r18novel Chapter 259 Earth Expedition, The Sword is Drawn
Chapter 259 Earth Expedition, The Sword is Drawn
The atmosphere in the Moon Shield system command center was extremely tense.
A huge holographic star map occupied the center of the entire hall.
All eyes were focused on that ever-extending red flight path, a path that represented the threat of death.
"Operation 'Sharp Sword' activated!"
"First, Third, and Fifth Starfleets, disengage from standby status. All personnel, return to your positions immediately!"
"The main engine of the 'Pangu'-class flagship is warming up, energy filling to 30%, 50%, 80%..."
"The Nuwa-class supply ship, equipped with a high-energy reactor and a backup dimensional stabilizing anchor, is ready to rendezvous with the main fleet!"
One command after another was issued from Su Chen's mouth in an orderly manner.
With the help of the "Prophet," the message was instantly transmitted to every warship unit in lunar and Earth orbits.
The entire military force of the Earth, like a sophisticated giant that has been instantly activated, began to operate at high speed.
Chen Zhou's figure appeared directly beside Su Chen through spatial teleportation.
He looked at the information on the star map, his expression equally serious.
"Is the situation that urgent?"
"A madman wants to detonate a nuclear bomb on our doorstep."
Su Chen explained succinctly, "We must snatch his lighter before he can light it."
Chen Zhou took a deep breath; he fully understood what this meant.
This was the first true "expedition" of human civilization.
It's not about going to any planet in the solar system, but about traversing unimaginable distances to enter a completely unfamiliar star system marked as "extremely dangerous," in order to intercept a seasoned interstellar veteran.
The risks involved are self-evident.
"Can our temporary wormhole technology support such a long-distance point jump?" Chen Zhou asked the most crucial question.
Conventional warp drive would make it impossible to reach the "Sea of the Dead" within three days.
Their only hope lies in the "temporary space warping" technology, which they deciphered from the Star Eater Cult and which is still in the experimental stage.
"Theoretically possible, but the risk is extremely high."
The prophet's voice rang in their ears: "Space warping over extremely long distances will drastically reduce stability. The coordinates of the jump exit may have an error of millions of kilometers."
"Moreover, during the jump, there is a 5% chance that the fleet will encounter unpredictable spatial turbulence."
Five percent.
This number is almost equivalent to a high-stakes gamble for a massive fleet consisting of hundreds of warships.
If they fail, the entire fleet could be torn to pieces and lost forever in the warp.
"We have no choice." Su Chen's gaze remained unwavering.
"Shadow has risked his life, and we must risk our skills too. Chen Zhou, we need your strength this time."
Chen Zhou nodded without hesitation: "Understood. I will do my best to stabilize the spatial structure at the warp exit and provide coordinate corrections for the fleet's smooth passage."
The existence of a space-type ability user is the biggest trump card in this high-stakes gamble.
"Fleet assembled!"
"Construction of temporary space warp points begins!"
In a secret dock on the far side of the moon, a massive behemoth, composed of hundreds of ring-shaped devices, began to hum softly.
At the center of the installation, space begins to twist and fold violently, and an extremely unstable "hole" emitting a ghostly blue light is slowly taking shape.
On the bridge of the "Pangu"-class flagship, Su Chen sat in the captain's seat, calmly observing everything before him.
"All fleets, form a cone formation and enter the warp portal in sequence!"
"Expeditionary fleet, set sail!"
With his command, the Earth fleet, led by the "Pangu", began its attack.
Like an arrow released from a bow, it plunged headlong into that twisted wormhole filled with unknown dangers.
……
The outer edge of the "Sea of the Dead" star system.
This is a desolate cosmic space, devoid of any stars, only countless fragmented planetary debris and cold interstellar dust, drifting around like ghosts.
This is the battlefield ruins of a powerful ancient civilization. The dense death energy and chaotic fragments of laws have turned this place into a forbidden zone for life.
The Shadow's "Shadow Claw" is currently struggling to break free from a jump.
Several more deep cracks, visible to the bone, appeared on the surface of the ship, and several engines had completely shut down, emitting black smoke.
"Cough cough... We've finally arrived."
Shadow, supporting himself on the control panel, coughed up a mouthful of blood mixed with black clots.
His face was as pale as paper; clearly, the continuous forced jumps had brought him and his flagship to their limits.
But his bloodshot eyes burned with excitement and pleasure.
"I did it! I successfully escaped those idiots from the Star-Eating Cult! They'd never imagine I'd end up in this godforsaken place!"
He stared at the enormous gas giant on the star map, which exuded an ominous aura, and a sinister smile spread across his face.
"Star Bone Giant Devourer...you sleeping behemoth, I've come to feed you!"
He was ready to give the order for the flagship to make a final charge toward that planet.
Just then, a sharp, distorted scream rang out from inside the bridge!
"Captain! High-energy spatial fluctuations detected! Right behind us, less than 500,000 kilometers away! A... a large fleet is breaking out of warp!"
"What?!" Ghost Shadow exclaimed in surprise.
"The Star-Eating Cult has caught up? Impossible! They couldn't be this fast!"
He immediately switched the main screen to the background.
In that desolate void, a blue spatial opening, a hundred times more stable than when he had just escaped, was rapidly expanding.
Then, one, two, ten... hundreds of warships covered in dark gold armor, with sleek and powerful lines.
Like an iron legion emerging from hell, they drove out of the wormhole in an orderly fashion!
The flagship at the head of the fleet was even larger than his "Shadow Claw".
The azure emblem on the bow, composed of gears and ears of wheat, which he had never seen before, exuded a cold and majestic aura.
The fleet appeared without the slightest confusion. Its formation was impeccable, and its movements were perfectly synchronized.
The cannons of all the warships locked onto the lone, wrecked Shadow the moment they broke free of warp jumps.
The overwhelming aura of death, composed of countless steel and cannon fire, made the hairs on Youying's body stand on end!
"Whose fleet is this...whose fleet is this?!" Shadow's mind went blank.
This is not the Star Eater Cult!
Their warships were filled with eerie and chaotic runes, unlike the orderly and technologically aesthetic appearance before us.
This was neither the Galactic Council's peacekeeping force nor any interstellar civilization he knew!
A new civilization?
An indigenous person who crawled out from some primitive corner of the solar system?
Are you kidding me!
Looking at the hundreds of energy shields flashing with dangerous light, and at the main guns with frighteningly large calibers that had already begun charging.
For the first time, Shadow felt that things... were completely different from what he had imagined.
He thought he was a hunter, here to hunt down a sleeping beast.
Little did he know that he had already become the prey of another group of hunters.
"Warning! A communication request has been sent!"
Before Shadow could recover from the shock, a cold, emotionless voice resounded throughout his bridge via the public channel.
"Shadow, or rather, 'Original Owner'. Your plan for destruction ends here."
"Shut down the engine immediately and give up the fight. Otherwise, we will wipe you and your pile of scrap metal off the face of the earth."
That voice belonged to Su Chen!