The battle in Star System Number 5 had always been extremely intense. Compared to the war in the capital star system, this battlefield was what truly resembled a war of the interstellar era.
Millions of warships, countless clusters of interstellar mines, various space fortresses, and all kinds of defensive weapons… endless artillery fire, endless flashes, both visible and invisible, raged across this small star system.
The China, the United States, and the Russia, three Nation-Class spaceships equipped with spatial weapons, were here. Alongside them were the Nepal, the Thailand, the Indonesia, the Korea, and other Nation-Class ships of a slightly lower tier. This was a war of direct confrontation, nothing fancy. Strength determined the outcome. All schemes and stratagems were useless here.
Xiao Yu’s strength held the advantage. Therefore, the situation on the battlefield was slightly more favorable to him. If he fought steadily, within at most three months Xiao Yu could occupy this entire star system. But Xiao Yu did not plan to proceed that way.
Because… there was not enough time. Traveling from Star System Number 5 to the capital star system required at least three months, and Xiao Yu could not be certain when the Guardian Civilization’s reinforcement fleet would arrive.
This meant Xiao Yu had to finish the battle quickly. He needed to seize the time to eliminate the Molian Civilization’s remaining forces here, then rush to reinforce the capital star system. In fact, the garrisons of the four star systems Xiao Yu had already occupied had all set out toward the capital star system. But because the distance was too great, Xiao Yu did not expect them to be able to change the course of the battle. The forces of those four star systems were only to prepare for the worst.
“Then… I must take a risk.” Xiao Yu thought silently.
What determined the ownership of a star system? Without question, the planets. In Star System Number 5, there was only one planet. Whoever controlled that planet controlled the star system.
“I will launch a surprise attack on this planet.” Xiao Yu declared. “I intend to take the China, the United States, and the Russia, three Nation-Class warships equipped with spatial weapons, along with several other Nation-Class warships not equipped with spatial weapons, as the vanguard. We will force our way directly to this planet, destroying all Molian Civilization military facilities on it. Without energy replenishment, their forces will become like water without a source. Eliminating their defensive systems in this star system will then become a simple matter.”
“This is too dangerous!” Luka Two was the first to react, utterly shocked by Xiao Yu’s plan. “If we do this, we could easily fall into the enemy’s encirclement. Not only attacked from front and back, but subjected to a full three-dimensional assault from all sides! One mistake and the advantageous situation we’ve built could be overturned, even leading to complete annihilation!”“Time does not allow us to drag this out. The capital star system’s situation is already at a point of utmost urgency.” Xiao Yu shook his head, his expression calm and unchanging. “My mind is made up. Whether or not we obtain the complete Level 5 Civilization technological tree will determine our future. I worked hard to pacify the Guardian Civilization, to make them temporarily give up the thought of destroying us. Such a rare opportunity cannot be wasted.”
“Have you… considered an escape route?” one Military Committee member asked cautiously.
“That is not something you need to concern yourselves with.” Xiao Yu said with a faint smile. “I have confidence I can make the Guardian Civilization give up pursuing us.”
“Sigh.” Several committee members let out a heavy sigh. Exchanging glances with one another, they said no more.
“Very well. I will now begin executing my plan…” Xiao Yu said gravely.
In Star System Number 5, the previously scattered, unbridled Nation-Class warships began to converge toward a single point. Xiao Yu’s maneuver immediately caught the Molian Civilization’s attention. Countless enemy warships swarmed toward them, and even several of the Molian Civilization’s own Nation-Class warships began to converge on the area.
The current situation was clear to both Xiao Yu and the Molian Civilization’s garrison. The victory or defeat in Star System Number 5 determined the fate of the capital star system. And the gain or loss of the capital star system, to a large extent, meant the very survival or destruction of the Molian Civilization.
Thus, they had to preserve their remaining forces, to pin down Xiao Yu’s strength here and prevent these warships from rushing to reinforce the capital star system. And what Xiao Yu needed to do was precisely the opposite, wipe out the Molian Civilization’s warships here so he could free up his strength to support the battle at the capital star system. This was an irreconcilable contradiction, and when contradictions could not be reconciled, only strength could decide the outcome.
