277: Set sail

"A name?"

If the System had hands, it could have performed a demonstration of flustered helplessness for Tu Nan on the spot.

"What should I be called?" Its tone turned cheerful.

Tu Nan felt that it might be searching its database; other than the sound of electrical currents, no other noise came through.

"I don't know… I've never named anyone before," it said, sounding very dejected.

It sought help from Tu Nan.

"Can you think of one for me? You, you're very good at naming things! You've already named the Children with both formal and nicknames; give me one too."

A name had already been in Tu Nan's mind for a while, and without hesitation, she blurted it out.

"The First Star Visible at Dawn!"

"You have guarded the long night for this world and brought hope. In my original world, this is the name of a star, the very first star to appear when day and night intersect."

"It suits you perfectly. What do you think?"

"The First Star Visible at Dawn…" The System's tone became unstable, its data perhaps twisting in an unknown space-time. "I love it so much, Tu Nan. I have a name now too."

"From now on, you must call me The First Star Visible at Dawn, do you hear me?"

"Very well, The First Star Visible at Dawn. I am coming to see you. Let us open the door at… this location."

Tu Nan tapped a point on the star map.

"What? Here?"

The Emperor was checking the equipment on the Children. Not only were they wearing suits with automatically triggered breathing Systems, but they also had sturdy new egg-shell cradles with carrying baskets—making it convenient for him to hook onto with his claws if he needed to assume his Incarnation.

"It said that if we dare to gamble, it can take the initiative to open the door."

"Only once."

The Emperor did not hesitate in the slightest.

"Open it. Isn't that why we came here? Quick battle, quick decision. The outer perimeter is currently fighting a war of attrition."

Before his voice had even faded, he uploaded the coordinates to the command channel.

"Attention, entire army. The plan will be…" He turned his head and glanced at Tu Nan.

Tu Nan continued the order.

"In two hours, the Star Worm Point will open at this location. Li, Hain, Kong Jiamu?"

"Yes / I'm here / Standing by." The three of them responded immediately.

Tu Nan nodded. "You must lead your teams to ensure arrival at the precise time. Other outer defensive units, please ensure that the front line is kept outside the star chain protective circle as much as possible, but focus primarily on stalling for time and repelling attacks."

"I emphasize again: the objective of this operation is not annihilation!"

"Sub-fleets with firepower losses exceeding 30%, please retreat to the inner circle for repairs. All combat units, ensure that the combat loss rate is kept within 10%."

"Alright everyone, cheer up!"

Just as everyone thought she had finished, Tu Nan suddenly smiled and said gently, "I wish us certain victory in this battle. I will participate as the Empire's Empress, holding His Majesty's royal banner, and your Crown Princes… will do the same."

"Tu Nan!" Hain wanted to stop her, but after that involuntary exclamation, he immediately realized his mistake.

"Your Majesty the Empress! Please stay on the flagship; we will surely bring victory back to you."

"Rejected. Hain, this is an order," Tu Nan said with a smile. "Does everyone understand my resolve? I will not let my Children face such risks alone."

"My safety now rests in your hands."

The command channel became exceptionally quiet for a moment; everyone was moved by the Empress's determination.

A faint sound of clothing rustling came through. It was unclear who spoke first, but they must have saluted.

"Long live the Empire! Victory is certain!"

"Victory!"

Tu Nan gave them no way to retreat, so before everyone, there would only be that single path leading to victory.

The Emperor's eyes shone. He did not interrupt her; he was perfectly happy to yield command to Tu Nan.

He loved the exclamations of everyone upon seeing the dazzling luster of this jewel; after all, he had played a part in discovering and polishing it.

However, her rate of growth was unbelievable.

As a commander, the orders she gave were not only clear in focus but also had concrete, executable standards.

As a ruler, she combined sentiment and motivation perfectly.

She deserved everything she wanted. The Emperor looked at the starry sky outside the starship, thinking of that "God" who, for some unknown reason, communicated only with Tu Nan.

It had good taste.

In the vast world, it had accurately found Tu Nan and, step by step, delivered her to his side.

Thinking of it that way, he could begrudgingly thank it for one minute—any longer than that would be pushing it.

"You need to wear something sturdy too. Hmm, I'll tie a ribbon on you. Don't worry, if anything happens, I can always protect you."

"Don't worry, it's already prepared." Tu Nan dialed a number, the command room door opened, and Lance pushed in a full set of equipment, walking in together with Yi Xingye.

"Come, come, come, put it on."

She was as excited as if she were going on a picnic.

So this person had been planning this all along, and had even managed to create equipment suitable for a Female Beast right under his nose.

"Hmph."

The Emperor was not very happy, but he realized that he didn't know about it likely because of his own lack of attention to government affairs—he had almost entirely left them to her.

But it was still Tu Nan's fault; couldn't she have taken the initiative to discuss it with him?

The Emperor's self-reflection was just that superficial.

The flagship sailed for another hour. By the time Tu Nan and her group switched to a small starship, they hovered near the Star Worm Point along with a combat group escorting them.

From the other three directions, combat groups of different colors also arrived right on time.

Across the starry sky in all directions, pinpricks of starlight constantly flashed and extinguished.

That was the battlefield surrounding them; that was everyone buying time for them.

"The First Star Visible at Dawn. Right now, open it."

"Very well, Tu Nan. Then everything is left to you!"

Under their gaze, that point collapsed inward, becoming pitch black and fluid.

Then, when that flow became viscous, it suddenly expanded outward, bursting into a whirlpool that grew larger and larger as it spun.

Until a distinct passage appeared at the center, and the edges became clear.

"That's… it. Now."

Without another word, the four teams in the small channel flew into it one after another.

"How far is it?" Tu Nan asked The First Star Visible at Dawn.

"Not very far. I can't open it right at the laboratory door; the space would be too unstable, and the slightest interference would tear the space apart."

"…I'm not blaming you; I was just asking about the distance."

"Oh, that's good, hehe. At your speed, about half an hour. By the way, the Star Worms are indeed all running toward you, but I don't think you'll be under any pressure."

The First Star Visible at Dawn felt that Tu Nan was indeed very smart.

"We will be as fast as possible."

Before Tu Nan's voice had even faded, she had already seen the Star Worms leading the charge toward them, with a small group following behind.

"Kong Jiamu, help keep an eye on my fleet."

Hain only gave that one instruction over the channel. Moments later, a black and white Orca appeared in front of the combat formation.

Tu Nan had long heard that Hain's individual combat strength was even stronger than Kong Jiamu's, but she had never witnessed it before.

Within the passage, currents of water appeared out of thin air, wrapping around and engulfing the Star Worms, washing them back in the direction they had come from.

The Star Worms collided with each other.

The Orca swam effortlessly through the sea of stars, yet its speed was extremely fast. It reached the front, flipped over, and powerfully slapped them upward with its tail fin.

With the naked eye, Tu Nan could already see several Star Worms falling apart.

Then they were gathered back into a cluster by the waves and dragged down.

Hain's tail fin coordinated with another sweep, and then the waves rotated rapidly like a tumble dryer; in just a moment, the water receded.

The scene was clean, save for a few tiny fragments.

"Then you might as well clear a bit further ahead," Kong Jiamu muttered.

The Orca let out a distant cry where it was—a love song that could resonate in one's heart and stir affection.

The water waves flowed gently past the front window of the starship where Tu Nan was.

He turned in a circle and, following the suggestion, headed forward.