Shattered World, the Dawn Star Cluster.
This is an area completely controlled by the Legion, and the first stop for entering the Shattered World. Countless fleets from various forces have poured in, making this star cluster much more lively and slowly transforming this new territory into an interstellar society.
Today Shattered World with opportunities, and every star cluster has a massive business gap, depending on where external forces choose to develop.
The transit stations at the entrance to the star system are highly profitable. As soon as many forces and interstellar citizens enter the star system, they scatter to the transit stations in the entry area to seek opportunities and business, while many more forces go their separate ways to develop in the star clusters behind them.
Among them, the Modo Civilization's fleet was also heading to the later star clusters, with the goal of developing the territory of the third and fourth phases.
The reason is simple: the later the star cluster, the shorter the development time. Not only are there more gaps in various fields, but the empire's control is also not as strong as that of the earlier developed star clusters—this is especially important for supercluster-level civilizations.
The Supercluster Civilizations were well aware that the Empire would never allow them to develop comfortably, so almost all Supercluster Civilizations abandoned their plans to some extent in the first and second phases of their territories and focused their attention on the ongoing fourth phase plan.
It's now clear to anyone with common sense that the star clusters to be explored in the fourth phase will be a crucial arena for competition among external forces.
In the main ship's command room, a tall figure stood in front of the command platform, gazing up at the star map. His face had deep features, exuding a cold and hard temperament. His expression was serious, and his lips were pursed.
Roddick, a senior general of the Modo Civilization, currently serves as the supreme commander of the "Expeditionary Fleet".
The Expeditionary Fleet is the name of this fleet. It is a new unit specially formed by the Modo Civilization for the Shattered World, and it has gathered a large number of elites. Roddick was able to stand out and command this important force with a mission, which clearly shows that the Modo Civilization's high command has high hopes for him.
"Commander, how much longer until we can cross the first and second phases of the region?" asked a Modo People in an officer's uniform.
This person is a high-ranking civilian official of the Modo Civilization. His name, when transliterated into the universal language, is Lagos. He serves as the inspector of the Expeditionary Fleet and is responsible for supervising Roddick.
Lagos has no real power and cannot interfere with Roddick under normal circumstances. His main responsibilities are to report to the higher-ups and contact the temporary rear base established by the Modo Civilization in the Shattered Star Ring. He is in charge of resources and troop supplies, and his role is similar to that of a military supervisor. He and Roddick are a perfect match, one being a civilian and the other a military commander.
Upon hearing the inspector's question, Roddick stared at the star cluster without turning his head and said in a deep voice, "The first and second phases of construction took the longest. The Crimson Dynasty and their allies have already built a complete long-distance corridor through the star cluster, making transportation very convenient. It will only take about seventeen days for us to reach the territory of the third phase. Most of the time will be spent in the transit zones between stargates."
As he spoke, Roddick narrowed his eyes and added, "Actually, the fastest route is through the Gaolu Star Cluster. The Black Star Army's territory is connected by stargates, making transportation much more convenient and saving a lot of transit time. But as you know, the risks of crossing through the Black Star Army are too great. We can't take the risk, so we have to take a detour."
"This is reaping what they sowed," Lagos said helplessly.
The Modo Civilization was well aware that it had offended the Empire over the issue of the Kunde Race, and it was clear that the Empire would target it in the Shattered World.
The preferred route to the rear star cluster is through the Black Star Army's territory, but Roddick dares not approach the Gaolu Star Cluster and can only take a detour via a less frequent stargate route.
Shaking his head, Lagos added, "The Empire might send people to attack us; we must remain vigilant."
"I know that the military is aware of this, which is why they've equipped the Expeditionary Fleet with such a strong escort force. They have plenty of armed fleets and advanced superhumans; this size is more than enough for interstellar warfare."
"Hmm, that makes sense..." Lagos pondered, "However, in the Shattered World, the Empire wouldn't send its regular army to attack foreign powers like us. If they do come, it'll definitely be an ally of the Empire."
