Global Era of Star trekking Chapter 1828 - 889: The 5th Torch Empire (Part 2)

"That's exactly what I had in mind too!"

With those words, the Galaxy Captain called Tan Jiwen didn't hesitate a moment. He guided his Star River Ship forward, taking half the fleet along as they burst from their positions, hurtling rapidly toward the distant reaches of the cosmos.

Seeing this unfold, the expression of another Galaxy Captain grew icy.

"Fleet, follow my command—push to maximum velocity!"

Right away, this portion of the fleet surged to full throttle, the two groups hurtling one behind the other toward the targeted Star Domain.

"Hah, you're only here because of that one part you supplied; without it, why would your Heavenly Eagle Tan Family even think of dipping into the Lanikea River System Cluster? And now you aim to rival my Yanhuang Consortium for the spotlight?"

"Before long, His Majesty Emperor Song will officially launch the Fifth Empire. My Yanhuang Consortium needs to offer the most exceptional tribute!"

…

In contrast to this Extreme Star River Captain of the Yanhuang Consortium, Tan Jiwen's gaze from the Heavenly Eagle Tan Family held a hint of doubt.

As one of the Immortal Giant Forces in the Chi Yu Divine Dynasty, the Heavenly Eagle Tan Family's power sits in the mid-to-lower ranks among those giants.

This occasion, thanks to providing a key component for the All Heaven Six Harmonies Reincarnation Array, allowed the Heavenly Eagle Tan Family to gain substantial rewards across the six Chaos Cities in the Chaos Divine Land, and now they could claim a share in the Lanikea River System Cluster, once ruled solely by the Dragon Spine Song Family with support from the Four Great Empires.

Yet, having endured through countless eras, the Heavenly Eagle Tan Family boasts plenty of shrewd minds. They understand that one lucky break won't propel them higher; only achieving Mythical Power ensures enduring success.

However, the Tan Family's patriarch just advanced to Senior Hyperdimensional Captain recently, still distant from commanding a Mythical Immortal Ship, so their sole option remains the route of Mythical Enslaved Creatures.

Their initial attempt to obtain a Mixed Elemental Infinite Pill ended in failure, but with another shot, he was confident the family wouldn't let it slip away.

"Securing a tribute this time will pave the way for acquiring a second Mixed Elemental Infinite Pill, and we absolutely can't afford to fail."

"Moreover, rumors say that His Majesty Emperor Song's rightful heir wants to explore a marriage alliance right after the empire's founding event, but who knows if that's accurate..."

…

Like cosmic predators streaking through the darkness, the two fleets dashed onward, both eager to claim the shared quarry—that isolated Star Domain hiding the final bastion of the rebel Alien Race troops.

Stardust whipped past the ships' exteriors, engine thunders shattering the timeless void.

Inside the Yanhuang Consortium's lead vessel, the Extreme Star River Captain kept a grim face, barking out orders nonstop:

"Power up the 'Teleportation Interference Force Field' setup; we can't let them seal off space ahead of us. Charge all secondary guns on the warships. The moment we're in firing range, unleash a barrage—no need for more instructions!"

At the same time, Tan Jiwen of the Heavenly Eagle Tan Family revealed a resolute glint in his eyes:

"Switch to 'Void Stealth' to dodge regular scans; crank 'Eagle Eye' radar to max to pinpoint the Alien Race's secret outpost location. Elite strike group, get ready for the 'Decapitation' maneuver—head straight for the foe's headquarters the instant we clash!"

Everyone understood that wiping out these insurgents wasn't the main point; rather, the method, speed, and distinctive rewards from the fight would showcase their worth to the emerging Fifth Empire and His Majesty Emperor Song most effectively.

After all, this represented the final ember of a sophisticated civilization enduring for hundreds of thousands of years; it had to hold treasures at Civilization Background Level that might catch the eye of the newly enthroned Emperor Song.

Nearly at the same instant, the front lines of both fleets reached the edge of the intended Star Domain.

