Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 997 - 691: Rout! (Part 2)

"Has the seed of desire somehow failed to take root fully in that little elf's heart? She can still remain clear-headed and even guide him in return? Interesting... but also more troublesome." In the dimension interwoven with pink and pale purple, a lazy voice took on a note of seriousness.

"Then... execute the backup plan. Let chaos and disease spread over a wider range. A failure on one planet does not mean the entire game is lost."

In a dimension of decay and mutation, eerie laughter echoed.

...

The material world, Mine Star battlefield.

With the addition of the Dark Elf fleet clearing minor enemies and holding the line, Bai E and Yue Ying were able to focus more on the decapitation operation against the remaining Bug Race dreadnoughts.

Their cooperation became increasingly seamless, and the embryonic form of Bai E's new-found path was continually consolidated and strengthened in real combat.

Finally, with the combined efforts of the two, along with the Mine Star and Dark Elf fleets, the remaining Bug Race dreadnoughts were destroyed one by one.

The sky full of floaters and Bug Race debris gradually turned into cosmic dust with the subsequent sweeping attacks.

As the last Bug Race biotic dreadnought turned into burning wreckage in space, the battle outside Mine Star finally came to a close.

The stench of scorched matter and the afterglow of dissipating Spiritual Energy filled the starry sky, along with the ubiquitous fragments of Bug Race creatures.

The deadly swarms of floaters, deprived of the Spiritual Energy guidance and supply from their mothership, either exploded into ash or drifted aimlessly in the vacuum like headless flies, gradually losing vitality.

When the last Bug Race dreadnought vanished in flames, after a momentary silence in the starry sky, thunderous cheers erupted in the direction of Mine Star!

Salvation in desperation! They had defended their homeland!

The "Star Emperor" Mecha and Yue Ying's form hung silently at the center of the debris-filled battlefield.

Inside the Mecha cockpit, Bai E exhaled a long breath and looked toward the slender figure not far away, his heart filled with complex emotions—

Joy of reunion, gratitude for that special "lesson" just now, and deep confusion about why she appeared in the Dark Elf camp.

Yue Ying also sheathed her battle sword, with the mystical purple and silver-white Spiritual Energy glow slightly restrained.

She looked toward the "Star Emperor" Mecha, and her face seemed to soften for a brief moment under the hood, but soon reverted to that cool and slightly distant expression.

She did not step forward immediately, just sent a telepathic message, saying calmly, "Deal with your matters first."

Bai E nodded, suppressing his questions, and returned in the direction of the "Shield of Defense" space station.

The defensive forces of Mine Star quickly launched cleanup operations after the battle.

Surviving Seventh Legion warships and Planet Defense Army fighters formed formations, cautiously making their way through the debris field, using precise shots to clear any Bug Race units still showing signs of activity, and recovering relatively intact debris samples for subsequent research.

The newly built Orbital Defense Platform, although damaged in many areas, still had its main structure intact and began intense repairs and energy replenishment.

As Bai E stepped out of the cockpit, Catherine, Gong Yan, and others, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately came forward, faces showing relief after surviving a disaster and inescapable fatigue.

"My lord, are you okay?" Gong Yan asked urgently, quickly scanning Bai E's body for obvious injuries.

"I'm fine." Bai E shook his head, looking toward Yue Ying, who lightly landed afterward.

At this moment, Yue Ying had already put away the starlit icy battle sword, and the mystical purple and silver-white Spiritual Energy glow around her had fully retracted, leaving only a cool demeanor and the hood that almost hid half her face.

She did not speak, just stood quietly aside, like an observer out of place with the surrounding hustle.

Catherine's gaze swept between the two, hesitating to speak.

She recognized Yue Ying—

Wasn't this the one who fought Bai E to a standstill?

But how did they end up joining forces against the Bug Race?

Many questions echoed in her mind, but now was not the time to ask them.

"Assess losses, treat the wounded, soothe the civilians." Bai E's voice broke the brief silence, his gaze becoming sharp and pragmatic.

"Also, prepare a meeting room. We need to immediately summarize this attack, analyze the enemy and... friends."

"Understood!" Catherine immediately nodded and turned to make arrangements.

Shortly after, in a relatively intact medium-sized meeting room on the "Shield of Defense" space station, the core members of Mine Star and two special guests gathered together.

On one side of the long table sat Bai E, Catherine, Gong Yan, Kuang Xin, Black Beast, Xu Ruoguang, and others; on the other side were Yue Ying and an unnoticed arrival at the meeting room door.

It was a male Dark Elf, tall and elegant, wearing a magnificent and exotic dark robe, with slender ears and a face almost eerily handsome, with the hint of a subtle, enigmatic smile on his lips.

Precisely the "Prince Shadow Blade," who had previously given orders in the Dark Elf mothership hall.

His presence was silent, as if he had always been there, bringing an intangible sense of pressure.

"Uninvited, I hope you can forgive me." Prince Shadow Blade slightly bowed, his movement as graceful as attending a court ball, but his gaze was scrutinizing, scanning everyone present with interest, and finally focusing on Bai E.

"I just thought that some information, perhaps it's more beneficial for us to understand each other if I explain it myself."

Although Yue Ying was powerful, she actually did not manage affairs.

For external communication and negotiations... whether it was daily activities or the negotiations with Peak Alliance top management this time, it was he who stepped in.

After all, before Yue Ying, he was the highest leader of this Dark Elf force.

The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became delicate.

Most of the Mine Star crowd had an innate wariness and a shred of gratitude towards the Dark Elves, and Prince Shadow Blade's attitude made it hard to discern his true intentions.

Bai E nodded, motioning him to sit.

"Please speak."

"First, let me introduce myself. I am 'Shadow Blade,' from... what you call the Dark Elves."

Prince Shadow Blade got straight to the point, his tone relaxed, "Our presence here is neither accidental nor entirely out of our own interest—though this battle was quite entertaining."

He glanced at Yue Ying, who remained silent, seemingly unrelated to her.

"Not long ago, we received an... invitation from some friends within the Peak Alliance."

Prince Shadow Blade's smile deepened, tinged with sarcasm, "They paid a rather considerable fee, requesting us to at an appropriate time, take action against all armed forces near this Mine Star... including humans and the Bug Race, as well as you—Mr. Bai E. Their phrase was: 'to enjoy a drama of destruction and, if necessary, make the protagonist leave early'."

Despite previous suspicions, when Prince Shadow Blade personally confirmed it, the meeting room burst into a series of suppressed gasps and whispers of anger.

Catherine clenched her fists, while Gong Yan turned pale.

Kuang Xin directly cursed, "Those bastards! They only stab their own people in the back!"

"We Dark Elves are not interested in human internal disputes."

Prince Shadow Blade shrugged, his tone lazy, "We are only interested in interesting things. And the fee they paid happened to cover our ticket to watch. As for whether to participate, and how to participate... that depends on our own judgment."

He looked at Bai E, his gaze profound, "It turns out, you are much more interesting than their description and our initial expectations. Your brilliance is quite special. And our lady..."

He paused, not continuing, just smiled meaningfully, "She made her choice. So, we changed the script."