The Antimatter Legion's unique method of replenishing its forces involved the War Forge—enemies who joined or were captured were submerged in the power of Destruction, utterly transformed from within, emerging as Voidrangers.
While these extremely cheap yet destructive soldiers couldn't match the exponential growth and conceptual propagation of the Swarm Disaster, nor did they possess the tenacious vitality of the Denizens of Abundance (another of the three major universal disasters), the Legion's might remained undeniable.
However, though the Legion was powerful, the Xianzhou Alliance—clearly favored by a certain man in the wheelchair—was certainly not weak. The primary race of the Xianzhou, the Xianzhou natives, were themselves originally members of the Denizens of Abundance.
It was only after experiencing the Three Disasters and understanding the suffering involved that the Xianzhou chose to reform and become the 'good guys'. The mercy of the Reignbow Arbiter transformed the Xianzhou Alliance from mere 'tanks' like other Denizens of Abundance, granting them a sharp 'arrowhead'.
This unrelenting edge, while perhaps not matching the sheer destructiveness granted by the Ruin Author to the Legion, made the Xianzhou Alliance a well-rounded force, strong in both offense and defense.
"General Jing Yuan, General Feixiao leading the Qingqiu Guard and Dange Guard have engaged the Legion. According to reports from the Dange Guard, the main Yaoqing force has encountered the Legion led by Lord Ravager Celenova Ravager."
"Simultaneously, the Yaoqing has dispatched the Heyu Guard to reinforce us."
Aboard the flagship of the Cloud-Piercer Caravans, Jing Yuan heard the report. After a moment's thought, he nodded in agreement: "The Heyu Guard... Indeed. Ironclad Ravager's forces consist mostly of automatons. It's more prudent for the Yaoqing's main force to handle them."
The Luofu's style differed somewhat from the Yaoqing's.
Perhaps due to the Yaoqing's frequent entanglements with the Borisin, their technology, and even their Cloud Knight fleets, tended towards 'biological warships' similar to the Borisin's.
The Luofu maintained a middle ground, primarily relying on mechanical warships for external engagements. However, this presented a significant disadvantage against Lord Ravager [Irontomb], whose specialty was manipulating machines and inciting mechanical rebellion.
Just like when he attacked the Luofu previously, causing the entire Cycrane logistics system to collapse and even inciting rebellion among many automaton soldiers.
Although the Xianzhou Alliance had learned lessons and implemented countermeasures after numerous 'Emperor Wars', it was impossible to completely abandon automaton and AI systems.
"Order the Chunting Guard and Bifang Guard to gradually integrate with the Yaoqing defense line, fully cooperating with them."
"Yes, sir."
In the black expanse of space, countless skirmishers, deep-space armed starskiffs clashed with the Legion's Voidrangers. Though the Legion might outnumber the Xianzhou Alliance, the superior training and resilience of the Cloud Knights allowed them to hold their ground, even gaining a slight advantage in the seemingly evenly matched battle.
However, neither the Alliance nor the Antimatter Legion had yet deployed their top-tier combat forces.
"Phantylia, where's the good news you were supposed to bring us?" A mechanical, indifferent, yet murderous voice echoed within a unique Antimatter Crevice. The speaker, appearing as a mechanical entity, was undoubtedly Lord Ravager Irontomb. He sternly questioned the faint azure flame—Phantylia's Heliobus core form.
Through self-division, Heliobus could ensure they always remained undefeated, technically.
But... facing those murderous gazes, Phantylia felt her scalp tingle, her expression extremely ugly, reflected in the trembling of her flame form. Suppressing her rage, she whispered: "...Those Xianzhou people seemed prepared. I can no longer sense that part of myself."
Just as the Xianzhou Generals suspected, the infiltrated Phantylia was a key Legion asset meant to break the stalemate. Therefore, for this war, Phantylia had been forced to divide herself. Unlike the tiny flame-like self in the original timeline, the part that infiltrated the Xianzhou represented nearly ninety percent of the greater Heliobus Phantylia, specifically to deal a significant blow.
The remaining ten percent was kept back as insurance and to monitor the situation on the Xianzhou.
