News of the war between the Starsea Empire and the Interastral Peace Corporation quickly spread across the entire cosmos.
Wherever the IPC had influence, every civilization learned that an unfamiliar nation from the Solar System was challenging the Interastral Peace Corporation.
All of them watched the war closely.
In a certain sense, it was tied to the fate of the entire cosmos.
The Interastral Peace Corporation was unquestionably a hegemonic civilization of this universe. If the Starsea Empire defeated the IPC and took over or absorbed its businesses—
Then the Starsea Empire would replace this colossal entity, and the balance of power within the universe would be reshuffled.
If the IPC achieved final victory, it would once again prove to all other civilizations its dominance and status.
Unfortunately, because the entire universe's media hegemony was monopolized by the Interastral Peace Corporation, even the news could only be viewed through Interastral Peace broadcasts. Onlookers found it difficult to determine what was truly happening.
"Welcome to tonight's Interastral Peace Evening News. First, here are the main headlines..."
"The Starsea Empire's war of aggression against the IPC continues. The enemy has already invaded multiple star systems within the Vortex Nebula..."
"The IPC is redeploying forces and will soon expel the invaders from corporate territory..."
"The Interastral Peace Corporation calls upon all trade partners to stand shoulder to shoulder with the IPC, jointly safeguarding peace and stability in the universe, and condemns the inaction of the Xianzhou Alliance during this process."
"The IPC strongly protests the Xianzhou Alliance's provision of Luofu vessels to the Starsea Empire as forward operating bases, and urges the Alliance to cease supporting the aggressors..."
"We will do everything in our power to preserve peace in this universe and defend the IPC's interests and lawful rights..."
The anchor's report had clearly been meticulously polished by journalism experts.
They had to report the facts, yet could not let everyone know just how badly the IPC was being beaten. So they could only fully exercise the art of language.
"Tsk... doesn't that just mean they lost?"
Silver Wolf watched for a long time before summarizing the core meaning.
The Interastral Peace Corporation had already been driven back into its own galaxy and was desperately defending its core star systems.
And it was clearly at a disadvantage. Otherwise, it would not be calling upon its allies for assistance.
On the Xianzhou Yaoqing.
Inside the Delve that served as the Starsea Empire's embassy.
Every day, a group of people could be seen crowding at the entrance.
"Excuse me—excuse me! How is the Starsea Empire's war going right now?!"
"Eh..."
Akashi set down the wrench in her hand, twitched her ears, and looked at the people before her with lifeless eyes.
"This is the third time you've come today, meow..."
Leading the group was a silver-haired, green-eyed foxian girl. She wore a fitted uniform and long boots, looking valiant and heroic.
It was none other than Feixiao, the Vanquishing General of the Xianzhou Yaoqing—one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Reignbow Arbiter.
Beside her stood Qingque, Sushang, and a whole group of familiar faces from the Luofu.
"My mahjong buddy went off to fight the IPC. How could I not care?!"
Qingque puffed out her cheeks.
Even though she had lost several pairs of underwear gambling in the Starsea Empire, she still sincerely hoped the shipgirls would win.
"I... my grandmaster said there was no need for her to join the battle. Um, so I think it should be fine?"
Sushang said nervously.
"So what exactly is the situation?"
Feixiao asked urgently.
"A great victory!!!"
The repair ship answered concisely.
"Can't you have a little faith in the Starsea Empire, meow? It's not like we're fighting the War in Heaven..."
"Mm, according to Grey, it should be like a Fallen Empire beating up space amoebas, okay?"
"What?"
None of them understood that strange analogy.
"A great victory? How many enemies have you eliminated? What is the frontline situation? How many troops remain operational?"
Feixiao fired off a string of questions.
"The Sky-Faring Commission reports that the IPC has gathered a large number of troops near Jumu and Pier Point. They may be preparing a counterattack."
"They might deploy their Emanators and rely on the power of Preservation in battle. Mm... but the details remain unclear. I have divined many times, yet I cannot obtain a definite result."
Fu Xuan reminded them.
They were all extremely concerned about the Starsea Empire's war.
The reason was simple. After visiting the Starsea Empire's homeland, the envoy delegation unanimously felt that compared to that utopian society, the IPC's interstellar capitalists were practically vermin.
