154: Chapter 154 Starfield Aid, Borrowing 3,000 Troops

Chaos Valley, third line of defense.

Seven seconds after Lin Ye consumed the last vial of Chaos Source Liquid, his communication terminal received a signal from the Eternal Star Domain with the highest priority.

It wasn't text.

It was voice.

Carl's voice.

His voice was 0.3 times faster than usual—the specific speaking rate of the Seventh Fleet commander when initiating an "Emergency Decision Protocol."

"Your Excellency, Night Emperor."

"How many are there on your side right now?"

Lin Ye didn't ask "How do you know?"

The Eternal Star Domain had deployed at least seventeen layers of deep-space early warning networks around the Big Dipper Star Field. From the very first second the Yao Beast tide began to assemble, the strategic analysis center of Star Ring City should have already generated a complete threat assessment report.

"Thirty thousand," Lin Ye said.

"They are moving toward Chaos Valley."

"The defensive line can hold for another 17 minutes."

———

There was silence on the other end of the line for 1.7 seconds.

That was the time it took for Carl to perform seven sets of parallel calculations.

First set: A simulation of the current combat strength of the Heavenly Court against thirty thousand-plus Yao Beasts, outputting a win rate—0.3%.

Second set: Assessment of the chain reaction of Chaos Valley falling on the Eternal Star Domain's outpost plan—permanent loss of a strategic node, estimated cost approximately 27 million credits.

Third set: List of rapid-response forces that the Seventh Fleet can mobilize around the Big Dipper Star Field—3 light cruisers, 1 supply ship, 0 ground combat mechas.

Fourth set: Shortest voyage for mobilizing ground troops from the Eternal Star Domain to the Big Dipper Star Field—17 hours.

Fifth set: Expected state of Chaos Valley after 17 hours—99.7% probability of having fallen.

Sixth set: Number of active seats among the 137 seats of the Eternal Star Domain Parliament that can complete an emergency communication link within 3 minutes—41 seats.

Seventh set: Number of seats willing to mobilize strategic reserve forces for an "emerging Human Race power"—

0 seats.

———

"I do not have authorization to mobilize active-duty troops," Carl said.

His voice still lacked emotion.

But he emphasized the word "I" for 0.1 seconds longer than usual.

"Article 37, Section 4 of the Seventh Fleet's Operational Regulations: It is forbidden to dispatch established ground combat units to external Star Domains without parliamentary authorization."

He paused.

"But I can lend you some 'off-the-books' items."

———

[System Notification: Commander "Carl Reynolds" of the Eternal Star Domain's Seventh Research Fleet has initiated an emergency strategic resource allocation proposal to you.]

[Proposal Name: Reinforcement Dispatch · Temporary Armed Mutual Defense]

[Allocator: Eternal Star Domain · Seventh Research Fleet]

[Recipient: Heavenly Court]

[Allocation Content:]

[1. Decommissioned and Sealed "guardian type iii" tactical mecha × 3,000 units]

[2. Matching energy cores (fully charged) × 3,000 sets]

[3. Standard weapon modules (particle rifle/missile nest/high-frequency blade) × 3,000 sets]

[4. Frontline maintenance units × 30 groups]

[5. Embedded engineers (AI-assisted) × 30 personnel]

[Allocation Nature: Temporary Lease]

[Lease Term: 72 hours (calculated from the time of arrival at the battlefield)]

[Lease Fee: 0]

[Additional Conditions:]

[1. The recipient must sign the "Eternal Star Domain Mineral Resource Priority Supply Agreement (Ten-Year Term)"]

[2. During the validity of the agreement, the Heavenly Court faction and its affiliated institutions must prioritize supplying the following resources to the Eternal Star Domain's Seventh Fleet at "strategic cooperation prices":]

[— Star Essence Gold: Annual supply ≥ 500 kg]

[— void mithril: Annual supply ≥ 200 kg]

[— sun god iron: Annual supply ≥ 1,000 kg]

[— taiyin profound jade: Annual supply ≥ 150 kg]

[— Chaos Stone: Annual supply ≥ 50 pieces]

[— Other Saint-Grade/Legendary-Grade minerals, the Eternal Star Domain enjoys the right of first negotiation under equal conditions]

