ABRIWMTHM Chapter 117

Before setting off, he once again confirmed the arrival time with the supporting army and began preparing the battleship.

Since Shi Xing was going, and it was a surprise attack, his team had to accompany him for the coordinated battle.

Qin Jue’s team and Ye Jun’s unmanned battleship fleet had overlapping functions, so they stayed behind on the planet to continue monitoring the incoming star beasts, which they had been doing recently.

Fei Chu and Ying Geng’s teams were also prepared to go.

Chi Yao’s side brought the primarily offensive team led by General Yi Zhenqiang from the First Legion.

Together with Ye Jun’s unmanned battleship team, a total of four teams left the barrier, leaving two teams behind to stay within the barrier for subsequent support.

Er Ya said, “I’ll go with Xingxing’s team.”

During the army’s preparation period, Er Ya suddenly spoke.

Shi Xing was surprised and didn’t have time to persuade her as Er Ya chose a combat aircraft to board.

Clapping her hands, Er Ya said nonchalantly, “I know what you’re going to say, but I’m not weak. For decades, I’ve been flying a spaceship on my own, both inside and outside the galaxy.”

Her gaze lingered on Shi Xing for a moment, and an emotion that Shi Xing had never seen flashed briefly in her eyes.

“Since I became your teacher, I still want to watch over you during this last period of time.”

Before really going through the maturity period, Er Ya always feared that something might happen midway and preferred to keep a close eye on him.

After saying this, she didn’t give Shi Xing a chance to speak more and waved him off to check on the army’s matters.

Shi Xing told this to Chi Yao.

Chi Yao understood, “Perhaps staying unbound for too long makes anyone feel lonely.”

It took Shi Xing a while to realize that the emotion he saw in Er Ya’s eyes was a bond.

Having been away from the Empire for decades, Er Ya hadn’t had any connection to her people for a long time, but Shi Xing, whom she taught, was definitely one of them.

In less than half an hour, the team set off, with Chi Yao as the main commander and Shi Xing alongside Yi Zhenqiang as the deputy commander.

Originally, Chi Yao wanted to be on the same battleship as Shi Xing, but Shi Xing eventually persuaded him against it. The team cooperating with Chi Yao was Yi Zhenqiang’s, who had followed Chi Yao for many years, and they understood each other well. On the other hand, the team cooperating with Shi Xing was the mecha squads of Fei Chu and Ying Geng, whose strategies and combat methods were completely different. Once they entered space and needed to act flexibly, they were bound to separate.

If they were tied together, one party would undoubtedly have to compromise for the other, which meant that among the four teams, only two could actually have meaningful command and leaders.

One plus one equals one.

This principle couldn’t be any simpler, but it was rare for Chi Yao to ponder for several minutes when he let go.

“Your Highness, my two teams will follow behind yours; they’ll circle around me and won’t encounter any problems.”

“If we were truly on the same battleship, I’d be safe, but it wouldn’t be useful,” Shi Xing advised Chi Yao.

Chi Yao let out a gentle sigh, “Yeah, you can handle things on your own now.”

Shi Xing smiled, “Isn’t that a good thing?”

“It is a good thing.”

It’s just that his emotions clashed with his rationality.

As they exchanged silent glances, Chi Yao suddenly pressed his hand against the back of Shi Xing’s neck and leaned in.

The kiss was urgent and fierce; Shi Xing felt like he could hardly breathe by the time Chi Yao finally let him go.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, it seemed like a threat yet a warning as Chi Yao looked deeply into Shi Xing’s eyes and said, “We can have two battleships, but you must listen to orders and report anything beforehand.”

It wasn’t a question; it was a statement. Chi Yao was not asking for Shi Xing’s opinion.

His ashy-gray eyes were heavy, and Chi Yao said seriously, “If you act on your own in battle again…”

He paused for a moment, then added, “Then you won’t have the chance to untie yourself from me for the next few days and go back to being a commander.”

Shi Xing, feeling breathless, had faint red marks appearing at the corners of his eyes and obediently nodded under Chi Yao’s gaze.

Chi Yao gently touched Shi Xing’s face and let out a breath.

But deep down, he knew that Shi Xing was just pretending to be obedient; it was all an act.

“Your Highness, I understand.”

Responding was one thing.

Actually being able to follow through was quite another.

A headache.

The four teams dispersed. Chi Yao led Yi Zhenqiang’s team at the front, while Ye Jun’s squad had already been waiting outside the barrier.

Shi Xing’s two teams were positioned in the middle and rear.

【Level Three Defense Barrier Activated】

【Level Two Defense Barrier Activated】

【Level One Defense Barrier is about to activate. There are attacks outside the barrier. Please prepare and countdown…】

【Barrier Activated】

Chi Yao and Shi Xing didn’t open the barrier at the place where the star beasts were attacking fiercely; instead, they chose a side. Before the star beasts could react, groups of battleships and mechas exited the barrier, closing it behind them.

With so many battleships, this process took some time.

Seeing this, the white star beast immediately dispatched mutated star beasts towards the gap they created in an attempt to break through the opened barrier.