The might of Nation-Class warships was unstoppable. The gathering of the Molian warships had not prevented the China and other Nation-Class ships from converging. After three hours of maneuvering, more than ten Nation-Class warships, each with their escorts, had gathered together. This force now numbered 400,000 ships.
Within these 400,000 ships were also 100,000 newly built warships from Xiao Yu’s bases in recent months. These ships, fully loaded with energy and supplies, had spent months traveling across several light-years before finally reaching Star System Number 5. In fact, it was the arrival of these supply ships that gave Xiao Yu the material foundation to launch this surprise attack.
These 100,000 supply ships would accompany the assault fleet, providing it with continuous replenishment.
Elsewhere, Xiao Yu’s fleets still fought hard, tying down the Molian forces and minimizing their interference with the assault fleet. For the time being, the results were fairly good.
“Assembly complete. Time to move out.” Xiao Yu ordered. And so, the force of 400,000 ships, led by more than ten Nation-Class warships, advanced forward.
At this moment, these 400,000 ships were less than five billion kilometers away from the planet. Such a short distance, in Xiao Yu’s eyes, was negligible, like lifting a foot to cross a step. But now, this five-billion-kilometer road had become a true journey of death.
Countless obstacles awaited Xiao Yu along the way. Interstellar mine clusters were only minor troubles, enough to cause some inconvenience, but not enough to stop him. Interstellar fortresses, though powerful, lacked mobility and could be dealt with. Various other star system defense weapons, all could be destroyed. The only true obstruction was the Molian warships, which were now fighting with reckless desperation.
They seemed to have realized Xiao Yu’s intent, to seize the planet by surprise, claim the star system in the shortest possible time, annihilate their forces, and then free up power to reinforce the capital star system. To them, this was absolutely unacceptable.
So the Molian soldiers went mad.
Though, due to the restraint of Xiao Yu’s other fleets, they could not concentrate too many forces here, they still managed to gather less than 300,000 warships and only two Nation-Class ships. But it did not matter. Lack of strength could be made up for with madness and sacrifice, and the Molian soldiers perfectly embodied this principle.
“Since you’ve come to die, then I’ll see to it.” Xiao Yu thought coldly as he drove his massive fleet forward.
The defense and firepower of Nation-Class warships were unparalleled. Xiao Yu no longer had the luxury of treasuring them. He decisively placed the United States, the Russia, and several other Nation-Class ships at the very front. While shielding the fleet behind them, their immense firepower carved a bloody path forward.
The Molian warships were like endless swarms of mosquitoes. For blood, mosquitoes cared nothing for their own lives. And to stop Xiao Yu’s advance, these warships likewise disregarded survival. They dared to face the overwhelming firepower of Nation-Class ships without dodging, even if it meant being destroyed in the next second. Their only purpose was to expend their ammunition and slightly slow the advance of Xiao Yu’s fleet…
This was the clash of blood and fire. On this brutal battlefield woven of both, lives and ships were reduced to nothing more than numbers.
“The Indonesia Nation-Class ship has been destroyed.” Xiao Yu felt a trace of gloom. Other than the Japan, this was the second Nation-Class ship to be destroyed. The Molian Civilization had truly achieved what few thought possible, using swarms of small ships to overwhelm and destroy a Nation-Class ship.
“The Thailand has been destroyed.”
That was the third Nation-Class ship.
“The Korea has been destroyed…”
That was the fourth.
Xiao Yu had chosen the most dangerous path, but one with the greatest potential rewards. Now, the price of this choice was laid bare.
Three Nation-Class ships destroyed in succession. More than a hundred Province-Class ships lost. Such losses could not merely be described as ‘heavy.’ But with cost came gain, with risk came reward, and now Xiao Yu had his reward.
The planet was right before him, less than 100,000 kilometers away.
Of the 400,000 warships, fewer than 250,000 remained. And those 250,000, like death’s reapers emerging from hell, carrying the aura of annihilation, descended upon the planet.