When news of the annihilation of the Shadow Scouts reached God Tree City (430520223), the chill in Ōtsutsuki Genshō's golden eyes intensified.
"There was indeed an ambush... The intensity of that attack is far beyond what an ordinary civilization could possess. Keep sending in!" he said coldly. "Send in groups, from different directions and at different distances, to attempt infiltration! I need to know the limits of their defense system!"
As a result, similar scenes played out repeatedly at the edge of the Solar System over the next few months.
Squads of Shadow Scouts on their superior stealth techniques, traversed space to arrive, only to be met with a comprehensive defense network—a fusion of technology, Ninjutsu, and Senjutsu —built with the combined resources of the entire Shinobi World world.
Some scout teams were killed by nuclear bombs launched from "automatic defense fortresses" that were mechanically modified and lurking in the planetary belts as soon as they jumped out of space.
Some attempted to force their way through using speed, but were trapped by a "space-time trap" with runes that prevented air movement. They were then teleported to a pre-designated lightning explosion zone, where they were blasted into dust by billions of Explosive Tag and Natural Energy lightning storm.
Even worse, they encountered patrolling " Tailed Beast Interstellar Carrier Squads." These super-giant interstellar carriers, piloted by elite ninjas and incorporating Tailed Beast intelligence and rune technology, displayed terrifying combat power comparable to Domain Level experts. In close-quarters combat, the Shadow Scouts didn't even have a chance to relay information.
Occasionally, a few exceptionally elite teams would break through the outer defenses and approach Mars' orbit, only to discover that the artificial satellite outside Mars had been transformed into a massive armed fortress! The surface of the satellite was covered with enormous runic technology weapons and Senjutsu amplifiers; a single volley of fire illuminated half the starry sky, and anything below the Domain Level that touched it was instantly killed.
News of the sacrifices spread back to the Ōtsutsuki Homeworld like snowflakes. In a short period of time, dozens of Shadow Scouts squads, nearly two hundred elite Ōtsutsuki Clan skilled in infiltration and reconnaissance, perished outside that star field considered a "wild star," and the useful intelligence they obtained was pitifully scarce.
The atmosphere inside the main hall was terrifyingly oppressive. The Ōtsutsuki generals, who had previously held the Otsutsuki in contempt, now all wore solemn expressions.
Ōtsutsuki Genshō sat on the throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, making a knocking sound.
"Enough," he finally spoke, his voice icy. "Stop this pointless sacrifice."
He stood up, his gaze sweeping across the area below. "This 'wild star' has proven with its actions that they are not pushovers. They possess a sophisticated long-range spatial early warning system, powerful runic technology weapons, bizarre spacetime interference technology, and... at least one, and possibly more, Domain Level powerhouses overseeing them."
"Our previous intelligence was seriously flawed; we underestimated their development speed and underlying strength. Continuing to infiltrate with small groups would only be suicide."
He paused, a resolute glint in his third golden vertical eye. "It's time to let these ignorant natives witness the true power of the Ōtsutsuki Clan. Issue my order—"
"With my '430520223 God Tree City ' as the main force, and in conjunction with ' Red Rock City ' and ' Dark Devouring City ', the three cities will jointly send troops!"
"A massive army has been assembled, numbering in the millions! There are three Peak Domain Level experts, twenty Domain Level Advanced Stage, one hundred Domain Level Middle Stage experts, and three hundred Domain Level Early Stage experts! The rest are all elite Star Level warriors!"
The order sent shockwaves through the hall. A million-strong army! Such a massive force was enough to wipe out many interstellar civilizations with Domain Level experts! This time, the city lord was truly enraged and determined to finish them off in one decisive battle!
" Genshō City, aren't you being too cautious? A million-strong army against a mere wild star..." A representative from Red Rock City couldn't help but speak up.
Ōtsutsuki Genshō glanced at him coldly. "Caution? General Lan's body isn't even cold yet! Can you guarantee that there isn't an even more terrifying force lurking on that planet? I want absolute certainty, to crush all their hopes and resistance with absolute power!"
He looked at his three exceptionally powerful generals. "Tuo, Gang, Huan!"
Three powerful Ōtsutsuki warriors, each clad in different armor, stepped forward and knelt on one knee. "Present!"
These three were none other than Ōtsutsuki Genshō's capable lieutenants, Domain Level Advanced Stage experts!
Ōtsutsuki Taku was a burly man with a rugged face. He carried a giant axe wreathed in crimson flames on his back, and his aura was as violent as fire.
Ōtsutsuki Gō was also burly, but his skin had a metallic sheen, and his fists were enormous, seemingly containing the power to shatter mountains Earth Splitter.
Ōtsutsuki Gen was a woman whose figure was elusive, her face shrouded in a thin mist, her eyes unfocused, as if she might merge into the void at any moment.
"I hereby appoint the three of you as vanguard, leading 100,000 elite troops to set off first!" Ōtsutsuki Genshō ordered. "Your mission is to clear all obstacles along the way, reach that wild star, and test the strength of its defensive system, especially that Domain Level expert who killed Lan—you must force him to make a move! If you can capture his general and flag, that would be best; if you encounter a strong enemy, do not linger in battle, retreat immediately and rejoin the main force!"
"Yes, sir!" the three replied in unison, their eyes burning with fighting spirit and bloodlust.
Ōtsutsuki Genshō waved his hand. "Go! Let the universe remember once again the price of defying the Ōtsutsuki Clan!"
With his command, the colossal Ōtsutsuki war machine began to slowly start moving. At the star ports of the three God Tree City, thousands upon thousands of massive Divine Tree warships began to take off, like a swarm of locusts that blotted out the sky. The murderous aura emanating from the Ōtsutsuki warriors almost solidified the starry sky.
The vanguard of 100,000, led by three Domain Level Advanced Stage experts, broke away from the main formation like sharp arrows, Sky Splitter and charging headlong towards the Solar System!
Within the defense perimeter of the Shinobi Star System, in outer space of Mars.
The void was once again violently torn open with a massive rift, far exceeding the minor spatial fluctuations Shadow Scouts earlier. Immediately afterward, one after another, God Tree Battleship, with grotesque shapes resembling a mixture of giant beast skeletons and God Tree, swarmed out of the void.
Leading the fleet was a flagship of the God Tree, ten thousand meters long, with the God Tree emblem of the Ōtsutsuki Clan carved on its bow. Inside the bridge, the three vanguard generals, Ōtsutsuki Taku, Ōtsutsuki Gō, Ōtsutsuki Gen, were coldly watching the defenses of the small planet in the distant star field gradually becoming clearer.
Behind them was a vast army of Ōtsutsuki, aboard thousands of warships of varying sizes. The energy fluctuations they emitted stirred up the surrounding interstellar dust, creating a oppressive spatial energy tide.
"Finally here! This damned wild star!" Ōtsutsuki Taku grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth, and patted the giant flaming axe on his back. "My axe has been itching for a fight!"
Ōtsutsuki Gō cracked his neck, making a metallic grinding sound, "I heard the natives here are quite skilled? I hope their bones are tough enough that I can't shatter them with one punch."
Ōtsutsuki Gen frowned slightly; her senses were far more acute than the other two. "Be careful. The spatial structure here is very strange, filled with all sorts of hidden traps and surveillance networks. And... I sense a powerful energy source gathering ahead."
Almost the instant she finished speaking, a piercing alarm sounded throughout the entire vanguard fleet.
"Large-scale energy reaction detected ahead! Quantity... extremely high!"