Chapter 104: Heartfire Sweeps the Plains

The remnants of the Dawn Operation fleet, dragging scar‑riddled hulls like exhausted migratory birds, finally crossed the cold Oort Cloud and returned to the embrace of the Stardust Defense Line. The triumphant cheers were dulled by heavy losses, and the applause welcoming the heroes in Qiming City was mixed with tears for countless lost relatives and comrades.

Su Yu was sent immediately to the highest‑level medical center. Her body had no serious external injuries, but her mental energy was severely depleted, and her consciousness fell into a deep self‑protective hibernation, like a lantern that had run out of oil. Chen Mo stayed almost constantly by the medical pod, watching through the observation window the pale yet tranquil face lying in the life‑support equipment. His clenched fists turned white at the knuckles, and in his mind kept replaying the scene of Su Yu, without hesitation, stepping in front of him, her frail body bursting with astonishing light.

He recalled that in Pure Land, Su Yu was still a girl he needed to protect, and her True Knowledge Vision was more a burden. Yet time after time fighting side by side, she kept growing—from spotting weaknesses, to foreseeing crises, to now… actually defining "existence" with her own will to oppose the Void. Her greatness did not stem from raw power, but from that pure protective heart. This made him realize that true strength may never be limited to a single form. He had over‑relied on the power of order and the Starlight inheritance, neglecting the light that could erupt from the deepest emotions and will within.

"Kaiwen," Chen Mo's voice was hoarse from fatigue, but his eyes were unusually clear, "concentrate resources and prioritize studying the energy Su Yu finally unleashed, that… fusion of her mental will. We call it 'Heartfire.'"

"Understood!" Kaiwen nodded heavily; the usual carefree look was gone, replaced by pain and resolve. "That power… though weak, is of an extremely high essential tier, even capable of suppressing shadow energy! This could be our future key!"

The Academy swiftly shifted its research focus. "Heartfire" research was placed at the highest priority. At the same time, based on the combat data from Dawn Operation, the Stardust Shield and Stardust Resonator began to be mass‑installed on the remaining fleet and defense platforms. Qiming City, like a wounded beast licking its wounds, grew even more frenzied in sharpening its claws and fangs.

A few days later, a slightly comforting message arrived—Europa's "Black Box" observation station, after the spatial rift was sealed, emitted that intangible scanning wave again, but this time the target was not the Night Owl, but precisely aimed at Qiming City; after scanning for several minutes it proactively sent an extremely complex yet clearly universal packet of mathematical and fundamental physical constants!

"It's… trying to communicate?" Kaiwen stared at the decoded message, incredulous. "Is this… an acknowledgment of our sealing the rift?"

The communication signal voluntarily released by the "Black Box" civilization was undoubtedly a tonic. Though the content was limited to the most basic expressions of universal cosmic laws, the implication was huge—the silent "neighbor" was at least not an enemy, and might even harbor some degree of… goodwill or observer‑type neutrality.

Chen Mo ordered the Academy to form a dedicated team to attempt a reply using the same universal information, limited to confirming physical constants and mathematically describing basic concepts such as "order" and "existence." He knew that when dealing with a civilization far beyond their own level, caution and humility were paramount.

Yet internal challenges also arose. The massive casualties of Dawn Operation gave visible signs to internal contradictions that rapid development and external pressure had temporarily masked. A segment of the populace, especially families who had lost loved ones, began to question whether such a radical expedition was necessary, arguing that holding the line and staying secluded might secure a longer peace.

Though these voices were still small, they genuinely reflected the fatigue of hearts under prolonged high pressure.

That day, after finishing his military duties, Chen Mo did not return directly to the command center; instead, he strolled to the martyr cemetery in Qiming City. Here lay the warriors who had fallen from the Pure Land era through the Dawn Operation. Cold stone tablets stood in rows, casting long shadows in the sunset, silent and solemn.

He stopped before a relatively new tombstone, which bore the name of a pilot who, while covering an assault boat in the Oort Cloud, collided with an enemy ship, was mortally wounded and ejected, and died from his injuries—a one of the bravest youngsters under Zhang Yang's command.

