Mech: Shattering of the Galaxy Chapter 1519: 35: What Did You Just Say?

Clang, clang!

At the terminus of the hallway, the din of metal striking metal echoed, heralding the arrival of guards clad in exoskeleton armor, their numbers swelling.

The squadron, arrayed in blue armor, presented an imposing frontal display. Within their ranks, more than thirty individuals were discernible at first glance.

Thirty metallic combatants, marshaled into a formidable line.

It became evident that the planet's alarm protocols had been activated, and Flame Star's customs defense apparatus was operating with remarkable celerity.

The atmosphere grew taut with tension, and in the subsequent moment, tears shimmered in Kim Sang-geun's eyes.

An intense instinct for self-preservation ignited within his gaze.

He strained to gaze upward, toward the heavens, yet the figure positioned directly overhead remained obscured.

However, that familiar, chilling voice finally reignited his hope for survival.

Third-level Inspector—Ba Hanyi!

He was the veritable power broker, wielding an iron fist, secure in the second highest position on this planet.

It was merely fortunate happenstance for Kim Sang-geun that Lord Ba Hanyi was conducting his patrol in this vicinity.

….

Upon discerning that frigid, resonant pronouncement, Mu Fan’s eyelids fluttered open. Ascending his gaze to the heavens, fifty meters above, beneath the colossal arc of the artificial star ring, Ba Hanyi stood upon a levitating steel platform, exuding an aura akin to a predatory beast.

Their gazes locked across the expanse of the sky.

Ba Hanyi’s countenance remained impassive, a subtle glint of derision flickering within his eyes; this youth was utterly oblivious to his perilous predicament.

Within the Aohan Freedom Alliance, on this heavily fortified planet known as Flame Star, and situated within customs vigilantly guarded by the Firmament Corps, no one could dare to act with impunity!

He could stake his reputation, this young man would undoubtedly face the most stringent retribution the world had to offer!

A portion of the assembled onlookers, their bodies trembling subtly, directed their gaze upwards toward Ba Hanyi suspended in the air. They cautiously retreated, finding a measure of solace only when their backs were pressed against the metallic fortifications.

What, precisely, would this young man with hair as white as snow do next!?

The crowd observed Mu Fan, their expressions a mixture of apprehension and dread.

Regardless of how this youth met his end, they would likely carry the indelible memory of this moment for the remainder of their lives.

The celestial expanse is indeed vast; truly, a newborn calf fears no tiger.

It is merely that this youth, too young, failed to grasp the sheer folly and recklessness of confronting established authority in the very heartland of Flame Star!

“Ha…”

A soft, derisive chuckle permeated the stillness. To the astonishment of all, a mirrored smirk materialized upon the young man’s features.

Mu Fan’s gaze calmly transitioned from Ba Hanyi, settling upon Kim Sang-geun’s face.

“You remarked, quietly accumulating wealth… how agreeable that sounds.”

With a subtle rotation of his wrist.

Crack!

A tableau of fear, elation, and foreboding—a kaleidoscope of complex emotions—froze upon Kim Sang-geun’s countenance. Life rapidly ebbed from his eyes.

His neck contorted at an unnatural angle, and his convulsing form swiftly became inert.

Mu Fan had, with a single hand, dispatched Kim Sang-geun.

Under Ba Hanyi’s frigid stare, witnessed by the stunned and terrified gazes of all present, and in defiance of the formidable contingent of guards assembled at the corridor’s end.

As if crushing a mere insect, he casually disposed of the body.

Kim Sang-geun’s corpse landed upon the ground, and only then did Mu Fan lift his head once more to survey the sky, his eyelids unfurling with an indifferent air, “Just now… what was it you said?”

The placid tone carried an unspoken, absolute dominance.

Ba Hanyi’s pupils dilated, filled with glacial fury at this instant.

His massive fist clenched, emitting an audible cracking sound!

He was so incensed he began to laugh. How many years had elapsed since anyone dared to challenge his authority in such a blatant manner!

The onlookers, huddled at a distance, erupted in murmurs.

