Just one City-Class spaceship alone was enough to restrain all 350,000 of Xiao Yu’s warships. This was the indescribable might of a Level 6 Civilization. Indeed, Xiao Yu’s fleet of 350,000 was completely tied down, if he relaxed even slightly, the result could be the destruction of a Province-Class or even a Nation-Class spaceship. Because of this, Xiao Yu dared not loosen his guard for even an instant, nor could he spare the attention to attack the Molian Civilization capital planet’s planetary shield system. The reason was simple, launching attacks on the planetary shield system might cause his fleet’s defenses to weaken, and that momentary weakening could provide the Level 6 Civilization’s City-Class spaceship the perfect chance to strike.
“Victory is right before me. I don’t believe this obstacle is one I cannot overcome.” Xiao Yu thought silently as he maneuvered his fleet, continuing to struggle in the contest.
The situation now was extremely delicate. The fewer than 100,000 Molian warships remaining combined could not exert even half the impact of that single City-Class spaceship. At this moment, they were attempting to seize the opportunity, attacking Xiao Yu’s fleet while most of his strength was pinned down. Xiao Yu had no choice but to reallocate forces that had originally been used to guard against the Guardian Civilization’s ship, in order to deal with these troublesome flies.
The exchanges of blows were as swift as falcons and hares, and Xiao Yu had already taken complete command of the fleet. Only now did the members of the Military Committee and Luka Two begin to react.
“Master, Master, what is happening?” Luka Two asked anxiously.
“Nothing, just a small accident. I can handle it.” Xiao Yu replied calmly. “I have already linked with the scientists aboard Home Forty One, and they are analyzing the combat strength of this Guardian Civilization spaceship.”
“It launched attacks against us?” Luka Two asked.
“Yes.” Xiao Yu hesitated slightly before continuing, “It has indeed attacked us. But I can sense that it has no intention of killing us outright. Otherwise, the Heaven’s Kingdom would already have been destroyed. It seems it merely wants to pin us down, to demonstrate its might, so that it can subdue us.”
Indeed, this was exactly as Xiao Yu said. The Heaven’s Kingdom was also a combat warship, and a very powerful one at that. Compared to ships like the Nepal and the Thailand, the Heaven’s Kingdom was no weaker. But when facing this City-Class spaceship, it had no certainty of victory.
“This is actually a good situation.” Xiao Yu said. “If it doesn’t intend to annihilate us but only to subdue us, then we can use this to our advantage. I don’t believe its energy is limitless. Sooner or later, its reserves will be exhausted. At that time, I want to see what other trump cards the Molian Civilization has to stop us.”“Master, without a doubt, this Guardian Civilization City-Class spaceship is using a brand-new shield system. This shield… seems to work by creating overlapping and distorted space around the ship. It has some similarities to our Four-Dimensional Shield, though the Four-Dimensional Shield is in fact more powerful than this one.”
At this moment, Xiao Yu received reports from Luka Three, Luka Four, and Senya.
“Master, its attack method is without question spatial weaponry. The spatial fluctuations seem to work by disturbing space to twist the hull of the target ship, eventually tearing it apart. As for that black curtain-like attack, our analysis suggests it operates on the principle of Fractured Space, only instead of a line, it extends across an entire surface. Compared to Fractured Space, this attack is even more powerful.”
“Master, its propulsion system cannot be deduced. Based on the energy expenditure required for spatial weapons, even if this spaceship converted all of its mass into energy, it still wouldn’t be enough. Therefore, there are only two possible explanations, one, it can draw energy from the void itself; or two, they have mastered a simpler and more energy-efficient method of fracturing space…”
“Master…”
A flood of intelligence gathered in Xiao Yu’s mind, making his mood heavier still.
“Divine Ark Civilization, I am not an opponent you can contend against. Abandon these unrealistic thoughts. Give up your attack on the Molian Civilization. Submit yourselves to our Guardian Civilization. The losses you have suffered, we will provide some compensation for…”
If Xiao Yu had not long since known the true face of the Guardian Civilization, he might well have been swayed by this speech. But the situation now was different. Xiao Yu always remembered how the intelligent races under his command had once been forced into labor under the Guardian Civilization, days without hope, without a future, without a tomorrow. Not even for a single day did Xiao Yu wish to live like that. He still remembered Tianyuan IV exploding under the attack of the Guardian Civilization, still remembered those desperate days of fleeing under their oppression…
The Guardian Civilization was already an enemy in Xiao Yu’s heart, no different from the Sweepers. Once he grew strong enough, he would find them and destroy them.
