The highest-level alarm in the Origin Realm Headquarters hall was loud enough to tear the ceiling off.
Red strobe lights flashed across Duo Long's bloodless face. He sprawled over the tactical console, his fingers hammering the panel.
"They've gone mad! All of them!" Duo Long's voice cracked. "Boss! Radar's picked up seventy thousand jump corridors! Every last one is converging on our defenses in the Seventh Star Domain!"
On the holographic star map, the blue marking the safe zone vanished beneath a glaring layer of deep red.
The red tide closed in from every direction, leaving no gaps.
Suspended above the hall, the hulking alien covered in bone armor bared his teeth. He slammed his thick arms together, sending a visible ripple through space.
"Good! I was just looking for somewhere to put this new body's strength to the test!"
Qin Chuan did not move. He rested his chin on one hand and watched the projection.
Harsh static crackled through the communications channel.
Season Star appeared on the backup screen, with artillery fire roaring behind her.
"Guild leader! We've detected a massive Space Collapse!" Season Star spoke rapidly. "Data Heaven intercepted their coordinate streams. Every one of them is targeting Origin Realm Headquarters! Night Cherry Tangle and I are opening a return star gate now!"
Evergreen and Water God joined the channel right after her.
Clutching a heavy tome, Evergreen nearly jumped with urgency. "Guild leader, our scans show at least three Fallen Ones at the Void True God Tier! The headquarters' standard defensive array won't hold. We're coming back right now!"
Qin Chuan pressed a red button on the console.
Access to Origin Realm's outward-facing directional star gates was forcibly locked.
"None of you need to come back," Qin Chuan said calmly.
The channel went quiet for a moment.