14: Now tell me, who is the prey?

Seventy years have passed since the arrival of the otherworldly portal on Blue Star World.

At the edge of the Kuiper Belt in the Solar System,

Space tore apart like a shattered mirror.

A vast, suffocating fleet silently emerged from warp speed.

These warships were bone-white, their forms grotesque and twisted.

They were forged from the skeletons of cosmic beasts and some unknown metal.

They were the "Reapers," the most efficient predators in the Multiverse.

They fed on civilizations and were destined for destruction.

On the bridge of the flagship, "Hand of Divine Judgment,"

A high-ranking Reaper, known as the "Overseer,"

Stared indifferently at the distant Solar System with its four emotionless compound eyes.

In its understanding,

This blue planet, designated 734,

Should currently be in a chaotic post-industrial era, a ripe fruit waiting to be harvested.

However,

When the detection beam swept across the entire star system, the data stream that returned

Plunged the bridge into a deathly silence.

Until a piercing alarm broke it.

"Warning! Unknown giant artificial structures detected! Energy readings... immeasurable!"

On the holographic star map before the Overseer,

An image appeared that nearly caused it to crash.

The Sun.

Around it,

Was shrouded by a "Dyson Swarm" composed of billions of mirrors.

Nine majestic interstellar fortresses, like mythical celestial mountains,

Floated in the orbits of the nine planets.

They were connected by thick energy beams, forming a "Heavenly River" defense belt that spanned the star system.

On each fortress,

Ancient runes representing "Law" and "Suppression" were carved.

Countless fleets, shimmering with spiritual light, navigated the star system like a surging river.

Those warships had dragon scales for armor and divine gold for bones.

Their bows were ferocious dragon heads, and their sterns spewed spirit-energy plasma flames.

They... were alive!

"Are you telling me this is planet 734? The primitive civilization recorded in the database?!"

For the first time, an emotion called "disbelief" appeared in the Overseer's mind.

This was no lamb waiting to be slaughtered; this was clearly a primordial giant dragon, awakened and armed to the teeth!

At the same time,

Heavenly Court Federation, Supreme Command Center, Lingxiao Palace.

The sharp alarm only rang for a second before being cut off.

Gu Yanci sat upon the imperial throne.

Seventy years of vicissitudes

For him, who had reached the peak of the seventh tier,

Were but a flick of a finger.

His handsome face remained young.

His eyes grew deeper, as if containing the birth and death of the entire Multiverse.

He looked at the red area on the star map.

A cold smile, surprisingly, curved on his lips.

Jiang Ruoxue, standing by his side, looked at him with adoration.

My goodness, Last Human Emperor - Gu Yanci hasn't smiled in decades.

"They've arrived..."

Gu Yanci murmured to himself, his voice suppressing immense hatred and anticipation, "I've waited for you... for an entire cycle."

The next second,

His majestic figure

Appeared on every light screen of the Heavenly Court Federation.

"Citizens and soldiers of the Heavenly Court Federation!"

His voice was solemn and resonant, echoing throughout the Solar System.

"Seventy years ago, we looked up at the stars from the abyss and destruction, barely clinging to life. Seventy years later, we are the masters of the stars!"

"Today, the culprits who destroyed our past, the demons who dragged us into hell, have returned! How laughable! They still think they are hunters, still think we are those helpless lambs!"

Gu Yanci slowly stood up, his gaze seeming to pierce through time and meet the eyes of every citizen.

"Now, pick up your weapons, board your warships! Let them see how the prey tears the hunter to pieces! This battle is for revenge! This battle is for immortality!"

The entire civilization erupted!

In the eyes of billions of people, there was no fear, only the ignited, most fervent fighting spirit!

"Fight for His Majesty! Humanity forever!"

"Blood for blood! Humanity immortal!"

Cheers like a mountain tsunami converged into an invisible torrent,

Injecting into the psionic core of every warship.

In Gu Yanci's mind,

Flashed the desperate eyes of humanity in the flames of his previous life.

Flashed every child calling for their parents in the cities.

Flashed the charred remains of his comrades, using their last breath to entrust him with their final wishes.

That hatred, etched deep into his soul, finally erupted.

He raised his hand and clenched it fiercely!

"By my decree! All Heavenly Court Federation forces, activate the 'Guixu' Extermination Protocol! — No quarter given!"

In an instant,

The entire Solar System's war machine,

This strongest meat grinder, a fusion of immortal cultivation and technology, roared into operation!

Tens of thousands of "Heavenly Soldier" warships shifted formations in the void,

Forming a "Zhou Tian Star Dou Sword Array" spanning tens of thousands of kilometers, enveloping the Reaper vanguard fleet!

The main cannons of the nine "Heavenly Gate" fortresses—

—"Solar True Fire" beam cannons—

Spewed out nine golden torrents capable of melting stars,

Instantly tearing and vaporizing the bone-white enemy ships!

The prey became the hunter.

On the bridge of the "Hand of Divine Judgment,"

Red alarms drowned out everything.

The Overseer watched as the vanguard fleet lost more than half its strength in just a few seconds.

It was an emotion it hadn't tasted in tens of thousands of years: fear.

Just then,

Its highest-authority control panel

Popped up a blood-red alert.

【WARNING: Detected 'grand beginning human emperor' genetic imprint... Target is not a native civilization... Confirmed as 'Legacy Fire Protocol' highest priority target... Waking 'Burial God Project' Gravekeeper...】

【Final judgment activated.】

Just as the Heavenly Court Federation fleet, with the force of thunder,

Was routing the Reaper vanguard,

And the flames of revenge were about to engulf the entire battlefield,

A terrifying pressure, billions of times greater than the Reapers, from a higher dimension,

Suddenly enveloped the entire Solar System like an invisible dark curtain!

