The Legendary Mechanic Chapter 1454 - Give Them a Taste of Their Own Medicine

In the Margus Star System of the Star Alliance.

A slender spatial tear sliced through the starry expanse like a blade ripping open the universe's abdomen, unleashing boundless green surges.

Myriad World Tree warships emerged from the wormhole, assembling into a formidable armada. They morphed into thick beams of light, scattering outward to assault the planets marked on the star chart.

The World Tree armada hurtled forward at tremendous velocity. Soon enough, a thriving planet came into view. The planet's defensive forces had launched into orbit, positioning themselves in space to confront the invaders.

Buzz!

Suddenly, a distant gleam appeared. A massive formation of starships shrouded in stellar glow raced closer. Their hulls bore the Star Alliance emblem. This was the swift response force of the military, based at a nearby fortress, tasked with regional security.

Aboard the lead vessel of the Star Alliance rapid response fleet, the sturdy middle-aged commander clenched the table's edge with both fists. Teeth grinding, he stared at the vastly superior enemy forces beyond the viewport, his chest tight with pain as he bellowed hoarsely:

“Units 17 and 18, withdraw. Get the civilians boarding ships for evacuation right away. Everyone else... charge! Buy us time!” The command issued, the response fleet surged toward the advancing World Tree.

Against such overwhelming foes, the Star Alliance ships still launched a counteroffensive. The sight was heartrending, reminiscent of a lone squad braving infinite enemy hordes in isolation.

Yet, the vast power gap remained unchanged. Their bravery failed to halt the green flood's advance. The apocalyptic green wave pressed on relentlessly, swiftly engulfing the defender fleet. The Star Alliance assault barely stirred the tide before vanishing into its depths.

Roots lanced across the heavens, stabbing into the vibrant planet like feeding tubes, absorbing its matter and energy to fuel their growth.

In the World Tree fleet's command ship, the Heart Tree King gazed upon the world below with a spark in his eyes. Immense psychic waves blanketed the globe, mesmerizing every lifeform into surrendering escape attempts and willingly merging into the roots as part of the World Tree.

The Heart Tree King shook his head while observing the final Star Alliance vessels shatter under the World Tree barrage.

“A pointless resistance...”

He glanced at the crew filling the chamber, noting the zealous fervor on every face. Warfare defined their existence.

Feeling the Heart Tree King's attention, all raised fists and roared in unison.

“For the Mother Tree! For Father God!”

Since Black Star conquered the World Tree, he ascended to ‘Father God’ status among its followers, his authority surpassing even the Mother Tree's.

The Heart Tree King murmured softly, then shifted his stare back to the cosmos. His vision pierced vast distances, fixing on the Star Alliance's homeworld.

In the Star Alliance capital's conference hall.

Contrasting the recent celebratory mood days prior, the chamber brimmed with dread, terror, hopelessness, unease, and myriad dark sentiments. Over the last few days, World Tree invasion alerts had erupted across their domains. Overnight, the entire Star Alliance teetered on collapse, with planets toppling one after another.

The Star Alliance's elite no longer exuded confidence from before. Now, they appeared worn out, attire disheveled. Sleep and rest had evaded them amid nonstop fierce debates.

“Wasn't the World Tree Civilization locked in battle with the three Universal Civilizations? Why strike at us now?”

The Star Alliance Leader scowled, utterly drained. Bloodshot eyes and a raspy voice marked him as Savignes quivered faintly, voicing tremors: “Could the World Tree think they've broken the three civilizations enough to open a second front? What now?”

Star Alliance leaders furrowed brows.

They assumed the three Universal Civilizations still clashed desperately with the World Tree, diverting some troops after detecting them. It felt like watching rivals suffer—until the agony struck home.

“What choice do we have? With the World Tree upon us, resistance is our only option!” One pounded the table to mask inner terror.

No sooner had he spoken than dissent rang out loudly,

“Fight what? Even the three Universal Civilizations fell short, crippled in mere years. We can't hold our turf. Evacuate the populace, safeguard our seeds, ditch the lands!” “Impossible! We retain combat power! World Tree ravages my realm. Reinforcements from all, and victory's ours!” another urged quietly. “Nonsense! Troops scarce here—how aid you?!” a voice bellowed.

