40: Accident

"How dare you!"

Amidst a furious roar, a violent Thunderstorm erupted from the ground as a domineering figure abruptly hovered in the void.

He spread his five fingers, and golden lightning from all directions converged as if drawn by an invisible force, forming five hundred-meter-long pillars of thunder. Then, his fingers suddenly clenched together.

"Thunder Prison!"

Instantly, the five thunder pillars shifted, crisscrossing to form a cage composed entirely of electric light, firmly trapping the energy blade.

This was a new application evolved from his "Thunderstorm" after advancing to the S-Class.

*Zzzzt—!*

The piercing sound of collision and cutting reverberated.

The thunderlight continuously gathered, attempting to completely annihilate the energy blade.

But now, this Ghost-Blade Giant Mantis was no longer the previous S-Class Star River Beast. Even though it had expended most of its energy passing through the Ion Shield, it still possessed the power to sever everything.

"Damn it, it really is an SS-Class!"

Leios's face flushed red as he concentrated all his strength into the lightning-shaped weapon in his hand, roaring, "Break!"

The thunderous prison instantly contracted inward and then violently exploded.

This explosion, which condensed nearly all his energy, finally shattered the intangible energy blade.

The scattered fragments of the energy blade swept out in all directions like a hurricane. Wherever they passed, whether it was steel fortresses or towering mountain ranges, everything was sliced in half.

And one of them, as if by cruel fate, flew straight toward the rear of Viscount Kane's mansion.

"No!"

Leios, Viscount Kane in the command room, the two Empire Master-level Star Mechanics, and Zhang Huaiyuan, who was observing the battlefield from afar, all changed their expressions simultaneously.

That direction... was the location of the ultra-long-range directional Warp Device!

*Bang!*

Viscount Kane in the command room, disregarding noble etiquette, directly seized a flying vehicle and sped toward his mansion at full throttle.

Meanwhile, Leios glanced at the sky, sensing the immense pressure approaching. After a moment's hesitation, he simply gave up and actually chased after Viscount Kane.

Although he never liked to use his brain, he naturally wouldn't engage in such an obviously suicidal act.

Elsewhere.

Viscount Kane arrived at the rear with a grim expression.

"Has the Warp Device sustained any damage?"

"My Lord..."

Two men dressed as Researchers stood up from one corner of the device, sweating profusely as they said, "This... the protective systems have been active the whole time. There's no overall damage, but this part seems to have been struck by the final remnants of that force. It... it just won't display the original coordinates anymore..."

"Kane, how is it here? We must leave immediately. I sense three SS-Class monsters approaching at the same time!"

Leios barged in, urging with some urgency.

"There's a problem with the Warp Device."

Viscount Kane glared at the two Researchers with a difficult expression: "Can it be repaired? How long will it take?"

"Well..."

The two exchanged a glance and immediately knelt down: "Please forgive us, My Lord. Warp technology far exceeds our knowledge. With our capabilities, we can only perform simple maintenance. We truly have no way to repair this..."

"A bunch of useless fools!"

Upon hearing this, Viscount Kane's eyes instantly turned cold. He wished he could just shoot these two incompetents on the spot.

"Step aside. Let us take a look."

At that moment, the two Master-level Star Mechanics, afraid of being left behind, finally arrived. With their lives at stake, they forwent formalities, pushed the two Researchers aside, pulled out a pile of instruments, and began a nervous inspection.

The two who were shoved aside weren't angry. Instead, they retreated to the side as if granted a great pardon.

"How is it? We're running out of time... they're almost here. The Ion Shield won't hold them!"

Beside them, Leios looked up at the sky with unease, his hand gripping the lightning weapon unconsciously tighter and tighter.

"Damn it! Relay my orders: overload the Ion Shield, have the Shadow Assault Squad stand by... if the shield is breached, buy as much time as possible..."

Viscount Kane cursed irritably a few times, issuing the order with a pained expression.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

On the dome above, powerful, rhythmic collisions sounded continuously, striking at everyone's hearts, making them sink lower and lower.

These were SS-Class Star River Beasts. Even by overloading the Ion Shield's power, it couldn't hold for long.

No one dared to breathe loudly, all watching the two inspecting Star Mechanics with tension.

Three minutes... five minutes...

Every second felt like an eternity.

Suddenly, one of them collapsed to the ground with a thud, completely limp.

A flash of foreboding crossed Viscount Kane's heart, and he quickly asked, "What's wrong? What's the issue with the Warp Device?"

"It's over... all over..."

The other Master-level Star Mechanic stared at the information fed back by the instrument with bloodshot eyes, utter despair on his face: "The navigation system is damaged..."

"What does that mean? Can it be fixed or not? Speak!"

Viscount Kane rushed forward and roared angrily.

"It can't be fixed! You fool! Why couldn't you even protect a single Warp Device properly!"

Seeing no hope of survival, the Star Mechanic, consumed by despair, spoke without thinking.

"No... it shouldn't be like this..."

Viscount Kane staggered as if struck by a heavy blow, almost unable to stand steady, even forgetting to reprimand the other's insolence for the moment.

"I am the third heir of the Adolu Family... one of the Empire's youngest Viscounts, destined to control the core of imperial power in the future. How can I die here... impossible!"

He muttered to himself, his face deathly pale, all his previous composure gone.

"I should have listened to that kid. I never thought he'd be right. Three SS-Class Star River Beasts actually evolved. I wonder if fighting to the death could at least injure one."

Leios shook his head.

Although he too felt some despair, his pride as a powerhouse gave rise to the courage for a final stand, even knowing escape was hopeless.

"That kid? Right... Zhang Huaiyuan! He's also a Master-level Star Mechanic! Since he could predict these Galaxy Beasts might evolve, perhaps he can repair this Warp Device."

Upon hearing this, Viscount Kane seemed to grasp at a lifeline. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he said repeatedly, "Bring him here immediately! Bring him here immediately!"

"It's useless."

The Empire Star Mechanic who had collapsed on the ground seemed to have calmed down somewhat and sneered, "Warp technology for medium-range and above is part of the Empire's classified research. Even if he has some skill, being born in such a backwater place, it's impossible for him to have access to the relevant knowledge."

"Shut up!"

Viscount Kane glared at them viciously: "Two useless things. You can't do it yourselves and still belittle others. You'd better pray Mr. Zhang can fix this thing, or I'll kill you two first."

Leios, standing to the side, was even more direct. He didn't understand these so-called technologies. He simply extended his hand, lightning twisting into a thick rope, and flung it out with a *whoosh*.

After just a moment, the lightning rope retracted, and at its end was a bound man with a stunned expression.

It was none other than Zhang Huaiyuan, originally still at the Dark Annihilation outpost in East District Three.