529: To be continued tomorrow

That missile was not a conventional weapon, but a specially made space-collapse focused energy bomb.

Upon launch, it locked onto the spatial coordinates of the target area, then detonated its core, forcibly compressing nearly ten thousand kilometers of space into a high-density energy singularity glowing with an eerie light. Immediately after, an invisible dark matter shockwave, like a giant hand, violently tore apart the surrounding spatial structure, and countless tiny spatial fragments, like sharp blades, shredded everything in their path.

Even more terrifying was the subsequent spatial turbulence; the Subspace barriers within several million kilometers violently vibrated, forming a chaotic energy vortex.

This weapon might not be top-tier in a conventional battlefield, but in a fragile special Domain like Subspace, it was like a precisely deployed "spatial bomb," enough to make the insect race on the other side of the rift pay a heavy price.

"Send ground troops into the base, clear out all those insect races for me, and rescue the survivors."

After dealing with the external threat, He Dong immediately ordered to deal with the threat inside the base.

"Understood!"

...Inside the base, the heavy alloy blast door continued to endure impacts, each tremor causing the hearts of the thousands behind the door to tighten.

Emergency lights flickered, illuminating the fatigue and fear on everyone's faces with stark clarity. Some clutched their weapons tightly, others' hands gripping their energy gun were already numb. Only the 'thump-thump' sound from the blast door, like a giant boulder hanging overhead, made it hard to breathe.

Suddenly, the impacts stopped without warning.

Dead silence instantly enveloped the entire space, with only the faint lingering echoes of insect chirps from afar.

A young Research Personnel couldn't help but murmur.

"They... have they given up?"

Before his words finished, dozens of ghostly blue spatial rifts suddenly opened in the room, their energy patterns along the edges pulsating like living things.

Immediately after, Imperial Soldiers in battle armor emerged in single file. They swiftly spread out in a tactical formation, their pulse rifles aimed for vigilance, their eyes beneath their helmet visors sharp as eagles.

"Everyone, we are the Border Defense Garrison."

The leading officer opened his visor, revealing a chiseled face, his voice clearly echoing through the room via an amplifier.

"The insect ships outside the base have been cleared, and the remaining insect race inside are being fully suppressed. You are safe now."

After a brief silence, a long-suppressed cheer erupted from the crowd.

Some collapsed to the ground, covering their faces and sobbing uncontrollably, while others embraced each other, their shoulders trembling.

Most of them were Research Personnel who had spent years buried in laboratories, or administrative staff responsible for logistics, never having experienced the hail of bullets in their lives. Who would have thought they would face a desperate struggle for survival in a research base within the Empire's territory?

"Safe... truly safe..."

A female Research Personnel murmured, burying her face into her companion's shoulder.

The emergency light fell on her dust-covered white lab coat and also on the neatly arrayed armor of the Soldiers. Two distinct figures overlapped at this moment, weaving into the tranquility of survival after a catastrophe.

On the other side of the blast door, the faint roar of energy weapons firing and the hissing of the insect race could be heard, a signal that the clearing forces were advancing.

Inside the room, the Soldiers began to guide everyone to a safe area, isolating all fear and chaos behind them.

The Soldiers guided the survivors into the temporarily opened spatial tunnel. A pale blue energy curtain enveloped the crowd, instantly traversing vast distances, teleporting them to the Imperial starship docked in orbit.

Inside the starship, lights were bright, and medics moved among the injured, treating wounds. Tense nerves finally began to relax in the secure environment.

On the ground, the clearing forces continued to advance zone by zone.

The roar of energy guns and the hissing of the insect race rose and fell, eventually fading into silence.

The remaining insect race within the research base had been completely cleared.

Engineers began inspecting damaged cabins and equipment. The main structure of this base had not suffered catastrophic damage and could still be used after reinforcement and repair, though the lingering smoke and fishy smell in the air had not completely dispersed.

As the last batch of equipment parameters was transmitted back to the command System, the starship carrying Li Yang slowly entered the planet's orbit.

The hatch opened, and he, dressed in a crisp military uniform, strode down the gangway, his boots clanking crisply on the metal platform.

"Reporting, Division Commander!"

He Dong quickly stepped forward, stood at attention, and saluted, his voice clear despite a hint of fatigue.

"The rescue operation is complete. All trapped personnel have been safely evacuated, all insect race inside the base have been cleared, and follow-up repair work is being handled by the engineering corps."

Li Yang returned the salute, his gaze sweeping over the still-smoking wreckage of the base in the distance, and asked in a deep voice.

"How many people were rescued?"

He Dong's voice lowered, his tone grave.

"The research base originally had fifteen thousand personnel. After the first wave of insect race attacks, over eight thousand survivors were counted. A total of one thousand two hundred thirty-seven people eventually broke through and were rescued."

The air instantly solidified. Li Yang's face darkened, his brows furrowed into a deep line.

From fifteen thousand to eight thousand, then to one thousand two hundred thirty-seven – behind every number were vibrant lives, the scientific research strength that the Empire had painstakingly cultivated.

"Organize the casualty list and report it to the military headquarters immediately."

He was silent for a moment, his voice filled with suppressed grief.

"Also, bring back all the insect race samples captured this time and the remaining data from the base. Their sacrifice must not be in vain."

He Dong nodded vigorously.

"Yes!"