Chapter 1016: Gorutan's Provocation

Chapter 1016: Gorutan's Provocation

The fourth phase of exploration targeted four star clusters, geographically situated in the central heartland of the Shining World.

Opening the new star domains to outsiders was the Empire's method of diluting construction costs; the territories of the first three phases had been neatly partitioned, tightly controlled, and classified as high-security zones, whereas these four clusters formed a free-competition arena for all factions, where the Empire placed no restrictions on outsiders wrestling for territory, marking them as low-security zones.

Foreign powers selected one or several clusters to explore, charting the unknown while simultaneously wrestling for ground, and in these early stages, expansion was the primary objective, with every faction sharing a singular goal: to secure a bridgehead before gradually pushing deeper into the uncharted expanses.

Now, though countless foreign factions had only recently arrived for the fourth phase and their explorations remained confined to the fringes of the four clusters, the situation already bore the seeds of intricate entanglement; were one to meticulously delineate every faction's current holdings on a stellar map, it would undoubtedly yield the most convoluted territorial chart in the entire universe.

Most factions had long foreseen the ferocity of the competition and formed alliances of varying degrees, and broadly speaking, the major camps currently active in the free-competition zone could be divided into several distinct categories.

The first were the local overlords, namely the Empire and its allies, who had already claimed preliminary footholds along the edges of the four star domains, enjoying a somewhat transcendent status, for most outsiders had no desire to clash head-on with the established powers, and the Empire's own forces showed little zeal for aggressive exploration, abstaining from the frantic scramble.

The second comprised alliances of disparate civilizations, with the Super Star Cluster Alliance standing as the foremost among them, while the rest were cluster-level civilizational coalitions divided by star domains, all expanding aggressively, securing bridgeheads, and linking their territories with those of their allies to form conspicuous, contiguous blocks on the political map, making this category the dominant force in the free-competition zone.

The third consisted of conglomerate forces, primarily composed of assorted mercenaries driven by profit, whose scattered holdings dotted the region; the fourth encompassed foreign Beyond Grade A factions, formidable in strength yet few in number; and the fifth included various civilian organizations, the most heterogeneous and fragmented of all, whose territories changed hands frequently in the previous life and served as the primary flashpoints for conflict.

As for Radiance and Void Spirit, both maintained a low profile, content to remain secluded in their own corners with no intention of rampant expansion, merely allowing their subordinate allies to participate in the competition at their own discretion.

The three great civilizations shared an unspoken understanding, deliberately ceding the stage to let other factions clash and slaughter one another, much like rearing venomous insects in a single jar.

For the time being, however, though sporadic skirmishes flared within the free-competition zones of the four clusters, no large-scale armed conflicts had yet erupted; exploration had only just begun, vast unknown territories remained, and everyone was diligently pushing inward from the cluster edges, leaving the territorial landscape far from saturated.

At present, these factions were primarily restrained by their wariness of the Empire's stance, but open warfare was merely a matter of time, and with the Black Star Army having fired the Shining World's first shot, this inevitable process would be drastically accelerated.

Among the fourth phase's free-competition zones lay the Emerald Star Cluster.

The colossal exploration fleet of the Black Star Army slipped through the Empire's military star gate, arriving at the cluster's frontier.

Within the command chamber, Hela stood before the console with an impassive expression, her gaze fixed intently upon the holographic stellar map hovering before her.

She had since changed into a new attire, a nano-fiber combat suit specially crafted for her by Han Xiao: a double-breasted black uniform modeled after an ornate version of the legion's officer regalia, clinging tightly to her skin to accentuate her captivating curves, bearing the army's insignia at the collar, and complemented by a sweeping high-collared cape draped over her shoulders, its exterior woven with intricate black-and-gold patterns and lined with crimson silk within, an ensemble that, when paired with her innate demeanor, rendered Hela utterly commanding.

Designated the "Crimson Serpent·Prototype," this Beyond Grade A apparatus harbored a wealth of cutting-edge technology, appearing as mundane clothing in its daily mode yet unleashing the devastating capabilities of a Beyond Grade A mechanized suit once combat protocols were engaged.

This battle suit was no hasty fabrication; Han Xiao had completed it long before Hela's return, and though she offered no verbal gratitude upon receiving the gift, her decision to wear it constantly betrayed a quiet, profound fondness.

"Vice Commander, where are we headed?" her female adjutant inquired from nearby.

Hela extended a slender finger, tapping the holographic projection to magnify a specific sector, revealing a planet on the fringe of the Emerald Star Cluster named Phiri, somewhat remote in its coordinates and currently unclaimed by any faction.

"Here," Hela stated. "We establish our bridgehead."

She now served as the supreme commander of the exploration fleet, granted extensive autonomous authority by Han Xiao, who had merely designated the Emerald Star Cluster as their objective while leaving all tactical maneuvers entirely to her discretion.

