The civilians in the settlement began to whoop and cheer. Some walked out to bask in the brisk wind and sunlight, confirming that they didn't see even a single bug in the vicinity.

In the past, the bugs had been so prevalent that they extended as far as the eye could see. Now, however, all that remained was the familiar landscape of Mars.

Some of the civilians were so agitated that they began to bawl, while others ran around madly outside the settlement like crazed fools. All around them were smiles of relief and joy that they had survived this nightmarish ordeal, that they would no longer have to live in fear of the bugs that threatened to encroach upon them at every corner. The news that Zhang Lie and the members of Team Zenith brought back was an incredible boon.

Many...