Across the vast expanse of the universe, hundreds of warships surged through the void like a silver tidal wave. At the forefront, the colossal flagship radiated unstoppable momentum, flanked in precise formation by battleships, patrol vessels, assault ships, and transports. Layer upon layer of armored hulls moved in perfect coordination, forming a wall of steel, each vessel glinting coldly under the starlight.
This was the largest mobilization of the insectoid fleet in centuries: elite forces deployed, unstoppable and precise. From the command chain to the attack systems, every component had been upgraded to the most advanced interstellar military standards, making it the strongest army currently in the Star Alliance.
Leading this armada was the youngest admiral in the Empire, Milton Collins.
He stood in the central command room of the flagship, clad in black military attire, three admiral stars glinting coldly on his shoulders under the silver light. His silver hair was tied back, expression sharp as a blade. The insectoid commander seemed to merge with the steel fleet behind him—steady, icy, immovable. Behind him, Viri, Il, Fili, and Aisha stood in a line, expressions solemn.
Holographic displays flickered before him, data crisscrossing the air as countless officers coordinated the fleet with precision. Orders and responses flowed like tides, the discipline absolute.
“Open the wormhole conduit. Initiate temporal jump,” Milton ordered, his voice cold and commanding.
The energy engines roared. The wormhole drive emitted a ghostly blue glow, space quivering violently as a temporal rift gradually opened, leading to the battlefield. Hundreds of ships surged forward in formation, leaping into the conduit, racing toward the frontlines.
Yet beneath the calm exterior of the formidable admiral, a restless anxiety and a hidden longing churned.
He could not forget that night—the night he almost thought he would never receive another message.
When the hyperspace communications station had fallen, the frontlines were cut off. He managed military affairs with his usual composure, but only he knew the unease that gnawed at him whenever he checked the logs or the unread messages.
Then, that night, the holoscreen suddenly lit up.
Milton’s fingers froze. For a moment, he almost thought he’d misread it.
When the connection was established and Gu Qing’s figure appeared, the insectoid commander stiffened entirely. That familiar face, those calm black eyes—without a single word, they shattered the long-suppressed emotions within him.
“…Where are you? Are you hurt? Do you know how long you’ve been out of contact?”
The tremor in his voice betrayed his fear, unmasked.
Gu Qing’s tone remained steady, gentle yet firm: “Don’t worry. I’m fine. No injuries.”
Milton’s eyes glistened, his voice low: “Really? You didn’t push yourself too hard?”
The insectoid figure gave a faint smile, raising an eyebrow: “Do you want me to stand up and spin in a circle for you?”
Milton nodded seriously.
Gu Qing sighed and obliged, rising to his full height. His pristine white combat uniform bore not a speck of dust, as composed as when they first met.
At that moment, a silver light orb appeared in his mindscape: “Mimi~~ Gu Qing really is fine!”
The little companion darted and twirled across the holographic display excitedly. “He’s insanely handsome! Slicing through monsters like a whirlwind! The Star Alliance treats him like a god now! The unrivaled Sword Sovereign of the galaxy! You missed so much, not being here~”
Milton allowed himself a brief smile. The weight in his chest lightened, if only slightly.
But the smile faded quickly. He gazed at Gu Qing, eyes deep, as if engraving this moment into memory.
“I’ll always stay with Gu Qing. I won’t let him act recklessly,” the little companion vowed emphatically.
Milton’s throat tightened. His amber eyes shone softly as he murmured both admonition and prayer: “Both of you… take care of each other.”
After a moment of quiet, he straightened, his purple eyes returning to their usual icy sharpness.
“What’s the situation on the battlefield?”
Gu Qing’s gaze hardened; his tone turned steely:
“These monsters are living variants spawned from corrupted energy. They evolve—learning to hide, infiltrate, even mimic and manipulate.”
He paused, voice darkening further:
“Most weapons now deal rapidly diminishing damage. This is a near-heterogeneous contamination invasion. I’ve compiled key data and preliminary countermeasures. You need to bring this to the frontlines.”
Milton accepted the encrypted files. His eyes scanned the rapidly scrolling records, brow furrowed, face tightening in thought, then shock.
