Chapter 7: The Forsaken Planet

The massive insect leisurely flew towards the two planets. From the memories of the humans it had consumed, it began to analyze the information about these two planets, pondering whether it would be better for its offspring to hunt separately or gather together for their meal.

However, the memories of those humans offered no profound insights into this peripheral minor star system. There was only a vague impression of weak defenses, making it seem ripe for plunder.

Just as the massive insect was frustrated by this lack of detailed information, it suddenly realized that its offspring, clinging to its body, had begun to nourish it in return. The massive insect felt a surge of satisfaction at their unexpected obedience.

As the swarm finished devouring the two planets, the excess energy was channeled back into the mother creature. This influx allowed the massive insect to feel a slight recovery of its strength.

But it was far from enough.

While the massive insect was still struggling with how to teach its offspring to hunt independently without sustaining, or at least minimizing, harm, it discovered something extraordinary within the returning energy.

It was a human memory.

More precisely, it was the memory of a human from one of these planets.

Upon attempting to read and comprehend this memory, the massive insect was pleasantly surprised to find that it contained a wealth of information regarding the general distribution of defense legions. Immediately, the massive insect adjusted its flight path, heading directly for the area where troop concentrations were weakest, according to the memory.

On the ground, observers, witnessing this unfolding scene, initially exhaled in relief, only to be seized by renewed tension.

That colossal cosmic entity veering away from their location bought precious time, allowing the Star System Command Headquarters to coordinate a system-wide mobilization. Yet, the direction it chose was towards the most vulnerable point in the entire star system.

The firepower of the forces stationed there was utterly insufficient to cover the evacuation of all civilians on that planet.

This grim reality meant that if the massive insect reached that planet, an overwhelming slaughter would ensue!

The observer sighed, then forwarded the report to the Prime Minister, before resuming their vigil. After all, with events having reached this point, no one could change them. They could only hope the people on the other planet would somehow survive this ordeal.

Upon receiving the report and visual data, the Prime Minister watched the massive insect’s flight path on the screen, finally allowing himself a breath of relief.

From the very beginning, he had feared that if the colossal cosmic entity chose to attack *this* planet first, the central command hub of the star system would likely be annihilated before any Alliance reinforcements could even arrive.

The Prime Minister sighed with resignation, then looked at the other planet displayed on the screen.

“Forgive me… at a time like this, abandoning you is an unavoidable measure…”

Meanwhile, on the planet destined for attack, everyone was still immersed in the terror evoked by the previously leaked video of the super-massive cosmic entity. They remained utterly oblivious to the true horror that was about to descend upon them.

In the highest command center of this planet’s defense legion, a sudden directive arrived from the Star System Command Headquarters.

[Danger is imminent. Immediately abandon all defensive lines at your current location and return to the main planet.]

The supreme commander of the defense legion stared at the cryptic directive, momentarily bewildered. He couldn’t fathom what was happening, even suspecting it might be another hacker testing their skills on the defense legion’s military network.

He immediately contacted the Star System Command Headquarters’ supreme commander, only to be met with words that greatly surprised him.

“The order is correct. Obey it. I have no further information to disclose.”

That the Command Headquarters would issue such an order deeply astonished him. He instantly recalled the video of the giant cosmic entity that had circulated online. The immediate follow-up of such a classified directive from Star System Command Headquarters linked the two events in his mind, stirring a profound sense of unease.

“Activate the observation station.”

The supreme commander immediately ordered the activation of the planet’s sole observation station. Since the planet’s resources were not particularly abundant, the observation station could not remain operational year-round like those on the main planet.

Only in such emergencies would the supreme commander order its activation, at least to ascertain what was truly happening before making any decisions.

As the observation station came online, they successfully detected an asteroid on a collision course with the planet, and… a super-massive cosmic entity, even larger than the planet itself, rapidly approaching!

It was only then that the supreme commander finally grasped the meaning of the Star System Command Headquarters’ order. It meant abandoning this planet, sacrificing billions of lives, and retreating to the main planet for a defensive consolidation.

The supreme commander watched the utterly unmatched space creature slowly drawing closer from outer space. He gritted his teeth, then immediately ordered his troops to gather all weapons and equipment, taking everything they could as they fled the planet for the main planet.

On that very day, as all the residents of this planet were fervently discussing the giant cosmic entity, the ground beneath them trembled. They then watched countless warships ascend towards outer space.

“Heavens, what is happening?”

All the residents stared in disbelief. Such a formidable fleet of military spacecraft was, at this very moment, uniformly soaring into the sky, only to vanish instantly into the vast cosmos. By the time they all recovered from their shock, they suddenly realized that all the warships had departed, and the army seemed to have vanished. This meant the planet’s defensive capabilities had effectively plummeted to zero.

The residents, already steeped in the threat and terror of the massive cosmic entity in outer space, erupted into chaos at this realization. They immediately organized groups to head towards the direction where the army had been stationed.

However, what intensified their fear was that their actions were met with no resistance whatsoever. The gates of the army base were practically blown open, revealing a military facility that had been almost entirely emptied.

After ransacking every room and warehouse in the entire military base, they discovered a large amount of cash, a small quantity of light weapons and equipment, and a single video recording.

The footage showed a colossal cosmic entity slowly approaching their planet. At this point, even the most foolish among them could roughly guess what had transpired.

This planet had been abandoned.

All life on this planet would become sustenance for this cosmic entity!