Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 692

Chapter 692

Chapter 692: The Verdict

The Pharmacist answered with a small nod . “We’ve had several dealings with aliens ourselves, and they haven’t been so impossible to overcome . However, now they seem particularly impervious . This is true for their awareness and combat prowess . ”

Lan Jue nodded, thinking back to the many aliens he’d personally cut down .

The Pharmacist went on . “There’s no such thing as a flawless creature . We are governed by the same rules they are – we just haven’t found their flaw yet . I believe that discovering this should be the focus of our reconnaissance mission, and even test it . ”

“That makes sense . For example, we can use the same level natural strength and technological strength and see which has the better results . ” They were all intelligent people . The Wine Master puzzled out her meaning quickly .

Zeus-1 made the journey quickly . Not long after leaving Tyrannosaurus they were back at the heart of the Starfields . Empty space greeted them where the system’s three primary planets had been .

Lin Guoguo, seated beneath the helmet as usual, stared into the distance with eyes that glittered gold . She continuously cloaked them in psychic obfuscation, while the Blinding Stone kept Zeus-1 out of sight . They stood out as much as space dust .

In the distance they spotted a group of aliens, all headed in one direction . All the various breeds were represented, but most notable were the saucer-aliens – the kind that carried other smaller creatures with it as it traveled . The host of alien creatures thickly dotted that far region of space as they moved together toward some unseen target .

Star Division looked on in surprise .

Lan Jue shook his head . “Last time we came looking there were so few . I thought they were back within the planet, but that doesn’t appear to have been the case . It looks like they’d been sent out… somehow outside of the Starfields . ”

That would mean they had been dispatched with some sort of goal . They did not, after all, use these smaller monstrosities in the battle against the Bastions . So what was going on?

Many in the alien horde were strong, strong enough to go toe-to-toe with human Capital ships and with about the same numbers . Why had they been sent out? And to where?

A break in the throng revealed an alien planet . It was the same one that had attacked Tyrannosaurus .

Its central vortex had vanished and a thick purple atmosphere hung over the whole planet . Somehow it seemed smaller than it had not long before – probably from the loss of Moonfiend . The alien creatures converged on it from all sides and vanished into the hazy light, like bees returning to the hive .

Lan Jue and the others watched from a distance . With Lin Guoguo’s help they could remain for about an hour without fear of being discovered . Immediately evident was the fact nothing seemed eager to chase after Tyrannosaurus . However Lan Jue didn’t dare send this information to Kang Hui, for fear the energy use would attract attention .

Star Division continued to watch, but as they did the sense something wasn’t right began to nag at them .

As the aliens continued to flow into the planet, the atmosphere around it darkened and it grew in size . The more aliens that came, the larger it got, and the darker its hue became until it was a deep violet . A suffocating sense of oppression could clearly be felt .

“Could it have been pretending to be weak?” When the words left Su Xiaosu’s lips, a cold chill ran up everyone’s spine . Strong as they were, could the aliens really have been concealing their real strength? How powerful were they really? It had to be a trick, to lull the humans into believing they knew the truth when clearly they didn’t . It would play to their benefit in the next fight, revealing strength the humans didn’t think they had .

“No… it can’t be that simple . ” The Pharmacist watched with furrowed brow . “It’s not just about deception . It could just as easily have held back instead of wasting energy to make aliens . There’s another reason . Jue Di said that there are limits to how much power any living thing can possess – surpass that and the universe tries to… redistribute that power . If this planet is alive, like we suspect, it must be at or near that limit . It would mean that it had to limit itself by diffusing its energy into those aliens or it risked passing the threshold . This is a tool, an important means of controlling its own growth . What’s more, the North’s three Bastions could destroy these smaller ones easily . The planets probably sent them out because they cherish the energy these smaller ones contain . They rely on it . ”

Lan Jue nodded as the Pharmacist gave her hypothesis . “All of that is a possibility . Let’s keep watching . ”

The aliens continued to return in an unending flow of purple bodies . Suddenly, their conversation was cut short by a heady burst of power . They looked back at the scene, and in the distance they saw another enormous silhouette come into view .

