Chapter 400: Break the Veil (Double Update: 27,000 Words)

Shuguang City, Underground City No. 1, Vanguard Program Launch Hall.

Chu Zhaonan and a group of Federation officials watched solemnly as seven starships ascended on the screen; the launch hall was bustling with activity.

Not just here—now the entire Underground City No. 1 was empty; all Federation personnel, except those assigned to the Vanguard Program, had evacuated. The only ones still near him were Xu Yan, Luo Ming, and the Vanguard Program's lead, Su Jin.

Report, Chairman Chu: large numbers of anomalous entities have flooded in through the underground network tunnels.

A military officer reported: "All exits and entrances have been sealed. They're expected to breach from beneath the underground city in thirty minutes."

"I'll lead a team to hold them off," Luo Ming told the officer. "Everyone, hold the launch center."

"Yes!"

Beside the Twin Star Tower, the Zhentian Ship had arrived amid a storm of artillery fire; Ye Lan stood on the main bridge, calmly watching the seven starships—carrying the light of human civilization—ascend into the darkness.

Meanwhile, in Shuguang City, millions of survivors looked up toward the sky.

"What's that? Starships?" a child asked in the crowd.

"Yes, starships—our human starships," the mother replied.

"Where are they going?"

"To a very far place…"

"Will they come back?"

The mother's eyes turned red as she stroked the child's hair.

"Yes, they will."

…

【Control Center: This is Shuguang. Confirmed: 'Breakthrough 1' has completed its launch sequence. Estimated to enter Vanguard sequence in 35 seconds.】

【Relay craft deployed. Telemetry signal normal.】

【'Civilization Vanguard,' 'Natural Selection,' 'Deep Blue,' 'Star Shepherd,' 'Star Cluster,' 'Ocean,' and 'Ark' micro-wave shielding systems activated successfully.】

【In 20 seconds, main engines ignite. All personnel, secure positions. Prepare for acceleration.】

【Main engine thrust at 75%. Continuous ascent.】

【All units, in 30 seconds, we will approach the height of the Celestial Veil. Maintain impact formation.】

BOOM!

At 7, 00 meters, the eight ultra-heavy plasma thrusters of the Gray Mist Messengers, wreathed in violent thrust, blazed with searing heat and erosion flames—like radiant, blazing angels—flying ahead of the seven starships.

Their powerful exhaust streams tore through the clouds; the Vanguard Fleet accelerated steadily.

【Altitude reached: 8, 00 meters.】

【Altitude reached: 9, 00 meters.】

The Gray Mist Messengers continued ascending, spewing violent plasma trails.

In the launch center control room, Chu Zhaonan watched the ascending fleet, his expression calm from start to finish.

【9, 00 meters.】

【Approaching Celestial Veil altitude. Alert all ships: prepare for impact.】

Didi didi didi!

At this moment, alarms blared continuously across all ship and launch center control panels.

Su Jin, Xu Yan, and other former Federation officials wore grim expressions; the air in the launch hall seemed to freeze.

【Breakthrough Device detected energy fluctuations in the Celestial Veil. Preparing for impact!】

【Accelerate!】

Diiii…

The next instant, signals from the first-sequence Gray Mist Messenger and the following seven starships vanished from the launch center's monitors—all at once, within one second.

"Report: relay craft has crashed!"

"Report: Sky Observation Station detected massive aerial explosions…"

"Search impossible. Aerial surveillance ships have crashed."

The launch hall fell utterly silent. The air grew crushing, as if everyone held their breath—even the sound of a pin dropping became piercingly sharp.

Everyone present knew what had happened, because this was not the first Breakthrough test.

For the launch center staff, they understood why the relay craft had fallen—but no one dared speak. The air was thick with grief and despair.

Some turned pale; others wept softly. Xu Yan's aged eyes grew distant; his clenched fists slowly uncurled. He looked at Chu Zhaonan, who stood motionless, utterly still.

No one spoke. Minutes passed, second by second.

Ten minutes passed.

Twenty minutes passed.