Even though their time together had not been long, the Starsea Empire had left a far better impression on the Xianzhou than the IPC.
Everyone surrounded Akashi, chattering nonstop with question after question. The repair ship felt dizzy listening to them.
"Hey, hey, hey?..."
"Wait, wait... one at a time, meow! I'm getting dizzy, meow!!"
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice came from within the crowd:
"If you're that concerned, why not go see it with your own eyes?"
A white-haired, golden-eyed Siren girl drifted over while seated upon her rigging.
She casually tapped on the holographic star map, observing the movements across the cosmos.
"And you are?..."
Tingyun blinked. She then recalled that when the Northern Union Fleet had set out, Observer had not moved much at all.
But at the time, everyone's attention had been on the shipgirls, so they had not noticed her.
"Uh... the Northern Union Fleet was having plenty of fun earlier, so I just slacked off for a bit. But now it seems about time for me to take the stage."
"Come on, come on. Let's go together. I'll show you something interesting."
The little girl summoned a shuttle above the Xianzhou and beckoned everyone to board.
"Huh?! Where are we going? What are we doing?!"
Fu Xuan was stunned.
"Didn't you want to see the battlefield? Come on, I'll take you there in person. Is Guinaifen around? Get her to start a livestream too."
"We'll livestream beating up the corporate dogs. I guarantee the gifts will pour in. For every rocket they send, I'll throw a Photoid at the IPC."
Observer suddenly grew playful and seriously instructed the Angeloids to find Guinaifen on the streets.
"What?!"
Yukong and Fu Xuan were both dumbfounded.
"Wait! Where exactly are you going?! You're really heading to the battlefield?!"
"Of course. Letting the Northern Union Fleet flatten the IPC just like that would be too boring... I still have something I've never used before!"
Observer jumped onto the ship.
"Relax. It's absolutely safe. Mm... and I guarantee you've never seen anything like it before!"
Half an hour later.
Unable to suppress their curiosity, the skeptical Xianzhou group followed the Siren girl aboard.
A black-and-yellow Siren warship departed from the Starskiff dock. After activating its jump engine, it vanished beyond the edge of the sky.
"If necessary, you can raise the Xianzhou Alliance's flag. That way, the IPC won't attack you rashly," Yukong reminded.
"Won't be necessary."
Inside the bridge, Observer was in an excellent mood.
While eating snacks, she casually began singing a song she had learned long ago from another world:
"I saw my love, and I flew to her side."
"I offered her my gift—"
"It was a small piece of frozen time."
"Upon time were beautiful patterns. It felt as soft as shallow sea mud to the touch."
...
Jumu.
This was a transfer hub used by the IPC to supply materials to the Amber Lord, as well as a key node within this nebula.
Bzz—
A massive starship slowly entered the planet's gravitational well.
It was several times larger than Director Topaz's ecological vessel. The hull bore the IPC's insignia, and the upper decks were mounted with complex weapons systems.
Only corporate executives were qualified to ride a vessel of such scale. Behind it, fleets formed into combat formations stretched from the ecliptic plane all the way to the edge of the star system.
Beyond the outer reaches of the stellar system, corporate fleets were still withdrawing from the front lines.
Transport ships, loaded with resources, returned to the rear. Military vessels remained stationed within this system.
Oswaldo stood upon the bridge, observing the situation inside the system through sensors.
"The forward combat zones have completed evacuation."
A subordinate reported.
"A total of 322 fleets have successfully withdrawn and have been resettled in the rear by the Business Consolidation Department and the Building Materials Logistics Department."
"Just as the board anticipated, the Starsea Empire fleet has not conducted indiscriminate attacks on other systems. They have merely deployed ground forces to occupy those systems."
"Mm."
Oswaldo nodded.
Only about half of the fleets had managed to retreat. The Northern Union Fleet was simply too fast. With their jump engines, they could cross several star systems in an instant.
Many corporate vessels had been caught and annihilated by the Starsea Empire fleet while still packing up supplies and preparing to flee.
The resources that had been evacuated were pitiful compared to the assets the IPC had abandoned. Even so, it was far better than having entire systems shattered.
If they could counterattack in the future, they might yet reclaim some planets.
