T/N: Heya~ TL here can we guys at lease reach 200 power stones? so we can do bonus chapters? I've been wanting to have one lol, let's set this goal on this fic first, I know you can do it guys!
Bonus chapters
200 Stones next would be 400 stones and so on, whatever the limit!
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Over the past few days, Tomomu Kanzaki had barely slept. He spent every waking moment analyzing every possible scenario.
If Shuhu was truly lurking in the shadows, from which direction would the surprise attack come? Which fleet would it strike first?
As for how to defeat an Emanator, that question lay far beyond his current responsibilities. Without the General present, their forces stood no chance. Charging in together would be nothing more than a suicide mission.
The Yaoqing expeditionary team arrived right on schedule, carrying the latest orders from the Xianzhou Alliance.
Attack the remaining abomination worlds with full force.
In less than twenty days, the combined Cloud Knight forces had liberated the last two worlds occupied by the abominations.
The battle report contained only two words.
Great victory.
High above the planet Nus-V, the massive Cloud Knight fleet hovered in formation.
On the surface, countless Cloud Knights who had not yet returned to the ships shouted in unison, their voices rising in celebration of the expedition's success.
The thunderous cheers echoed across the sky.
The crisis had passed. Almost everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
In roughly another month, the main Xianzhou fleet would arrive and safely pass through this sector of space.
The Yaoqing was faster. It was already decelerating and would moor nearby in two days to stand guard, just in case.
That meant standing guard against Shuhu.
Whether the Divination Commission's predictions proved accurate or not, the Alliance would never lower its guard.
It was better to prepare for the worst than to risk disaster.
No one could afford the price of being wrong.
Mo Tingquan let out a long breath and glanced at Tomomu Kanzaki, who stood at the front of the warship's deck.
"Should we head back later, or stay here to rendezvous with the Yaoqing and the Cangcheng?"
"The General ordered us to remain, but I want to sail back," Tomomu Kanzaki replied, his brow furrowed.
"Why?"
"I cannot explain it clearly."
"Uh…"
Mo Tingquan gave a helpless smile.
This was the first time he had ever heard Tomomu Kanzaki use the words "I cannot explain it clearly."
"How many indigenous humans are left on this world?"
"Most were transformed into abominations by the Borisin Nest Fathers or used as food. Fewer than a million remain," Mo Tingquan answered, frowning.
Civilizations plundered and enslaved by the abominations of abundance almost always met the same fate.
"Xue Yi, Hanya."
Tomomu Kanzaki spoke suddenly.
"Your subordinates are here."
The two sisters stepped forward from behind him and knelt respectfully. Traces of abomination blood still stained their armor.
"Arrange for all the survivors to be transferred to the containment ships and sent to the Cangcheng at once."
"As you command!"
Xue Yi and her sister immediately set to work.
The ecology of this world had been almost completely destroyed by the abominations. It was no longer habitable for humans.
Whenever the Xianzhou Alliance liberated a planet, they would temporarily relocate the native refugees and find them a suitable new home during the voyage.
All the aftermath operations proceeded smoothly. They only needed to start the containment ships' engines and begin the journey back to the Cangcheng.
The dust had settled. The allied forces rested where they were, waiting for the flagship to arrive.
Late that night, in the silent expanse of the universe.
Through the viewport, Tomomu Kanzaki gazed toward the distant location of the Cangcheng.
He wondered how his mother was doing. The time when she might fall into the mara-struck state was likely drawing near. Still, he was not overly worried at the moment.
If the Ten Lords Commission Judges ever came for her, General Teng Xiao would ensure he received word immediately.
At least… he would be able to see her one last time.
A sharp metallic ring echoed as Tomomu Kanzaki drew the long sword from his waist and stared at it quietly.
The silver blade reflected his face.
This was the sword his mother had once wielded, forged by his father's own hands.
He was not fighting alone.
"Mother, I will be able to return soon…"
The moment the words left his lips, Tomomu Kanzaki's expression changed drastically.
In the starry sky, several planets that had long been silent suddenly began converging toward the center at terrifying speed.
In the span of only a few breaths, they collided with a deafening roar, swallowing the vast majority of the Cloud Knight fleet stationed there.
Space itself twisted and shattered like torn fabric.
A massive shadow emerged from the colliding planets.
It had no fixed form, only a constantly writhing, shifting mass of flesh.
Soon the flesh transformed into a giant tree striding through the void. Its branches and buds extended outward, blooming with faces twisted in eerie smiles.
"Shuhu!!"
Tomomu Kanzaki issued the order without hesitation.
"All remaining ships, enter combat status! Contact the Xianzhou flagship and request immediate support from the General!"
The unease he had felt had finally become reality.
This time, both the Yueque and the Divination Commission had been right.
No wonder they had found no further traces of Shuhu. The Emanator had been hiding inside the very five worlds the Cloud Knights had attacked.
Tomomu Kanzaki had witnessed half the process before Shuhu fully appeared.
It was horrifying.
Those five planets had grown grotesque tumors. After crashing together, they fused rapidly and became Shuhu.
In other words, throughout the entire months-long campaign, they had been fighting across the surface of Shuhu's own body.
"Communications are being jammed! We cannot send signals!"
An urgent report came from behind.
"Keep transmitting coordinates and distress signals to the flagship! All weapon systems, open fire immediately! At the same time, pull back to a safe distance at full speed!"
From a distance, Tomomu Kanzaki could even make out familiar faces embedded in Shuhu's body.
Most of them were comrades he had fought beside.
Damn it.
Tomomu Kanzaki understood everything now.
The five abomination worlds, the seemingly manageable resistance, everything had been a trap.
Shuhu had split itself into five planets, using the power of abundance to spawn Borisin and other abominations, luring the Cloud Knights into the expedition.
Every life lost had become nourishment to strengthen him.
And now, he no longer needed to hide.
"All remaining ships, hear my command—"
Tomomu Kanzaki's voice spread through the surviving fleet via the internal channel.
"Disperse and break through at full speed!"
But it was already too late.
The giant tree's branches extended with terrifying speed, slicing through space and entangling, piercing, and devouring warships and star skiffs alike.
Energy shields crumbled like paper before those branches. Hulls were torn apart with ease.
Screams, explosions, and the screech of twisting metal filled the void.
The ship carrying Tomomu Kanzaki was pierced by three branches at once. The alarm blared in his ears.
"Marshal Kanzaki! The power compartment is destroyed! We…"
"Abandon ship!"
Tomomu Kanzaki's decision was immediate.
"All Cloud Knights, board the emergency escape pods! All Vanguards, activate your cangxing battle armor and follow me to cover the retreat!"
Only five Cloud Knight Vanguards, including Tomomu Kanzaki himself, could still be reached.
By the time they burst out of the command cabin, the ship's hull disintegrated behind them.
Suspended in the starry sky, Tomomu Kanzaki swung his sword to sever the incoming branches. He fought and retreated alongside his comrades, shielding the evacuating Cloud Knights.
His gaze swept across the battlefield, and his expression turned grim.
The vast majority of the Cloud Knight allied forces had already been devoured by Shuhu. The casualties were catastrophic.
Even the most elite Cloud Knights stood no chance against an Emanator of an Aeon.
Tomomu Kanzaki had known this truth for a long time. He had even witnessed such cruelty before.
Yet seeing it again after hundreds of years, a blazing fire of hatred ignited in his chest.
"Eh… is it you?"
A face suddenly formed on the branch attacking Tomomu Kanzaki.
"Tomomu Kanzaki, it's father. Do you know how much father has missed you…"
"Get lost."