Chapter 46: The Emperor’s Command

As the massive insect drew nearer, everyone watched the target on their screens with growing tension.

Every weapon’s fire control system on the warships possessed an automatic lock-on function. At this very moment, the massive insect was firmly targeted by the system, awaiting only its entry into attack range. The instant it did, an endless barrage of firepower would unleash upon it.

The massive insect, evidently unaware of its impending doom, continued to close the distance. The very moment it entered the firing range, the entire fleet erupted in a blinding display of light.

As countless beams ignited, tens of thousands of high-energy rays pierced towards the massive insect’s body. These projectiles were vastly different from the Alliance’s former weaponry.

Previously, the Alliance’s light-based munitions were mere concentrated energy attacks. The Empire’s armaments, however, had clearly grasped the fundamental nature of such attacks and elevated them to a new level.

Light and thermal energy, directly channeled from warships powered by stellar cores, were compressed using specialized technology. This process formed a unique ‘light-solid,’ granting it properties akin to a physical projectile, significantly boosting both its impact force and destructive potential.

Facing the overwhelming curtain of fire, the massive insect swiftly erected an energy barrier. This colossal shield enveloped its front, yet it proved utterly futile.

Unlike before, the barrier did offer momentary resistance. However, it lasted only an instant. The incoming missiles pierced through it with the effortless ease of a needle tearing cling film.

The massive shield shattered, and countless projectiles rained down upon the massive insect. The immense impact and thermal energy sent the creature tumbling through space.

Thankfully, the massive insect quickly extended several tentacles, firmly gripping the surrounding cosmic void. This allowed her to painstakingly stabilize her body, though she now faced the prospect of the next concentrated strike.

Having suffered a setback, the massive insect was not one to repeat her mistakes. This time, she chose not to deploy a shield.

Instead, she extended two thicker tentacles and tore open a Wormhole Channel directly in front of her body. The barrage of projectiles plunged headlong into this cosmic void, with only a scattered few successfully striking the massive insect.

For a creature of her immense size, these isolated hits amounted to nothing more than a minor annoyance.

Faced with this development, Odinxis grew frantic. After the first wave of attacks proved effective, he had nearly cheered in his excitement.

It seemed, after all, that a significant amount of damage had been inflicted upon the mother organism. However, the massive insect’s tactic of using cosmic space to block the vast majority of the attack utterly dumbfounded Odinxis.

He had no idea how to counter it. All he could do was order the fleet to continue firing at the massive insect, while maintaining a safe distance.

Then, a sudden realization struck him: the opponent was fighting alone. Where, then, was her swarm? Could they be lying in ambush?

He understood that if he merely continued to attack and retreat, his entire fleet might be drawn into an enemy encirclement. Arijes felt a splitting headache overwhelm him.

He had once prided himself on possessing some military talent, but upon taking command of the Imperial fleet, he discovered his own leadership was woefully inadequate, utterly incapable of unleashing the warship’s true power.

In such a situation, he was entirely unable to manage this war.

Fortunately, at this very moment, in the Imperial Palace light-years away, a miraculous scientific force began to exert its influence.

“Take over his brain. I shall personally command this battle.”

His Majesty the Emperor commanded the optical supercomputer to transmit suggestive directives to Odinxis. Immediately, a set of virtual command equipment materialized before His Majesty the Emperor.

At this very moment, Odinxis, who had been sweating profusely on the flagship’s bridge, suddenly felt his mind go blank. Then, a mysterious force began to subtly guide his actions.

He felt his cognitive processes expand, as if he was gradually comprehending every aspect of this fleet.

“Basic formation, hmph. Upper left column six-five to lower right column five-seven. Starting points rotate nineteen degrees parallel to the central axis to the right. Central axis, lower your cores slightly. Upper column two-five-one, prepare to lower altitude and reduce ship spacing to…”

The soldiers, who had been numbly pressing the fire buttons, felt a growing sense of detachment. They understood this battle was unwinnable if they simply kept firing without tactical adjustments through formation changes.

The enemy was constantly neutralizing their attacks with the same trick. Would they really have to fight until both sides ran out of energy to determine a victor?

Just as these thoughts crossed their minds, a torrent of commands suddenly descended. They instinctively began to execute the orders, only to find their classic basic formation transforming into an aggressive offensive alignment.

Outwardly, the shield ships retracted significantly, and such a retraction most likely signaled one thing!

“Deploy fleet barriers, prepare to charge.”

Without an ounce of doubt, every soldier pushed their throttle levers to the maximum. The external shield ships immediately activated their defensive barriers, and the massive fleet suddenly assumed the form of a formidable sword, encased in a thick layer of energy.

The entire fleet then began to accelerate, emitting a deafening roar that made the massive insect feel a buzzing sensation in her ears.

If the noise was this overwhelming in the vacuum of space, it was highly probable that within an atmosphere, such a sound could directly incapacitate a person.

The sudden surge of power from the enemy caused the massive insect to turn her head in surprise.

‘Why have these humans suddenly gone mad?’

Though she didn’t know their exact intentions, such a massive display of force could only mean one thing: they were planning something big.

It was likely something her Wormhole Channel defenses wouldn’t be able to stop. But then again, this was the Universal Empire, a force so terrifying even other humans feared it.

If their army was still as ineffective as the old Alliance, simply firing useless projectiles, the massive insect felt confident she and her children could truly sweep across the cosmos.

As the massive insect pondered this, she suddenly noticed the enemy fleet charging towards her in an incredibly coordinated manner!

“??!”

Watching the scene unfold, the massive insect suddenly felt that this vast fleet no longer resembled the scattered, continuously firing ships from before. Instead, it was a unified entity—a terrifying, cohesive force with immense offensive power and rapid movement.

The massive insect reacted swiftly, releasing one tentacle and exerting force with the other. Her colossal body executed an unimaginable, massive flip in the cosmic void.

The enemy warship cluster, moving at an incredible speed, passed through the angle she had just occupied. The instant they brushed past each other, they precisely unleashed a massive volley of firepower. Despite the massive insect’s perception of her own speed, she was still struck by a bellyful of projectiles.

‘How did they suddenly become so strong?’

The massive insect felt a surge of astonishment.