Roddick frowned. "Ordinary enemies aren't a problem, but Beyond Grade A enemies are; they're very difficult to deal with."
"Don't worry about that. The higher-ups have already reached private agreements with some Beyond Grade A who will provide us with assistance." Lagos smiled slightly, looking confident.
Who are they?
Roddick wasn't surprised; short-term transactions between Supercluster Civilizations and Beyond Grade A beings were nothing new, and were an important part of some Beyond Grade A activities.
The Shattered World is such a crucial event that the Supercluster Civilization couldn't have been unprepared. They allocated a lot of resources to hire top-tier combatants, allowing some Beyond Grade A individuals to make a fortune, with many accepting employment from several companies simultaneously.
"Those people from the Interstellar Black Market represented by the Beast Ancestor and the Secret Master, along with some neutral Beyond Grade A... Oh, and a few Beyond Grade A from the Glory and Arcane also made deals with us privately... Heh, I guess there's some high-level instruction behind this, wanting to use us as pawns to divert the Empire's attention and exhaust their energy." Lagos couldn't help but sneer at the last sentence.
The existence of Glory and the Heart of the Arcane is common knowledge, and the Supercluster doesn't mind being used, as it's temporarily advantageous to them as well.
"Even if we have allies, we'll have to wait until we cross the territories explored in the first and second phases. I'm worried the Empire will launch an attack before then," Roddick said gravely. "You see, most forces follow the Black Star Army's route; there aren't many allies who take the detour like us."
"A hired Beyond Grade A agent is on his way from the rear, specifically to protect us. The higher-ups persuaded him to take a detour with offers of benefits."
Who is it?
"Garoze, a neutral Beyond Grade A at the Black Hole Edge, nicknamed the Prime of the Golems."
"That summoner? I've heard of him."
Roddick manipulated the star map a few times, marking the location of the Garoze fleet, which was following closely not far behind the Expeditionary Fleet.
This scene reassured him considerably.
"In that case, we won't have to worry about anyone attacking us." Roddick's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he coldly said, "With our armed forces, if the Empire dares to send people over, it's not certain who will attack whom."
Just then, a communication request came in; it was a call from the three kings of the Modo Civilization.
The two men straightened up, their expressions turned serious, and connected the communication. Three figures appeared on the virtual screen.
"Your Excellency, the Third Prince." The two immediately bowed.
"What's the situation now?" asked the leader of the Modo tribe, one of the three kings, in a deep voice.
The Expeditionary Fleet had only been in the Shattered World for a short time, and as the leader of the civilization, it would be too hasty to come and inquire at this time. However, the Shattered World was of great significance to the Supercluster Civilization. It was a strategic opportunity for a complete turnaround, and it could not be overemphasized to attach great importance to it.
Moreover, having already offended the Empire, the Three Kings of Modo were even more uneasy now that they had wandered onto the Empire's territory.
"We're still on our way," Roddick replied seriously.
"Did you encounter any trouble?"
"Everything is normal."
"Yes, no matter what happens, protecting the logistics team must be the priority," the Modo tribe leader instructed.
The armed fleet exists to protect logistics. The logistics team carries supplies, which are all essential resources and equipment for developing the star system. Armed ships can be consumed, but if these important resources are damaged, it will be a big problem. Although they can be replenished from temporary rear bases in the Shattered Star Ring, this will significantly slow down the development and construction speed.
In the Shattered World, all forces are competitors; falling behind even slightly will result in significant losses, thus impacting the strategy of the Modo Civilization.
Roddick nodded to indicate he understood, his face serious, and said earnestly:
"Your Excellencies, please rest assured, I will not let the enemy succeed..."
Boom!
The words had barely left his mouth when the entire flagship shuddered violently, and the crew members in the command center fell to the ground!
Roddick also staggered, grabbing the table to steady himself, his expression a mixture of shock and anger.
"What's wrong?!"
"Commander, several unknown fleets are rapidly approaching and have launched an attack on us."
