Chapter 50

Chapter 50

"No problem at all, Captain!"

His sudden salute drew quite a few curious glances.

The inspection officer was somewhat excited.

The Fourth Legion, perennially unappreciated and consistently falling short in new recruit numbers, hardly ever considered top military school graduates like the victors of the Wilderness Race. This year, the unexpected addition of Lin Fu was so delightful it nearly seemed like a hallucination.

Lin Fu, unflappable, inquired: "May I enter now?"

"Certainly!"

He passed through the checkpoint, paused in his stride, and half-turned his head backwards, unsurprisingly seeing Albert receiving the same treatment. Tang Qian and Zhong Si, too, were subjected to stunned scrutiny due to their alma mater and age.

The Wilderness Race, with its numerous entries and videos scattered across the star network, was hard to be wholly ignorant of, unless one was completely out of the loop.

That such a situation could occur within a legion was somewhat unbelievable.

The group entered the warship and followed the guide to their assigned rooms.

Just before the door closed, Lin Fu stopped someone to ask, "Is it permissible to wander around the ship to familiarize myself with the surroundings?"

The soldier scratched the back of his head, hesitantly replying, "Normally, that's not allowed, but as you're a Captain, you probably could..."

Lin Fu expressed his thanks.

Before departing, the soldier added, "However, since you are new to the Fourth Legion, it would be best to seek permission from the captain before visiting the warship; otherwise, the captain might get angry."

He seemed to pause, his expression slightly frozen, appearing a bit sheepish at the thought of the captain.

It was still a four-person room, with quilts laid out on the beds.

Albert lay down, his arms folded behind his head, "The captain seems difficult to get along with."

Lin Fu removed his hat, noticing the Fourth Legion's uniform issued at the bedside. Grasping it, he stood up and said, "Of course he's not easy to get along with, otherwise his soldiers wouldn't take him seriously."

Zhou Si poked his head out curiously and asked, "You seem quite experienced, don't you?"

Lin Fu glanced at him, "Like you, for instance."

Zhou Si: "..."

Burst into heartbroken tears on the spot!

Watching him enter the bathroom, Albert immediately grabbed his clothes, quickly put them on, and kicked Zhou Si to stop his theatrics.

When Lin Fu came out, he saw everyone in olive green military uniforms, the school uniforms stored away in the storage device, formally shedding their military academy identity and becoming soldiers.

Not waiting for him to speak, Albert stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder, "The warship is setting sail. The other recruits dare not wander off immediately, let's take this chance with fewer people around to familiarize ourselves with the environment."

The front line was at the farthest edge, even more remote than the barren star they had visited during the last competition. Thus, the warship's journey would take even longer.

They would have to live on the warship for a considerable amount of time.

The four of them sneaked out the door guiltily. The broadcast announcing the warship's departure had already been made, leaving the corridors deserted, as everyone was stationed in their assigned quarters.

They quickly slipped out of the residential area and walked along the corridor, stopping at a distance from the bridge. There were quite a few soldiers guarding the entrance to the bridge, and beyond it likely lay the control room. Wisely, they did not proceed further, casting only a fleeting glance before nonchalantly stepping onto the circular path to head elsewhere, under the watchful eyes of several soldiers.

The sentries exchanged glances, finding the group somewhat unfamiliar but nonetheless remained at their posts without leaving.

The starship was enormous; they were located on the third floor, with floors three to five designated as living quarters, while access to floors below the third was prohibited.

That area housed the warship's armory, energy stores, and crucial operational components, accessible only with a pass.

After wandering through most of the area, the four returned to the third floor, standing at the top of the spiral staircase, peering into the dark abyss below.

The last time Lin Fu experienced such freedom on a warship was aboard his own. He had visited the command room in the front cabin but had never been to the lower parts of the hold; he was somewhat curious now.

At that moment, someone emerged from the curved corridor. Upon seeing the four of them, he paused briefly before averting his gaze and descending the spiral staircase, his figure gradually vanishing between the steps.

Lin Fu watched the direction in which he disappeared, withdrew his arm from the railing, straightened his sleeve, and whispered, "Let's go back."

The other three naturally had no objections.

The instant the room door closed, the trio sensed Lin Fu's psychic energy rapidly spreading out.

