During the spaceship's dive, the pilot controlled the spaceship's communications system to send a distress signal to the regional channel. The invisible wave propagated into the vast universe. The regional channel is like a public regional channel in the player's eyes, which can be received by all spaceships passing through that region.
"This is the Feven Star System, the territory of the Holy Stone Civilization and the Black Raven Civilization. Border frictions frequently occur here. The armies of both civilizations are stationed nearby year-round, deploying high-power signal transceivers that are highly sensitive to all wavelengths. They maintain high-power operation to collect stellar radiation, making this area as bright as day on both sides' detectors. If DarkStar implements signal shielding, it's like an unexpected shadow appearing, impossible to conceal. The highly vigilant Holy Stone and Black Raven will worry that the shadow is a strategic move by each other and will certainly be attracted to it."
Goya explained briefly, then quickly said, "Therefore, I have a fifty percent chance of concluding that DarkStar has not deployed any signal jamming."
Sizzle--
The screen displayed a communication between Blades, the Purple Gold Spaceship Porter, and Fasereni. Their voices were urgent as they discussed tactics. They too had sent out a distress signal, but Fasereni was pessimistic, saying, "Even if someone receives our distress call, the question is, who dares to come? We're being attacked by DarkStar. Holy Stone and Black Raven might come to observe, wary of DarkStar's ulterior motives, but they might not be willing to waste their military resources rescuing a bunch of insignificant mercenaries. They're not Goddora; they don't have an irreconcilable hatred for DarkStar DarkStar and might not want to provoke them."
The three looked at their respective legion leaders, who nodded calmly.
"We've contacted the Legion Commander, and he's coming to our rescue. He's issuing an emergency dispatch order to teams in the vicinity. We fear DarkStar, but we will never let him do as he pleases, nor will we abandon our own people. The Legion Commander is assembling a fleet and issuing a call to all our collaborators. We must protect ourselves and buy time; someone will surely come to our aid."
All the mercenaries perked up, their faces solemn, a sense of honor rising from within them, their morale restored, and determination and hope appearing on their faces.
"The Legion is indeed extraordinary, with a strong sense of cohesion." Han Xiao secretly admired it. The Legion had been established for many years and naturally had its merits. Although they were mercenaries who would not act without self-interest, they were able to gather powerful individuals from all walks of life to serve them. They must have known how to build a sense of belonging. Although many members knew this, it was undeniable that most people appreciated it. After all, only by having an organization that would not abandon its teammates could one build bonds in the cold universe.
Even though DarkStar is infamous, the three families of Sky Ring, Blades, and Purple Gold are not to be trifled with. In addition to their own strength, they also have a complex network of connections in the mercenary industry, with many collaborators, all of whom are extremely powerful. DarkStar has provoked not just three large legions, but half of the mercenary industry in three nearby star clusters!
In other words, DarkStar, used to acting recklessly, has stirred up a hornet's nest this time.
However, distant water cannot quench an immediate fire.
Han Xiao took out the one-way communicator Jenny had given him, composed himself, and sent out the request.
The mercenary called for help, and he also sought help from his cheap superior, not entirely relying on the three major legions.
'I didn't expect to need it so soon...'
bite.
Ames appeared on the screen, Han Xiao saw Ames surroundings: a magical palace made of obsidian, white crystal, mithril, adamantite, emerald, and gemstones, resembling a jewel sculpture magnified thousands of times. Mysterious magical circuits floated in the air, dazzling and mesmerizing. Many translucent magical dragons swam merrily in the air. Ames was sitting at a floating table laden with various rare foods. Opposite her was a little boy wearing a red and white robe... He looked about six or seven years old, with pointed ears, fair skin, and a round, chubby face. The robe on him looked like a rolled-up blanket, completely mismatched. The robe was long, and the child was short, as if burying him.
