Chapter 68: The Admiral’s Dilemma

At the eastern border of the Origin Star Universe, within the lawless zone, a stealth anti-reconnaissance high-speed vessel, crafted from Black Origin Stone, silently navigated the pitch-black chaotic expanse, making its way towards the outer regions.

This cone-shaped warship was, naturally, a Yurtez Tribe vessel dispatched for a critical mission.

Given the mission’s unique and clandestine nature, the ship bore none of their proud tribal banners. Its exterior was far from gleaming, instead presenting an overall appearance that evoked the sense of a refugee vessel.

Admiral Flo of the Yurtez Tribe, a young Saint-tier expert, was the primary officer in charge of this operation.

Their task was to tear open a passage at the junction of the lawless zone and the outer regions, then use the pure black jewel bestowed by Marshal Jacksa—the soul crystal of a Sky Prison Beast—to lure creatures from the outer regions into the eastern part of the Origin Star Universe.

The objective was glaringly obvious: to use a borrowed knife to kill, leveraging the power of the Sky Prison Beasts to obliterate the nascent human civilization.

Hours earlier, through an informant prepared by Marshal Jacksa, they had acquired the changing of shifts for the eastern border guards. Taking advantage of Thunder Emperor Felik drawing a Sky Prison Beast into battle at the eastern border, they seized the opportunity to breach the guard lines and successfully enter the lawless zone.

To avoid detection, Flo had even personally eliminated a group of Kromi Tribe scouts in the vicinity. Fortunately, the border was vast and boundless; by the time their bodies were discovered, Flo’s fleet should have already completed its mission.

All in all, the first phase of the plan had been completed with surprising ease.

Yet, Flo felt no joy from this accomplishment. Instead, a complex mix of emotions churned within him, leaving him deeply worried.

He was not only concerned for the lives of his companions on this perilous journey but also felt a profound anxiety, even a touch of disappointment, for his own race.

The risks of this operation were unprecedented, far surpassing any previous mission. A single misstep would guarantee their demise. Watching his battle-hardened comrades in the cockpit, Flo’s concern for their future was entirely understandable.

However, on another level, Flo found himself utterly unable to accept the decision made by his superiors. Yet, as a soldier, he was bound to obey orders unconditionally.

This internal conflict left him deeply unsettled. The decision was simply too sordid and self-serving, carrying the very real potential to invite disaster upon his own people.

While suppressing newly emerged Battle Sovereign races was a common occurrence among established powers like theirs, this time, he felt that the highest echelons had completely abandoned all scruples for profit.

They were utterly disregarding the greater good of the entire Origin Star Universe. To contemplate using Sky Prison Beasts to annihilate a civilization? Did they truly not comprehend the catastrophic consequences of a Sky Prison Beast invasion?

Blue Star might be eliminated, but who could guarantee that only this one race would be affected? Moreover, any Sky Prison Beast that invaded the Origin Star Universe and subsequently died would leave a corpse that would contaminate vast swathes of star systems.

More importantly, Flo did not believe a Sky Prison Beast could defeat the Original Battle Sovereign of Blue Star. While a Sky Prison Beast could indeed buy time, and ordinary Prison Beasts might be enough to destroy that weak civilization, what then?

How would they contend with the Original Battle Sovereign’s retaliation? She was currently in her three-year period of freedom, unbound by any restrictions. Flo honestly doubted they could conceal the Yurtez Tribe’s involvement.

Even if she couldn’t uncover the truth, other Original Battle Sovereigns would surely assist her. At that point, how could their tribe withstand the wrath of a Battle Sovereign?

Nevertheless, he could not, on his own authority, defy this command.

Alas!

Lost in these thoughts, Flo couldn’t help but sigh, pressing a hand to his forehead. He truly had no idea what the future held.

****

“–Admiral, we have arrived at the junction of the lawless zone and the outer regions!”

A pilot’s report jolted Flo’s thoughts from his worries about his people and back to this desolate borderland. Flo did not issue an immediate command. Instead, he walked to the display screen, gazing at the chaotic and bizarre spacetime turbulence ahead of the warship.

His heart was a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. After a prolonged internal struggle and self-debate, Flo ultimately chose to uphold his duty as a soldier and execute Marshal Jacksa’s order.