But Phantylia never expected that part of her form would lose contact so soon after infiltrating... completely silent, as if vanished. This filled her with shocked fury and immense anxiety.
Ninety percent... that was ninety percent! For a Heliobus, the strength of their form represents their power.
Losing ninety percent of her form out of the blue was, for a Heliobus, comparable to the Flint Emperor being reduced to a mere wisp. And for Phantylia, the blow was even greater.
Having lost contact with the majority of her form, although this small part could still be called Phantylia, still be called an Emanator of Destruction, she no longer possessed the strength to wield that level of Emanator power.
Her current strength probably couldn't even match some of the weaker, 'bargain-bin' Emanators.
"Which means you failed." Another emotionless voice spoke. It was Celenova, Lord Nanook's favored Lord Ravager.
Seeing him speak, Phantylia's core trembled violently. Within the Legion, while strength wasn't the only factor, such a ruthless faction certainly had no place for defeated generals.
Facing Lord Nanook's punishment, experiencing the true meaning of Destruction—that was the sole fate of failures within the Legion. Before the Aeon's might, a Heliobus's immortality was laughable.
Understanding this, Phantylia felt true fear at Celenova's conclusive statement.
"It was just an accident! I haven't failed yet!" she argued anxiously, loudly. "A temporary setback means nothing!"
"If we're talking failure, hasn't Irontomb failed too?"
"Speaking of which, haven't you often returned defeated from encounters with the Xianzhou people?"
Celenova and Irontomb remained silent, showing little anger.
In fact, this war against the Xianzhou was partly sparked by Irontomb's previous defeat, which fueled his grudge. Furthermore, after the Irontomb incident, the Xianzhou and the Legion were already effectively in a state of war, just without major clashes.
Combined with Phantylia's own designs on the Xianzhou, several Lord Ravagers agreed, leading the Legion to launch this assault.
"This is your last chance," Celenova stated finally, before vanishing.
Irontomb said nothing, merely emitting a strange mechanical laugh before disappearing as well.
After a long silence, only Phantylia remained. She lingered, heart pounding. Gazing towards the Xianzhou battle lines, Phantylia gnashed her teeth: "How dare they subject me to such humiliation... Xianzhou!"
As Celenova said, she knew this was her final chance. If she failed again, Lord Nanook would definitely not give her a chance to explain! With this thought, Phantylia's pitifully small form flickered uncertainly.
...The undying Ambrosial Arbor... she thought grimly. "It seems... I must incite some external force." Phantylia's form also vanished.
...
"What's happening?" In the spectator stands, Elysia heard the broadcast and saw the Cloud Knight guards establishing strict security everywhere, looking curious.
"Something big must have happened..." [Jiang Qiao] stuffed the last Mengmo Roll into her mouth, chewing vigorously before swallowing the sweet treat and speaking indistinctly.
"Big?"
"Yeah... Wait a sec, I'll go ask someone I know." Saying this, Qingque spotted a solemn-looking girl standing guard nearby—undoubtedly, Little Pillow Sushang.
"Sushang! Sister!" [Jiang Qiao] cupped her hands around her mouth and called out. Sushang seemed to react, but upon seeing an unfamiliar young man, she looked puzzled, confused, and wary: "Ah... Who are you? How do you know my name?"
"Me... Just think of me as Qingque's... uh, friend!" [Jiang Qiao] instinctively wanted to give her own name, but remembering her current state, felt a headache coming on and fudged the answer.
"Qingque? Oh, a friend of Que'er? Then you're definitely a friend of mine, Sushang!" Sushang didn't doubt it for a second, smiling warmly and patting her chest reassuringly. "What's up?"
"Nothing much, just wanted to know what's going on."
"Actually, I'm not too sure either... Security suddenly tightened up here on the Skirmish Starskiff. Wait a moment, let me ask a senior in the Cloud Knights..."
Just as Sushang was about to use her Jade Abacus, a girl's voice suddenly came over the broadcast: "Ahem... Esteemed guests..."