They were startled by his sudden action, almost instinctively readying their psychic defenses.

Lin Fu's psychic energy instantly formed a barrier, tightly enclosing the room, blocking all signals and prying eyes. His expression was serious, "Did you notice anything odd about the person who went down to the third level just now?"

He didn't specify what the issue was.

The three were perplexed.

That person had glanced at them a few times, right? But wasn't that normal? On this entire warship, there wasn’t a soldier who wouldn't be curious and take a longer look at their trio.

Lin Fu's demeanor was indeed puzzling.

Looking at the three utterly unguarded individuals, especially Albert, the new head of a prominent family who, like the other two fools, harbored no suspicion of the people around, Lin Fu felt a headache coming on.

It had to be said, they had all been well-protected by their families previously. Even if they appeared vigilant and fierce when fighting the Bug race, they assumed everyone else was their own kind when it came to dealing with humans.

He sighed and said, "The person just now knows us."

The three were first stunned, then exclaimed in unison, "He's not from the Fourth Legion!"

It had been like this since they boarded the ship through the security checkpoint. If it weren't for the military ranks displayed on the screens, that soldier checking their information wouldn’t have known who they were. Since boarding the warship, not a single person they had encountered recognized them.

Not to sound arrogant, but given their performance in the Barren Star competition, it was unbelievable that out of so many people, not one recognized them. They simply couldn't believe there wasn't a problem.

It seemed the members of the Fourth Legion maintained a considerable degree of isolation from external news.

In such a highly unified state of awareness, the sudden appearance of someone different was too conspicuous to overlook.

Lin Fu shook his head slowly, "He is from the Fourth Legion."

Before the others could question him, he continued, "He must be planted by the Council or the Royal Family. They wouldn't be foolish enough to suddenly insert a stranger as a spy on the warship. Moreover, that person could go below the third level; he must have a pass, so he certainly isn't a stranger on this warship."

"The most likely scenario is that he was planted within the Fourth Legion years ago to monitor their activities, and now he's conveniently being used against us."

Lin Fu had no illusions that the Council would let him off easily.

Moreover, now there was the additional displeasure of the royal family to consider.

Among them was Albert, a young man in his early twenties, freshly graduated from the military academy — even younger than the typical graduate. Yet, he had already become the head of a vast family.

This family held the lifeline of the Empire's energy mines in their hands, possessed seats on the Council, and had substantial wealth. Apart from him, a combat-capable Sentinel, the rest were vulnerable Guides.

Such a temptation – how many could withstand it without harboring covetous desires?

No matter who had sent him, their intentions were undoubtedly malicious.

He cautioned, "During this time, familiarize yourselves with the locations inside the warship. Be more vigilant and don’t trust anyone easily, especially those with peculiar gazes."

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the three nodded hurriedly in agreement.

A sudden throbbing in Lin Fu's temple intensified his foreboding feeling, a sense that something unpleasant was about to happen.

Because of this, they roamed the starship in the following days, except during wormhole transitions. Unless resting, they rarely stayed in their rooms.

Sometimes they would even act separately, but no one feared being attacked when alone.

The warship was not conducive to group fights, and there were few who could overcome them in single combat.

At the Artemis Military Academy, A-ranked, even S-ranked Sentinels were a dime a dozen, almost making one forget that even in the military, B-ranked Sentinels were the majority. A-ranked Sentinels were rare and outstanding. Among them, even the lowest ranked was now an A-ranked, a graduate from a top-tier military academy.

As for Lin Fu, the Guide, any previous worries for his safety dissipated after the Barren Star competition. As long as his psychic power remained, Lin Fu was invincible!

That evening, after disposing of their nutrient solution vials in the trash, Lin Fu and his companions had barely left the bustling cafeteria when they were stopped at the entrance.

Two officers stood guard at the door like deities, extending their hands to stop them, "The captain requests your presence in the cockpit."

The commotion at the entrance attracted the attention of the new recruits.

They stared at Lin Fu and his group with curious eyes, and low murmurs began to spread.

"Aren't they students from the Artemis Military Academy?"

"It’s that Guide! Isn’t there only one Guide across all military academies, from Artemis Military Academy? Which other academy could they be from, if not Artemis?"

