it was nothing to the Super Heroes.

"You are our Trump Cards. You can’t act rashly."

Skye shook her head. "This war has only just begun."

Thor said impatiently, "What a hassle. Why think so much? Can’t we just charge up and chop the bug to death?"

Skye turned and asked, "Is that how Asgard fights its wars?"

Thor answered as if it were only natural, "Yes. Isn’t war just charging in, cutting down the enemy commander, then unleashing a few big moves to rout the troops?"

Everyone in the command room fell silent. After a moment, Little Hela said, "It really isn’t easy for Asgard to have survived without being conquered."

"What do you mean by that? Asgard has basically never lost a war."

Thor shouted unhappily, "Skye, you don’t understand command. Let me take over. I’m an undefeated general."

Hulk mocked, "Where do you get the nerve to say that?"

Skye sighed. "Guards, take Thor of Asgard outside to await orders."

"Yes."

Guards immediately stepped forward to escort Thor away. Thor flew into a rage and was about to say something when Little Hela shouted, "Get out. Stop embarrassing Asgard."

"How am I embarrassing anyone?"

Thor was very dissatisfied, but after Little Hela glared at him, he obediently left with the guards.

After Thor left, a planetary representative anxiously asked through the holographic screen, "Elder Skye, with Fortress Bugs there, reinforcements can’t get through. What should we do?"

Skye smiled. "Fortress Bugs are not difficult to deal with. Don’t worry, everyone. The alliance will never let the insects have their way."

"Not difficult to deal with?"

Everyone was stunned. Skye did not explain further and said to Frank, "Deploy the Clone Corps. Increase the power of their explosions."

Frank nodded. "All right. Doctor Doom gave me some guidance recently. The Clone Corps’ explosive power is now twice what it was before."

Meanwhile, the war on Xandar continued. Upon hearing Centurion Lindy’s plea for help, Nova Prime gritted her teeth and said, "Deploy the Nova."

"The Nova?"

The adjutant was startled. He hurriedly said, "Prime, the Nova is reserved for you and the upper ranks to evacuate."

"Follow orders. I will live and die with Xandar. I have no need to retreat."

Nova Prime shouted. As for those upper ranks, I’m staying here, so you still want to run? "All right."

The adjutant gritted his teeth and ordered the Nova to deploy, heading for the plaza to eliminate the Fortress Bug.

Just as the Nova was preparing to take off, the Milano flew over. Star-Lord shouted on the public channel, "Nova Prime, we’ll handle that bug. Remember to pay us extra."

"The Guardians of the Galaxy?"

Nova Prime was overjoyed. These people caused trouble every day, but they were quite dependable at critical moments. She hurriedly said, "Money is not a problem. Stop that bug quickly. If you can kill it, I’ll pay double. No, five times."

"No problem. Watch Star-Lord’s performance."

Star-Lord spoke arrogantly. At that moment, the Fortress Bug noticed the Milano and sneered. The energy ports across its body lit up, and dozens of energy cannons fired at the Milano simultaneously.

The Milano dodged nimbly. Although it was hit by several blasts, it was completely unharmed. Rocket fired wildly at the Fortress Bug while shouting, "Are you giving us a massage?"

The Fortress Bug was stunned. It controlled its thick shell to block the energy beams while continuing to fire at the Milano, but the result was the same as before. Its energy cannons had almost no effect on the Milano.

That was only natural. The Milano’s hull was forged from Vibranium—Wang Bert had traded this Milano for Star-Lord’s father, Ego.

Without this Vibranium Milano, the Guardians of the Galaxy would have died countless times already. These guys were not only idiots; they were idiots exceptionally good at causing trouble.

Gamora shouted, "The absorbed energy has reached its limit. We can fire."

"Leave it to me."

Rocket immediately pressed a button. A massive beam slammed into the Fortress Bug, instantly punching through the shell on its lower left side. A large amount of green fluid gushed wildly from the wound.

"Ugh, disgusting."

Rocket cursed as he continued attacking. The Fortress Bug was thoroughly enraged. It was an elite of the insect race, yet a tiny spaceship had injured it. If word got out, how would it ever hold its head up among the insects again? "Die!"

A large number of energy tentacles emerged from the Fortress Bug’s body, tightly binding the Milano and dragging it downward. Star-Lord was alarmed and immediately pushed the engines to full power, trying to break free. Unfortunately, the Milano had not been upgraded in years and did not have enough thrust.

At that moment, the Fortress Bug opened its huge mouth. A black light lit up deep within, growing brighter and more violent.

Star-Lord and the others were alarmed. It was clearly preparing a major attack, and the Milano might not be able to withstand it.

Even Vibranium had its limits. More importantly, they were not Vibranium. If the impact exceeded a certain level, they would be shaken to death.

"Open the door. I’ll charge into its body and chop it to death."

Drax held two daggers and shouted. Star-Lord rolled his eyes. "Great idea, if you can open the door."

Drax blinked and asked, "What does that mean? I don’t quite understand. Are you praising me?"

"Quill, how many times have I told you? Drax’s brain is straight. It doesn’t turn corners."

Rocket cursed, then shouted, "Don’t worry. I stole a super trump card from Ivan. I’ve kept it aboard the ship all this time because I couldn’t bear to use it."

"You actually stole something from that lunatic Ivan? And you dared keep it on my ship?"

Star-Lord froze, then began cursing. The fact that he had not died in all these years really was God’s blessing.

Ivan was a madman. Drinking vodka while conducting experiments was one thing, but the important part was that his creations often exploded—he had once owned a research institute on Xandar, but later Xandar would rather pay compensation than let that institute remain open.

