Chapter 99: Breakthrough or Breakdown

“Any luck? Still nothing on comms?”

Lin Yu stared at the tactical display, watching as the outer armor of the Qiongxiao lay battered and pockmarked, hardly a single spot left intact. The sight of so many assault corvettes wedged into its frame only made it more gut-wrenching.

He was growing more anxious by the second.

The communications officer just shook her head.

She’d tried for hours, but there was still no response.

After running every check she could think of, it became clear—there was no interference. The comms array on the Qiongxiao must have failed.

“Report! Multiple small enemy ships are approaching the Qiongxiao. Their intentions are unclear!”

“I don’t care what the Klein warships are up to. Even if they’re just going over to pay their respects, I’m not letting them through on my watch. Target them with every main gun we’ve got—take them out!”

“Yes, Colonel!”

A few seconds later.

Seventy-six massive ion beam cannons fired at once, ripping the three small ships to shreds.

The secondary batteries swiftly finished the job.

There was nothing left of them.

Truth was, after surviving more than a dozen barrages from the Sixth Experimental Fleet, the Klein commanders knew full well: this fleet, just nineteen ships strong, was packing firepower on par with a Class III civilization.

If their three fleets had been at full strength, maybe they’d have dared a proper fight.

But right now…

With half their warships lost and every assault corvette already spent,

there wasn’t a chance. The remaining warships—up against these nineteen with full energy weapon loadouts—were no match at all.

So the three commanders tried a different tactic: take the human high-ranking officer hostage and use them as leverage, forcing that terrifying human fleet to stand down.

But when they contacted the operatives who had boarded the Qiongxiao, they got a grim update.

The defenders were fighting back way harder than expected, and their own numbers were dwindling.

No quick victory—not without more time.

Time? What a joke. Give them any more time and that human fleet would arrive. By then, it would all be too late.

So…

With their assault corvettes gone, there was only one option left: send the warships in for boarding.

After all, the human super warship had lost its ability to fight back. Boarding would be easy, and they could flood the ship with troops.

So the three small ships made their ill-fated run toward the Qiongxiao.

Except they forgot something crucial…

At such close range, energy weapons could be directed with pinpoint accuracy. Any ship was a sitting duck.

Sure enough, before those three ships could even get close, they got turned into swiss cheese.

Afterward, Lin Yu wasted no time—he had his fleet start picking off the remaining Klein warships one by one.

——

“This is hopeless! Without the assault corvettes, there’s no way we can fight back against this fleet!”

“Most of our ships are stripped-down versions! Not only is our defense several levels lower, we don’t even have high-pressure corrosion rays. We can only sit here and take the hits!”

Inside the command channel, one of the Klein officers spoke up.

“I already asked the squad leader for tactical support. The order is to hold on for five more hours, until the other fleets arrive.”

“Five hours? No way. That’s impossible. At this rate, we won’t even last one.”

“So what now? Mutiny? You all know what the Patriarch does to those who defy orders!”

“I…”

They didn’t understand the command—and sure, there was plenty of grumbling.

But defiance…

No one dared suggest it out loud.

“Let’s go for broke!”

“What’s your plan?”

“We—”

A moment later, the other two commanders’ eyes lit up.

It was still an insanely risky move, but it just might be their only chance.

If three small ships couldn’t make it, then all eighty-seven remaining warships would charge together. As long as one managed to get alongside the Qiongxiao and unload troops aboard—

the tide could turn in an instant.

That’s right, the target was the same as before: capture the human high-level officer alive and use them as a bargaining chip. Force the humans to halt their assault.

If they could stall long enough, the Patriarch and reinforcements would arrive from every direction.

No more hesitation. Time to move.

All remaining ships adjusted course as one.

Lin Yu’s side noticed the maneuver immediately.

——

“Report! All Klein warships are turning. Our analysis suggests they’re making a final push on the Qiongxiao.”

Chief of Staff Qin Qiong delivered her report.

“Yeah, that’s what I figured too.”

Lin Yu nodded and turned back to the 3D tactical star map.

Honestly, the situation was getting dicey.

There were still eighty-seven enemy warships. The Sixth Experimental Fleet was powerful, but even they couldn’t take out that many in just a few moments.

If even one of those ships managed to board the Qiongxiao, it could flood with Klein troops—

But, on the upside, Lin Yu’s fears eased. That could only mean…

The Qiongxiao hadn’t fallen, and Mu Qingxue should still be safe.

Otherwise, the Klein would never burn all their forces to take the Qiongxiao now.

“Qin Qiong, can you pinpoint the enemy flagship?”

“No way.”

Qin Qiong shook her head.

The two civilizations’ tech trees were worlds apart— even their comms weren’t compatible.

Their usual tricks for identifying flagships were useless here.

Still…

It was a headache, but not an insurmountable one for Lin Yu.

“Order the fleet to concentrate fire and destroy the remaining six medium warships. We’ll make enough chaos to work with.”

“Once they’re down, we target enemy ships by how close they are to the Qiongxiao and wipe them out one by one.”

The commands flew from Lin Yu’s mouth.

Just seconds later, the fleet opened up with a full salvo.

This time, every shot was focused on those six medium ships. In under five minutes, one was totally destroyed and five more were crippled and dead in the water.

Without their core command ships, chaos spread through the Klein fleet almost instantly.

Lin Yu noticed every detail.

He could tell—he’d chosen the right targets. The enemy was coming unglued.

And now…

It was time to really turn up the pressure.

A moment later, the order went out for another full volley, but this time, things would be different.

Seventy-six main cannons. 3,192 secondary guns.

Over three thousand ion beams, all zeroed in on a single warship. What do you think happens?

The answer’s simple—

Obliteration.

One beam, one hole. Over three thousand holes, and there’s nothing left but a memory.

In one crash of firepower, half the warship vanished, reduced to cosmic dust.

The effect was way more dramatic than just blowing up a ship.

But as much as it rattled the Kleins’ nerves visually, the psychological toll was far worse.

You see it—the enemy fires once and a ship disappears.

Gone. Not just destroyed—wiped out.

It was hopeless. This wasn’t a battle. It was a massacre.

A little later, one of the small ships suddenly broke off and ran for it, but Lin Yu didn’t bother giving chase. He just kept shooting at any ship daring to approach the Qiongxiao.

Result: another warship half-destroyed, nothing left but a ragged chunk of wreckage.

See? If you ran, no one came after you. But if you moved toward that human super warship, you vanished.

Not even a corpse would remain.

Anyone who dared get too close would be next.

So every ship slowed down, not wanting to be the first to rush in.

At the same time, three more ships turned tail and ran—their crews couldn’t take the terror.

But only three. Most held their ground, just crawling forward. No one wanted to be in front.

Seconds later, the fleet let loose a third barrage.

The leading Klein warship vanished instantly.

Lin Yu was making it crystal clear: I won’t chase those who run. But try for my ship, and you’re gone without a trace.

The choice is yours…

In an instant, every last shred of their resolve collapsed.

Some thought: with the commanders down, surely it was okay to pull back. Others—

scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.