Chapter 135: Final Battle (Combined)

Chapter 135: Final Battle (Combined)

Five days after the combined fleet of the First, Third, and Fifth Armadas set sail, they officially entered the Ice Butterfly Star Region.

Since the destruction of Cecil's heart fragments, the Ice Butterflies that had been hiding on various planets were startled by the roar of the warships, fluttering in disarray.

Bright red threads of mental energy, along with large and small butterfly crafts that had spontaneously gathered, filled the cosmos. As the combined fleet ventured deeper, more and more Ice Butterflies swarmed around them, as if every inch of space in the universe reverberated with their buzzing.

The terrifying reproductive numbers of the Ice Butterflies were now evident.

Humans had never realized just how many there were!

When Lu Yi led his fleet into the Ice Butterfly Star Region for a surprise attack previously, their objective was clear, and they pressed inward in search of Cecil's venom gland fragments. Although the Ice Butterflies along the way resisted, it wasn't as frenzied as this time.

It seemed as though they knew that this was their last stand, so they came out in full force.

Despite the formidable firepower of the front line of the combined fleet, hordes of low-level Ice Butterflies rushed forward, squeezing through the gaps of energy cannons to collide with the warships' shields. They were densely packed, covering the shields, with their opened wings overlapping and their insect limbs and venom glands piercing the defenses, attempting to breach the starship's protection.

This was once a scenario that human fleets had greatly feared.

With the frontal barrage piercing through, the Ice Butterflies that landed on the starship's outer layer could no longer be eradicated by the ship's energy cannons. The fleet had no choice but to dispatch mecha teams to engage the creatures in close combat outside the ship.

Mechs, with their inferior defensive capabilities and weapon outputs compared to starships, found themselves overwhelmed when swarmed by the dense swarm of ice butterflies. Should high-ranking ice butterflies suddenly join the assault, a significant number of mechs would suffer damage and crash.

Yet, this time, no one in the combined fleet was panicking because of such a sight.

A frosty energy breeze swept across the cosmos, turning all the ice butterflies lying on the starship into icy, snow-covered specimens.

Their sapphire wings and scarlet abdomens were cloaked in pristine white frost, only to be reduced to ashes the next moment, scattering into the abyss of the black universe.

Under Cecil's catalytic influence, the high-level Ice Butterflies, nearly comparable to the Adelphous, soared through the floating ice and snow aboard their Butterfly Boats.

Large and small black holes emerged around the Allied Fleet, serving as natural conduits from the depths of the star system to deliver these butterflies to the battlefield.

The newly evolved, high-level Ice Butterflies, once a significant headache for humanity due to Cecil's acceleration, no longer posed the same level of challenge.

Several mid-sized warships elevated their main cannons, unleashing a specialized energy weapon, developed under Rong Mi's guidance and led by Chen Mo, which shredded the encircling Ice Butterflies into pieces.

Simultaneously, silver psychic indicators flickered around the flagship of the Allied Fleet. The Silver Moon rose high, and an unchecked surge of energy spread outward, like an unstoppable tide, sealing off the spatial wormholes.

Under the moonlight, a colossal purple flame dragonbird soared through the sky, its wings obscuring the sun, as it brushed past the fleet, stirring up layers of flames and charging towards the swarm of butterflies ahead.

Below the main ship, a small starship, concealed by the dragonbird's fiery veil, broke away swiftly from the armada.

Behind the starship, trails of flame resembling ocean waves billowed, propelling it forward like a swift assault boat, diving deep into the heart of the Ice Butterfly Star Region.

Rong Mi stood in the cockpit of the small vessel, with a large silver wolf crouched beside her.

The starship pilot, Sun Tong, focused intently, navigating the craft through the entire Ice Butterfly Star Region.

The main fleet was still trailing behind, while their objective was to traverse the region and find traces of the Golden Spiders.

Thanks to Rong Mi's amplification of mental power, the starship moved at an incredible speed, too fast for even the ice butterflies to keep up. Those that managed to catch up were singed by the lingering flames and soon turned to ashes.

"Brother Rong, the planet to our left front seems to be the central star of the Ice Butterfly Star Region," Sun Tong suddenly spoke up from the cockpit.