[3. During the validity of this agreement, the Eternal Star Domain's Seventh Fleet enjoys "permanent neutral right of passage" within the Heavenly Court's sphere of influence]

[4. Validity of this agreement: 10 years from the date of signing (game time)]

[5. Breach of contract terms: If the Heavenly Court fails to meet the minimum annual supply, the difference must be compensated in cash at 150% of the market price]

[Total valuation of the agreement: Approximately 47 million - 72 million credits (ten years)]

[Current Status: Pending Signature]

[Validity Period: 7 minutes (the allocation application will automatically expire afterward)]

———

Lin Ye looked at that line, "47 million - 72 million credits."

That was the price of the third star token, exchanged at the cost of 30% of Chaos Valley's Spiritual Qi revenue for five years—3 times that.

That was the mortgage valuation of the complete set of Star Glory Type I blueprints—60 times that.

That was the sum of all the Heavenly Court's fiscal revenue over the past five months—17 times that.

That was the lower limit of the total resources that the Heavenly Court must export to the Eternal Star Domain over the next ten years after he signed his name.

Not "can."

But "must."

500 kg of Star Essence Gold.

200 kg of void mithril.

1,000 kg of sun god iron.

150 kg of taiyin profound jade.

50 pieces of Chaos Stone.

Every year.

For ten years.

———

Lin Ye did not speak.

Behind him, on the third line of defense of Chaos Valley, 219 remaining members were racing against time.

Yun Qianxue stood 3 meters behind him, the bandage on her severed arm starting to seep blood again.

Zhou Tieshan knelt in the center of the defensive line gap, his right knee pressing against the back of his shield, his left hand pressing against the edge of the shield, waiting for the next wave of charge from the 30,000 Yao Beasts 4.7 kilometers away.

Shi Potian had already walked 370 meters to the east; his back was becoming increasingly blurred in the dust, his left fist hanging by his side, leaving footprints 2 cm deep in the ground with every step.

Chu Yunxi pulled back her bowstring on the top of the West Tower, the arrow tip pointed toward the horizon.

Chen Hao was in the cockpit of the chaos unit no. 1, his neural connection synchronization rate stable at 97%, particle rifle capacitor at 94%, shoulder missile nest—empty.

Lu Xinghe knelt on the ground, listening to the extremely faint friction sound of the star compass, which had split into seventeen pieces and been glued back together, as the needle swept across the dial.

Yun Qianxue stood at the entrance of the temporary medical cabin, the almost invisible green fluorescent light shining in her right palm.

———

He had 6 minutes left.

———

Carl's voice sounded again in the communication terminal.

Not urging.

But... explaining.

"Your Excellency, Night Emperor."

"The three thousand guardian type iii units are inventory slated for scrapping in the Seventh Fleet's three-year plan."

"Their average service age is 17 years, the energy core decay rate is 31% on average, and 43% of the armor coating is already obsolete."

"Placed in the Eternal Star Domain, these old antiques can only be dismantled and recycled."

He paused.

"But placed in the Big Dipper Star Field, in front of thirty thousand-plus Rank 55-62 Yao Beasts—"

"They are the only reinforcements that can help you hold Chaos Valley."

———

Lin Ye spoke.

Not asking "the specific parameters of the guardian type iii."

Not asking "how many transport ships are needed for three thousand mechas, and how long will it take to arrive."

Not any question related to the negotiations.

What he asked was:

"Of those 137 seats in the Parliament, no one is willing to mobilize strategic reserve forces for an emerging Human Race power."

"These 'off-the-books' items you are mobilizing—"

"What is the price?"

———

There was silence on the other end for 3.7 seconds.

That was the longest silence in the life of Carl Reynolds—commander of the Seventh Fleet, military advisor to the Eternal Star Domain Parliament, and posthumous child of the deputy commander of the 73rd Expeditionary Force 47 years ago.

"...My father," he began.

His voice sounded twenty years older than usual.

"He died at the first barrier of the Ancient Road."

"11 kilometers from the teleportation array."

"The body was not found."

"Only the identification tag was brought back by the Reception Station's recycling robot."

He paused.

"The Seventh Fleet's emblem was engraved on the tag."

