The release of the anti-monopoly regulations by the Three Universal Civilizations had the effect of a war mobilization, immediately stirring up a storm in the four star clusters of the Free Competition Zone, with all the hesitant forces making their choices.
A small number of forces, unwilling to be drawn into the war, reluctantly abandoned their investments of several years and withdrew from the competition. However, the majority of forces were unwilling to be eliminated, and a large number of star system-level and star cluster-level civilizations, along with various civilian armed organizations, mobilized their forces to engage in Head-On Engagement with the various proxy forces of the Super Star Cluster Alliance in the inner and middle rings of the star clusters, siding with the Three Universal Civilizations.
Just as predicted by various civilizations in their early stages, once the fourth phase of exploration is complete, the atmosphere of free development will gradually shift to frequent armed plunder. With the outbreak of large-scale conflicts and the rapid spread of war, the Free Competition Zone will enter a state of war under the watchful eyes of the entire universe.
Armed forces from numerous factions launched a counterattack, immediately halting the expansion of the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Countless fierce battle lines were drawn across the four star clusters, with outpost planets on the periphery of the territory repeatedly experiencing loss and regain, intertwining to form a complex and intricate distribution of power.
The Emerald Star Cluster was divided into fourteen war zones, the vast majority of which were located in the inner and middle rings. Meanwhile, the Super Star Cluster Alliance's scattered bridgeheads in the outer regions were under the most intense siege, and their fortresses connecting the cluster to the outside world were falling rapidly.
However, since everyone's goal is to seize territory, the intensity of the war is kept under control. Planet-destroying weapons are tacitly prohibited, and fleet and surface warfare are the main methods. After all, destroying a planet would mean losing territory. Therefore, various surface warfare weapons and the role of superhumans are very important.
Large-scale wars mean rapid depletion of warships, ammunition, and weaponry. Demand determines the market, giving numerous conglomerates the opportunity to profit from war.
Many conglomerates that have expanded their businesses in the Shattered World are selling off various war resources. Orders from the Black Star Army and its subsidiary, the Germinal Financial Group, are also skyrocketing. The logistics department's production lines are running at full capacity, with ship Logistics Department ship of munitions being transported to the Free Competition Zone.
Meanwhile, under Han Xiao's orders, the legion's armed forces assembled at the legion's forward exploration bases and launched attacks in batches on the Ferdinand Star System war zone where the Modo Civilization was located.
Currently, the regular army of the Super Star Cluster Alliance remains inactive, while the proxy forces act as an outer defensive line surrounding their territory. The Black Star Army's fleet advances straight ahead, penetrating deep into the defensive line and engaging in combat with the proxy forces of the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
Located in the inner ring region of the Emerald Star Cluster, on the edge of the Super Star Cluster Alliance's territory, this outpost planet was recently captured by a large armed organization under the Supercluster Alliance and has temporarily stationed a main force there.
And just today, this planet was attacked by the Black Star's advance force.
Centered on the ground stronghold, a hemispherical sky-blue energy shield was inverted on the ground, covering an area of thousands of kilometers. Above the shield was a fierce space battlefield, where the defense fleet was struggling to resist the attack of the Black Star Army fleet. It was being decimated and was on the verge of collapse.
The rotating rapid-fire turrets of the Black Star Army warships unleashed whip-like chains of light, sweeping and lashing across the battlefield, weaving a net of light. Along the way, bursts of fireworks would occasionally light up the sky. Amidst this dazzling spectacle that illuminated the universe, a silent killing intent lurked.
Small, special guerrilla ships are like nimble hummingbirds, darting up, down, left, and right across the battlefield filled with crisscrossing light cannons. They use thrilling maneuvers to evade artillery fire, occasionally firing out of their assault pods to shatter enemy ship shields and bite deep into the ship's armor, helping players board enemy ships.
The blue trails of the heavy assault ship formation's stern thrusters left streaks of light on the battlefield, flashing like a meteor shower. Powered by the dark energy engines, the assault ship formation cleaved through the waves, tearing the enemy's defensive fleet's formation into pieces and shattering their coordinated combat lines.
