But the first to open the attack upon those three T6 pitch-black interstellar warships was not the Hades.
It was the T6 Crimson-Reaper-class Heavy Interstellar Strategic Missile Ship![1]
Only, in the attack a moment since, the interstellar missiles aboard the Crimson Reaper had long since been spent to the last.
But do not forget, she was a great engine of slaughter besides.
The Crimson Ball-Lightning Shell!
In the next second, Zhao Chen saw a red ball of light appear, in near enough the space of a blink, in the region at the middle of those three T6 pitch-black interstellar warships.
Thereafter the red halo began to scatter abroad, and the star shields of the pitch-black interstellar warships it touched, those shields as it were a black mist, began to disperse.
Very soon the reach of the crimson ball-lightning came to the region of the three T6 pitch-black interstellar warships.
The pitch-black star shields of the three T6 pitch-black interstellar warships began to grow thin at a speed visible to the eye.
But in the end, the pitch-black star shields of these three T6 pitch-black interstellar warships did not wholly vanish.
"Worthy of a T6 interstellar warship's star shield; this tortoise-shell is thick enough, besides," Zhao Chen said blandly, his arms folded.
He had no disappointment whatever at this result.
For after all the Crimson Reaper was only a T5 interstellar warship, and opposite were three T6 interstellar warships; the difference between the two was great still.
To be able to weaken the enemy's star-shield energy value in some degree was already a great help.
Next, the Sword of Hades, long since made ready aboard the Hades, came out of its sheath.
The first thing it locked upon was, on the contrary, the T6 pitch-black interstellar warship furthest off.
In theory, this furthest T6 pitch-black interstellar warship was also the one whose star shield had been least spent under the Crimson Ball-Lightning Shell's attack a moment since.
A vast beam of light lit up this pitch-black space, pointing straight at the adversary.
Very soon, that T6 pitch-black interstellar warship's star shield was pierced through; the pitch-black hull armor was struck, and thereafter bored straight through!
Being bored through, this T6 pitch-black interstellar warship dispersed at once, as it were a scrap of paper burned away.
But the Hades' attack had not yet stopped; the Sword of Hades began to move to another T6 pitch-black interstellar warship, the nearest at this moment.
And at this point, this T6 pitch-black interstellar warship opened fire as well, and a pitch-black beam struck the Hades' star shield outright.
This scene was exceedingly magnificent: two interstellar warships firing their strongest weapons at each other.
This was a contest of whose spear was the stronger, and whose shield the thicker.
Though Zhao Chen was at this moment aboard the Hades, yet he had no fear whatever now, but excitement rather.
He could see directly the resplendent prospect of that pitch-black beam striking the Hades' star shield.
Too beautiful!
But this sight was soon over,
because the master of this pitch-black beam had already been slain.
At the same time, the Hades' attack came to a pause as well,
because its remaining store of energy was not enough to hunt down the last T6 pitch-black interstellar warship.
"One against two, and two ships cut down. Our own star-shield energy lost, near two-thirds. Though it was with the Crimson Reaper's help. Yet this fighting power may already be called the equal of a T6 interstellar warship's," Zhao Chen said in his satisfaction.
The T5 Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought as it now was could stand as an equal with Order's T6 pitch-black interstellar warships.
And it must be known that Zhao Chen had already come by the power to upgrade the Hades.
When the Hades was upgraded to the T6 grade, what manner of scene would that be?
Zhao Chen could not help feeling his blood run somewhat hot.
"So strong……" Hive Princess at this moment stared with wide eyes at his side.
She had witnessed the whole course of it just now; she had not thought that those pitch-black monsters she had held in such terror could be wiped out so easily.
"Your mama is a T6 Hive Mothership… she has T6 fighting power. To deal with these fellows, how was that? Very hard?" Zhao Chen asked Hive Princess in a probing way.
Hive Princess answered, "Mama is very strong, stronger than Granny Bug and the rest. So every time these great big bad fellows appeared, Mama would go out to attack them of her own accord. And though she could destroy these bad fellows every time, yet Mama was hurt every time besides."
Able to destroy them, but hurt in the doing.
From this information, the fighting power of Hive Princess's mama could be inferred.
At this point, more and more Pitch-Black Legion interstellar warships upon the field began to pour toward the Owl Dragon Guard Fleet.
For after all, two T6 interstellar warships had been lost at a stroke; even these Pitch-Black Legion fleets before them could not, it was reckoned, bear so great a loss.
For they had, all told, but thirty T6 interstellar warships.
This movement of force also directly eased the pressure upon the Black Great-Wall line, and let them draw breath.
"Make ready to withdraw," Zhao Chen said, calling the bridge and giving the order.
The fight that should be fought had been fought; the effect that should be got had been got; the combat experience that should be had was had.
Zhao Chen did not wish the Owl Dragon Guard Fleet he had brought out to take casualties, nor could they wipe out so many Pitch-Black Legion interstellar warships.
So to stop at the proper point was the best choice.
The Owl Dragon Guard Fleet thereafter began to withdraw while fighting.
Some hours after, the Owl Dragon Guard Fleet made a circuit about and withdrew within the Black Great-Wall line.
From this point, the journey of Zhao Chen's departure from the Black Great-Wall Base might be counted at an end.
"Do you stay here still, or come with me to the bridge?" Zhao Chen looked toward Hive Princess, who was at this moment gazing at him with a face full of worship.
All of a sudden, Zhao Chen was aware of something.
He looked at the room in its disorder.
His face went black. "I can keep you in food and drink. But the things damaged in this room, you must make good, every one. I shall arrange another room for you besides; do not let me see such a state again."
"Make good? But I have no money." Hive Princess blinked, looking at Zhao Chen.
……
Some minutes after, Zhao Chen, well satisfied, put away a paper IOU, and looked at the Hive Princess before him with her face full of doubt.
"Remember, this is what you owe me. You must pay me back hereafter." Having said it, Zhao Chen made ready, well satisfied, to return to the bridge.
Hive Princess, for her part, chose to follow behind Zhao Chen, silently.
Ever since she had seen that this fleet of Zhao Chen's possessed such mighty fighting power, that with a mere few hundred interstellar warships they could beat thousands upon thousands of Pitch-Black Legion ships black and blue.
Her feeling of closeness toward Zhao Chen had grown all the more.
Zhao Chen returned to the bridge.
A communication window had already appeared before Ah-Yin, and opposite was the Cherubim.
"So this is the thing you found at the coordinate the Master left?" The Cherubim looked up and down at Hive Princess, hiding behind Zhao Chen.
Hearing this, Hive Princess retorted at once, "Little Bug is not a thing! Hmph! Little Bug is no thing at all."[2]
This fellow, her wits were a matter for concern.
"How now, are you interested in her?" Zhao Chen narrowed his eyes at the Cherubim.
The Cherubim looked at Zhao Chen calmly. "Do not think too much; the Master left no order concerning her. Take her back, and the Master will contact you in course. Our observation post reports that the Gate of Gaia will open one week from now. By that time, you may set out upon your return. And besides…… I thank you for the help your fleet gave upon the field."
He had not thought this proud and prickly mechanical angel would speak words of thanks besides.
The corners of Zhao Chen's mouth rose suddenly as he looked at the Cherubim opposite. "Since there is yet a week, then, my lady Cherubim, would you consider hiring us? We come very cheap."