193: Intrusion begins

The fifth month.

"It seems quite difficult to find many useful items in these looted ruins."

Zhang Huaiyuan flew out from the entrance of a ruin, shaking his head with some helplessness.

During this time, his main body and mechanical clone had visited all the important ruins controlled by the Empire and the Star Alliance.

However, there were only sporadic gains.

Most of the ruins were nothing more than empty shells.

These meager findings were far from enough to perfect his current weapons and equipment.

"The Statue of Liberty left me a message before departing, saying not to look at it unless absolutely necessary... Well, if it made her that cautious, it must be something significant. It hasn't come to that yet. I'll go take a look at those open ruins."

After a moment's thought, Zhang Huaiyuan opened the star map and prepared to mark a route.

The so-called "open ruins" were those that ordinary adventurers could explore; in most of them, even the bricks had been stripped away.

But what if?

Perhaps there was a test set by a powerhouse, like in the Time Spire.

"Sir, excuse me."

Just then, the ring on his hand flashed slightly, and the serious voice of the AI Brain came through:

"But I'm afraid you must return immediately. Those Outsiders in the Orr Empire are making a move."

"Oh? They finally couldn't hold back?"

Zhang Huaiyuan paused and asked, "Are there any specific movements?"

"They seem to have gained some understanding of technological means and have deliberately avoided all surveillance. Only a portion, leading the remnants of the Orr Empire's army, is advancing toward the borders of the two nations; the rest are missing."

"Splitting their forces..."

Zhang Huaiyuan frowned, feeling a bit of a headache.

Destruction is always easier than defense.

He needed to protect the vast territories and billions of subjects of two nations, while his opponents only needed to destroy and kill.

"Warn the front lines to be careful. These people have been dormant for so long; this sudden move must be a conspiracy. I'm heading back immediately."

"Understood, Sir."

...Port of No Fall, at the border between the Free Star Alliance and the Orr Empire.

As the most convenient gateway into the Star Alliance on the surface, its defensive strength was unquestionable.

All starships had been replaced with the Legend Generation III series equipped with Phase Disintegration Cannons. A mixed force of a full billion elite soldiers and combat robots was stationed here, and automated defensive weapons in space stretched for tens of millions of miles.

The Commander guarding this place was Gore, who had been personally modified by Zhang Huaiyuan.

He had now successfully advanced to become a Class 3S Experts.

Furthermore, twelve stable wormholes had been opened behind the Port of No Fall, allowing troops to be deployed for support at any time.

It could be said that the cost of a frontal breakthrough was unimaginable.

Even those Outsiders could not possibly withstand hundreds of millions of firepower attacks simultaneously, especially since they included a large number of weapons with level 2 rules.

So, when Gore received word from the AI Brain that an Orr Empire force was advancing toward the Port of No Fall, his first reaction was that they were insane!

His second reaction was that there was a conspiracy.

"General Gore, the Orr Empire fleet has advanced to within 80 million kilometers and is still proceeding. Please be cautious."

"I understand."

Gore nodded and quickly switched to the temporary unified command channel.

"All sector Commanders, report real-time status."

"All combat readiness self-checks in Sector A are normal. Ready to attack at any time."

"Sector B..."

"All members of Fleet One are in position, ready to set sail at any time..."

"The Combat Mecha Legion has entered the warp field, ready for deployment to the battlefield at any time..."

"General Gore, the enemy has approached the First Observation Star. Please advise..."

"The enemy has entered the Second Observation Star. Please advise..."

"..."

"Sectors A through C, enter energy-charging state. Fleets One and Three, proceed immediately to the support zone and stand by. Intelligence personnel, evacuate the observation stars immediately and ensure the self-destruct sequence is activated..."

Information was exchanged rapidly.

Of course, it was processed by the AI Brain; otherwise, the chaotic information would be overwhelming even for a Class 3S Experts.

While the forces at the Port of No Fall were being deployed methodically,

something Gore hadn't expected occurred.

The Orr Empire fleet actually made no stops or reconnaissance, charging directly into the range of the prepared defensive array.

In an instant, all turrets adjusted their aim and locked on.

Focused beams, phase cannons, gravitational weapons... endless artillery fire formed a dense network of firepower to strike back!

Under the precise guidance of the AI Brain, it perfectly caught the moment the enemy fleet entered range.

The Orr Empire's interceptors were blown up before they could even react.

Boom, boom, boom!

In the starry sky, fireworks bloomed in lines for tens of thousands of miles.

Hundreds of thousands of starships were destroyed in an instant.

Yet they seemed completely unconcerned about these industrial marvels, each costing massive amounts of money and materials to build, and continued to charge headlong toward the Port of No Fall.

Several Outsiders even took action personally.

They threw out talismans, conjuring sword lights thousands of miles long to strike down, but they only affected a tiny portion of the defensive belt before being annihilated by the dense artillery fire.

"Are they truly insane?!"

Gore watched the footage of the suicide attacks from the front-line surveillance, his vigilance rising sharply.

"AI Brain, sync the intelligence here with His Excellency Zhang Huaiyuan. I suspect they have another conspiracy."

"Understood, General Gore."

The AI Brain unhesitatingly connected to Zhang Huaiyuan, who was traveling at full speed.

"Sir, there is an important situation to report."

"What is it?"

Zhang Huaiyuan's expression turned solemn.

"Seventeen border checkpoints, including the Port of No Fall and the Mogan Star System defense line, are being attacked simultaneously by the Orr Empire and those Outsiders. But strangely, they are charging recklessly without any order or command, as if they are just throwing their lives away."

As the AI Brain spoke, it projected real-time images of over a dozen battlefields.

"Less than three hours since the battle began, the number of fallen Orr Empire ships has already exceeded three million."

"What on earth are they trying to do."

Zhang Huaiyuan couldn't help but frown.

"Are there any abnormal situations within the Empire or the Star Alliance?"

"None found for now, Sir. I have been running at full power since the war began; anywhere with modern equipment cannot escape my observation. However, these Outsiders have varied methods, and if they intend to avoid me, I am powerless."

"I understand."

Zhang Huaiyuan narrowed his eyes. "Regardless of their intent, since the task of these Outsiders is to deal with us, no matter how unusual their actions are, they must revolve around this single purpose."

"You are correct, Sir... Based on calculations from known intelligence, there is a 79.8% probability they will attack my server location in the Empire's Qi Xuan Star Region; an 11.2% probability they will carry out a decapitation strike against you; and a 3.12% probability they will join forces to launch a sneak attack on the Class 3S Experts of the two nations... These massive offensives are likely a cover for these objectives."

The AI Brain quickly provided the results of its calculations.

"Hmm, no need to worry about the Qi Xuan Star Region. Both of the Empire's 3S-Class Transcendents are there, and I will personally go there to oversee things. Notify the others to be careful."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded, his gaze lingering on the real-time projection of the almost one-sided war.

"It seems Karmot ultimately chose to side with those Outsiders. It's just a pity for those innocent soldiers and people of the Orr Empire; their sacrifices are meaningless."

...