364: Chapter 365 Sunrise and the "First Ray of Light"

When the sun rose, the echo telescope captured the signal of the first Heavenly Court Fleet.

Distance from New Homeland: 0.7 light-minutes.

Estimated time of arrival: Three hours later.

The headquarters fell silent for a second, then everyone sprang into action simultaneously.

"Confirm the fleet's size and formation!" Luo Chen's voice rang out over the communication channel.

"Analyzing... Main fleet, 120 ships, standard offensive formation!" Aila's fingers flew across the console. "The Flagship is located slightly behind the center, with groups of Frigates on both sides and Scout Ships spreading out in front... It matches the Cracked Eye's intelligence perfectly!"

"What about the Flanking Fleet?"

"No signal captured yet. It's expected to appear within twelve shichen after the main fleet arrives."

Wen Youyi stared at the dense cluster of dark-gold light specks on the main screen and took a deep breath.

One hundred and twenty ships.

Twenty more than expected.

"Notify all units to enter Level 1 combat readiness." His voice was calm, as if he were arranging a routine training session.

"Level 1 combat readiness, copy that!" Wang Wu's voice spread across all channels.

In the small town, everyone stopped what they were doing at the same moment.

Those eating breakfast put down their bowls. Those organizing equipment stood up. Those saying goodbye to their families gave one last hug. Then, they headed to their respective posts.

There was no panic, no crying, only silent footsteps.

Three hours.

The final three hours.

During the first hour, the Law Field was activated at full power.

Three translucent barriers rose simultaneously, enveloping the entire New Homeland in a soft glow. Complex runes flowed across the surface of the barriers, like countless invisible hands weaving a giant net.

Senior Brother Zhang stood in the Crater Control Center on the East Coast, staring at the flickering data on the screen.

"Power stable! Coverage range up to standard! Self-repair function normal!"

His voice reached every corner through Little Girl's Communication Hub—not through equipment, but 'ringing' directly in everyone's minds.

It was Little Girl speaking, but using Senior Brother Zhang's tone and message.

"East District Law Field normal."

"West District Law Field normal."

"North District Law Field normal."

Three sentences, three Law Fields, all ready.

During the second hour, all Hedgehog Weapons were distributed into place.

The Rumble-7 Models were piled behind every defensive line, managed by specialized Throwers. The Dizzy-3 Models were mounted on high ground, their launchers aimed at the enemy's expected attack route. The Tickle-2 vine Seeds had been planted in advance, slowly writhing in the soil, waiting for the enemy's footsteps.

Zhao Iron Pillar stood in the trenches of the first defensive line, checking every soldier's equipment.

"Did you bring enough Clay Pots?"

"Enough, Captain!"

"Do you remember the firing angle for the Hallucinogenic Canisters?"

"Remembered, Captain!"

"Don't step on the vine Seeds. Those things are shy around strangers; they only bite enemies, not our own!"

"Understood, Captain!"

He walked to the end of the Trench and saw Little Li crouching there, holding a heavy sword, his face pale.

"Scared?"

Little Li nodded without speaking.

Zhao Iron Pillar crouched down beside him and patted his shoulder.

"It's right to be scared. Only a fool isn't afraid. But fear aside, when it's time to go, you have to go."

Little Li took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.

During the third hour, everyone entered the final wait.

In the headquarters, Wen Youyi stared at the fleet's light specks getting closer on the screen.

0.3 light-minutes.

0.2 light-minutes.

0.1 light-minutes.

"Countdown to atmospheric entry: Thirty seconds." Aila's voice was tense.

Wen Youyi stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the sky was still blue. The sun was bright, and a few white clouds drifted lazily.

But everyone knew that behind those clouds, 120 dark-gold reapers were diving down.

"Ten seconds."

Wen Youyi took a deep breath.

"Five seconds."

He closed his eyes, then opened them again.

"Three seconds."

"Two seconds."

"One second."

The sky split open.

Not a metaphor, but a literal split.

A massive dark-gold rift tore through the clouds, and countless light specks surged out—these were the Advance Troops of the Heavenly Court Fleet. Like a swarm of released locusts, they swarmed out of the rift, spreading into a dark-gold tide across the sky.

Then, the first light fell.

It was a golden beam fired from the Flagship's Main Cannon, so thick it seemed capable of piercing heaven and earth, blasting straight toward the ground—

It struck the Law Field's barrier.

BOOM—!!!

An invisible shockwave spread across the sky, instantly shredding the clouds. The entire sky turned into a rolling battlefield of gold and silver-white.

The Law Field's barrier vibrated violently, but it didn't break.

"East District Law Field taking impact! Energy consumption at 7%!" Senior Brother Zhang's voice came through Little Girl.

"North District, get ready! The second wave is coming!"

Another beam fell, striking the North District Law Field.

Another one, West District.

Three Main Cannon volleys were fired, and all were blocked.

"Energy consumption... East District cumulative 21%, North District 19%, West District 23%!"

Wen Youyi stared at the sky, his fingers clenching.

The three Law Fields held through the first round.

