Then, twelve jump exit flashes erupted simultaneously at the precise coordinates of the Seventh Jump Point, like twelve supernovas igniting in the void.
The brilliance was so intense that all optical sensor filter systems on the Iron Spine's bridge instantly overloaded.
Beyond the observation windows remained only a blinding white.
"What's happening?" Zhao Rui instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes. "The Imperial Fleet's jump?"
"No... it's not!" The sensor supervisor's voice twisted with shock. "Identification codes... they're Federation! It's the Pluto Fleet! They... they jumped directly to the Seventh Jump Point!"
Dead silence fell across the bridge.
Everyone understood what that meant.
Performing a precision jump into the heart of intense combat where spatial parameters were extremely unstable carried a risk factor exceeding 60%. The slightest coordinate deviation could tear an entire fleet apart in spatial turbulence, or worse, cause them to materialize embedded within an asteroid or allied vessel.
But Qin Bei Wang had done it.
And succeeded.
Twelve Federal Starships.
The massive hull of the Kunlun Mountain occupied the center.
The Scorpion and two Scorpion-class cruisers flanked it protectively, while the Thunder, Lightning, and six destroyers materialized like unfolding wings within the jump exit radiance.
They didn't appear scattered but maintained a complete combat formation, all bows pointing toward the flank of the charging Imperial heavy fleet.
Like a master chess player placing the crucial piece directly before the opponent's throat.
On the bridge of the Imperial Glory, Wells stared at the suddenly appeared fleet on the tactical screen, his fingers unconsciously tightening on the command chair's armrests.
His first reaction was disbelief.
"He's insane..." the old commander murmured, his voice carrying a trace of awed shock for the first time. "Jumping into the center of combat airspace... Wasn't he afraid of emerging directly within our main battery firing arcs? Or that spatial disturbance would scatter his fleet across millions of kilometers?"
But Qin Bei Wang wasn't insane.
His jump coordinate calculations reached terrifying levels of precision.
Not only did all twelve starships emerge intact, but their formation was perfect.
"Commander!" The adjutant's voice trembled with panic. "The Pluto Fleet has positioned themselves between us and the Seventh Jump Point! We're now facing Uranus and the Pluto Fleet ahead, with the Iron Fist main force behind us..."
"I know!" Wells growled, forcing himself to calm down.
His eyes rapidly scanned the tactical screen.
Pincered from both directions, their only escape route led into deep space.
But that meant abandoning the jump point, abandoning their final chance for survival.
There was no time for hesitation.
"Order the Brown Bear and Fire Fox heavy fleets to maintain forward pressure!" Wells' voice rang like clashing steel. "Ignore the Pluto Fleet! Their position may be fatal, but their numbers are insufficient! Concentrate all firepower - we must breach the Uranus and Pluto defensive lines within five minutes and break through to the jump point!"
Wells' eyes burned crimson.
"We have five fleets, over sixty ships! Even if we lose ten, twenty vessels - as long as we break through, we win!"
"This is no time to count casualties—this is about survival!"
The command was issued amidst despair.
Seven Imperial heavy ships.
One of them already had its bow shattered and speed drastically reduced... yet it accelerated again.
Ignoring the newly arrived Pluto Fleet, they aimed all their cannons at the Uranus defensive line now within close range.
Distance: fifteen thousand kilometers.
On the bridge of the Indomitable, Yang Shao's first reaction upon seeing the Pluto Fleet's identifier appear on the tactical screen was not relief, but a chill running down his spine.
"How... how dare he..."
Yang Shao's voice trembled slightly.
"Warping directly into the heart of the combat zone... What if the coordinates were miscalculated? What if there was spatial disturbance? What if—"
"Commander!"
The communications officer cut off his muttering.
"The Pluto Fleet has sent a brief message: [In position, establishing interception line.]"
"Interception line?"
Yang Shao's head snapped up.
"He plans to intercept Wells' sixty-five starships with just twelve ships?
Who does he think he is?!"
The chief of staff hurried to the tactical screen, quickly analyzing the situation.
"Lieutenant Commander Qin's position is indeed critical. If he can coordinate with the Uranus Fleet to hold the front line, he might indeed stall Wells.
But the problem is..."
"The problem is he can't hold it!"
Yang Shao interrupted, genuine panic creeping into his voice for the first time.
"Wells is a cornered beast now—he'll charge at any cost!
Even if all twenty-four ships are elites, they can't withstand a desperate assault from sixty-five ships!"
He thought of Marshal Qin Qianfan.
He thought of the political storm he would face if Qin Bei Wang died here.
He thought of his decades-long military career possibly ending right here.
No. Absolutely not.
"Order the entire fleet!"
Yang Shao's voice rose sharply.
"Abandon the encirclement formation! Switch to wedge assault!
Target... the core of Wells Fleet's rear formation!
I want their chain of command shattered within ten minutes!"
"Commander, that would expose our flanks to the Poison Spider and Ranger Fleets.
We might even end up encircled by Wells Fleet's counter-encirclement!"
"No time for that!"
Yang Shao's eyes were bloodshot.
"The priority now isn't annihilating Wells—it's rescuing Qin Bei Wang!
If that kid dies here, even if we wipe out the Wells Sub-Fleet, we've still lost!"
The command was issued amid contradictions.
The forty-nine Federation capital ships, originally deploying an encirclement, began adjusting their formation.
They abandoned the perfect arc encirclement, instead forming a sharp assault wedge, engines at full power, driving straight into the Imperial Fleet's rear formation.
Like a dagger abandoning slicing in favor of thrusting.
At the same time, Yang Shao personally approached the communications console and activated the highest-priority link to the Kunlun Mountain.
"Qin Bei Wang!"
His voice, transmitted via quantum communication to the Kunlun Mountain's bridge, carried barely suppressed urgency.
"Listen, this is Yang Shao!
Your situation is extremely dangerous!
Wells has five fleets; you only have twelve ships. Even with the Uranus Fleet's twelve starships, you can't hold them off!
I order you now!
Disengage immediately and retreat toward my main force!
I repeat, retreat immediately!"
He paused, his tone almost pleading.
"Don't be reckless, Lieutenant Commander Qin.
You're still young. The outcome of this battle shouldn't be gambled with your life."
The transmission was sent.
Yang Shao stared at the twenty-four blue dots isolated ahead of the imperial forces on the tactical screen, his palms drenched in cold sweat.
On the bridge of the Kunlun Mountain, Qin Bei Wang had just finished listening to Yang Shao's communication.
Zhuang ZhiXuan stood beside him, her expression equally grave.
"Commander, Commander Yang is right! Our current position is critical, but far too dangerous. If Wells concentrates his firepower and charges at us, we—"
"Don't worry, we can hold them off!"
Qin Bei Wang calmly interrupted her.