55: When death is imminent, stop struggling.

In the dim room, only the holographic projection emitted a cold light.

The light outlined a blurry shadow, who sat calmly on a throne-like, massive chair, his fingertips tapping rhythmically on the armrest.

“Boss, the plan failed.”

Another man, dressed in a black suit with his face hidden in shadow, reported respectfully with his head bowed.

“Even after deploying the ‘Lost Black Fog,’ we couldn’t do anything to the Natural Selection.”

The shadow on the throne paused.

His voice was very soft, yet it carried an authority that seemed capable of freezing time and space.

“Don’t underestimate that ship.”

“Back then, we suffered greatly at its hands.”

The man in the black suit trembled, as if recalling some terrifying memory.

“Then… what do we do next?”

“We can’t enter the Starting Sea Area directly.”

The shadow on the throne slowly spoke.

“Creating this Black Fog was already exploiting a loophole in the rules.”

“Once they leave the Starting Sea Area and reach the true ‘Main Channel’…”

“We’ll wipe them all out then.”

… Gu Zhixia didn’t dare to rest for too long.

Three hours of shallow sleep was already a luxury for her.

She suddenly sat up from the soft bed, with only one thought in her mind.

To relieve Lin Mo.

To ensure that she and her sister could rest peacefully, he had endured over thirty hours alone, and then launched that world-destroying attack.

She knew that the most exhausted person this time was definitely Lin Mo.

She quickly walked out of the rest cabin and entered the Bridge.

Lin Mo was still sitting in the captain’s chair, his back looking a bit tired, but he sat very straight, like a javelin.

The engine overload alarm had been disengaged, and the cabin lights had returned to their bright, normal color.

“Hey.”

Gu Zhixia walked forward.

“You go rest, I’ll take over here.”

Lin Mo turned his head, and upon seeing her, a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

“Not going to sleep some more?”

“No need.”

Gu Zhixia averted her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes; her cheeks felt inexplicably warm, and the kiss under the sunset involuntarily flashed through her mind.

“Wait a little longer.”

Lin Mo’s voice carried a hint of a smile.

“The engine has just recovered; I’m letting the super capacitor charge for a bit longer.”

“Once the energy is full and everything is confirmed to be fine, I’ll go rest.”

Gu Zhixia hummed in agreement, responding quickly, behaving uncharacteristically obediently.

To alleviate the somewhat subtle atmosphere, Lin Mo stood up.

“Come, I’ll show you something good.”

He led Gu Zhixia towards the power cabin deep within the ship’s hull.

When the heavy alloy door opened, Gu Zhixia’s breath hitched for a moment.

The sight before her filled her phoenix eyes, which always held a sharp glint, with shock.

The previous miniature fusion reactor had vanished.

In its place was a behemoth, several times larger in volume and with a more intricate and complex structure.

Aquietblue energy slowly flowed through countless pipes and the core, emitting a steady and powerful hum.

The surging sense of energy, just by standing there, made her feel a stirring from her very soul.

“This… this is…”

“A medium fusion engine.”

Lin Mo’s voice carried a hint of pride.

“The current power output is five times what it was before.”

Gu Zhixia opened her mouth, unable to speak for a long time.

She knew Lin Mo was strong, but each time, this man always managed to redefine her understanding of “strength.”

Just then.

Drip—drip—drip—

A series of urgent alarms blared from the direction of the Bridge.

Lin Mo’s expression instantly turned serious; he grabbed Gu Zhixia’s wrist.

“Back!”

The two rushed back to the Bridge.

On the very center of the radar screen, a dazzling red dot was flashing frantically.

That red dot seemed to have appeared out of thin air.

“This is…”

Gu Zhixia’s brows furrowed tightly.

Lin Mo didn’t answer; his gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s, fixed intently on the coordinates of that red dot.

He sat back in the captain’s chair, his hands gripping the control stick.

“Hold on tight.”

“Hm?”

Gu Zhixia hadn’t reacted yet.

The next second, she felt an unimaginable, terrifying thrust from behind, pressing her firmly into the co-pilot’s seat.

Buzz—!!!

The hull of the Natural Selection emitted a strange hum.

The scene outside the window instantly distorted!

Space seemed to be folded inward by an invisible giant hand; the azure sea and sky were instantly stretched into countless dazzling streams of light, rapidly sweeping past both sides of the porthole.

“This… this is ‘Full Speed Ahead’?”

Gu Zhixia’s voice was somewhat distorted by the immense inertia.

“No! Wasn’t ‘Full Speed Ahead’ just used? It’s still cooling down!”

“This isn’t ‘Full Speed Ahead’.”

Lin Mo’s voice came through the kaleidoscope of light, calm and steady.

“This is the warp engine.”

It was only a mere dozen seconds.

When the scene outside the window returned to normal, the Natural Selection was already hovering steadily above the target sea area.

Gu Zhixia looked down, her pupils contracting sharply.

On the vast, boundless sea below, there was only one ship.

A battle-scarred, dilapidated warship, as if it could fall apart at any moment.

It was the flagship.

Around it, there were no longer any escort ships, standing alone, like an orphan abandoned by the world.

Lin Mo watched this scene, his eyes icy cold.

He was almost certain that that madman Long Yuan, in order to save his own Life, had sacrificed all his companions by “picking and choosing.”

Just then.

A communication request flashed on the control panel.

It was the flagship.

The corner of Lin Mo’s mouth curved into an amused arc, signaling to connect.

The screen lit up, and Long Yuan’s face appeared again.

However, this face could no longer be described as merely pale.

It was a lifeless, ashen gray, with sunken eyes, cracked lips, and even his hair looked withered.

He looked at Lin Mo, the arrogance and brutality in his eyes completely gone, replaced by a humble, fawning subservience.

“Please…”

Long Yuan’s voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing.

“Young Captain, spare my Life.”

“I… I’ll give you everything, all that I have!”

Lin Mo leaned back in the captain’s chair, composed, watching him with the gaze one would give a clown performing.

“Oh? Let you go?”

His tone was flat, yet it was like a knife, stabbing into Long Yuan’s last shred of dignity.

“I gave you a chance before, but unfortunately, you didn’t listen.”

Long Yuan’s body trembled violently, a bone-chilling despair appearing on his face.

He knew that this terrifyingly calm man would absolutely not let him go today.

The shadow of death had never loomed so clearly over his head.

He suddenly knelt down, in his own Bridge, bowing heavily to Lin Mo on the screen.

“I’ll give you my ship! The SS-class flagship, I’ll transfer it directly to you!”

“Don’t kill me! I can sign a blood pact with you! For all eternity, I’ll be your slave!”

“You can command me to do anything! Please…”

Watching the man on the screen, snot and tears flowing, having completely abandoned all dignity, the smile on Lin Mo’s face slowly disappeared.

It was replaced by a coldness capable of freezing the soul.

“When death is at your doorstep, don’t struggle anymore.”

“Your words…”

Lin Mo’s voice was like the final judgment.

“Only a ghost would believe!”