Chapter 118: The Silver Eye

"I think you're wasting your effort," Ji Ya's voice rang firm. "They've already blasted one hole—what's stopping them from blasting another? And with all those machines swarming, can you really patch that breach?"

"I agree," Ya Ning nodded. "I don't recommend actions where the risk outweighs the reward."

Zhou Ying spread a hand. "Then what's your plan?"

Ji Ya said, "Before the team match, this arena was rigorously inspected by both nations' officials. I'm curious—where did all these machines come from? They didn't just pop up."

She didn't elaborate, but everyone caught her drift.

A jump point.

Only spatial jump point technology could deliver so many machines into the arena.

So, rather than sealing the breach, they'd be better off tracing the machines' source—destroy the jump point, and the assault would stall.

"Destroying a jump point with our firepower is a stretch," Zhou Ying mused. "We'd need at least ship-mounted cannons…"

Cen Yuehuai's eyes lit up. "I remember there are usable starships in the docking bay nearby!"

Zhou Ying nodded. "Fine. Suppose we break through and reach the docking bay—who pilots the ships? Where are their original pilots?"

"Look at this mess—no ships have launched to counter," Cen Yuehuai said, shaking her head wearily. "The pilots are either detained or trapped in the arena watching the match. We can't exactly search the entire audience."

Starship piloting wasn't a common skill.

Pilots were a rare breed, trained rigorously for years to earn their license. Their numbers were limited, mostly serving in major fleets, spending months patrolling star systems—scarce and valuable talent.

"If it's piloting a starship, I can manage," Janice said, opening her eyes, silver-blue circuits flickering at her neck. "I've studied starship operation."

"Count me in," Xino said, raising a hand with a grin. "Unlike this book-smart lady, I've formally trained in starship piloting. I'm half an expert."

Janice shot Xino a blank stare; he met it with a carefree gaze.

"…But we need the starship's key," Zhou Ying said, rubbing his aching temples. "Folks, before we charge to the docking bay, can we address this?"

Fair point.

Starships were critical assets. Without a key, they couldn't just be hijacked.

"Janice," Ya Ning said, hopeful, "can you bypass the starship's firewall?"

Janice shook her head gravely. "I'm human, not a super virus."

Bai Sha pondered, then snapped her fist into her palm. "If it's an Imperial state-owned starship, I might have a way."

All eyes turned to her.

Yan Jingyi leaned in, whispering, "You got a super virus for starship systems?"

"Can we skip the virus talk?" Bai Sha said, exasperated. "No virus, but I have a master key."

"…?"

Bai Sha opened her mech's cockpit, pulling a pendant from her collar.

A flash of deep blue glimmered.

She tugged it free, revealing a stunning ring in her palm. Its gem, carved with bold, layered passionflower patterns, was crystal-clear, faintly showing her pale palm lines.

"Xino, I'm lending this to you," Bai Sha said. "Use it for the starship's scan."

Xino froze, suddenly nervous, hopping out of his cockpit. "Your Highness, I can't take this."

"What kind of master key is that?" Cen Yuehuai asked softly. "Looks like a fancy ring…"

"It symbolizes imperial authority," Ji Ya explained firmly. "The Emperor is the supreme commander of the Ares Empire, so all public military assets nominally belong to him. Starship systems have a backdoor: if the Emperor boards, the ship is his to command—a privilege unique to His Majesty."

Bai Sha turned, affirming, "His Majesty shared that privilege with me."

Cen Yuehuai's eyes widened, and she let out a whistle. "Whoa."

The Federal cadets: "…"

"That's some pull," Yan Jingyi said, stepping closer. "Your royal status isn't just for show."

But the Zhou twins and Ya Ning gleaned more from the exchange.

From their knowledge of the Empire, royal kin enjoyed perks, but real power depended on family backing.

Why would an Emperor casually grant such symbolic authority to a "distant relative"?

Unless Bai Sha was…

Ya Ning and Zhou Ying suppressed their shock.

Zhou Ye glanced at Bai Sha.

Still recovering from hypersense, Zhou Ye wasn't frontline material. From his spot, he saw only Bai Sha's back.

But they all tactfully avoided the topic's deeper implications.

Xino, staring at the ring, asked, "Why not use it yourself, Your Highness?"

Bai Sha pointed at the surging black Star Devourers. "I've got to deal with those."

If the Star Devourers kept growing, everyone in the arena would become their fuel. If they couldn't neutralize the machines' jump point before the Devourers overran the arena, their efforts would be for nothing.

Xino: "But those things are dangerous—"

"Trust me, I know them better than anyone here," Bai Sha said, her eyes resolute. "I have a plan."

Xino pressed his lips, sighed, and took the ring, bowing deeply.

Gone was his usual playful ease. His tone and etiquette were impeccable, a steadfast subordinate.

"I swear on the Us family's honor to fulfill your command, Your Highness."

Cen Yuehuai watched Xino's shift with curiosity, then glanced at Ji Ya, who was grimacing in her cockpit.

"Ji Ya, what's wrong?" Cen Yuehuai asked.

Ji Ya exhaled. "Nothing. Just regretting not joining the starship command camp. Now Xino, a half-trained dropout without a pilot's license, gets the spotlight."

As fellow noble heirs, "mech soldier" or "starship command" were common paths.

Xino's piloting stemmed from early family training for command, but he switched to mechs halfway, becoming the mech soldier Xino Us—hence Ji Ya's "half-trained" jab.

Cen Yuehuai nodded, relating.

At a similar age, her parents and sister forced her to slog through medical tomes thicker than her head.

With the ring, Xino, escorted by Ji Ya and Yu Yan, raced toward the arena exit. Zhou Ying and Janice followed, offering engineering and knowledge support.

Cen Yuehuai wanted to stay with Bai Sha but was shooed off by Yan Jingyi.

"I've got this," Yan Jingyi said. "They need a rear guard. You're better with them."

Cen Yuehuai: "…" Annoyed, but she couldn't beat her!

Grumbling, Cen Yuehuai left.

Only old friends remained.

Bai Sha turned to Ya Ning, Yan Jingyi, and Zhou Ye, smiling faintly. "Zhou Ye, you holding up? How's recovery?"

"Decent," Zhou Ye nodded. "I've handed my mech's controls to Ya Ning."

Ya Ning muttered, "Don't stress me out more. Your mech feels nothing like mine—"

"Back to business," Yan Jingyi cut in. "What's your plan?"

Bai Sha smiled slightly. "Jingyi, when your mind nearly got pulled into that black mass, notice anything?"

Yan Jingyi recalled the warped space within.

"Killing Star Devourers follows a pattern," Bai Sha said, eyeing the surging black mass, tilting her spear. Silver light dripped like water, pooling at the tip. "They look like sludge, but they have a mental domain and a core we can destroy. Here, we might borrow their strength…"

She raised her spear skyward. Machines swirling above clustered, their steel bodies aligning like iron filings to a magnet, forming a massive symbol—

A vertical mechanical eye, its patterns like a cicada's folded wings.

A buzzing hum filled the air, like a coarse voice chanting:

[Abandoners of wisdom.]

[No need for fear or doubt.]

[The exiled miracle returns.]

[The Silver Age—]

Its final words were cut off as electromagnetic shells roared from the ground!

The shells struck, short-circuiting the machines' circuits. White sparks cascaded like waterfalls. Disassembled machines flailed wildly in the air.

Bai Sha's mech unfurled massive light-wings.

She spat, "Playing gods and ghosts."

Dead "gods" belonged in their graves!