At this moment, massive explosions and monstrous roars began echoing from the open shaft of the underground city below; more guards rushed out with rifles to reinforce the front lines. Yet Chu Zhaonan remained unmoved, his gaze locked on the monitoring screen.

10: 7. The sky remained dark. The shrieks of anomalous entities echoed endlessly through the underground city, surging upward from a kilometer below.

Once-pristine office zones, expensive residential districts, schools, hospitals, entertainment streets—all had been washed into ruins by the tide of anomalous entities.

Only twenty minutes had passed—but it felt like hours.

As the launch hall's atmosphere grew oppressively heavy, a shortwave signal, transmitted via high-power electromagnetic waves, suddenly appeared on a staff member's computer.

The staff member's face changed; he rubbed his glasses in disbelief. On his screen, a rapid stream of binary code—transmitted via electromagnetic pulse intervals—flashed into view.

"Chairman!"

The staff member shouted. Everyone froze.

Dozens of staff members rushed over.

"Binary code! Activate the decoder!"

"Translation complete!"

"Project it onto the screen!"

Didi didi didi!

At that moment, Chu Zhaonan, Xu Yan, and others looked up at the main screen. Familiar characters appeared before their eyes.

"Shuguang, this is Zhang Beihai of the 'Natural Selection.' Using solar gain reflection to transmit this message: the Breakthrough Device successfully breached the Celestial Veil. But we were struck by an unknown dark-side energy storm, causing mass crew mutations. The 'Civilization Vanguard' supply ship's propulsion system separated us from the 'Deep Blue,' pushing us clear of the dark-side storm. Captain Chu Jing has sacrificed himself. I now assume command of the Vanguard flagship. We are proceeding per original plan, leaving the solar system. Farewell, Blue Planet!"

"Captain Zhang?! We… we succeeded?!!" The launch center director wept uncontrollably: "Two star-class ships escaped!!"

For the Vanguard Program, success meant only one starship escaping out of seven.

He was about to cheer—then noticed the complex expressions on the other staff members' faces. He realized his mistake and turned apologetically toward Chu Zhaonan.

"Chairman Chu… I…"

Chu Zhaonan understood everything. He smiled gently at all the staff.

"It doesn't matter. All the same."

"Our mission is complete. Everyone may now leave. The Zhentian Ship will escort you to safety."

Xu Yan looked over. In that instant, Chu Zhaonan seemed to shed a thousand-pound burden—suddenly, he looked much older.

Evacuation began. The last Federation personnel and armed forces left the underground control hall.

"Activate Eternal Skywell!"

Chu Zhaonan issued a final command via fingerprint.

Kong!

Wu!

At the top of Underground City No. 1, two massive steel gates—like celestial doors—slowly closed.

This was the permanent defense built during the city's construction to withstand nuclear blasts. Now, it was used to contain mutations and anomalous entity outbreaks within.

Luo Ming led the Seraphim Team to cover the evacuation of countless guards and launch center staff. As Xu Yan left, he saw Chu Zhaonan still standing alone in the launch hall. He said at once:

"Chairman…"

"Go," said Chu Zhaonan, clad in military uniform, standing calmly in the empty hall.

"As the last leader of human civilization, I must bear responsibility for its continuation—and atone for the humans left behind."

He stood at the center of the launch hall, like a sharp blade guarding the place that once symbolized civilization's heart and humanity's last fortress. The flood of anomalous entities surged endlessly from the underground city—but even that tide could not drown his words.

Xu Yan froze, his eyes filled with bitterness. Then he stood still, nodding silently. The fleeing staff paused, one by one, turning back to look at that figure.

As Federation Chairman, he waited for everyone to leave.

As a father, he waited for one message to return.

Chu Zhaonan took a brilliant naval insignia from his pocket, gently caressing it with his fingers, speaking in a voice only he could hear.

"Well done."

Thud. The Eternal Skywell closed.

All anomalous entities attempting to flood into the city from underground tunnels were blocked.

At the eastern and southern city walls, where defenses were about to collapse, the 83rd Iron Guard Brigade arrived to reinforce the last bastion. 10: 8.

Dawn broke.

The night's rain vanished. Shuguang City welcomed its dawn again.