Rong Mi tilted her head slightly, using her mental vision to spot a distant planet entirely enveloped in vibrant red energy from the ice butterflies.

From the vast planet's outer rim, numerous soft tendrils extended, resembling a fruit covered in fur. Some of these red tendrils belonged to high-level ice butterflies, while others were venom glands released by sub-butterflies. All of them swirled protectively around the planet.

Indeed, this was the Ice Butterfly's home planet, one that Rong Mi had glimpsed briefly during her transit through Cecil's wormhole.

The planet teemed with abundant energy and was guarded by numerous Sub-Butterflies and high-ranking Ice Butterflies. Rong Mi knew instinctively that eradicating this world would be no easy feat.

"Shall we strike?" Sun Tong asked eagerly.

Rong Mi glanced backward, catching sight of a stretch of silvery radiance in the distance.

"There's Lu Yi," the young man said nonchalantly. "It's his job."

"Our Commander can handle it!" Ayin's tail swished excitedly in the cockpit, as the wolf raised its head proudly.

Sun Tong gave Rong Mi an assuring nod, then followed orders and kept moving forward.

The warship sped across the cosmos, purple flames spewing from its thrusters as it left the main Ice Butterfly domain behind.

The young man stroked his wolf's head, then opened the star map with one hand while petting the wolf with the other.

"We're ten hours away from the edge of the Ice Butterfly Galaxy," he noted the distance. "According to Seiko, this used to be the core region. But due to the encroachment of the Golden Spiders at the periphery, we're now not far from the border. No wonder Cecil is anxious."

"Slow us down a bit," Rong Mi glanced at the swarm of butterflies trailing far behind the spacecraft, still unable to catch up. "The Golden Spider's cosmic web might extend further than the Ice Butterflies think. They may be manageable, but rushing into their trap would be... troublesome."

The young man's voice abruptly trailed off.

"Beware!" He suddenly looked up and shouted louder, "Sun Tong! Hold steady on the spaceship's control stick!"

A violent jolt shook the small spacecraft, followed by a deafening crash from the ceiling above Rong Mi.

As if struck by a meteor from the sky, the entire ship plummeted downward, its outer layer of sturdy metal caving inward.

The spacecraft lost balance, spinning out of control as it dove rapidly downwards.

Rong Mi grumbled, "...Really can't say anything without consequences!"

With all his strength, Sun Tong pulled hard on the spaceship's head. Despite the engines working at full capacity, he felt the once-light vessel become incredibly heavy.

"Brother Rong! I feel like something has landed on our—"- The rest of his sentence was cut short.

He met several pairs of golden eyes.

Sun Tong: "..."

Caught off guard, he found himself in a staring contest with the Cosmic Golden Spider.

Sun Tong: "....This spider has quite a number of eyes!"

The Cosmic Golden Spider's body was a blend of brown and gold, and on its head sat two full rows of circular golden eyes.

Its eyes lacked pupils, resembling tiny mirrors reflecting the contours of the starship's hull. In the next instant, its pincer-like mouthparts at the top of its head shot out, ready to pierce into the starship's exterior.

At the same time, it expelled energy threads like a spiderweb from its abdomen, attempting to ensnare the starship in its web.

However, in the next second, flames erupted around the starship.

The spider's mouthparts were engulfed by purplish flames, narrowly escaping being burned to a crisp.

Its body also fell into the flames, causing it to tremble violently from the intense energy.

The bristly eight legs of the Golden Spider curled inward, and the entire arachnid instantly contracted its body, ascending rapidly. Its spinnerets, which were used to emit silk, instantly redirected their aim. Instead of attempting to attack the starship, they shot out several more strands of silk, pulling it upward with great speed.

As Jin Zhu's body departed from the starship, Sun Tong felt a sense of lightness envelop the vessel, regaining its original maneuverability.

He stole a glance at the dented protective panel above the cockpit, still feeling the aftershocks of fear. "That was quite some force!"

"Descend," Rong Mi instructed calmly. "It'll be back momentarily."