"Ah, that voice... It's Que'er!" Hearing Sushang's surprised exclamation, [Jiang Qiao]'s face darkened. Of course I recognize my own voice! But along with the speechlessness, she felt puzzled and worried.
Puzzled why that guy would be using the official organizer channel, and worried... well, it was her body, hearing her voice broadcast to everyone like this made the usually low-key Miss Qingque extremely anxious that someone might pull a huge stunt in her name.
"The Xianzhou is under attack by the Antimatter Legion. I, Qingque, on behalf of the Seat of the Divine Foresight, hereby inform all guests that the Xianzhou will enter a state of war. Please strictly adhere to regulations and cooperate with the Cloud Knight soldiers."
"There is no need to panic due to the Legion's attack. The valiant Cloud Knight soldiers will surely plunge the Hunt's arrow into the Legion's throat, protecting the safety of every guest and Xianzhou citizen."
"Soaring Unfallen, Victorious for Millennia! May the Hunt's arrow pierce the Legion's heart!"
The girl's voice was calm, yet carried an infectious, rallying power. The Cloud Knights on duty seemed inspired by the brief, resonant declaration, responding with thunderous agreement:
"Xianzhou Soaring, Cloud Knights Ever Victorious!"
"Xianzhou Soaring, Cloud Knights Ever Victorious!"
This stunning scene left the interstellar guests from all corners of the universe aboard the Skirmish Starskiff utterly astonished. The Xianzhou natives, however, were filled with fervor. This naturally included Qingque, her face flushed red.
Although Miss Qingque was thoroughly lazy, even she couldn't help but feel... quite fired up.
However, realizing what had just happened, Miss Qingque's excited expression vanished instantly, replaced by a deathly pallor.
No way, did that guy really pull such a big stunt on me? The thought of 'Qingque' herself making such a public performance made Miss Qingque feel dizzy, almost suffocating. Great, so just giving me extra work wasn't enough, you had to make sure I, Qingque, got famous across the universe too, huh?
...
In the central cabin of the Skirmish Starskiff, they caught up with [Qingque]. Elysia asked with concern: "Naughty Jiang Qiao, do you need our help?"
"Hmm?... Oh, you mean this war with the Legion?... Apologies, this is an internal Xianzhou matter. It's best not to involve external factors." [Qingque] shook his head slightly, looking resigned. "Besides, participating in something like this isn't suitable for you."
Unlike fighting the Honkai, the battle between the Xianzhou and the Antimatter Legion was an interstellar war between civilizations. On such a vast scale, individual power, unless at the level of an Emanator, wouldn't significantly impact the war's outcome.
The danger level was another matter entirely. Facing the weapons of various interstellar civilizations, even MANTIS warriors like Elysia and Eden would find it extremely troublesome.
In fact, after the news of the Legion invasion broke, many participants in the Luminary Wardance had volunteered to join the fight—the Legion's reputation meant they had enemies everywhere. But [Qingque] approved almost none of the requests to join the battle.
Even Jing Yuan or Feixiao wouldn't have approved them. These participants were guests of the Xianzhou. Sending guests onto the battlefield? What kind of message would that send? Did the Xianzhou want its reputation anymore? Even though fighting the Antimatter Legion was inherently righteous, upholding the Alliance's own image meant such actions couldn't be taken.
Of course, the Xianzhou's measures weren't entirely compulsory. At least when faced with these restrictions, a certain shark-toothed, treasure-obsessed loudmouth completely ignored the Xianzhou, even declaring: "You Xianzhou people can't control us Galaxy Rangers." Then, hijacking a starskiff, they sped off towards the front lines.
Jiang Qiao could only feel helpless about this. Galaxy Rangers were like that... The loudmouth just needed to hijack a starskiff and charge the front lines; the Xianzhou had much more to consider.
The girl [Qingque] scratched her cheek and sighed: "Apologies, I'm a bit busy here, the Seat of the Divine Foresight is waiting for me... Sigh, the General gets to be the hands-off manager, leading the charge on the front lines, while this whole huge Luofu is left for me to defend..."
Noticing Qingque's subtle expression, he asked tentatively, "...Uh? Do you want to switch back?"
"...Absolutely not!"