276: Starlight's Rescue and the Call for "Homeland"

Every second that "Hidden Dragon" struggled in the Hell of blades felt as long as a century.

The energy reserve reading was like fine sand in an hourglass, ruthlessly sliding toward the 10% life-or-death line.

The hull's tremors grew increasingly violent, and the energy flow leaking from the damaged sections was like the gasps of a dying behemoth, dragging out a poignant silver tail of light in the metal storm.

Behind them, although part of the "Swarm" hesitated due to receiving chaotic signals, dozens of the most stubborn and powerful dark-gold individuals still broke through the obstacles of the blades, biting tightly onto the tail of "Hidden Dragon," continuously firing dense energy needles, attempting to add another soul to this metal graveyard.

"Port side hit! Shield generator overloaded!"

"Thruster output insufficient! We're about to be caught!"

"Energy reserves... 9%... 8.5%..."

Inside the bridge, an atmosphere of despair spread like a cold tide.

Senior Brother Li's eyes were bloodshot as he futilely tried to squeeze another bit of thrust from the nearly bottomed-out energy pool.

Senior Brother Zhang's hands were trembling; he issued repair commands, but they received insufficient energy response.

Xiao Wu gripped the node connected to "Hidden Dragon"'s consciousness, transmitting the thought "Hold on" over and over, though his voice carried a sobbing tone.

Wen Youyi stared fixedly at the rotating light of death outside the porthole, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

His brain was running frantically, yet he couldn't find any way to break the situation.

Could it be... that they were really going to fall here?

Fall into this treacherous trap and the hands of this group of cold metal monsters?

He was not reconciled!

They had struggled out of the mire of the Ranch, taken root in the Starry Sky Debris, created the miracle of life that was "Flowing Silver," lit up the "starlight gauze curtain"... Their journey had only just begun!

How could they fall here!

"Base... has the base received the signal?"

Wang Wu's voice was hoarse.

On the communication panel in front of him, the green light representing a successful signal transmission was flickering faintly, but the indicator light representing a received response was still a deathly gray.

Hope, like a candle in the wind, flickered and was about to go out.

Just then!

"Hidden Dragon"'s perception array, as well as almost all monitoring equipment on the bridge, simultaneously captured an extremely strong, incomparably familiar, energy fluctuation filled with warmth and power!

This fluctuation did not come from anywhere in the "Anvil" area, but from... behind them!

From the direction of the base!

Hum—

A low, deep resonance, as if it could smooth over all wounds and fears, pierced through the clamor of the metal storm and rang directly in the depths of everyone's souls!

Immediately after, a river of silver light, brilliant beyond description, like a galaxy cutting through the night sky, surged from the far shore of the starry sky!

It swept across the Void Realm for ten thousand miles at a speed beyond imagination, accurately penetrating the chaotic energy field on the periphery of the "Anvil" area, ignoring those rotating blade fragments, and as if possessing life, gently and firmly circled "Hidden Dragon" once!

Wherever the river of light passed, those deadly metal fragments seemed to be smoothed and pushed away by an invisible force; their rotation speed plummeted, and some smaller fragments even melted and vaporized directly!

The dark-gold "Swarm" individuals pursuing from behind were illuminated by this pure, vast starlight energy filled with the aura of "Home."

Like snow meeting sunlight, the dark-gold luster on their surfaces instantly dimmed and peeled off, their internal structures emitted groans of being unable to bear the load, their speed decreased greatly, and some even disintegrated in mid-air!

This was... a highly concentrated, pure starlight energy torrent guided directly by the key and the main star core, coming from the core of the "starlight gauze curtain"!

The base had received the distress signal!

And, in this incredible way, had carried out super-long-range energy projection support!

"It's Home! It's the power from Home!"

Xiao Wu was so excited that tears came out, "The key! It's the key and the star core boss!"

"Hidden Dragon"'s violently trembling hull, wrapped in this warm starlight, seemed to have returned to its mother's embrace, instantly stabilizing significantly.

The energy leaking from the damaged sections was smoothed over and temporarily sealed by the starlight, and it even began to slowly absorb this foreign, homologous pure energy for the most basic replenishment.

[Home... has come...]

In "Hidden Dragon"'s weak consciousness, it was filled with reliance and emotion.

But the main purpose of this starlight torrent did not seem to be to attack, but to disperse, protect, and guide.