"What about the field constraint devices?"
"Sixteen large-scale gravitational interference devices have been deployed, along with twenty-two medium-sized units. Another seven will be completed within sixteen standard hours."
From above the system.
Over the sun, and above every planet, employees of the Building Materials Logistics Department and construction vessels were hard at work.
They erected massive platforms upon the celestial bodies, assembling tower-like structures linked to power reactors.
"According to calculations, twenty gravitational interference devices will be sufficient to distort the gravitational field across the entire system, causing enough deviation in the trajectory of Photoids."
"At full output, the interference devices can radiate up to one light-year. At that distance, even a slight alteration in the firing angle of a Photoid would allow it to miss its target."
"Of course, our own fleets will also be affected. The firing parameters for kinetic weapons and missiles will need to be recalibrated."
Since direct interception of Photoids was nearly impossible, they could only rely on gravitational fields to deflect their trajectories.
After rendering the Photoid strikes ineffective, they would then engage the Starsea Empire fleet.
Within the system, armed forces drawn from across the IPC's territories had converged here, along with vast numbers of mercenaries.
The fleets numbered in the hundreds of thousands, stretching from one end of the system to the other—a truly magnificent sight.
"The Starsea Empire's ships are more advanced than ours, whether in weapons systems or sensors," the adjutant reminded.
"They may initiate attacks from distances measured in light-years—and... instantaneously."
"It doesn't matter."
Oswaldo looked toward the outer reaches of the system.
Dense Imaginary energy, almost tangible, encircled the entire star region, wrapping this stretch of space.
That was the Subspace Crystalline Barrier and Celestial Comet Wall constructed by the Amber Lord countless Amber Eras ago—the true interstellar Great Wall.
It had once isolated entire galaxies until the emergence of the Aeon of Trailblaze allowed the worlds to reconnect.
It was both a cage and a shield—a perfect bulwark, though it still continued to isolate the universe.
The power of mortals could not shake the might of an Aeon. Not even concentrated volleys of Photoids could breach the Amber Lord's miracle from outside.
Thus, the Starsea Empire fleet would inevitably have to enter the system and fight the IPC's fleets within.
The gravitational interference devices would ensure that Photoid strikes failed. In close-quarters combat, the IPC was willing to accept exchange ratios of one hundred to one, one thousand to one, or even higher against those thirty Emanators.
This was the optimal choice available under current conditions when facing Photoid strikes.
"Install additional defensive weapons. Strengthen planetary defenses as well."
Still uneasy, Oswaldo issued further instructions.
"Understood."
Experimental weapons purchased or researched from various worlds were also dragged out.
They were deployed near planetary orbits to provide basic self-defense firepower.
Within this impenetrable fortress system, within the Amber Lord's miracle, Oswaldo finally felt a trace of confidence and security.
Years of work in the Marketing Development Department had cultivated in him a meticulous mind and a habit of planning far ahead.
Preparations to confront the Starsea Empire fleet were complete. All that remained was for the two sides to decide life or death.
"—Everything for the Amber Lord!"
...
Bzz—
The black-and-yellow Siren warship cruised through the cosmos at superluminal speed.
It crossed the IPC's borders and passed over battlefields shattered beyond recognition.
At first, the Xianzhou group who had been brought aboard were somewhat uneasy.
"Well... if we run into a corporate fleet here, wouldn't that cause a serious diplomatic incident?"
Yukong sighed.
After all, the Xianzhou had not formally declared war on the Interastral Peace Corporation. Though their upper echelons secretly supported the Starsea Empire, the two sides had not openly torn off all pretenses.
Members of the Sky-Faring Commission, the Divination Commission, and the Cloud Knights boarding a Starsea Empire vessel and invading corporate territory—if that got out, it would be headline news.
There was even a general of the Yaoqing aboard. She had only wanted to see the Starsea Empire fleet. the IPC might not dare act against the Xianzhou, but there would surely be another round of public denunciations.
"Relax. You won't encounter a single corporate ship."
Observer smiled.
From the sensor feeds displayed outside the viewport, system after system lay in ruins.
Stars had been shattered and exploded. Shockwaves had pulverized the planets in orbit, leaving only vast rings of interstellar dust drifting through the void.