Radar showed that fleets appeared simultaneously from all directions, in large numbers, forming an encirclement and opening fire on them.
Moreover, the alarm also indicated that the enemy had deployed a large number of space stabilizing anchors in this area. They ran headlong into this trap, and their warp drive was directly interrupted. This is the source of the tremor. Even the ship's internal neutral stabilizing device could not completely absorb the impact of this high-speed sudden stop, and countless crew members were thrown about.
"We're still some distance from the next stargate. Is this an ambush?!" Lagos exclaimed in surprise.
They were just discussing the possibility of an attack, and now they're saying "the enemy is coming"—their mouths are practically blessed!
"Who is the enemy?" Roddick demanded.
"No, I don't know. The other ship is a generic model, and there are no markings on its outer armor. We don't know which faction it belongs to." The observer looked nervous.
The three kings, whose communications hadn't been cut off, also witnessed this scene and all frowned.
The leader of the Modo tribe had a grave expression and said in a deep voice, "Roddick, I'm leaving this to you. Make sure you defeat the enemy."
"Understood." Roddick's expression was decisive, and he immediately began to command the fleet, issuing orders one after another.
The Expeditionary Fleet immediately responded, shrinking its formation to protect the logistics team while simultaneously opening fire in retaliation. The two fleets were roughly equal in size, with the Modo Civilization even holding the advantage.
Roddick demonstrated superb command and coordination skills, and the Modo Civilization quickly stabilized its position.
Although he was ambushed, Roddick did not choose to break out, but instead adopted positional warfare.
His confidence stemmed from two sources: the superior strength of his own armed fleet and the presence of the Beyond Grade A Garoze following nearby. He believed that if Garoze quickly reached the battlefield, he could leverage the advantages of the Beyond Grade A to launch a counterattack.
Roddick was a fierce and vengeful fighter. He was on the phone with the Three Kings when he was suddenly attacked by the enemy. His anger surged, and he preferred to fight back rather than run away.
"I'll get Garoze into the fight right away." Lagos realized what was happening and quickly took out his communicator, going to the side to call for reinforcements.
"Alright, hurry up." Roddick sneered, "Whoever they are, they're not leaving easily once they've come."
Meanwhile, the Garoze fleet, not far away, also discovered that the Modo Civilization forces had been attacked.
"Did someone really attack them? I thought it was just paranoia."
In the command center, Garoze couldn't help but mutter to himself.
This wasn't the first time he'd been hired by the Supercluster Civilization. As a neutral Beyond Grade A individual without any backing, this was a significant source of income for him. In addition to the Modo Civilization, he had also been hired by six or seven other civilizations to protect their forces.
The competition among foreign forces in the Shattered World will inevitably involve force. Everyone knows this place will soon become a paradise for mercenaries, and even many Beyond Grade A mercenaries have gone into the business.
"Lord Garoze, what do we do now? Should we rush over to help?" his deputy asked.
Garoze nodded; he had no objection to being paid to do someone a favor.
Just as he was about to give the order, the communicator suddenly rang in the room.
"Beep beep beep!"
Garoze glanced down and immediately looked surprised.
It was his personal communicator that rang!
Who would call at this time?
Garoze took out his communicator and glanced at it; his pupils suddenly contracted.
The caller ID displayed on the screen was none other than Black Star!
The two had no prior connection, having only met at the Meeting of the Gods where they exchanged personal phone numbers.
I don't know why he contacted me...
Suppressing his doubts, Garoze stepped aside, connected to the communication device, and cautiously asked:
"Lord Black Star, what brings you here?"
"There is indeed something I need your help with." Han Xiao's laughter came through the communicator.
"Please speak."
I need you to stand by and do nothing.
"Bystander? What do you mean...?"
Garoze didn't react for a moment, but then his expression changed and he suddenly understood.
"The fleet that attacked the Modo Civilization, could it be...?"
Han Xiao interrupted him, calmly asking, "Can you do it?"
