2: Chapter 2 unlocks the newbie gift pack! The miniature colony mothership arrives! Land on Gray Mars!

The cosmic void was deathly silent.

The darkness of the No. 7 Dead Zone seemed eternal and unchanging, save for that silver-white, imposing galaxy-001 micro colonial mothership, which hovered in the void like a stabilizing anchor. The mysterious sheen flowing across its hull became the only sign of life in this boundless graveyard.

Emperor Chen Fan stood in the center of the mothership's main control room, gazing calmly at the massive panoramic observation window before him, his mind still echoing with the shock and ecstasy of the moment the system bound to him.

Just ten minutes ago, he was still a death-row exile trapped in a dilapidated exile pod, with less than three days of life remaining. Now, he had become the sole owner of a standard colonial mothership, holding the initial power sufficient to establish a foothold in the stars.

All of this transformation stemmed from that voice which broke his desperate situation—the Mothership Troop Production System.

[Host, the Newbie Gift Pack has been fully unlocked. All rewards have been synchronized to the system space and the mothership's repository. Do you wish to confirm receipt of everything?]

The mechanical voice of the mothership AI, Zero, rang out in the main control room. It was calm and precise, devoid of any unnecessary emotion, yet it made Emperor Chen Fan's heart race slightly once more.

The Newbie Gift Pack was his first pot of gold for rising up in this desolate Dead Zone, and it was the foundation for him to establish a foothold.

"Confirm receipt. Materialize all rewards and display them one by one." Emperor Chen Fan ordered in a low voice. His tone was steady and powerful, having long since shed his initial disarray and panic, replaced by the calmness and decisiveness that a commander should possess.

[Command executed. Retrieving rewards...]

As Zero's voice faded, the circular main console in the center of the control room slowly rose, and the surface automatically unfolded, revealing the item display space inside.

The first thing to appear was an energy core radiating a soft silver-white light. The light was restrained yet immensely heavy; merely hovering there caused ripples of energy to spread through the surrounding space.

[Item: galaxy-001 micro colonial mothership Core Access Card]

[Description: Deeply bound to the Host's soul, unique, non-revocable, and non-replicable. Holding this card grants 100% supreme control over the mothership, including full authority over energy systems, attack systems, defense systems, construction systems, and ship-borne troops.]

[Status: Activated. The mothership has been materialized at the current coordinates and is entirely under the Host's control.]

Emperor Chen Fan reached out and gently touched the warm ball of energy light.

In an instant, an indescribable sense of connection appeared in his consciousness, as if this three-thousand-meter-long giant mothership were an extension of his own body. Every pipe, every engine, every cannon, and every piece of armor was clearly presented in his perception.

A wave of his hand could fire the cannons; a thought could set sail.

This was truly like an extension of his own arm!

"This is... my mothership."

Emperor Chen Fan muttered to himself, a flicker of burning intensity flashing in his eyes.

In the Human Federation, even the lowest-level colonial ship was only accessible to officers of the rank of colonel or above. As for a galaxy-001 micro colonial mothership capable of full combat, construction, survival, and mining operations, even a colonial governor of the Federation might not be able to deploy it at will.

But now, it belonged entirely to him.

No superiors to dictate to him, no Federation restrictions, and certainly no one dared to frame him or trample on his dignity ever again.

From this day forward, he, Emperor Chen Fan, was his own master!

Following that, the light on the main console flashed again, and a large pile of pale gold resource crystals slowly emerged, stacking into a small pyramid. Each crystal contained pure basic cosmic energy, which could be directly absorbed by the mothership's reactor and converted into all the power needed for construction, attack, defense, and navigation.

[Item: Basic Universal Cosmic Resources]

[Quantity: 1,000,000 units]

[Description: Can be directly used for mothership construction, machine operation, technological research, and troop recruitment. It is the most core basic material for early development.]

