The apocalypse is coming, but thankfully I have a harem of paper dolls.

Page 81

Just as he and the Rose Beast were locked in a stalemate—

A cold glint flashed in Luo Jiajun's eyes, and he raised his arm again. The muzzle of the "Redemption" gun was steadily aimed at Milos's head, which was covered by a bull-horned helmet.

boom!

Another beam of azure light shot out, hitting Milos's helmet precisely in the front!

A hole was instantly melted through the helmet, and a beam of light pierced through the brain. Milos's massive body stiffened abruptly, his struggling strength vanished, and his crimson eyes dimmed.

"Chieftain!" Bariaz, who was being entangled in Mai Shiranui's flames, witnessed this and roared in shock and rage. This moment of distraction immediately gave Mai Shiranui an excellent opportunity.

"Super Dragon Flame Dance!"

Mai Shiranui spun rapidly, her flaming fan drawing a perfect circle. A highly concentrated, blazing fire serpent cleverly bypassed Baliaz's parrying warhammer and precisely slipped into the gap between his helmet and neck armor!

"Ow!!!"

Bariaz let out a bloodcurdling scream as flames raged inside his helmet, scorching his fur, skin, and even his eyes. He threw down his warhammer in agony and frantically tried to tear off his helmet.

Without any hesitation, Luo Jiajun slightly adjusted the muzzle of his gun.

boom!

Another energy beam was fired, hitting and penetrating Bariaz's helmet with equal precision.

The screams abruptly ceased. Bariaz froze, then fell straight backward, crashing heavily to the ground, and fell silent.

In the blink of an eye, the two leaders of the Orc Steelwind Clan were both killed instantly by Luo Jiajun's newly acquired legendary weapon, "Redemption," which blew their heads off!

Luo Jiajun slowly lowered the "Redemption" gun, its muzzle still wreathed in faint embers of energy. He coldly surveyed the orcs, who had utterly collapsed with the death of their leader, his demeanor still haughty.

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[You have successfully defeated the high-value target: Miros - Steel Wind, and have received a reward of 1200 Summoning Points.]

[You have successfully defeated the high-value target: Bariaz Iron Wind, and have received a reward of 1000 Summoning Points.]

The sudden fall of the two powerful leaders of the Steelwind Clan was like the removal of the backbone from the entire orcish army. Luo Jiajun glanced at the notification, but felt no emotion.

The outcome of this battle was sealed the moment he killed Bariaz.

The orc warriors, now leaderless, still outnumbered each other, but their fierce and fearless spirit had vanished, replaced by a sense of bewilderment and a growing panic.

The battle situation instantly reversed, becoming an overwhelming one-sided affair. Luo Jiajun's side, like highly efficient killing machines, precisely and ruthlessly reaped the lives of the remaining orcs. The orcs' futile resistance proved fragile and vulnerable before absolute power; every charge was easily crushed, every roar drowned out by even more ferocious attacks. The air was thick with the stench of blood and the atmosphere of despair. (The last sentence appears to be a nonsensical string of characters and is omitted from the translation.)

The battle ended quickly.

When the last few defiant roars abruptly ceased, almost all the orcs in sight were now cold corpses, lying haphazardly on the muddy ground. Only a few wounded orcs remained. At Luo Jiajun's signal, they were swiftly entangled and bound by the vines released by the Rose Beast and Zyra, firmly pinned to the ground, completely incapacitated, and became prisoners.

Leaving them alive was a decision Luo Jiajun had made.

He walked up to the prisoners, his gaze sweeping over the strong, alien warriors.

This wasn't the first time he'd encountered orcs since the Mist update. His initial glimpse was of the powerful orc swordsman, followed by the orc chieftain of the Fieryblood Clan, then the heavily guarded orc outpost on the Golden River Bridge, and now, these orc warriors belonging to the Steelwind Clan.

A clear pattern emerged in Luo Jiajun's mind: these orcs never appeared as isolated individuals, but as organized, structured groups, arriving on Earth through those mysterious portals.

They are disciplined and have clear objectives.

This was by no means a random invasion or a blind wandering.

So, what is the purpose of such a large-scale and continuous effort to cross the fog and come to this world that is also deeply mired in disaster?

Luo Jiajun knew very well that these orcs were far from being simple-minded, bloodthirsty beasts. They possessed their own language, culture, and even had established complex clan societies. Their formation of an army to traverse the world was certainly not for sightseeing.

However, looking at Earth today, after the devastating catastrophe of the "Plant Mutation" version, the once proud and brilliant civilization has been shattered, cities have become ruins, order has vanished, and the whole world has been almost pushed back to the barbaric era.