"But I remember, he still had two years left until graduation, didn't he?"

"Not sure, but the other three seem to be his classmates. I've seen them acting together during the live broadcast of the Barren Star competition."

"What on earth happened?"

"I'd like to know too."

The four of them faced the obstruction without a hint of intimidation, their faces the very picture of righteousness, as if they were being summoned for a matter of national importance. They nodded earnestly and strode forward with upright spines.

Their solemn demeanor and imposing presence even surpassed that of the ones who had come to fetch them, leaving the two officers exchanging puzzled glances before following with a sense of inexplicable bewilderment.

Passing through the bridge and arriving at the door of the cockpit, the guard soldiers eyed the four of them, gave them a couple of looks, and then opened the door to let them in.

Inside, they saw a towering middle-aged Sentinel standing with his back to them, hands behind his back. His dark green military uniform was immaculately tailored, hugging each of his muscles tightly. His tall and robust physique exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression, a dignified aura mixed with the murderous intent carried from battlefields.

It was a bloodthirsty and battle-hardened aura that the recruits, barely trained for half a year on the Barren Star, couldn't hope to match.

The insignia on his shoulder identified him as the captain of this warship, a colonel.

The four saluted militarily and then stood silently in place, not in the least bit anxious.

An eerie stalemate ensued in the cockpit. In the silence, the captain finally turned around, his rough and dark face revealing a gaze with a chilly glint.

After surveying the four, he twisted his mouth into a grimace that looked worse than a cry, "It seems you are aware of why you were summoned today?"

The four remained silent.

He let out a cold laugh, "I have reviewed your files; objectively speaking, they are indeed impressive. Your joining the Fourth Legion came as a surprise to me, but after a bit of thought, I can understand your motives."

"The impetuousness of youth, thinking that joining a declining legion would better showcase your abilities and make you stand out. Heh, youngsters. Two nobles, and the only Guide eligible for military service..."

When he reached Lin Fu, the captain suddenly halted in front of him, leaned forward, and closed in until their faces were nearly touching.

Lin Fu met his gaze without blinking.

Seeing that Lin Fu was not intimidated, he straightened up and exhaled disdainfully, "What a remarkable tale. Are all the young, senseless Guides on the Star Network now looking up to you as their spiritual leader? Each one of them unaware of their societal roles, foolishly dreaming of the battlefield. Do they think the battlefield is some sort of playground!?"

His voice suddenly amplified, startling the deputy on one side as his pupils dilated. Lin Fu, however, remained serene, as if the contempt was not directed at him.

Observing his demeanor, the captain's mockery intensified: "You can't even grasp your own identity, so naturally, you wouldn't care about the negative impact you might have on other guides. I suppose you even take pride in your supposed uniqueness."

At this point, he remarked with a hint of caution, "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. We had a Cheng Su once, and I never imagined someone else would aspire to be that conspicuous bird again."

Lin Fu's gaze subtly shifted at the mention of that name.

Cheng Su? This was the second time he had heard that name.

The first was before the Wild Star Tournament, during a standoff with the council, when the chairman had uttered the name of that guide — the first to whimsically wish to join the battlefield, only to die a horrific death, an event the military academy instructors refused to discuss.

Surely, they must have been from the Cheng family.

The captain berated the four of them thoroughly, vehemently criticizing their reckless wandering on the warship, sparing no one, but he harbored a particular disdain for Lin Fu.

In a tacit agreement, the four offered no rebuttal, allowing him to finish his tirade before exiting the cockpit.

Out of sight from the soldiers, Zhong Si and Albert's faces immediately fell, and Tang Qian's complexion also darkened. They had never been subjected to such harsh words.

Lin Fu remained composed. As he lifted his gaze, it momentarily lingered on a passing newcomer in the corridor.

The newcomer, sensing Lin Fu's gaze, quickly composed himself and hurried past with his head lowered.

Lin Fu didn't miss the fleeting malice in the newcomer's eyes.

He blinked, fiddling with his ring, slowly pondering the current situation.

When would the council and the royal family think it best to make their move?

It definitely wouldn't work to wait until after they reached the Fourth Legion.