"I can't see its position anymore!" Sun Tong's voice was tense. "I can't see the spiderweb either…"

"Up above," Rong Mi said, pulling open the hatch and hurrying toward the mecha preparation room. "Somewhere above the Energy Nebula."

"There might be more webs nearby. I'll mark them."

"Be careful, Brother Rong!" Sun Tong called out. "We're only two people here!"

They were supposed to be scouting, not engaging in combat!

But even considering that the Golden Spider's territory might extend further than Ice Butterfly had anticipated... they never imagined it would expand this much! The Golden Spider was almost at Ice Butterfly's home planet!

At this rate, the Ice Butterflies would be doomed even without human intervention!

They'd end up in the Golden Spider's stomach, nourishing it!

That would be utterly disastrous!

"As they say, timing is everything." The warship descended swiftly, and within the grayish-red nebula above, a glint of golden light flashed once more.

A colossal Golden Spider was descending upside down from the void of space.

The starship's descent accelerated, revealing the launch rails of the mechas above.

A black mech emerged from the flames, meeting the descending enemy head-on.

Before deploying his domain field, Rong Mi tapped his communicator to connect with Lu Yi's channel.

"You're literally crashing into the Spider," the young man's palm cannon ignited. "I'll start shooting. Take your time."

Lu Yi: "..."

Lu Yi closed his eyes momentarily, enhancing his empathetic connection with the wolf to discern the situation around Rong Mi. He then chuckled softly.

"Wait a moment," he spoke calmly, "it won't be long."

A corner of Rong Mi's lips curled up.

The golden spider, having taken the brunt of the attack, retreated upwards once more, seeking to hide and find an opportunity for a stealthy strike. But Rong Mi wouldn't give it any chance this time.

In an instant, the domain field expanded outward from Rong Mi as its center.

The young man's jet-black eyes shimmered with a brilliant purple hue, and in his world, elusive energy threads, like spiders' silk, illuminated one after another.

Not the golden luster of the Golden Spider's energy silk during its hunt, but the purple flames that belonged to Rong Mi.

In that instant, the flames climbed the spiderweb, tracing the silken threads and spreading fiery tendrils in all directions.

The cosmic web of Heaven's Net unfolds in its entirety at this very moment.

This web is far vaster than anyone could have imagined.

Rong Mi's mental power fully unfolded, extending the domain that already encompassed the entire Human War Zone even further.

This web was far too vast. If one were to travel solely by starship, it might take a month just to traverse the area it covered.

At this moment, the dense web turned fiery as energy boiled, causing each strand to quiver.

The vibrations originated from the furthest reaches of Rong Mi's domain, starting as a faint tremor before escalating into a violent shaking akin to an earthquake.

Rong Mi cast his gaze in that direction.

He saw swarms of Cosmic Gold Spiders crawling rapidly along the burning web from afar.

Seiko had mentioned that the Ice Butterflies only spotted a single gold spider.

This lone gold spider might be an "adventurer," but clearly, it was backed by an immense population.

On the web above Rong Mi's side, the Golden Spider that had repeatedly attempted ambushes now dared not act recklessly.

It raised a few of its hind legs, continuously rubbing the fine hairs on its thorax and abdomen.

A distinctive energy wave radiated from the friction, conveying information to the distant reinforcements.

Rong Mi glanced at the readout on the mecha's energy display, confirming that the mecha had recorded the Golden Spider's behavior for later analysis and study.

Then, with a calm gaze, he locked onto the panicked arachnid, which was desperately rubbing against its surroundings, seeking rescue.

The Golden Spider was an insectoid species renowned for ambushes. Its webs were nearly undetectable, and it often concealed its movements within cosmic energy nebulae to launch surprise attacks.

Its multiple eyes, lacking pupils, were highly sensitive to energy fluctuations, enabling it to pinpoint its prey's location with precision.

However, within Rong Mi's domain field, the roles of predator and prey were reversed. The spider's senses were disrupted by the omnipresent purple flames. Even if it attempted to move, it could not accurately gauge its position within the web.

Moreover... the entire web was searing hot under the scorching flames!

It tried to spin new silk, but as soon as it left its body, the threads ignited in the flames!

The spider anxiously swiveled its head, sensing the intensifying purple energy around it.