The Legion Commander is one of the top mechanics in the universe, and the shipbuilding technology of the Logistics Department is equally outstanding. The Legion's warships have an advantage in performance and firepower. Under the fierce covering fire, dense energy beams penetrated the defensive joint shield of the stronghold's defenders, like Rainstorm downpour, crackling and striking the surface of the blue shield, stirring up thick arcs of electricity like dragons and pythons, and shaking out spiderweb-like glowing cracks.
One after another, four-cornered pyramidal land-based torpedo missiles detached from the ship's hull, descended from the sky, and burrowed into the ground, attempting to penetrate the base's protective shield underground. However, the base's underground defenses were also in place, so all that could be seen was the ground around the shield undulating and bulging, forming mounds like pimples on a planet. When the mounds reached their peak, they exploded with a deafening roar, sending countless mud, sand, and gravel mixed with flames and mushroom clouds soaring into the sky. The shockwaves that swept across the surface of the ground stirred up sandstorm-like dust.
In the command center of the ground base, which was still shaking, the atmosphere was extremely tense. The base commander stared intently at the durability readings of the protective shield, his tone anxious.
"Have the reinforcements arrived yet?"
"Commander, other allied organizations are unwilling to engage the Black Star Army and have refused to provide reinforcements. Only the Modo Civilization, the closest to us, has dispatched troops, who are on their way via the warp station."
"Damn it, those bastards... Notify all captains, the Black Star Army must not be allowed to breach the base's protective shield. If they release a large number of Immortals onto the surface, we're doomed. Hold off their fleet!"
"The base commander shouted."
Today, the player's nickname "Cancer of the Universe" has spread throughout the Galaxy. He is practically the king of ground warfare. If the battle is kept at the level of fleet combat, he can hold out for a while. But if the Immortals invades the ground defenses, there is only one outcome: a one-sided rout.
Faced with Cancer of the Universe is fearless, resurrected, and indifferent to life, no normal soldier would not feel apprehensive. Against such an opponent, no matter how many casualties are inflicted on the enemy, it is all in vain. The ground troops have no morale or fighting spirit. Once they enter into close combat, it will inevitably be a bloody massacre.
Not to mention, the Black Star Army boasts an army of tens of millions of Immortals, and now they are all rushing into the war zone controlled by the Modo Civilization, making them a walking meat grinder.
Even most of the agents of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, out of fear, hurriedly moved away from the Black Star Force's advance and dared not obstruct the Legion. Their goal was clear: they were only heading for Modo, and no one wanted to waste their forces here.
"Commander, the base shield's energy durability reading has dropped below 20%, and three energy reactors have overheated. They are expected to break in 11 minutes and 27 seconds. Please issue instructions!" The operations team leader's voice was frantic.
The base commander, watching the retreating fleet, gritted his teeth. "The reserve fleet is ready to take off at any time to seize air superiority. Preheat all anti-aircraft turrets and activate all missile silos. As soon as the shields break, open fire immediately. All mechanized divisions, armored divisions, and superhuman units, prepare for ground combat..."
A series of orders were issued, and the dark mass of armored soldiers and vehicles quickly took their positions, looking up at the space battlefield. The sound of soldiers nervously swallowing could be heard from time to time on the communication channel.
In the tense atmosphere, time ticked by in the fierce battle, each second feeling like an eternity. Under the horrified gazes of the base soldiers, the blue protective shield overhead shattered with a deafening roar, exploding into a shower of light and dust.
The next moment, a series of whooshing sounds filled the air.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh--
One after another, shielded airdrop pods pierced through the interwoven fire net of anti-aircraft turrets, crashing into various locations across the base, releasing plumes of hot white smoke.
The hatch slid open, and squads of fully armed Grade B- rank players stepped onto the ground, launching a fierce charge against the ground forces.
The rapidly approaching Immortal Troops, in the eyes of the base soldiers, were like approaching demons, and they mustered their courage, roaring as they charged forward.
Thud--
Two torrents of steel collided with a deafening roar on the ground!