[Remark: 1 million units of resources are enough for the Host to complete three primary base constructions, or manufacture 20 basic mechs, or 10 small frigates.]

One million units of resources!

Emperor Chen Fan's gaze narrowed slightly.

This number was not exactly staggering within interstellar civilization, but for him, who was in the No. 7 Dead Zone with nothing, it was undoubtedly an astronomical fortune.

With these resources, he would not have to struggle bitterly for survival in the beginning. He could skip the most difficult stage of primitive accumulation and start building bases, mining minerals, and expanding his power, completing the transformation from "Exile" to "Conqueror" at the fastest speed.

Following that, three virtual electronic blueprints flickering with pale blue light slowly hovered above the resource pile. On the pages, precise structural lines and manufacturing parameters were clearly marked, full of a cold and advanced technological feel.

[Item: Basic Construction Technology Blueprints]

[Includes: Fully Automatic Survival Pod Blueprint, Level 1 Mining Machine Blueprint, Light Defensive Turret Blueprint]

[Description: Automatically entered into the mothership construction database. As long as resources are sufficient, they can be mass-produced without cooldown or restriction.]

[Remark: The three-piece set of early survival, mining, and defense is the standard configuration for establishing a colonial base.]

Then came a potion, deep blue and resembling liquid stars, sealed in a high-strength biological test tube. It rotated slowly, emitting an aura of life that calmed the mind.

[Item: Basic Version Genetic Enhancement Serum]

[Description: After use, it can comprehensively strengthen the Host's physical strength, reaction speed, mental power, immunity, and self-healing ability. The improvement magnitude is 3~5 times that of a normal human, with no side effects.]

[Remark: The basic physical fitness for interstellar survival, allowing the Host to have the ability to protect oneself in dangerous environments.]

Finally, there was a layer of invisible light-film information projected directly onto the main control screen, with a line of golden characters standing out prominently.

[Item: Newbie Invincibility Protection Buff]

[Effect: Within 24 hours, the mothership itself is absolutely invincible. Any attacks, energy impacts, spatial tremors, or cosmic disasters cannot cause even the slightest damage to the mothership.]

[Remaining Time: 23 hours 57 minutes 11 seconds]

[Item: No. 7 Dead Zone Local Interstellar Navigation Map]

[Description: Automatically synchronized with the mothership's navigation system. Covers all planets, moons, asteroid belts, and spatial turbulence zones within a radius of 100 million kilometers, marking safe channels and dangerous zones.]

Thus, all the rewards of the Newbie Gift Pack were laid out in full view.

The mothership, one million resources, three sets of basic blueprints, the Genetic Enhancement Serum, the 24-hour invincibility shield, and the Dead Zone navigation map.

Each item precisely addressed Emperor Chen Fan's most urgent needs.

The system did not give him anything flashy or useless; everything was essential material for early survival, expansion, and rise!

"Zero, inject all one million units of resources into the mothership's energy core and activate full-power reserve mode." Emperor Chen Fan immediately issued the command.

[Command confirmed, injecting resources... 10%... 50%... 100%!]

[Mothership energy core reserves increased from 30% to 100%. Reactor running at full power, all systems in optimal state!]

On the main control screen, the light bar representing energy instantly maxed out. The lights throughout the entire mothership brightened slightly, and the already incredibly smooth operating speed increased once more. The basic energy shield around the hull flickered slightly, emitting more stable defensive fluctuations.

"Load all three construction blueprints into the construction bay, and be ready to initiate ground construction procedures at any time."

[Blueprints loaded. Construction queue opened; can manufacture survival pods, mining machines, and defensive turrets at any time.]

After finishing all this, Emperor Chen Fan finally turned his gaze to the Genetic Enhancement Serum floating in mid-air.

In this dangerous universe, even with the protection of the mothership, one's own strength was of paramount importance.

The interstellar environment was complex and volatile; meteorites, radiation, vicious beasts, and unknown dangers were everywhere. Only by possessing a powerful physical body could he maintain absolute calmness and safety when landing on planets, going out for exploration, or commanding on the battlefield.

