Chapter 88: Attacking the Military Headquarters

Compared to his decisive and cold-blooded tactics in the past, Xi Ming’s current strategies now carried a ruthless edge—he wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice subordinates’ lives in exchange for battlefield advantages.

“Marshal Mi…” someone couldn’t help but ask, their voice full of confusion. “We can’t beat the Federation, and we can’t beat the star pirates either. Isn’t the Empire supposed to be the strongest power in the interstellar world?”

Mi Guanhong didn’t respond. Instead, images of fighting alongside his old comrades flickered through his mind. But now, those friends had long vanished, leaving only him—an old soldier who had climbed up from the border planets and countless battles.

Indeed, the Empire once was the strongest interstellar nation. But back then, it was powerful because it united its entire nation to fight against the Zerg; because it bore responsibilities and sheltered weaker nations; because it welcomed all and employed people based on merit. At that time, the Empire was like a mighty and generous elder—it was the guardian of the entire interstellar world and also its guide, leading new civilizations out of their planets and into space, uniting the human race to stand together against the Zerg.

But… somewhere along the way, the Empire had lost itself in arrogance.

“I’ll go meet them on the battlefield.” Mi Guanhong reached for a space button he hadn’t used in years, a look of calm acceptance in his eyes. “The rest of you… prepare for the worst.”

“Marshal!”

“Marshal Mi!”

“Marshal!”

Mi Guanhong ignored their cries, taking out the mech that belonged solely to him. He placed his hand on the cold, streamlined body of the machine, tears welling in his eyes. “If… even I can’t stop them, then you…”

He turned around and looked at the next generation still standing firm. Despite his dissatisfaction with their abilities, a sense of pity also rose in his heart. He spoke with difficulty, “Then just… go with the flow…”

As for himself—he was born in the Empire, and he would die for the Empire.

…

Once Mi Guanhong joined the battle, the pressure on the Steller’s vanguard mech squad instantly multiplied.

“Damn it, who’s in that mech? I feel like my reaction speed is being suppressed,” someone complained in the team’s communication channel.

“It’s Marshal Mi Guanhong.” Quite a few people recognized his mech. Be it the Federation or the Empire, everyone was well-acquainted with the records of such major figures.

“He’s the highest-ranked mech warrior in the Empire with the strongest known mental power. It’s said that he surpassed SS level long ago, but retired due to injury. Now, no one knows what level he’s really reached.”

“And his mental power has already reached the stage of qualitative transformation. Everyone, be careful—he can attack us using mental force alone. Keep your distance.” A team member’s tone turned cautious.

Those who had achieved qualitative transformation in mental power were the elites of the interstellar world. Encounters with such individuals were rare, but no one dared to underestimate them. The first discovery of such a transformation came when a mech warrior directly destroyed an enemy’s brain using mental force alone, rendering them brain-dead. That incident had shocked the entire interstellar community, prompting years of research before a formal standard was established.

Very few people had reached that standard—and every one of them was extremely dangerous.

What’s more, high-level mech warriors generally relied on mental power to coordinate with their mechs. If that power was affected, their control over the mech would weaken.

And a mech warrior who frequently made mistakes would pay a heavy price on the battlefield.

“Everyone fall back!” Another team member, face pale from mental attack, retreated while shouting a warning to others to keep their distance from Mi Guanhong.

“This won’t work. His mental power has no range limit. As long as we get close, he can attack. We need another plan.”

“What plan?” someone asked anxiously.

“Team 2 and the fastest members of Teams 1 and 3—spread out and surround him. The rest of Team 1 and Team 3 provide long-range suppression to distract him. The rest continue advancing toward the military headquarters—we can’t let him stall us all.”

“Those staying behind, don’t panic if you get hit with mental attacks. The rest will cover you. We don’t need to hold out too long—don’t forget who holds the record for the youngest person to achieve mental power transformation.”

With that reminder, morale soared among the troops.

That’s right—the most promising interstellar warrior, the one who still held the record for achieving mental transformation at the youngest age, was their boss, Xi Ming.

“I’ve already reported the situation. Hold out just a bit longer. Once the boss arrives, this will be easy.”

The fear they felt toward Mi Guanhong’s immense mental pressure vanished in an instant. Since joining Steller, they had watched the organization grow stronger under Xi Ming’s leadership, evolving from a fringe star pirate group into a power that could now shake both the Federation and the Empire. Every member of Steller had developed a kind of blind yet fanatical trust in Xi Ming.

So what if Mi Guanhong had transformed his mental power? He was just an old man. Could he compare to their genius boss, Xi Ming?

With a clear strategy, the pressure on Mi Guanhong suddenly intensified. He could only watch helplessly as several mechs slipped past from the flanks and entered the military headquarters.

Watching the remaining mech warriors, a trace of regret flickered in Mi Guanhong’s eyes. He wondered where Steller had managed to recruit so many gifted mech pilots—each one more skilled than the subordinates he had once trained. If only these talents could serve the Empire…

But alas, they were the Empire’s enemies. Mi Guanhong’s eyes turned cold as he focused his mental force for another attack.

The dull ache from his old injuries reminded him that he couldn’t keep piloting the mech for long. In that case, he could only… make his final sacrifice for the Empire.

When Xi Ming arrived, three or four team members had already been seriously wounded by Mi Guanhong’s mental attacks and had withdrawn from the battlefield with others’ help. The remaining forces were still holding him back, but they looked like they were on the verge of collapse.

A familiar-looking mech slowly landed in front of Mi Guanhong, kicking up a light layer of dust.