No one had anticipated the unfolding events to deviate so dramatically from their expectations.

After the Inspector had intervened, to so audaciously execute the Patrol Officer.

Was this youth utterly mad? Did he truly believe that his seemingly magnificent, singular soldier’s armor could withstand the planet’s mobilized forces!?

It must be understood that behind those imposing armored guards stood the formidable armada of the Aohan Freedom Alliance and the Firmament Corps!

Under the barrage of naval weaponry, any individual soldier’s armor would be rendered utterly insignificant.

“Good, exceptionally good. In the span of these past twenty years, you are the first to dare provoke my Aohan Freedom Alliance in such a fashion.”

“Flame Star Guards, shatter the limbs of these individuals and convey them to the Black Cell. Today, I, Ba Hanyi, shall personally conduct their interrogation.”

The personnel in uniform nearby, upon hearing these words, exhibited expressions of profound terror.

Lord Ba Hanyi himself was going to conduct the interrogation!?

Recall, a year prior, a young couple had defied Lord Ba Hanyi’s decree. They were flayed alive, and ultimately, their brutally mangled bodies, after staggering a hundred meters from the Black Cell, succumbed on the deck.

Even now, the recollection of that horrific spectacle sent shivers down their spines.

A year had elapsed, and was Lord Ba Hanyi poised to unleash his dreadful judgment once more!?

“Then you may proceed to hell.”

Mu Fan’s expression remained utterly devoid of emotion, his gaze fixed skyward as he uttered the words with indifference.

Hmm!?

All individuals present, encompassing both bystanders and the staff of Flame Star customs, froze in unison.

What did he intend by that declaration?

“… Hahaha, it’s been ages since I found something so amusing. Are the youth of today truly this reckless and foolish?” Ba Hanyi guffawed in mid-air, his laughter however, laced with an icy venom.

Mu Fan remained silent, simply lifting his bare right hand and giving a gentle snap of his fingers.

Snap!

The sharp sound echoed through the air.

Ba Hanyi’s laughter continued unabated, and the expressions of the onlookers were equally complex, likely considering the young man to be utterly lost in fantasy.

However, as a resounding “buzz” filled the atmosphere!

All laughter and chatter ceased instantly. Even the elite guards rushing from a distance came to an abrupt halt.

Three hundred meters away, within the ship’s docking corridor, the colossal warship, emblazoned in an obsidian black, suddenly had its rear thrusters ignite with an orange glow…

Clang! Clang!

Clang! Clang!

The unmistakable sound of countless gears engaging reverberated from the ship’s immense, hundred-meter-high hull as numerous flat steel plates automatically retracted inward.

To the observers, the menacing ship’s exterior began to unfold. Nano-robots, resembling liquid mercury, flowed into the crevices of the armor, finalizing the transformation of the hull.

Crack… boom!

The width of the hull expanded dramatically. Under the sheer force of the massive hull, the hundreds of mechanical arms clamping it from both sides fractured and burst apart instantly.

A shiver ran down everyone’s spine, from their toes to the top of their heads.

Especially as an enormous crossbow mechanism, stretching sixty meters in length and thirty meters in width, silently ascended from the vessel’s sleek deck. Even Ba Hanyi sensed that something was terribly wrong.

“Wasn’t this warship thoroughly inspected! How is it still operational!”

Hearing Ba Hanyi’s enraged shout, every worker’s face was etched with sheer terror and disbelief.

They had indeed inspected the ship, confirming no one was aboard.

So, who was actually piloting this warship…?

Furthermore, the warship hadn’t looked like this when it arrived!

Its current intimidating appearance, with that thick, dark armor and gun emplacements that seemed impossibly vast at first glance…

Even an idiot could tell that this situation was far from normal.

Within the massive and spacious mechanical crossbow, it abruptly rotated skyward, and a glowing orange bowstring materialized.

The very next second, a breathtakingly colossal light crossbow bolt took form upon that bowstring!

Bzzzzzzzzzzzt!

With a deafening sonic boom, the mechanical crossbow fired.

The blinding light bolt shot forward like a vengeful comet.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be decommissioned?”

