Chapter 390: The Great War Breaks Out
Chapter 390: Chapter 390: The Great War Breaks Out
"No buts. Space is unstable right now, so starship travel and teleportation are both unsafe. Where could you even send me? The most important thing is to understand the situation first. I’ll adapt as needed," Ning Xuan said, pinching Lan Xin’s cheek.
"Yes, Master. Put on this protective suit and be sure to stay close to me." Lan Xin knew Ning Xuan was right. He handed her a light-blue protective suit and invited her to come along; it was more reassuring to have her by his side.
The suit Lan Xin handed Ning Xuan was the latest "Aurora-7 Series" protective suit, capable of withstanding most radiation and energy impacts in space.
"All combat units, report your current status," Lan Xin commanded via the internal comms system.
"Reporting, Commander. The Rocket Fleet has reached the designated position," Zhao Peng’s voice came through the comms.
"Reporting, Commander. The Mechanical Armor Camp has reached its designated position," Zhou Shi reported at the same time.
"Reporting..."
Lan Xin stood on the bridge of the flagship, the *Blue Snake*, listening to his subordinates’ reports. With a swipe and push of his fingers, a massive Water Mirror materialized, hanging above everyone’s heads like a giant moon.
The Water Mirror displayed a pitch-black spatial rift and the savage Exotic Beasts that poured out of it continuously. Just as expected, the beasts were wreathed in a dense black fog, giving them a sinister appearance.
"All units, engage. Prepare for combat."
"Launch the scout drones. Tech division, stand by to receive data."
Black scout drones shot through the void like birds, their propulsion systems emitting a low hum.
The energy-detecting cameras they carried would transmit real-time energy fluctuations from the front lines, allowing the tech division to analyze the destructive power Level of each type of Exotic Beast.
After the scout drones were launched, rows of interstellar battleships powered up. Their engines flared with faint blue exhaust, and on their heavy armored plates, Energy Shield generators began to hum. Each interstellar battleship was flanked by guardian vessels, cruisers, and destroyers. These support ships spread out in a fan formation, creating small combat units with their capital ships.
The *Blue Snake* was a colossal, multi-functional battleship equipped with powerful offensive systems and the highest-Level defenses. Ning Xuan stood half a step behind Lan Xin, watching as he issued one command after another. In the massive Water Mirror hanging in the air, roaring volleys of cannon fire appeared, hurtling toward the swarm of Exotic Beasts.
Barrages of laser weapons also swept across the horde of Exotic Beasts.
Guided by the Water Mirror’s targeting data, the weapon systems’ attacks were extremely precise. Swaths of Exotic Beasts were annihilated under the bombardment of laser weapons and cannon fire. After an Exotic Beast died, the black fog wreathed around its body gradually faded.
Just as Ning Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, the ship’s warning system suddenly let out a piercing shriek, and everyone tensed up.
"Commander, massive energy fluctuations detected near the spatial rift! The alert system mapping indicates the presence of a large, High-Level Starry Sky Beast." The report came through to Lan Xin.
In the Water Mirror, a red dot within the pitch-black spatial rift rapidly expanded. Something was about to burst through.
"Artillery batteries, target that red dot! Fire immediately! Mechanical Armor Camp, prepare to deploy! All battleships, full shields! Maintain defensive posture!" The moment Lan Xin’s command fell, the thing burst through the spatial rift, revealing its true form.
Seeing its true form, Ning Xuan gasped.
It was a Starry Sky Beast hundreds of meters long, its form resembling a giant lizard from ancient legends. Its entire body was covered in silver-white scales, each one as sharp as a sword.
It opened its massive maw and roared, spewing out a wave of scorching hot air.
The blast wave was like a monstrous flood, crashing down in an instant. The three outermost destroyers were instantly vaporized; their shields hadn’t held for even a second.
"Mechanical Armor Camp, full retreat! Laser battleship crews, abandon ship and eject!" Lan Xin swiftly commanded.
The battleships equipped with laser weapons accelerated too slowly; the warriors aboard had to abandon ship to have any chance of survival.
The order was executed swiftly. Immediately after, the blast wave engulfed the positions of the Mechanical Armor Camp and the laser battleships. Struck by the scorching heat, the massive warships erupted in a violent explosion with a deafening BOOM.
"Commander, the 3rd and 7th Mecha Squads of the Mechanical Armor Camp have been wiped out. The other squads escaped, but most have sustained heavy injuries. The laser battleships are destroyed. We have ten operators killed and thirteen critically wounded." The voice of the officer reporting trembled.
The Mechanical Armor Camp was comprised of 300 Mecha Warriors, with 30 to a squad. Now, 60 were dead, and over 200 more were severely injured.
In the Water Mirror, the Exotic Beast twisted its body elegantly, its silver scales glinting. Its cold eyes radiated a malice so terrifying it was suffocating.
An invisible miasma of fear began to spread, and Lan Xin could feel morale plummeting.
"Master, many of the warriors are grievously injured. Could you..." Lan Xin looked at Ning Xuan.
"Leave it to me. Don’t worry," Ning Xuan said. "As long as they’re still breathing, I can bring them back." With that, she turned and walked toward the rear of the flagship.
The medical bay was located in the center of the *Blue Snake*, and all the wounded were being sent there.
As Ning Xuan made her way to the medical bay, Lan Xin mobilized his Bloodline Energy and unleashed his Talent Skill: "Boundless Illusion Sea."
Invisible ripples spread out from Lan Xin, passing through the metal bulkheads and across the void of space to reach deep into the soul of every warrior.
In an instant, their fear was dispelled, replaced by a primal will to fight.
Gunners found their aim had become preternaturally precise. Warriors felt their strength and reaction speeds multiply. Even the Mecha pilots felt as if their control sticks had become extensions of their own bodies.
Hundreds of armor-piercing missiles trailed flames as they streaked toward the Exotic Beast. The battleships’ main cannons fired in unison. Mecha Warriors, alongside Half-Beastman Warriors who had reverted to their true bestial forms, charged the colossal monster as one.
Despite everyone’s coordinated assault, the Exotic Beast’s defenses were simply too formidable. Missiles that could easily pierce armor detonated right next to her, yet failed to cause even a scratch.
Lan Xin leaped and flew into the void. His body began to transform mid-flight: bones stretched, skin became covered in ice-blue scales, and translucent, membranous wings unfurled from his back.
When the thirty-meter-long body of the fully transformed Ice-winged Blue Snake coiled through space, the Starry Sky Beast froze, as if it had just encountered its natural predator.
Under the starlight, the scales of the Ice-winged Blue Snake flowed like liquid gems—a pure, ultimate blue of breathtaking beauty. Without a moment’s hesitation, it slammed into the Starry Sky Beast, and the two became locked in combat.