"But that recycling robot, serial number III-7."

"—It is the same reception robot you saw at the Reception Station."

———

Lin Ye did not speak.

Carl continued.

"In III-7's core memory, there is a voice recording of my father in the last 11 minutes of his life."

"It is not a last will."

"It is a strategic proposal that was never adopted."

"The title is: 'Feasibility Assessment on Establishing an Eternal Star Domain Outpost within the Yan State of the Big Dipper Star Field'."

"He argued for 11 minutes."

"Argued for the importance of that location."

"Argued for the strategic value of the outpost for the Ancient Road strategy."

"Argued that—investing in an emerging Human Race power is the only opportunity for the Eternal Star Domain to break through the Ancient Road Bottleneck."

His voice became lighter and lighter.

"Of the 137 seats in the Parliament, not a single person adopted it."

"47 years later."

"You signed the outpost co-construction agreement at the Reception Station."

"300 square meters."

"99-year usage rights."

"7:3 split."

He paused.

"III-7 sent me a message that night."

"Not text."

"It was a half-sentence that my father had said and swallowed back while arguing for his proposal—recorded 47 years ago, and never heard by anyone."

———

Carl did not say what that half-sentence was.

Lin Ye did not ask either.

———

[Remaining validity of the agreement: 4 minutes]

———

Lin Ye looked at the countdown.

Behind him, 219 remaining members were reinforcing the line.

In front of him, 30,000 Yao Beasts were regrouping at 4.2 kilometers.

In his hand, the empty Chaos Source Liquid tube still retained the 37°C body temperature from his palm.

He spoke.

"Agreement text."

"Article 7, Section 3."

"'Other Saint-Grade/Legendary-Grade minerals, the Eternal Star Domain enjoys the right of first negotiation under equal conditions'."

"Change 'right of first negotiation' to 'right of first refusal'."

"Prices will follow the market, not locked."

———

The sound of keyboard typing on the other end lasted for 2.3 seconds.

[Agreement text modified]

[Article 7, Section 3: Other Saint-Grade/Legendary-Grade minerals, the Eternal Star Domain enjoys the right of first refusal under equal conditions.]

[Current Status: Awaiting confirmation from both parties]

———

"Article 11."

"Breach of contract terms."

"Difference compensated in cash at 150% of market price—change to 130%."

———

2.1 seconds.

[Agreement text modified]

[Breach of contract compensation coefficient: 150% → 130%]

———

"Article 2."

"'Annual supply' definition."

"Capped at the Heavenly Court's actual production capacity, no forced over-extraction."

———

1.7 seconds.

[Agreement text modified]

[Annual supply: Capped at the actual production capacity of Party B (Heavenly Court), Party B has no obligation to over-extract mineral resources to fulfill this agreement.]

———

[Remaining validity of the agreement: 2 minutes]

———

Lin Ye looked at the agreement.

500 kg of Star Essence Gold.

200 kg of void mithril.

1,000 kg of sun god iron.

150 kg of taiyin profound jade.

50 pieces of Chaos Stone.

Every year.

For ten years.

Capped at the Heavenly Court's actual production capacity.

No forced over-extraction.

———

He signed his name.

[Night Emperor]

[Heavenly Court · Leader]

———

[System Notification: You have signed the "Eternal Star Domain Mineral Resource Priority Supply Agreement (Ten-Year Term)"]

[Agreement Effective Time: Immediately]

[Agreement Validity: era calendar 1972 - 1982 (Game Time)]

[Party A: Eternal Star Domain · Seventh Research Fleet]

[Party B: Heavenly Court]

[Bound Faction Assets: Heavenly Court's mineral resource export quota for the next ten years 47% - 62% (estimated)]

[Currently Locked Production Capacity:]

[Star Essence Gold: 0 / 5,000 kg (ten-year total)]

[void mithril: 0 / 2,000 kg]

[sun god iron: 0 / 10,000 kg]

[taiyin profound jade: 0 / 1,500 kg]

[Chaos Stone: 0 / 500 pieces]

[First-year delivery deadline: Day 317, era calendar 1973]

[Current remaining time: 362 days]

———

In the communication terminal, Carl's voice returned to its normal rhythm.