Even in its current state, the Fourth Legion was still a formidable force, and its internal management was far from lax. Moreover, considering the somewhat unique identities of the four, should any mishap occur, the Fourth Legion would undoubtedly investigate relentlessly. Anyone who dared to act would face a fate worse than death.

It was clear that making a move now wasn't a good idea either.

There were no Zerg on a military ship, and people couldn't just die randomly; it would not be convenient for the adversary to strike.

"Lin Fu? Come back to reality."

Pulled from his thoughts, Lin Fu realized they had already returned to the dormitory.

Tang Qian asked him, "What's on your mind? You didn't take the captain's words to heart, did you?"

Lin Fu chuckled, "Do you think that's possible?"

Of course not.

"Let's not go out needlessly in the next few days," Zhong Si said with earnest concern.

The scolding had hit home, prompting him to seriously reflect on whether his youthful arrogance had been too overbearing.

Albert rolled his eyes, "That's if you can even make it out the door!" He gestured towards the entrance.

Puzzled, Zhong Si opened the door, only to meet the eyes of two soldiers stationed outside. He quietly closed the door and stepped back in.

Well then.

The group could only lead a peaceful life for the time being, constantly under the watchful eyes of the two soldiers, even during meals, attracting curious glances from the newcomers.

More than a half-month since their departure from the Imperial Capital Star, and after the sixth wormhole jump, they were drawing increasingly closer to the Fourth Legion's defensive line, making Lin Fu almost doubt his own overthinking.

Yet, the sense of impending danger grew stronger.

*

After Lin Fu boarded the ship to the Fourth Legion, Cheng Jiu stayed in the Imperial Capital Star for two more days to wrap up some loose ends. Before his departure, he made a point to visit the Cheng residence one last time.

The grand entrance of the Cheng household boasted a new gate, and even the pavement leading up to it was freshly laid.

This time, there was no need for the butler to open the door for him. As he approached, the gate recognized him and swung open to let him in.

Driving through the expansive lawn, he parked his car in front of the villa.

The sight of the man emerging from the car made the little boy, who was busy throwing balls at the robotic maid, instantly change his expression. Dropping the ball in haste, he bolted towards the house, shouting as he ran, "Mom, the devil is here! Mom, I'm so scared!!"

Bending down, Cheng Jiu picked up the ball that had rolled to his feet and tossed it into the pool, a teasing smile curling the corners of his mouth, "Oh, learned your lesson this time, have you?"

He didn't enter the house, choosing instead to lean against the car door and wait for half a minute.

Cheng Ying came out with his new wife, the little troublemaker in her arms.

Upon seeing Cheng Jiu, the woman's beautiful face lit up with a warm smile, "Ah Jiu, you're back! Come in, please. Your little brother is still young, if he says anything out of line, as his elder brother, you shouldn't hold it against him."

Cheng Jiu paid no mind to the woman, turning to Cheng Ying instead, "Oh, you've recovered from your injury, I see."

The mere mention of the incident soured Cheng Ying's expression further. Powerless against this defiant son now, he could only suppress his rage and rebuke, "What business do you have returning to this house?"

Cheng Jiu's smile was sly, "Wrong. This is your house, not mine. I left in a hurry last time and forgot to take back what's mine. Hand it over now."

Cheng Ying's face twitched imperceptibly, "What are you talking about?"

Cheng Jiu was forthright, "Need you ask? It's the seat in the council. Transfer the authority to me, and don't forget Ling Hui."

Cheng Ying was incensed, "You ingrate! Isn't wrecking the Cheng family's gate enough? You'd even demand things from your own father? That council seat was a gift from you!"

Cheng Jiu raised a finger, correcting him, "You're mistaken on two counts. First, half of your possessions are rightfully mine; what's wrong in reclaiming my own things? Second, I didn't give away the council seat, you deceived me out of it."

Mentioning this, the warmth in his smiling eyes suddenly turned icy, "The deal was, while I was away, you'd take good care of the kid. But it seems the Cheng family did nothing during my absence, did they?"

Cheng Ying sharply noticed the shift in Cheng Jiu's emotions.

The whimpering child, previously sobbing quietly, clung to his mother's embrace, abruptly stifling his sobs.