In the cosmos, a flaming ribbon danced and drifted, converging at Rong Mi's outstretched hand.

Like a rising sun illuminating the dark cosmos, it shone upon the mechanical armor.

Flames from the blazing sun cascaded as fragmented energy streams, casting a mesmerizing luster upon the armor's surface.

"Mmm, quite resistant," Rong Mi murmured to himself within the cockpit. "After all this time, your web hasn't been burned through."

No wonder Seiko said that even Cecil was helpless.

However, his current mental strength... had far surpassed that of Chrysalis.

Each battle between life and death served as a stepping stone for Rong Mi's ascent to greater heights.

Unfazed, he gripped his blade tightly.

The mech dashed with a roar of its thrusters, its six mechanical wings opening and closing like a ghostly apparition as it pierced through the energy web and instantly appeared above the Golden Spider.

In the Golden Spider's understanding, any creature entering its web should be ensnared by its energy, rendering them immobile.

Yet, Rong Mi's mech was not to be deterred.

The flaming spiderwebs stretched and clung to his wings, resembling demonic claws reaching from hell to drag gods into the abyss.

Yet, they failed to stop Rong Mi from slashing down with her blade.

With a silent explosion, the golden spiders, attempting to resist with venom, had their exoskeletons shatter crisp under the blade before their liquid energy, akin to molten gold, spewed out.

They scattered and evaporated under the scorching sun, but a few drops fell onto the starship's hull below.

"Beep beep beep!" Damage alerts immediately sounded within the cockpit.

Sun Tong, caught off guard, stared dumbfounded at the alarm screen.

Just a few drops of the residue from the exploded golden spiders pierced through the starship's outer shield. The metal surface of the ship that came into contact with the liquid swiftly lost its luster. The once uniform and solid metal structure was rapidly corroded, becoming porous and uneven.

Fortunately, Sun Tong managed to adjust the ship's trajectory in time to avoid more of the falling liquid, stopping the damage level from escalating to an extremely dangerous thirty percent.

Sun Tong: "...."

He found it hard to believe the transformation of his starship!

If one were to observe Rong Mi's battle alone, they would never have imagined the horrifying strength and toxicity of the Golden Spiders!

Rong Mi dealt with the Golden Spiders as effortlessly as slicing through watermelon and chopping vegetables, not even granting them the chance to spit their venom.

In the sky, the youth flicked his blade and turned towards the distant horde of cosmic Golden Spiders surging like a tidal wave.

A warrior standing at the gate always has their home behind them, but in Rong Mi's case, it was the icy planet of the Ice Butterflies, swarming with venom sacs.

The sub-butterflies on the main planet buzzed incessantly, realizing that this was a perfect opportunity to strike at Rong Mi.

Both the Golden Spiders and humans were their enemies.

Now was indeed the perfect time for them to seize an advantage!

It didn't matter which one they took out! What if they could even seize the chance to devour Rong Mi's energy?

That was something that even Cecil had lusted after for a long time but failed to obtain!

In the universe, the countless venom sacs that once enveloped the main planet rose upward like the malevolent tentacles of an ancient deity, reaching out with sharp claws towards Rong Mi, who had ventured into the midst of the Golden Spider swarm.

The youth didn't turn back, instead slapping the launch button for his mecha pet ball.

The Silver Wolves were finally granted permission to engage. They leaped out of the mecha, transforming into a streak of light to guard Rong Mi's back.

Frost spread from their wolf claws towards the Ice Butterfly home planet.

Ayin bared her sharp fangs, viciously biting off the venom glands of the approaching Adelphus Butterfly attempting to ambush Rong Mi.

A vast formation of high-ranking Ice Butterflies rose from the planet, attempting to break through the wolf's defense. However, they were torn apart by the surging silver radiance enveloping the wolves.

At the intersection of the silver and purple energy streams, Sun Tong gripped the control stick tightly, stabilizing the starship to prevent it from losing control amidst the colliding energy flows. He rapidly spun the regulator on the communication console, trying to amplify the signal to convey the battle situation back to the main fleet.

The intense turbulence of the energy field made his efforts futile. Nevertheless, at the edge of Rong Mi's mental domain, an eerily familiar energy fluctuation began to resonate.

