Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 1167: Section 717: Factory (Part 2)_2

Chapter 1167: Section 717: Factory (Part 2)_2

The soldiers began firing first, followed by artillery shells from the battery vehicles, using airburst scattershots to sweep away all life in their path.

The waves of zombies crashed against an unseen wall, unable to break through no matter how hard they tried, until the last zombie was shot dead forty yards in front of Malin.

Behind him, the delighted voices of army medics rose up, and next to Malin, he saw the half-grown cadet open his eyes. He looked very weak but glanced around, finding no enemies, only allies in sight.

Malin went over to the corpse of the zombie and retrieved his rifle, then walked over to the cadet who was sitting up, and tapped the long sword on the trench: "Is this your sword?"

"Yes, yes, sir." The young man was too weak to see Malin clearly, but he quickly answered.

"It was this gentleman’s divine medicine that saved you." The young medic didn’t understand what medicine Malin had given, but its effects were clear to see.

Seeing the young man struggling to sit up to express his gratitude, Malin stopped him: "For your battle for this world, you have already earned the right to use that bottle of medicine from me, no need to thank me, thank yourself." With that, Malin drew the long sword.

The long sword transformed in Malin’s hand, the previously damaged and deformed long sword was being repaired, the piece of electrum that Malin took from the semi-plane was being fused into the sword, and it would become sharper, more terrifying, and dangerous in its true owner’s hands.

Once the long sword was reforged, Malin planted it back into the ground, then looked at the cadet whose face turned red due to this act: "You paid for all of this with your life, and that handgun is also yours, kid. If you don’t have enough spiritual power, don’t try to control a berserk zombie, they have no soul, born unbound. If your spiritual energy can’t control them, it’s better to use the sword and gun in your hands to deal with them."

"You’re right." The cadet answered awkwardly.

The surprised exclamations of soldiers in the distance made Malin turn his head just in time to see a berserk zombie leap out of a pile of corpses.

The soldiers, who had been advancing at ground level, had shots that failed to hit it.

So Malin extended his hand, and the berserk zombie pivoted in the air, ending up with its own throat in Malin’s grasp.

Malin twisted the zombie’s neck and pushed the body to the ground, then turned to look at the cadet – Malin could sense he was a potential Spiritual Energy adept, albeit needing guidance: "Young man, now you understand what Spiritual Energy really is?"

"Yes, yes, but even with Spiritual Energy, you must learn to capitalize on strengths and avoid weaknesses, right, sir?" The young man looked at Malin, eyes full of admiration.

"Yes, as long as you understand, remember, power is a tool in our hands, use it well." With that, Malin threw another bottle of potion: "After you return, rest for half a year before drinking it. It will prevent you from receiving any healing spell within half a year, so I’d personally recommend going back to school to learn for a while, or leave the frontline."

After arranging the young man’s subsequent treatment plan, Malin noticed a tracked vehicle making its way over, with the half-human on it saluting Malin: "Sir Malin, I finally found you, Mister Bei Luo wants you to find them over there." The half-human, presumably a messenger, pointed in the direction he came from, then saluted Malin again before continuing on his vehicle.

Malin thought for a moment, eventually pulling two shotguns from his private space, tossing them to the two medics: "Take them, not every lethal moment will have someone pulling you out of danger."

Amidst the grateful voices of the two medics, Malin snapped his fingers, making the older medic lay back in surprise, he and his companion, as well as the cadet, saw his leg regenerating – though somewhat grotesque, the leg was his own after all. The older medic, noticing his leg completely healed, immediately knelt towards Malin to express his highest gratitude.

Malin shook his head: "No need to thank me, like this cadet, you have used your life as payment to earn my assistance. All you need to remember is your responsibility, and if next time you encounter such a stubborn kid, and if you really can’t save them, then just let it go."

By the time he said the final sentence, Malin appeared somewhat fierce, but the older medic still saw appreciation and mockery in Malin’s expression, he smiled and nodded: "Thank you, sir."

Malin chose to leave, amidst the thanks and sighs from behind as he departed the scene.

......

Finding Bei Luo, the boy was standing with the Pioneer Corps commander in front of a map.

Upon seeing Malin, this individual instantly became enthusiastic: "Sir Malin, just now it was said you demonstrated miraculous Transcendent abilities on the frontline, I personally suggest you conserve some energy."

"Understood." Malin didn’t want to argue, facts were facts after all, Bei Luo too had his reasons, the factory was important after all.

But he certainly didn’t know that Malin was now drifting further from transcendence.

"Some haven’t arrived yet, Sir Malin, you may rest for a bit, if you want something to drink let my guards know." The Pioneer Corps’ commander was a standard elf in the truest sense, though Thainan’s elves didn’t have those rotten attitudes with long names.

Malin smiled and nodded, finding a relatively clean place on the trench at the headquarters to sit down.

The guard approached: "Sir, what would you like to drink?"

"Water is fine." Malin didn’t want any special treatment, even though for a Legendary, some special treatment was to be expected.

But Malin still didn’t want that, maybe fate classified people into classes from the start, but Malin didn’t want let nurture turn into an indelible nightmare in humanity’s mind.

As the guard left to fetch water, a massive figure they’d seen before approached, saluting Malin with a hand on his chest: "Respect to you, Your Highness."

"What are you saying, Mr. Lin." Malin asked with a smile - even a Legendary being called ’Your Highness’? That would be a Deity then, though Malin did count as one, surely there’s no need to call such loudly.

"You might not understand, seeing you shine again, I finally remembered someone who once saved us, perhaps you long forgot, but we children of New Bangkok always remember you." The young man said, lowered his head to lift Malin’s hand, placing the back of his hand against his forehead.

In the end, Malin could only smile - yes, indeed New Bangkok was a problem Malin could not shake off lately, the people in this city had found faith, and ultimately chose to believe in Malin, here, there was no faith except Malin.

Malin could only, after this young man released his hand, pat his face: "I help you because I witnessed your resilience and fearlessness, you are the proud people of New Bangkok, understand?"

"Yes, sir, I understand, I will also pass your words to my comrades, thank you." The young man nodded gratefully.

"I told you, no need to thank me." Malin felt some distress, for thinking the young man was making a mountain out of a molehill.

"Yes, Your Highness." The young man smiled, looking at Malin full of reverence and gratitude, even some...adoration?

Ah, yes, adoration.

Malin sighed.

This is what divine worship is, Malin, do you see? The end of idealism is like this.

But... Malin truly didn’t want such adoration because, deep down, he felt he shouldn’t become a Deity.

Humans shouldn’t be held captive by anything.