Months ago, when Cheng Jiu had reduced the Cheng family's gate to scrap metal, his eyes had shimmered with the same frosty menace.

After a moment of intense eye contact, Cheng Ying squinted and prodded, "When I abandoned you on that remote star to fend for yourself, I never imagined you'd end up in the Ninth Legion. Over the years, it must have been the Qi family pulling strings for you in the shadows, wasn't it?"

Cheng Jiu raised an eyebrow, "Wasn't there an agreement between our families to let me fend for myself without interference? My standing in the Ninth Legion was earned, starting as a mere soldier and fighting my way through the battlefield, not through nepotism like some."

His gaze shifted, a teasing smile settling on the child cradled by the woman, "Am I right, Cheng Yao? I hear you're a top student at your school."

The child shuddered, curling into himself, unable to stop a sob from escaping.

Cheng Ying's expression shifted subtly.

Knowing Cheng Jiu's character, he wouldn't bother with such trivial matters, especially since he held no fondness for Cheng Yao — unless he intended to do something to Cheng Yao, prompting someone to dig up his information.

The woman holding her son paled dramatically, leaning on Cheng Ying for support, her smile strained, "He's your brother, after all. With an elder brother as outstanding as you, the younger one can't fall too far behind, right?" She glanced at Cheng Ying, urging him to find a solution quickly.

An hour later, having achieved his goal, Cheng Jiu left the Cheng residence in high spirits, calling Jing Cun on a video call, "Prepare to return tonight."

Jing Cun replied, "Understood."

*

"Boom—"

The blaze of artillery fire illuminated half the universe.

"What's happening!?" The people in the cockpit squinted against the intense glare, unable to open their eyes.

The monitor officer, scanning through the detection page, discovered an intruding starship on their flight path, but found it peculiarly impossible to discern the vessel's appearance and affiliations.

Once the blinding light from the explosion faded, the colonel finally had a clear view of the starship blocking their way.

It was a drab-colored vessel, devoid of any markings, its equipment on par with that of a military ship.

A shiver of dread ran through everyone in the cockpit.

The grey exterior coating, and the military-grade build—it was the hallmark of the space pirates of bygone years.

Moreover, the fact that they were obstructing the flight path and had fired upon them clearly indicated hostile intentions.

The captain's face was grave: "Attempt to establish a connection for negotiations, find out what's going on."

"Yes, sir!"

The new recruits' area was in disarray, the atmosphere fraught with panic, and their clamorous voices could be faintly heard even through the walls.

Lin Fu stood in front of the window, hand resting on the glass, his gaze sharp and voice low: "Trouble has arrived."

Albert focused on the space beyond the ship; from their vantage point, they couldn't see what lay ahead, only the universe returning to its serene blue after the flash of fire had vanished.

"Should we go inform the captain?"

Lin Fu shook his head: "He thinks we're just arrogant rich kids, he won't listen to us, let alone believe us. If we go now, we won't even get to see the captain's face. In fact," he paused, adding, "we probably can't even get out the door right now."

He touched the glass beneath his hand, feeling a layer of energy instantly enveloping the glass and the walls around, the protective measures reaching an extreme level. Unless they deployed a mech, it would be difficult for them to break through with their own strength.

Upon hearing Lin Fu's words, Zhong Si immediately went to the door, attempting to pull it open, but just as Lin Fu had said, it wouldn't budge.

The guards must have gone to join the battle, fearing that they would cause trouble if they got out, and had simply locked them in.

Now, even if they wanted to help, they were helpless to do so.

Albert frowned, "What's with the temperament of this captain? Aren't we on the same side? Shouldn't a soldier be allowing us to prepare for battle at a time like this?"

Lin Fu remained silent.

He booted up his photon brain, unsurprised to find it nonfunctional.

In a state of battle readiness, the fully alert warship blocked all signals, barring messages from the control room; no other devices could communicate with the outside world.

Abandoning this idea, he gradually extended his mental energy over the walls, attempting to penetrate them, only to meet resistance.

Forcing his way through might be feasible, but it would come at a significant cost. It could potentially impact the protective energy layer, leading to defeat.

He couldn't be rash.

The expression on Zhong Si by the door was one of frustration.

