Chapter 40: Second Preliminary Match (Part 5)
The nearest body lay sprawled on the steps leading down to the storeroom.
He was dressed in black combat fatigues. One hand reached forward, the other clutching the steps below him, straining with all his might to open the door and escape. He tilted his head upward, his youthful face distorted with despair, his eyes wide open. Blood-red tears oozed from the corners, freezing in the cold.
Mingyu's eyes swept across his face, and he seemed to be able to hear his dying cry for help... which came through the not-so-good communication signal, intermittent and distorted.
His chest had been pierced by the particle gun, leaving several hideous holes. The congealed blood flowed like a thick carpet from beneath him, covering the steps and the entire storage room.
The storage room was long and narrow, with the clip-on storage racks embedded in the wall unlocked, having been cleared of any dangerous items during the retreat. Not far from the door, in the empty space between two racks, lay a body. Wearing the same black combat uniform, with the same black particle gun hole on the chest, the body's face was frozen in disbelief, its eyes fixed blankly toward the storage room's exit.
The temperature inside the space station was so low that a layer of white frost had covered the face and body of the corpse.
“Click.”
With a slight sound, he removed the communicator from the wrist of the deceased on the steps, opened the back panel very skillfully, and took out the recording chip inside.
Then he put his hands over the corpse's eyes.
The warmth of a living being melted the icy white frost. A moment later, when he raised his palm, his wide-open eyes had already closed.
Mu Baixing stood up, lifted the frozen body and moved it to the side, then walked down the stairs, came to the second dead person, took off his communicator, and helped him close his eyes.
Mingyu felt the cold air filling his lungs, as if it was going to freeze him from the inside out into a stiff human statue.
"Are they soldiers from the Northern Star Region Legion?" Ming Yu said reluctantly, "...They want to get out."
Mu Baixing hummed, but did not respond. He just bent his slightly frozen fingers, opened the chip reader on the side of his communication bracelet, and inserted the chip into it.
A light screen popped up, displaying a red and blue energy graph.
This is a diagram of energy activity around the central star in the star sea, superimposed on the star map. Due to energy interference, the diagram is dotted with white noise, but one can still discern the dangerous crimson surrounding the central star. This red color clearly indicates that the energy intensity near the central star is approaching the critical point of collapse.
The floating and changing crimson energy ball is also inlaid with ominously growing gray-black colors.
"It's a special energy symbol." Ming Yu whispered, "Black Tide Energy..."
The continuously growing black-red energy mass signaled the impending collapse of the central star in the starry sea. The planet's destruction would be accompanied by the maturation of the black tide creatures and the explosive spread of black tide energy.
It is exactly the same as the historical records.
Their goal was to escape with the Star Ocean Energy Map before the central star collapsed. This star map was undoubtedly a powerful tool to help them estimate the time of the Star Ocean's collapse.
Mingyu felt cold all over.
"This is a real-time star map," he whispered. "The energy detector is located very close to the central star. However, there are no energy detection satellites near the central star. This is the energy image sent back by the detector on board the starship."
Mu Baixing did not answer.
His eyes were deep, and after a moment of silence, he raised his eyes and said, "The central star is about to collapse. We should leave."
Ming Yu: "Brother Mu! There are still people... and starships sailing in that dangerous energy field."
"This is a virtual star map constructed based on history." Mu Baixing turned to look at him, "History will not be rewritten."
His dark golden mental power expanded outward, wrapping the two corpses behind him tightly and lifting them up.
Mu Baixing: "Let's go."
He gestured to Mingyu to walk in front, while he stayed behind and kept an eye on the surrounding environment in case anything unexpected happened.
Mingyu knew that there was nothing wrong with what Mu Baixing said.
"Let me see what else is in the chip." He did not refute, but just pursed his lips, used his mental power to push open the light screen in front of the man, and opened the next file.
The communication bracelet stored the mission execution records of the soldiers in the Northern Star Region, stored in reverse chronological order. Mingyu opened the recording of the ambient sound of the last few hours before the two soldiers died.
“Hiss———”
A piercing noise echoed through the empty space station. Mingyu quickly turned down the volume, trying to discern the words amidst the clamor of the communication channel as the energy surged.