The now-descending, boundless, eerie fog has made this planet even more perilous and uninhabitable—not only because countless deadly monsters of all shapes and sizes lurk within the fog, but also because the perpetual, pitch-black fog itself is a huge obstacle to survival.

Who would want to live in a place that is always shrouded in thick fog and where even sunlight can hardly penetrate?

Therefore, Luo Jiajun had previously ruled out the possibility that the orcs' invasion was simply for "territory conquest." Earth, in its current wretched state, hardly seemed like a paradise worth fighting for.

But witnessing the organized appearances of the orc legions time and again, especially seeing them build camps and try to establish themselves on Earth today, made Luo Jiajun's thoughts waver.

His intuition told him that much of the information he had previously obtained might only be the tip of the iceberg, and that he might be able to extract more secrets from these prisoners.

However, the captured orcs were surprisingly tough. Before Luo Jiajun could even ask any questions, they struggled to raise their heads, which were marked with blood from the vines, and let out low growls. They glared fiercely at Luo Jiajun and roared in broken but resolute human language:

"Kill us if you want! Orc warriors only seek a glorious death in battle! You think we'll betray the Horde? Dream on!"

Luo Jiajun's face remained expressionless as he slowly paced in front of them, his boots making a soft sound on the wet ground. His tone was calm, yet carried a knowing quality: "I haven't even asked you any questions yet, so how can you be so sure that what you're about to say is tantamount to betraying the tribe?"

He stopped, his sharp gaze sweeping across the faces of each prisoner. "So, if you really want a quick death, you'd better consider whether you want to answer my question first. Tell me... what is the purpose of your orcish journey to this world?"

Upon hearing this, the bound orcs visibly paused, turning to exchange quick glances. Their angry expressions seemed to soften, replaced by a complex emotion. Seeing this less forceful resistance, Luo Jiajun understood that his core question hadn't touched upon their most sensitive taboo.

After a brief silence, an old orc, his hair and beard already gray, his face etched with the marks of time, sighed deeply. His cloudy eyes revealed weariness and helplessness. He broke the silence first, his voice hoarse as he began to speak:

"In our world... on the planet Myron, there is a vast continent called Denor. We orcs have lived there for generations."

He paused for a moment, his tone becoming heavy:

"However... due to various irresistible reasons, the continent of Denor... is collapsing. The earth is cracking, the sky is darkening, and life is rapidly fading away. If a new way out cannot be found, in less than ten years, all living beings on the continent of Denor will... perish completely along with that land."

“And we orcs,” the old orc straightened his hunched back, a hint of tribal pride mixed with a deep sorrow, “are the largest and most resilient race on the continent of Denor. We do not wish to perish with our homeland; our only way to survive is to migrate. To leave Myron Star and find a new home.”

At this point, the orc's gaze fell upon the surrounding mist, and the answer was self-evident—the orcs had indeed come to Earth to claim territory! Even though Earth was now ravaged and fraught with danger, at least it was not on the verge of complete collapse like the continent of Denor, and still had a glimmer of hope.

At this point, a glint of wisdom, incongruous with his rugged appearance, flashed in the old orc's eyes. He looked at Luo Jiajun, his tone carrying a hint of tentative persuasion:

"You... must be the native inhabitants of this world, right? It seems your world is also facing a great crisis. In that case, why don't we try... forming an alliance? For survival, we can share the resources of this land."

"Heh." Luo Jiajun couldn't help but shake his head and scoff, his eyes icy cold. "I'd like to ask, is it possible that the greatest crisis facing this world right now is precisely you alien races that keep emerging from the mist?"

Following closely behind Luo Jiajun's words, Shiranui Mai, who had been observing coldly, stepped forward, her beautiful face full of sarcasm. Her clear voice carried undisguised anger: "An alliance? What a joke! Just now, wasn't your leader arrogantly shouting that he would capture us and stew us to taste human flesh?"

"..." The old orc opened his mouth, but ultimately fell silent, a hint of embarrassment and dejection flashing across his face.

Luo Jiajun didn't dwell on this issue; instead, he changed the subject and raised another crucial question:

"What I don't understand is, in your world, on Myron, is there only one continent, Denor? You orcs are so powerful, didn't you find any other way out in that world?"

This question seemed to touch on something deeper. The old orc's eyes subtly shifted, revealing a complex mix of pain, humiliation, and distant memories.