The Emerald Star Cluster had been chosen not only because it served as the primary theater for the Modo Civilization's explorations and had flourished greatly in the previous life, but also because Han Xiao recalled certain hidden elements lingering here: the ruins of an ancient, highly advanced civilization had been unearthed within this cluster, preserving a trove of technical archives that had once sparked fierce contention among countless factions, though its exact coordinates remained a mystery.

Most crucially, the Emerald Star Cluster was one of the prophesied coordinates for the emergence of the Chaotic Secret Energy.

The legacy of the Evil God contained multiple predicted coordinates for the Chaotic Secret Energy's manifestation, leaving Han Xiao uncertain as to which was genuine; since the Evil God had not perished in the previous life and the intelligence had never leaked, he had quietly secured the energy without drawing external attention, leaving the players entirely unaware of the affair.

However, Han Xiao had been covertly tracking Evans's movements; the former host of the Chaotic Secret Energy had found employment after his release, working as a lowly ground crewman for a conglomerate's exploration fleet, tasked with cleaning and repairing vessels, and it was precisely this fleet that had arrived in the Emerald Star Cluster.

Consequently, Han Xiao was fairly convinced that the Emerald Star Cluster was indeed the birthplace of the Chaotic Secret Energy, reasoning that after the Evil God had violently severed it, the energy would naturally seek the nearest available host, making Evans's current location the most probable site.

Naturally, Hela remained ignorant of these machinations, casually issuing orders to steer the fleet toward Phiri.

Meanwhile, a portion of the player guilds chose not to follow, instead breaking away from the main force to operate independently.

These registered guilds possessed the right to free movement, preferring to carve out their own strongholds rather than trail the main armada, a deviation Han Xiao tacitly approved; he had even prepared a wealth of exclusive, generously rewarded tasks within the legion interface specifically to encourage such independent operations and widen their competitive edge.

...

Elsewhere within the Emerald Star Cluster, the fleet of the Beast Ancestor Gorutan had made planetfall, fervently constructing their own bridgehead.

Though he served as the shadow patron of the interstellar black market, Gorutan commanded a faction of his own, distinguished by a singular peculiarity: the vast majority of its members were his own progeny.

Gorutan stood atop a towering, solitary peak, gazing down upon a landscape gradually being encased in metallic plating, while above him stretched the profound darkness of the cosmos, pierced by auroras born of atmospheric ionization that streamed across the heavens.

He stood entirely unclothed, his majestic and formidable frame bared to the elements, his lion-like mane of bestial fur whipping in the corrosive gales, while specks of radiant light orbited his form, each a highly condensed manifestation of martial aura.

For a peak Beyond Grade A martial artist, cultivation had long transcended mere physical tempering, ascending to a profound realm where every inch of flesh must resonate with the cosmic order; crude methods like Heber's habit of bathing in stellar cores were practices Gorutan had long abandoned.

At that moment, a succession of meteors streaked across the sky, crashing down behind Gorutan to reveal over forty Calamity Grade executives.

"Father!"

They all bowed their heads, speaking in unison with reverent tones.

Every one of these executives was a descendant of the Beast Ancestor, yet their appearances varied wildly, as though they belonged to entirely different species.

Gorutan truly earned the "Ancestor" in his title, bearing another colloquial moniker among the common folk: the Stellar Sower.

Upon evolving into a Beyond Grade A lifeform, he had acquired terrifying reproductive capabilities and genes of extraordinary adaptability, rendering reproductive isolation virtually nonexistent in his presence; he could sire offspring with nearly any species, and his method of expanding his clan was brutally straightforward: capturing females of various races for mating, thereby birthing a myriad of hybrid lineages.

Should any exceptional mutants arise among his progeny, he would readily turn them into breeding vessels to forge even more powerful descendants, a practice that shattered the ethical norms of certain races and earned him widespread ostracization from civilizations that viewed him as a feral brute, though plenty of other species remained indifferent, recognizing that morality varied wildly across the cosmos.

Gorutan turned around, utterly unbothered by his nakedness before his offspring, and rumbled in a deep, resonant voice, "What is it?"

One descendant stepped forward, bearing the chitinous form of a spider-like insect yet possessing a humanoid facial structure, its six segmented arms jointly cradling a communicator in a gesture of deference. "Father, Sorokin seeks an audience."

Gorutan grunted through his nostrils, snatched the device, and watched as Sorokin's holographic projection materialized before him.

"What do you want?"

Sorokin offered a faint smile. "Do you recall my designs regarding the Black Star Army? The time has come. Once the Infinite Conglomerate secures its footing, we will commence operations targeting the army's territories, but before that, we must first curb their exploration efforts."

"You require my assistance?"

"Indeed. The Black Star Army's exploration detachment is currently en route to Phiri, not far from your position. I wish for you to seize the planet first. Their vanguard is led by Hela; test her mettle, and ideally, force the Black Star fleet to retreat, delaying their progress and tarnishing their prestige."

"Why not handle it yourself?"

