Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Starry Battle

Outside Cold Moon Star

A massive platform frame, nearly 100 kilometers long, was under construction. Countless robots and workers toiled diligently on its surface. This was the starport being built by a construction team hired by Galactic Trade Company, under the management of Li Xingtao and his team. Funded generously, the construction team worked at an astonishing pace, completing more than half of the colossal project in just three months.

In the distance, two warships escorted three 10,000-meter-long armed cargo ships as they emerged from the Dark Universe, heading toward the starport under construction. Everything seemed normal, just like any other day.

But then, the recently stabilized space rippled once more.

A fleet of over a dozen 1,000-meter-long warships emerged from the Dark Universe. These ships looked battered, adorned with bizarre graffiti and skull motifs. To the untrained eye, they appeared dilapidated, but a closer look revealed advanced modifications: enhanced propulsion systems and high-powered laser cannons. These upgrades gave them superior speed and firepower.

The moment these pirate ships appeared, they were detected by the Galactic Trade Company's escort fleet. But before the defenders could react, the pirate ships opened fire without hesitation.

Hundreds of pre-charged laser cannons lit up the void with blinding flashes.

"Boom—"

Explosions erupted as the unprepared cargo ships and warships took the brunt of the attack. The hulls of the ships cracked under the onslaught.

"Pirate attack! Activate defense systems and return fire immediately!"

"Pirate attack! Activate defense systems and return fire immediately!"

Inside the command center of the flagship the fleet's commander, wore a grim expression as he ordered the counterattack. Normally, ships didn't keep their defense systems fully active to conserve energy, operating at minimal power instead. This oversight had cost them dearly.

One cargo ship's propulsion system was destroyed, rendering it immobile, while the others suffered varying degrees of damage. The pirates, experienced in such tactics, had targeted the propulsion systems first, leaving the defenders scrambling to respond.

Compared to the battle-hardened pirates, the Earth's fleet lacked experience. As they turned to engage, their laser cannons fired, but the pirates easily dodged the attacks. A few secondary cannons managed to hit, but the pirates' energy shields absorbed the damage.

The Earth's fleet was like a herd of water buffalo surrounded by wolves—large and powerful but outmaneuvered at every turn. Despite rigorous training, this was their first real space battle, and their inexperience showed.

"This isn't working!" a staff officer muttered, his face dark.

The enemy fleet consisted of 13 ships, mostly B3 and B4-class, with a B7-class flagship. Despite their lower classification, the pirates' firepower far exceeded expectations. The Earth's fleet's two B7-class warships had a slight advantage, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. The three armed cargo ships, though capable of combat, were too cumbersome, especially with damaged propulsion systems.

The pirates clearly had the upper hand in both firepower and experience.

The Commander's expression was grim. The pirates had anticipated their movements, suggesting they had inside information. The fleet had departed from Qiu Long Star, a place where pirates wouldn't dare act boldly. Their only opportunity to strike was near Cold Moon Star.

Fighting in the Dark Universe wasn't an option for B-class ships. The starport on Cold Moon Star was still under construction, its weapons and detection systems incomplete, making it more of a liability than an asset.

Despite the dire situation, The Commander remained calm. They might be outmatched in ship-to-ship combat, but they had other tricks up their sleeves.

"Open the 01 cargo bay doors on all three cargo ships," The Commander ordered.

As explosions rocked the fleet, the cargo ships' massive doors slid open. From within, Skyfire Crows—massive, crow-like beasts with 100-meter wingspans—emerged, screeching as they surged toward the pirate fleet.

***

Pirate Fleet, Communications Channel

The pirates erupted into cheers as their attacks landed on the Galactic Trade Company's ships.

"Haha! Just as we heard, these guys are nothing but upstarts! They bought fancy ships but have no idea how to use them!"

"Such a waste of good hardware in their hands!"

"Let's teach these rookies a lesson! Show them what real combat looks like!"

"Let's take their ships! The cargo inside must be worth a fortune!"

In the command center of the pirate flagship, a two-meter-tall, bat-winged humanoid with scaly skin laughed heartily. His powerful aura marked him as a Star Level 9 Spirit Master, a formidable figure among pirates.

"Move in, boys! Let's take everything they've got!" the bat-winged leader roared.

But their cheers died abruptly as the Skyfire Crows poured out of the cargo ships.

"What the—? Why are there so many Skyfire Crows?!"

"How did they get those things on their cargo ships?!"

The bat-winged leader's smile vanished as the Skyfire Crows unleashed a barrage of searing plasma beams. The pirate ships' shields flickered under the assault, and some beams penetrated, melting through the hulls.

"Skyfire Crows! They must have a beast tamer on board!"

"Return fire! Take them down!"

"Focus on the flagship! Cut off the head!"

But the pirates were quickly overwhelmed. The Skyfire Crows, numbering in the hundreds and all at Star Level 6, were too much for them to handle.

The pirates, accustomed to easy victories, began to panic. Their ships, modified for speed and firepower, lacked sufficient defenses. One by one, their shields failed, and their ships were torn apart by the relentless plasma beams.

"Retreat! Fall back!" the bat-winged leader bellowed, his voice tinged with desperation.

But escape wasn't easy. Ships needed time to accelerate to light speed, and the Skyfire Crows weren't about to let them go.

As the pirate fleet crumbled, the bat-winged leader made a desperate move. He abandoned his own men, using his abilities to hurl three Star Level 8 warriors at the pursuing Skyfire Crows and the Black Meng Clan warrior, Maruni Talyabu, who had been sent to intercept him.

The three warriors, caught off guard, were quickly overwhelmed. Meanwhile, the bat-winged leader boarded his flagship and fled, leaving his men to their fate.

The pirate flagship broke through the Skyfire Crows' encirclement and vanished into the void, leaving behind thousands of stranded pirates. Abandoned and outnumbered, they could only watch in despair as their leader escaped.

*****

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