Chen Mo stood quietly for a long while; the evening wind brushed the hair on his forehead, sweeping over his increasingly chiseled, wind‑worn face. His fingers unconsciously brushed the cold engraving on the stone, feeling its rough texture.

He recalled the beginning: he had only wanted to keep a small group alive in the wasteland; later, he wanted to establish Pure Land, giving everyone a place to settle; later still, he wanted to protect New Hope, safeguarding the planet's future. Every step came with sacrifice. He once thought that as long as he was strong enough, sacrifices could be reduced, but reality showed that the enemy grew stronger too, and the price rose. He understood the people's doubts, because each decision bore the weight of living lives.

Yet he could not retreat. The experience of sealing the rift and the Heartfire that flared before Su Yu's coma made him see more clearly that they faced the ultimate darkness that seeks to erase all "existence." Staying secluded was merely chronic death; only by pressing forward, finding the Door of the End, and fully eliminating the threat could they truly protect what they cherish. It was not just duty, but the best consolation for the departed.

He turned and left the cemetery; his silhouette grew ever more upright and resolute in the sunset. Back at the command center, he ordered strengthened livelihood guarantees and psychological counseling, and also pressed forward more firmly with the Fire Seed Tempering program and cautious contact with the "Black Box" civilization. He would use actions and results to rally hearts and guide the way.

Just as Chen Mo was balancing internal and external pressures, Kaiwen brought a breakthrough.

By capturing and analyzing the faint "Heartfire" energy that leaked during Su Yu's coma, and combining Starlight Crystals with ancient records of life consciousness from the Luo Ya database, they succeeded in creating a device that could weakly amplify and stabilize mental will—the prototype "Heartflame Resonator."

"Although it's still very unstable and far weaker than the burst when Sister Su Yu erupted," Kaiwen exclaimed, showing a wrist‑sized device, "it proves that 'Heartfire' can be guided and applied! If more people can awaken and wield this power, even just a tiny flame, gathered together it will become a force not to be ignored!"

Almost simultaneously, the team handling communication with the "Black Box" civilization also made progress. After continuously sending basic information and receiving regular replies, they attempted to send an encrypted packet of basic observational data on "shadow energy" and "spatial rifts" (omitting exact coordinates and combat details).

After a period of silence, the "Black Box" returned an even more complex message. Once decoded, it contained a previously unseen energy‑coordinate locating algorithm, and a… warning.

The algorithm pointed to the edge of the galaxy, an extremely distant, barren star region never explored by humanity, and the warning read: "The peril of origin far exceeds what you have endured. Observers, only observe."

"They're telling us the source of the 'Void Devourer' might be there? And it's so dangerous that even they only dare to watch from afar?" Han Qing analyzed, his face solemn.

The clue points to the galaxy's edge! That realm is currently beyond human technological reach.

Chen Mo looked at the newly marked, hopelessly distant coordinate on the Star Map, then at Su Yu still sleeping in the medical pod, and finally at the tiny "Heartflame Resonator" in his hand.

He took a deep breath and made his decision.

"Activate the Voyager plan." His voice echoed through the command center, clear and resolute, "concentrate all cutting‑edge tech to build a deep‑space exploration vessel capable of ultra‑long‑range, faster‑than‑light travel. Destination: the edge of the galaxy, tracing the 'Void.'"

He turned to his core team, his gaze sweeping each member: "This will be our longest, most dangerous expedition. But it is also the only road to our future. We need stronger ships, faster speed, and… a spiritual strength that can carry us to the end."

He picked up the "Heartflame Resonator" prototype and strapped it to his wrist. "'Heartfire' research must not stop. We will let this flame burn not only in Su Yu's heart but also ignite each of our hearts. It will be the lighthouse guiding us through endless darkness, and our ultimate weapon against the final void…"

The new journey was already charted. Destination: the farthest reaches of the star sea, the source of darkness.

The road ahead is uncertain, but Heartfire is lit, the expedition approaches.