Furthermore, he would lead a fleet to conquer the stars in the future; if his own strength were weak, how could he command respect?

"Use the Genetic Enhancement Serum." Emperor Chen Fan spoke calmly.

[Command confirmed. Genetic Enhancement Serum automatically activated. Painless enhancement initiated...]

The next second, the biological test tube opened automatically, and the deep blue liquid turned into a slender stream of light, flying directly into Emperor Chen Fan's brow. There was no pain and no discomfort; he only felt a warm and powerful force instantly sweep through his entire body.

His muscles were strengthening, his bones were reinforcing, his neural reaction speed was soaring, and his mental power was surging wildly like plants nourished by spring rain.

The hidden injuries and exhaustion from his exile, beatings, and the tumultuous journey were completely cleared away at this moment.

The soreness in his body vanished, replaced by a sense of lightness filled with explosive power. His vision became incredibly clear; he could see even a tiny speck of meteorite dust in the distant universe with perfect clarity. His hearing, perception, and thinking speed all showed exponential improvement.

[Genetic enhancement complete.]

[Host: Emperor Chen Fan]

[Physical Strength: 5 (Normal adult male: 1)]

[Mental Power: 8 (Normal adult male: 1)]

[Reaction Speed: 6 (Normal adult male: 1)]

[Comprehensive Combat Power: Primary Interstellar Warrior]

An unprecedented sense of power filled Emperor Chen Fan's entire body.

He clenched his fist slightly and could feel the power surging within him, as if a single punch could shatter a thick alloy steel plate.

"Very good."

Emperor Chen Fan nodded with satisfaction.

Now, even without relying on the mothership, his own strength was enough to protect himself in harsh planetary environments, and he had the power to fight against ordinary interstellar beasts or enemies.

Everything was ready.

Survival was guaranteed, strength had increased, the mothership was under his control, and resources were in reserve.

It is time to step onto the first planet within this Dead Zone and establish my first colonial base.

"Zero, report all data on the Grey Fire Planet again." Emperor Chen Fan turned and looked at the dark grey rocky planet outside the observation window, his tone calm.

[Target Planet: Grey Fire Planet] [Type: Rocky abandoned planet] [Diameter: Approx. 7200 km] [Gravity: 0.9 times Earth standard gravity] [Atmosphere: Thin, no toxic components, can be converted into breathable oxygen via simple equipment] [Surface Environment: Primarily deserts, rocky mountains, and meteorite craters; no large-scale liquid water; solid water ice exists at the poles] [Temperature Range: 50℃ during the day, -30℃ at night] [Mineral Resources: Abundant in basic metal ores like iron, copper, aluminum, and titanium; no high-energy rare minerals] [Life Signals: No intelligent life, no large ferocious beasts, only low-level microorganisms; Safety Level: Extremely Low (Completely Safe)] [Distance from Mothership: 120,000 km] [Optimal Landing Site: Equatorial plain region, flat terrain, geologically stable, mineral-dense]

A perfect "newbie planet."

No danger, mild environment, abundant minerals, and flat terrain.

It was simply a starting point for his rise, tailor-made by the system!

The corners of Emperor Chen Fan's mouth curled up, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Order: Activate the mothership's landing bay, prepare a standard landing craft, and load it with a full set of basic construction equipment, 5 Tier 1 Mining Machines, 2 light defensive turrets, and 10 sets of fully automatic survival pods."

[Command confirmed, landing craft preparing... supplies being deployed...] [Landing Craft ID: Landing-01] [Loadout List: Survival Pod × 10, Tier 1 Mining Machine × 5, Light Defensive Turret × 2, Multi-functional Engineering Robot × 4, Life Support Equipment × 1 set, Energy Module × 3] [Loading complete, ready for deployment at any time]

The massive hatch at the bottom of the mothership slowly opened to both sides, revealing the dark and spacious landing bay inside.

