"Do you think weâve been too cautious lately?" In the cockpit, a pilot lounged with his legs crossed, chewing on a stimulant pill with boredom. "Ever since we finished the last job, the atmosphere has been tense, and no oneâs mentioned starting work again."
"Shut up." The co-pilot glared at him. "This is the Royal Army. Do you think itâs as easy as robbing a merchant ship? Ifââ"
The shrill alarm suddenly blared!
"Beep beep beepââWarning! High-energy reaction detected!"
Both of them jumped simultaneously, lunging toward the control panel. On the radar screen, fifteen scarlet dots appeared abruptly at close range, like blood droplets in clear water!
"This is impossible!" The pilotâs face turned ashen, his fingers frantically tapping on the control panel. "Why didnât the long-range radar give a warning?!"
The holographic projection automatically popped up, displaying fifteen sleek, silver-gray warships emerging like phantoms.
Their outer armor was coated with a special wave-absorbing layer, the menacing main cannons at the bow were already charging, the muzzle flickering with dangerous blue light.
"Itâs the Empireâs âShadow Bladeâ stealth destroyer!" The co-pilotâs voice wavered with fear.
The âShadow Bladeâ stealth destroyer employed the Empireâs most advanced stealth technology. It could shine even in large-scale military warfare, and with the radar detection capabilities of the Hundred Hunt Star Thievesâ base ship, it was impossible to detect the âShadow Bladeâ stealth destroyer in advance.
The main pilot stared at the screen, indeed too closeâthe projectionâs distance data showing the nearest enemy ship within a hundred kilometers, a distance in space combat nearly akin to face-to-face proximity!
"Sound the alarm!"
"WooâWooâ"
The piercing alarm cut through the entire spacecraft like a sharp blade, scarlet warning lights flashing frantically in every corridor and cabin.
Frantic warnings spread to every corner of the ship.
"Empire warships are attacking, all hands prepare for combat!"
In the cafeteria, the Star Thieves dining abruptly dropped their utensils, metal trays clattering to the ground with an ear-piercing crash. Their expressions swiftly shifted from confusion to terror, their faces changing drastically.
...
As the shrill alarm sounded, the Bloody Arena fell into an eerie silence.
The red-haired Feilakeâs wineglass shattered on the ground, the bright red wine splashing onto his gleaming boots. He stared wide-eyed, incredulously exclaiming, "This... this is impossible..."
In the center of the arena, two bloodied slaves froze mid-grapple. The Star Thieves in the stands were like ducks with their throats clutched, mouths open but unable to make a sound. A Star Thief placing a bet trembled, spilling chips all over the floor.
"Emp... Empire warships?" Feilakeâs deputy stammered, repeating the alarm, face pale. "How did they find us? Our route was clearly..."
"Stop babbling!"
Feilake gritted his teeth, "Prepare for battle!"
...
At the instant the alarm sounded, Ling Jueâs pupils contracted sharply in the Cultivation Room.
The Energy Crystal Stone in his hand shattered with a "crack," blue energy streams seeping through his fingers.
The typically cold and ruthless second-in-command now bore a rare grave expression.
......
As the alarmâs wail pierced the silent chamber, the dark red Blood Pool suddenly churned.
The viscous blood plasma bubbled like boiling liquid, bursting with eerie "gurgles."
Suddenlyââ
"Splash!"
A figure burst out of the blood!
The scarlet liquid slid down his silhouette but bizarrely evaporated upon touching the black robe, leaving no trace. A blood-red mask covered his face, with only two ghostly lights flickering in the eye sockets. Slowly raising his hand, droplets of blood dripped from the tips, not yet evaporated.
"Empire..."
His voice was low and hoarse, echoing like countless lost souls in an abyss. The tone no longer carried the usual calm but a rare hint of curiosity and suspicion.
...
"Finally, they have arrived!"
In the room, Qin Tian abruptly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
Whoosh~
He teleported in quick succession, casting the prepared Poisonous Widow and Xiong into the Yang Space.
Next, he entered the void again, destinationâthe cockpit.
...
Amidst the darkness of the Cosmos, fifteen Empire âShadow Bladeâ stealth destroyers fired simultaneously. Blinding energy beams tore through the void like swords of judgment, instantly shredding the outer defense line of the Star Thieves!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The civilian ships, plundered and modified into frigates by the Star Thieves, exploded one after another under the Empireâs precise assault.
Blazing fire silently bloomed in the vacuum, metal debris scattering like a cruel fireworks display.
Base Ship, Cockpit
"Shield energy remaining 67%... 59%... 43%..." The mechanical alarm coldly announced the despair-inducing figures.
The main pilot frantically adjusted the shipâs posture, trying to evade the artillery fire, but the Empireâs attack was too dense.
Each time the shield was hit, the whole ship shuddered violently.
The co-pilot watched the shield energy curve nosedive, face ashen, "At this rate, we wonât last three minutes!"
Just as everyone in the cockpit fell into despair, suddenly, three dazzling energy beams burst from the shipâs outer shell!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three figures broke through the shipâs armor like meteors, entering space directly.
Each was surrounded by their own energy field, tracing brilliant paths in the vacuum.
"Itâs the leaders!" The co-pilot excitedly pounded the console.
The blood-faced leader donned a dark red Stellar Armor, vast wings of blood spread behind him, holding a blood-red long sword entwined with eerie blood-colored lightning.
Second-in-command Ling Jueâs Stellar Armor was pitch-black, blending with the darkness of space. He held a ghostly blue Energy Light Blade in each hand, leaving minute spatial cracks in his wake.
The third-in-command "Frost" Morris wore ice-blue Stellar Armor, wielding a crystalline Ice Staff, surrounded by countless Ice Crystals. Even in the vacuum, the Ice Crystals bizarrely floated, exuding a bone-chilling cold.
The three darted like meteors, avoiding light beams as they headed swiftly toward the warships.
Seeing this, the cockpit crew clenched their fists, eyes filled with intense anticipation.
In interstellar warfare, the role of Spiritualists is crucial.
Tier Six Spiritualists can destroy a warship, Tier Seven Spiritualists can counter ten or even dozens of warships. As for the higher Tiers Eight and Nine Powerhouses, they can challenge an entire fleet alone.
The leader is a Tier Seven Spiritualist; the second and third-in-commands are powerful Tier Six Spiritualists. Together, they could potentially breach these fifteen warshipsâ blockade, carving a path for the Star Thievesâ survival.
At that moment, the guards stationed at the cockpit door also entered the cockpit; no one was more critical than the pilots.
"You focus on controlling the ship, leave the rest toââ"
Before the guard captain could finish speaking, suddenly, blood sprayed from his chest, a green vine burst through, its tip bearing gory heart fragments. Immediately, a blade flashed, and his head fell to the ground.
Swish swish swish~~
Dozens of vines bound all the guards and pilots like bundles, Qin Tian wielding the Black Frost Blade, methodically severed all the Star Thievesâ heads, leaving only the main and co-pilots alive.
He watched the combat footage of the three figures heading toward the warships, a cold smile creeping at the corner of his mouth:
"Overestimating themselves."
In the face of the Military Departmentâs immense power, these threeâs actions were akin to moths to a flame.
But in a way, this was advantageous; with the three most troublesome individuals absent, the next phase was his time for rampant reaping.
The Hundred Hunt Star Thieves must pay a bloody price for their crimes!