Chapter 329: Chapter 329: Spatial Rift
Ning Xuan’s team was still holding its ground. Meanwhile, in the underground base, the general commander, Admiral Yang Lei, was holding a meeting. The main topic was whether to mobilize the soldiers who had just withdrawn from other battlefields to reinforce the Ninth Mining Zone, which was still holding out.
"Admiral, sir, I don’t believe the Ninth Mining Zone needs reinforcements. If they can’t hold on, they will certainly retreat underground." The base had a rule: in any battle, if casualties exceeded thirty percent, the engagement could be ended, and all units were to return to the underground base.
Most of the officers present agreed, believing that Ning Xuan’s team couldn’t hold out for much longer. Since they could retreat at any moment, why bother sending reinforcements?
"That’s right. Even if they have the strength to continue, the resources from each mining zone are finite. Our presence wouldn’t increase the yield, so I see no reason to go," another officer argued, also against providing support.
Just as they were holding the meeting, a sudden BOOM rocked the underground base. Amidst the violent shaking, the power lines must have been damaged, as the conference room lights went out. "What’s going on? Haven’t the Thunder Beasts already reached the planet’s surface? Why are we still getting these thunderous quakes?" Admiral Yang demanded in a panic.
The emergency lights in the conference room flickered on, casting a harsh red glow as a shrill alarm blared simultaneously.
Admiral Yang grabbed hold of the violently shaking holographic projection table, rapidly tapping a few keys on the projected keyboard.
No one answered the Admiral’s question. Just then, the base’s AI defense system cut into all communication channels: "Warning: Intense anomalous energy fluctuations detected in near orbit. The spatial security index is about to exceed its threshold."
The mining zone map on the holographic screen instantly switched to a space surveillance feed. The sky above this S-Class Resource Star was being torn open by some unseen force. Against the pitch-black backdrop of the cosmos, a purplish-red fissure snaked outward like a branching blood vessel.
As he watched the monitoring data fluctuate wildly, Admiral Yang’s pupils contracted. "This isn’t a thunderous quake... It’s a spatial rift..."
"That’s impossible!" The technical director for spatial environment security, who had been sitting quietly in the corner and fading into the background, completely lost his composure upon hearing the defense system’s alarm.
"To tear space in our star sector, you would need at least... AAH!" The technical director lost his footing during another violent tremor and tumbled to the ground.
"Warning. Warning. The spatial security index threshold has been breached. A spatial rift has been detected above the sector. The underground security base will now commence shutdown of all functional zones. All personnel must evacuate immediately."
"Upon shutdown of all functional zones, water and power will be cut, oxygen supply will be terminated, and all rest pods will be folded to minimize structural stress. All smart devices will enter hibernation and become inoperable."
"All personnel must evacuate the underground security base immediately. Functional zone shutdown countdown commencing: 100... 99..." The AI defense system began the countdown.
"Listen up. Everyone in this room today is a mid- to high-ranking officer of this base. You cannot panic. Your job now is to immediately organize the evacuation of all personnel from the underground base. Time is short, and the task is immense. Now, move!" Admiral Yang’s heart was heavy. He knew it was impossible to evacuate everyone in such a short amount of time. Besides, even if they managed to get people out, they would be facing a spatial rift, extreme weather, and the highly lethal Thunder Beasts that were running rampant. Their chances of survival were slim at best.
Yun Han evacuated with the personnel from the medical center. The moment he reached the surface, he saw the purplish-red rift in space expanding, inch by inch, as everyone watched. More terrifyingly, the monitoring systems detected innumerable heat signatures swarming on the other side of the fissure—a dense, horrifying mass.
"Admiral, sir, is it too late to request support? We need to report to the Military Department immediately! See if we can request a large-scale troop transport portal to get some reinforcements here," a major next to Yang Lei said urgently.
"The Military Department would never open a transport portal in such an unstable spatial environment. A sudden rift like this is a catastrophic emergency. Prepare for an all-out fight. If we’re lucky, we’ll make it out of this alive."
"Alert! Energy levels surging around the spatial rift! Something is coming through!" the AI defense system announced.
The surveillance officer stared at the screen, a profound sense of helplessness washing over him. The purple-black rift spanning the sky suddenly dilated, as if ripped wider by an unseen hand.
The next second, countless black figures poured out like a downpour, a dense swarm that blotted out the entire sky.
"What the hell are those things?!" a soldier stammered, his face deathly pale and his rifle trembling in his grip.
Standing with the group from the medical center, Yun Han was remarkably calm in contrast to the others who were screaming. He watched the dark figures. They were clad in jet-black armor, their carapaces covered in sharp bone spikes. Their limbs were as long and thin as blades, and a dark green, toxic mist billowed from their joints.
The most terrifying feature was their heads—they had no eyes, only a gaping maw filled with serrated fangs. Viscous venom dripped from the corners of their mouths, corroding the ground with a SIZZLING sound.
"Poison Abyss Beasts..." Admiral Yang’s voice was low and grave. "These Exotic Beasts can spit venom. They’re extremely hard to deal with. Now we’re in real trouble."
"All personnel, don gas masks! Put them on over your full-helm and armor," Admiral Yang’s voice quickly echoed across the area.
Admiral Yang quickly reported the situation to the Military Department. Whether or not they would send reinforcements, he had to file his report.
ROAR—!!!
The first Poison Abyss Beast landed, instantly cracking the ground beneath it. It threw its head back and roared, spitting a jet of venom like an arrow. A soldier who couldn’t dodge in time took a direct hit. His protective suit dissolved in an instant, and his flesh melted into a pool of gore amidst his bloodcurdling screams.
"Open fire! All units, open fire!"
The sounds of gunfire, artillery, and the hum of energy weapons instantly thundered across the battlefield. The entire area plunged into a chaotic melee.
The appearance of the spatial rift in the sky naturally affected Ning Xuan’s forces as well.
While contending with the Thunder Beasts, Ning Xuan’s troops were also assaulted by the Poison Abyss Beasts. Initially, these Exotic Beasts inflicted several casualties on her unit.
However, Ning Xuan quickly assessed the threat.
Liu Linfeng watched Ning Zhi with excitement and awe. With every flash of Thunder from Ning Zhi’s hands, a Poison Abyss Beast fell dead. In just a matter of moments, Ning Zhi had killed every last one of the troublesome, venom-spitting Exotic Beasts.
