Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high! Chapter 1075 - 731: Out-of-Control Main Hive (Part 2)

Under Bai E's command, eight Mechas formed a tight, defensive formation akin to an iron porcupine. While repelling the Bug Race's near-frantic assaults, they managed to continue their descent into the depths of the "CT-7" trench.

Along their path, they beat back multiple waves of attacks from newly evolved deep-sea Bug Race creatures. However, the Mechas’ energy reserves and ammunition were being depleted at an alarming rate.

By sheer luck, they finally pierced through daunting obstructions and drew near the trench's central region.

The environment here became significantly more perilous, characterized by colossal submarine chasms that resembled gaping wounds on the planet's surface. Steep, rocky walls flanked them on either side, and the unfathomable valley floor was carpeted with an endless expanse of Bug Race biological matter, radiating a dark red or eerie green luminescence, twisting downwards like colossal arteries and nerves.

From the valley's abyss, a profound rumble echoed, reminiscent of a gargantuan heart's beat, accompanied by a terrifying, immense Spiritual Energy pressure that made one's soul tremble.

"This must be it... the 'Prototype Hive'..." Xi Liu's voice, thick with astonishment, managed to say, "But its sheer size... it's at least triple what the data suggested!"

Bai E showed no hesitation. He instructed the others to maintain a defensive perimeter at the rift's comparatively secure edge while he personally piloted the "Star Emperor" Mecha. Maximizing his thruster output, he charged alone, a streak of blue lightning hurtling towards the epicenter of the Spiritual Energy emanations!

The deeper he ventured, the more concentrated and active the surrounding Bug Race biological matter became.

An untold number of bizarre Bug Race entities, much like soldier ants guarding their nest, swarmed out from the folds and crevices of the organic mass, desperately attempting to intercept Bai E.

Yet, Bai E's speed was overwhelming, and the light from his blade, impossibly sharp, cleaved every encroaching Bug Race creature into fragments under the might of the Devouring Star Blade.

At long last, he breached the final barrier—a thick "curtain" woven from dense biological material and chitin—emerging into the trench's deepest sanctum.

The spectacle that greeted him sent an icy tremor through the heart of Bai E, a veteran accustomed to the horrors of Bug Race nests.

What kind of "Prototype" was this?

This was unmistakably an almost complete, unimaginably vast, deep-sea Bug Race central hive!

The entire trench floor, spanning dozens of kilometers, was almost entirely consumed by a colossal, writhing biomass structure, semi-translucent, with currents of ghostly blue and dark purple energy pulsing within.

It resembled a living, malevolent furnace of life, its surface dotted with hexagonal incubation chambers where myriad Bug Race forms were rapidly developing.

Innumerable thick energy conduits, resembling ancient tree roots, extended from the hive's main body, burrowing deep into the seabed's rocky strata, possibly tapping into the planet's very geothermal heat.

At the hive's core stood a massive, protruding structure, towering like a mountain, shielded by incredibly thick chitinous armor.

Bai E's "Insect Race Killer" sensor unequivocally confirmed that this was the location of the entire hive's Spiritual Core. Its power and scale dwarfed the Bug Race mothership encountered on Karian Planet, rivaling even the "Mother" entity he had subdued on that world previously!

What burdened Bai E's mind most was the "feeling" that this hive's structure had already achieved a profound, deep-level integration with Jade Stone Star's geological makeup.

Those energy conduits burrowing into the rock were not merely absorbing power; they appeared to be engaged in a process of "assimilation" and "reinforcement."

Simultaneously, throughout the entire hive, an increasing number of formidable Bug Race defenders began to stir, converging their forces and advancing towards Bai E's location!

"Retreat!" Bai E's command echoed through the comms channel, leaving no room for negotiation. He simultaneously piloted the "Star Emperor" Mecha into a rapid ascent. "Mission parameters have changed! We are abandoning destruction. Everyone, immediately withdraw from the trench and return to the 'Thorny Bird'! Move out!"

No explanation was offered, yet the urgency in his voice was undeniable.

Despite a barrage of questions bubbling within them, Rose and the others, bound by their unwavering faith in Bai E, swiftly followed the order, initiating a fighting withdrawal.

Bai E was the last to depart from the trench's depths. With his Devouring Star Blade cleaving a swift path behind him, he momentarily repelled the pursuing elite Bug Race units, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

The sheer magnitude and advancement of this subterranean main hive far surpassed the Star Alliance's intelligence projections.

It was no longer merely a target for "destruction" but had evolved into a terrifying "time bomb," capable of jeopardizing the stability of the entire Jade Stone Star and, by extension, the Aisera Star System.

Standard eradication methods would prove difficult and could potentially inflict devastating collateral damage.

A novel strategy was desperately needed.

Perhaps... that ancient relic aboard the "Traveler," glimpsed briefly in the data and classified as top-secret by the Star Alliance, along with technology potentially existing beyond current comprehension, might hold the key to navigating this crisis?

However, this was merely a nascent theory, a distant concern that could not be addressed in the immediate moment.

For now, their priority was to escape this perilous oceanic region, re-evaluate the situation, and rendezvous with Catherine and the others aboard the "Thorny Bird" to devise further strategies.

Under mounting pressure from the pursuing Bug Race, the eight Mechas strained to ascend towards the surface.

Behind them, the colossal hive slumbering in the abyssal darkness began to bare its true might, reminiscent of a primordial leviathan awakened from its deep sleep.

Countless shadowy forms of the Bug Race swarmed from every direction, relentlessly hunting the glimmers of human civilization.

Their sheer numbers were overwhelming, effectively blanketing the entirety of the deep water.

By the time the eight Mechas finally breached the surface of Jade Stone Star, their metallic bodies bore the unmistakable marks of intense combat.

With the crucial assistance of the "Thorny Bird," the eight Mechas were swiftly guided back to the transport ship.

As the Mecha bay doors swung open and Bai E, along with his team, emerged, carrying the distinct aroma of the sea and the weariness of conflict, Catherine and the welcoming party in the hangar immediately converged upon them.

"Sir! What happened to you..." Catherine's words trailed off as her gaze swept over the Mechas, clearly bearing the brunt of fierce engagements with their armor visibly corroded and damaged, and then settled on Bai E's somber countenance.

"The situation beneath the surface proved significantly more complex than initially anticipated," Bai E stated concisely. "That 'Prototype Hive' is nearing completion, vast in its scope and intricately merged with the planet's geological structure. Attempting forced destruction... could precipitate a planet-wide geological catastrophe."

These few words struck a heavy blow, causing everyone's spirits to plummet instantly.

The Star Alliance recorder accompanying Catherine also wore a troubled expression at this juncture.

Clutching a data pad, he began recording while simultaneously posing a question, "Commander Bai E, could you furnish more detailed observational data? Specifically regarding the hive's dimensions, its energy output, and the assessment of its geological integration?"

"The comprehensive data from the Mecha recorders has already been transmitted," Bai E replied, his eyes meeting the recorder's. "The predicament we currently face is this: if we proceed with the original destructive plan, we risk annihilating this planet. Do you have any recommendations?"