A landing craft about fifty meters long, with a sturdy and solid appearance and a dark grey body, sat steadily on the electromagnetic catapult track. The fuselage was imprinted with the galaxy emblem, originating from the same source as the mothership, looking steady and reliable.

"Host, do you need to personally land on the Grey Fire Planet?" Zero asked.

Emperor Chen Fan did not hesitate at all.

As the master of the mothership and the future overlord of the starry sky, he had to personally set foot on the first planet that belonged to him and personally open the path to his rise.

"I will go myself."

[Understood, equipping the host with a combat suit, life support helmet, multi-functional combat dagger, and portable energy pistol.]

A set of silver-grey, lightweight combat gear automatically fitted onto Emperor Chen Fan's body. It clung to his form, providing ample protection without hindering movement. The helmet came with oxygen circulation, environmental analysis, and night-vision scanning functions. With an energy pistol and military dagger at his waist, he was fully armed.

Everything was ready.

Emperor Chen Fan walked toward the landing bay, his steps steady and his posture upright. The aura of the former genius commander of the Human Federation had completely returned in this moment.

He walked inside the landing craft and sat in the main control seat.

[Landing-01, systems normal, engines normal, energy normal, supplies normal, takeoff authorized.]

"Depart. Target: Grey Fire Planet equatorial plain landing site."

[Command confirmed, electromagnetic catapult engaging... 3... 2... 1... Launch!]

Boom!!! A massive thrust came instantly. The landing craft shot out like an arrow released from a bow, whistling out from the hatch at the bottom of the mothership. Pale blue flames sprayed from its tail, cutting through the dark cosmic void as it dove toward the greyish-yellow planet below.

Viewed from space, the Grey Fire Planet was like a stubborn rock forgotten in a corner of the universe—lusterless, lifeless, and scarred, covered in meteorite impact craters left by countless ages.

But in Emperor Chen Fan's eyes, this barren, abandoned planet was the first cornerstone of his life's comeback.

Ten minutes later. The landing craft successfully entered the atmosphere of the Grey Fire Planet.

The thin atmosphere rubbed against the fuselage, creating a faint glow. The landing craft's automatic stabilization system operated at full capacity, maintaining a steady descent posture without the slightest turbulence.

[Entered low-altitude orbit, 1000 meters from the surface... 500 meters... 100 meters...] [Landing site environment confirmed, flat terrain, no danger, landing authorized.]

Bang—a dull thud. The four sturdy landing gears of the landing craft slammed heavily onto the rocky surface of the Grey Fire Planet, kicking up a cloud of grey dust, and came to a steady stop.

The hatch slowly opened downward, forming an inclined metal ramp.

A dry, cold wind carrying a faint scent of dust rushed toward him. The temperature was slightly cool, the light dim, and the sky presented an oppressive, dark grey. The sun was not visible, only a hazy daylight.

Looking out, there was an endless expanse of grey rocky plains, with low, rolling mountains in the distance. The ground was covered with gravel and sand, silent and desolate.

There were no traces of life here—no sound of wind, no birdsong, no flowing water; it was terrifyingly quiet.

This was a planet within the No. 7 Dead Zone, a true forbidden zone for life.

But Emperor Chen Fan stood before the hatch of the landing craft, gazing at this desolate land. There was not a hint of disdain in his eyes; instead, they were filled with a burning light.

He slowly raised his foot and stepped onto the ground of the Grey Fire Planet.

Beneath his feet was hard, rough rock, the sensation real and clear.

From today on, this land belonged to him, Emperor Chen Fan.

"Zero, activate the engineering robots. Unload all the construction supplies carried. Establish a primary colonial base with the landing craft as the center." Emperor Chen Fan issued the first command after landing.

[Command confirmed, engineering robots activated, unloading operations beginning.]

