Suddenly, without any warning.
A heavy particle beam over five meters in diameter, glowing with a heart-paling pale white hue and so densely concentrated it seemed to possess physical substance—
Like a divine spear thrust from cosmic darkness, it erupted violently from seemingly empty void on the starboard side of the course!
Its target was precisely the Mammoth Fleet positioned on the flank.
The beam first grazed a Destroyer at the edge of the array.
The Destroyer's shield vanished instantly like a soap bubble in a storm.
The beam penetrated unimpeded through the relatively thin midsection of its hull, leaving a terrifying circular hole with edges in a molten glass-like state, completely pierced through.
The Destroyer's engine ceased abruptly, its structure instantly collapsing, disintegrating into fragments in a silent explosion.
Immediately after, the beam's momentum unabated, pierced through the engine compartment of another Destroyer attempting to evade behind it, triggering a chain reaction of explosions.
The third ship, a medium Cruiser, tried to withstand the impact with reinforced broadside shields, but the particle torrent, with overwhelming energy density, directly melted through both the shield and the composite armor behind it.
After carving a deep trench in the hull where internal equipment was exposed and violently burning, it emerged from the other side!
After these three lethal penetrations, the ultimate target of this destructive beam was unmistakably locked onto the core of the Mammoth Fleet.
The Flagship, the Battleship Mammoth!
The massive frame of the Mammoth had just completed a minor emergency turn, attempting to align its sturdier frontal armor toward the direction of the attack.
But the beam was too fast and too precisely aimed, striking accurately the mid-right section of its turning hull.
The Mammoth's combined shield erupted in a blinding glare, frantically drawing energy to counteract the terrifying strike.
Two terrifying energies clashed violently, erupting in a brilliance rivaling a small supernova, illuminating the vast surrounding airspace.
After a stalemate of approximately 0.3 seconds—
Amid the shrieking overload of the shield generator, the Mammoth's shield shattered explosively!
The remaining particle torrent slammed fiercely against the Mammoth's thick armor.
The superalloy armor plate rapidly melted and vaporized like butter under a high-temperature flame thrower, denting inward and tearing apart.
The beam drilled into the interior of the hull, and along its path, armor layers, structural beams, pipeline circuits, weapon mounts, compartment bulkheads...
All matter was ravaged by violent ionization and extreme heat.
From the exterior, a charred, gaping wound hundreds of meters in diameter and bottomless, with edges flowing with molten metal, appeared on the Mammoth's starboard broadside.
Internal secondary explosions spewed flames and thick smoke continuously, the entire leviathan shuddering violently, its navigation posture clearly out of control.
This earth-shattering strike not only severely damaged the Mammoth Fleet's Flagship but also plunged everyone on the Bridge of the rear Iron Curtain Fleet into brief shock and bewilderment.
"Where did the attack come from?
Analyze the trajectory immediately!"
Isabella Marlow's voice suddenly sharpened, cracks appearing in her calm facade.
Before the sensor officer could respond, an even more piercing full-band alert echoed through the Bloodblade!
"Alert!
Alert!
Large-scale mass reaction detected in the shadow zone behind the fourth planet (gas giant) on the right flank!
Starship signals... numbers exceeding ninety vessels!
Rapidly emerging from planetary shadow and entering attack positions!"
On the main tactical screen, the edge of the star chart that had represented empty space suddenly swarmed with densely packed blue cursors.
Like a massive school of fish rising from deep ocean depths, they carried palpable killing intent as they swiftly deployed, blocking the Iron Curtain and Bloodblade Fleet's necessary path to Langkawi Star!
Isabella's pupils contracted sharply.
Lurking in planetary shadow zones was indeed a classic ambush tactic that could shield most long-range detection.
But the question was... how had the enemy timed their emergence so perfectly?
As if they'd known in advance exactly when and in what formation they'd be passing through this sector!
What level of precise intelligence and synchronization would this require?
calm down
"Communications officer, reconfirm the scale and composition of enemy forces attacking Langkawi Star, especially the location of that Kunlun Mountain!"
The communications officer rapidly queried and compiled scattered reports from Langkawi's surviving defenders and remote observation stations.
"Confirmed!
Enemy forces attacking Langkawi Star include at least one fully organized Sub-Level Fleet, approximately 15-20 capital ships.
Plus a carrier battle group centered around the T5-class carrier 'Fire Qilin', including escort vessels.
Kunlun Mountain's energy signature has been repeatedly detected, confirmed providing long-range heavy fire support at the Langkawi Star battlefield!"
Hearing this, Isabella's tense nerves suddenly relaxed slightly, a sharp calculating glint flashing in her eyes.
A standard Federation sub-fleet typically comprised between ninety to one hundred ten starships at full strength.
Among these, reconnaissance ships, supply ships, engineering ships and other non-combat vessels usually accounted for ten to twenty percent.
Now, this ambush fleet before them numbered over ninety vessels.
While at Langkawi Star, there was confirmed to be one Sub-Level Fleet (counting as 12 ships) and one carrier battle group (core plus escorts totaling at least 12+ vessels).
That meant over twenty-four starships, including the most crucial strategic strike forces—the T5 carrier and T5 super battleship!
"In other words... Qin Bei Wang has divided his main fleet."
Isabella rapidly processed the information.
"A substantial detachment carrying his two most powerful weapons attacked Langkawi, attempting to destroy our supply point and create chaos.
While he himself leads the remaining main force.
These ninety-plus starships before us.
Laying in ambush here, attempting to intercept or even crush our reinforcements!"
At this realization, a surge of strong confidence welled within her, mixed with faint annoyance at being underestimated.
Had the Pluto Fleet remained undivided, with its complete organization plus the terrifying power of two "Kunlun Mountain" class ships and the stellar carrier, she would indeed need extreme caution.
But now, the enemy's sharpest spearhead was absent!
The fleet before them, while still numbering over ninety vessels, likely contained only about seventy true combat ships after removing auxiliary vessels—eighty at most!
And their own side?
She glanced at their own formation.
Her Iron Curtain Fleet was at full strength, with over seventy elite defensive starships.
Although the "Mammoth" and "Dire Wolf" fleets ahead had suffered damage from the surprise attack, they still had a combined total of over twenty starships. Moreover, given Bloodblade's style, their fighting spirit remained tenacious.
In total, nearly one hundred and thirty Empire warships!
Even after deducting some damaged units and necessary auxiliary vessels, the number of ships that could be deployed to the frontline was steadily over a hundred!
One hundred ships against eighty (or possibly even fewer), and the enemy lacked the highest-tier strategic firepower units (one Kunlun Mountain and a stellar carrier)!
"The advantage is mine!"
Isabella Marlow instantly made her judgment, her voice regaining its usual coldness and decisiveness.