With resolute determination, he commanded his subordinates, “Activate the Gessu Formation! Cut through the spacetime turbulence.”

This was a Saint-tier magic, an extravagant spell that required extremely precious spatial origin stones as casting materials. Yet, it possessed the power to cleave through terrifying spacetime turbulence.

For this very reason, the Anska Alliance had classified this formation as a forbidden art, one that had been lost for tens of thousands of years. To think it would reappear here now, it seemed the Yurtez Tribe’s high command had truly spared no expense, Flo mused.

Upon receiving the Admiral’s command, the pilots immediately began the intense setup and preparations. After all, a Saint-tier magic required a certain amount of time to deploy.

A few minutes later,

“The Gessu Formation is ready.” The pilot turned to Flo, awaiting further instructions.

Taking a deep breath, Flo issued the final command. “Activate!”

In the next moment, a colossal golden formation materialized before the warship. Two sharp silver lasers, like blades, began to slice through the spacetime turbulence ahead.

Yet, for reasons unknown, as the spacetime turbulence gradually parted, Flo’s unease intensified.

When the spacetime turbulence was completely severed, a pitch-black, unknown substance appeared before the warship.

‘This is the outer regions???’

Flo’s mind filled with questions. Although this was his first journey to the outer regions, according to the资料, while the energy composition was distinctly different from the Origin Star Universe, the environment itself should appear quite similar.

‘What could be blocking the rift?’

Just as Flo pondered whether to continue using the Gessu Formation to cut through, something utterly unexpected and terrifying occurred.

The pure black jewel he held in his hands suddenly emitted a faint gray light.

The pure black jewel possessed the ability to attract Sky Prison Beasts, and it would glow when one approached. Given the current situation…

Flo could barely fathom it; a chilling, horrifying realization had already taken root in his mind. Beads of sweat, as large as beans, streamed incessantly down his forehead, and his legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

“Quickly, turn the ship around! Full speed back! Hurry! Now!”

Suddenly, Flo’s heart-wrenching roar filled the entire command room and cockpit.

The pilots, familiar with their superior’s composure, looked utterly bewildered, unsure what the Admiral intended. Nevertheless, they could only obey the order, beginning to pivot the ship for their return journey.

But as they shifted their attention from Flo back to the display screen, the cockpit fell into an eerie silence in the next instant.

The only sound was the increasingly rapid gasps for breath.

On the display screen, it was no longer merely the black mass they had seen before. Now, within that dark, unknown substance, a gigantic red light cluster had distinctly appeared.

However, upon closer inspection, they realized that this entity, roughly the size of their warship, was merely a single eye of a creature. Compared to such a behemoth, their vessel was but a drop in the ocean, utterly insignificant.

Ah!

Sky Prison Beast!!!

This terrifying name, whispered in dread, now echoed in everyone’s minds.

At this moment, everyone understood why their usually calm Admiral had been so utterly aghast.

Facing a creature of this caliber, how many could possibly remain composed?

“Retreat immediately! Hurry!”

Flo’s hysterical roar jolted the terrified pilots awake. The spaceship frantically turned, attempting to flee this moving catastrophe at its highest speed.

But it was all too late.

At that very instant, a vast and terrifying unknown power surged recklessly from the rift. The tiny fissure, originally just wide enough for the warship, was instantly expanded countless times by this violent force.

The powerful suction pulled the ship’s freshly turned bow back, simultaneously and effortlessly destroying its engine system, completely stripping it of any ability to escape.

Thus, under the despairing and regretful gazes of Flo and his crew, a colossal beast of the heavens broke free from the shackles of spacetime turbulence. It descended before the warship, which had no time to retreat, and stared down at the ant-like vessel with its immense crimson pupils.

The crew within the ship could only watch helplessly, awaiting the arrival of death. However, at that moment, Flo noticed a tiny presence atop the giant beast’s head, seemingly cloaked entirely in an invisible shadow.

Flo uttered the last few trembling words of his life, “A humanoid from the outer…”

Alas, his words were cut short.

In the next instant, a gaping abyss mercilessly swallowed the ship, along with the souls of Flo and all aboard.