Garoze felt a bitter taste in his mouth. With the Black Star Army involved, things wouldn't be so simple anymore. The Modo Civilization would most likely suffer. He didn't want to get involved in this matter at all.
However, since I'm on the edge of the battlefield, if I don't take action, it will definitely damage my reputation.
Garoze looked somewhat troubled. "Lord Black Star, I've already accepted the job offer from the Modo Civilization. It wouldn't be right for me to do nothing."
Han Xiao remained expressionless and spoke calmly.
"You can't get involved in this matter. If you don't want trouble, just quietly step aside."
After saying that, he hung up the call without waiting for Garoze's reply.
--On my turf, you have to listen to me. Han Xiao won't argue with the Modo Civilization; he'll beat you up!
What, you're not happy? Fine, then don't try to Shattered World!
The Legion has been operating in the Shattered World for so long and is currently the largest power. If we don't act domineeringly, who else has the right to do so?!
Garoze's expression froze, secretly surprised. In his memory, Black Star was a friendly guy who could get along with everyone, but he didn't expect his tone to be unusually tough this time.
--It seems things are more serious than I thought. If I rashly intervene, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it.
And then there's the threat from Black Star. If we don't take it seriously, won't we end up like that Seven-Eyed Kid? Garoze couldn't help but shudder.
At this moment, the deputy approached and asked, "Your Excellency, Lagos is already urging us. Shall we give the order?"
Garoze hesitated for a few seconds, then suddenly waved his hand, "Don't help, just stay here and watch."
The second-in-command was taken aback. Seeing Garoze's resolute attitude, he had no choice but to leave the fleet to stand by at the edge of the battlefield, becoming mere spectators, filled with doubt.
"Sigh, we've lost out this time," Garoze thought with a wry smile.
He was just an ordinary Beyond Grade A, unable to afford to offend a giant like Black Star, as he couldn't compare in either strength or influence.
Being forced to back down by a few words is extremely humiliating. Garoze also has the dignity of a strong person, and he doesn't want to back down.
However, when faced with the incredibly fierce Black Star, he couldn't straighten his back at all!
Having been Beyond Grade A for many years without making much progress, Garoze was well aware of his limitations and had no desire to provoke Peak Beyond Grade A —he was merely a neutral party with no backing, and if someone wanted to kill him, they would have no qualms whatsoever!
Moreover, at the recent Meeting of the Gods, Black Star took on the task of maintaining the communication platform for all Beyond Grade A. Just because of this identity, he had to give Han Xiao face so that it would be easier for him to curry favor with him in the future.
Time ticked by, and the Expeditionary Fleet and the ambushing forces fought fiercely, resulting in a stalemate.
The main ship's command center was in a flurry of activity. Roddick issued several orders, and finally managed to get a moment's rest. He immediately turned back and roared at Lagos:
"What's going on with Garoze? We're about to miss our chance, why haven't they arrived yet?!"
Lagos was sweating profusely. "They just stopped. I've urged them so many times, but they just won't join the fight. I... I don't know why!"
He was completely dumbfounded and baffled when the reinforcements that were so close at hand suddenly withdrew.
Outsiders are completely unreliable!
Roddick, enraged, slammed his fist on the table. "We're not waiting for him! Everyone, listen up! Change tactics and charge the enemy's formation!"
However, before the order could be issued, a sudden change occurred!
The Logistics Department of the Modo Civilization, heavily protected by an armed fleet, suddenly erupted in riots.
One after another, the logistics ships rammed through the surrounding armed ships like madmen, moving in all directions and instantly throwing their own side into chaos!
"What happened?!"
Roddick's expression changed drastically; a problem had occurred with the crucial logistics team, and he immediately panicked.
"Report! The operational intelligence of those logistics spacecraft has been compromised; they're out of control. We've lost contact with the crew!"
Roddick, as if waking from a dream, flew into a rage, his voice escaping through clenched teeth:
"Damn it, Beyond Grade A virtual mechanic!"