Amongst the golden spiders, the young man sensed something and briefly glanced behind him. The wings on the back of his mecha opened, hovering in mid-air for an instant before swiftly folding back in.

More and more spider silk trailed behind him, like the unyielding talons of a devil still attempting to pull him down.

Several golden spiders stepped over their fallen comrades, quickly extending their mouthparts, spewing venom before Rong Mi could strike them down.

A vast, deadly golden radiance splashed outward, resembling an obscuring cloud that veils the sun.

Yet, silvery light pierced through the clouds.

Lu Yi had once lost his sharpness due to a severe injury in his mental domain. But today, his mental domain's vision had regained its clarity.

Clearer than ever before.

Lu Yi was still far from Rong Mi's battlefield.

In the turbulent energy field, the mechas shifted positions rapidly, with the Golden Spider's silk relentlessly entangling them, an annoyance beyond endurance.

However, what was blurred and indistinguishable to the untrained eye was crystal clear to Lu Yi.

Among the fleet, the central flagship, which had initially been in the middle, moved forward.

Its cannon, encircled by silver light, redirected its aim, adjusting subtly with the changing battlefield dynamics. The indicator lights on the cannon barrel flickered on, one after another. Lu Yi's expression turned solemn as he unleashed his mental power without reservation. The energy cannon fired, and the surrounding silver aura condensed inward, merging with the cannonfire, surging towards the distant battlefield.

It pierced through a distance invisible to the naked eye, obliterating the ice butterflies along its path, then charged into the spiderweb. Though its momentum was slowed by the spider silk, it still reached the location Lu Yi had designated.

Not on any of the golden spiders, but landing instead upon Rong Mi's mecha.

Sun Tong exclaimed, "!!"

He almost thought that Lu Yi's prediction had missed its mark, instinctively standing up.

Inside the mecha cockpit, Rong Mi didn't resist Lu Yi's energy blast; he even completely abandoned defense.

He placed his unwavering trust in his beloved.

From a distance, the slender energy beam appeared narrow, but as it drew near, its coverage was surprisingly wide. The silver light surged into the battlefield, engulfing Rong Mi's mecha entirely.

Yet, it didn't harm the mecha in the slightest.

The broad, slowing barrage of energy seemed like a gentle wave, washing over Rong Mi's mecha. As it receded, it resembled a giant hand forcefully tearing away the dense web that had enveloped the black mecha's exterior and grown thicker with the progression of battle.

As the light receded, it solidified into frosty shards, sinking into the depths of the flames.

The once resilient energy threads, now frozen, became brittle and were finally dissolved by the flames.

Not only the spiritual threads on Rong Mi's mecha were affected, but all the spiderwebs in contact with the silver cannonfire met the same fate.

In the cosmos, the frozen, sparkling silver fragments of the web continued to burn with purple flames. They swirled around the mecha like glittering confetti on a stage, descending gracefully with the flow of energy.

Rong Mi's mecha broke free from its constraints, as if reborn through fire, executing a swift and agile turn mid-air.

The corners of the young man's lips curled up as he manipulated the control stick on the dashboard.

The mecha turned its head towards the direction from which the fleet was approaching. Its bright left electronic eye flickered.

He executed a mechanical wink.

Playful and witty, it made Lu Yi couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

It was a look filled with indulgent warmth, along with an unmasked admiration and pride. His gaze fell upon the black mech, his attention earnest and focused, unintentionally revealing a hint of infatuation.

Everyone inside the cockpit: "...."

No one in the main battleship's cockpit had ever seen Lu Yi wear such an expression before, not even Ellen, who had served as the captain of the First Squad for several years.

As Lu Yi confessed his love to Rong Mi at the military base, Ellen was busy training the Thunderlion Sandal with full concentration, thus missing the scene entirely. He could only rely on Sun Tong's excited recount, her face glowing with excitement as she shared the details.

Ellen had no doubts about Lu Yi's feelings for Rong Mi. However, he was skeptical about the romantic language that Sun Tong used to describe Lu Yi, words often found in love novels.

He always felt that Sun Tong was exaggerating.

