Two Nations in Dire Straits

The Collectors had considered one possibility: what if, after taking down a star system, the leaping organisms had not deployed defenses, and the New Empire was in the same situation—what if they were attacked at that moment?

Thus, Plan No. 4033 was born. In human society, it would be called a contingency "backup plan."

Multiple subunits formed a "cloud" enveloping the star, imitating the Serene's stellar array. The array formed by the entire cloud became a stellar-scale convex lens, bending and focusing the star's outward radiation to attack the enemy.

Since devising this plan, the Collectors had rarely used it. It was an emergency measure meant as a final safeguard and was generally not considered part of their battle plans. As a result, the Sacred Womb State's fleet had never encountered such an offensive.

Now, Aoben and his people had the honor of tasting such a high-energy strike for the first time.

When the mech army fearlessly went to destroy and kill those megastructure organisms, they had already entered the stellar array's range. The folded subunits extended their bodies, blocking and bending the starlight, causing its brightness to dim.

What followed was the adjustment of the bent light. This was also the last chance for Aoben's fleet to escape, but they failed to seize it properly, remaining frozen in shock at the changes in the star.

Once the adjustments were complete, the starlight was focused. The terrifying stellar pulse beam could even blow apart a small solid satellite.

Whether warships or mechs, none could possibly withstand such a terrifying strike head-on. Any mechs and warships that had not entered the spirit realm in time were reduced to interstellar dust. One would have to adjust one's perspective down to the atomic level to find the scattered scraps.

After emerging from the