The normally naive and lively Zhong Si was experiencing such treatment for the first time. Not even the scolding he received in the cockpit had upset him as much as the current situation. In a fit of anger, he kicked the door hard. His lips moved as if to curse, but finding himself at a loss for words, he could only exclaim, "How can someone be like this!"

Unable to destroy the door through brute force, Tang Qian stared at it for a moment before pulling out a piece of wire, attempting to pick the lock.

Lin Fu said, "Don't bother trying, it's just covered with an energy film. The lock is intelligent and can only be opened by destroying it or waiting for someone from the outside to do so."

Tang Qian put away the wire.

"Boom—" Another deafening explosion.

Lin Fu's eyes darkened; it seemed the negotiations had failed.

With such a large-scale effort, he was genuinely curious: What about him warranted this relentless pursuit?

Even if it were for Albert's sake, deploying a warship and antagonizing the Fourth Legion seemed too costly, almost to the point of being a pyrrhic victory.

His thoughts inevitably drifted to the poison administered to the original host.

The original host had not neglected to seek medical examination, having done so multiple times. Given the advanced state of medical technology at the time, the rarity of a poison remaining undetected was considerable.

What could compel the Lin family to reject a child of such talent and instead poison him, depriving him of his mental powers and rendering him disabled?

Even if the Lin family undervalued Guides, being an extremely rare S-level Guide could bring immense benefits through political marriage; it made no sense for them to do this.

Calling them brainless or insane was something Lin Fu wouldn't believe. They were acutely aware of the benefits a strong family member could bring, which was precisely why they had swallowed their pride and allowed Lin Sizhen to enter the Lin family.

"This is too strange."

His thoughts leapt, and he murmured to himself, "I should have inquired about Cheng Su from Cheng Jiu earlier..."

The room suddenly fell into an eerie silence, with Albert and Zhong Si, who had been arguing about how to open the door, falling quiet.

Lin Fu looked up, his brows furrowed as he asked, "What's wrong?"

Albert shook his head hastily, "Nothing, nothing at all!"

He then chuckled, "It's just unexpected. Your relationship with Major General Cheng seems even closer than I thought, considering you're thinking about him at a time like this."

Lin Fu clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking audibly.

Tang Qian, looking out the window, suddenly stood up, his pupils contracting, "The battle has begun!"

The others looked as well, only to see outside the warship, countless mechs clashing, their massive steel bodies as insignificant as ants in the cosmos.

They pressed their faces against the window, observing the battlefield, noticing several areas where the fighting was distinctly different.

The movements were too rigid, the reaction time slow, and there was a severe lack of combat awareness. They were being overwhelmed by the enemy, their mechs about to be dismantled in a short while.

These were clearly fresh recruits!

Their urgency grew; even new recruits were being sent into battle, indicating that this time's adversary was no ordinary foe!

Albert witnessed with his own eyes two military academy students being captured from their mechs, painfully floating in space, struggling to return to their cockpits, only to succumb to the pressure changes moments later, their bodies bursting into a mist of blood.

Even with the constitution of an S+ sentinel, one couldn't survive in space without protective gear and a cockpit.

Watching this scene unfold, knowing he had the ability but was powerless to act, Albert was consumed with rare anger, grinding his teeth as he cursed, "Damn it! Once I'm out, I'll make sure this damn captain is relieved of his post, and show him what a true noble's conduct is!!"

Before he finished speaking, Lin Fu suddenly felt the energy film dissipate.

He spun around, kicking the door open with such force that the backlash made his leg go numb. Limping a few steps, he growled, "I'm heading to the cockpit; you three go down to the third floor and deactivate the energy film!"

The three of them responded immediately, sprinting with great speed, splitting into two groups.

Lin Fu, summoning the fastest speed of his life, dashed into the control room. Stopped at the entrance, he raised his hand and struck, felling a person with a single blow. Simultaneously, the system control unlocked the door upon recognizing him, and the cabin door opened.

Through the vast front window, the grey behemoth opposite was clearly visible, its numerous dark cannon barrels aimed at the warship, with faint glimmers of energy gathering and flickering at their muzzles. In less than half a minute, they would complete their cooldown period and initiate the next wave of attack.

The captain, shocked, stared at Lin Fu who had suddenly burst in: "How did you get in? Where are the guards at the door? And your three companions?"