“Who could possibly…”

“This is impossible!”

“That… that’s a Class-A Energy Cannon!”

“No, it’s more than that!”

“How did it get here?”

“Who is controlling it?”

“It’s not just operational; it’s at full power!”

“Look at the projectile!”

Ba Hanyi’s face contorted in disbelief.

All the onlookers stared, frozen in shock.

The energy projectile seemed to tear through space itself.

The sheer destructive potential was palpable.

“This… this is the legendary Void Shatterer!”

“Impossible! That’s a myth!”

“There’s no way…”

“Is this a display of power?”

“Or a declaration of war?”

“That shot… it’s heading directly for the Command Center!”

“We’re finished!”

“Is this the work of that brat?”

“He… he actually controls it?”

Mu Fan watched calmly as the colossal bolt streaked towards its target.

“It seems I underestimated you, young man.”

Ba Hanyi’s voice, though strained, held a hint of awe.

“My apologies, but I cannot allow you to interfere.”

Mu Fan’s voice was eerily calm.

“Interfere? You call this interference? This is retribution!”

“A foolish attempt.”

Ba Hanyi sneered, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

“Is it?”

Mu Fan’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Perhaps we shall see.”

The air crackled with anticipation.

The fate of the Command Center hung precariously in the balance.

“Activate defensive shields!”

“All units, prepare for evasive maneuvers!”

Chaos erupted amongst the onlookers.

“Impossible levels of energy!”

“The shields won’t hold!”

“This is beyond anything we’ve ever faced!”

“Could this truly be Mu Fan’s doing?”

“How could a mere cultivator wield such power?”

“This isn’t cultivation… this is something else entirely!”

“The pinnacle of forbidden technology!”

“A weapon from the ancient era!”

The colossal bolt continued its relentless descent.

“This is the end…”

“We’re all going to die!”

“Has the galaxy fallen into such chaos?”

“Such despair…”

“Not yet.”

A calm voice cut through the panic.

Mu Fan gazed impassively at the unfolding destruction.

“I will not allow it.”

“You… you can stop it?”

Ba Hanyi’s voice was laced with disbelief.

“I can see your Daos, Mu Fan. Your Dao of the Sword is profound, but your Dao of the Void… it’s terrifying.”

“You speak of Daos?”

Mu Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Then witness this: The Dao of Annihilation!”

With a surge of power, Mu Fan raised his hand.

The colossal bolt wavered, momentarily halting its trajectory.

Then, it imploded.

The resulting explosion was not one of destruction, but of pure, unadulterated energy, transforming into countless motes of light that dissipated harmlessly into the void.

Silence descended.

Ba Hanyi stared, his jaw slack.

“You… you nullified it?”

“Simply put, yes.”

Mu Fan replied with a hint of weariness.

“This power… it consumes even Qi.”

“It is the antithesis of cultivation.”

“A dangerous path you tread, Mu Fan.”

“Perhaps. But it is the only path forward when faced with such… idiocy.”

Mu Fan gestured towards the remnants of the mechanical arms.

“These primitive weapons are no match for true power.”

Ba Hanyi was speechless.

The onlookers were equally stunned into silence.

“Who… who are you?”

Ba Hanyi finally managed to stammer.

“I am merely a traveler.”

Mu Fan stated, his gaze sweeping across the stunned faces.

“A traveler who dislikes unnecessary destruction.”

“And displays of brute force.”

“Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Mu Fan turned to leave.

“Wait!”

Ba Hanyi’s voice was urgent.

“You cannot simply leave! You possess the Dao of Annihilation! You must teach us!”

“Teach you?”

Mu Fan chuckled, a sound devoid of humor.

“This is not a Dao to be taught. It is a curse.”

“One that devours everything, including the self.”

“Now, be gone. Before I lose my patience entirely.”

Ba Hanyi staggered back, his bravado completely shattered.

The onlookers scrambled away, fear palpable in their movements.

Mu Fan stepped away, disappearing into the shadows as if he had never been there.

The colossal warship remained, silent and deactivated.

