Unexpected Interruption

Unarmored personnel were highly vulnerable against the alien insects, their defenses far inferior to those of warriors encased in power armor. However, their combat stance afforded them a significantly greater degree of flexibility.

While they couldn’t wield the heavy power swords, the lightblade cutters they carried could still pierce the alien insects’ outer carapaces. The lightblades were no less sharp than power swords, yet they lacked physical mass; consequently, they were suitable only for offense, incapable of parrying the alien insects’ razor-sharp claws or fangs.

Ye Qing had initially intended to offer her electromagnetic firearm when she heard Ming Yu ask for a weapon. To her surprise, Ming Yu chose the Gamma Lightblade she wore at her waist. Indeed, the Gamma Lightblade could bypass the alien insects’ exoskeletons, but it consumed a vast amount of energy; its blade of light could only be maintained at a length of about three feet.

‘An inch longer, an inch stronger.’ A firearm would clearly be the more prudent choice.

When she inquired if Ming Yu knew how to use a blade, the reply consisted of just two words:

“A little.”

Ming Yu flexed her delicate, snow-white wrist, weighing the lightblade’s hilt. She twirled the weapon, an orange-yellow streak of light flashing through the vast emptiness.

‘Hmm, it’s a type of blade I’ve never seen before,’ Ming Yu mused. The hilt felt incredibly light. Its points of leverage and methods of exertion differed vastly from the thermal cutters she used back in Pharos; its center of gravity lay in the middle of the hilt, and the blade itself seemed utterly weightless.

Ye Qing swallowed hard, looking at Ming Yu beside her, and spoke with difficulty, “I fear we’re about to make the ultimate sacrifice. Do you have family?”

“Family? Oh, of course. They’re waiting for me to return.” Ming Yu offered a faint smile, appearing remarkably calm.

“Then you absolutely cannot perish in a place like this.” Ye Qing gritted her teeth, raising her fully charged electromagnetic rifle once more. She aimed at the insect swarm not far away, and plasma rounds erupted with a booming roar like thunder, trailing several arcs of silvery light. She positioned herself defensively in front of Ming Yu. “You and I are different. You must live. Someone is waiting for you to come home, but as for me… I lost my home long ago.”

Ye Qing smiled bitterly. The exploding arcs of electricity in the distance incinerated the light-armored alien insects within a two-meter radius, while the heavily armored ones suffered severe damage, their charge significantly slowing. Arc after arc of light tore through the void, yet their effect was limited. Like stones sinking into the sea, they could not halt the endless tide of alien insects.

This sight steadily eroded Ye Qing’s will to fight, prompting her to recall the past—a tell-tale sign of a life flashing before one’s eyes. However, she had no tragic or resentful childhood memories. She once had loving parents, but they had merely been taken by illness. Nothing more. It wasn’t hatred that drove her to enlist, but a profound emptiness. Since she couldn’t find a reason to live for herself, she decided to dedicate her life to the Federation’s cause, believing it would ensure her existence was not a waste.

Naturally, she had hoped to return to her family with honors to satisfy her own vanity, but she doubted she would have such an opportunity now.

Ye Qing looked at Ming Yu. To her, Ming Yu seemed like one in a million—extraordinary in talent and appearance, yet socially like a blank slate. They were vastly different, which was perhaps why Ye Qing felt so drawn to her.

“What is that?” Ming Yu asked softly, noticing the carnage in the distance.

Horrific chitinous barbs pierced through the gaps in heavy armor, and grotesque mouthparts tore at the flesh beneath steel plating. The piercing screams of soldiers were quickly drowned out by shrill insectoid hisses. The alien insects were moving fast, finding new targets.

****

‘Small fry. Those lowly land species are insignificant, but in your current state, it won’t be easy to deal with them all. Be careful—don’t get hurt…’

Vera’s voice murmured in Ming Yu’s mind. ‘What I truly mean is, don’t damage this precious vessel. I went through a lot of trouble to create it.’

Ming Yu detected the underlying concern in Vera’s words. Her heart warmed slightly, and she regarded the overwhelming insect swarm in the distance with increased gravity.

Finally, a breach was torn in the heavy armor defense line near the tanks. Countless alien insects streamed through, approaching the unarmored personnel. Ye Qing felt her mind stretched to its absolute limit; her head was utterly blank. She could only pull the trigger mechanically. In less than half a minute, the first wave of alien insects—having endured the barrage of fire—surged before her, revealing their terrifying mouthparts.

“Hiss—!”

Three half-human-sized “mantises” attacked from different directions, instantly cornering Ye Qing in a desperate situation. Their sharp claws glinted menacingly, on the verge of piercing her slender neck. A pungent, bloody stench enveloped Ye Qing, causing her eyes to lose focus. ‘Is this… where I fall?’

Just as her arms fell limply, a sudden force pulled her backward. The alien blade narrowly missed her throat.

“Why are you spacing out?”

The ethereal, gentle voice reached Ye Qing’s ears, instantly snapping her out of her stupor. Ming Yu steadily caught Ye Qing’s collapsing form. In her other hand, she gripped the three-foot lightblade. As she stepped back, she effortlessly severed one of the mantis’s arm-claws, extricating Ye Qing from danger.

“Hiss—!!!”

Before Ye Qing could react, several more insects launched successive attacks. They lunged directly at Ming Yu. The oncoming, foul-smelling wind blew open her hair tie, sending her silver strands fluttering. Ming Yu had encountered these mantis-like insects in the Ethereal Realm, severing countless numbers of them. She knew their weaknesses intimately.

A point of cold light pierced the air, instantly penetrating the alien insects’ spiracles and shredding their respiratory systems. With another flourish of the blade, the surrounding circle of insects was annihilated in mere moments. Seizing this opportunity, Ming Yu embraced Ye Qing, retreating behind the tank before setting her down. Ye Qing collapsed to the ground, her gaze vacant with shock.

The advantages and disadvantages of this blade were stark. Its offensive capability was maximized, while its defensive utility was virtually nonexistent. To fully unleash its potential, one could not be restrained; it demanded an “offense-as-defense” approach, relying on flexible movement to evade damage.

After securing Ye Qing, Ming Yu turned back to the fray, leaving only an aloof yet graceful silhouette for the stunned officer. Behind her was her startled friend; before her, a ferocious tide of alien insects.

Ming Yu sighed softly, her blood seeming to ignite. A long-unfelt sensation of battle-lust surfaced in her heart. The next instant, she was surrounded by ten mantises, utterly isolated—and perfectly at home.