As the dark veil receded and sunlight poured over the grand city, smoke rose endlessly into the sky.

Tap-tap-tap.

When the final volley of gunfire ceased, the entire city fell silent.

On the city walls, the morning light shone on the weary, battle-worn faces of the Garrison Commanders and the blood-smeared faces of survivors. In that moment, everyone knew—they had survived.

A seventeen-year-old garrison soldier raised his rifle and walked to the edge of the wall. He gazed toward the outer district, where the night's brutal battle had left a scene that made his pupils dilate in horror.

Beyond the wall, the former outer suburbs no longer existed.

Broken skyscrapers resembled bones gnawed by giant beasts, concrete shards and rebar twisted together, exposed ends still smoking with charred black smoke. The streets were unrecognizable, asphalt turned to ash by artillery fire, craters piled one after another, filled with dark red bloodwater like countless open mouths. The wreckage of traffic lights hung upside down from utility poles, fragments of monstrous limbs dangling from them. Shattered glass reflected the rising sun like scattered blood-red diamonds.

Hundreds of thousands, millions of zombies and strange corpses piled into mountains—rotting, charred, mutilated—layered atop one another, filling every street and ruin. Some had been blasted into fragments by heavy artillery, their organs and severed limbs hanging from rebar; others had been incinerated into charcoal by flamethrowers. Along the city walls, the heads of massive Special-Class monsters hung suspended; small nuclear explosions had blown half their bodies from kilometers away, slamming them against the walls and carving out a massive breach.

Conditions inside the city were no better, especially in the high-rises. Collapses caused by flying Strange Entities, explosions, entire districts reduced to burning, ruined vehicles. Streets were littered with the corpses and shell casings of flying Strange Entities. Anti-aircraft gun barrels remained slightly warm; rocket fins stuck out from the rubble of collapsed buildings like strange tombstones.

In every survivor district, countless survivors wore expressions of dread and exhaustion, their bodies and vehicles coated in dust and monster blood. Some began shouting in delirium.

"It's dawn! It's dawn!!"

"It's dawn!"

Hundreds of thousands of survivors who had endured the nightmare night now overflowed with joy and the shock of survival. Organized convoys immediately launched rescue and medical operations, sorted supplies, and counted heads. Many fragmented small convoys and families, like ghosts, sat alone in corners weeping. Some dug through rubble searching for loved ones; others ran frantically seeking water. Dust from collapsed buildings had turned nearly everyone's hair gray.

"It's dawn! Quickly gather your gear and leave Dawn City!"

"North! Head north!"

"East! Go east!!"

"Take every usable resource you can!"

"The Phoenix will come—we'll leave with the Phoenix Corps!"

Through every district and street, cries, screams, shouts, and cheers rang out incessantly.

Double Star Tower. Skyward Fleet.

Xu Yan and many other Federation officials were here. Several transport ships arrived, one commanded by Garrison Commander Lu Tianye, the other two by Bei Meizhou United Front's Xu Zhenyue and 83 Iron Guard Brigade's Hu Jiang.

Thus, the Phoenix Corps and the survivors of Dawn City united.

"The Vanguard Plan succeeded," Ye Lan said, looking at them all. "We should be grateful—at least two seeds of human civilization are now leaving the solar system. That offers us some comfort in our despair."

After speaking, she gazed at the city's aftermath after the battle, and sighed.

"Now, we who remain must consider how to survive the next long night."

…

Lin Xian was rescued by the Phoenix Corps and brought to Xingcheng Orbital Station, along with Kiki, Shizhi, and the few remaining members of Qino.

On the station platform, over sixty body bags lay in a row. Lin Xian looked at them and sighed to Qino: "The Crescent Moon Operation failed. To obtain Dark information, we're left with only one option: kill an S-Class ourselves."

Even as he said it, Lin Xian knew it was nearly impossible.

The Phoenix Corps had obtained no relevant cells from the Cloud Black Thorns. They understood that acquiring the so-called "action brain" of an S-Class was no simple task—it required cultivation in the Star Abyss, like the Crimson World, and the sacrifice of hundreds to establish mycelial links. Even if the Phoenix Corps could manage this, they no longer had the time.