After all, it was hard for him to associate Lu Yi with phrases like "passionate" or "intense affection."

But today, Ellen understood.

Despite Sun Tong's limited vocabulary and somewhat melodramatic expressions...

From Lu Yi's current behavior, it was clear that there was indeed some truth to those sentiments.

The admiral pressed a button on the energy cannon's barrel, causing a flicker of silver light at its tip.

From Rong Mi's distant perspective, it resembled a shimmering silver star, as if responding to him.

Moments later, the massive fleet advanced, fully entering Rong Mi's field of vision.

As the fleet advanced, the Ice Butterfly planets in their path were devastated by the fans' attacks. The frigates at the rear of the fleet fanned out to clear out any Ice Butterflies attempting to flee.

The main ship, with its silver indicator lights flickering, redirected its course. Before joining Rong Mi's battlefield, it aimed at the Ice Butterfly homeworld that was still trying to provoke trouble.

"Chirp-chirp! —"

The Flame Dragonbird chased after the fleet from the back.

Its passage left trails of flames, scorching and eradicating the remnants of the Ice Butterflies and the crimson energy threads behind it, as if purifying the impurities.

In combat mode, the bird's wings spread wider than the main ship. It soared over the fleet, flapping its wings to accelerate forward. Then, it precisely targeted an elite Ice Butterfly that was about to ambush the Silver Wolves on the Ice Butterfly homeworld, biting it tightly.

With a burst of flames, the almost planet-sized elite Ice Butterfly was bisected by the bird's beak. The dragonbird's powerful tail lashed out, effortlessly sweeping away a cluster of Ice Butterflies.

"Chirp-chirp! —"

It turned its head and let out a crisp cry towards the Silver Wolves.

The Silver Wolves stood atop the air, their fluffy fur billowing in the energy wind. In response to the circling dragonbird above, they raised their heads and howled in unison.

"Roar! ——"

Ayin's icy silver radiance intertwined with the purple flames of the dragonbird.

Two seemingly incompatible energies entangled tightly, dragging one ice butterfly after another into their surreal and deadly energy surge. Not even Yade was spared.

As Yade and the high-ranking ice butterflies perished, the venom sacs swirling around the Ice Butterfly's home planet snapped and fell one by one.

The main cannons of the human fleet recharged and illuminated, unleashing their destructive might through the wolf-dragonbird energy tide, striking the heart of the Ice Butterfly's homeworld.

It pierced through the outer atmosphere of the primary star, breached its crust, and traversed the seething core at the planet's heart, rending the massive celestial body asunder.

Lu Yi was well aware of what would transpire next.

The Ice Butterfly's home star would shatter, unleashing a horrifying explosion of energy in tandem with its disintegration.

In that instant, the abundant energy source that sustained the Ice Butterflies would be evaporated and dissipated into nothingness.

Nothing else could survive this cataclysm, be it the vast cocoon fields on the planet's surface or the lowly Ice Butterflies lurking in hidden corners, desperately clinging to life.

Thus, Lu Yi didn't spare another glance at that planet.

He removed his starship weapon control helmet and entered the mech preparation bay.

With the chaotic explosion of the planet behind him, Lu Yi's white mech sailed steadily through the turbulent energy field, heading towards Rong Mi.

The young man was currently enveloped by molten gold.

All the golden spiders around him were dead, but the final opponent was approaching from further away.

The enormous golden spider, stepping on the corpses of its kin from afar, seemed capable of rupturing the universe itself. Its inorganic, golden eyes, arranged in two rows on either side of its head, were as large as the mech itself, as if they could trap the mech within their gaze.

Under its scrutiny, the colorless spiderweb covered in purple flames turned into a pure golden hue, resembling an indestructible, intricate metal cage that surrounded Rong Mi's mech.

Its massive mandibles extended from its head, swinging back and forth as more toxic mental energy seeped outwards.

Tiny energy particles infiltrated every crevice, spreading through the cosmos, piercing through flames and the mech's protective layer, attaching themselves to Rong Mi's mech exterior. They flickered softly before seeping into the gaps of the black metal structure, infiltrating inward.