Chi Yao commanded, “Shi Xing’s team stay behind and confirm that all battleships have departed. Unmanned battleships lead the way to the area where the star beasts are gathered.”

Constantly attacking the defensive barrier wouldn’t work; they needed to relieve the pressure first.

Shi Xing replied, “Received.”

Yi Zhenqiang/Ye Jun/Fei Chu/Ying Geng: “Received.”

Chi Yao continued, “Guard ships follow closely; establish an isolation barrier when the time is right. Yi Zhenqiang’s squad, follow me first to take down the attacking star beasts.”

Yi Zhenqiang/Ye Jun: “Received!”

The division of labor was set.

Shi Xing stayed at the edge of the barrier as the incoming star beasts were all of the mutated type. Shi Xing’s soft barrier covered the mechas, and under Ying Geng’s lead, they launched an attack. Losing the violent mental power of their mutation, several star beasts were quickly killed outside the barrier.

Shi Xing asked, “Has the last battleship left?”

After receiving confirmation, Shi Xing ordered, “Close the Level One Guardian Barrier.”

【Closing Level One Defense Barrier】

【Closed】

【Warning, warning, Level One Defense Barrier is being destroyed. Location…】

It was the spot where the star beasts were attacking frantically; this alert had been ringing for an hour without pause.

Watching the star beast pack that had been torn open by the battleships in the distance, Shi Xing ordered his team to regroup for support.

Upon approaching, he felt Chi Yao’s powerful mental energy, almost flooding this entire area as he pushed the star beast front outward.

With Shi Xing’s team joining in, the new combat strategy he devised based on his abilities quickly took effect.

As Shi Xing’s squad swept through the beast swarm, the mutated star beasts lost their mental power, leaving cracks in their cores, which were then dispatched by Ying Geng’s mecha team under the energy swords or cannons.

This efficient new combat method was inspired by the white star beast he encountered.

He could completely disintegrate up to 56 mutated star beasts at once, but it wasn’t necessary.

Not only would using too much mental energy backfire during an attack by lower-level star beasts, but it would also leave opportunities for the star beasts to retaliate.

Therefore, what he should do was not to kill the star beasts completely but to heavily injure them and render them unable to fight.

In other words, just maim them enough to make it easy to kill.

This method was repeatedly tested on the remaining five star beasts.

It was exactly what the two teams were employing now.

As Shi Xing passed through the star beasts, he handled the mutated portion while Er Ya dealt with the normal, albeit higher-level, star beasts. There was no need to drain all their mental energy; it was enough to merely crack their cores slightly. All the star beasts’ mental energy would prioritize recovering their cores. During this gap, Ying Geng and Fei Chu would finish them off.

Countless cooperations resulted in the current incredibly smooth movement lines.

In the satellite feedback map, the star beasts were no longer ferocious. It seemed they had encountered some kind of assembly line processing. After passing through the battleships of the two Blue Star humans, the star beasts all had the same thought: to flee… but they could not escape. The subsequent mechas and battleships would further surround them and work together to hunt them down.

This created a spectacle where, centered around Shi Xing and Er Ya, wherever the teams went, the star beasts fell.

They would regroup with Chi Yao within the set time.

The subsequent eliminations became even more efficient.

Shi Xing established a special barrier while simultaneously drawing the mental energy from the mutated star beasts. The advanced level of Chi Yao was notably advantageous, carving a bloody path forward as easily as cutting vegetables.

When they saw the white star beast in space, Shi Xing and Chi Yao couldn’t help but glance at each other, & then split up, heading straight for the white star beast.

According to the battle strategy, the high-level mutated star beasts were all eliminated in the first instance under the cooperation of Chi Yao and Shi Xing.

The towering white star beast called out several times and, realizing it couldn’t see the high-level star beasts, sensed danger and began to flee.

But the plan had been thoroughly discussed, and the four battleships each had their roles.

Swiftly, they formed a encirclement, firmly fixing the white star beast in the center.

Just as the white star beast tried to open a ripple to escape, before it could even dive in, Chi Yao’s mental power forcibly pulled it back.

A suppression achieved through a significant level difference!

This scene left both Lu Li on the ground and Shi Xing dumbstruck, and Fei Chu shouted a reminder before quickly leading his team to the designated position.

The white star beast grew furious, directing its mutated mental power towards Chi Yao’s battleship.

It was blocked by Shi Xing’s barrier.

The white star beast opened another ripple.

Chi Yao struck it again, sending it flying from in front of the ripple.

Again and again, Shi Xing and Chi Yao’s teamwork was seamless. Watching the countless battleships tightening their encirclement, the white star beast suddenly changed its attack direction and released powerful mutated mental energy towards Fei Chu’s team.

“Withdraw!”

The attack came too swiftly, and Chi Yao ordered.

Fei Chu’s team opened a gap, but before the mutated star beasts could escape through it, the familiar scene reappeared, as they were struck back into the encirclement from the air.

Chi Yao fully unleashed his mental power.

With this strike, he left a deep wound on the white star beast, exposing bone.