“Honored Envoy, we have no wish to offend your dignity. We know well that compared to you, we are as insignificant as ants. But please, listen to the voice of our hearts. The Molian Civilization is the life-and-death enemy of our Divine Ark Civilization. To destroy them, our civilization has endured humiliation for an untold length of time. Now, with victory in sight, not a single person in our civilization could ever give up. Once the Molian Civilization is destroyed, our Divine Ark Civilization is willing to become your slaves, to contribute to the development of the Guardian Civilization.” Xiao Yu spoke in an extremely humble tone.
“I still cannot agree to this. Even if you show such determination, I cannot allow you to destroy the Molian Civilization. Then let us see… let us see how long you can endure…”
Amidst the fierce battle, the City-Class spaceship moved as leisurely as a stroll in the garden, flashing about from place to place. Even as it shifted at high speed, its words reached directly into Xiao Yu’s mind.
Xiao Yu exhaled softly.
“I’ve managed to stall it for now. In the short term, we are not in danger. Now, the question is the battle in Star System Number 5. Will we first wipe out the resistance forces there and free enough fleets to reinforce us, or will the Guardian Civilization’s reinforcements arrive first…”
“Though it has not yet used its full power, by my estimation, at most it can handle 500,000 warships. But 1.3 million warships, it cannot possibly restrain that many with only one ship.”
Meanwhile, on the planet below, in the Supreme Conference Hall, the Minister of Civil Affairs spoke solemnly, “Honored Envoy, the energy replenishment device you required has been completed. You may come here to replenish your energy at any time.”
“Very good. My energy consumption has already reached the warning threshold. For now, it will fall upon your strength to restrain the Divine Ark Civilization. I will need half an hour.”
“Please be assured.” the Minister of Civil Affairs replied.
In space, Xiao Yu’s fleet continued struggling to track the City-Class ship’s movements, continuing their attacks. But suddenly, the ship vanished.
The tachyon detection network reported with clarity, at that moment, the City-Class ship had returned to the planet’s surface. In his heart, Xiao Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
“Finally can’t hold on anymore? Back to replenish its energy? Good. Very good. Then begin the attack, break the planetary shield system…”
With the restraint of the City-Class spaceship gone, the full combat strength of the 350,000 biological army warships burst forth. Under Xiao Yu’s control, all weapons locked onto the planet and began indiscriminate bombardment.
To cover an entire planet with a shield system was a colossal undertaking. Xiao Yu had researched similar systems before, so he understood well the technological details.
The planetary shield system was supported by hundreds of thousands of bases built across the planet’s surface. In Xiao Yu’s design studies, each base covered no less than ten square kilometers. With such massive bases, coupled with the near-infinite energy drawn from the planet, how powerful would the shield it projected be?
Though Xiao Yu had never actually built one, he knew such a planetary shield could not be breached in a short time. But he was not worried. The Guardian Civilization’s City-Class spaceship had gone to replenish energy. Since it needed to replenish, that proved its reserves were not infinite. And if there was a first time, there would be a second and a third. Once it happened enough times, Xiao Yu’s assaults on the planetary shield would have gone on long enough. One day, he would break through.
Over 90,000 Molian warships surged forward, desperately attacking the biological army’s fleet, trying to hold them back and ease the pressure on the planetary shield system. Naturally, Xiao Yu would show no mercy. Defeated remnants, they were only fit to be destroyed.
This was an even bloodier battle. Once again, Xiao Yu deeply experienced the culture and spirit of the Molian Civilization. To relieve the pressure on the planetary shield, these warships fought with no regard for their lives. Perishing together with the enemy was the most common scene. Xiao Yu believed that if the total death of their entire fleet could secure the planet’s safety, they would, without hesitation, commit collective suicide.
Dealing with these remnants did not require much of Xiao Yu’s computational power or focus. At this moment, his attention turned once more to Star System Number 5. The battle there had already reached its most critical moment…