"Passing by the third resource star."
A young and calm voice cut through the noise, "Prepare for ejection."
Mingyu couldn't identify the other person's voice for a moment, but he always felt it was somewhat familiar.
"Direction calibration completed."
"Maintain speed."
"The single-person lifeboat line is normal."
An equally young voice rang out: "Report, we have entered the lifeboat."
"Has entered the lifeboat." Another voice responded immediately.
"Ten seconds left, ejection ready, ten—"
"Nine—eight—"
"Captain." The second person who spoke couldn't help but say, "Are you sure you want to return to the Central Star alone? This is too dangerous. An and I are not on the starship. You don't have an observer. If you want to break into the energy field of the Central Star..."
"seven--"
"There are no energy monitoring stations near the central star," the young man who appeared first said in a steady voice. "Only the detectors on our starships can transmit real-time monitoring information."
"six--"
"Your mental strength isn't sharp enough...! You're sailing alone..."
"Five—four—"
"I can see that."
"Go back. Enter the Third Resource Star Space Station and notify everyone to evacuate quickly. Request support from nearby legions. All creatures within the central star must be killed upon birth."
"three--"
"I will hold on until reinforcements arrive and deliver the most accurate energy signal."
"Last three seconds, get ready."
“Two—one—”
"Life capsule ejection—"
“Rustle, rustle—”
"The life capsule ejected successfully, the power system is activated, and a distress signal is being sent, requesting docking with the Resource Star Station No. 3—"
"Connection application approved - connection successful -"
The observer who was ejected from the starship was covered in sweat. He climbed out of the lifeboat and said quickly, "I want to see the person in charge of the space station."
"The responsible persons are holding a joint meeting to discuss solutions to the abnormal changes in the energy field near the central star. What is it..."
"Kuroshio creatures!" the observer shouted hoarsely, "Kuroshio creatures have been born inside the central star—this is the energy map we observed—"
"This black tide creature will devour all remaining energy in the core of the central star, causing it to collapse... but this won't be just any collapse. The black tide energy will erupt from its pinnacle, engulfing the entire star sea and spreading outward."
"If we don't intervene, the energy waves and newly born Black Tide creatures will spread to the outer reaches of the Northern Star Region! The Central Star and the Northern Star Region must summon the nearest legions and space city supervisory teams! Use the best starships! Destroy the Black Tide creatures as soon as they are born!"
"The signal here has been affected by the energy field. My communication bracelet can't contact the outer space." The observer communicated, "I need the space station's communication facilities to send a distress signal. Immediately! Now!"
"Wait a moment. I need to report to the station manager."
The staff's voices grew tense, their footsteps receding. The observer, anxious, paced back and forth across the room.
He waited for a while, but no one came in. The observer was extremely impatient and could not wait any longer, so he planned to open the door and go out to look for someone.
The door was reopened at this moment.
There were no footsteps entering the room, nor was there any conversation.
Instead, there was a soft bang.
It was so soft that it seemed like the sound of a toy, but it was particularly clear against the rustling background sound.
The observer, who was about to speak, was caught off guard and took a step back.
Mingyu felt a chill in his fingertips, and then he heard gunshots from the recording.
The heavy object fell to the ground with a loud thud.
"Drag it to the storage room." The person in charge lowered his voice, unaware that the observer's communication device was still faithfully recording the entire mission. "With another Celtic observer."
"Notify everyone to evacuate due to energy fluctuations on the central star...nothing else needs to be said."
"...The person in charge. But the black tide creatures..."
"That's the Northern Star Region's business," the person in charge said indifferently. "Let them deal with the Black Tide so it doesn't pose a threat to the Central Star Region. Besides, there's that person's request..."
"rustle--"
The call log contained a long period of noise, the sound of a body being dragged, and the creaking of a hatch being opened.
The same creaking sound rang in Mingyu's ears.
He suddenly came to his senses and realized that he had walked back to the connection between the space station and the starship.
Mu Baixing reached out from behind him and pushed open the hatch of the connecting cabin. Warm air blew in his face, and a cloud of vapor instantly condensed on the outer layer of Mingyu's oxygen mask.