Some planets had not been completely destroyed. Fragments of their cores drifted through space.
"Ah..."
Feixiao looked outward. The most brutal interstellar battlefield she could imagine was no worse than this. Entire stellar systems reduced to dust.
And the scale was astonishing. The ship had jumped continuously for a long stretch, and everywhere around them was wreckage.
Only after passing several star regions did intact planets gradually reappear.
They had already been occupied by Angeloids, who were maintaining order. A small number of light vessels patrolled the systems.
"The Starsea Empire... you really defeated the IPC?!"
Feixiao was stunned.
This was already approaching the Interastral Peace Corporation's inner territory. Some of these systems she recognized from star charts.
She could not imagine how, in such a short time, the Starsea Empire had occupied so many systems and was already fighting the final battle in the IPC's home galaxy.
"That was only to be expected."
The little girl yawned.
She glanced at the sensors.
"Oh? We're almost there."
"What?!"
They focused their eyes.
Not far ahead lay the frontline where the two sides were about to clash...
The Interastral Peace Corporation had deployed hundreds of thousands of fleets there, using the Subspace Crystalline Barrier as cover to guard a critical node of the system.
It looked as though a great battle was about to erupt.
"We're really watching this live?!"
Guinaifen was dumbfounded.
She began seriously considering whether to start a livestream and say:
"Hey everyone, Guinai here. I'm currently aboard the Starsea Empire's most mysterious interstellar warship—the Siren warship."
"Like, follow, and share. In a moment, Guinai will take you to fire an erosion missile and a Photoid~"
"Mm... whatever. Just remember to split half the donations with me. There really will be something good to see soon."
Observer found the acrobat girl rather amusing.
"But they won't be coming. I'll handle it myself."
"Huh?!"
"Just this one ship?!"
Feixiao wondered whether this girl was trying to drag her into something. She truly did not possess the ability to deal with hundreds of thousands of starships in space.
It would be different if Fu Xuan could use the Cloudpeer Telescope to call down The Hunt's arrow.
"Of course."
The Siren girl's eyes turned as she posed a question with interest:
"Guess—what is the simplest and most thorough way to kill three-dimensional life?"
"Don't think from a technical standpoint. Think from a philosophical height."
"Huh?"
Everyone froze.
"Is it... my grandmaster's Taixuan Eminence? It is said that upon cultivating it to perfection, one can cleave a sun apart!"
Sushang answered without hesitation.
"From a purely technical perspective... perhaps there are formidable things within the Genius Society."
Feixiao pondered briefly.
"If speaking of the greatest power, it should be the Reignbow Arbiter."
"Truly Xianzhou answers."
The little girl gave her a thumbs-up.
She waved the tentacles of her rigging and pinched up a crystalline sheet.
It was semi-transparent, about the size of a bank card, sealed within a field.
Extremely thin—its thickness imperceptible.
"Long ago, the Commander obtained a weapon in another universe. It was incredibly powerful—more destructive than any weapon we had ever seen. But it had two flaws: it wasn't fast enough, and it wasn't controllable."
"When we entered space, anything below light speed could only be described as slow. So the Commander gave us an order—to study and improve it in another universe."
"Use every possible method to eliminate its shortcomings... mm, we worked on it for a very long time. We even produced quite a few strange byproducts. The six-dimensional form of the Eternal Snowfall was one such side effect."
"But unfortunately, since its completion, it has never been used."
There was a hint of nostalgia in the Siren girl's voice.
"Huh?"
"What is it?"
Sushang curiously leaned closer and poked at it.
Her finger passed straight through.
"You're quite bold. Fortunately, it's sealed right now."
Observer smiled.
"Dual-Vector Foil. Custom-made Starsea Empire edition—for cleanup."
"This is the 236th improved version. Not cheap."
Whoosh—
The Siren girl gently tossed it forward.
Amid the startled cries of the crowd, the sheet flew outward from the bridge.
It passed through the central console before them, through the bridge and viewport of the ship, beyond the interstellar great wall constructed by the Amber Lord...
It did not interact with any object of the three-dimensional world. In the distant starry sky, it split into more than a dozen identical sheets. Their speed increased, transforming into fine lines that shot toward different star systems.