The Void Realm’s Cruel Revelation

In the year 2200 of the Azure Calendar, the Azure Sea United Nations successfully developed a sub-light speed engine. This breakthrough allowed humanity to venture into the void, ushering in the interstellar era.

Not long after, the United Nations secretly dispatched an advance team of six colossal transport ships into the uncharted depths of the star river. Their mission was to discover habitable planets and establish the first human colonies beyond the solar system. Each transport ship was equipped to sustain 250,000 people; the interstellar inhabitants aboard were known as the “Pioneers.” These pioneers traversed the void, journeying toward potentially habitable star systems.

According to the UN’s General History, this monumental national colonization effort was dubbed the “Ark Project.” The six colonial ships of the Ark Project, grouped in pairs, plunged into three distinct wormholes.

From that moment, all communication with the United Nations ceased. They vanished completely into the boundless star river, leaving no trace. However, unbeknownst to anyone within the United Nations, one of those six colonial vessels, a transport ship named the Autumn Chrysanthemum, had successfully reached its target star system. It landed on a habitable planet, and there, the pioneers established a new human nation—the Human Federation.

****

Federation Calendar, Year 374.

The Celtic Star System, located in the Human Federation’s frontier sector, had endured a century of turmoil. About a hundred years prior, a resounding reverberation from subspace had shaken the star sea, signaling the arrival of the Thorin Primordial Worm—dubbed the “Star Butcher”—into the Milky Way galaxy. They brought endless catastrophe to countless civilizations.

While the Thorin Primordial Worm’s relentless onslaught was eventually contained, they continued to lurk in the dark corners of star systems. Like hunters hidden within a dark forest, their bloodthirsty, crimson gazes fixated on every civilization, poised to strike and devour all in their path.

On Planet Walker, a habitable planet within the Celtic Star System, Human Federation colonists discovered traces of the Thorin Primordial Worm. The Federation Fleet arrived swiftly upon receiving the news, bringing with them a large contingent of elite ground forces.

Unlike ordinary infantry, the warriors in these elite units had undergone rigorous genetic modification. Each possessed physical capabilities far exceeding those of an average adult male, making them the unwavering backbone of the Federation’s military might.

On Planet Walker, a brutal battle erupted between humanity and the alien worms. Yet, no one noticed a peculiar white insect egg that materialized out of thin air in the planet’s swampy terrain.

Severed worm limbs flew around the egg, and the blood of fallen warriors spread across the ground nearby. Sharp, piercing screeches from the worms intertwined with the fervent roars of gunfire. Impenetrable chitinous carapaces clashed against mighty power swords, and the air frequently erupted with explosive impacts.

When the resilient bodies of the worms finally stilled and the power armor of the warriors let out its final electronic groans, their direct conflict ended. But more worms and soldiers charged forward, engaging in an endless, desperate struggle, refusing to yield.

Eventually, as the battle neared its end, an endless tide of worms overwhelmed the reconnaissance unit. Simultaneously, the Federation Fleet in planetary orbit locked onto their coordinates, the particle lances at the bows of their warships already charged and ready to fire.

****

In the very center of the battlefield, the company captain, having lost an arm, gritted his teeth. With his remaining hand, he gripped his power sword tightly, gazing at the Thorin Primordial Worms that encircled him.

Mustering his last vestiges of strength, he spoke into the quantum communicator with a deep, resolute voice: “Coordinates uploaded. Fire immediately.”

“Seventh Company, you haven’t withdrawn yet…”

“The swarm is too vast. Seventh Company has expended all ammunition,” the company captain suddenly raised his voice, roaring in fury. “Fire on my position immediately!”

“Received,” the warship command center’s reply was swift and decisive, low and solemn. “Farewell, comrade.”

As if awakening a slumbering lion, the Federation Fleet began to bare its fangs. In low planetary orbit, the terrifying main cannon of a battleship completed its energy charge. Thirty particle beams violently tore through the void.

Blood-red light descended from the heavens, instantly engulfing the entire swamp and the worm swarm within it. The company captain ripped off his alloy helmet, propped himself up with his power sword, and knelt on one knee facing the direction of his home world. He lowered his head, a head that had always remained high in the face of the enemy.

Bathed in the crimson torrent, the ferocity on his face subtly transformed into a gentle warmth. As if recalling certain people and events, he softly closed his eyes, a faint curve gracing his lips. In the next moment, his figure became ethereal.

****

When the crimson torrent receded, the swamp’s landscape had vanished without a trace, replaced by a colossal crater of rock and soil. The Thorin Primordial Worms, the Federation ground forces, and indeed all living creatures, had been reduced to dust and ash by this orbital bombardment.

All, except for a certain white insect egg, which pulsed faintly like a heart and slowly expanded.

****

Within Vera’s consciousness space, an endless mountain of corpses and a sea of blood stretched as far as the eye could see. A woman of exquisite beauty floated upon the blood sea, gazing up at the sky like a solitary skiff.

Her shimmering silver-white hair remained untouched by even a speck of blood, and her chilling, blood-red eyes held a vacant expression. Ming Yu could no longer recall how many days she had spent in this place.

Vera had extracted her consciousness from that demonic realm but had abandoned her physical body on the distant shores of the star river, leaving only a wisp of her soul to drift in this sea of blood. Despite her predicament, Ming Yu still felt a sense of gratitude toward Vera. Without Vera’s intervention, she might have lost her life completely, vanishing from existence.

For a soul to acquire a new physical vessel, it had to integrate with the immature cells of that vessel. Otherwise, a second personality would spontaneously emerge, carrying the risk of the primary soul being devoured.

Regarding this, Ming Yu harbored some concern for White Feather’s situation. In her current state, she was barely able to protect herself, let alone do anything more for her companion. She could only silently pray that White Feather would be reborn smoothly.

As Ming Yu abandoned all other thoughts, contemplating alone in this blood-soaked wilderness, she had never felt her life so prolonged, nor the silent passage of time so agonizing.

Vera had promised her that she would find a way to prepare a perfect, risk-free physical vessel for her, and then exert all her efforts to help her return to the distant Azure Sea Star. The price was that Ming Yu needed to break Vera’s shackles, rescue her from the Human Federation’s interstellar laboratory, and release her back into the vast sea of stars. Only when Vera’s true form regained its freedom would Ming Yu have any hope of returning home.

In the boundless star river, distances between star systems were measured in light-years. Without faster-than-light travel, even knowing the coordinates would make reaching the shores of home an impossible feat.

After an indeterminate period, the tranquil blood sea began to churn violently, and Vera’s voice once again entered Ming Yu’s ears.

‘Ming Yu, the body I prepared for you has successfully departed the psionic research confinement area. Next, I will cleave off a portion of my essence and transfer a part of my psionic energy into your consciousness space…’

‘At that time, once I initiate a psionic leap and move to a distant planet, you will gain your freedom…’

Ming Yu could sense that Vera’s aura had noticeably weakened.