A creature's death was not the end, but the prelude to the start of a great war.
As if they had stirred up a hornet's nest, vast numbers of the same type of tentacled monsters abruptly appeared throughout the stellar system. They too possessed teleportation abilities, and the Collectors were instantly surrounded.
However, the Collectors had already adjusted themselves for battle and feared nothing. The enemies' grotesque, twisted appearances could not shake their minds; their will to fight stood as firm as stone.
With the launch of round after round of near-light-speed shells, the tentacled monsters exploded one after another.
In practice, the shells themselves could not be seen at all. All that was visible were countless points of light suddenly blooming not far from the Collectors. In the next instant, the tentacled monsters exploded. Every light source was the death star of a monster.
There were also faster-than-light shells. These were deadlier and even more imperceptible than the near-light-speed shells. Because they traveled faster than light, they left no trace behind and could not be defended against specifically. Many monsters did not even realize how they had died until the moment before death.
However, the tentacled monsters were no pushovers either. Relying on teleportation and light swords that burst forth like pulse cannons, they achieved a two-to-one exchange ratio against the Collectors, trading two of their own for one Collector capable of faster-than-light travel.
Just as the two sides were locked in fierce battle, the Collectors suddenly received an order from the cluster leader.
"Attention, all units! Proceed to the new coordinates! Disengage!"
"Retreat? We clearly have the upper hand!"
The bloodthirsty Collectors could not help but feel stunned. The star had not changed, the Great Destruction's attack had not arrived, and they were currently suppressing their enemies. Why