108: Chapter 108 Trial Starfield, the Prelude to the Final Battle

The prophecy is complete.

"These 170 red dots," the Pope's voice pulled everyone back to reality, "are the regions where the Zerg will launch attacks within the next year, according to the prophecy. Because the contact line is so vast, each red dot represents the range of dozens to hundreds of star regions."

"Within this range, it is unclear exactly how the Zerg will attack; it could be small-scale, high-frequency harassment, or they could assemble to launch a large-scale raid."

He paused: "But this is enough. The subsequent Holy Son group will combine their own Great Prophecy Art and big data analysis to make judgments for each region, and then deploy troops accordingly."

The star map zoomed in, focusing on one of the red dot regions. It was a star region about 300 light-years in scope, containing over twenty star systems.

"Four months ago, when this prophecy result came out, our Holy Son team began their work. After multiple studies, this star region was selected as the trial star region," the Pope smiled, "Ulysses, you come and explain it to everyone now."

Ulysses, dressed in white priestly robes, walked out from the side. He seemed to have reined in much of his arrogance today, at least on the surface.

"Everyone." He nodded slightly to the audience below, "The Great Prophecy Art gave the direction, and our job is to use 'Minor Prophecy Art' and logical analysis to translate this direction into actionable tactical intelligence."

He pulled up another star map, which showed the same region but with many more annotations and data.

"First, we retrieved all engagement records for this region over the past fifty years. The Zerg have launched eleven attacks in this direction; nine stopped at the outer star systems, and two penetrated deeper but were all repelled."

"Secondly, we analyzed the strategic value of this region. It is not a resource-rich area, nor is it a transportation hub, so the offensive benefits for the Zerg are limited. Therefore, we judge that even if the Zerg attack, it should be a probing or diversionary action."

Ulysses tapped his finger, and a timeline appeared on the star map.

"The most critical point is—over the past four months, we have conducted supplementary predictions based on multiple timelines, such as 4 months, 8 months, and 12 months."

The Zerg forces on the star map began to change over time, rapidly retreating after attacking for a period.

"Every attack simulation for this region reaches the same conclusion: the Zerg vanguard only reaches the same planet at its furthest point: Planet G-77-3."

The star map focused, and an image of a gray-green planet emerged.

"No matter how we adjust the simulation parameters or change the preset conditions, the Zerg offensive stops at this planet. It's like..." Ulysses searched for a metaphor, "It's like there is an invisible wall blocking the way there."

He looked at the students below.

"So we reached the conclusion: first, the Zerg will indeed attack this region; second, the scale of the attack will not be too large; third, the battle line will stabilize near Planet G-77-3."

"Therefore—" Ulysses smiled, "We have selected this planet, as well as the surrounding star region, as the venue for this practical trial. It allows you all to experience a real battlefield, and due to the stability of the prophecy results, it ensures a safety boundary."

A chorus of realization and exclamations echoed through the hall.

So that's how the trial star region was selected! It wasn't chosen randomly, but was a "safe zone" verified through layers of analysis and multiple checks!

"At the same time, this trial is a trial of all races, and major races have sent escort fleets," the Pope took over, "These fleets have also been stationed in the trial star region, totaling over three million warships. The Olympia Empire's Third Imperial Guard Legion will also participate in the joint defense."

His gaze swept across the young faces below.

"Your mission is to land on Planet G-77-3 under the protection of the fleet and clear this planet. Establish a position for the subsequent planetary war."

"Remember, even if you are facing the final strength of the Zerg attack, you are facing a real war, so be careful. May the light be with you all."

The Pope nodded slightly, and his figure slowly faded away.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly livened up.

"So that's it! I was wondering how they could let so many geniuses take such risks!"

"The prophecy shows it only reaches that planet at the furthest, so wouldn't we be perfectly safe fighting on the planet?"

"Three million warships escorting... with this formation, wouldn't the Zerg just be serving themselves up if they came?"

Li Yuan listened to the discussions around him, but the faint unease in his heart could not be dispelled.