Rank Grade B players are already a backbone of the universe. Upon contact, more than 100,000 players swiftly and decisively crushed the defenses of the ground armored divisions, sweeping across the land head-on. The earth was covered in yellow dust, and bursts of fire rose from the exploding vehicles and armor.
The waves formed by the players swallowed up wave after wave of soldiers, flooding the positions made of steel and flesh, causing huge casualties.
It wasn't that no players were killed in the siege; however, the base's troops watched helplessly as every player they painstakingly killed respawned on the battlefield the next moment, making their efforts completely futile.
An atmosphere of despair spread through the hearts of every soldier; the seeds of fear blossomed and borne fruit, solidifying into the deepest nightmares.
Soon, the first soldier to break down mentally appeared and fled in panic. This served as a signal, and more and more soldiers scattered and fled, resulting in a complete rout.
"They are devils!"
"This is a battle we're destined to lose, run!"
"I don't want to die a meaningless death!"
Desperate cries rang out over the communication channel, and the base's defenses crumbled rapidly.
The base commander had intended to go into battle to boost morale, but a gunner player Sniping with a long-range concentrated solid energy bullet, turning him to Ashes.
Just then, a flash of light appeared in space not far from the planet, and the support fleet of the Modo Civilization appeared at the jump point. Upon seeing this, they immediately knew that there was no way to reverse the situation.
"We're too late. They've already been overrun by the Cancer of the Universe; there's no saving them."
Without a word, the captain ordered the fleet to turn around immediately and vanish in a flash, showing remarkable decisiveness.
Bang!
The conference table was slammed hard.
"Tell me, how exactly do we solve the Black Star Army problem!"
Commander Roddick of the Modo Civilization Expeditionary Fleet was furious, his roar echoing throughout the conference room.
Before the war, the Black Star Army was unable to attack the territory of the Modo Civilization alone due to the mutual support among the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Now that the various Supercluster civilizations are preoccupied with their own problems, it is the best time to take action.
This should have been a proxy war, with the Supercluster civilization temporarily holding back and observing the situation. However, due to the Black Star Army's attack, the Modo Civilization was the only one forced to intervene prematurely, losing its right to observe and becoming the worst-positioned of all the Supercluster civilizations.
"Most of our recruited allies are unwilling to engage the Black Star Army in Head-On Engagement, so we have to defend them ourselves. We can't just let them invade our territory."
"Other supercluster civilizations will likely provide assistance to some extent; they won't stand idly by and watch our defenses be easily breached."
"Even if they help, their support will be limited. They can't afford to neglect one thing for another... Besides, the Black Star Army's public target is very clear: it's only against us. Others are also worried that getting too involved will drag the Black Star Army down with them, so they'd rather sacrifice us to hold them back."
The crowd whispered amongst themselves, the atmosphere heavy with gloom.
If it were just an ordinary armed group, it wouldn't be a big problem. After all, the Modo Civilization is a supercluster civilization, and its armed forces are quite formidable.
However, the intensity of the war is currently limited, and the role of superhumans is very important. The Black Star Army's Immortal Troops are too unscrupulous. Even if they can hold them off for a while, they cannot withstand the casualties. This reality weighed heavily on the hearts of everyone present.
"We can only let the Immortals fight the Immortals. We've also recruited quite a few Immortals organizations. If we pay them enough, perhaps we can coordinate them to resist the Black Star Army?" Lagos suggested.
"This is the only way now."
It would be a huge loss to let a normally trained superhuman fight against a player; only Immortals is best suited to deal with Immortals.
Roddick's expression was grim. "Unfortunately, this is only a temporary solution. To get out of this predicament, we must get the Black Star Army to withdraw."
"Then what should we do? Reconcile with Black Star?"
"Impossible." Roddick shook his head decisively. "Only by eliminating Black Star himself can the Black Star Army fall apart... Unfortunately, we simply cannot do it."
"Hmm, let's try another approach. As long as we cause Black Star some kind of trouble, making him too busy to pay attention to us, that would also work."
"You have a plan?"
"Not yet." Lagos shook his head, seemingly lost in thought. "However, I might have an idea for dealing with Black Star..."