Lin Fu had no time to answer his questions and rushed to the control panel, asking, "How much longer until our cooldown period ends?"

His tone was stern, carrying the command of a leader, prompting the officer in charge of the control panel to subconsciously reply, "Twenty-three seconds left..."

Lin Fu grabbed the communicator and issued an order to the soldiers engaged in battle outside: "Those near the bow, bring your opponents to the front of the warship now, maximize the energy shield and the ignition! Complete this in ten seconds! Hurry!"

The captain, momentarily stunned, snatched the communicator from his hand: "You're just a mere captain, how dare you overstep and issue orders!? Once we repel them, I'll settle this with you!"

His voice also transmitted through the communicator, causing the warriors who were about to act to freeze, uncertain whether they should follow the order and move to the front of the warship.

In that moment of hesitation, a blinding light flared from the opposite cannons.

Lin Fu cursed inwardly and yelled, "Get out, now!!"

He grabbed the nearest captain and sprinted towards the cabin door. His psychic energy instantly formed a barrier, striving to cover everyone within a ten-meter radius, while mentally commanding the system, "Send a message to Albert and the others! After they open the energy film, have them find the escape pods and protective suits as quickly as possible!"

"Boom—"

Within the dazzling white light, everything was engulfed, and a deafening blast pierced through the warship, now devoid of its energy film's protection, almost causing deafness.

The ship's body shook violently, and under the extreme auditory assault, Lin Fu seemed to hear the sound of the ship's exterior metal twisting, breaking, and scattering into the cosmos.

His ears ringing, he lay in darkness, and it took several seconds before he could make out a dim light, his vision gradually clearing.

His brain was in turmoil, the pain nearly unbearable, making it almost impossible for him to get up.

His psychic power had taken a severe hit, and even a slight movement of his thoughts or the merest intention to harness his psychic power intensified the pain, as if thousands of barbed steel needles were piercing into his brain, continuously tormenting every nerve.

Supporting himself on the ground, he lifted his upper body, only for his arms to suddenly lose strength, sending him lurching forward by half a meter.

He gasped, and when he looked down, he saw a large pool of blood on the ground. Touching his chin, he realized the blood was flowing from his mouth.

Not just from his mouth, but also from his nostrils.

Wiping the blood from his face with his sleeve, he gathered his strength and managed to rise, finding that those within his psychic barrier had suffered no casualties.

The captain was kneeling on the ground, staring blankly at the front section of the warship that had been pierced through, his gaze vacant.

Lin Fu kicked him, drawing his attention, and snapped, "What are you dazing off for? If that colonel rank of yours isn't just for show, then get the hell up!"

Having said that, he didn't linger to observe the situation, instead staggering down the spiral staircase to find Albert and the others.

"System, those people just now count as saved by me, right? Is there energy available? Use it now!"

The system, in a flurry of activity, hastily complied: [Alright, right away!]

Lin Fu instinctively tried to use his psychic power to probe the situation of Albert and his group, but the stabbing pain in his mind intensified, forcing him to request, "Lend me your scanning function."

With life and death hanging in the balance, the system didn't fuss about making exceptions; it had already broken plenty of rules before.

The next moment, a third-person perspective appeared before Lin Fu, allowing him to expand and extend his vision, seeing everything within a ten-meter radius.

While the system controlled the energy to restore Lin Fu's severely damaged psyche, it guided him, "The energy film's controller is to your left."

Lin Fu immediately headed in that direction.

Without his psychic power, he couldn't sense whether the energy film had already been activated; he could only head towards the location they initially mentioned, hoping it wouldn't be too far off.

Several minutes later, with the enemy's weapons cooldown period having passed and no subsequent attacks launched, Lin Fu guessed that the energy film must have been activated and the captain had begun taking measures.

He asked the system, "Have you initiated optimization? Don't control the degree; open it to the max, and complete the restoration as fast as possible!"

The system was silent for a moment before responding, "Optimization at maximum has already been initiated. Your perception seems to be slightly impaired."

Lin Fu was momentarily taken aback.

He subconsciously licked his lips, only to realize his tongue was numb. Reaching up, he felt blood; his collar had been soaked through at some unknown point.