Another planet!

Everyone unconsciously held their breath . Where they going to gather here? It would prove everything they’d guessed . The aliens weren’t planning on leaving the Starfields just yet, they would continue to sup on the vital energies of the system while enjoying its protection .

The second planet was visibly smaller than the first . Its massive purple body slowly came to a stop not far from its twin .

“Let’s go,” Lan Jue said . “We have to see if this is the one that destroyed Arachnid . ”

Zeus-1 began its approach, slowly closing the distance .

No scar! The planet showed no signs whatsoever of being in a fight . Either this wasn’t the planet Holmen faced or the admiral’s sacrifice had been in vain .

Before they could tell for sure, another tyrannical aura made their hearts skip a beat . The third planet had arrived .

It radiated an angry violet light, and a deep crater revealed discolored terrain beneath . It looked like a round piece of chocolate some enormous cosmic beast had taken a bite out of . Slowly it approached the other two while a strange and sick fluid flowed in the wound .

Zeus-1 didn’t need to do any more searching for the planet that’d destroyed Arachnid . At least they could confirm that Holmen’s final order had caused some damage .

Here they were, all together . As the humans quietly watched, they witnessed aliens leave from the largest of the planets and head toward the other two, changing them .

“Boss, I can’t hold for much longer . ” They’d been here for a while, and Lin Guoguo was starting to become exhausted .

“Let’s go,” Lan Jue answered . Su Xiaosu swung Zeus-1 around and calmly brought them to a safe distance .

The last few minutes had been very telling . For the North, it would be a relief to discover they weren’t being chased . They were also able to confirm damage to one of them, though at the same time it was clear they could aid one another .

Zeus-1 made its way to a larger asteroid and settled on its surface . Lin Guoguo immediately sank into meditation to recover her strength .

“What do we do now?” The Wine Master asked Lan Jue .

He pondered for a moment . “I want to grab one, bring it back . Like the Pharmacist says, we need to learn more about them if we’re going to craft an effective strategy . If things keep going as they are now, we’re just waiting for death – far too passive . ”

The Wine Master looked at him . “Are you going yourself?”

Lan Jue nodded . “We’ve got no Bastion as support and only ourselves to rely on . Without mother here you are the only one that can get us out of harm’s way in a hurry, and you’ll need time to prepare in that event . It would be too risky to put Zeus-1 in that position . I go out alone, secure a target, and come back – simple . Then we get out of here . ”

The Wine Master frowned at the prospect . “You know the Violet Princess has you in her sights . Don’t you think this is too dangerous? You don’t have Guoguo’s psionic pulse to shield you, making you easier to spot to the enemy . ”

“It’s the same for everyone,” Lan Jue countered . “Anybody who goes out there runs the risk of being discovered . That’s why you’re staying here to prepare for a quick exit . We teleport out of here the moment I get back, no matter what’s after me . That’s how we stay safe and get out with mission accomplished . ”

At last the Wine Master acquiesced . “Very well, just be careful . ”

Lan Jue nodded . “Relax, I’ll make sure I’ve got my head on a swivel . You don’t think I can take care of myself?”

“I’m going . ” The Pharmacist spoke up .

Lan Jue looked her way, ready to deny her request . But he saw that there was no room for argument in the look she gave him . And there was something else .

“Alright!”

Lan Jue took Zhou Qianlin’s hand and brought her to the back of the ship . She followed meekly, with no light of consciousness in her expression .

When he looked at her beautiful face, Lan Jue couldn’t help but sigh . He hesitated for just a moment, then spoke softly to her in a warm voice . “You need to stay here on the ship . You can’t come with me this time . ” He gave her a gentle hug and alight kiss on the forehead .

He helped her stand to one side . “Wait for me right here, I’ll be back soon . ” He ran a hand along her silken hair, then left .