But those were the enemy's strongest Main Cannons. Next, they would change tactics.

Sure enough, the dark-gold tide split apart.

Some warships began to disperse to the sides, attempting to bypass the Law Field's coverage. Others lowered their altitude, entering low airspace to prepare for deploying Landing Troops.

"They want to break through from the ground!" Luo Chen shouted. "Yao Race Hunter Team, get ready! Forest, get ready!"

Mountain Roar Lord's voice rang out in the communication channel: "I've been waiting!"

In the low sky, dark-gold Landing Ships broke through the clouds and dove toward the ground. Hatches opened, and countless black figures were ejected—these were Celestial Soldiers, the Infantry of the Creation Heavenly Court clad in golden armor.

The first batch of Celestial Soldiers landed in a silver-blue forest.

As soon as they regained their footing, the soil beneath them moved.

Tickle-2 vines burst from the ground like countless flexible snakes, coiling around their ankles. The Celestial Soldiers looked down, and before they could react, the vines were already climbing up.

"What the hell is this?!"

"Cut it off!"

Blade light flashed, and several vines were severed. But more vines surged from all directions, submerging them like a tide.

A Celestial Soldier struggled desperately when he suddenly smelled a strange scent—Dizzy-3 Hallucinogenic Spores were drifting down from the launchers overhead.

His eyes began to glaze over, and he could no longer hold his blade.

"I... why am I... here?"

A second later, a Rumble-7 Clay Pot landed at his feet.

BOOM—!!!

In the forest, the battle had just begun.

In the headquarters, Wen Youyi stared at the dense enemy-friend situation on the screen, his mind racing.

Of the 120 enemy ships, about 40 had already entered the atmosphere. The remaining 80 were still in orbit, ready to provide support at any time.

The Law Field's energy reserves remained at... East District 67%, North District 71%, West District 63%.

"Have the Yao Race Hunter Team strike, specifically to harass those low-altitude warships. Don't let them deploy their Landing Troops smoothly!" he ordered.

"Senior Blood Fiend, Senior Sword Maniac, the High-Threat Handling Team you're leading can begin operations. Targets: enemy units at the Squad Leader level and above."

"Understood!" Blood Fiend Old Demon's voice carried irrepressible excitement. "I've waited seven hundred years; finally, I can have a satisfying battle!"

In the communication channel, Sword Maniac replied with only one word: "Sword."

Then, a soaring Sword Light appeared on the battlefield.

The Sword Light was so sharp it was almost impossible to look at directly. It pierced from the ground straight to the sky, slashing into the flank of a warship hovering at low altitude. The warship vibrated violently, a massive gash splitting open on its hull as dark-gold energy surged out from the rift.

Sword Maniac landed, blood dripping from the tip of his sword—no, it was dark-gold energy fluid.

"The first one," he said.

In the distance, Blood Fiend Old Demon also moved. His Blood Path Cultivation Technique was like a fish in water on the battlefield—the enemy's blood was his weapon. Clouds of blood mist exploded around him, and every Celestial Soldier enveloped in the mist seemed to have their strength drained, collapsing to the ground.

"Satisfying! Satisfying! Hahahaha!"

The two old monsters, like two sharp knives, plunged fiercely into the enemy formation.

But the enemy's numbers were too great.

If all 120 warships deployed their Landing Troops, there would be at least 50,000 Celestial Soldiers. All the combat-capable people in New Homeland combined amounted to no more than 20,000.

Wen Youyi stared at the data on the screen, his brow furrowed.

"Is the Seed Crystal ready?" he asked Senior Brother Zhang.

"Ready! But it needs Little Girl to activate it! And... it can only be activated once!"

"Then wait. Wait for the Flanking Fleet to appear, and wait for the enemy to think they have victory in their grasp before we deliver the fatal blow."

He paused and looked out the window at the burning sky:

"For now, just hold on."

In the forest, the battle continued.

The Celestial Soldiers finally realized that something was wrong with this forest.

The trees could move.

Not just moving with the wind, but moving actively and consciously. Thick branches would suddenly whip down, knocking back the pursuing Celestial Soldiers. Dense roots would suddenly arch up from the soil, tripping the charging troops. Some trees even grew strange orbs of light; when the orbs exploded, they released a large amount of Hallucinogenic Spores.

"What the hell is this place?!"

"The plants have become spirits!"

A Celestial Soldier shouted in panic, only to be slapped on his helmet by the Squad Leader beside him. "Shut up! Keep moving! The mission is to destroy that child who can communicate with the forest!"

Little Girl.

They knew about Little Girl.

Wen Youyi's heart sank.

"Yun Zhi! Where is Little Girl?!"

"Beside me, in the Safe House!" Yun Zhi's voice came through. "Don't worry, I'm guarding her."

As soon as she finished speaking, a burst of violent static came from the communication channel.

"The Flanking Fleet has appeared!" Aila's voice was sharp. "0.3 light-minutes from the back of New Homeland! Thirty ships! All of them are 'Heavenly Thorn' class!"

Wen Youyi grit his teeth.

They're here.

The true Decapitation Squad.

(End of Chapter)