A Chemist's Interstellar Saga
Chapter 259: The Third Variant

Chapter 259: The Third Variant

The sudden twist in the competition rules didn’t just catch the five mecha teams off guard—it sent shockwaves through the audience watching the live stream.

@StolenHeartOfGold: "Wait, what? Did the organizers just pull a fast one? Why are mecha pilots suddenly playing virus detectives?"

@BunnyGriller: "This makes zero sense. It’s like asking chefs to put out fires. What’s the connection here?"

@MatchstickGirl: "Is no one thinking about the Fallen Beasts? If they actually find a cure, doesn’t that mean those who died were wrongfully treated?"

@SilentSeer: "Good point. Let’s all take a moment to reflect on the Fallen Beasts that were wiped out."

@LoveBlind: "Now that you bring it up, could this explain why the Alliance mecha team suddenly stopped killing the Fallen Beasts? If that’s true, then maybe the origins of these creatures need a closer look."

That last comment sparked a wave of speculation among viewers, with many starting to suspect there was more going on than they realized.

The internet’s reach is no joke. Before long, someone dug up the truth: the Fallen Beasts were actually Celesterrors, infected by a virus.

When this revelation hit, the online community exploded. If it had just been about slaughtering ordinary beasts, people might have grudgingly accepted it.

But Celesterrors? They were a species almost as intelligent as humans, and the idea of wiping them out just because they were sick was horrifying.

Soon enough, voices across the interstellar net started speaking out for the Celesterrors. Some enraged users even went as far as reporting the Empire of Eden to the Interstellar Association for the Protection of Intelligent Animals.

Not long after, representatives from the Association reached out to the president of the Empire of Eden.

"Honorable President, you are being accused of deliberately hiding information about the Celesterrors, resulting in the massacre of 2,300 of them. You need to come with us."

The representative, decked out in a military uniform from the Interstellar Alliance, gave the president a stern look.

"Understood," the president replied, nodding to everyone before following them out.

The Interstellar Alliance, made up of top officials from the major interstellar nations, was tasked with maintaining balance among the various countries.

This time, the president’s selfish actions that led to the deaths of so many Celesterrors meant he was headed for a public trial. While his position might shield him from severe punishment, a hefty fine was almost guaranteed.

Back at the Competition...

Arix had no clue that her actions had caused someone to be arrested. She and her team had just reached the capital of Inferno, completely worn out.

"We made it, finally. I’m beat," Elio groaned, sinking into his seat.

"So, do we rest before heading in, or just push through now?" Arix asked, wiping the sweat from her forehead, her voice weary.

The rest of the team was just as drained, but nobody complained. They waited for their captain’s call.

Drexel, still catching his breath but otherwise okay, stared intently at Inferno’s only city. After a moment of thought, his resolve solidified.

"The rules have changed, which means the other teams are probably making moves too. To stay ahead, we should go in now."

"Understood!" Arix and the others echoed, shaking off their exhaustion as they snapped back into their disciplined roles. They were once again a focused, tight-knit mecha team.

As soon as they entered the city, a massive Fallen Beast, much larger than any they had encountered before, let out a deafening roar and charged straight at them.

"Defensive positions, everyone!" Drexel commanded without missing a beat. He stepped forward, his spear flashing as he expertly flipped the charging beast onto the ground.

The Fallen Beast thrashed wildly, its blood-red eyes blazing with fury as it tried to break free, roaring in a mix of rage and desperation.

Drexel tightened his grip, holding the beast down with all his strength. Then, with a quick glance at Arix and Varden, he said, "Arix, Varden, get over here. We need to see if this Celesterror is carrying the original virus strain."

Arix and Varden moved swiftly, one drawing blood while the other ran diagnostic scans. Their teamwork was flawless, and they soon had the results.

Arix’s face fell slightly when she saw the data. She looked up at Drexel and shook his head. "It’s the third-generation strain, not the original virus."

Drexel clicked his tongue in frustration, then knocked the Fallen Beast out cold with a precise strike, dragging its limp body to the side of the road.

"It’s progress. We’ve gone from the 18th generation to the 3rd. If we keep pushing forward, we’ll find the original strain soon," Drexel said, rallying the team.

Everyone nodded, ready to continue. But just as they were about to move, one of the Alliance team’s mechas stumbled.

Arix quickly turned and saw that it was Lydia’s mecha. Concern flashed across her face as she called out, "Lydia! What’s happening?"

"I... I feel dizzy..." Lydia’s voice was weak, almost a whisper. The mecha’s system, detecting that something was wrong with its pilot, automatically opened the cockpit.

Lydia looked pale and drained. She slumped in her seat, too weak to even climb out of the mecha.

The team didn’t waste a second when they saw what went down. They hurried to get Lydia out of her cockpit.

Arix, always calm under pressure, placed two fingers on Lydia’s neck, checking for a pulse.

After a tense moment, Arix’s expression shifted into a frown. "Lydia, you’ve been pushing your psychic power way too hard. You were this close to letting the virus breach your psychic world."

Lydia, looking pale and guilty, shook her head. Her voice was soft as she apologized, "I’m sorry. I didn’t want to slow everyone down, but I guess I did in the end. I’m really sorry..."

Drexel’s voice was gentle, free of any hint of blame. "It’s okay, Lydia. Go rest. You’ve done more than enough."

Without waiting for a reply, he hit the button to withdraw her from the competition.

Lydia could only nod slightly before her consciousness faded completely.

As their first teammate was taken out, a heavy mood settled over the Alliance mecha team. They’d thought they were careful enough, but losing a member so quickly stung.

But Drexel, as their leader, couldn’t afford to dwell on it. "Alright, we’re close to finding the original strain. Now’s not the time to get discouraged. Everyone, stick with me. Let’s move!" His voice cut through the tension, and with a determined nod, the team pressed on.

The closer they got to the city center, the fiercer the Fallen Beasts became. Despite Drexel’s best efforts to shield Arix, one beast broke through their defenses, landing a brutal hit that sent Arix flying.

"Bang!" The sound of her mecha crashing into the ground was loud.

Drexel spun around, worry etched across his face. "Arix, are you alright?"

Inside her cockpit, Arix wiped blood from the corner of her mouth, forcing down the metallic taste. "I’m fine. Just lost focus for a second."

"Stay behind me and watch yourself," Drexel instructed quickly before diving back into the battle.

Arix gave a weak response, but everyone was too caught up in the fight to catch the strain in her voice.

"Arix, you just lost essential blood a while ago. Your body hasn’t fully bounced back. Don’t push yourself too hard," Sylvana’s voice echoed with concern in Arix’s psychic world.

"I know," Arix replied, trying to sound reassuring, but the situation left little room for rest.

When the battle finally ended, Arix let out a long breath of relief. She slumped back in her seat, her pale face and bloodless lips revealing just how drained she really was.

There was no time to waste, though. Arix patted her cheeks to bring some life back into them. Then she quickly exited her cockpit, heading straight for Varden to start collecting blood samples from the Fallen Beasts for analysis.

Thankfully, the results were encouraging. The virus within these beasts was strikingly close to the original strain.