With Xi Ming’s arrival, the mech warriors who had been struggling finally let out a breath of relief. As they looked toward Mi Guanhong, there was a hint of dread in their eyes. One of them quickly reported the situation, their tone full of worry: “Boss Xi, He Wen and a few others were attacked mentally!”

Mental power after its qualitative transformation was simply too overwhelming. Even with all of them releasing their own mental power together, they couldn’t make a dent in their opponent, and several teammates had already been seriously injured.

“Fall back for now,” Xi Ming said calmly, looking at the brutal battlefield.

Someone opened their mouth to say something more but was pulled away by the others.

“What were you trying to tell the boss just now?” someone asked the alpha who had tried to speak earlier as they moved away from Mi Guanhong.

“He Wen got hurt trying to protect me. Isn’t the boss someone whose mental power also underwent qualitative change? I just wanted him to avenge us,” the alpha said, his eyes bloodshot, face filled with regret and anger. “He Wen and the others were injured protecting me. We barely just made it back from the brink of cosmic radiation—how could their mental power be damaged again? If only the boss had gotten here sooner…”

“If only what?” someone cut him off sharply, their tone severe. “Do you think Steller is a charity? The boss saved us for this moment—for now. Even if we die in this war, it’s the price we pay for escaping radiation.”

Seeing his teammate, who had gone through life and death with him, look dissatisfied, Mu Cheng softened his tone and lowered his voice. “Don’t mistake him for someone you can rely on like a commander. Maybe he was once, but now… I don’t know if you’ve noticed, ever since the war started, how many star pirates from Steller have actually died?”

Everyone knew war required sacrifice—it was just the way of things.

Steller had been expanding nonstop. Every time they took new territory, they absorbed all the local black- and gray-market forces. This caused their numbers to swell. With Steller growing larger under Xi Ming’s leadership, most members fell into a kind of blind fanaticism. No one cared how many people died.

But Mu Cheng had been watching. He’d calculated. Even based on Xi Ming’s previous standards, these battles shouldn’t have resulted in so many deaths.

Except for the radiation mech squad, which was always training and rarely deployed, the average death rate for the star pirates during missions was about 30%.

And no one had noticed.

Steller frequently cycled in new recruits, regularly reassigned members, and broke up familiar teams. To surviving members, most of their friends had just been “transferred.” A few might have died, but they were just “unlucky.” As for the newcomers? No one cared. If they weren’t being used as cannon fodder, that was considered mercy.

“How could this be?” someone muttered in disbelief. “Xi Ming was known for his caution when he was with the Empire. Even when sacrifice was unavoidable, he’d always choose the route with the least loss.”

“That was when he was in the Empire. He sacrificed everything for them, offended the Federation and pirates alike, and in the end, the Empire cast him aside…”

“Steller was built on a foundation of pirates, but don’t forget—Xi Ming’s hatred for pirates isn’t something that disappears just because he’s working with them. His desire for revenge against the Empire doesn’t stop him from using up the pirates either… I’m starting to think his goal isn’t to defeat the Empire or the Federation—it’s to destroy the entire interstellar order.”

At those words, someone lowered their voice, visibly shaken. “Then… what about us?”

They’d just barely clawed their way back from the edge of cosmic radiation…

“Don’t talk about that now. Let’s get the wounded back to the ship,” Mu Cheng said, frowning. “For treatment… we’ll ask if Master Shi chan help—when the boss is in a good mood.”

Mental damage was a notoriously difficult medical issue across the galaxy. It might not be as fatal as cosmic radiation, which was like a slow suicide, but most treatments could only save the patient’s life—recovering their former abilities was extremely difficult.

Especially during wartime. Finding a high-level mental power specialist was nearly impossible.

—

Standing in front of Mi Guanhong, Xi Ming immediately blocked the Mental pressure. “Senior.”

Inside the mech, Mi Guanhong saw the familiar mech and tears welled up in his eyes. He sighed deeply, his wrinkled face making him look even more worn out. “Xi kid, I remember when your mental power first underwent qualitative change, I was the one who guided you.”

Xi Ming didn’t respond—but neither did he attack.

Mi Guanhong continued, “I’ve heard what happened to you. It’s true—the Wu family was in the wrong, and the current empress is too unreasonable…. The Empire has wronged you.” His voice trembled at the end.

“There’s no point in saying this now,” Xi Ming replied, his voice calm but filled with complex emotion as he looked at the old man before him. Mi Guanhong had once selflessly guided him, a relationship not unlike master and student. But… the betrayal during the fall of Base 823 had left a scar that would never fade.

Xi Ming’s hatred for the Empire had long seeped into his bones—there was no way to reconcile.

Back then, he had even considered dying with the Zerg Queen—better that than survive only to be betrayed by the very Empire he had fought to protect.

But now… Xi Ming was glad he had endured. Only through that pain had he been able to meet Shi Chan.

Even so, he knew—no matter how much he hated, he couldn’t slaughter every last person in the Empire. To this elder, who had once taught him, he said, “Senior… there will be a new nation after the Empire.”

Mi Guanhong gave a bitter smile and shook his head. He let out a long sigh, full of nostalgia. “The Empire…”

“When I was born, it was so powerful, so inclusive. I traveled the stars under its protection—I witnessed its glory.”

“Now, it’s fallen. Not just because of the royal family. The military failed it. The people failed it. We all did…”

“But I never hated it.”

“I gave my whole life to the Empire. I protected it like my own eyes. The Empire saw me as a source of pride. My entire life’s honor and brilliance are tied to it—to the flag soaked with my blood.”

“If only…” The old man’s voice broke. “If only it could’ve stayed glorious forever…”

“Then maybe your life… might have been like mine—growing wild and free under the Empire’s warm protection.”