In an instant,

All "Heavenly Soldier" warship engines shut down.

All "Solar True Fire" muzzles instantly dimmed.

The pulse of the entire civilization was choked by an invisible hand.

At the same time,

Gu Yanci's chat group interface

Went completely insane!

【WARNING! WARNING! Unspeakable higher existence (Tier 10) interference detected! Threat level exceeds sub-system calculation limit! Main program being deployed...】

At the same moment,

Within the Multiverse Chat Group,

The original SS-level mission panel—

—【Elegy of the Era of Dharma Decline】—

The text on it began to wildly garble, twist, and shatter.

Finally, it was replaced by lines of blood-red system warnings!

【ERROR! Causality forcibly twisted! World foundation is collapsing!】

【WARNING! This mission has exceeded the scope of a Tier 5 chat group! All group members, evacuate this plane immediately!】

Immediately after,

A private message to Gu Yanci popped up:

【"Ark" Protocol activated: Esteemed group member 'Last Human Emperor - Gu Yanci', the current world has been confirmed beyond salvation.】

【You have been judged a high-potential group member; the system will provide you with a super-dimensional transmission opportunity.】

【Do you choose to abandon the current plane, retain all your power and memories, and travel to a new, safe, high-tier world?】

【Please note: This is a single-person transmission; you will be the sole survivor.】

"The sole... survivor?"

In Lingxiao Palace,

Gu Yanci looked at this message.

Looking at the cold words "single-person transmission,"

He suddenly laughed.

That smile

Held no relief of escaping disaster, only endless desolation and self-mockery.

Before his eyes, it was no longer the burning starfield.

But scenes from the Heavenly Court Federation over the past seventy years.

He saw soldiers in warship cockpits, even facing immense pressure, still gripping their joysticks, their eyes bloodshot.

He saw children at the "Grand Celebration," carried on their parents' shoulders, vigorously waving small flags at him... He saw a little girl with pigtails, shouting at him through the light screen with a tender voice: "Your Majesty, the Human Emperor, drive away the bad guys!"

These vibrant, fervent lives were his world.

And in his previous life,

He could only watch helplessly as all this beauty was devoured by foreign races.

Helpless, he held the cold corpse of his loved one in the ruins, carrying the hopes of the dead, roaring in pain at the heavens.

That regret, that powerlessness,

Had long become an imprint, carved deep into his soul.

A hot tear rolled from the corner of his eye.

It struck the cold armrest of the imperial throne, instantly evaporating.

"My imperial throne is forged from their bones; my imperial crown is entrusted by their souls..."

He closed his eyes, his voice incredibly firm, as if swearing to his own soul:

"Where my people are, there my nation is. If they turn to scorched earth, I shall be the last tombstone..."

"I... will not retreat."

He pressed "No" without hesitation.

And in the Sea of Concepts,

Gu Jianghan's "gaze" pierced through time and space.

He "saw" the "Gravekeeper" walking from the end of the Multiverse.

It was a Tier 10 existence formed from the concepts of "end," "annihilation," and "order."

Its mission was to judge all civilizations that deviated from the "script."

"Interesting... This world called Blue Star World is truly interesting!"

Gu Jianghan's dormant "heart" became active.

A Tier 3 small world, yet it could accommodate a Tier 10 supreme being?

Could it be...

Blue Star World was once a Tier 11, or even Tier 12, 13 existence?

The Primordial Covenant in the previous mission log? Hmm... He could clearly feel that

His human will had a deeper grasp of the concept of controlling the "old god."

However,

If his true body descended, or if he manifested a clone comparable to Tier 11,

This Blue Star World civilization, which had just bloomed with brilliant light, would be completely wiped out along with its enemies

By the residual shockwaves he emitted, disappearing utterly from the causal plane.

This was the flaw in Gu Jianghan's human will—his insufficient mastery of abstract power.

"Even so... My people, you dare to touch them?"

His "fingertip" casually tapped.

This "finger," carrying immense power,

Traversed infinite time and space, directly touching the "Gravekeeper's" divine essence.

That Tier 10 aura, which lorded over everyone,

Leaked wildly like a punctured balloon!

The fundamental laws that formed its body were forcibly stripped away.

The divine authority it wielded was brutally torn off!

Ultimately,

Its aura was forcibly suppressed and weakened from an invincible Tier 10 to Tier 9!

But even so,

When that humanoid silhouette, composed of vast starlight and absolute silence, appeared,

The laws of the entire Solar System wailed.

The energy shields of the Heavenly Court Federation fleet began to silently disintegrate, and the souls of the soldiers trembled.

This was the pressure of a divine being!

Gu Yanci, peak Tier 7.

Facing a forcibly weakened Tier 9 divine being.

Chances of victory? Infinitely close to zero.

But he simply stood up calmly, took a step, and stood in the cosmos.

He, alone, just like in his previous life, faced that unspeakable horror.

Behind him were the Heavenly Court Federation, Blue Star World, everything he had guarded for two lifetimes.

And the Gravekeeper, who had already descended,

Let out a sigh mixed with pity and mockery.

"grand beginning human emperor's genetic imprint? Tsk... Kid."

"Will you also, like your predecessor, willingly give up your only chance at survival for these fleeting ants?"

Its genderless voice echoed in everyone's souls, "Truly... foolish."

Gu Yanci showed no fear, unleashing the full power of his peak Tier 7.

He slowly drew the "Human Emperor Sword" from his waist, its blade pointing directly at the Gravekeeper.

"Outsider,"

His calm voice, transmitted by psionic energy, spread throughout the battlefield.

"The Heavenly Court Federation is ahead; this path is closed!"