152: ambush

After a brief sensation of dizziness, five starships emerged from the Wormhole Tunnel.

“We finally left the Iron Dome Galaxy...”

Randy stared fixedly at the starry sky around them, his expression complex.

No one had expected that after finally escaping the Blackstone Star System, they would face such a situation.

He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the silent figure on the command platform:

“Commander, where do we go now?”

“There are three Star Routes closest to the Embassy, all similar in length. This one has the fewest Star Mechanic Association branches, so we'll take it.”

An Yu rotated the Star Map, pointed to one route, and stated the answer she had already prepared.

“The supplies we brought should be sufficient. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid official supply points along the way.”

She wasn't sure how much influence an existence like the vice president of the Star Mechanic Association possessed, or if he could mobilize the Empire's official forces, so they had to be as careful as possible.

“Understood, Commander.”

The five starships activated their Reactors and accelerated at full speed, quickly leaving the Wormhole Control Zone and entering a long, Unregulated Shipping Channel.

This referred to areas where the Empire had not constructed Star Routes or Navigational Beacons. After all, space was vast, and even the power of the Empire could not cover everything.

“Commander, please take a moment to rest. It's virtually impossible to run into anyone else in an Unregulated Shipping Channel. I'll keep watch here.”

“I'm not tired, and I feel like things have been too smooth. In the past, those mad dogs always stuck to us relentlessly, but this time we haven't encountered them at all.”

An Yu gently shook her head, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. “Are there any abnormal readings on the Detector?”

“No, aside from some weak Galaxy Beast fluctuations, we haven't detected any... huh?!”

Before he finished speaking, the entire starship suddenly shuddered violently, as if sinking into a swamp, and its speed plummeted.

The instruments in the Command Room began flashing erratically.

“It's a Gravity Trap! How could there happen to be one here... Wait, it's aimed specifically at us!”

Randy's expression changed. Before he could think, he saw dense red dots suddenly light up on the Detector, coming from all directions, and the distance was already within ten thousand miles!

“I understand now... they have high-level Detectors, damn it!”

Seeing this scene, everyone reacted instantly.

“Commander, quickly take an Escape Pod and return! This place isn't far from the Lokar Star Port. If you pass through the wormhole back to the Iron Dome Galaxy, they won't dare attack. I'll hold them off.”

Randy gritted his teeth.

“It's too late. Since they waited until now to strike, they won't give us a chance to return. Besides, when have you ever seen the Commander of a Fleet escape alone?”

An Yu's eyes turned cold. A light cyan Battle Suit silently enveloped her, and a specialized Enchanted Heavy Sniper Rifle slid into her hand.

Five Bullets shimmering with Transcendent luster were loaded one by one.

—These were the special supply Bullets for the Empire's active-duty forces, valued at 120 million per round on the Black Market.

“Prepare for battle.”

“Understood, Commander.”

Randy looked at her unquestionable expression and stopped trying to persuade her. He silently put on his Battle Suit as well, watching the red dots on the Detector rapidly approaching.

“Commander, Captain, there is an unknown Communication Request. Should we connect?”

A Communications Officer suddenly reported.

“Refuse it. Prepare the Main Cannon for charging. Focus fire on whoever enters range first.”

An Yu said calmly. Since they were clearly enemies, there was no need to listen to their nonsense.

“Yes, Commander... Wait... their clearance is higher than ours, the Communication System is forcing a connection.”

The Communications Officer's expression changed, and he shouted repeatedly.

“Brothers of Dark Annihilation, we've known each other for so long, surely you wouldn't refuse a simple call.”

The next moment, a Virtual Projection appeared inside the starship. It was the Leader of Wild Lightning.

“Oh... isn't this little sister An Yu? Tsk, it's wonderful that you showed up here!”

A barely concealed hint of delight appeared in his eyes. She was the daughter of the Leader of Dark Annihilation; threatening him with her meant he would surely comply!

This was an immense merit!

“There's nothing to say. If you want a fight, then fight.”

An Yu expressionlessly raised her hand, and a Wind Vortex swept toward the Communication Platform.

With a “bang,” the entire Communication Platform exploded, and the projection of the Wild Lightning Leader vanished with it.

“Damn it!”

On the other side, aboard the Wild Lightning starship, the somewhat startled Leader regained his senses, his face instantly sinking. He suppressed his anger and said:

“The ungrateful wretches. Destroy their Warships, but be careful not to hurt anyone, especially the Command Ship.”

Although he didn't know why the other party had offended that Important Figure, based on the figure's attitude, the enmity was clearly significant.

He dared not take the liberty of killing them himself, lest that Important Figure still felt unsatisfied; crushing them would be as easy as crushing ants.

As long as they didn't let the targets escape and delayed them until the Important Figure's reinforcements arrived, it would be fine.

The other Mercenary Groups following them clearly understood this logic as well.

They all restrained their firepower and launched their attacks.

Even so, due to the immense disparity in strength, the Shields of the five voyager generation iii starships were quickly broken.

The Double A-Class Leaders of several Mercenary Groups personally flew out of their starships, intending to capture the members of Dark Destruction Legion alive.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Five streaks of cyan light connected in a line, and the Transcendent Bullets, enhanced by Wind Spirit Power, instantly tore through the void.

“Naïve.”

The Leader of Wild Lightning sneered. A Long Spear sprang out from his hand, and he met the cyan streaks head-on without evasion, moving like lightning.

Amidst the silent explosions, the Wild Lightning Leader was pushed back dozens of miles by the immense kinetic energy, but the power of the Transcendent Bullets was also exhausted.

An Yu's eyes darkened. This was almost her strongest technique, yet it was still vulnerable when facing a Double A-Class expert equipped with Transcendent Weapons.

She had never given up training over the years, but with her Mid-Tier Talent, breaking through to A-Class was incredibly difficult.

“Overestimating yourselves.”

Seeing this, the remaining Leaders of the Mercenary Groups quickly surrounded her.

“Protect the Commander!”

Warriors from Dark Destruction Legion donned their Titan II Mechas and filed out, their five-meter-long Kinetic Cutting Blades flashing with cold light.

This type of Mecha, powerful enough to allow an ordinary person to rival a B-Class Transcendent, was nonetheless easily defeated when facing multiple Double A-Class Transcendent.

With flashes of movement, they shattered the thick armor, yanked out the Pilots inside, and knocked them unconscious.

They were tied together on a rope, strung up like cargo.

If they hadn't considered that the Important Figure might need them alive, they would have slapped them to death immediately.

Soon, the figures closed in on the Command Ship.

One of them concentrated his Psychic Power, slapped away Randy, Reis, and the others who tried to intercept him, and then raised the Warriors strung together on the line in his hand.

Like a cat playing with a mouse, he transmitted a message with a mocking expression:

“Little sister An Yu, surrender now, or it won't be very dignified like them.”

...