"Agreement confirmed."

"Seventh Fleet storage warehouse · guardian type iii mecha group — activation sequence initiated."

"Estimated loading time: 11 minutes."

"Estimated jump departure time: 17 minutes."

"Estimated arrival time at Big Dipper Star Field · Yan State · Chaos Valley: 47 minutes."

"3,000 mechas."

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

"30 frontline maintenance units."

"30 AI-assisted engineers."

He paused.

"Your Excellency Night Emperor."

"47 minutes."

"Hold the line."

———

The communication was disconnected.

———

Lin Ye turned around.

He looked at the 219 remaining members behind him.

Looking at Yun Que.

Looking at Zhou Tieshan.

Looking at Chu Yunxi on the West Tower.

Looking at Chen Hao in the cockpit of chaos unit no. 1, with a synchronization rate of 97%.

Looking at that increasingly blurry figure on the eastern horizon.

Looking at Lu Xinghe, who was kneeling on the ground with his eyes closed, listening to the friction of the star compass's needle.

Looking at Yun Qianxue, standing at the door of the medical pod, the green fluorescence in her right palm having weakened by another 0.3%.

He said:

"47 minutes."

"Reinforcements from the Eternal Star Domain will arrive."

"3,000 mecha."

———

No one cheered.

No one asked "what model are the 3,000 mecha, what Rank are they, and who are the pilots".

No one said "47 minutes, we can hold out".

219 people, 219 pairs of eyes, just looked at Lin Ye.

Waiting.

———

Lin Ye gripped his sword tightly.

He turned.

Facing north.

4.2 kilometers away, the dust kicked up by the first collective movement of 30,000 Yao Beasts had already obscured half the sky.

He took the first step.

———

【guardian type iii · Tactical Mecha】

【Type: Ground Combat Mecha / Decommissioned and Sealed Type】

【Rank: 50-55 (Depending on specific unit condition)】

【Manufacturer: Eternal Star Domain · General Dynamics】

【Years of Service: era calendar 1925-1955】

【Years in Storage: era calendar 1955-1972】

【Number of Units Unsealed this Time: 3,000】

【Standard Specifications:】

【Height: 8.7 meters】

【Weight: 14.3 tons】

【Power Core: Nebula Type II Energy Core (Decay rate 31%-47%)】

【Core Power: 2,100 kW (New) → 1,200-1,400 kW (Current)】

【Endurance: Standard Combat 2.7 hours (New) → 1.7-2.1 hours (Current)】

【Attack Power: 5,700-7,200 (New) → 4,100-5,300 (Current)】

【Defense: 8,900-10,400 (New) → 6,200-7,700 (Current)】

【Standard Weapon Configuration:】

【1. Particle Rifle · Universal Type — Attack +3,200-4,100, Range 900m】

【2. High-Frequency Vibration Blade ×1 — Attack +2,700-3,400, Armor Piercing +20%, Mounted on the outer right arm】

【3. Shoulder Missile Pods ×2 (Optional) — Currently not mounted, requires additional application】

【Armor System:】

【1. Starlight Alloy Type I Composite Armor (Old Version) — Physical damage reduction 37%, Energy damage reduction 24%】

【2. Energy Shield Generator (Decay rate 39%-58%) — Can withstand 6,000-9,000 points of damage】

【Control Method: AI-assisted / Remote Command / Preset Tactical Modules】

【Special Modifications for this Batch:】

【1. Emergency unlocking of the Council's seal (Personal authorization from Carl Reynolds)】

【2. Pre-loaded Big Dipper Star Field gravity environment adaptation program】

【3. Energy core forced overclocking permit (Limited to a single time, duration ≤ 47 minutes)】

【Current Status: Awakening sequence in progress】

【Estimated Time of Arrival on the Battlefield: 47 minutes later】

———

Minute 18.

The third defensive line of Chaos Valley.

4.0 kilometers to the north.

The Yao Beast swarms completed their final tactical reorganization.

2,000 Berserk Blood Wolf vanguards entered the charge starting line.

The first echelon of 1,000 Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses began to slowly accelerate.

The soldier ants of the Gold-Devouring Ant swarm spread out from both flanks, preparing to outflank.

———

Minute 21.

