"By the way, where are March 7th and the others?"
Pom-Pom waved it's tiny short arms in protest at the two, not forgetting the three who were missing.
"They're still on Jarilo. We're planning to leave after the people from the Xianzhou Luofu arrive and the talks are settled." Welt replied.
"That long?" Pom-Pom scratched it's head. Himeko noticed that Pom-Pom seemed to have something to say, so she asked.
"Uh, there's actually something going on — the train's Imaginary Energy detection device picked up a rise in Imaginary Energy nearby, and also detected some signs of the Destruction Path."
-------------------------------
"Destruction." Hearing Pompom's words, both of them looked grave.
Pompom nodded slightly:, "I don't know the specifics, but this place will definitely become very dangerous soon, so I suggest the express depart immediately, pom."
An increase in Destruction's reaction undoubtedly means an increase in antimatter creatures as well.
Or rather, the two go hand in hand.
"It sounds like someone is deliberately luring the Antimatter Legion here," Welt mused.
"Those from the Antimatter Legion are never normal. Anyway, if you see one, just stay as far away as possible, got it!?"
Pompom stretched out both hands, pointing at the two troublesome ones.
Himeko smiled slightly, "Don't worry, if there's danger we'll definitely run back to the express at the first sign."
Only after hearing Himeko's response did Pompom nod in satisfaction.
She moved her short little legs off to prepare juice for them.
Himeko took out her phone and sent this information to the group chat.
The moment the message was sent, Stelle, who was still pestering Svarog about upgrading equipment, felt her pocket vibrate. She took out her phone and looked, "Eh!?"
Blinking, Stelle handed the phone to March 7th.
"Himeko says Jarilo might be in danger."
March 7th blinked, staring at the message on the phone, frozen in place.
...
Deep in the cosmos, a terrifying aura of Destruction surged, sky-covering monsters scattering destruction across the starry sky.
The legion obsessed with Destruction brought the terrifying power of annihilation to countless worlds.
The Antimatter Legion.
Massive Doomsday Beasts flapped their wings, stirring fierce gales. Even in the windless void of space, they still struck fear into hearts.
They exist solely for Destruction, and they only bring Destruction.
...
"Hey! Tell me the truth — does this have anything to do with you guys this time or not!?"
March 7th seized the moment while Stelle was off guard, snatching the phone and thrusting it into Kafka's face, full of suspicion.
After all, she had a criminal record — the space station incident was closely tied to her.
"The Antimatter Legion? Heh, this time it really has nothing to do with us."
Kafka let out a soft chuckle and kindly analyzed the situation for March 7th.
"Although Jarilo-VI has regained some vitality, the antimatter legion and the rift creatures are still there. This place was once shrouded in Destruction's aura. Even though it was later frozen, after being unfrozen it's no surprise the Antimatter Legion's gaze has returned."
A few hundred years is nothing to the Antimatter Legion.
Especially for certain Emanators of Destruction obsessed with slowly destroying worlds.
A few hundred years? Even if a thousand years passed, once they learn about Jarilo's situation, they'd still bring destruction to this planet.
"Don't panic, March." Bronya spoke, "After all, we're still not certain whether the Antimatter Legion is actually heading toward Jarilo."
Even if they were, there's nothing they could do — passive defense is the fate of weak civilizations.
"But it still ticks me off." March 7th remained suspicious of Kafka, especially since the space station incident was still fresh in her mind.
Particularly that Doomsday Beast.
Bronya's expression grew solemn.
Though Jarilo's technology had somewhat recovered, in the face of the Antimatter Legion, this bit of progress was like a drop in the bucket.
All she could do now was hope this was just a coincidence, or...
"May the Beast Lord protect Jarilo."
She silently prayed for Jarilo in her heart.
...
Meanwhile, the Xianzhou Luofu fleet was drawing ever closer to Jarilo.
The familiar surroundings reminded Tingyun of the last time she had been chased all over the place by a swarm.
"This time luck isn't so bad. I specifically sent someone to check — there are no traces of the Swarm nearby. Even if the Swarm wants to come, it'll take time, and that time is enough for us to react."
Yukong chuckled lightly, and as she spoke, she glanced at Yanqing, who was playing with his sword in the corner.
"Besides, this time we have Yanqing with us. No matter how many enemies come, we don't have to be afraid."
Hearing Yukong say that, Yanqing's cheeks flushed slightly. Children are thin-skinned, and being praised so directly was a bit much for him to handle. He lightly coughed twice and then said seriously,
"Miss Tingyun, don't worry. With me here, no matter who tries to lay a hand on you, they'll have to get past my sword first!"
"Antimatter Legion detected, Antimatter Legion detected." The sudden alarm interrupted everyone.
"Antimatter Legion?!" Yukong's expression shifted slightly, and she quickly walked to the control panel to ask for details.
"Master Yukong, it's a large Antimatter Legion, and energy readings of Doomsday Beasts have also been detected. The difference in numbers between us and them is vast."
After hearing the report, Yukong's expression darkened.
If the Disaster Swarm Plague was enough to make countless worlds tremble in fear, the Antimatter Legion was the name that chilled them to the bone.
Unlike the Disaster Swarm, whose Aeon of Propagation had already fallen, the Antimatter Legion's Aeon of Destruction Nanook was not only alive and well but also commanded seven Emanators of Destruction.
Each Emanator was a terrifying existence capable of destroying entire star systems.
This fact had been proven time and time again over the years.
The most crucial point was that the forces of Destruction were completely incompatible with other factions.
The Family of the Harmony Path had their bases, the Preservation Path's IPC had their strongholds, and even the Xianzhou Alliance, which constantly chased the Abundance Path, had six ships the size of planets.
But Destruction — wherever there was something to destroy, that was their destination.
There was no way to negotiate!
However, Yukong quickly noticed that the situation wasn't quite what she had expected — the Antimatter Legion wasn't heading in their direction but was moving alongside them.
This gave her a bad feeling.
"Quick, calculate the Antimatter Legion's destination."
The result came back soon.
"Jarilo-VI. At this trajectory, we will intersect with the Antimatter Legion at Jarilo-VI."
!!!
There was no doubt — the Antimatter Legion's target was Jarilo!
Yukong hurriedly pulled out her phone and sent a message to everyone still on Jarilo.
"Master Yukong, what do we do next?"
Yanqing, holding his three-foot sword, asked in a deep voice.
The god of Jarilo was the key to whether the Xianzhou could break free from the curse of Mara. The General had sent him here, so he must protect Jarilo!
He was already prepared to block the Antimatter Legion.
"Block, my foot!" Yukong snapped irritably.
Do you think your sword alone can stop an Antimatter Legion of that scale?
You're the number one of the younger generation in the Xianzhou, not the number one of the entire Xianzhou!
"The most urgent thing now is for us to hurry to Jarilo. The Antimatter Legion is coming in force — we must stand shoulder to shoulder with Jarilo and fight."
If possible, Yukong actually wanted to evacuate Godzilla and a few familiar faces, but even if Godzilla was willing, Cocolia and the others wouldn't abandon the people of Jarilo to the jaws of the Antimatter Legion.
"Pass down the order — the fleet will advance at full speed! Don't worry about any issues, charge straight to Jarilo!"
"Yes!"
Yukong snatched the pilot's seat, her gaze sharp.
Today, she was going to show these juniors what it meant to be the head of the Sky-Faring Commission and the Xianzhou's best pilot!