Han Xiao's lips twitched. This little brat was another Beyond Grade A from the Shattered Star Ring, a mage from a long-lived race that resembled humans, whose true age was unknown, perhaps hundreds or thousands of years. Moreover, he was the one Ames was fighting. To be precise, Ames was a guest. The four Beyond Grade A from the Shattered Star Ring knew each other, and fighting was just a pastime. When they got tired, they would eat and rest, and the atmosphere was very harmonious... Han Xiao only felt sorry for that beautiful but short-lived asteroid; its fate was truly tragic.
Ames raised an eyebrow. "It's you, my new subordinate."
"... Have you forgotten my name?"
Ames swiped on the communicator, as if bringing up some interface, and after a second, she said naturally, "Black Star, what do you need me for? Did you find my teacher's whereabouts?" She emphasized when she called Han Xiao by his code name, as if to emphasize that she hadn't forgotten.
Han Xiao shook his head and said, "My spaceship has been attacked by DarkStar, and the situation is critical. I've come to ask you for help."
"Why did DarkStar attack you?" Ames asked curiously.
Han Xiao coughed lightly.
"A few days ago, while you were away, DarkStar caused trouble in Dragon Calm with impunity, seemingly plotting something, which I happened to uncover. This attack is probably retaliation."
Ames tilted her head, recalling Jenny's report. Speaking of which, DarkStar and she had some past grievances; she had even been planning to cause trouble for DarkStar.
"Okay, you wait there, I'll come over when I have time." Ames said casually, then hung up the phone.
Han Xiao was helpless. Ames ' attitude was indifferent, and he couldn't force her to come immediately. He wasn't strong enough, so he could only ask for help from a stronger person and try to negotiate.
[You have triggered the emergency mission [Escape with Your Life]!]
[Mission Brief: Run]
[Mission Requirements: Escape DarkStar's pursuit and stall until reinforcements arrive]
[Rewards: The base reward is 800,000 experience points. The final reward depends on the task score. If you persist for 2 days and achieve the minimum standard of Grade D in the task score, you can receive the base reward. For every additional 12 hours, the score will increase by one grade.]
[Failure Condition: Captured by DarkStar]
Han Xiao's eyes flashed as he scanned the surrounding players and noticed that their expressions changed slightly at the same time, presumably because they had also triggered the quest.
This time, the players' mission rewards were exactly the same as Han Xiao's, leaving all the players stunned!
800,000 experience points!
Han Xiao was already used to this; it was like a drop in the ocean to him. However, for the players, this was the highest-rewarding mission they had ever seen!
A variety of emotions appeared on the players' faces, including shock, ecstasy, and astonishment.
Han Xiao secretly analyzed the intelligence revealed by the mission, "Holding out for two days is the lowest possible assessment. This suggests that even the earliest reinforcements won't arrive for at least two days, meaning we'll be fighting alone for two days..."
He immediately felt a headache coming on; let alone two days, he could barely last two hours.
At this moment, the spaceship finally returned to the surface and flew close to the ground. This barren planet was almost completely bare, without forests or life, and full of jagged rocks and mountains. The only advantage was that the terrain was treacherous enough. All three spaceships adopted the same plan - to use the terrain obstacles to delay as much time as possible.
Bang bang bang--
Hundreds of small DarkStar floating ships pursued the three spaceships, firing low-level lasers from above. The lasers, glowing green and resembling pictures, exploded on the ground, creating plumes of smoke and dust. The continuous roar of the explosions caused the shockwaves to make the spaceships' magnetic shields appear and disappear.
DarkStar wanted to capture everyone alive, but didn't want to destroy the spaceship, as that would also shatter any potential Whispering Bead. So, he dispatched small floating ships, less than ten meters long, equipped with miniature laser cannons that were only weak enough to injure but not kill. Using speed and agility, they pursued and intercepted the group, forcing them to abandon ship.
"Run in different directions!"
Three spaceships swept past a treacherous, dark gray mountain peak, then suddenly split up and fled in three directions. The pursuing green laser struck the mountain peak, and with a deafening roar, the summit broke off and rolled down the slope, kicking up clouds of dust, like a dragon descending a mountain. Using the broken peak as a dividing point, the floating fleet also split into three groups, pursuing their respective spaceships.