2.3 kilometers to the east.

Shi Potian made contact with 4,000 Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses.

No tactics.

No dialogue.

No testing the waters.

He just stood in the center of that wasteland flattened by the beast swarm, using his left fist—the one with forty-seven shattered bone fragments, necrotic muscles, carbonized skin, and which had withstood three strikes from a Rank 70 Ancestor Phantom without falling during the Ninth Trial of the Ancestor Star—

He smashed it right into the center of the skull of the first giant rhinoceros that rushed in front of him.

【Damage Dealt: 4,700 points】

【Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceros HP: 58,000 → 53,300】

The giant rhinoceros's charge was stopped head-on.

Under the effect of inertia, its front legs still slid forward for 3 meters, plowing two 20-centimeter-deep gullies at Shi Potian's feet.

It did not fall.

But it had stopped.

Shi Potian's left fist was embedded in the center of its skull and could not be pulled out.

He didn't try to pull it out.

He used his right fist—the one where the nerve connection was not yet stable, the nano-repair film had been torn off by him, and the newly grown pink skin was still unconsciously twitching—

He smashed it into the giant rhinoceros's left eye.

【Damage Dealt: 7,100 points (Weak point)】

The giant rhinoceros let out a screech loud enough to rupture the eardrums of an ordinary Cultivator.

It collapsed.

———

Minute 24.

West Tower.

Chu Yunxi shot her first arrow.

Target: The alpha wolf, 30% larger than its peers with dark golden fur, in the very center of the Berserk Blood Wolf vanguard array 3.7 kilometers to the north.

【Berserk Blood Wolf · Alpha】

【Rank: 57】

【HP: 47,000】

Arrow flight time: 1.7 seconds.

Hit.

The alpha wolf's left eye was pierced.

It tumbled three times during its charge, knocking down 7 of its peers behind it.

———

Minute 27.

The gap in the third defensive line.

Zhou Tieshan's shield caught the head-on collision of the first Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceros that rushed through the artillery blockade zone.

A claw mark 3 millimeters deep and 47 centimeters long appeared in the center of the shield.

His right knee slid back 11 centimeters.

He did not retreat.

———

Minute 31.

chaos unit no. 1.

Chen Hao's particle rifle fired 17 consecutive shots.

17 Berserk Blood Wolves fell 800 meters from the defensive line.

At the 18th shot, the barrel temperature alarm went off.

He did not stop.

The 19th shot.

The 20th shot.

The 21st shot—the barrel overheated, and automatic forced cooling kicked in.

He used these 7.3 seconds of cooling time to complete ballistic trajectory predictions for another group of giant rhinoceroses 47 meters to the right of the defensive line.

———

Minute 35.

Yun Qianxue rushed into the battlefield for the first time.

Not outside the defensive line.

Inside the defensive line.

Zhou Tieshan's left shoulder had been sliced open by a giant rhinoceros's tusk, leaving a wound 17 centimeters long and deep enough to see bone.

She rushed out from behind the shield and pressed her right hand onto his shoulder.

That wisp of green fluorescence burned in her palm for 4.7 seconds.

The wound stopped bleeding.

Zhou Tieshan's HP rose from 31% back to 39%.

She turned and ran back to the medical pod door.

———

Minute 39.

Lu Xinghe opened his eyes.

His star compass—the one that had cracked into seventeen pieces and been glued back together, with an optical path error of +17% and a spiritual power circuit at 0%—

The needle stopped at 7 degrees west of true north.

The dial reading: 4.1 kilometers.

That was the node where the Yao Beast swarm first showed a tactical adjustment.

That was where that unknown existence was, the one that could never be precisely located and was suspected to be a command unit.

He spoke.

His voice was hoarse.

"...4.1 kilometers."

"7 degrees west of true north."

"It's moving."

———

Minute 43.

Lin Ye's communication terminal vibrated again.

It wasn't Carl.

It was Zhao Wuji.

His voice came from the Reception Station across tens of thousands of light-years, compressed, decompressed, re-compressed, and re-decompressed through seventeen layers of relay nodes—

It was distorted to the point of being almost unrecognizable.

But Lin Ye heard every word he said clearly.

"Boss."

"3,000 mecha."

