101: Three months

The dark red torrent of destruction that was the Empire fleet ignored all defensive fortifications in the Blood Blade Star Domain.

It passed directly through this Star Domain, which had once been considered the Federation's hardest shield.

A strange silence descended... it didn't come from the vacuum, but from the hearts of all Federation Soldiers... In the underground command room, Marshal Luo Mie closed the external observation screen, leaving only the internal encrypted communication channel where desperate inquiries and furious roars from other Star Domains kept refreshing... He slowly sat back in his command chair, his knuckles white from clenching, and said hoarsely to the adjutant beside him:

"Reply to all inquiries, execute 'Final Bulwark,' stand by, and those who disobey will be court-martialed."

Federation military internal network, non-public level, anonymous communication area for sergeants and above.

Information exploded like a volcanic eruption—!!!

Blood Blade - Seventh Patrol Fleet - Li Rui: "They went past! They just went past! My cannon barrels are practically sweating! What the hell is the higher-up doing?! Are we just going to watch while 9.9 billion brothers on Blood Blade Star look on?!"

Kunlun - Third Imperial Guard Legion - Wang Sheng: "The order we received is to intensify martial law on the Capital Star, and the celebration continues as normal?! The enemy is practically at our doorstep! And we're still celebrating?! Leader... could it be...?"

Zhiyuan - Star Domain Defense Department - Zhao Ming: "Bullshit! Nothing could have happened to the Leader! But this order...? Marshal Luo Mie is not a coward! There must be a reason we don't know about!"

Shattered Ring - Outpost Base - Sun Miao: "Reason? What reason allows the enemy to drive straight in as if entering an uninhabited land?! My base just had a third of its defense platform wiped out by a casual shot from an Empire patrol ship! They didn't even bother confirming the result! This is humiliating us!"

Liaoyuan Star System - Garrison Fleet - Qian Kun: "Requesting to sortie! I'd rather ram my assault ship into the Empire flagship and die than stay here acting like a scared turtle!"

...Highest Military Command Order, red and bold, looping: "All combat units, strictly execute the 'Silent Defense' contingency plan, preserve strength, and must not initiate attack! Disobedience will be treated as treason! Repeat, do not initiate attack!!!"

...First month of the Empire invasion, the Empire fleet crossed one Federation Star Domain after another with astonishing efficiency.

Like a hot knife cutting through butter, they met almost no decent resistance.

Occasionally, some local Garrison Fleets who refused to believe tried to intercept them, but they were usually crushed like flies by the Empire vanguard fleet within a minute, failing to even create a decent spark.

Empire military internal network, soldier communication area, filled with cheerful chatter... Empire - Third Assault Fleet - Buck: "Hahaha! The Federation wimps don't even dare to lift their skirts! This isn't war, it's an armed parade! I just casually blew up something that looked like a farm satellite, and there wasn't even a decent counterattack!"

Empire - Seventh Battleship Cluster - Hark: "I heard some idiots in the 'Black Stone' Star Domain ahead tried to resist, but they were swept by our 'Melt-Core Beam' and nothing was left. How boring, I wanted to capture a few hundred Federation female officers to play with."

Empire - abyssal roar Flagship - Imperial Guard - Karl: "Your Majesty is wise! Dean Aolong's schemes are flawless! The Federation is finished! Once we take Kunlun Star, I'm going to grab a hundred thousand of the prettiest Federation women and stuff all their men into the furnace as fuel!"

Empire - Second Bio-Ship Squadron - Grills: "Heh heh, I prefer scattering viruses on their colony planets and watching them rot away one by one... Those wails are sweeter than any music."

...Meanwhile, the Federation internal network had become an ocean of suppressed grief and indignation.

Morning Star Domain - Defense Command - Liu An: "One month! They crossed seven of our major Star Domains in just one month! Our defenses are useless! Our brothers are going crazy from being suppressed! Every day we watch the Empire warships swaggering above our heads!"

Green Source Star - Militia Command - Zhang Wei: "Just now, an Empire transport ship passed by and dumped a pile of trash onto our planet... They are mocking us! Do we not even have the power to protect our own homes?!"

Federation Military Academy - Student - Lin Feng: "The seniors are all asking, what is the meaning of the tactics and combat methods we studied? When the high command does nothing, what can we do besides wait for death?"

Anonymous Sergeant: "I heard... some wealthy merchants on the border planets have secretly started contacting the Empire, wanting to become collaborators... If this continues, we won't need the Empire to attack, we'll collapse from the inside first!"

