This battle plan was quickly delivered to the Devourers's Supreme Council.
However, these ancient, lizard-like council members, dressed in opulent, somber black garments embroidered with faint gold threads and patterns, raised objections to the plan.
"Commander Stonefang, according to your plan, we need to deploy a total of 1.2 million 'Time Amber Cages' around Earth, forming a completely sealed spatiotemporal bubble, altering the universe constants within the target area, and reducing the speed of light to 1 meter/second."
The leading council member read the entire battle report with a constant frown.
"Commander Stonefang, deploying 1.2 million 'Time Amber Cages' at once will consume over 60% of our entire civilization's reserve energy. This is not a small number; you must understand what this means, correct?"
This colossal stellar-class battleship of the Devourer civilization, built over millions of years and after devouring countless civilizations, requires an astronomical amount of energy every moment!
If, in order to deal with humanity, 60% of the civilization's total energy were consumed in one go, it would be tantamount to gambling with their lives!
Even if the Devourers ultimately achieved victory, the massive energy consumption would still plunge the Devourer civilization into nearly a century of stagnation!
Even more terrifying, without that energy, the Devourers's warships would face unpredictable risks!
This was also why they disagreed with the plan!
Under the scrutinizing gaze of the council members, Stonefang in the projection looked somewhat fatigued. His eyes were bloodshot,
but he said with exceptional resolve.
"Yes, of course I understand what this means, but I believe—this is the price we must pay to win this war!"
"Commander Stonefang, we cannot agree with your proposed plan; it's too risky."
The council member in the lead shook his head.
"Even when we destroyed the Eridanus civilization, we only expended about 10% of our energy. We do not believe that the human civilization, which is far more primitive than Eridanus, is worth such a huge cost!"
"No, you are all wrong!"
Seeing the plan rejected, Stonefang seemed to fall into a certain emotion, red light surge from his eyes, and he growled ferociously.
"We are all wrong, humanity is not as simple as we perceive them to be. They are the strongest enemy the Devourers has ever faced, an opponent we must give our all to defeat!"
Facing Stonefang's challenge and his excessively high assessment of the threat posed by the human race, the Supreme Council members scoffed.
"Stonefang, you overestimate humanity."
The leading council member sneered contemptuously.
"Of course, we also saw the footage sent back by the vanguard. But I must tell you, humanity is still just a bunch of insects crawling on the ground. Their thinking and tactics are even stuck at the ancient and backward level of tribal warfare."
At this point, the other council members couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Indeed, the recorded footage from the vanguard unequivocally showed just how ignorant and backward humanity truly was!
"Those swift-moving warriors in metal armor are indeed formidable, and their individual combat capabilities are commendable."
The council member had naturally seen that footage, but he didn't perceive any threat, saying with a relaxed and light tone.
"However, humanity has forgotten the most important point: their enemy is the great Devourers, and this is not a conventional war, but a war of the interstellar age!"
"No matter how formidable those warriors in metal armor are, can they jump from Earth to our battleship?"
At this remark, the entire Supreme Council was immediately filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
"That's a truly hilarious joke!" another council member couldn't help but roar with laughter.
"I really want to see how they jump onto our battleship!"
Their pride was not unfounded.
From the perspective of the Devourer civilization, one could understand the reason for their arrogance.
Human civilization, a backward civilization that had just entered the universe and was even incapable of interstellar travel, the only thing that gave them a slight surprise was those biologically modified, swift-moving, and highly efficient black-armored warriors.
Other than that, they were almost useless.
And the enemy humanity faced was a powerful Imperium with a history of millions of years, that had traversed several star systems, devoured countless glorious civilizations, and held a position almost like a hegemon!
The disparity between the two sides was unimaginably vast!
Humans would not fear being defeated and annihilated by ants; similarly, the Devourers did not believe they would be defeated by ant-like humans!
"Commander Stonefang, this is a war of the interstellar age, yet humanity's consciousness is still stuck in the backward tribal period. It's like a monkey with an iron sword showing off to us!" The leading council member remained full of confidence in the Devourer civilization.
"There's absolutely no need to waste so much energy. As long as our fleet attacks, everything will be fine!"
Looking at the council members still immersed in their 'fantasy,' Stonefang held an extremely pessimistic view.
In his mind, the vision from his dream appeared: the great Devourers battleship crashing in an endless blood-red desert, his kin, like beasts, having their heads cut off and piled into a giant circular mountain, as if a gift offered to some entity!
"Esteemed council members, I earnestly implore you."
Stonefang remained unconvinced, sticking to his view.
"Human civilization is far more powerful than we imagine, an enemy that the Devourers must exert its full strength to defeat. We absolutely must not treat this war, which can determine the future of our civilization, with any attitude of lucky or arrogance!"
"This is our only chance; we absolutely cannot lady it!" He pleaded anxiously, but in the current Devourers, Stonefang's various actions seemed extremely out of place, even glaring and noisy!
"I'm sorry, Commander Stonefang, we cannot agree with your view." The leading council member, seeing his continued stubbornness, showed a hint of displeasure in his eyes.
"Also, we have received your examination report. According to the supercomputer's judgment, your mental state is very unstable, and your brain neurons are in an extremely active state, which may lead to issues like judgment errors."
Stonefang froze for a few seconds, looking at the cold-eyed council members, and his heart was suddenly clouded with a shadow!
"No, esteemed council members, I merely—"
He was about to open his mouth to defend himself when he saw the Supreme Council member before him coldly wave his hand.
"No more talk, Commander Stonefang. Given your current unstable mental state, we have decided to temporarily relieve you of all your fleet command positions. Lie Kou will take over your duties and command the upcoming war."
Bang!
With a gavel strike, the Supreme Council member cut off the communication, leaving Stonefang with a blank stare, standing awkwardly on the command bridge, as if swallowed by endless coldness.
"You have been relieved of your battleship command duties. Please proceed immediately to the recuperation room for rest, Commander Stonefang."
The supercomputer's emotionless, cold voice roused Stonefang from his chaotic thoughts. He looked around blankly, overwhelmed by a deep sense of powerlessness!
How did it come to this?!
The entire Devourers seemed to be plunged into some ignorant foolishness, and Stonefang could only watch helplessly as the Imperium's battleship slowly sank into the water, suffocating little by little, yet powerless to change it!
"The Devourers are finished."
This pessimistic and desperate thought arose in Stonefang's mind. His eyes were fierce, and he roared, smashing the instrument panel with indicator lights in front of him.
"This is our only chance, our only chance!"
But unfortunately, his struggles and pain were meaningless. Soon, several guards burst in and, using the reason of mandatory recuperation, dragged away the enraged Stonefang.