Chapter 186: Heroes' Return, Memorial Ceremony

Evaluating based on existing data……

Within the known range of Second-level Civilization, the host is already an invincible existence.

But the universe is vast, far beyond imagination. According to analysis of the Mo Yun Empire's database, there exist higher-level civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy, third-level, fourth-level, ……

Before those great civilizations capable of controlling stars, transforming star systems, and even venturing into the laws of time, space, and dimensions, your current power remains……insignificant.

Insignificant.

This evaluation made Qin Hao's brows furrow slightly.

He is not arrogant. He deeply understands the principle that there are people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens.

But when this fact was laid out so bluntly by the system before him, it still made him feel a hint of pressure.

……

Several days later.

The vast Federal fleet finally ended the lengthy battlefield cleanup and began its return voyage.

Each surviving warship bears more or less scars on its hull, honorable medals left after bloody battles with tens of millions of enemy forces.

But the demeanor of this fleet has become completely different from when it set out.

Its former sharpness and tension have now settled into a solemn and stern gravity.

They annihilated an enemy dozens of times their size at a small cost, achieving a glorious victory worthy of being recorded in the annals of interstellar war.

However, there was no celebratory atmosphere within the fleet.

Everyone knew this victory was bought with the lives of over 280,000 compatriots.

On the bridge of the flagship Nuwa, the atmosphere was equally solemn.

Zhang Xianzhong stood by the porthole, gazing at the silently advancing fleet outside, his eye sockets slightly red.

Having fought half his life, he had never felt so complex as he did now.

The immense joy of victory and immense grief intertwined, leaving him somewhat breathless.

Qin Hao stood beside him, silent.

He could sense the fleet's pervasive sorrow and understood Zhang Xianzhong's feelings at this moment.

After a long while, Zhang Xianzhong hoarsely opened his mouth: "Xiao Qin, do you think what we did was right?"

"For victory, was sacrificing this much worthwhile?"

Qin Hao gazed at the deep universe beyond the porthole and slowly said: "Commander, war has never been about right or wrong, only life and death."

"If we do not fight, it is our entire civilization that will die."

"Those fallen soldiers gave their lives to secure for us and all humanity the right to survive."

"Their sacrifice outweighs Mount Tai."

Zhang Xianzhong fell silent for a long time, then nodded heavily.

Yes, this is a war of civilizations, with no retreat possible.

When the fleet's vanguard appeared at the edge of the Solar System's Kuiper Belt, the Federal populace already waiting there erupted in cheers like a mountain-shouting, sea-roaring tsunami.

"Heroes have returned!"

"We have won!"

On the squares of planetary bases and space cities throughout the Solar System, countless people lifted their eyes to the holographic projection of the massive fleet, moved to tears.

"They won!"

Human civilization achieved a complete victory in its first direct confrontation with the alien invaders!

However, when people saw those battle-scarred warships and the cold casualty numbers flashing on the main screen, all the cheers gradually subsided.

The joy of victory was replaced by a heavy sorrow.

Blue Star, Federal Military Command Center.

Old Luo gazed at the returning fleet and at the detailed casualty report; this special envoy remained silent for a long time.

Afterward, he rose and walked to the center of the Command Center.

"Connect to the Federal full-band broadcast."

His voice, transmitted through the broadcast, reached every corner of the Solar System.

"Federal citizens, our heroes have returned."

"They, with a fleet of 350,000 ships, faced head-on an enemy of ten million and achieved a glorious victory of total annihilation!"

"They broke the invaders' spine, defended humanity's dignity, and guarded our homeland."

"But we also have 286,521 of our bravest warriors forever left in that cold starry void."

"They are the heroes of human civilization!"

Old Luo's voice became immensely heavy.

"I propose that now, everyone, wherever they are, stop whatever they are doing."

"For our soldiers who bravely sacrificed in this battle for humanity and freedom……"

"Observe three minutes of silence."

The order was issued.

At this moment, the entire Solar System fell completely silent.

The bustling cities instantly fell still.

The busy factories ceased operation.

Shuttling spacecraft hovered in the lanes.

Everyone, whether on the streets of Blue Star, in the cities of Mars, or in distant space cities, stopped their steps and bowed their heads.

There was no victorious revelry.

Only a solemn, reverent silence shrouded the entire civilization.

This is the highest tribute to the fallen heroes.

It is also a silent indictment of war's cruelty.

The moment of silence ended.

Luo Lao's voice rang out again, carrying an air of resolute determination.

"From today onward, the families of all fallen soldiers will be directly supported by the Federal; their children will enjoy the Federal's highest level of education and resources."

"We will make heroes bleed but not shed tears!"

"At the same time, I announce that the Federal will develop our civilization at any cost, using all enemy technology and resources captured in this war!"

"We will become stronger! Strong enough that any civilization, before even thinking of reaching out its claws at us, must first weigh whether it will be directly struck down!"

"The war has not yet ended."

"This is merely a beginning!"

Luo Lao's words ignited the flames of revenge and self-strengthening in everyone's hearts.

Grief was transformed into boundless strength.

Human civilization, this lion that had just gone through a bloody battle, did not retreat but instead bared even sharper fangs.

Mo Yun Star System.

This is the core territory of the Mo Yun Empire, a giant star system even larger than the Solar System.

A colossal living planet with a diameter of ten thousand kilometers hangs suspended at the system's center.

It has no rock or soil; the entire planet is a living, immensely vast lifeform.

This is the Mo Yun Empire's supreme ruling core—the Mother Brain.

At this moment, within the deepest consciousness of the Mother Brain, an unprecedented fury is raging wildly.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!"

The Mother Brain's consciousness turned into raging mental storms that ravaged the space.

Just now, it received the final message sent before defeat from Tata Li Ke, Chief Commander of the Second Expedition Army Corps of the Empire's frontier.

Ten million warships!

Half of the Empire's forces

A powerful fleet personally designated by it, battle-hardened through countless engagements.

Annihilated!

Not a single one escaped back!

This news was, to the Mother Brain, nothing short of a monumental disgrace.

Since the birth of the Mo Yun Empire, it has never suffered such a devastating defeat.

"How could a lowly civilization that has just stepped out of its homeworld possibly...?!"

The Mother Brain could neither comprehend nor accept it.

The Mother Brain immediately examined the battlefield images attached to Tata Li Ke's returned message, beginning to play them within its consciousness space.

It began with a saturation attack launched by the Federal fleet using curvature antimatter bombs.