Mech: Shattering of the Galaxy Chapter 1526: 42: Saint Luo Plantation?

Chapter 1526: Saint Luo Plantation?

(Today marks Lao Tang’s birthday, and I’m still working overtime… My sincerest apologies, Brother Jiangnan; I’ve accrued enough debt to sell myself a hundred times over… Thank you, Brother Jiangnan, and thank you to all my brothers for the birthday wishes.)

… The Dawn Battleship, while traversing the Jump Channel, subtly adjusted its orientation, its imposing prow leading the way. Through the distorted visual field, Mu Fan could clearly discern that the shimmering, warped screen was obscured by… an immense multitude of spore clusters.

Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of yellow, white, and green spore masses were packed together, resembling the eggs of insects or parasitic cysts, creating an unsettling prickle on the scalp. How could they possibly be here?

Black expressed even greater astonishment than Mu Fan, as its extensive database contained no record of any life forms capable of parasitic existence within a wormhole. The spectacle unfolding before them bore a striking resemblance to the acidic corrosion encountered upon entering Planet 131, yet it was evident that these spore clusters represented a more advanced form. The pulsating, expanding spores seemed to be drawing sustenance from an unknown substance to fuel their growth.

“They resemble cocoons. Could they hatch into Zeg?” Mu Fan inquired, his brow furrowed.

“Nay, they are entirely dissimilar to Zeg. These spore clusters are assimilating a peculiar substance found within the wormhole. To put it simply, they function more like mineral harvesting apparatuses requiring periodic collection. Observe there, and further along; once saturated with energy, the external surface of the spores begins to mineralize into grey lumps, becoming stationary.”

The visual feed rapidly magnified various formations, revealing clusters of grey cysts interspersed among the dense spore masses, which at first glance could be mistaken for deceased specimens. “That enigmatic invading species is exploiting natural wormholes as their personal cultivation fields!” Black declared with unshakeable certainty.

“And none of the preceding vessels that navigated this route reported any anomalies?”

“This vast natural wormhole possesses hundreds of branching conduits. It’s plausible that only this particular branch we’ve entered is afflicted with spore parasitism, or perhaps those ships were rendered incapable of reporting back. Another grim possibility… those individuals never had the opportunity to send a report.”

Several crimson beacons materialized on the immense three-dimensional display, signifying the remnants of vessels that appeared to have suffered catastrophic corrosion, their metallic husks hopelessly perforated. Navigating a wormhole demands constant, minute course corrections due to the impossibility of maintaining a straight trajectory. Despite the propulsion generated by the engine arrays, the Dawn Battleship began to drift uncontrollably towards a vector deviating from the intended path.

Tragically, however… the trajectory of the Dawn Battleship’s deviation aligned directly with a wormhole wall densely carpeted with spore clusters. “Brace yourselves—” “Initiate [Ice-breaking] mode!”

Amidst Black’s furious command, two rows of extended Particle Guard Cannons deployed simultaneously from the flanks of the Dawn Battleship. Within the reactor core, two High Crystal Stones were instantly activated. Over two hundred Particle Guard Cannon muzzles collectively emitted a faint azure luminescence. Emitting from the entire broadside of the Warship, Omega particles surged forth, creating a breathtaking azure expanse.

Innumerable particle streams converged with the dense spore clusters, erupting in a kaleidoscope of multicolored flames that instantly enveloped the entire Warship. The steel superstructure ultimately impacted the wormhole’s side wall with tremendous force. Spore clusters that had evaded the Particle Guard Cannons were unceremoniously flattened upon contact. Yet, this action seemed to ignite the volatile core of an explosive cache.

Hundreds of luminous points flickered to life, followed by intense thermal build-up within the confined space, rapidly coalescing into a ferocious tempest that violently propelled the Warship away. —Boom! As if subjected to a barrage of thunderclaps, the Dawn Battleship spiraled into a chaotic descent. Warning sirens blared instantly. [Warning! The Warship’s left side has sustained over 20% structural damage!]

“I shall proceed to activate Shura,” Mu Fan stated coolly, gripping the adjacent handle. “There is no need. If I cannot surmount this challenge, my esteemed reputation as Lord Black will be utterly meaningless! Hold steadfast!” At this moment, Black’s voice resonated with desperation. A guttural rumbling recommenced from below, originating not from external impacts, but from the internal mechanical operations of the Warship. Mu Fan perceived a profound, astonishing metamorphosis occurring within the Dawn Battleship. The compromised external armor plating was pneumatically ejected and ascended, creating the illusion of the Dawn Battleship shedding its skin from a distance. The jettisoned plates detonated en masse approximately one hundred meters away. Billowing clouds of fire from all directions enveloped the “molted” Dawn Battleship, arresting its uncontrolled spin and stabilizing its hull. The two previously damaged engine arrays detached from the superstructure, while the remaining ten engine arrays commenced a process of mechanical reassembly.

The tail flames vanished, immediately flaring a fierce blue.

Boom!

Covered in jutting spikes, akin to a colossal hedgehog, the Dawn Battleship harnessed the explosive force of Steel Armor's self-destruction for a surge of secondary acceleration, charging forward with great intensity.

The swirling infernos collided with the spore clusters, igniting spectacular energy reactions that culminated in bursts of potent explosions.

In a mere ten seconds, the Dawn Battleship had forged an almost unwavering path through the constantly twisting wormhole channel.

While the initial explosions barely impacted the channel's form, their persistence seemingly provoked it, causing a sudden, drastic increase in its undulation speed.

The scenery beyond the viewport shifted with dizzying speed, the viscous Star Mist stretching, contracting, and contorting. Mu Fan could even perceive his own reflection warping erratically on the porthole's surface.

Concurrently, fleeting sparks, appearing and disappearing rapidly, left peculiar afterimages burned into his retinas.

That's...

Mu Fan's pupils contracted to pinpricks!

He glanced at the central display: 72 seconds remained until their exit from the channel.

“Black, you’re in charge here. Once we're clear of the channel, hand over the Warship’s control to Yin Shuai!”

Mu Fan's command was firm.

As his words concluded, Mu Fan placed his right hand on the lever. Veins bulged on his arm from the forceful grip as he propelled himself backward from the six-meter-high platform.

Bang!

Upon landing, Mu Fan shot towards the command cabin entrance like an arrow loosed from a bow.

“What are you doing? Didn't you say I could handle this here?” Black’s voice was laced with urgency, Mu Fan’s actions having been exceptionally fast and decisive, leaving no time for a response.

“I know, but those spore clusters—they're transmitting data outward! If there's an ambush waiting at the exit…

“…it’ll be too late!”

Just moments prior, Mu Fan had witnessed the spore clusters, from their explosive demise to their annihilation, inexplicably morphing into streams of light that flashed and dimmed, sequentially extending forward!

The three hatches opened in unison. From the bridge down to the mid-level cargo hold, a vertical drop of fifty meters. Yet, with a single bound, Mu Fan leaped, limbs spread wide in the shape of the character '大', plummeting into the dark abyss below.

“Shu—ra!”

Mu Fan’s gaze was piercing.