Four engineering robots, two meters tall and made entirely of metal, walked out of the landing craft. Their movements were agile and efficient; like moving mountains, they steadily transported the massive survival pods, mining machines, and defensive turrets onto the ground.

"Deploy the survival pods in a concentrated manner in the eastern area to form a small living zone. Automatically connect the life support systems and energy modules."

[Survival pods being deployed... connection complete, can automatically maintain temperature, oxygen, and water circulation; can accommodate 200 people for long-term living.]

"Deploy the mining machines in the mineral-dense area on the west side. Activate automatic mining mode for all of them. Prioritize mining iron and copper ore, and transport the ore directly back to the mothership to be converted into resources."

[Tier 1 Mining Machines activated, drills rotating, mining beginning... estimated resource extraction of 1000 units per hour.]

"Deploy the light defensive turrets on the north and south sides of the living zone. Automatically lock onto the surrounding ten-kilometer range and activate alert mode. Any moving objects will be marked."

[Defensive turrets erected, energy filled, entering all-weather alert status.]

One instruction after another was issued in an orderly manner, and the engineering robots executed them precisely.

In less than half an hour, a primary colonial base—small but fully equipped—had officially taken shape on the equatorial plains of the Grey Fire Planet!

The silver-white survival pods were arranged neatly, forming a small settlement; the mining machines hummed as their drills went deep underground, continuously extracting precious ore; two turrets stood tall, their barrels slowly rotating, guarding the safety of the base.

The dead-silent Grey Fire Planet finally welcomed the first breath of civilization.

Emperor Chen Fan stood in the center of the base, looking up at the cosmic void.

In the darkness, that silver-white mothership remained silently hovering, like a guardian deity, covering this newborn base.

His heart was clear.

Landing on the Grey Fire Planet and establishing a base was only the first step.

His goal had never been a small, abandoned planet.

It was to walk out of the No. 7 Dead Zone, return to the Human Federation, and take revenge on those enemies who once trampled and framed him!

It was to recruit endless mechs and warships to form a fleet of billions that would sweep across the starry sky!

It was to conquer planet after planet, unify star region after star region, and become an overlord of the starry sky to whom all races would submit and all heavens would fear!

The wind blew across the desolate plain.

Emperor Chen Fan's figure stood in the center of the base, as upright as a pine, his gaze like a torch.

[Host, the Grey Fire Planet base has been officially established. The mining system is continuously producing resources, the defensive system is operating normally, and the life support system is providing stable supplies.]

[Current Forces: galaxy-001 micro colonial mothership × 1, Grey Fire Planet primary colonial base × 1, Mining Machine × 5, Defensive Turret × 2, Survival Pod × 10]

[Resource Growth Rate: + 1000 units/hour]

[Newbie Invincibility Protection Remaining Time: 23 hours 12 minutes 05 seconds]

Listening to the system's prompts, Emperor Chen Fan slowly clenched his fists.

What of the No. 7 Dead Zone? What of an abandoned planet?

From today on, this place would be the starting point of a legend.

He, Emperor Chen Fan.

Would use this Grey Fire Planet as a stepping stone, the galaxy-001 micro colonial mothership as his foundation, and the Mothership Troop Production System as his reliance to step, step by step, to the pinnacle of the universe!

A fleet of billions would eventually descend!

All the heavens and myriad worlds would have to bow their heads!

"Zero."

"I am here, Host."

"Activate the mothership's omnidirectional scanning. Besides the Grey Fire Planet, I want to know the coordinates of all locations within the No. 7 Dead Zone that might contain resources, planets, or even... traces of other civilizations."

"Our time is precious."

"From now on, expand!"

[Command confirmed, deep scan of the entire star region initiated. Target: Seek out all targets that can be conquered, mined, or occupied!]

In the dark universe, the mothership's scanning beam lit up once again, spreading toward the deeper, more distant, dead-silent star regions.

The era belonging to Emperor Chen Fan had officially begun!