248: Energy Torrents and Channel Annihilation

"Tail Severing" plan was initiated, and the entire Bedrock Base was like an ice cube thrown into boiling water, instantly entering a state of maximum intensity operation. The normally gentle flow of stellar energy was now being frantically extracted, compressed, and guided. The air was filled with a heart-palpitating energy restlessness.

In the center of the industrial zone, a temporarily constructed, extremely complex metal device became the focus of attention. This was the "energy focusing array," urgently designed and manufactured by Senior Brother Li's technical team, integrating knowledge from ancient databases with current technology. It was composed of hundreds of thick star iron conduits and countless flashing runes, resembling a giant, ferocious metal flower, with its core aimed directly at the exit leading to Falling Star Lake.

The core of the array was connected to two energy sources: first, the main star core fragment that the base relied on for survival; it was shining brightly, the stellar flow inside rotating at an unprecedented speed, constantly extracting immense energy. Second, the crystal key in Wen Youyi's hand; it floated above the array like a calm commander, the internal star map flickering, not only contributing its own pure energy but also precisely regulating the stability and direction of the entire energy flow.

"Energy output stable! Focusing array operating normally!"

"main star core energy level has dropped to sixty percent! key energy output stable!"

"Spatial coordinates locked! Channel weak points marked!"

In the control room, various data flashed rapidly. Senior Brother Zhang stared intently at the screen, his voice hoarse from tension. Wen Youyi stood in front of the array, his expression calm, but his tightly clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil. Zhao Iron Pillar guarded the perimeter with the combat team. Everyone held their breath, awaiting the moment that would decide their fate.

"We can't wait any longer!" Senior Brother Li said urgently, watching the main star core energy level drop rapidly. "We must start! Otherwise, there won't be enough energy to trigger the chain collapse!"

Wen Youyi took a deep breath, his gaze resolute. He sent the final silent command through the starnet to all external nodes and personnel, then looked at Senior Brother Zhang: "Begin!"

"energy focusing array, activate maximum power! Target: Channel Node Z-7, Energy Torrent... Fire!" Senior Brother Zhang pressed the control crystal sphere.

In an instant—

"Buzz—!!!"

The entire base shook violently! The giant "metal flower" in the industrial zone suddenly erupted with indescribable, dazzling light! A silver energy torrent, condensed to the extreme, almost materialized, roared out from the center of the array like a raging river of stars, ferociously slamming towards the seemingly empty space ahead!

That spot was the unstable entrance to the channel leading to Falling Star Lake!

The moment the energy torrent contacted the channel entrance, there was no earth-shattering explosion. Instead, it silently "melted" in, like a red-hot iron rod plunged into ice and snow. The already extremely unstable spatial structure inside the channel instantly underwent a chain reaction under this external force impact, which far exceeded its tolerance limit!

Through the observation formation, everyone could see the bizarre scene inside the channel twisting and shattering at an astonishing speed! Multicolored spatial fragments scattered like shattered mirrors. The "bridge" originally connecting the two ends fractured inch by inch, annihilating into the most basic energy particles!

The channel was collapsing from within!

Simultaneously, above Falling Star Lake.

Elder Black Fiend, who was supervising the final stage of the Void Locking Grand Array's deployment by the lake, suddenly felt something and looked up sharply toward the center of the lake! The area, perpetually shrouded in mist and exhibiting abnormal spatial fluctuations, was now churning violently like boiling water! The faintly visible spatial rift suddenly shone brightly, then dimmed, twisted, and contracted even faster!

"What is happening?!" Black Fiend was both shocked and furious.

Before he could react, an extremely muffled roar, as if coming from the depths of the world, suddenly erupted from above the lake center!

It was not a sound, but the mournful cry of space!

The next moment, the entrance to the spatial channel, which had existed for untold ages, violently collapsed inward like a popped bubble, vanishing instantly! All that remained was a circle of rapidly expanding, silent spatial ripples on the lake surface, and the suddenly thin and chaotic Spiritual Qi in the air!

The channel... was gone! It had been completely annihilated!

"No—!!!" Black Fiend let out a roar of disbelief, filled with rage and despair! The Void Locking Grand Array, for which he had spent countless efforts and resources, instantly became useless decoration! The "Purification Protocol," on which he had pinned all his hopes, had perished before it even began!

"Who?! Who did this?!" He looked like a madman, his powerful Divine Sense sweeping wildly around, but he only felt the dead silence and chaos left after the spatial annihilation. He had no way to trace it; that destructive force came from the other end of the channel, from the target he intended to destroy!

...Starry Sky Debris, Bedrock Base.

In the industrial zone, the light of the massive energy focusing array quickly dimmed. Many conduits turned bright red due to overload, and some areas showed signs of melting. The light of the main star core fragment became extremely weak, like a candle in the wind. The crystal key suspended in mid-air also had its luster dimmed, clearly having suffered a massive drain.

The control room was silent. Everyone stared nervously at the observation formation. When they confirmed that the channel entrance had completely disappeared and the spatial fluctuations were gradually stabilizing without causing severe impact to the base, the deathly silence was broken by ecstatic joy of survival!

"We succeeded! We succeeded!"

"The channel is destroyed! Black Fiend's conspiracy has failed!"

Cheers and shouts nearly shook the roof! Zhao Iron Pillar excitedly picked up Wang Wu next to him and spun him around several times, causing Wang Wu to curse repeatedly. Mu Wanqing also couldn't help but cover her mouth, tears of excitement welling up in her eyes.

Wen Youyi looked at the cheering crowd, then at the dimmed key in his hand and the main star core that was nearly depleted of energy, feeling a complex mix of emotions.

They had won, achieving a hard-fought victory. They had saved their Homeworld and thwarted the enemy's fatal blow. But the cost was also immense—they had lost the most crucial channel connecting them to the outside world, their energy reserves were almost exhausted, and they would face an extremely difficult period in the future.

He raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.

"Comrades," his voice was a bit hoarse, but carried an unprecedented firmness, "We have successfully overcome this crisis! But this is only the beginning! We have severed the enemy's sharp claws, but we have also temporarily sealed our own door."

"From today onwards, we will enter a long period of 'dormancy.' We need time to recover our strength, time to digest the knowledge within the key, and time to find a new way out!"

"The road ahead may be even harder, but we are still alive! The 'Spark' is still burning!"

"As long as the kindling does not go out, hope will endure!"

Everyone's gaze focused on Wen Youyi, their initial ecstasy gradually transforming into the same resolute belief.

Yes, they were still here! The base was still here! The 'Spark' was still here!

Severing the tail to survive, lying low to await opportunity. As long as hope remains, one day, the spark will surely start a prairie fire!

(End of Chapter)