Just as the white star beast flew toward Shi Xing’s direction, Shi Xing took control further.

At the very moment when his mental power managed to grip the white star beast…

The white star beast let out a shriek.

It stopped struggling and used the remaining mental power to release a ripple with a different appearance.

This action drained the rest of the white star beast’s mental power.

Shi Xing felt a sense of déjà vu, but couldn’t quite pinpoint it, as the energy fluctuations felt different. He was certain this was not the spatial energy law of escape the white star beast used; the feeling was simply different.

But… had he seen it before? It felt too familiar.

Soon Shi Xing realized he indeed had seen it.

Each time he saw it, it was the white star beast emerging, not the kind it was using itself, not until now.

As a black star beast emerged halfway from the ripple, Shi Xing’s mind was still struggling to comprehend.

“Be careful!”

“It’s a reverse spatial ripple!”

“It’s summoning its companions!!”

Chi Yao’s voice exploded in Shi Xing’s ears, causing his scalp to tingle.

In the next moment, the black star beast opened its mouth wide.

At the same time, Chi Yao acted.

The clash of energy erupted in space.

The encircled battleships were pushed back by the impact.

In Shi Xing’s vision, the black star beast and white star beast broke free from the ripple in just a few seconds.

The problem was that they came in all levels. While he couldn’t claim they were as high-level as the white star beast, considering their talent and mutated abilities, the white star beast was strong. The star beasts coming from its colony would only be even stronger, not lackluster at all.

No. This ripple couldn’t exist.

Coming to this realization, as countless star beasts rushed towards Shi Xing, he piloted the battleship closer to Chi Yao.

“Your Highness, cover me. I’ll try to tear this ripple apart.”

Chi Yao didn’t say a word, but his battleship swiftly passed by Shi Xing, heading toward the newly emerged star beasts.

Shi Xing concentrated his mental power, perhaps fueled by an emotional eruption or the protracted battle. Energy turbulence clung to his mental power once more, forming a tangible attack that touched the edge of the ripple.

As soon as there was contact, Shi Xing sensed that the ripple, even though it was compressed, still had a terrifying thickness.

The white star beast must have used all its strength to create this reverse spatial passage.

Shi Xing’s mental power also had to strengthen as it exerted force on the edges of the ripple.

Fortunately, after gaining experience from aerial combat, the edges were quickly torn apart by Shi Xing’s mental power, with over ten star beasts already emerging. Afraid that the longer they dragged it out, the worse it would be for them, Shi Xing quickly chose three points.

The edge of the ripple shattered.

It began to contract.

The white star beast must have done this on purpose. The ripple was exceptionally large, making it impossible for Shi Xing to accelerate through the central portion.

Thinking of something, Shi Xing suddenly felt goosebumps rise on his skin. What about that white star beast?

“It’s advancing at full speed during the pursuit. If it gets too far away, we won’t be able to stop it.”

Fortunately, Ying Geng’s mecha team quickly followed along.

Shi Xing called out, “Your Highness!”

Chi Yao seemed to know what he was thinking. Without waiting for him to request, he ordered first, “You and Fei Chu pursue the white star beast. Ye Jun and Yi Zhenqiang will stay here with me to intercept the contact between those star beasts and the white star beast.”

“Received.”

“Received.”

“Received.”

“Received.”

Er Ya added, “I’ll go with you. My mental power will provide a supplement.”

Shi Xing and Er Ya’s battleships moved in tandem, protected by Fei Chu’s team, as they raced towards Ying Geng’s direction.

The high level of the white star beast’s mutation made it difficult for Ying Geng’s team even when its mental power was exhausted.

Star beasts naturally had formidable body strength among cosmic beings.

“Ying Geng, get out of the way.”

Shi Xing saw from a distance that the white star beast used mental power against Ying Geng in a bid to break through.

While its mental power wasn’t strong, it carried a frenzied element. If it hit, it could injure the mental sea.

Ying Geng gritted his teeth and complied.

Finally, the white star beast spotted a gap and rushed forward.

But just as it was about to act, something enveloped it.

From an extremely long distance, Shi Xing mimicked Chi Yao’s approach and pulled the white star beast back.

This required a certain level difference.

Fortunately, he gambled right; his level was indeed higher than the white star beast’s.

Under the strong pull of inertia, the white star beast fell back into the encirclement, and with Fei Chu’s team joining in, it became an even tighter enclosure.

“Roar—”

The white star beast emitted a silent roar of rage.

Yet again, before the effect of inertia could dissipate, it found itself encircled by a familiar mental power.

In just a few short days, had this mental power grown to a level from which it could not escape?!

At the moment it was completely surrounded by mental power, it felt a fear that consumed its very core.

Its emerald eyes widened in disbelief.

Then, as its body disintegrated, its green eyes shattered alongside it.

Its towering form collapsed into a pile of flesh and blood in an instant.

Shi Xing’s mental power unconsciously shrank back.

In a breath, the remains of this flesh were torn apart a second time, transforming into unseen energy particles that completely vanished into the depths of the universe.