He stared at the gray-green Planet G-77-3 on the star map. Indeed, according to the analysis, this place should be safe. The prophecy showed four times that the Zerg stopped here, and it made logical sense.

But...

"Master?" Laya shook his arm, "You're zoning out again."

"I'm thinking..." Li Yuan lowered his voice, "If the Zerg are really just launching a probing attack, why do all four prophecies point to the same place? There are actually over three million warships stationed here."

Elia frowned: "You mean... this might be a trap?"

"Can't say for sure." Li Yuan shook his head, "Maybe I'm just overthinking it."

Sai Wei leaned in: "Li Yuan, you're just being overly cautious. The Great Prophecy Art is an SS-rank talent, plus the Holy Son team's months of analysis, how could it be wrong? If you ask me, let's just go up and kill bugs with peace of mind, and help Elia save up enough energy to reach the fourth stage sooner!"

Mentioning this, Elia's eyes lit up: "Yeah!"

Laya also got excited: "Don't worry, Sister Elia, this time I will definitely help you lure more bugs! Let's have a good slaughter!"

"Everything in moderation..." Elia's face flushed slightly.

"That won't do! If we're going to kill, let's kill the big ones! I heard there's an Ultralisk nest on Planet G-77-3, let's go take one out!"

"Laya, you are so brave..."

---

At the same time, on the other side of the confrontation line.

If a human reconnaissance ship could cross the defense line and arrive here, the captain might suffer a mental breakdown—

In the void, tens of thousands of leviathan motherships were assembling.

Each one was tens of thousands of kilometers long, and the largest even exceeded one hundred thousand kilometers. They were like moving celestial mountain ranges, their biological armor surfaces gleaming with a cold luster under the starlight. Around these behemoths were the Zerg Swarm that obscured the sea of stars: flocks of Mutalisks formed rolling dark clouds, Brood Hosts moved slowly like islands, and every stomp of the Ultralisks caused ripples in space.

But that was not all.

Behind the Leviathan cluster, some massive Zerg ships that had never appeared in the human database were emerging from deep space. They had hideous forms; some looked like multi-segmented centipedes, with each segment being a battery; some were like blooming metal flowers, with petal edges as sharp as starship rams; and others were simply living fortresses of constantly proliferating tumors.

And at the core of this terrifying legion was a dark red mothership with a volume comparable to a small planet.

Its appearance was reminiscent of the heart of some evil god, with magma-like energy veins pulsing on its surface, and tens of thousands of gun ports and incubation chambers densely packed like pores. In the deepest part of this mothership was a gorgeous palace that was completely out of place with its barbaric exterior.

The palace floor was covered with the hide of some star beast, and the walls were inlaid with glowing psionic crystals. And on the jewel throne in the center of the palace, the Queen of the Fourth Mother Nest was lying lazily on her side.

She wore a dark red gown that spread across the floor, and her appearance was eighty percent similar to Olivia, but more mature and more dangerous.

Standing in the hall were tens of thousands of Zerg Queens. They all retained Zerg characteristics to varying degrees: carapaces, sickle limbs, compound eyes, wing membranes... Compared to Olivia's near-perfect human form, they were more like products of the Zerg concept.

"Still haven't found her?" the Queen spoke, her voice carrying a cold, magnetic quality.

A Queen with four pairs of transparent insect wings on her back stepped forward and knelt: "Your Majesty, the region where Her Highness Olivia last disappeared has been locked."

"It's good that you found her," she said softly, with no emotion in her voice, "We are going to bring her back."

Another Queen with arm-shaped bone blades said cautiously: "Your Majesty, the humans seem to have assembled heavy forces in the trial star region, should we..."

"Should what?" the Queen raised her eyelids, "Because the enemy has many troops, we won't go to pick up Olivia? You should know that she is more precious than all of you combined."

She slowly sat up straight, her long dress spreading out like a waterfall of blood.

"Issue an order."

Two words caused the temperature of the entire palace to plummet.

"All units, advance toward Planet G-77-3. This attack has only one goal—" a crimson light flashed in the Queen's compound eyes, "Find Olivia, and bring her home."