He was silent for a few seconds, his aged voice heavy with bitterness, as if each word weighed a ton:

"On our planet Myron... there is indeed not just one continent. Denor is the southern continent, and in the far north, there is another equally vast land called Vanor."

"In fact... many years ago, a devastating war broke out between the northern and southern continents, sweeping across the entire world. And the outcome of that war... determined that we orcs could only be trapped in the gradually dying Denor, awaiting our final annihilation."

Although the old orc did not describe the course and details of the war in detail, Luo Jiajun, with his keen insight and logic, immediately grasped the key information. He whispered his conjecture:

"Let me guess, you originally wanted to migrate to the more resource-rich and still intact northern continent of Vanor, but... you were completely defeated by the northern continent's army? So, you were trapped in Vanor, losing the possibility of migrating within your home planet?"

"..." The old orc's body trembled slightly, his lips moved a few times, but in the end he simply lowered his head deeply and fell into a longer silence. This silence was tantamount to the most direct acquiescence.

"Hmph, I see!" Mai Shiranui immediately realized, her beautiful eyes flashing with insight. "No wonder your leader attacked us like a madman the moment he saw us, without uttering a single word. It must be because it was humans who defeated you orcs in that war in the Northern Continent, right?"

The female ninja spoke with certainty, connecting the clues together.

Another world...

Another group of humans...

Luo Jiajun's heart skipped a beat. Mai Shiranui's deduction was reasonable. The truth hidden behind this fog seemed to be deeper and more complex than he had imagined.

Two worlds, different human civilizations, a war that will determine the fate of the orcs, and an imminent survival crisis... all these intertwine to form a vast and mysterious web. He realized that this so-called "Mist Version" was probably just the beginning of a grand prelude, with countless thrilling secrets hidden behind it, waiting for him to uncover them one by one.

However, the core information they wanted to know was now basically clear. Luo Jiajun composed himself, his gaze turning cold again. He looked at the orc prisoners, tightly bound by vines and kneeling on the ground, fulfilling his previous promise:

"Before I take action, tell me, do you have any last words?"

Upon hearing this, most of the orc warriors closed their eyes, straightened their wounded bodies, and remained silent, their faces bearing a calm acceptance of death. Only the old orc, in his final moments, seemed to remember something. He raised his head again, a barely perceptible urgency in his cloudy eyes, and asked:

"Humans... have you... discovered a camp built near the bridge? A camp belonging to us orcs?"

Luo Jiajun raised an eyebrow; this was an unexpected question. He looked at the old orc with interest and nodded: "We did indeed discover such a camp. It was located not far from the Jinjiang Bridge. However…"

"That camp seems to have been completely overrun. When we arrived, the area was littered with the corpses of your orc warriors, as well as the remains of many other monsters, such as trolls, goblins, and goblins."

It seems that the Steelwind Clan's original goal was to support the bridgehead camp? However, because Rin destroyed the portal near that camp beforehand, they didn't appear directly at the Jinjiang Bridge, but were instead teleported to this slightly more distant location.

But regardless, they were all too late. Luo Jiajun understood. After all, the fall of the camp at the Jinjiang Bridgehead had already occurred before Rinko destroyed the teleportation portal. Rinko's actions only cut off possible reinforcements, but the destruction of the camp itself was already irreversible.

"Ha...those idiots..."

Upon hearing of the camp's devastation, the old orc showed no sorrow, but instead let out a scornful laugh. He shook his gray head, his tone filled with disdain.

"Trolls, goblins, goblins... they were our allies in that decisive war long ago. But since our defeat, they've become utterly useless cowards, cowering in corners and waiting to die!"

Having said all he could, the old orc raised his head, closed his eyes, and the wrinkles on his face appeared particularly deep in the dim light, as if he were about to be slaughtered.

Luo Jiajun understood immediately and said no more. With a flick of his wrist, "Redemption" appeared in his hand. A cold metallic touch came through, and the gun seemed to faintly emit a light.

Then Luo Jiajun slowly raised his arm, pointing the gun at the prisoner in front of him.

For these orc warriors who revere power, dying by this weapon imbued with legendary power might be considered a unique kind of "honor."

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The heavy twilight, like thick ink, spread across the ruins of the Jinjiang Bridge with the dense fog. Luo Jiajun and his group pierced through the increasingly heavy fog, returning to the capsule house that stood out incongruously amidst the chaos before nightfall.

When Luo Jiajun pushed open the door of the residence, he let the people behind him file in—unlike when he left, the returning group was much larger.