It did not completely destroy those dark-gold "Swarm" individuals, but after forcing them back and delaying them, the light began to contract and condense inward, finally forming a path of light paved with pure starlight in front of "Hidden Dragon," pointing straight toward the direction of the base!

On both sides of the path, the starlight acted like walls, temporarily separating the blade fragments still trying to close in and the "Swarm" that was reorganizing.

"This is... opening a way home for us!"

Senior Brother Li was ecstatic.

"Quick! Follow the path of light! 'Hidden Dragon', can you hold on?"

Wen Youyi asked hurriedly.

[I can!]

"Hidden Dragon"'s consciousness became firm again.

It adjusted its posture, injected all remaining energy into the thrusters, and began to accelerate along that warm and safe starlight path!

The starlight path was not infinitely long; it obviously consumed a huge amount and could only be maintained for a very short time.

But this was enough!

Enough for "Hidden Dragon" to rush out of the core area of the most dangerous forest of blades!

The silver starship galloped along the path of light, behind it were the dark-gold "Swarm" individuals blocked by the starlight, hissing angrily but unable to get close, and on both sides were the metal blades slowly retreating.

When they finally rushed out of the "forest of blades" and re-entered the relatively open starry sky with only a small amount of debris, the starlight path ahead also just reached its end, and the light slowly dissipated.

Looking back, the hideous ruins of the "Anvil" area and the dark-gold light points flickering within it were like a nightmare gradually moving away.

"Hidden Dragon"'s energy, also under the immersion of the starlight just now, barely climbed back to 12%.

Although it was still precarious, at least it had escaped the edge of immediate collapse.

"We... escaped?"

Wang Wu still couldn't believe it and pinched his thigh hard, wincing in pain.

"Thanks to the base..."

Senior Brother Zhang still felt lingering fear.

However, before they could catch their breath, on "Hidden Dragon"'s communication panel, the indicator light representing the base's response finally lit up with a steady green!

Immediately after, a mental communication mixed with anxiety, concern, and unquestionable instructions was transmitted directly into the consciousness of Wen Youyi and "Hidden Dragon."

It was Mu Wanqing's voice, transmitted via super-long-range mental transmission through the key and the "starlight gauze curtain" network.

Although it was a bit blurry and intermittent, the meaning was crystal clear:

[Distress signal and enemy data received! The key and the star core have activated emergency support mode! 'Hidden Dragon', what is your status? Wen Youyi, are you safe?]

[The base has entered a Level 2 alert state, and the 'starlight gauze curtain' defense intensity has been raised to the maximum. Based on the analysis of the enemy's energy characteristics you transmitted, it is preliminarily determined to be an 'automated defense/resource recovery Puppet' left behind or mutated by the 'Reapers'. It possesses Swarm intelligence, trap-setting capabilities, and targeted attack characteristics against creations of the 'Star People'. Threat level: High!]

[Order: Abandon all reconnaissance and resource acquisition missions, and return immediately at the fastest safe speed! Repeat, return immediately! The 'spore' network along the way has activated guidance beacons, and the 'starlight gauze curtain' will provide maximum long-range energy cover!]

[Additionally: The key has sent extra information — 'Home' calls to the 'children' who have encountered threats... Return quickly!]

Home calls the children... A warmth welled up in Wen Youyi's heart.

The key and the star core had indeed already regarded them and "Hidden Dragon" as "children" who needed protection.

"Reply to the base: 'Hidden Dragon' is severely damaged, energy is about to be exhausted, but core functions remain, and personnel are safe. We are returning at full speed, expected..."

Wen Youyi estimated the distance and "Hidden Dragon"'s current speed, "Expected to arrive at the periphery of the 'starlight gauze curtain' in an hour and a half. Requesting the base to prepare emergency repairs and energy reception."

Soon, Mu Wanqing's reply came: [Received! The maintenance team and energy reception unit are in position! Be careful on the way! The 'gauze curtain' has lit up the lights for you to come home!]

Ending the communication, "Hidden Dragon" no longer hesitated.

Following the faint guidance beacons that kept lighting up along the "spore" network, it began its long and difficult journey back toward "Home."

They came with high spirits, and returned covered in scars.

But no matter what, they survived and rushed out, carrying valuable combat data, painful lessons, and... a deeper attachment and reliance on "Home."

Although the sea of stars is dangerous, my home is where I can return.

(End of chapter)