Rong Mi heard a continuous, faint sound coming from within his mech's shell, as if it was being devoured and disintegrated piece by piece.

The golden hue extinguished the bright purple flames of the youth.

Seemingly, all other hues in the universe were fading away, with the exception of the energy field emanating from the golden spider before me.

Rong Mi clicked his tongue softly.

He wasn't panicked; he even took the time to observe the golden spider's appearance. He noticed a protruding, molten-gold organ on its head that set it apart from other spiders, resembling a crude crown tilted askew.

Rong Mi: "..."

"He's quite a troublesome fellow," he muttered to himself.

The ethereal spirit threads, which originally sprawled far and wide, filling vast sectors of the starry domain, were instantaneously retracted by him.

Rong Mi cast a glance at the alarm display on the mecha's interface, aware that he had limited time before the mecha was completely dismantled.

The black mech tilted its head slightly, raising its right hand with the index finger extended.

Emblematic of the fleeting time left to them in this battle.

Behind him, Lu Yi hovered in his mecha, suspended in the air. He held a silver spear, and behind him rose a wall of silver ice that completely severed this battlefield from the human fleet behind.

Golden energy collided with the ice wall, producing a heavy wave. The frosty surface was being melted by the golden light, but it still stood firm.

The thick ice wall would remain standing until the last breath of the one who had built it.

And Lu Yi's gaze was fixed forward.

His white mecha, also covered in golden spiritual energy, flashed its left indicator light at another, comparably battered companion.

Rong Mi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Putting your lessons into practice immediately, Admiral," he said.

High above them, the purple sun and silver moon had already set.

Everything seemed to have been submerged by the Sea of Gold.

But the fighting spirit would not be extinguished.

Rong Mi would not halt here.

Death comes equally to all.

The species known as humanity is not exempt from eternity.

But all things would not end this day.

The thrusters of the mechs roared like thunder.

Rong Mi's gathered mental energy flared in his palm, rekindling its glow.

The reignited flame merged with the silver radiance that erupted right beside him, intertwining Rong Mi's mental force with Lu Yi's energy.

The electric jolt he had first experienced upon touching Lu Yi's mental energy reached its climax in this moment.

With a firm grip on the mecha console, Rong Mi felt their confluence of power surge through him, hot and potent, igniting a brilliant flash amidst the golden void.

In that fleeting burst of light, the blinding gold was dimmed, and everything around them seemed to lose its luster.

The colossal Cosmic Golden Spider stood frozen for an instant.

Its mental perception was plunged into darkness after that flash of light.

Its sharp energy vision vanished, leaving only a blinding afterimage at the center of its sight.

That beam of light had already split in two, each part now adorned with irregular, razor-sharp edges materialized from intense energy turbulence, held firmly by Rong Mi and Lu Yi. The lingering glow streaked behind the rapidly maneuvering mechas, extending bright trails behind their mechanical wings, slicing through the vast golden prison like radiant wings.

The two mechas roared loudly as they swung apart, cutting horizontally and vertically towards the massive adversary.

Their heightened mental energies resonated in a cacophony of vibrations.

Amidst this intense mental disturbance, Rong Mi momentarily lost his sense of position.

It was as if the mech fixtures, cockpit, control panel – everything – dissolved within his consciousness.

His perspective soared infinitely upward, revealing the boundless expanse of the universe and its starry depths.

And at the heart of it all, right there, he and Lu Yi were together, pouring all their strength into slashing down their blades.

Rong Mi's lips moved involuntarily.

His combat suit was drenched in sweat, and in that very moment, he involuntarily uttered the admiral's name.

"Lu Yi,"

"Here," the admiral acknowledged.

Voice was muffled, but the intertwining of mental energies allowed Rong Mi to sense a response.

A smile involuntarily tugged at the corners of his lips.

"We'll do it together!"

The intersecting light sabers in the hands of the black and white mechas formed a radiant crown of the Goddess of Victory, shimmering brilliantly.

And thus, within the encirclement, an unprecedented explosion of energy was born in the universe.

It was as if the cataclysmic apocalypse, destined to annihilate all, had descended.

It resembled the great explosion that marked the dawn of the universe.