[Intense energy surge detected!]

[Alien Race armada formation observed!]

[Spatial distortion irregularity, likely a jump attempt!]

Shrill warnings blared inside the command ships of each side.

"Roll out the interference field!"

"Strike team, charge in!"

With zero delay and no exchange of strategies, the armadas from rival groups showed remarkable unity (or rivalry-fueled sharpness), one sealing the stars to block any retreat, the other slicing like a dagger into the heart of the opposition.

Mighty energy lances lit up the quiet Star Domain in a flash, blasts blooming like deadly celebrations across the void.

The Alien Race outlaws evidently hadn't foreseen their sanctuary being uncovered, and their rushed barriers crumbled easily against the crack forces from the two powers.

The clash turned overwhelmingly lopsided from the start.

The Yanhuang Consortium's armada unleashed a torrent of firepower on the Alien Race vessel clusters, revealing the storied group's overwhelming might and control.

On the flip side, the Heavenly Eagle Tan Family's ships moved with sly agility, raiders darting like phantoms amid the fray, precisely hitting and wrecking Alien Race leadership vessels one by one, highlighting superb strategy and combat skill.

Even without any alliance, a subtle battle harmony caused the enemy holdouts to crumble fast.

Tan Jiwen positioned himself at the starship's central console, his keen eyes sweeping the combat map until they locked on an odd vessel at the Alien Race armada's tail, slipping away stealthily toward an open rift in space.

"Thinking of escaping?" he scoffed. "Target that odd ship—it's bound to hold a key figure or... some prized 'gift'!"

At virtually the same time, the Yanhuang Consortium's command ship spotted the irregularity.

"Halt it!" The Yanhuang captain's stare burned with fervor.

Suddenly, the earlier "cooperative" rivalry, boosted by smooth takedowns, spiked into fierce contention.

A barrage of potent energy rays and space-locking fields swarmed the fleeing oddity.

Bang!

The strange ship's barrier flared wildly yet finally buckled under the combined assault from both top-tier fleets, exploding in a thunderous crack.

Still, its frame proved extraordinarily tough, refusing to break apart right away but instead decelerating, while faint, timeworn symbols glowed on its skin in a desperate final push.

"Take it alive!" Tan Jiwen commanded.

"Gain mastery over it!" The Yanhuang Consortium matched that resolve.

The closing vessels from both parties almost smashed together near the prize, rivalry crackling in the atmosphere.

In the end, a Star Destroyer from the Heavenly Eagle Tan Family, aided by better handling and a dash of fortune, fired off a dense super-alloy netting first, wrapping the helpless anomaly in multiple layers.

"Objective secured!" reported the team under Tan Jiwen's lead.

The Yanhuang Consortium captain's features soured briefly before he composed himself, remarking offhand:

"Mop up the stragglers, and log the battle damages plus gains."

He realized pushing the issue further served no purpose now. Though the fleet consisted solely of Tan Family and Yanhuang Consortium members, it was common knowledge that the Five Great Superforces kept tabs on every skirmish across the River System Communities.

Should they risk infighting amid outward conquest or conflict, the supreme court of the Five Heavenly Pillar Forces would step in without delay, ensuring no victor emerged untouched.

Following a quick sweep of the field, the rewards from this ambush got tallied in short order.

In the Heavenly Eagle Tan Family fleet's ops channel, Tan Jiwen's eyes gleamed with hard-to-hide excitement as he scanned the new inventory from his kin.

His focus stayed glued to the prime asset leading the roster, which he'd already pegged as the clan's top bargaining chip for the next Mixed Elemental Infinite Pill exchange.

By comparison, the Yanhuang Consortium drew much poorer fortune. While their haul included solid finds, nothing there would wow a Mythical Immortal Captain.

PS: Open to suggestions for the name of the Fifth Empire. Currently torn between two options.

Dragon Spine Divine Dynasty, New Song Dynasty.

Any ideas, dear readers?