However, neither of the two methods seems reliable for the current situation.
If they were able to defeat those insects, there would be no need for everyone to flee. Moreover, most of the functions of their ships are now lost, making it extremely difficult to move away from the core of the Insect Domain.
Su Changqing’s expression was grave, yet there was not a hint of panic.
If it were in the past, facing such a situation, he would undoubtedly feel helpless and anxious, but now, after decades of experience, he has grown into a competent leader. For a competent leader, the ability to remain calm in any environment is essentially a must-have quality.
"Integrate the fleet, all personnel concentrate on evacuating to the outer vessels, the Immortal Legion and Wildfire Corps will provide the evacuation with power and protection, all members of the Radiant Army... stay behind as the rear."
Su Changqing issued the latest command, undoubtedly intending to abandon some to protect others.
Fortunately, most members of the Radiant Army are Star Guardians summoned. Although these Star Guardians usually behave like real people, Su Changqing knows they are not truly intelligent beings—at least, theoretically.
Su Changqing looked at the holographic image of the Holy Light Dragon Rider sisters; the three seemed to sense his gaze, simultaneously turning their heads and silently saluting the void, then decisively leading all the Star Guardians toward the outermost defense line.
Su Changqing sighed; other ordinary Star Guardians he might comfort himself by saying they were just summonings without real intelligence and emotions, but how could he not understand the Holy Light Dragon Rider sisters? These three are true companions with independent thinking ability, a fact reflected in all aspects of their daily interactions.
Now, having personally issued the order for them to stay behind, this is undoubtedly sending them to their deaths, a decision undoubtedly carrying significant psychological pressure for Su Changqing.
The main force began to evacuate, now only half a day remaining to achieve the goal of holding out for five days, but it’s already impossible. The Level 7 Insect Swarm is not something the current Star Alliance Fleet can contend with. Back at the Second Universe Space Fortress, the colossal Level 7 Insect Swarm simultaneously overwhelmed all the Elder Council families.
Alas, if it weren’t for the Death Omen Star being destroyed by a powerful Ancestor Worm, if the Beller drones hadn’t increasingly dwindled over the decades of continuous consumption, they wouldn’t be forced to this extent by a smaller-scale Level 7 Insect Swarm now.
Radiant Army warriors stayed behind as the rear, their backs to their comrades, resolutely standing in front of the insect swarm, sacrificing everything to block the insects’ advance.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Intense battle fluctuations burst behind them; the Radiant Army completely disregarded their own safety, willing to self-destruct alongside the insects even in death. This scene left the others evacuating in silence.
Even knowing they might just be a group of unemotional and irrational summonings, facing this scene, this selfless act to cover the retreat, how could it not move people?
The battle lasted for about an hour, all Star Guardian warriors were ultimately killed, leaving only the Holy Light Dragon Rider sisters surrounded by a sea of insects.
In the end, the three sisters also perished; the Holy Light Giant Dragon howled mournfully, their bodies transforming into sparks and dissipating into the universe. The Radiant Army, in this rear guard action, bought everyone a full two hours.
Do not underestimate these two hours; facing the Level 7 Insect Swarm, it was already an existence at the Dominator Level between the two universes. Even if the Radiant Army’s overall strength improved significantly alongside Zhang Xiaoman’s spiritual power as a Summoner, they still couldn’t match the Level 7 Insect Swarm.
The people within the Star Alliance Fleet were all silent, knowing full well the other side was merely summoned creatures, yet at this moment all bowed their heads toward that direction, performing the Star Touching Ceremony.
"Roar! Roar!"
Just then, terrifying roars echoed from behind, four figures activated the Dark Speed Form, swiftly sweeping through all the insect swarm, arriving directly before the Star Alliance Fleet.
"Not good! It’s the Ancestor Worm!"
Everyone was horrified.
Four Ancestor Worms!
This equates to four Transcendent level beings, true terror of the Level 7 Insect Swarm. With these few tracking them down, dealing with the people here felt like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, virtually effortless.
From the Star Alliance side, the last God Slayer drone was deployed, previously suppressed throughout the battle, severely wounded facing two Ancestor Worms.
Now, its adversaries have increased from two to four, undoubtedly a futile fight.
Yet Su Changqing has no other option, otherwise, those here won’t have any chance of escaping this space.
Aboard the flagship, the surveyor continued probing the surrounding environment, but suddenly, his face changed when the Compass displayed numerous red ripples.
"How, how can this be..."
The surveyor muttered, eyes filled with despair.
On the Compass, countless vortices emerged, representing high-energy reactions in nearby areas, indicating an impending arrival of another insect swarm.
Seeing those hundreds of high-energy reaction points encircle them, the surveyor dared not imagine what was about to happen next.
Witnessing the continuously distorting space, Su Changqing’s expression was livid, aware this time escape was gravely dire.
Indeed, accompanied by intense spatial flickers, countless Desert Worms were projected into the area, directly encircling the Star Alliance Fleet.
Although these new swarms were smaller than before, their advantage lay in numbers; hundreds stacked together, raising the swarm’s scale to that of a massive Level 7 Insect Swarm.
A massive Level 7 Insect Swarm, for these people within the fleet, is virtually unsolvable.
Moreover, among these insects were a few Ancestor Worms, now there were six on the field altogether.
Su Changqing sighed deeply.
He genuinely has no options left; if it were on the side of Water Blue Star, at least he could summon aid from Yeluo within Original Realm Space, where Star Alliance has many Transcendent level ones.
Unfortunately, these Transcendents, having spent years in the Original Realm, are unable to venture far now, nor stay in the First Universe too long.
Or, if he had the seed of a World Tree Clone, perhaps he could plant a World Tree here, then open the Tree Gate to summon reinforcements.
But there aren’t so many ’ifs’ in this world, now trapped within this growing Insect Domain, they find themselves helpless.
At this moment, a maniacal laughter suddenly echoed within everyone’s minds, a flash of purple light streaking through the deep sky, causing everyone to look toward that direction.
"Hahaha! Insects! Damned insects! So this is where you are! So this is where you’re hiding! Hahaha! I’ll kill you all! I’ll devour you all! Hahaha!"