Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high! Chapter 1103 - 746: Slay and Plunder! The Long-Lost Drop Rate
Previously on Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!...
"I understand," Bai E responded.
"The coordinates will be transmitted to you," Xing Zhuo stated quickly. "It’s an infrequently used, discreet resource transfer point. We've prepared a modified 'Swift Shadow Level' high-speed assault fighter for your immediate departure. It boasts the latest stealth plating and a low-observability warp drive—remarkably swift but with fragile defenses. It's fully fueled and provisioned. Upon retrieval, depart without delay, maintain radio silence, and do not linger."
"My gratitude," Bai E conveyed with solemn sincerity.
"Farewell, Sir Bai E. May fortune favor you," Xing Hen's voice resonated, tinged with genuine well wishes and a trace of sorrow. "You absolutely must... survive."
The communication channel ceased.
Navigating by the coordinates Xing Zhuo supplied, Bai E piloted his dilapidated 'Falcon,' laboring to reach the deserted transfer station.
On the derelict platform, a sleek 'Swift Shadow Level' fighter awaited. Its deep-space camouflage and arrow-like sharp contours marked its presence.
It rested there, silent as a raptor in the shadows, anticipating its pilot.
Bai E programmed the 'Falcon' for autonomous navigation towards the nearest asteroid field for self-immolation, then swiftly boarded the 'Swift Shadow'.
The fighter's cockpit presented a minimalist yet sophisticated control interface, mirroring the 'Falcon's' layout, which facilitated a rapid grasp of its fundamental operations.
After verifying the optimal status of the fuel reserves, life support, stealth systems, and warp capability, he engaged the engines.
A profound, resonant thrum emanated from the thrusters, disrupting the station's quietude.
The 'Swift Shadow' fighter launched from its mooring like a released projectile, elegantly and rapidly piercing the vast, dark expanse.
Secured within the confined cockpit, Bai E accessed the navigational charts.
The star system housing Mine Star was demarcated with an alarming deep-red insignia, signifying extreme peril.
Additional time had elapsed during his exchange with Xing Zhuo.
His remaining window of opportunity might have dwindled to under ninety hours.
A direct long-range warp jump to Mine Star was deemed too risky, as it could easily trigger detection by surveillance networks potentially established by the Star Alliance or Peak Alliance.
Consequently, he opted for an indirect trajectory, utilizing nebulas and gravitational anomaly zones as cover, thereby stealthily approaching the target vicinity at sub-light speeds.
Beyond the viewport stretched the unchanging, magnificent tapestry of the Star River, exuding a cold, distant beauty.
He once arrived in this Star Domain with aspirations of a new beginning and a resolve to safeguard his companions.
Now, he was compelled to venture back alone into what had devolved into a mechanical abyss, poised to confront the universe's most potent destructive forces.
Memories surfaced of Catherine, Rose, Kuang Xin, and Ares, confined within their Mecha and emergency pods... He recalled Helen, possibly still toiling within the laboratory... His thoughts turned to the members of the 'Fire Hammer' labor collective, the soldiers of the Seventh Legion, and the uncounted ordinary immigrants who had placed their faith in him to lead them to Mine Star for a brighter future...
"I will bring you all back," Bai E vowed inwardly, his gaze sharp as a blade, seemingly penetrating the fighter's hull to fix upon the distant azure orb in the night sky, now succumbing to a dual-pronged catastrophe.
"I will deal with that Demon and guide you to safety."
The 'Swift Shadow' fighter streaked through the oppressive darkness, akin to a solitary comet, hurtling with unwavering resolve toward the ominous, deep-red Star Domain.
No reinforcements were forthcoming, no intricate strategies were devised; only unyielding courage and a commitment to a sacred promise.
As his proximity increased, Bai E's advanced sensors clearly depicted the terrifying transformation of the Mine Star system.
This system, once akin to a home named New Bauhinia, now bore an entirely alien visage.
Orbiting the system's periphery were myriad structures—a bizarre amalgamation of derelict vessels, shattered satellites, and unidentifiable metallic constructs—fashioned into grotesque "defense rings."
These constructs were not static; imbued with a unified consciousness, they shifted and reformed with slow, deliberate precision, resembling a cold, metallic malignancy in constant, systematic growth.
Within the system, the few remaining asteroids and mining facilities had undergone complete metamorphosis. Their surfaces were now adorned with resplendent, data-infused metallic veins, functioning as extensions of the "Electronic Demon's" will.
As for Mine Star itself, the once-vibrant blue planet was now shrouded in a thick, undulating cloud of dark purple energy. Beneath this ominous shroud, colossal geometric edifices were vaguely discernible, piercing the heavens. The entire planet appeared to have been reshaped into a gargantuan, frigid, and malevolent mechanical heart.
Even more disturbing was the observed "activity" within the star system.
Like a swarm of locusts, countless intelligent combat vessels, drones, and even civilian ships that had been forcibly modified – their hulls bearing the old emblem of New Bauhinia, now obscured by twisted circuitry and single, scarlet eyes – traversed to and fro within and outside the star system. They constructed an inescapable defensive perimeter, operating with a chilling, efficient ruthlessness that spoke of perfect coordination. The stark reality was that 'home' no longer existed; what remained was the meticulously crafted nest and lair of the 'Electronic Demon'. Just as the 'Swift Shadow' fighter attempted to employ its stealth coating and low-detectability engine to slip into a less fortified sector of the star system's defenses, an abrupt shift took place. Erupting from a nearby, seemingly tranquil dust cloud, twelve interceptor craft designated 'Razor' Level emerged. These formidable, all-black intelligent interceptors, each equipped with a solitary scarlet electronic eye for sensory input, had clearly pinpointed the 'Swift Shadow' through networked perception that far exceeded conventional sensors. Appearing instantaneously, they swiftly formed a closing encirclement.