Besides Rinko, Drael, and Rosemon, Archina's three-meter-tall, pale figure almost brushed against the doorframe as she entered. Zyra's fiery red hair blazed like flames under the warm light. Mai Shiranui's bright eyes curiously surveyed the interior of this wondrous dwelling. Zhou Meiling quietly followed at the back. (The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)

"Wow!"

Mai Shiranui's eyes lit up, making no attempt to hide her excitement. She strode to the center of the living room, her slender fingers lightly tracing the smooth tabletop. "This place! It's amazing! Finally, I don't have to worry about not having water to take a bath anymore!"

She turned to look at Luo Jiajun, her face beaming with genuine joy.

Archina, Jera, and Zhou Meiling could not hide their surprise. This fully equipped modern shelter, which appeared out of nowhere in the post-apocalyptic wasteland, was undoubtedly a huge surprise for them, who had been wandering for so long.

Luo Jiajun briefly introduced the four returning members—Achina, Zyra, Mai Shiranui, and Zhou Meiling—to Annerose, Yukikaze Mizushiro, Bayonetta, and others who joined later.

The women nodded to each other, their eyes filled with scrutiny, curiosity, or a subtle, almost imperceptible, appraising gaze.

Archina's stunning figure and pale skin, Bayonetta's unique blend of sexiness and danger, Annerose's aloofness... different styles of beauty converged, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere. Yeebu, however, stepped forward and nuzzled Archina's skirt with her little head, seemingly still remembering this "big guy."

After a short while, and a brief exchange of pleasantries, a practical problem quickly emerged—there weren't enough rooms.

“With so many people, we can’t possibly allocate rooms to everyone.” Leda looked around at the number of women in the living room, who were either sitting or standing, and pointed out the problem first.

"Yes, it seems there are only six rooms on the second floor?" Akiyama Rinko whispered.

"Including the two bedrooms on the first floor, there are only eight rooms in total," Derek stated the number precisely, his eyes sparkling and a smile playing on his lips.

A lively discussion immediately filled the living room. The women began to discuss how to allocate the limited rooms, who would share a room with whom, and who might need to sleep on the floor or in the living room. Their voices mingled together, creating a lively and noisy atmosphere.

Luo Jiajun did not participate in the discussion. He walked to the sofa alone, sat down, sank into the soft cushions, his gaze somewhat vacant, his thoughts already wandering far away.

2700 Summoning Points—this number was clearly imprinted in Luo Jiajun's mind. He already had 500 Summoning Points remaining, and with the 2200 Summoning Points he gained from defeating the two bosses, [Miros: Steel Wind] and [Bariaz: Steel Wind], his total now reached 2700, enough for him to immediately summon two new companions to join his team.

However, before returning, Luo Jiajun didn't forget to have Rin destroy the portal near the location where the Steelwind Clan had appeared. As a result, the progress of the third main quest, "The Portal Breaker," has reached (7/10). Achina and the others also clearly stated that they encountered more than one portal during their journey south.

This means that Luo Jiajun only needs to lead the women north to explore a little further, and they should be able to find and destroy the three teleportation portals soon, thus completing the main quest of the third ring.

The mysterious [Points Mall] will also be unlocked at that time.

"What's in the points mall?"

Luo Jiajun pondered silently.

Items related to summoned characters? High-value items that have already been unlocked?

In any case, summoning points are the key currency, and now summoning new players will cost you those points.

With this thought in mind, Luo Jiajun frowned slightly and unconsciously tapped his knee with his fingers.

"The team is currently strong enough, and Archina and the others have returned, so there is no urgent need to add manpower for the time being. Moreover... it's not easy to reunite with Archina and the others, and the next few days... will probably be quite 'busy'."

Luo Jiajun could almost picture the chaotic and erotic scene. Summoning two more new characters at this point would likely make the atmosphere somewhat awkward. Moreover, there were still three characters in the team—Annie Rose, Mizuki Yukikaze, and Zhou Meiling—who hadn't been "conquered" yet, requiring him to spend time and "energy" to win them over.

So Luo Jiajun made a decision: he should keep the summoning points he had for the time being!

We'll see what good stuff they have when the store opens.

Just as Luo Jiajun was weighing his options and lost in thought about points, the mall, and his "happy" life in the next few days, a familiar and charming voice pierced through the discussion in the living room and clearly reached his ears.

"Dear~"

Achina walked to the sofa at some point, leaned down slightly, brought her face close to Luo Jiajun, and curled her red lips into a very seductive smile. "Weren't we discussing room allocation? Look, rooms are so scarce, it's really unrealistic for each of us to have our own. How about... we make do and sleep in the same room? That way, we can save some space."