Attack

Iron Mountain said in a deep, muffled voice.

"This is more like it."

Shadow remained silent, but his body tensed slightly.

Spirit Wind walked over to Qian Yu and spoke softly.

"First real battle. Nervous?"

Qian Yu shook his head.

"I'm fine."

Shuang'er leaned closer, blinking her big eyes.

"Don't be afraid, Qian Yu. I'll protect you."

Qian Yu rolled his eyes.

"Alright, then make sure you protect me properly. Don't end up needing me to save you."

Shuang Yue walked to the console and brought up a star map.

"The Dark Star Realm consists of three main planets and countless dangerous regions. From this cleared area to our target, we still have more than two months of flying ahead of us. During those two months, we'll be traveling through all kinds of dangerous places. A battle could break out at any time."

She paused and looked at Qian Yu and the others.

"There are eight people in our squad. Even the shortest-serving among you has spent more than... well, Qian Yu, you just arrived. But all the other veterans came up from being recruits. If a fight breaks out later, don't hold us back."

You Meng smiled.

"The captain is still as straightforward as ever."

Qian Yu nodded.

"Understood."

Two months later.

Deep within the Dark Star Realm, inside an asteroid belt.

The Seventh Elite Squad's spacecraft docked beside the wreckage of a massive abandoned ship.

The wreckage was enormous, over a hundred kilometers long. Its surface was covered in scars left by battle, clearly having been destroyed long ago.

"We'll rest here for the time being."

Shuang Yue gave the order.

"Shadow, keep watch."

Everyone entered the wreckage.

The interior was a complete mess, but it was suitable enough as a temporary base.

They found a relatively intact cabin. After a simple cleanup, they each settled down to rest.

Qian Yu leaned against the cabin wall and closed his eyes to rest.

Suddenly, Shadow shifted slightly.

"Something's wrong."

Everyone's eyes snapped open.

Shuang Yue's body tensed sharply, and a fierce glint flashed through her pale violet eyes.

"Everyone, attention! Prepare for battle—"

Before she could finish—

Boom!!!

Dozens of thick energy beams suddenly tore through the wreckage's hull, shooting straight toward the group.

Qian Yu's pupils contracted as he retreated instantly.

Rumble—!

The entire wreckage exploded in an instant. Terrifying shockwaves mixed with countless metal fragments swept in every direction.

The surrounding asteroids were shattered by the blast, while flames surged into the sky.

Eight figures burst from the explosion almost simultaneously and gathered in the void.

"It's the Mechanical Race."

Shuang Yue scanned their surroundings, her voice low.

"Everyone, be careful."

Mad Blade grinned, though there was no amusement in his eyes.

"Tch, these guys who love hiding in the shadows again."

You Meng frowned as she looked around.

Amid the shattered asteroid belt, metallic glints flickered faintly.

"No..."

Shuang Yue's expression changed drastically.

"This is bad. It's the Thunder Prison Realm the Mechanical Race often uses—we've fallen into a trap!"

"What?"

Iron Mountain rumbled.

"Our detectors didn't pick up anything at all?"

Spirit Wind's expression was grave.

"The Mechanical Race's detection technology is far beyond ours..."

Shuang Yue looked at Shadow.

"Shadow, see if you can find his location!"

"Yes, Captain!"

Shadow closed his eyes, his body trembling slightly as his senses spread outward in an instant.

Just then—

Boom boom boom!!!

Dozens of asteroids ahead suddenly exploded, revealing huge escort craft hidden within.

The escort craft were each a hundred meters long. Their cannons aimed at the group and began unleashing firepower wildly.

Countless energy beams poured down like torrential rain.

"Spread out!"

Everyone scattered at once, moving at high speed through the void.

Though the barrage was dense, it was not easy for it to hit Realm Lord War Generals like them.

But the next moment!

Batch after batch of Mechanical Puppets suddenly surged out from the shattered asteroid belt around them.

The puppets were silver-white all over, their eyes glowing red. They came flooding in like a tidal wave, at least ten thousand of them.

"They're E9 Mechanical Puppets!"

Shuang Yue spoke in a deep voice.

"Everyone, be careful. These puppets aren't strong individually, but there are too many of them. Qian Yu, use heavy strikes to destroy their cores. There's no need to waste time completely destroying them."

Qian Yu nodded.

"Understood."

Shuang Yue pointed with her shortsword.

"Destroy every one of these puppets! Let that Mechanical Race bastard learn the price of provoking the Seventh Elite Squad!"

"Yes!!"

Everyone roared and shot off in every direction.

Boom boom boom boom boom boom!!

Mad Blade swung his war blade into a blur of saber light. Wherever it passed, Mechanical Puppets were severed one after another.

Iron Mountain threw out his fists, each punch smashing three to five puppets apart.

You Meng darted through the mist, and any puppet she touched instantly lost power.

Spirit Wind's telekinetic weapons turned into streams of light that precisely pierced the cores of one puppet after another.

Shuang'er's support light covered the battlefield, boosting everyone's speed and strength.

Shadow flickered through the shadows, and every appearance left another puppet falling.

"Hahahaha!"

Mad Blade laughed loudly.

"You dared provoke our squad? You're going to lose big today!"

You Meng laughed as well.

"As long as we destroy enough Mechanical Puppets, that Mechanical Race will feel the pain and come out on his own. E9 Puppets aren't cheap to make!"

Iron Mountain rumbled.

"Then destroy more!"

Qian Yu began to move as well.

Hundreds of Mechanical Puppets surged toward him, so densely packed that they nearly blocked his vision.

He raised his hand!

Then slashed.

In an instant, countless blade lights appeared in the void.

Swish swish swish swish swish!!!

Wherever the blade lights passed, those E9 Mechanical Puppets were like paper, instantly cut in half.

Sparks flew from their severed bodies, and every core was shattered.

In a single instant, the hundreds of puppets before him were all split in two.

Everyone else was stunned.

"Holy shit!"

Mad Blade's eyes widened.

"He cut E9 Mechanical Puppets in half just like that? What kind of attack power is this?!"

You Meng sucked in a cold breath.

"One slash, hundreds of them... What terrifying attack power."

Iron Mountain rumbled.

"Stronger than me."

Spirit Wind's mouth twitched.

"Just who the hell is this guy..."

Shuang'er waved excitedly.

"Qian Yu, you're amazing!"

Qian Yu ignored their shock and raised a hand to store all the severed puppets in his World Ring.

They were all spoils of war. Then his figure flashed, and he continued slaughtering.

"Hahahaha!"

Mad Blade laughed loudly.

"I didn't expect you to be this strong, Qian Yu! Keep going, everyone! Make that Mechanical Race die of heartache!"

Although Qian Yu was a Realm Lord War General, none of them had ever seen him fight before.

But now, it seemed Qian Yu's strength was probably terrifyingly high.

Everyone's spirits soared, and their attacks became even faster.

In the void, countless Mechanical Puppets charged forward like moths into flame, only to fall in swathes beneath the group's attacks.

The battle continued for a full three minutes.

Within those three minutes, they destroyed at least seven thousand Mechanical Puppets.

"Shadow!"

Shuang Yue called out.

"Keep searching for that Mechanical Race's location!"