Chapter 1 The Beginning
On Octopoid Star, in the Southern Bay region, Zhu Dong and his party hadn't recovered from the shock that their mission was to conquer a group of Octopoid Star inhabitants when they were discovered and faced their first assault.
Dozens of giant octopuses surged towards them.
Many more octopuses, wielding strange weapons, surrounded them.
The area where they landed was a transit point where a large number of Octopoid Star inhabitants were stationed, cultivating and transporting land animals into the ocean for sale.
It was reasonable for land dwellers to enjoy seafood, and for the underwater Octopoid Star inhabitants to enjoy delicacies from the mountains.
Therefore, this area not only had many Octopoid Star inhabitants but also possessed a certain level of weaponry and combat power. Thus, upon discovering a group of obviously intelligent land-based ape-like life forms, they naturally and immediately organized their forces to launch a comprehensive attack on Zhu Dong and his companions.
However, perhaps they intended to capture them alive for study, so they did not employ any weapons with significant lethality.
The primary objective was capture.
Upon discovering this situation, Zhu Dong quickly set up a solar barrier with defensive and counter-attack properties to ward off the crisis, and then urgently asked:
"This is bad. We didn't anticipate the possibility of actual alien life before. What should we do next? Should we try to communicate harmoniously with them?
Or should we counter-attack directly?
Should we be ruthless or not?"
"If we're ruthless, won't we seem too savage? And we want faith, not the lives of our enemies. Why don't we try to communicate with them? Since the Sun Maiden said there are intelligent beings and civilizations, we should be able to communicate!"
"Exactly, exactly. I also think it's better to communicate first, to show we have no ill intentions.
Let's see if we can communicate properly.
If we can, that would be best. If not, then we can counter-attack appropriately, and it won't be too late. Anyway, these Octopoid Star inhabitants are not cultivators, and their technological level doesn't seem very high. We can handle them."
"By the way, Sister Zhu, can you try to reduce the counter-attack power of the solar barrier appropriately? Those few giant octopuses are almost here. I'm worried that the counter-attack force of the solar barrier might directly roast them or turn them into ashes, which would not be conducive to harmonious communication.
Just injure them, but don't kill them.
Oh, and one more thing, everyone remember.
In the future, absolutely do not mention that we have eaten octopus or like to eat octopus. Although the octopuses in our world are probably not the same species as them, and they don't have intelligence, their appearance is similar. It's best not to mention this. After all, we certainly cannot associate with a civilization that has cannibalistic habits. Everyone, please remember."
While the individuals within the barrier whispered and deliberated, the attacks from the giant octopuses outside had already arrived. Zhu Dong, heeding their advice, reduced the solar energy supplying the barrier's counter-attack, lest she kill a few giant octopuses, which would be detrimental to negotiations.
Therefore, when the tentacles of those giant octopuses touched the solar barrier, they only suffered burns, emitting the aroma of carbon-grilled octopus, but did not die.
Furthermore, during the evolution of the Octopoid Star inhabitants in this world, their nervous systems were not distributed to their tentacles. The tentacles were more like limbs with less sensitive nerve responses and pain perception, and they could regrow if severed.
Thus, those giant octopuses merely recoiled in pain and, fundamentally, were not severely injured.
At this moment, Zhu Dong stepped forward.
Activating the translation function of the Solar Token, she said:
"Is this how you treat guests? We do not wish to bring war, but we do not fear war either. Furthermore, we should have no major conflicts of interest. We simply hope to seek mutual assistance.
To achieve mutually beneficial goals.
So, is there anyone in charge who can negotiate?"
The Octopoid Star inhabitants were first shocked to discover that they could understand the words of the bipedal ape-like creature before them, and then they quickly began to whisper amongst themselves. One of them, an apparently superior officer with a light golden hue, ordered his subordinates to report while also telling the other giant and ordinary octopuses who were preparing to attack to temporarily retreat.
Then, he took a horn-like object from the tentacle of a nearby blue octopus and said loudly:
"Those who come uninvited are not considered guests.
However, we are not unreasonable. Please state your origin, specific identity, and exact numbers. I clearly recall that a few years ago, we personally surveyed all areas on land and found no intelligent life, let alone any civilization. Where exactly did you come from?
Since we are engaging in peaceful negotiations, please show some sincerity."
Of course, the original words of the light golden octopus were not exactly like this, but the Solar Token provided by Ding Yun translated it as such. The meaning was not significantly different.
It was a literal, word-for-word translation.
It sounded even more awkward and difficult to understand than dubbed dialogue.
"Uh...
We come from beyond the heavens, by the will of the Sun Goddess, descending upon your planet, solely to spread the faith and blessings of the Sun Goddess. Do you understand?
In other words, we are here to proselytize.
Do you understand religion? Do you have the habit of believing in any deities, making devout wishes, uh, how should I describe it, worshipping deities, the sun..."
Since they were not facing humans, and she was unsure if the term "deity" existed on Octopoid Star, Zhu Dong tried her best to explain in a more understandable way.
However, she underestimated the translation capabilities of the Solar Token.
The light golden octopus understood the translated content from the Solar Token with great ease and said disdainfully: "You don't need to speak so strangely and awkwardly.
I understand what you mean.
You are a group of aliens, right? Interpreting your words, that should be the meaning. However, you are not invading directly, but conducting a missionary invasion. Deities are merely ignorant old ideas.
Don't think that by covering yourselves with this guise, I won't know your true intention is to invade our planet, and you guys should just be the vanguard.
Even if your technology is more advanced than ours.
We will never surrender!"
These Octopoid Star inhabitants had also once believed in abstract deities like gods of the sea. However, ever since technology began to emerge and develop, they became less enthusiastic about faith. Although it had not been completely eradicated, believers were very few.
Moreover, the light golden octopus did not believe that a civilization capable of traveling to other life-bearing planets would still believe in so-called deities. Therefore, he naturally assumed that Zhu Dong's talk of proselytizing was merely a guise for invasion.
He believed he had seen through the schemes of these bipedal apes and quickly gestured for the forces that had just retreated to advance again and continue their attack.