Han Xiao's Sky Ring spaceship was being Pursuit by hundreds of floating ships. Unfortunately, the direction they turned in turned to was a flat plain with no obstacles.
"Oh no!" Everyone's expression changed.
The pilot, drenched in sweat, struggled to maneuver the spaceship, twisting and turning like a water snake. The dust kicked up by the green light sprayed like a fountain, splattering onto the hull. The spaceship dodged some of the lasers, but the chances of being hit were higher than when the three ships were moving together, and the shields flickered erratically.
"Warning! Warning! Shield energy remaining at 67%! Reached the yellow alert line, please replenish immediately!"
"Energy Core is nearing overload! Cool it down immediately!"
A series of system alarms sounded, striking everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.
The driver's face turned deathly pale.
Suddenly, everyone saw Han Xiao step forward, walk to the driver's side, put his hand on the driver's shoulder, and speak in an unquestionable tone.
"Get out of the way, give me your spot."
The expressions of all the mercenaries on the ship changed. Changing pilots at the last minute?! Are you really that reliable?!
"This concerns the lives of everyone on board! Do you know what you're doing?!" Goya stared intently at Han Xiao.
Han Xiao nodded without mincing words, saying, "If he were to steer the ship, the chance of it crashing is 99%; if I were to steer it, the chance is only 30%."
"You!" the driver exclaimed angrily.
Goya stared at Han Xiao for a full two seconds, then nodded emphatically and said, "Alright, you do it."
The Sky Ring mercenaries were immediately in an uproar. Although they knew Black Star was powerful, sailing a ship was not combat, and the situation was urgent. No one was willing to entrust their fate to a guy whose skills were unknown.
"At this rate, our ship will crash in less than an hour. Let him try."
Goya explained.
Even though the driver knew this, he was unwilling to let others control his fate. His face turned pale and then red, but in the end, he reluctantly moved aside.
Han Xiao immediately took over the driver's seat. At this moment, Goya came up to him, her tone extremely serious.
"Black Star, you hold our lives in your hands... Please, please stay calm."
With things having come to this point, all the mercenaries could only place their hopes on Han Xiao. In fact, many mercenaries could pilot spaceships, but no one was confident that they could do it better, let alone dare to take on this responsibility, fearing that their mistakes would kill everyone. The pressure was immense, and no one dared to take his place. They only hoped that Han Xiao, who had stepped up at this critical moment, was truly reliable.
"Black Star, you can even pilot a spaceship?!" Melos exclaimed in surprise.
"I know a lot more than that. Do you really know me well?"
Han Xiao adjusted the control panel with practiced ease.
Piloting a spaceship is nothing; we used to pilot mechs!
Just like the difference between a passenger plane pilot and a fighter jet pilot, one requires safety and stability, while the other requires extreme agility. The difficulty and requirements of operating a mecha are far greater than those of a fighter jet.
Han Xiao honed his ship-flying skills in PK battles against other players on the cosmic battlefield! Even in interstellar space, he would be a top-tier ace pilot!
Suddenly, everyone heard a system announcement.
"Adjustment complete, shield power reduced to 20% of original..."
"Are you crazy?!" the driver exclaimed in shock.
Everyone was shocked. Han Xiao had weakened the shield as soon as he took over, greatly reducing its defensive capabilities. If the spaceship had been subjected to the same level of attack, it would have been damaged.
So all those words of advice just went in one ear and out the other?!
Goya was filled with regret and was about to reprimand them when the spaceship's system voice sounded again.
"All energy is propelling the engine... Input successful."
Han Xiao tilted his head and reminded the people behind him.
"Hold on tight."
The next moment, the sudden burst of recoil broke through the spaceship's internal gravity stability, and everyone staggered and fell to the ground.
The rebuke that Goya was about to utter was swallowed back down his throat!