80: Hope endures on the new journey

The assault craft piloted by Sun Zheng was completely engulfed by the energy turbulence generated by the explosion of the Super-giant Mothership's core. On the bridge of the "hope," Colonel Falcon and all the crew members' hearts sank to the bottom; despair shrouded everyone.

At this moment of utter despair, a sudden change occurred!

In the center of the violent energy turbulence, a faint blue light tenaciously lit up and then rapidly expanded! A protective cocoon composed of pure Order Energy enveloped Sun Zheng and the glimmer keystone on his chest, struggling to break free from the chaotic void!

It was the keystone! At the final moment, the keystone sensed its host was near death and unleashed its full potential to form the strongest order barrier, saving Sun Zheng's life!

"Commander! A life signal! The Commander is alive!" the Sensor Officer shouted in ecstasy!

"Rescue craft! Depart immediately!" Colonel Falcon almost roared the command from his throat.

A rescue craft quickly approached, picking up the unconscious but stable Sun Zheng, whose energy was depleted, and bringing him back to the "hope."

Meanwhile, a decisive change took place on the battlefield.

The destruction of the Super-giant Mothership's core not only sent it into a series of chain explosions and paralysis but also severely disrupted the "doomsday passage" maintained by the jupiter main beacon. Space became extremely unstable, and the subsequent Scrin Fleet attempting to pass through the beacon was hit by intense spatial turbulence, suffering heavy losses. The Scrin offensive came to a halt!

The Mars Base "Hope Fortress" seized this precious breathing room! Colonel A001 commanded the defenders to launch a desperate counterattack. Combined with the remaining defensive platforms in orbit and the full support of the "hope," they miraculously withstood the frenzied counter-offensive of the Scrin main fleet!

The battle entered a brutal war of attrition. But without the mothership's coordination and stable troop deployment, although the Scrin Fleet remained powerful, it lost its unstoppable momentum. The scales of victory began to tip slightly toward the human side!

A few hours later, Sun Zheng woke up in the medical bay of the "hope." The first news he heard was: "Commander! The Scrin Fleet... has begun to retreat!"

He struggled to the bridge and looked through the viewport. He saw the remaining scrin capital ships turning one after another, heading toward the spatial beacon in the direction of Jupiter, clearly intending to withdraw to their stable rear. Only a messy battlefield and countless burning wrecks were left in Mars' orbit.

The Battle of Mars... was won!

It was a Pyrrhic victory. "Hope Fortress" was severely damaged, the defenders suffered massive casualties, and the orbital defense system was almost entirely destroyed. But they held! Humanity had driven the firmest nail into the inner Solar System!

"Commander!" Colonel Falcon saluted excitedly, "Welcome back!"

Sun Zheng nodded. His gaze swept over the exhausted but determined crew members, then he looked out at the red planet that still stood tall despite the fires of war, his heart filled with a mix of emotions.

Just then, an intermittent emergency transmission from deep space connected to the "hope" channel. It was the "wind chaser" reconnaissance ship!

"Comman...der... this is... the wind chaser... we... found it! Repeat... we have found the Oort Cloud order beacon!"

In the communication screen, Captain Renault's figure was blurry and the signal was extremely poor, but his voice was full of uncontrollable excitement!

"The beacon... is intact! Energy... stable! We have successfully... established a preliminary connection! The Guardian's... legacy... is right before our eyes!"

"That's great!" A smile of relief finally appeared on Sun Zheng's pale face. This was the most dazzling ray of dawn in the darkness!

The discovery of the Oort Cloud order beacon meant that humanity had finally found the true hope and source of power to fight the Reapers!

"wind chaser, maintain the connection and stand by! We will rendezvous with you as soon as possible!" Sun Zheng replied.

After cutting the communication, Sun Zheng stood at the front of the bridge, gazing at the boundless starry sky. The Battle of Mars had temporarily ended, but the true journey had only just begun. Ahead lay the more distant and dangerous Oort Cloud, along with the Reaper main force lurking in the depths of space and that terrifying void whisper.

But he was no longer lost, nor was he afraid.

Behind him was the reborn Mars Base and his awakening fellow humans on Earth.

In his hand was the increasingly powerful glimmer keystone and the order beacon guiding the way forward.

In his heart was the unquenchable fire of hope, forged by the lives of countless victims.

"Falcon."

"Present, Commander!"

"order the entire army to rest and resupply, and mourn the fallen heroes. Then..." Sun Zheng's voice was steady and powerful, echoing on the bridge, "We will set out for the Oort Cloud!"

"Yes, sir!"

The "hope" adjusted its posture, bathed in the light of the star, like a knight who had gone through a baptism of blood and fire, temporarily sheathing his sword to recover his strength, preparing to rush to the next even more vast battlefield.