The mist disinfection gun on the side wall of the passage lit up green, and under Mu Baixing's operation, it sprayed the two people all over.
"Boss! Brother LU!"
Zimao poked his head out of the nearby logistics cabin and handed two cups of warm water to Mingyu and Mu Baixing. Mingyu's whole body stiffened, and he shivered from the heat. His wrist trembled, and he almost spilled the water on himself.
Mu Boxing supported his wrist to help him steady his movements.
The golden spiritual energy dispersed, revealing the human body wrapped within. Zimao's face paled slightly, confused, but he remained much calmer than Mingyu had initially seen him. He whispered, "Let me take care of these...
Mingyu's eyes followed his gaze.
The white frost on the corpse melted away, and the stiff limbs still maintained their original movements. The white bird hanging upside down under the golden pattern on the black cuffs was lifelike.
Mingyu: "That person..."
Mu Baixing had already walked into the cockpit and said in a cold voice: "Prepare to return and leave the star sea."
"Get back to your place. LUCE."
The recording had stopped playing, but the driver's young, steady voice remained etched in Mingyu's mind. For a moment, the tone of the voice almost matched Mu Baixing's.
"Brother Lu?" The red-haired man turned around and saw Mingyu standing there, hesitantly saying, "What's wrong, Brother Lu? Is the Central Star going to collapse? Or is it a collapse that will be accompanied by the birth of the Black Tide creatures? We have to leave quickly! Otherwise, we'll be in trouble soon!"
Mingyu came back to his senses and quickly walked towards the observation post, thinking that it was probably the confidence and coldness shared by Mu Baixing and the starship pilot in the recording when they spoke that caused him to hallucinate.
When the X7 star sea accident occurred, the pilot's starship in the recording was still so close to the main star... He couldn't have survived.
"Holy crap, is this really a Black Tide creature?" Orange Hair muttered to himself. "We usually run into low-level Black Tide creatures on our voyages, but why do we have to run into one at the Star Navigation Competition?"
"Those born from a planetary collapse aren't low-level black tide creatures! Even the lowest-level black tide insects can become S-class, super-large black tide star beasts after devouring the planet's core!" Blue Hair scolded. "Don't let your guard down! Keep an eye on your detector!"
Blue Hair: "By the way, Brother LU, does our aircraft have a black tide energy isolation shield?"
Mingyu took a deep breath and calmed down.
"Yes." Equipping a starship with a black tide energy isolation shield is the most basic safety indicator. Every starship designed by Mingyu is equipped in accordance with the safety standards of the central star field.
Ming Yu: "But because it can only use low- and medium-grade materials, the level is not high. In the test, the resistance time for the black tide energy below the strength of A level is 30 minutes. Higher levels have not been tested, so they should be penetrated quickly."
The recording had finished playing, but the energy image screen that had originally popped up was still suspended in the air. The black energy field near the central star grew thicker and thicker, so heavy that it seemed to overflow the screen.
The central star is about to collapse, and the black tide creatures will be born from it.
Then, the Black Tide energy would erupt from its birthplace, sweeping across the entire starry sea. The terrifying energy wave would flood the universe like a pool of expanding ink, giving rise to more Black Tide life.
Historically, the black tide creatures born in the central star were not killed in time.
The first rescue fleet to arrive at the accident star sea came from the Central Star Region and was led by Ming Zhuofeng, who was still working at the Star Navigation Department at the time. His response was too quick, and after this rescue, he completely fell out with the Star Navigation Department.
Therefore, many people secretly speculated that the Star Navigation Department actually learned about the news of the X7 Star Sea in advance, but did not take any action.
In this incident, two inhabited planets and three space cities adjacent to the X7 star sea were attacked by Kuroshio creatures, resulting in hundreds of millions of casualties. Nearby hospitals were overwhelmed with patients suffering brain and body damage from the Kuroshio's energy.
Over the next year, the Northern Star Region's military stationed on the outskirts of the X7 Star Sea, strangling the Black Tide creatures. This star sea also merged into the Black Tide Belt outside the star region, becoming a zone that humans could not easily set foot on.
