Chapter 1107 Micro-darkness Thrown into Chaos
Diamond Star was a small superspeed wars.h.i.+p. While that unknown s.h.i.+p, which had been struck down, was a cruiser, it was many times larger compared to Xia Fei’s s.h.i.+p.
“From the damage, this s.h.i.+p must’ve been scuttled through sheer firepower. These aren’t the signs of an expert’s attack,” Radix said.
Xia Fei had already come to the same conclusion. If this was the handiwork of a being, the damage would not be so consistent.
“So out of the three wars.h.i.+ps, at least one has superb firepower. Even if the warriors on board don’t head out to s.p.a.ce and fight, they’ll still have the power to deal a fatal blow on their opponents. We’ll have to be careful against such an opponent,” Fuchen advised.
Fighting out in this kind of place was not the scary part; it was that they would be in trouble if their wars.h.i.+p got damaged or even destroyed in the process. Without the support of their superspeed wars.h.i.+p and just going by their strength alone, it would take even for the speedster Xia Fei to make it out of this uninhabited region.
This was why it was very important for people to protect their wars.h.i.+ps even in the Alpha Universe. After all, one still had to depend on their wars.h.i.+ps to leave a place after every battle.
“From what I’ve observed so far, a large wars.h.i.+p might be responsible for the destruction of this wars.h.i.+p.” Xia Fei shared his thoughts out loud.
“That’s very possible. Large wars.h.i.+ps are of such gargantuan size that they can be fitted with plenty of a.r.s.enals. How should we deal with such a scenario?” Radix nodded and asked.
“Give chase but don’t engage,” Xia Fei replied firmly. “Three s.h.i.+ps arrived here one after the other, which shows that they’re from three different teams. Combat will break out if they b.u.mp into one another, and from the remains of this s.h.i.+p, all we can do is wait.” Radix was surprised at first, but he soon exclaimed, “We can wait till the other two s.h.i.+ps are severely damaged before swooping in and eliminating them all!”
Xia Fei let out a long sigh. “It won’t be that easy. If one side is too strong and can handily beat the other without incurring much loss, we’ll still have to face that strong opponent at their peak capability. Come, let’s just take things as they come. It will always be troublesome when it comes to dealing with potential opponents.”
There was no way plans could adapt quickly enough or keep up with the changes. Just as Xia Fei was tracking down the remaining two wars.h.i.+ps, an unexpected storm struck.
“It’s a Dark Matter Particle Storm! Xia Fei, we must come up with a way to hide from this storm as soon as possible!” Radix cried in alarm.
“No need to panic. The wars.h.i.+p can withstand it,” a.s.suaged Xia Fei.
Dark Matter had a violent nature, and though it was just a minor particle storm, it was still more than capable of inflicting substantial damage to any wars.h.i.+p. Fortunately, Xia Fei’s wars.h.i.+p had a resilient diamond-shaped hull, which could adapt to a storm’s strength, so it would not have a hard time withstanding such volatile elements.
Fuchen was still a little worried. “What if the number of these particles increases, intensifying the storm? I’m afraid that we’ll be in hot soup.”
Xia Fei chuckled. “What can trouble us can also trouble our opponents! Though our wars.h.i.+p is small, it actually has the slimmest chances of being threatened by it. This is a once-in-a-million opportunity right now!
“Maintain our engines at 100% capacity; full speed ahead!” Xia Fei gave this order to the AI computer.
For some reason, Xia Fei had actually ordered the s.h.i.+p to increase its speed!
The radar had a limited search range, and right now, those two wars.h.i.+ps still had no idea that Xia fei was secretly on their trial. The moment he increased their speed and closed in the distance, though, their s.h.i.+p would appear on the rival wars.h.i.+ps’ radars, thereby exposing it!
Radix and Fuchen both kept quiet. It was clear that Xia Fei had his plan, and given their current circ.u.mstance, all they could do was place their trust on him.
Their speed kept climbing; Diamond Star was almost forging ahead at full speed.
Half an hour later, a white dot appeared on their radar, indicating a large battlecruiser. Its speed was not great, but it boasted impressive firepower!
