Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 977 - 682: Backstab!

Facing the human fleet's assault, more ghostly blue defensive Spiritual Energy lights lit up on the surface of the Bug Race's giant ship. In some areas, the outer shell cracked under the attack, spilling viscous acid and fragments of tissue.

The damage caused by the small fleet was far from fatal but did interfere with the actions of the biological giant ship, forcing them to divert part of their attention and defensive power to deal with these annoying flies.

"That's it! Keep up the pressure! 'Sky Dome' shield, intermittent reinforcement between sectors 3 and 7 according to Spiritual Energy shock wave patterns, reduce power in other areas, prioritize energy transfer to the orbital platform point defense array!"

Bai E's commands came one after another, precise and efficient.

He combined his perception of the Bug Race's Spiritual Energy fluctuations with the Karian defense system's monitoring data, achieving near real-time allocation of defensive resources.

The battle unfolded intensely in the outer space of Dawn City.

Ghostly blue and blazing white energy beams crisscrossed, with explosions constantly blooming against the dark backdrop of space.

Under Bai E's command, the Karian Federation's defensive forces demonstrated far more resilience and tactical flexibility than ever before.

They no longer attempted to engage in direct gunfire exchanges with the Bug Race's giant ships but rather used harassment, interference, and maneuverable defenses to slowly deplete the Bug Race's power, delaying their advance towards the planet.

Casualties were still present.

A destroyer, moving slightly too slowly while evading the acid barrage, was struck by subsequent Plasma Cannon fire on its engines, erupting into a ball of fire in space.

An orbital defense platform's point-defense array overloaded, was breached by a swarm of flying bugs, and suffered multiple surface damages.

Yet overall, the situation somehow maintained a fragile balance, with the Bug Race fleet advancing slower than expected.

Inside the command center, the tense atmosphere slightly eased, with many eyes filled with admiration and hope when they looked at Bai E.

This rumored existence not only possessed immense individual strength but also demonstrated astonishing talent in commanding large-scale defensive operations!

"Mr. Bai E, your tactics have worked! We've delayed them for at least over an hour!" General Aleksey said, his tone invigorated.

Bai E, however, frowned slightly, his perception continuously locked onto the core of the Bug Race fleet.

He could feel that the Bug Race's counterattacks were becoming more orderly, and they seemed to be quickly adapting to this harassment tactic, and... within those six giant ships, there was a more subtle and concentrated Spiritual Energy brewing.

"Don't let your guard down. They're adjusting. Notify the special strike team to be ready to engage at any moment," Bai E said in a deep voice.

At this moment, the observer reported again: "Detected new warp signals! On the battlefield's flank, approximately 0.3 light-years away! Signal identification... It's the Alliance Fleet! Not large in scale, roughly the size of a rapid response sub-fleet!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Reinforcement from the Alliance?" President Edwin's eyes lit up.

Although Xing Zhuo had said the Alliance wouldn't directly send the main fleet for support, a rapid response sub-fleet arriving at a critical moment could greatly boost morale, and possibly even change the course of the battle!

"But they did not immediately take action."

The newly appeared Alliance Fleet hovered on the edge of the battlefield, observing without immediately joining the fray.

"Are they evaluating the situation, looking for the best time to engage?" a Karian general speculated, "Seeing us hold against the Bug Race under Mr. Bai E's command, they might be waiting for us to further deplete the Bug Race, or for the Bug Race to show a more significant flaw before they strike, securing greater credit with lesser loss."

This idea took root in many people's minds, even General Aleksey nodded slightly, finding it reasonable.

After all, major powers always considered maximizing their benefits.

Bai E's frown deepened.

His Spiritual Energy perception swept over the newly arrived fleet, noticing a lack of familiar Spiritual Energy traits belonging to Xing Zhuo or other high-ranking Alliance figures.

Instead, there was an extremely subtle, instinctively repelling, twisted sense mixed within the regular Spiritual Energy background of the human fleet.

"Something's wrong..." he murmured.

Before he could voice his warning, a sudden change occurred!

The Alliance rapid response sub-fleet, which had been observing on the sidelines, suddenly adjusted its formation, engines roaring to life, not rushing towards the Bug Race fleet.

Instead... they charged directly towards the rear flank of the Karian Federal Defense Fleet!

Simultaneously, the public communication channel was forcibly hacked, a cold, clearly electronically generated distorted voice announced: "Karian Federal Defense Fleet, you have been corrupted by Bug Race Spiritual Energy, lost control, and are threatening the safety of Alliance property. I am ordered to execute the 'Purification' procedure, disarm immediately and submit to inspection, else you will be destroyed!"

"What?!" Everyone in the command center was stunned.

"Are they crazy?! We're fighting the Bug Race!" President Edwin was shocked and furious.

"Fire! Traitors! They've been controlled by the Bug Race!" Bai E reacted instantly.

Such a thing had happened before, but it was unexpected that humans in the cosmos could be so easily impersonated and replaced.

But it was already too late.

The Alliance sub-fleet had long completed its targeting, unleashing dozens of massive plasma main cannons and a barrage of missiles like a deadly serpent striking fiercely at the unprepared flank of the Karian Fleet!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Intense explosions reverberated throughout the Karian Fleet formation!

Two destroyers and a cruiser were critically hit almost immediately, their shields overloaded, hulls torn, turning into burning wreckage in space.