...Second month of the Empire invasion... Empire flagship "abyssal roar," Command Hall.

Empress Aisara leaned against her throne, elegantly swirling a glass of liquid that seemed to be made of molten ruby.

Below, the Empire generals clinked glasses, the atmosphere as lively as a celebration.

"Your Majesty," a burly Stellar Level Grand General, wreathed in lightning, bowed and said, "The Federation is like a candle in the wind. Our military edge points directly at its heart, and along the way, no one dared to challenge us! Such glorious military achievements are unparalleled throughout history! The 'Annals of Aisara' is certain to shine for ten thousand generations!"

Another general with a sinister countenance interjected, his tone full of flattery: "In the face of Your Majesty's Divine Might, the Federation is nothing but mud chickens and pottery dogs! In my opinion, the Federation is probably hiding on Kunlun Star, trembling and begging Your Majesty to grant them a quick end!"

Empress Aisara's lips curled slightly, and her dark gold eyes reflected an indifference that controlled everything, along with a trace of imperceptible... boredom?

It was too smooth, so smooth that she felt a little... tedious... She gently swirled the wine glass, watching the blood-like viscous liquid cling to the sides, her voice carrying a hint of lazy majesty:

"Minister Aolong, it seems your 'Ten Victories and Ten Defeats' theory was too conservative. The Federation is even more vulnerable than imagined."

Aolong bowed slightly, a confident smile on his face: "This is due to Your Majesty's unparalleled Divine Might and the flourishing fate of the Empire. The Federation is shallow in foundation; having lost Yun Xi, they are like maggots without bones, with only death awaiting them."

The Empress nodded slightly, her gaze falling upon the star marked "Kunlun" deep within the star map. A sense of lonely isolation at the top, mixed with the extreme exhilaration of achieving her long-held wish, intertwined in her heart.

"Pass down my decree," her voice was cold and clear, "After reaching the outskirts of Kunlun Star, there is no need to rush the attack. I want to see clearly... how long this fortress, hailed as the Federation's unyielding stronghold, can last... in despair."

On the Federation internal network, the atmosphere had shifted from grief and indignation to a despair that was nearly numb!

Only a very few held an increasingly intense and inappropriate... expectation in their hearts.

Rageflame Star System - Garrison Commander - Lei Dong: "It's been two whole months! We've been watching like idiots as the Empire rampages through our territory! What exactly are the higher-ups waiting for?! Waiting for the Empire people to put knives to all our necks?!"

Zhiyuan Star - Veteran's Club - Anonymous: "I participated in countless wars against the Empire... Back then, though we struggled, we were never this... stifled! Leader... where exactly are you?"

Federation Academy of Sciences - Junior Researcher - Anonymous: "I secretly analyzed the residual spatial data after the Empire fleet's jump... It's strange, although their energy readings are massive, the structure... doesn't seem as flawless as it appears on the surface. There is a lot of redundancy and... exploitable weaknesses. Why is no one acting?"

Kunlun Star - Retired Veteran - Anonymous: "The celebration is still going on... The streets are decorated with lanterns and colored banners, as if the war outside doesn't exist. Is this numbness, or... is there a hidden card we don't know about?"

...Third month of the Empire invasion... The Empire fleet finally arrived at the outskirts of the Qiming Star System, where Kunlun Star is located!

The massive fleet, like locusts covering the sky, blocked most of the star's light... The dark red hulls reflected the light of the Qiming Star, as if draping this young star in a layer of bloody crimson.

The main observation window of the "abyssal roar" flagship slowly opened, and the figure of Empress Aisara appeared before it, looking down at the distant azure planet, Kunlun Star, which was set like a gem on black velvet.

Three months!

Only three months!!!

To bring the army to the Qiming Star System, where the Federation capital is located!

The Empire army once needed decades, or even centuries, just to break through a single Star Domain!

An unprecedented sense of conquest, like the finest aged liquor, surged into Aisara's heart!

She felt as if she could already see the Empire flag planted across Kunlun Star... and indeed, every corner of the Federation!

The flame of Federation civilization was being completely extinguished beneath her feet!

She could even imagine the Federation citizens who once looked up to Yun Xi now looking up at her, the Empress of Destruction from the Empire, with eyes full of terror and despair.

"Pass down My decree," the Empress's voice carried a slight, almost imperceptible tremor born of excitement, yet it only enhanced her majesty, "The entire army shall deploy the Final Battle Formation on the outskirts of the Qiming Star System!"