A silent cosmic roar echoed through the void.

Accompanied by a powerful energy shockwave, a radiant burst of light surged in all directions.

As if it were the very first light to descend in the mythical creation of the world.

With the birth of this new realm, the shadows of the past would fade into oblivion.

A colossal golden spider howled in agony and defiance amidst the brilliance.

But it was engulfed by the brilliant white energy, which surged forward, sweeping past the ice wall, and heading straight for the human fleet.

Sun Tong, who had just boarded his small starship to rejoin the fleet, was still inside the docking bay when he caught sight of the spectacle unfolding in the cosmos.

Unconsciously, he widened his eyes, having never witnessed such an immense flow of energy before.

Its irresistible force, capable of obliterating everything in its path, stirred a primal fear deep within his soul.

In the command deck of the starship, Vice Legion Commander Robert watched the scene outside the window, his words of command momentarily suspended in his throat.

He had assumed control from Lu Yi and was leading the fleet in the final stages of their assault on the Ice Butterfly home planet. His mental world was fully extended, pursuing the fleeing Ice Butterflies with intent.

Thus, he was the first to notice the distant glow ascending into the sky.

Before he could react, the light was already before him.

He stood frozen in place, unable to move due to the overwhelming intensity of the energy flow.

At this moment, not only Sun Tong and Robert, but the entire human fleet and the panicked fleeing Ice Butterflies, all strangely ceased their motion.

It was as if time had come to a halt.

Their bodies were rigid with fear, while their instincts screamed danger loudly within their minds.

Danger!

Flee!!

This thought seemed to be etched into their genetic code, appearing in the minds of all living creatures at this moment.

Some ice butterflies couldn't withstand the immense pressure within the energy field and exploded before the radiance even arrived.

The human fleet, frozen in place, was relatively calmer than them.

This was because they vaguely recognized a familiar oscillation amidst that terrifying energy flow.

And also because of the wolves and the dragonbird.

The two large, fluffy creatures stood in front of the fleet, not in a defensive posture.

Facing the light, they were relaxed with their bodies stretched out.

The Silver Wolf's tail tip curled up, its chest puffed out, head held high, as it let out a howl.

"Ooohwooo!"

The wolf squinted its eyes, a joyful and indulgent expression on its face.

The dragonbird perched on the prow of the main battleship behind it, its wings spread wide, as if basking in the sun, to embrace the torrent of energy.

Whoosh—

A brilliant white wave of energy swept over. The ice butterflies evaporated like mist, and the remnants of the battlefield turned to ashes and dissipated.

The scattered, chaotic remains of the ice butterfly's home planet, stained with reddish-brown hues, likewise dissolved in the radiance. All vestiges of the ice butterflies' residual energy were cleansed.

Aside from the human fleet remaining unscathed, nothing else survived.

Of course, this included the golden spider.

In the radiance that symbolized the dawn of a new era, the wolf and the dragonbird also shimmered with light.

They transformed into two beams of brilliance, merging into Rong Mi and Lu Yi's torrent of spiritual power.

Flowing into their domains of consciousness.

Rong Mi: "..."

The young man's expression was somewhat bewildered. But immediately, he followed his instinct, and with a thought, the spirit form of the little bird that had just been withdrawn reappeared.

"Chirp! Chirp chirp! ~"

The purple energy bird solidified, letting out a joyful cry.

It clearly realized that the battle was over. Reappearing as a palm-sized bird, it refused to enter the mech's pet ball, instead circling around Rong Mi.

Rong Mi chuckled and reached out to catch the bird in his arms, turning the mech in a new direction.

His and Lu Yi's mental energy remained intertwined.

Thus, despite his mental vision being nothing but a blank white and all the mech's instruments malfunctioning, he knew that Lu Yi was still by his side.

Would always be by his side.

Their energies merged, resonating in a silent declaration of their feelings amidst this grand, world-shaping scene.

As the aftermath of the explosion subsided, the brilliant surge of energy dimmed, transforming into a still dazzling silver-purple tide.

Amidst the shimmering light, both mechas unfolded their wings in full grandeur, adorned with resplendent hues.

They turned towards the fleet with an elegance that commanded attention.