The cause of the accident in the X7 star sea has not been announced in recent decades, so Mingyu does not know what level of black tide creatures were born on the central star, nor how strong the black tide energy waves could be.
But just like Lanmao said, the black tide creatures generated by the core of the devouring planet are at least S-level, and the black tide energy field it induced... will not be lower than S-level.
Mu Baixing slid his fingers across the starship operating screen and quickly reviewed the basic information of the starship.
His gaze lingered on Ming Yu's newly designed gun barrel for a second, and then he said, "That's enough."
His voice was calm. "Using the energy of the cannon barrel to counterattack, even after losing the protective shield, we can still navigate the black tide energy."
The starship's hull trembled slightly and broke away from the space station.
Mingyu leaned back in his seat and reconnected to the starship's operating system.
If Mingyu had heard Mu Baixing say this a week ago, he would have refuted it with all his might, telling him that even if he didn't care about winning or losing the game, death in the virtual star map would not be pleasant, and asked him not to take himself "to death".
But now he chose to trust this calm and arrogant driver.
Even...he developed similar crazy thoughts as Mu Baixing.
"If you want to escape the starry sea directly, you can take an L-shaped route around the meteor belt. There's still enough time." His eyes fell on the still-updating energy map, and he pursed his lips. "If you want to collect complete energy information from the starry sea, you need to take a Z-shaped route, passing the central star and completely crossing the starry sea. The estimated time is five hours."
"According to the energy chart, it's been about five hours since the central star's energy field collapsed."
"Is it risky?" Mingyu whispered, "Brother Mu."
He hopes to be able to use more advanced starship design materials in the next game.
And… take a look at that starship.
Look at the starship pilot who is willing to risk his life to monitor the development of the Black Tide's energy in the hope that reinforcements will arrive.
Although the support came too late.
Mu Baixing turned his head and looked at Mingyu.
He's not in the best condition right now.
Ever since entering the space station, Mu Baixing's mind has been filled with fragmented memories. Those fragmented memories were incomplete and overlapping, and could not be connected into a clear thread, which only made his head ache slightly.
It didn't have much of an impact, Mu Baixing thought. It was just a vague pain, not even as bad as the pain in his mental realm when Kuroshio was in poor condition and had to set sail.
The man raised his hand and moved the operating lever.
"As you wish."
The silver starship turned around and sailed at full speed in the turbulent energy flow, approaching the central star.
Mingyu's spiritual force threads still lingered around the starship. They passed through the turbulent star-shattering belt and emerged from the energy cloud. The pale nebula ahead, visible only to the naked eye, was vibrantly colored in the spiritual world.
Purple, tan, and gray-blue intersperse with each other and spread outward, creating blurred boundaries that are difficult for humans to describe and beautiful blocks of color that cannot be matched with numbers on the color card.
The starship entered a large nebula, and then Mingyu saw the huge central star in the starry sea behind him on the right at the end of his vision.
The distance between the starship and the central star shrank, and Mingyu's mental power was no longer blocked by the energy waves. Bright blue mental force threads unconsciously extended forward, floating in the black universe.
The planet was supposed to be white.
The planet without any life is covered with layers of frost, like a huge white Christmas ball, pulled by gravity, slowly rotating in the universe, quiet, yet dreamy.
But at this moment, streaks of ink surged across its surface.
Black tide energy is flowing out from the cracks on the planet's surface...
Mingyu suddenly held his breath.
No. He suddenly realized that it was not just black tide energy!
It's more like... the tentacles of an unknown creature extending from the interior of the planet!
At the same time, the black ink block in the energy map suddenly deepened again, and a warning red light flashed on the light screen, accompanied by a beeping sound.
The growth curve of the Kuroshio energy was no longer as smooth as before, but instead it suddenly pulled out a steep slope that soared upward, breaking through the safety warning line in just a moment.
The world began to shake, and a terrifying sound like a volcanic eruption exploded in his ears.
Mingyu's pupils suddenly shrank, and he muttered, "Oops... misjudgment..."
"Speed up!!! Brother Mu!!——" he shouted, "The central star energy field is about to collapse!"
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