The dispute exploded like a lit fuse. Days of pent-up tension uncoiled fully. Factions formed instantly: hawks for battle, doves for flight. Clashes grew savage.

Were projections not dominant, brawls would have erupted.

The Star Alliance united over forty civilizations, inherently divided by self-interests. Peaceful cohesion held normally, but invasion's crush ignited fractures.

Anti-agitation leaders vented freely now.

“Everyone, compose yourselves! We have alternatives. Solo defense against World Tree fails, but sharing plight with three Universal Civilizations, we could reach out, ally against them... Prior plans on hold. Unity to vanquish World Tree paramount. They'll grasp urgency. Vendettas later—survival first...”

The Star Alliance Leader bellowed his proposal, striving to soothe. Futile. Silence met him; arguments persisted unchecked. Past deference gone—doomed civilizations rendered him irrelevant.

The brawl peaked. Rage drove many offline abruptly, scorning central command for solo flights from doom.

Soon, the room emptied. The Star Alliance Leader sat solitary, bitterness overwhelming.

Post-chaos, select leaders issued edicts defying alliance dictates. Resources and folk packed, they bolted toward unexplored voids beyond Star Alliance bounds.

Though most initially raged yet clung to homes, seeing bold escapes sparked panic. Laggards would shield runners—unacceptable!

Dominos toppled swiftly. Star Alliance affiliates raced to evacuate, shredding pacts.

Defiance crippled mechanisms. The colossal Star Alliance fragmented overnight; civilization fleets scattered independently.

Formerly, unified orders bound members lest isolation; now, survival trumped all. World Tree assault splintered consensus. This supercluster alliance crumbled inevitably. None awaited collective demise—each schemed escapes atop others' delays.

Han Xiao orchestrated this. Star Alliance's loose framework—entangled interests sans hegemon power—coalesced tenuously, unity fragile.

Peacetime restraint held; mortal peril guaranteed schism. Eighty percent odds of breakup. Dismantled collective slashed resistance, morale plummeting.

Star Alliance once sowed galactic discord via leaks; Han Xiao mirrored via subtler rifts.

Lore Civilization's homeworld port swarmed. Anti-grav haulers shuttled goods to armadas. Terrified masses queued under soldier guns, stifling urges to obey.

Recent rebels met swift lethal ends, gore fresh. None risked chaos now.

Soon, vanguard fleet loaded fully. Ignoring trailers, it rocketed skyward, vanishing into space.

Savignes rode the command craft. Leader though he was, planetary stay imperiled. Refugee convoys batched; over half military shadowed his light-loaded lead group.

“Finally away...”

Savignes exhaled faintly.

He recalled “reports” of Dynasty rulers crushed by World Tree. Leader-assassination favored tactic. Fearing mimicry as “stomped,” he fled pronto, shunning homeworld bait... Peers mirrored, evacuating thrones.

As the vessel gained speed, Savignes eased, muttering,

“Safe for the moment...”

Words unfinished, alarms wailed piercingly from radar. Dead ahead, energy surged unbidden, barring path.

Instantly, a Mechanical Deity ballooned enormous, dwarfing stacked fleets. It eclipsed stars; a colossal palm descended abruptly.

Hong Long Long

Psionic blasts rippled outward; vessels detonated serially like fireworks. Moments later, escort annihilated. No dent made, they bloomed stellar pyres—stunningly vivid.

“Black Star!”

Savignes blanched, yelling frantically,

“Flee, flee...”

But operators sweated rivers already.

“Impossible! AI matrix jammed fully. No helm response—ships dead!” “No...”

Savignes gaped aghast, pupils mirroring swelling Supreme Heavenly Venerate palm. Mechanical etchings sharpened. Crack!

Han Xiao snatched the flagship, drawing it inward, nabbing Savignes and elites.

Then, fist rocketed forth. Gamma-like energies fanned wide, atomizing retaliatory warships en masse.

“First one.”

Han Xiao wheeled away, presence erased.

Aim: Snare all Star Alliance leaders, showcasing personal might's edge.

His power guaranteed near-perfect beheading strikes versus such foes. None barred him.

“His Excellency Savignes captured by foe!”

Han Xiao's blitz left planetary guards tardy; no aid reached in time.

Ground sentries gawked at void left by his exit. Command static droned; disarray reigned.