99: Bloodstained Nebula and Light of Hope

Charging into the interior of the "Forbidden Nebula," the Expeditionary Fleet instantly fell into an unprecedented fierce battle. The scene before them was worse than the worst-case scenario—the entire interior of the nebula had been transformed into a death realm completely contaminated by the power of the void whisper.

The once-glorious ruins and defensive facilities of the Guardians had now become twisted minions. The wreckage of Guardian warships, eroded by purple-black energy veins, acted like resurrected zombies, dragging their broken hulls as they launched a frantic siege against the Expeditionary Fleet! Their weapon systems had been modified by chaotic energy, firing corrosive Shadow rays and distorted spatial bombs.

Even more terrifying was the nebula environment itself. The pervasive purple-black energy mist constantly eroded the fleet's Order Shield, making a sizzling sound. Within the energy mist lurked more and more powerful Whispering Shadows, appearing and disappearing unpredictably to launch surprise attacks from all angles, specifically devouring shield energy.

"All ships, maintain a tight formation! Activate the shield energy sharing system! Prioritize clearing the approaching enemy wreckage!" Sun Zheng shouted commands from the bridge of the expeditionary vessel. The keystone on his chest continued to shine, maintaining the order resonance network with all its might to provide the fleet with limited amplification and purification effects, but in the face of such a scale of pollution and siege, the effect was like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fire of explosions continuously lit up around the fleet. The broadside of the resolute destroyer was hit by several Shadow rays; the shields overloaded, the armor was torn apart, and a great fire broke out.

"resolute reporting! Engine damaged! Firepower down by 30%!"

The pathfinder scout ship relied on its high maneuverability to weave through the barrage, but unfortunately, it was enveloped by a massive cloud of energy mist. Several powerful Whispering Shadows pounced onto its shields, devouring them at an alarming speed!

"pathfinder's shields are about to collapse! Requesting support!"

"expeditionary vessel, cover the area around the pathfinder with fire!" Sun Zheng's eyes nearly split from the strain.

The main cannons fired in unison, their white light dispersing some of the Shadows, but the pathfinder's shields still shattered at the last moment. The hull was severely eroded by Shadow energy, the power system failed, and it drifted toward the depths of the nebula like a kite with a broken string, its signal rapidly disappearing.

"pathfinder... we've lost contact." The communication officer's voice was heavy with grief.

Less than ten minutes into the battle, one ship had already been destroyed!

"We can't stop! Keep pushing toward the Seed Vault!" Sun Zheng roared, suppressing the pain in his heart. For every second they delayed, the duration of the passage Cassius had bought with his life decreased by a second, and the barrier at the nebula's edge would close again, trapping them here forever!

Braving the hail of bullets, the fleet struggled toward the contaminated pyramid structure at the center of the nebula. Every kilometer they advanced cost a heavy price. The hulls were covered in scars, shield energy was on the verge of exhaustion, and the casualty numbers continued to rise.

The Marine Squad led by Shadow had already sortied multiple times to clear Shadow creatures attempting to board the ships, suffering heavy casualties.

The bridge of the expeditionary vessel was also struck by a glancing Shadow ray; some systems were damaged, and fire and thick smoke filled the air. Sun Zheng was knocked to the ground by the shockwave, and the light of the keystone dimmed for a moment.

"Commander!"

"I'm fine!" Sun Zheng struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his brow, his gaze becoming even sharper. "Falcon! Can we go any faster?"

"This is the limit! There are too many enemies!" Falcon controlled the ship, evading the dense fire.

Just as the fleet was caught in a bitter struggle and could hardly move a step, a fragment of information from Cassius's residual consciousness suddenly echoed in Sun Zheng's mind:

[...The Seed Vault's identification system... needs a pure Heart of Order... to awaken...]

A pure Heart of Order... it wasn't just energy; it was willpower! It was conviction!

Sun Zheng suddenly looked up at the top of the pyramid outside the viewport, which was still stubbornly flickering with a trace of blue light amidst the pollution. He understood! Charging through like this was impossible! He had to use the purest order resonance to actively "awaken" the Seed Vault's own defense mechanisms! Even if it was contaminated, its core source of order should still be resisting!

"All ships, hear my command!" Sun Zheng connected to the fleet-wide communication, his voice cutting through the sounds of explosions to clearly reach every soldier's ears. "Stop the pointless scattered fire! Converge all your shield energy into my expeditionary vessel using an order frequency!"

"Commander? That's too dangerous! Your hull won't be able to take it!" Falcon was shocked.

"Do it! That's an order!" Sun Zheng said unquestioningly. "Trust me! And trust in the hope left by the Guardians!"

Without hesitation, the surviving hope and resolute immediately adjusted their shield generators, directing their remaining energy to the expeditionary vessel at a specific order frequency.

The expeditionary vessel's shields instantly expanded as if overloaded, emitting an unprecedentedly brilliant blue light! The entire hull vibrated violently in the torrent of energy, as if it might disintegrate at any moment!

Standing on the bridge, Sun Zheng poured all his spirit, will, and his most steadfast belief in order and the survival of civilization into the glimmer keystone on his chest without reservation!

"In the name of the departed Guardians! In the name of all fallen comrades! In the name of the unyielding will of human civilization!"

"Awaken!! origin spark!!"

He let out a soul-shaking cry, turning the purest order resonance—which gathered the conviction and energy of the entire army—into a blue torrent that spanned the nebula, shooting toward that faint blue light at the top of the pyramid!

Hum——!!!!

It was as if a giant beast that had slept for eons was awakened! The contaminated pyramid structure shook violently! The blue light at the top suddenly erupted with a light like the sun! The purple-black energy veins wrapped around the tower's body shrank and evaporated violently as if being scorched!

With the pyramid as the center, a wave of pure order shock spread out in all directions like a tsunami!

Wherever it passed, the contaminated Guardian wreckage seemed to be purified; the purple-black faded, their movements ceased, and then they slowly crumbled into primordial dust! Those Whispering Shadows let out shrill screams and dissolved completely in the light of order! Even the clouds of polluted energy mist permeating the nebula were largely dispersed!

A briefly purified passage leading to the Seed Vault was forcibly opened!

"The passage is open! Full speed ahead!" Falcon roared excitedly!

The remaining fleet seized this precious opportunity, their engines overloading as they charged toward a massive, blue-glowing entrance that had just opened at the base of the pyramid!