Yet, he tasted no hint of blood in his mouth.

Frowning, he didn't halt his steps.

He then noticed the sensation under his feet was also slightly distorted, as if his perception was clouded by a layer of frosted glass, preventing him from feeling clearly.

But there was no time to worry about these details now; as long as he wasn't dead, there would always be a way to recover later.

The most important thing at the moment was survival!

As the optimization neared completion, his mental strength regained slightly. Ignoring the intensifying pain in his mind, he spread his psychic tendrils, swiftly locating the precise positions of the three individuals.

They lived up to expectations and found the aircraft, promptly preparing them for launch and positioning them at the exit, ready to take off at any moment.

His sprawling psychic tendrils also captured the presence of numerous people rushing in their direction.

Evidently, the captain's thoughts overlapped with his own to some extent.

The most crucial new recruits on this military vessel, also the weakest in combat, needed to be shielded and evacuated posthaste.

Albert and his companions were shocked and dismayed at the sight of Lin Fu covered in blood, abandoning the moving aircraft and rushing over to assess his injuries.

Lin Fu shook his head: "I'm not in serious trouble, forget these matters for now! You board the mechs and exit from here, try to dispatch the enemies outside as quickly as possible and bring the others onto the aircraft!"

Albert, catching the urgency in his words, asked anxiously: "What about you!?"

Lin Fu responded, "I'll go up and try to take control of the battleship!"

Albert was almost driven to hysterical laughter, his blood boiling with rage as it rushed to his head: "You're not a technician, how can you control the battleship! It was just destroyed, wasn’t it? How do you plan to take control? Has your brain been eaten by worms!?"

Albert considered himself a very selfish person; in life-or-death situations, never expect him to talk about nobility!

Lin Fu was more important than anyone else here! Even if everyone else on this battleship perished, Lin Fu could not die!

Clenching his teeth, his expression distorted into a ferocious snarl due to extreme anger, he viciously grabbed Lin Fu's collar, dragging him towards the aircraft without regard, with the other two not hesitating to follow suit, showing no intention of assisting Lin Fu.

Lin Fu couldn't break free from his grip, a revelation that made Albert grind his teeth in fury!

If nothing was wrong, given Lin Fu's abilities, it would be impossible for him to not be able to break free from his grasp!

He was clearly lying!

Lin Fu, unable to break free, attempted to have Tang Qian pry Albert off, but suddenly, a mouthful of blood spurted out, specks of crimson staining Albert's face.

Albert was startled, his grip instinctively loosening, not daring to drag him any further, intending to lift him up, but Lin Fu took this opportunity to break away.

Just then, the captain, who had come down with the new recruits, appeared. Lin Fu urgently said, "You quickly get them out of here, I'll go up and control the battleship!"

The captain was stunned: "The control console has been destroyed, how will you take control?"

Lin Fu: "I have my ways!"

Having said his piece, he briskly brushed past him, dashing towards the exit!

The captain now held utmost trust in Lin Fu's words—his life was saved by him. Seeing Albert and the others attempting to follow, he immediately intervened: "What folly is this!? Board the aircraft and leave at once! Do you intend to let the sacrifices of those fighting outside be in vain!?"

Lin Fu's silhouette gradually receded into the distance until it vanished.

Tang Qian stood still for a few seconds, disregarding the captain's words, not attempting to seize Lin Fu like Albert did. Instead, he leapt down the exit, deployed his mech, and entered the fray in space.

An A-level sentinel tore through the enemies like a tiger among sheep, swiftly dispatching one after another.

The new recruits who were dragged out were flung aside, returning to the battleship to join the others in the aircraft for evacuation.

Zhong Si, seeing this, called out to Albert: "Lin Fu instructed us to intercept the enemy."

Albert turned his head, his eyes bloodshot and expression terrifying.

Zhong Si immediately recalled Albert's state during the Desolate Star competition, after Lin Fu and Yan Yan fell underground. Albert's eyes were bloodshot then as well, his whole being emanating a mad aura as he relentlessly pursued the crawling armor, refusing to let go, killing one after another, sparing none.

Seeing him leap down the exit, Zhong Si snapped back to reality and hurriedly followed.

He hoped fervently that Lin Fu truly had a plan.