"It's probably impossible," Qino said, sitting in his wheelchair and lighting a cigarette. "The Gray Mist's breakthrough through the Celestial Curtain must have triggered another change in the Star Abyss. Our unmanned probes now detect not just one S-Class in Star Abyss #7, but three—S-Classes are approaching from Star Abysses #5, #7, and #8. And worse, reconnaissance units suspect the Corpse Drivers of Star Abyss #5 are moving toward us."

He spat on the ground, his voice low. "Whether it was linking to the Star Abyss or breaking through the Celestial Curtain, we've fully enraged these monsters. Now, the Phoenix Corps' priority is evacuation."

Jiang Yun walked over. "As soon as dawn broke, many large convoys began withdrawing. The Phoenix Corps will likely evacuate everyone within a short time."

Lin Xian looked at him. "Where's Jian Xuxi?"

"She and Jian Zeyang went out to meet the Skyward Infinite," Jiang Yun checked his timepiece. "The mobile signal station has received word—they should enter the city soon."

Lin Xian nodded wearily, watching as the zipper on Chu Yan's body bag was slowly drawn shut, his gaze heavy.

"Why did you tell me not to give up on you..."

"Why didn't you want me to give up on you..."

"Why would I ever give up on you?"

The Crescent Moon Operation was a mission Chu Yan had to complete. But at the final moment, faced with the choice between present and future, she chose the present—she and Lin Xian reclaimed the Heart of the Galaxy, sparing the city from a needless catastrophe.

Yet Lin Xian never expected Chu Yan to die. At the last instant, she told him that Julius would never reveal Dark information. She knew that if she launched a psychic attack on Julius, he would kill the true controller.

For the Crimson World, this loss meant nothing. Both were clones—mere puppets managing the Giant God Peak launch site. And it also eliminated Chu Yan, a serious threat to them.

So Chu Yan had foreseen her death. It was the only choice.

Shizhi walked over, placed her hand behind Lin Xian, and quietly released her ability to help restore his mental strength.

Lin Xian felt a warmth, turned to look at Shizhi, and forced a faint smile.

"Shizhi, you did well."

Shizhi's face was still smudged with dirt. She said to Lin Xian: "I think we still have hope."

She pointed to the sky. "We can fly up too."

Lin Xian looked up. He had just learned the Vanguard Plan had saved two starships. He remembered the first vessel he'd seen when infiltrating Xinggang—the 【Natural Selection】. To him, the news brought both relief and sorrow. From the perspective of civilization's survival, humanity might one day bloom again among the distant stars. But from his own, the remaining survivors of Blue Star still faced months of journey ahead.

He didn't know if humanity could use these months to study the Celestial Curtain more deeply. But the Star Abyss's unrest likely meant the Dark had realized what humans were doing—and that could make their survival even harder.

Kiki, having fought through the night, now slept. Last night, Hu Ge, Mo Nika, Jiang Yun, and others had held the line at Xingcheng Orbital Station, defending the Silver Star and all members and vehicles of the Infinite Alliance. With massive vehicle losses, evacuation would be even more difficult.

Boom!

A roar echoed through the sky over Dawn City, shattering its grief and chaos. From the north, a colossal floating city blotted out the sun—it was Silent City. But Silent City's No. 2 district had already separated.

From the west, a black interstellar mega-train surged through the sky like a colossal starship. Simultaneously, along the orbital ring, a 15-kilometer-long United Train roared forward, packed with supplies, equipment, materials, and all members of the Infinite Alliance, racing into the city.

The Skyward Train landed at Xingcheng Orbital Station. Due to Dawn City's walls, the Skyward Train had to fly into the city.

Jian Xuxi, Shi Di, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, Daliang, Shasha, Ningjing, Qian Dele, Ding Junyi, and other old friends and core members gathered together.

Chen Sixuan rushed into Lin Xian's arms. The battle in Dawn City had filled everyone on the Infinite with dread. Fortunately, none of them bore Dark marks—the vast hordes of Strange Entities had surged solely toward Dawn City, sparing them from the battle.