"My main body is not within the Emerald Star Cluster, and besides, I cannot defeat Hela," Sorokin replied with a smile.

"Hmph. We struck a deal with you precisely to avoid confronting the Black Star Army directly, and now you turn around and ask your employer to do your dirty work?" Gorutan snorted coldly; as a fellow peak Beyond Grade A, he harbored no fear of provoking Black Star, but he had no intention of laboring for free.

Sorokin spoke with measured calm. "My capabilities are limited to commerce. Without your aid, I cannot effectively hinder the Black Star Army's exploration, and the results will be diminished; do not blame me later if I fail to apply sufficient pressure on Black Star... Moreover, I can share a piece of intelligence: Radiance and Void Spirit harbor intentions to eliminate Hela."

"Oh? Do they not fear provoking the Empire and triggering another Tragedy of the Peaks?"

"That is where you are mistaken. Hela belongs to the Black Star Army but has refused to formally ally with the Empire. Eliminating her would only enrage Black Star. Her ascension to Beyond Grade A was an anomaly, but it has also revealed a new vector for striking at the Black Star Army."

Gorutan narrowed his eyes. "Have you forgotten Black Star's words at the Council of Gods? Beyond Grade As are too few; losing even one works against us all."

"Haha, is that truly the case?" Sorokin chuckled softly. "The Mechanic Emperor harbors grand ambitions, hoping to unite all Beyond Grade A factions to seize greater prizes... But consider this: are we not merely being used by him? My philosophy stands in direct opposition. If the number of Beyond Grade As dwindles, the survivors will become far more secure and indispensable to the advanced civilizations."

Gorutan frowned. "Are you suggesting we betray the unified front of the Beyond Grade As?"

"There is no such thing as betrayal. What concern are the others to us? Is our current standing not prosperous enough?" Sorokin dismissed the notion lightly. "Coveting what does not belong to us is an ambition that will only lead to our ruin."

"...Speak no more of this to me. I will pretend I heard nothing," Gorutan waved his hand in irritation. "For the sake of our old acquaintance, I will assist you this once. I will make for Phiri, but you will double my dividend for the next cycle, or the deal is off."

"Agreed," Sorokin smiled.

Terminating the transmission, Gorutan glanced back at his multitude of descendants and commanded in a heavy tone, "Prepare the vessels. You come with me."

At that moment, one descendant could not help but interject, "Father, is it truly wise to provoke the Black Star Army here in the Shining World...?"

"Do you take Sorokin for the first to approach me with such a request?" Gorutan sneered. "Heh. In the Shining World as it stands, factions plotting against the Black Star Army are legion... Black Star has simply grown too tall and caught too much wind!"

...

Midway through its journey, the Black Star Army's exploration fleet abruptly received a transmission.

"Your Excellency, Vice Commander, we have a situation," the female adjutant announced, hurrying into the chamber.

Hela, deep in meditation, opened her eyes and furrowed her brows. "What is it?"

"Planet Firi has been claimed before our arrival; it is the fleet of the Beast Progenitor, Gorutan. Sh-should we seek another world to serve as our stronghold?"

"Gorutan?" A frosty glint flickered through Hela’s eyes. "We made no attempt to veil our trail; the wider world knows our destination, yet he deliberately snatched Firi from under us. This is a direct provocation to the Legion! Should we divert our course, it would erode the hard-won prestige our Commander has forged."

"But Gorutan stands at the pinnacle of the Super A-Class, and you, you..." The adjutant’s voice faltered, the unspoken words dying on his lips.

"Your Legion Commander stands at that very same pinnacle; there is no cause to yield!" Hela rose to her feet, her voice dropping to a steely timbre. "Hold the course. Drive us forward at full thrust!"

What of it if he reigns at the peak of the Super A-Class? It is not as though I have never known defeat!

She was no spent force like Garoze, her well of potential run dry; call it the fearless arrogance of a newborn calf if you will, but she had never shrunk from crossing blades with the mighty.

Only through clashing with the formidable could one’s latent power be forged awake; this was the unshakable creed Hela lived by.

...

At that very moment, within the Black Star Palace, Han Xiao—who spent his days cheerfully tallying his experience gains—received Philip’s dispatch and paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"Gorutan? When did I ever cross paths with him?"

Han Xiao scratched his head, a sigh of quiet resignation escaping him.

Though the motive remained a mystery, he was hardly an insignificant figure now; there was no logic in yielding ground and inviting further encroachment.

If you are so eager to rush toward your own grave, that is your burden to bear; I wash my hands of it.

——

(A recommended read: I Can Extract Proficiency, a martial arts virtual reality novel by Yun Dongliu. Synopsis: "Fancy a party to slay the boss? We split the gear evenly, but the corpse is mine." Clad in a flying-fish robe, Ye Weiming rests the Heaven-Dependent Sword in his right hand and a coffin lid in his left, his gaze fixed upon the boss with an almost paternal benevolence.)