"The Warp Fleet—has departed."

"They'll arrive in 17 minutes."

He paused.

"Over on your side—"

"Can you still hold on?"

———

Lin Ye did not answer.

He hung up the communication.

His sword, at this moment, for the first time—was completely unsheathed.

———

Minute 47.

Above the third defensive line of Chaos Valley.

In the same instant, space was torn open into thirty-seven parallel circular rifts, five meters in diameter.

Those were not portals.

Those were the traces of the space curvature engines overloading when the Warp Fleet forcibly deployed ground forces at extreme range.

Thirty-seven pillars of light.

They descended simultaneously from the thirty-seven rifts.

After the light pillars dissipated, within a three-kilometer range to the north of Chaos Valley—

It was filled with mecha.

【guardian type iii · Tactical Mecha Group】

【Quantity: 3,000 units】

【Average Height: 8.7 meters】

【Average Weight: 14.3 tons】

【Average Rank: 52】

【Average Attack Power: 4,700】

【Average Defense: 6,900】

【Average Remaining Energy Core Endurance: 1.9 hours】

【Weapon System Status: All on standby】

【Pilot: None】

【Control Mode: AI-assisted / Remote Command / Preset Tactical Modules】

【Current Command: None】

———

3,000 mecha.

8.7 meters tall.

14.3 tons heavy.

Rank 52.

They stood there.

No breathing.

No heartbeat.

No morale.

No fear.

They did not have the concept of "unable to hold".

They just stood there.

Like 3,000 steel mountain ranges awakened from slumber, never to retreat.

———

In Lin Ye's communication terminal, Carl's voice rang out one last time.

"Your Excellency Night Emperor."

"3,000 mecha."

"47 minutes."

"The protocol is now in effect."

"They are yours now."

"In 72 hours, I will send people to retrieve them."

———

The communication was disconnected.

———

Lin Ye stood in the center of the third defensive line.

Behind him were the 219 remaining members—now only 203 were left.

Before him were 3,000 silver-gray steel giants, their old-style armor coating reflecting a dull luster in the dust.

He raised his sword.

Not pointing north.

But pointing at those 3,000 mecha.

"Heavenly Court," he said.

His voice was not loud, but above this battlefield filled with the screeching of Yao Beasts and the hum of mecha on standby, every word was as clear as if carved into metal.

"Form Ranks."

———

The sole magnetic anchors of the 3,000 mecha, in the same instant—

Adhered simultaneously.

BOOM—!!!

3,000 suction marks, 3 centimeters deep and 47 centimeters long, exploded simultaneously on the ground three kilometers north of Chaos Valley.

Dust flew everywhere.

Obscuring the sky and the sun.

———

【System Prompt: You have obtained temporary command authority】

【Command Unit: Seventh Research Fleet of the Eternal Starfield · guardian type iii mecha Group】

【Unit Quantity: 3,000 units】

【Current Command: Form Ranks】

【Formation generating...】

【Formation: Standard Defensive Line Formation】

【Coverage Width: 3.7 kilometers】

【Depth: 3 rows】

【First Row: Shield Guard Type (High Defense / Low Output)】

【Second Row: Firepower Type (Mid-range Suppression)】

【Third Row: Mobile Reserve Force】

【Formation generation complete】

【Instruction Execution Rate: 100%】

———

A 3.7-kilometer defensive line.

3 rows deep.

3,000 mecha.

Average Rank 52.

Average Defense 6,900.

Average Endurance 1.9 hours.

———

Lin Ye lowered his sword.

He did not look back.

He just looked at the 30,000 Yao Beasts on the northern horizon that—for the first time—had actively stopped before the 3,000-mecha battle line.

Looking at that sky obscured by dust.

Looking behind the dust, 4.1 kilometers away, 7 degrees west of true north—

At that moving unknown existence that could never be precisely located and was suspected to be a command unit.

He said softly:

"47 minutes."

"You waited for 47 minutes."

"Now—"

"Who is hunting whom."

———

In the distance.

Within the Yao Beast swarm.

That unknown existence hidden behind the beast tide, which had never revealed its full form under any Reconnaissance Techniques—

For the first time.

Took a step back.

———

【Chapter 154 · End】