Chapter 436: Chapter 436: Each with Ulterior Motives

"Don’t we have a cloaking device? Can’t we use it?"

Long Ming asked with a deep frown.

"We can, but the Azure Blue’s cloaking device works in conjunction with the special coating on its armor. Right now, large sections of the coating are destroyed, and the hull has several holes punched through it. The cloaking effect is negligible."

Fakadon explained to Long Ming.

"So what do we do now?"

Long Ming also felt the situation was tricky.

"Of course we’re going to bet it all! We either make a clean escape, or we get sunk!"

Hopka said with grim determination.

"It’s the only way."

Long Ming couldn’t think of a better plan either.

"Fakadon, prepare for an emergency exit from subspace! We can’t stay here!"

Hopka turned to Fakadon and issued the order.

"Yes, sir!"

Fakadon walked to the console and took the controls himself.

"Energy Barrier engaged."

"Power output normal."

"Radar power to maximum!"

...

The operators reported in, their expressions tense.

"Go!"

Hopka immediately gave the order.

Fakadon steered the Azure Blue toward the unstable spatial rift.

Soon, the Azure Blue entered the rift. The entire vessel began to shake violently, and the strength of its Energy Barrier steadily decreased.

Long Ming and the others watched, holding their breath.

Just as the barrier’s strength fell to its final ten percent, the Azure Blue successfully burst through the unstable rift.

BEEP BEEP~

Instantly, a piercing alarm sounded.

"Warning: Type-II Blackshells detected!"

...

Red dots appeared on the scanner. Fortunately, they were relatively scattered.

"Captain, the swarm has spotted us! They’re converging on our position."

Fakadon reported to Hopka, his voice tense.

"Ignore them! Activate the FTL drive now!"

Hopka commanded Fakadon urgently.

"Yes, sir!"

Fakadon immediately carried out the order.

Just then, the closer bugs opened fire, launching beams of light at the Azure Blue.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Brilliant bursts of light, like fireworks, exploded against the Azure Blue’s Energy Barrier. It soon buckled under the strain and shattered.

"It’s no good! The Energy Barrier is gone!"

"More and more of the swarm are coming for us!"

An operator shouted in terror.

"Ignore them! Activate the FTL drive!"

Hopka roared anxiously.

"Activating now!"

Fakadon was frantic.

Long Ming and the others felt their hearts leap into their throats.

Just as the Azure Blue was about to be overwhelmed by the swarm, the FTL drive successfully activated.

A ripple appeared in the dark starry sky ahead.

The Azure Blue plunged straight into the ripple, entering subspace.

"We did it!"

Fakadon and the others shouted, overjoyed.

"We’re saved!"

Long Ming and the others instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

But in the next second, a piercing alarm sounded.

Behind the Azure Blue, wormholes appeared one by one, and a dense, dark swarm poured through.

"We’re done for! The bugs opened wormholes to follow us."

Fakadon shouted, his face paling.

"Full speed!"

Hopka roared anxiously.

"Yes, sir!"

Fakadon quickly pushed the Azure Blue’s engines to full power.

WHOOSH!

The Azure Blue fled forward at extreme speed.

The countless bugs of the swarm surged after the Azure Blue.

High-level Blue Illusion Butterflies continuously fired Pollock Beams at the Azure Blue.

Fakadon steered the Azure Blue, continuously taking evasive maneuvers.

BOOM~

Unfortunately, the ship was still hit from time to time.

The entire Azure Blue shuddered relentlessly.

...

「In a pitch-black stretch of space.」

The Gray Fang, a Level 4 battleship, cruised through the void. It was ten kilometers long, with an oval hull completely covered in heavy gray armor. Its sides were densely packed with rows of launch tubes and interceptor cannons.

「Inside the central control room.」

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang sat in the command chair, his brow furrowed in concentration as he stared at the scanning equipment.

Just then, a woman with short hair, lively eyes, and fair skin, dressed in a captain’s uniform, spoke respectfully.

"Sir, we’ve been searching for days, but we still haven’t found any trace of the Ocean."

"Keep searching."

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang replied to Zuna in a deep voice.

"Sir, I don’t quite understand. Why are we risking our necks to help the Second Legion search for the Ocean? After all, we have plenty of our own problems to deal with."

Zuna’s expression was one of complete confusion.

"You don’t understand. When the Second Legion asked us to search for the Ocean before, we made excuses because we had our own matters to attend to. But the situation is different now."

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang said coldly.

"How is it different?"

Zuna didn’t quite understand.

"You don’t need to concern yourself with that. Just follow your orders. Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t be asking!"

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang said to Zuna in a cold voice.

In truth, the Third Legion’s Vice-Legion Commander Talona had ordered Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang to secretly search for the Ocean with the intent of claiming it for themselves.

Initially, the Third Legion refused to help the Second Legion because the two organizations never got along.

Though they were outwardly cordial, they often clashed over profits and resources.

But they had to maintain a facade of cooperation, which is why they used an excuse to refuse.

Now, however, things were different. A great deal of time had passed since the Ocean sent its distress call. Barring any surprises, the ship should have been destroyed by now.

If everyone aboard was dead, they could find the Ocean and secretly claim it for themselves.

According to reliable intelligence, there was something extremely valuable on that ship.

"Yes, sir!"

Zuna quickly lowered her head and replied.

Just then, a ripple spread through the black expanse of space outside. A battered ship burst out of subspace.

The ship’s radar immediately blared a piercing alarm.

BEEP BEEP~

A green dot immediately appeared.

"Ship detected!"

"You found it? Is it the Ocean?"

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang asked, overjoyed.

"No, it’s the Second Legion’s Azure Blue. It’s approaching us rapidly."

The operator replied, stunned.

"The Azure Blue? What’s the Azure Blue doing here?"

For a moment, Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang was completely baffled.

Just then, the scanner began issuing constant alerts.

"Warning: Massive spatial fluctuations detected!"

The optical sensors brought up a visual.

On screen, wormholes materialized in the space behind the Azure Blue, and countless bugs poured out of them.

Zuna shouted in terror.

"Sir, this is bad! A massive swarm is chasing the Azure Blue!"

’Damn it, what are those guys trying to do?’

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang’s expression changed drastically.

KSHHH~

Just then, Hopka’s voice crackled over the open comms channel.

"I’m Colonel Hopka of the Second Legion. You guys up ahead are from the Third Legion, right? Do us a favor and hold off the swarm for a bit. Thanks!"

"Hey! Don’t you dare lead them over here!"

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang shouted, his face aghast.

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