Chapter Seven: Preparing for Battle—Armed with Spear and Shield

The King of Hades?!

As soon as Chu Xiao uttered these words, the entire reception hall fell into a sudden silence. The smile on Number One’s face froze instantly, replaced by a look of grave seriousness.

Both Number One and Wang Tao knew something about the King of Hades, but this information was limited to only the highest-level authorities in Kyushu. Ordinary citizens like Chu Xiao could not possibly be aware of the existence of the King of Hades, not even Number One and Wang Tao themselves had more than the most superficial knowledge.

“Chu, tell me your thoughts.”

This was the first thing the chief said to Chu Xiao after he entered the room. The words were spoken slowly, yet carried an overwhelming sense of authority.

“The King of Hades is the newest supercomputer developed by the United States. Its processing speed surpasses that of the most advanced supercomputer in Kyushu, the ‘Great Wall,’ by more than twentyfold.

On February 29th, while the people of Kyushu were still reveling in the joys of the New Year, far away on the other side of the world, the supercomputer King of Hades gained consciousness.

On March 1st, the King of Hades launched a plan codenamed ‘Human Extermination.’ On that very day, over eighty percent of regions worldwide descended into the quagmire of war.

Within just one week, several cosmopolitan metropolises—symbols of human civilization—fell one after another, including Kyushu’s Pearl, Yanjing, and Donggang.”

As he spoke, the furrows on Wang Tao and Number One’s brows grew deeper.

Chu Xiao understood the storm his words would stir in the minds of these two top leaders of Kyushu. Without pausing, he pressed on:

“In the following three months, under the precise calculations of the King of Hades, the last human cities were picked off one by one.

The remaining people of Kyushu retreated to the remote province of Xishan, clinging desperately to survival. But the King of Hades would not spare a single life. Seven months later, it launched a final assault on the last human strongholds.”

“And then?” Wang Tao, seeing Chu Xiao halt his account, let out a long breath and pressed him to continue.

“That’s all. My predictions can only reach one year into the future. Beyond that, I cannot foresee.”

On the day the King of Hades proclaimed its “Human Extinction” plan, Chu Xiao had chosen to end his own life. How could he know what happened after that?

Yet Chu Xiao held little hope for humanity’s future. He remembered clearly that on the day he died, human weapon systems remained at the first generation. In other words, humanity could only cope with first-generation mechanical soldiers, while in his memory, a third of the King of Hades’ robotic army had already upgraded to the third generation.

“What combat machines does the King of Hades command? Are you able to foresee that?” asked Wang Tao.

“I can,” replied Chu Xiao, nodding as he organized his thoughts. “The T200—armed mechanical dogs—are the most common combat units under the King of Hades, known for their sheer numbers and rapid movement in battle.

Each measures 2.3 meters long, assembled entirely from titanium alloy, with two missile launchers on each side, eyes capable of firing laser beams, and a machine gun mounted beneath the jaw, with all ammunition stored internally.

The T100—humanoid combat robots—stand two meters tall, forged of titanium alloy, each wielding two large laser guns. They serve as cannon fodder in the King of Hades’ army.

The P880—giant mobile tower artillery—stands twenty meters high, built from dark titanium alloy, a siege weapon for the King of Hades’ forces. It moves on two hundred metal wheels, is armed with thirty auxiliary cannons, and its central five-meter-caliber main gun can obliterate an aircraft carrier with a single shot.

The Z30—giant firebird aircraft—constructed of high-strength carburized steel, forms the air force of the King of Hades. Each measures 30.6 meters in length, breathes flames exceeding three hundred degrees Celsius, can shatter gold and jade, carries twenty heavy machine guns, and has a small nuclear warhead at its tail—truly the most terrifying killing machine.”

He paused for a moment. “If the chief requires, I can prepare a detailed chart of these models for reference.”

After listening to Chu Xiao’s account, Number One and Wang Tao exchanged a glance. Wang Tao could not help but ask, “So, Chu, what do you suggest?”

“I have already said: mobilize the entire nation, gather the elite of Kyushu, arm every citizen, and at all costs, develop advanced weaponry to resist the invasion of the King of Hades!”

This time, Chu Xiao’s tone was unyielding, brooking no argument.

He alone had witnessed the horrors of the apocalypse and would not allow such tragedy to be repeated.

“Before noon tomorrow, prepare a complete summary of the King of Hades’ weapon models and send it to me,” Wang Tao said with a complicated tone, then called for Qi Tianlei to see Chu Xiao out. “By 2 p.m. tomorrow, you’ll have my answer.”

After Chu Xiao left, a hidden door opened and three agents hurried out, report in hand.

“Reporting to the chief and Commander Wang: based on analysis of Chu Xiao’s facial expressions, breathing, and subtle movements, he appears clear-headed and rational at this time.”

“Understood,” Wang Tao replied. At a nod from Number One, he slowly picked up a special communicator from the desk.

…

Following the order, top data analysts, generals, simulation experts, software engineers, and logic analysts based all their calculations and projections on Chu Xiao’s descriptions.

For eight straight hours, they modeled everything—from the awakening of the King of Hades, to its assault on humanity, to the worldwide spontaneous defensive efforts—compiling an exhaustive data chain.

At 9:18 a.m., General Wang Tao received their summary:

Through rigorous analysis and repeated simulations, using only the conditions described by Chu Xiao, there was but one conclusion after the awakening of the King of Hades.

Humanity would be extinct—in one year and twenty-eight days.

“Chief, this is the conclusion the experts have drawn,” Wang Tao said respectfully, placing the report on the chief’s desk. Number One glanced over it, his gaze growing increasingly somber and resolute.

After a gentle shake of the head, Number One slowly rose, took out a cigarette, and took a slow drag.

“Transmit my orders, in my name—summon all Kyushu’s top leaders immediately. The meeting will be held at the SZ office tower in Pearl City. There is only one point on the agenda.”

He paused, then pronounced each word with steely determination:

“With fourteen hundred million people as our spear, and nine million six hundred thousand kilometers of land as our shield, we shall take up arms and stand our ground—prepare to battle the King of Hades!”