Gu Qing only said: “I’ll hold here as best I can. You prepare quickly, or this war will result in massive casualties.”
Milton clenched his fist, voice deep:
“I will mobilize resources and prepare immediately.”
A beat of silence, then a low, restrained confession:
“Do you know what I’ve been thinking these past days?”
“If I never receive your signal again… if it just ends like this…”
He paused, fingers tightening, voice soft: “I would hate myself for a lifetime.”
Gu Qing’s expression softened.
Milton inhaled, resolute yet tender:
“But you’re here. That’s enough.”
“From now on, I will stay at your side.”
“You are no longer just an insect.”
The memories faded, and his gaze returned to the infinite starry sea ahead. The vast fleet arrayed to his sides, surrounded by countless troops, he stood at the front. This was departure—not merely for the alliance’s victory, but for the one he had sworn to protect.
This time, he would not wait.
This time, he would fight shoulder to shoulder with Gu Qing, stepping onto the battlefield that belonged to them both.
The warships cut through starlight, distant flames of battle still burning.
Moonlight poured like silver across the frontlines, the air heavy with faint smoke and the chill of night wind.
Bladé stood atop the high platform, clad in pristine white combat armor, gaze piercing as he slowly scanned the endless cosmos.
The little companion zipped nearby, curiosity bubbling: “Qing Qing, are you thinking about Mimi?”
Bladé nodded slightly, voice low: “He should be arriving soon…”
Behind him, Raen, Navien, and a few orc and merfolk soldiers sat exhausted, gripping nutrient packs, eyes wide with awe.
Raen murmured: “Is he… really an insect?”
Navien chuckled dryly: “These past days, Bladé led us to reclaim multiple star cities. We were exhausted to the brink of collapse, yet he remained calm, unwavering, his presence steady as a rock, his combat prowess unmatched.”
“One does not only fight with strength,” an orc said solemnly, “he can strategize. Because of him, we reclaimed lost territory with minimal cost.”
Respect and awe shone in their eyes. Many species had pinned all hope of victory on Bladé; some zealots even treated him as a deity.
The mysterious device he had left could generate an impenetrable energy shield, protecting entire star cities and stopping monster incursions. No one understood its origin or mechanics.
As more star cities came back online, the battle situation gradually clarified.
Bladé held the 3D holographic strategic map and walked toward Raen and the others with measured steps.
He pointed to the starport, voice calm yet resolute:
“Once we take Dawn Starport tomorrow, reinforcements can land smoothly. The previously reclaimed cities will form a continuous supply line.”
Dawn Starport was the Aris system’s most important military base, the main landing point for fleets and warships. Its wide natural harbor contained multiple docks and defensive installations, capable of hosting large-scale fleet gatherings and supplies.
Three sides of the port were surrounded by towering mountains, creating a natural fortress. Only a single main route connected it to the outside, complicating offense and defense. The garrison consisted of elite insectoid and Star Alliance soldiers, limited in number but equipped with advanced defensive weapons and multi-layer energy shields to prevent monster incursions.
Yet monsters had already surrounded the starport from multiple directions, attempting to block access and cut off reinforcements. The situation was dire.
Raen asked in surprise: “You… already planned all of this?”
Navien frowned: “That port… I heard Sairo is trapped there. After causing heavy losses among the species, the representatives stopped following him, some even sought retribution. Supposedly, he’s hiding there, while monsters swarm outside. Who knows the actual situation?”
A cold smile touched Bladé’s lips: “Tomorrow morning, once we take the port, everything will become clear.”
Raen could hardly believe it: “You plan to capture the Aris system’s transport hub in a single day? The territory is vast, monsters everywhere… how is that possible?”
Bladé’s gaze was unwavering: “Reinforcements are arriving soon. We don’t have time to delay.”
Navien and Raen exchanged a glance, lips twitching in disbelief, as if staring down the monsters themselves. Though Bladé always performed miracles, this plan seemed almost impossible.
Navien cautiously asked: “Who’s coming to support us? All the species seem unable to help now.”
Bladé smiled faintly: “He is the hope of this war.”
Morning light brushed the horizon. Bladé’s gaze was sharp as a blade, fixed on the starport. He said in a low voice:
“Alright. Let’s move. We’re taking the starport next.”