293: The Milky Way rejoices, human civilization has become the savior!

As the colossal stargate, with a diameter exceeding ten thousand kilometers, slowly formed in the void, emitting a faint blue spatiotemporal ripple, the energy turmoil in the Galactic Center finally completely subsided.

The Star Devourer swarm, which had ravaged for hundreds of millions of years and struck fear into countless civilizations, along with their terrifying black hole hive, had completely vanished into the river of history. In their place was an unprecedentedly clear starfield and the white heavenly craft, 'Taichu,' suspended at the edge of the black hole, radiating a sacred glow.

This moment was not just the calm on the battlefield, but also the dead silence in the hearts of countless observers throughout the Milky Way Galaxy.

Thousands of light-years from the Galactic Center, inside the flagship of the Galaxy Guardians Alliance, Speaker Kristo stared blankly at the giant stargate slowly devouring the fleet on the holographic screen, like a soulless crystal sculpture. His core thought process trembled wildly, countless data streams crashing in his mind, yet unable to piece together a reasonable explanation.

They won?

That Earth Civilization, which had appeared for less than a year, actually managed to... wipe out the nightmare that had plagued the Alliance for hundreds of millions of years?

And in such an 'environmentally friendly' way, leaving not even a speck of dust?

"Your Excellency, Speaker..."

The adjutant next to him spoke with a dry voice, as if his throat was filled with gravel, "We just received communication requests from all over the Milky Way Galaxy. The number... has exploded. One hundred and forty-two Third-level civilizations and thousands of Second-level civilizations have simultaneously sent inquiries, all asking the same question—who exactly is this civilization that saved the Milky Way Galaxy?"

Kristo suddenly snapped back to reality. He looked at the black fleet orderly passing through the stargate on the screen, a complex glint flashing in his eyes. There was fear, awe, but more than that, a wild joy of surviving a catastrophe.

"Quick! Immediately open the full-frequency broadcast!"

Kristo abruptly stood up from his seat, almost stumbling due to his sudden movement, but he paid it no mind, merely roaring hoarsely, "Announce to the entire Milky Way Galaxy using the Alliance's highest-level encrypted channel!"

"Declare the Star Devourer crisis lifted! Announce that the Milky Way Galaxy has ushered in a new era! And the creator of all this, that great, invincible civilization, is—"

He took a deep breath and, in a tone almost like a pilgrimage, uttered the name:

"Earth Federation!"

As this broadcast signal spread across every corner of the Milky Way Galaxy at superluminal speed, the entire galaxy seemed to ignite.

Countless lower-level civilizations, trembling in the dark forest, and countless nomadic races barely surviving under the shadow of the Star Devourer, all received this news that was enough to drive them mad. The Sword of Damocles that had hung over their heads for hundreds of millions of years had vanished!

Fear dissipated, replaced by a near-frenzied cheer.

In a remote star system in the Orion Arm, a group of silicon-based lifeforms, who had just been ravaged by the Star Devourer, were kneeling on the ruins, prostrating themselves towards the Galactic Center; on the edge of the Andromeda Nebula, those once-proud energy lifeforms now dimmed their light, showing submission to the strong.

"Savior! They are the saviors of the Milky Way Galaxy!"

"Long live Earth Civilization! Long live humanity!"

Praises and cheers in various languages and wavebands converged into a massive information torrent, wildly surging through the Milky Way's quantum network. At this moment, humanity was no longer that small race confined to a corner, but had become the universally recognized—God—of the entire Milky Way Galaxy!

However, facing this overwhelming praise, Lu Chen, as the protagonist, was exceptionally calm, even... somewhat indifferent.

The expedition was slowly entering the stargate, and the surrounding space-time began to twist and stretch. Lu Chen stood on the bridge, looking at the constantly flickering alien texts and images on the light screen, a faint sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Savior?"

Lu Chen chuckled, tapping his finger lightly on the armrest. "These guys change their faces pretty quickly. Just a few days ago, they wanted to eliminate us as a threat, and now that we've won, they immediately put us on a pedestal."

"This is the survival wisdom of the weak."

Su Qingying stood beside him, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes as she watched the fanatical alien civilizations. "In the face of absolute power, worship and fear are essentially the same thing. They aren't truly grateful to us; they are just bowing to power, praying that the new overlord won't turn the butcher's knife on them."

"That's right."

Lu Chen gave Su Qingying an approving look, then stood up, straightened his collar, and cast his gaze towards the deeper, more dangerous unknown void within the stargate.

"So, these empty titles mean nothing to me."

"We're not here to be nannies, nor saviors. We're just fighting for our own survival."

"heavenly craft, block all communication requests from the Guardian Alliance." Lu Chen's voice instantly became cold and hard as iron. "Tell them I'm busy and don't have time for their flattery. If they really want to express gratitude, then prepare the promised resources and technological data. If even one cent is missing, I'll dismantle their homeworld to settle the debt!"

[Yes, Master! All junk messages have been blocked.] heavenly craft's voice was light and crisp.

Following Lu Chen's command, the clamorous praises instantly vanished, and a solemn stillness returned to the bridge.

"War Wolf."

"Here!"

The towering man immediately stood at attention, exuding a strong scent of blood, a testament to the recent battle.

"Tell the brothers not to be corrupted by these sugar-coated bullets." Lu Chen pointed to the cheering scenes on the screen, his tone serious. "This is just a small skirmish within the Milky Way Galaxy. The real tough battle is yet to come."

"That so-called 'the cleaners,' that Fourth-level civilization's fleet, is now less than one light-year away from us."

"After we pass through this stargate, we'll be face-to-face with them."

"Are you scared?"

"Scared of what!" War Wolf grinned, revealing a mouthful of stark white teeth, his eyes burning with a crazy fighting spirit. "We even blew up a black hole and annihilated the Star Devourer. Why would we be afraid of a few cleaners from out of town? Commander Lu, just give the order. As long as you say the word, even if the King of Heaven himself comes, we'll take him down!"

"Good!"

Lu Chen nodded, the light in his eyes growing even more fervent.

He knew this was the army he wanted. Unburdened by empty titles, unswayed by praise, always maintaining vigilance against enemies and a thirst for victory.

"Attention, all forces!"

Lu Chen's voice, transmitted through the quantum network, clearly reached the ears of every warship and every soldier.

"We are about to cross the stargate and enter the interception range of the 'the cleaners' fleet."

"This will be humanity's first direct confrontation with a Fourth-level civilization in its history!"

"They possess unknown technology and the power to destroy stars. But none of that matters!"

"Because we hold the truth in our hands!"

Lu Chen suddenly waved his hand, pointing towards the swirling blue vortex ahead.

"Go through! Pull that high and mighty 'the cleaners' down from its pedestal!"

"Let the entire universe see who the true master of this starfield is!"

"Yes!!!"

Accompanied by the roaring shouts of hundreds of thousands of warriors, the colossal expeditionary fleet finally completely disappeared into the stargate.

The cheers of the Milky Way Galaxy were left behind, replaced by the impending, even more brutal, interstellar hunt.

And on the other side of the stargate.

In a dead silent void, a fleet, entirely of an eerie silver-grey color and perfectly geometric in design, floated silently.

That was the 'the cleaners' vanguard.

At the core of their main ship, a cold mechanical consciousness was rapidly calculating.

[High-energy spatial fluctuations detected...]

[Target: Milky Way indigenous civilization...]

[Assessment: Threat level extremely low, direct obliteration recommended.]

However, it did not know.

What emerged from the stargate this time was not some lamb to be slaughtered.

But a group of madmen who had just tasted the thrill of god-slaying and weren't yet satisfied!