The threat had passed, but the questions lingered.

Who was Mu Fan?

And what other terrifying powers did he possess?

Ba Hanyi looked at the empty space where Mu Fan had stood, a mixture of fear and resentment brewing within him.

This encounter had changed everything.

The galaxy was far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.

And Mu Fan was a force to be reckoned with.

A force that could shatter worlds.

Or nullify them entirely.

The implications were staggering.

He knew, with chilling certainty, that his life, and the galaxy, would never be the same.

“Mu Fan…” he whispered, the name a heavy weight on his tongue.

“I will find you again.”

“And I will understand this Dao of Annihilation.”

“No matter the cost.”

He clenched his fists, a newfound determination hardening his gaze.

The pursuit had begun.

The colossal celestial body, a titan of metal and energy, loomed before them. Its surface was a tapestry of jagged metal plates and glowing conduits, pulsating with an otherworldly power. A colossal cannon, bristling with arcane symbols, was mounted on its prow, aimed directly at the heart of the approaching fleet.

“Unidentified vessel, you are violating restricted space. Identify yourself immediately!” The voice boomed, amplified by unseen technology, echoing through the void.

“This is Captain Ren of the Star Serpent,” a gruff voice replied, projected from the lead cruiser. “We mean no harm. We are merely passing through.”

“Your presence here is unacceptable. Prepare to be boarded! All hands, prepare for battle!”

A hush fell over the bridge of the Star Serpent. The crew exchanged grim glances. They were vastly outmatched, but retreat was not an option.

“So, it comes to this,” Captain Ren muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of his laser sword.

“Orders, Captain?” his First Officer asked, his face a mask of grim determination.

“Defend the fleet. Evacuate the civilians. We will hold them off for as long as we can.”

“Understood, Captain.”

The Star Serpent shuddered as the enemy vessel unleashed a volley of energy blasts. Shields flared, straining under the assault.

“Report!” Captain Ren barked.

“Shields at forty percent! Hull integrity compromised in sections four and seven!”

“Damage control teams, respond immediately!”

“It’s no use, Captain,” the First Officer said, his voice heavy. “Their firepower is overwhelming. We can’t hold out much longer.”

Captain Ren’s gaze hardened. He knew what had to be done. “Deploy the escape pods. Get everyone out of here.”

“But Captain, what about you?”

“I will stay and fight. Someone has to buy you time.”

“No, Captain! We won’t abandon you!”

“There is no time for argument! Go!”

“Understood, Captain. We will not forget this.”

As the escape pods jettisoned, Captain Ren turned to face the enemy. He ignited his laser sword, its crimson blade humming with power. He was ready.

The massive alien vessel loomed closer, its cannons charging.

“Come and get me,” Captain Ren growled, his eyes blazing with defiance.

He knew he was going to die, but he would go down fighting, a true warrior of the galaxy. The fate of his crew, and countless others, rested on his shoulders.

He charged towards the approaching enemy, his laser sword a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness.

“For the Star Serpent!” he roared.

“For freedom!”

“For the galaxy!”

The battle had begun. A lone warrior against an armada. A desperate stand against overwhelming odds.

“Captain Ren,” the First Officer whispered, watching from a distant escape pod, his heart heavy with sorrow and admiration. “You were a true hero.”

The Star Serpent fought valiantly, but it was no match for the alien behemoth. Its hull buckled, its systems failed. Yet, even as it succumbed, its defiant spirit burned bright. Its sacrifice would not be in vain.

“They won’t forget this,” the First Officer vowed, tears streaming down his face. “We will avenge you, Captain.”

The escape pods sped through the void, carrying the last remnants of the Star Serpent’s crew. Their journey was far from over. The fight for survival had just begun.

“Captain,” a young ensign sobbed, “what are we going to do now?”

“We survive,” the First Officer said, his voice firm despite his grief. “We regroup. And we fight back.”

“But how, First Officer? They are too powerful.”

“We find allies. We uncover their weaknesses. And we strike when they least expect it.

“We will rebuild. We will grow stronger. And one day, we will make them pay for what they have done.”