“Sure enough, the s.h.i.+p with the greatest firepower has been sandwiched in the middle. If my a.s.sumption proves to be right, the wars.h.i.+p far in front should also be damaged,” Xia Fei stated calmly.
Fuchen and Radix could only express their astonishment. They had no idea where and when Xia Fei had come up with his speculation. After all, none of them had even seen that s.h.i.+p far out in front, yet Xia Fei had already guessed that it was damaged? His reasoning abilities were simply too ridiculous.
“How did you know all these things?” asked Fuchen, curious.
“It’s clear to me from the traces left behind that the three s.h.i.+ps are all different models. When we entered the star region, I saw that the three residual trails were not too far from one another. There could only be two possibilities for that: One, all three wars.h.i.+ps are about the same size and, two, they entered the region one after another separately. Because of the time that has pa.s.sed from the first entry, the trail has gradually dissipated, so now it appears as if the three trails are more or less going on the same route.
“According to the molecular residual theory, of the three s.h.i.+ps, one is definitely a battlecruiser with overwhelming firepower. It’s not hard to guess that the huge s.h.i.+p was the first to enter the Micro-darkness Star Region. It came first, but since the other two s.h.i.+ps are smaller compared to it, both have an edge when it comes to speed, so they’d have naturally eventually outrun the big s.h.i.+p.
“One of the small s.h.i.+ps must’ve received damage from that large s.h.i.+p’s firepower, and now the small s.h.i.+p in front is having trouble ensuring its safety, too. Though it’s in the lead, it has probably sustained damage, too.” Xia Fei’s a.n.a.lysis was fairly comprehensive. Radix and Fuchen nodded repeatedly as they listened to him. Radix was fine, for he had experienced Xia Fei’s extremely accurate inferences before, but Fuchen, who had only been in Xia Fei’s company recently, was truly greatly shocked. “So what do we do? Should we take on that battlecruiser by force?” Radix asked.
“No. We’ll speed past it to get in front,” replied Xia Fei calmly.
“That’s too dangerous! The battlecruiser’s firepower covers a wide area! If we wanna speed past it, then we’ll have to take a wide arc. In the event it’s fitted with a super-long-range strike weapon, we’ll find ourselves buried in the stars!” Radix yelped. He was different from Fuchen. He was once a soul s.h.i.+p’s core, so he had a deep understanding of how wars.h.i.+ps operated, and he could easily tell just how dangerous that maneuver was.
None of the two had expected Xia Fei to smile at this time. He then contradicted Radix’s statement. “First, the area that the s.h.i.+p in front’s firepower covers isn’t that large, or else the other cruiser would have already been destroyed. Second, the Dark Matter Particle Storm is still raging! That’ll make it extremely difficult for it to target and lock onto our s.h.i.+p, making this an excellent opportunity for us!”
As their Diamond Star got closer and closer, the radar could already clearly make out the battlecruiser’s outline.
Xia Fei attempted to overtake the s.h.i.+p by circling around it from the outside, but after that cruiser discovered the Diamond Star’s presence, it very quickly changed its course and moved close.
“It really didn’t open fire! Does it really not have a super-long-range strike weapon?” Radix exclaimed. At this moment, the distance between the two wars.h.i.+ps had already grown big, while both kept pace with each other. Furthermore, Xia Fei’s wars.h.i.+p was quickly leaving the other in his engine plume with the Diamond Star’s advantage in speed! Seeing this scene, the enemy wars.h.i.+p had probably gotten very anxious, but it was useless anyway. The battlecruiser had amazing firepower, but its speed was average, with it not being in the least bit agile. Xia Fei had already determined its weakness through logical a.n.a.lysis, so the one on board that other s.h.i.+p could only watch blankly as Xia Fei overtook them!
Speed was everything!
All of them were heading to Aquamarine’s old lair, and whoever arrived first could gain the benefits that came along with that feat.
Radix felt excited, but the expression on Fuchen’s face had become somber at this time.