During this time, a new standard Skyward-class hull had been completed. The Skyward Train now exceeded four kilometers in length—a true behemoth. With its reconfigured weaponry, the Infinite Alliance now possessed firepower rivaling an army.

In the station hall, the original United Train's core leaders, joined by Jiang Yun, Jian Xuxi, Jian Zeyang, Hongyuan Trading Alliance's Wang Hongyuan, New Era Engineering Group's Song Feng, Iron Shield Convoy's Liang Hao, and Burning Phoenix Convoy's He Linqiu formed a major leadership group—all deferring to Lin Xian to plan the next steps.

"Lin Qingyu of the Dawn Watchers Alliance, Luo Heng of the Wind Speakers, and Han Tiege of the Full Metal Chaos have all begun withdrawing. Yu Huai'an, stationed at Changuan, is preparing to lead the Nomads Alliance toward Tianji. Nearly all major convoys in the city are leaving. Only Lei Zhen of the Common Alliance remains—he's overwhelmed with requests from other convoys seeking help, so he's probably trying to take some people with him." Jiang Yun summarized the city's situation.

Jian Xuxi said: "If we leave now, we can reach Pingcheng before nightfall, and Kangcheng by tomorrow."

At that moment, a clamor erupted outside the station. Lin Xian rose and stepped out. Pushing open the door, he saw the square, streets, and corridors packed with people—tens of thousands crowded outside, pleading desperately, held back by Alliance members and iron fences.

"Captain! Please let us join your convoy!"

"We have supplies—we won't even eat! Please take us..."

"Please! Just take my daughter! She's only five—so well-behaved. Don't let her die..."

"I have skills! I was a train maintenance engineer!!"

In an instant, wounded men, mothers kneeling in begging, desperate youths, crying children, families dragging their belongings—all surged toward Lin Xian, voices filled with despair. Standing above, Lin Xian looked down at the endless crowd. Their hands reached out—cracked, bloody, filthy, injured, aged, tiny—like wheat stalks felled by wind, all bowing toward the station, clutching desperately at the last straw of hope.

"They must have seen the Skyward and United Train enter," Jiang Yun said, his expression complex. "They want to join us and escape Dawn City."

Shi Di frowned beside Lin Xian, his heart heavy. "Lin brother, can we take some people?"

Lin Xian nodded. "The United Train still has room for a few thousand more."

"A few thousand won't change anything," He Linqiu of the Burning Phoenix Convoy said, stepping forward. "There are at least thirty to fifty thousand here alone."

"How many are left in the city? A million?" Shi Di asked.

"At least three million!" Song Feng of the New Era Engineering Group said.

"Three million?!" Chen Sixuan exclaimed. "How could there be so many?"

Lu Xingchen stood silently beside them, his face grim. As the God of Fire, he now felt profound helplessness.

Liang Hao of the Iron Shield Convoy said sternly: "Most are survivors who entered from the outer districts yesterday. Add to that the over 100, 00 vehicles destroyed last night—there are at least three million who simply can't be evacuated quickly."

"That's true," Wang Hongyuan of the Hongyuan Trading Alliance added. "Many survivors have already left on foot, but they won't reach Qingbo before nightfall."

"On foot?... Even if they avoid Strange Entities, they'll be doomed by zombies!" Shi Di said.

"What's the Phoenix Corps' plan?" Ningjing asked.

Lin Xian sighed. "I received word from Yueyue Zhenji. Silent City has split in two and will cooperate with the Phoenix Corps to transport 500, 00 people to Jinhe."

"Five hundred thousand? And then what? Walk the rest of the way?" Chen Sixuan asked.

Jian Xuxi shook her head. "Many have given up. Without vehicles, staying in Dawn City might let them live a few more days—at least they have shelter."

Lin Xian watched the scene, his heart heavy, teeth clenched.

"This is exactly what the Crimson World wants—when the convoys leave, the rest are abandoned..."

At that moment, the Crimson Phoenix Signal rang. Lin Xian answered. It was Qino, back aboard the Skyward Fleet.

"Captain Lin, if you're available, we need you to report to the Skyward Fleet immediately!"

(End of Chapter)