"Relax, it’s a finished product."

Rocket chuckled. He found a button beneath his seat and pressed it hard. Red lights simultaneously lit up at eighteen points along the Milano’s hull.

Then, eighteen red lasers roared out and spun rapidly. They instantly severed the energy tentacles, and even cut apart the Fortress Bug’s thick shell and disgusting body. Green blood splattered everywhere.

The Fortress Bug let out a miserable scream. Just as the energy cannon in its mouth was about to fire, a laser sliced down, causing the cannon to explode inside its mouth. The Fortress Bug was instantly blown into chunks of flesh, with blood and meat raining down wildly.

"Disgusting."

The Guardians of the Galaxy all looked revolted. As Star-Lord maneuvered the ship out of the way, he cursed, "Damn it, we have to pay for cleaning and maintenance again. I wonder if Nova Prime will reimburse us?"

Vibranium was indeed useful, but it required frequent maintenance or its performance would decline. After all, it was a top-tier treasure.

"Don’t worry, I’ll reimburse you. Lindy, get your forces in here to reinforce us. Outer space is about to fall. Star-Lord, you go reinforce them too. Money is not a problem."

Nova Prime shouted joyfully. Star-Lord cheered. "Nova Prime, I’ve realized you’re absolutely adorable. Want to have a meal together sometime?"

After saying that, Star-Lord noticed everyone aboard the ship looking at him as though he were a beast. You’re interested even in such an old granny? Star-Lord protested unhappily, "I’m just building connections, okay? What are you people thinking?"

"Don’t talk to me. I’m afraid I’ll be disgusted."

Gamora looked repulsed. Drax said, "It is indeed disgusting. Just like his father. His father changed himself into all sorts of forms and slept with all kinds of women just to make children. How could he even do it? Some aliens are practically animals."

Rocket suddenly understood. "No wonder Star-Lord is interested even in old grannies. Like father, like son. Wait, Quill, don’t tell me you’re interested in animals and trees too?"

Groot looked terrified. "I am Groot."

"What do you take me for?"

Star-Lord nearly went mad. He swore that once he made enough money in the future, he would definitely leave these idiots behind—he had forgotten that he had made that vow hundreds of times already. More importantly, he was an idiot himself.

"As expected of the Guardians of the Galaxy with half Earthling blood. They’re really impressive."

Centurion Lindy was overjoyed and immediately directed the reinforcements into Xandar to support the battle in outer space.

"Looks like Xandar can handle things on its own."

Skye nodded in satisfaction. At the same time, reinforcements heading to various planets were successively ambushed by Fortress Bugs. Fortunately, they had been prepared, so casualties were limited.

In response to the anxious pleas of the planetary representatives, Skye asked Frank, "Is the Clone Corps ready?"

Frank said, "They’re all ready. They can depart immediately."

"Deploy them at once."

Skye nodded, and Frank immediately gave the attack order.

Before a portal, one hundred clones riding Space Motorcycles shouted in unison, "For the will of clones, no life, only death."

After shouting, the clones rode their motorcycles through the spatial portal together. Strange asked in surprise, "Do these clones have self-awareness?"

"Of course not. They’re more like robots. As for that line, my Master added it specially. He said it sounded more imposing."

Carol rolled her eyes. Master was always coming up with strange things. Perhaps that was why he could succeed.

Very soon, the hundred clones entered the planet on the other side. The Fortress Bug immediately fired energy cannons at them, but all one hundred clones vanished simultaneously. When they reappeared, they were already beside the Fortress Bug—one was even inside its mouth.

Then, the first twenty clones crashed into the Fortress Bug’s shell at the same time. Boom, boom, boom… The clones exploded one after another. The explosions were far more powerful than expected, and even the Fortress Bug’s heavy shell shattered into pieces.

At the same time, the clone inside the Fortress Bug’s mouth exploded as well. The Fortress Bug screamed miserably as large amounts of green blood mixed with flames sprayed out.

Before the Fortress Bug could do anything, the remaining clones rammed into it one after another. Boom, boom, boom… The explosions rang out without end, shaking heaven and earth as green flesh and blood splattered down like rain.

When the explosions finally stopped, the Fortress Bug was completely dead—so dead that not even a whole corpse remained.

"Wonderful."

Skye broadcast the battle. Seeing the Fortress Bug die, the planetary representatives cheered one after another. Their planets were saved.

Earthlings were truly formidable. They even possessed soldiers like this. It seemed they not only had Super Heroes, but extraordinary technology as well.

"They can use Teleportation and self-destruct. This kind of unit is terrifying."

Representatives of the Skrull Empire and the Shi’ar Empire exchanged flickering looks. They had heard of these units before, but they had never expected them to be so powerful. It seemed Earthlings had been upgrading the Clone Corps all these years.

"Support all major planets with everything we have. We absolutely cannot let anything happen to them."

Seeing the Clone Corps achieve success, Skye breathed a huge sigh of relief and gave the order loudly. The commanders nodded one after another and headed for the rescue efforts with high morale.

"Elder Skye, if too many troops are transferred away, the Frontlines may be endangered."

The Shi’ar Empire’s staff officer reminded her, "The insects may be feinting in one direction while attacking another."

"Don’t worry. The Super Heroes will not leave. With us here, the number of troops does not matter."

Skye spoke proudly. Everyone froze for a moment, then nodded. That was right. With Super Heroes stationed here, troop numbers were not important.

"Super Heroes really are cheating."

Many people sighed inwardly. That applied equally to both sides. Without Super Heroes, how could the insects have appeared so deep in the rear?

War had become completely different from the past.