"Dispatch all 'Observer' probes. I want to clearly see the fear on every inch of Kunlun Star's land!"

"Notify the accompanying 'Recorder' officers to prepare to inscribe the 'Annals of Aisara'—Chapter of Conquest!"

The order was given, and the Empire fleet, like Birds of Destruction spreading their wings, slowly began to deploy their formation targeting Kunlun Star.

Countless small probes, like a swarm of bees leaving the hive, roared toward the interior of the Qiming Star System.

The Empire military network completely boiled over... Empire - First Marine Division - Brad: "We're finally here! Brothers, prepare your knives and stimulants! The wealth and women on Kunlun Star belong to whoever grabs them!"

Empire - Fifth Engineer Corps - Gor: "I can't wait to blow up Kunlun Star's landmark buildings one by one! Especially that 'Pillar of Leaders'; we must use its wreckage to forge a new throne for Your Majesty!"

Empire - Accompanying Psychological Warfare Unit - Evelyn: "Begin broadcasting surrender announcements to Kunlun Star, attached with 'highlights' of the Empire conquering other civilizations. I want fear! Destroy their will before they even collapse!"

...Meanwhile, inside Kunlun Star, the "Hundred Thousand Year Celebration," which had lasted for three whole months and seemed utterly absurd to the outside world, continued in a joyous atmosphere... On the streets, holographic fireworks were still brilliant, and celebratory music still echoed.

The people walking on the streets were still fervent and joyful.

Occasionally, in the eyes of a very few retired veterans, one could see a deep sense of confusion, and a hint of... fragile calm.

Federation military internal network, communication became more urgent... Qiming - First Defense Line - "Guardian" Space Station - Zhou Ke: "Empire vanguard probes detected! Only 0.5 light-years left until our minimum defense perimeter! All units, final check of weapon Systems! Although the order is silence... I'm giving fair warning: if the Empire takes one more step forward, I will tear a piece of flesh off them, even if it means facing a military tribunal!"

Kunlun Star - Low-Earth Orbit Defense Platform - "Aegis" Command: "Energy shields running at full power! Ground anti-air matrix activated! All personnel to highest combat readiness posts! Remember, behind us is home!"

...Just at this moment!

On the Federation army internal network, an unscreened signal from an unknown source instantly spread across all networks:

"...Ask not for whom the bell tolls... it tolls for thee and me... The Federation... shall never be enslaved!!!"

This signal was like a spark dropped into boiling oil, instantly igniting the flame that had been suppressed in the hearts of all Federation Soldiers for three months!

Countless combat units and countless encrypted channels simultaneously erupted with similar cries, filled with tragic heroism and final madness:

"The Federation! Shall never be enslaved!!!"

"Fight those Empire brats to the death!!!"

"Avenge the Leader!!!"

"For our home!!!"

...Chaos! On the verge of eruption!!!!

However, just as the storm was gathering, the Empire fleet was about to complete its final deployment, and the suppressed volcano within the Federation was about to erupt uncontrollably—

A calm, gentle female voice, yet one that seemed to hold the weight of the entire Sagittarius Arm... like melting snow in early spring, silently and clearly, it caressed the depths of the Soul of every Federation Soldier, every Federation citizen, and even... every Empire soldier who had invaded the Qiming Star System... "Everyone, I apologize for the wait..."

There was no majestic Aura, no soaring killing intent.

Only five words.

Like a host offering the most ordinary greeting... to uninvited guests who had broken into her garden?

However, the moment that voice rang out—

On the Empire flagship "abyssal roar," the beautiful smile of Empress Aisara, full of smug satisfaction and disdain for the Star Sea, instantly froze!!!

The liquor in Dean Aolong's hand, which always seemed to represent perfect foresight, violently sloshed out, wetting his archaic scholar's robe!!!

All the arrogant discussions of the Empire soldiers came to an abrupt halt!!!

...And on the Federation side, all unwillingness, anger, despair, and fear... the moment this voice sounded, they melted away like ice and snow meeting the sun, transforming into an incredible... ecstasy and... unparalleled shock!!!

The power contained within that voice, which seemed to resonate with the Origin of the entire Universe and transcended the level of their understanding, made them realize instantly—

The dawn they had waited for... they had hoped for... the dawn they had earned by suppressing themselves for three months!

Had finally... arrived!!!!!