His gaze was locked onto the sight outside the window. That Dark Matter Particle Storm was extremely scary, capable of puncturing holes the size of sesame seeds on their s.h.i.+p’s hull if it ever made contact. Fortunately, the hull was thick enough, so minor damages would not be something they should fear.
“The Dark Matter Particle Storm is becoming even more intense. We might be getting close to the heart of the storm.” Fuchen gulped audibly.
“Yes, but this is the fastest route. I already calculated it. The battlecruiser has an 80% chance of brus.h.i.+ng past the eye of this storm,” replied Xia Fei calmly.
Radix was stunned, the excitement he was initially feeling completely gone now. He muttered, “A chance of 80%? That means that there’s a 20% chance of encountering danger?”
“That’s right,” replied Xia Fei simply.
His eyes were filled with so much determination. Xia Fei’s decisive expression brought Fuchen and Radix great confidence. Without a doubt, he was an expert when it came to piloting wars.h.i.+ps! In addition, he was great at calculating things!
Two hours had pa.s.sed, and the wars.h.i.+p, which was in front, had also appeared in the radar’s range, but the Dark Matter Particle Storm was getting even fiercer. The radar display was filled with static, as the entire s.h.i.+p rocked more vigorously.
“You’re right. That wars.h.i.+p has indeed received damage. Its signal radius is obviously stronger, but its signal is erratic and unstable.” Radix stared at the radar for several minutes before reporting this.
VV
On average, the smaller and flatter a wars.h.i.+p, the weaker the signal radius. However, after this wars.h.i.+p got struck, its shape had become irregular, which was why the signal radius increased accordingly. Xia Fei had guessed correctly. When this s.h.i.+p went past that battlecruiser, it had received quite a severe beating. It was just that its engine was so advanced that it could forcibly increase the distance to escape with the lives of those aboard.
Xia Fei’s grip on the wheel became firm, as he steered it into the eye of the storm!
“What are you doing?! That’s in the direction of the eye of the storm! We’re doomed if the particle storm hits us!” Radix shouted in fright. Xia Fei was unfazed. “If you got a chance to kill an opponent, would you pa.s.s it up?” Radix and Fuchen were both startled. After all that, Xia Fei was actually h.e.l.l bent on killing his opponent here!
As they drew closer to the eye of the storm, the shaking of the wars.h.i.+p became much more severe. Xia Fei’s brain was racing, as everyone’s lives were now in his hands!
Right when it seemed like the wars.h.i.+p could no longer withstand it, Xia Fei suddenly controlled the wheel to turn the wars.h.i.+p around!
Fuchen and Radix had finally understood at that moment!
The storm was proliferating from the center; Xia Fei had chosen the appropriate angle by which he could borrow the Dark Matter Particle Storm’s force!
*Whoosh*
Their speed had become faster than ever! Due to the storm’s force, the Diamond Star wars.h.i.+p was now moving at a speed well past its limit and was now like a beam of light as it shot forth!
Even more amazing was that Xia Fei and the storm were heading in the same direction, so no opponent could lock onto him, and all they could do was wait out the storm!
This was what it was like to sail a thousand mile in a day by going with the river flow!
That cruiser, which had obvious damage in several areas, was presently going at its max speed in hopes of avoiding this fierce a.s.sault from Xia Fei.
Unfortunately, everything had been well within Xia Fei’s calculations, so how easy could it be for them to attempt an evasive maneuver?
“Lock on and fire!”
Xia Fei’s command was very simple. The most difficult route adjustment had already been accomplished, so now he just had to reap the benefits!
*Kaboom*
A grand explosion rumbled from afar! That cruiser, which simply had no way of defending against both Xia Fei and the Dark Matter Particle Storm’s battering, had instantly been turned into smithereens!
*Whoosh*
As the Diamond Star came hurtling through that conflagration, everyone did a sharp inhalation.
Turning around, the s.h.i.+p was now finally truly heading to the Valley of Wind at full speed.
The only battlecruiser that could threaten Xia Fei had already been halted firmly!
“Whatever is in Aquamarine’s lair, it all shall belong to me!” Xia Fei hissed through gritted teeth.