Chapter 66: Warp Voyage

"Good."

After Malena nodded in agreement, she opened the Star Map to confirm the location of the A-068 system once more.

There was an important reason Ninglu chose this system; it appeared on both the star map of the Vostonia Altar 18 and the star maps of the Fulao.

Although this system held little appeal for the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Fulao frequently raided it.

There was a planet within the system that they called the Crystal Illusion, so named because the planet contained vast amounts of crystal.

Ninglu switched communication channels and sent a message to Bukayo, telling him to take his men and guard A-001.

"I am ready."

"Begin. Once you encounter danger, I will feel it."

No one likes having their mind controlled; Ninglu did not establish a direct psychic link with Malena, as he was confident he could sense it immediately should the female psyker encounter danger.

Malena sat on the ground and entered a state of Meditation.

She did not possess a Navigator's third eye, so the method she used was essentially similar to Divination.

Malena's consciousness spread toward the direction where she felt the waves, then seeped into the Vast Ocean, which was formed from formless colors, nameless emotions, and unprovoked dimensions.

The turbulent ripples generated by Ninglu's powerful mind, the intense emotions of the Warrior, and the primal impulses of the crew propelled her forward.

Bathed in Ether Energy, Malena felt renewed, but she did not indulge in it and began searching for her target.

When she actively performed Divination, she would attempt to find fragments of the future that revealed fate within the tides.

Her precognitive skills could not yet capture Fate Silk; she could only capture incomplete fragments, usually fleeting glimpses of a moment in the future.

Now, he had to find the corresponding island within the Vast Ocean.

It seemed the target was larger, but in reality, it was not; the Warp was unaffected by physical rules, and the projection of a planet here might be less significant than the waves caused by a person with intense emotions.

At the same time, the way markers appeared on the Star Map differed from her Yajian Yixiang, so she had to complete a "conversion."

Malena controlled herself, not allowing a single emotion to arise.

This was to avoid both influencing her surroundings and attracting predators of the Warp.

She patiently sensed within the Vast Ocean, and after an unknown amount of time, she finally perceived a familiar feeling—it was like a pool of blue water constantly rippling.

That was the Cradle of the Sea she had felt countless times in the Empyrean, within which the Mother of the Sea flowed in colorful, dripping droplets.

Having completed the first step, Malena now had a "direction," and she immediately identified the metal sphere representing Vostonia.

Just like a spider weaving a web, the planets on the Star Map were determined one by one.

Malena suddenly opened her mouth and spoke on the communication channel.

"Activate the Warp Engine!"

The Warp Engines of the four ships activated; the space around the fleet began to Distortion, and the boundaries of reality gradually blurred.

Ripples surged through the Vast Ocean, and Malena waited for the waves to calm before issuing the order.

"Turn to three-eight-eight, inclination three, advance."

The torrent of Ether raged around the fleet, slamming against the ships' Void Shield.

The helmsman took the helm personally, carefully correcting the course according to Malena's instructions.

The other three ships followed in line behind the Wosituoniya zhi Ao.

As ship time passed day by day, Malena would stop to rest and eat in the calmer shipping lanes of the Vast Ocean.

After twenty-five days of ship time, Malena captured the anchor point of the A-068 system in real space, guiding the fleet back to reality.

Ninglu sensed the change in the environment and knew that this adventurous Warp voyage had been a success.

"Malena, you did well. Go back to your quarters to rest; room S-001 is yours."

"Understood."

Malena's expression remained normal, but she clearly felt that her energy had been greatly depleted and she needed deep Meditation to recover.

Ninglu had rested several times along the way and was full of energy; he had long felt bored from staying in A-001 for so long, but he had to ensure Malena's safety.

Now that he had finally regained his "freedom," he felt his steps lighten as he walked out of the cabin, and he issued an order to Woyiqiehe.

"Activate the Auspex at maximum power and scan the entire system."

"As you command, my King."

After returning to the Bridge, Ninglu sat on the Command Throne to listen to Woyiqiehe's briefing.

He stood by the tactical table, operating a Data Slate.

"My King, there are six planets in the A-068 system, and only one of them shows signs of life."

Woyiqiehe said, operating the Data Slate to highlight one planet.

"Its diameter is 15,384.02 kilometers, making it the second-largest planet in the system."

"Hovering in its orbit is a ship of Destroyer class."

After reviewing the scan results, Ninglu confirmed that this planet was the world the Fulao called the Crystal Illusion.

"Use multiple languages to send a message to the opposing ship, demanding they wait where they are."

"Deploy into combat formation, enter combat status, and lock the Ether cannons onto the target."

Woyiqiehe immediately relayed the orders, and the Sound Array Master sent the message using languages such as the Language of Technology and Vostonian.

"My King, the other party has not replied, but the ship's readings are rising in Rapid succession."

Hearing this, Ninglu abandoned the idea of taking prisoners to gather intelligence.

"Starboard Ether cannons, fire!"

"Bow Lance, prepare!"

Woyiqiehe issued the order to the ordnance chief over the communication channel.

On the gun deck, the gunners, under the command of the ordnance chief, nervously activated the energy cores of the Ether cannons via the control panels.

The gun deck trembled, and the Ether cannons emitted a low humming sound, while the runes and indicator lights on the cannons began to flicker.

Following the ordnance officer's firing command, Ninglu, Malena, Bukayo, and others with keen senses all heard an unreal roar.

A beam of shining Ether Pulse tore through the void, piercing directly through the Destroyer's Void Shield and striking the Destroyer.

The shield overloaded instantly, and then the hull was pierced by the searing light.

Witnessing the white light blooming on the holographic display, Ninglu immediately felt the sensation of crushing the enemy with advanced weaponry.

【Using an Ether cannon to hit a Destroyer, it really is a crushing blow!】

After pondering for a moment, he issued an order.

"Woyiqiehe, set the Auger Matrix to maximum power and scan for inhabited Planets."

"Bukayo, your regiment will land with me."

After the Wosituoniya zhi Ao hovered in the orbit of the Crystal Illusion, Ninglu boarded a landing craft and descended toward the location where the life signals scanned by the Auger Matrix were gathered.

He stood in the landing craft, looking forward through the window.

Suddenly, Ninglu's pupils constricted.

He saw hundreds of people chasing sixteen orange-haired, orangutan-like creatures.

Ninglu felt a surge of joy in his heart: 【It's actually space apes; the light sculptures they create are auxiliary materials for the "Briber".】

He immediately issued an order to the pilot: "Follow them!"

A moment later, Ninglu leaped down from the opened hatch.

The wind whistled in his ears as he drew closer and closer to the ground.

The people chasing below felt the sky darken above them, and then heard a deafening roar.

(End of chapter)