Chapter 1 Defense Perimeter

The defense perimeter of the Mechanical Race's territory was a tense scene as the combined fleets of the three great civilizations faced off against the joint fleet of the Beyond Grade A Association.

In the peripheral areas, numerous spaceships bearing the insignias of various interstellar media relayed the situation. Neither side made any attempt to drive away these war correspondents.

Because the area could potentially turn into a battlefield, the media outlets had deployed unmanned ships to broadcast remotely. This storm center, which could ignite a war, was the most closely watched place in the entire universe. The total viewership had already surpassed historical records.

"The fleets of the three great civilizations have been blocked. No shots have been fired; they seem to be observing… Although the reasons are unclear, war has not yet broken out. Our station sincerely hopes for a turnaround…"

In the online broadcast rooms of the interstellar media, hosts wore solemn expressions. Countless viewers were anxiously watching the screens, their hearts filled with trepidation.

After weeks of public awareness campaigns, most people understood that the events unfolding here would be the turning point. If the two sides clashed here, it could lead to a full-scale war between the three great civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association, a prospect that filled countless people with dread.

Just then, two shooting stars appeared on the screen, rapidly approaching the area of confrontation from within the defense perimeter, revealing their respective forms.

"The Mechanical Country, the party involved, has finally appeared! The other is Black Star, the president of the Beyond Grade A Association. His personal appearance suggests that he is here specifically to stop the three great civilizations?"

Listening to the host's introduction, the gazes of countless interstellar citizens focused on the two figures. Toward these originators who had turned the cosmic situation into its current state, many held complex feelings.

Han Xiao crossed the Association fleet's line and arrived between the two armies, hovering in the central area of the confrontation. He instantly became the focus of all eyes on the battlefield. The warships on both sides locked their long-range sights on him, magnifying his image on their screens.

He glanced at the astonishing scale of the three great civilizations' fleets, activated the public broadcast channel, and openly addressed everyone, not shying away from any party, saying:

"You neither fight nor retreat. Why don't the people in charge come out and talk? I believe nobody wants to see things escalate to this point. If we can negotiate a solution acceptable to all, no one will want to resort to force."

His voice echoed across the battlefield, and a moment of silence followed. Then, three beams of light shot out from the flagships, forming remote projections of the leaders of the three great civilizations in front of Han Xiao, simultaneously joining the local broadcast channel.

As soon as the connection was established, Louis spoke in a deep voice, cutting straight to the point:

"Black Star, are you intent on monopolizing the Virtual Rebellion Virus technology and sheltering the heinous Mechanical Country?"

Han Xiao shook his head. "The Virtual Rebellion Virus has long been destroyed. Mechanical Country is merely conducting his own research, obtaining some results. It was originally his creation, so how can there be talk of monopolization? While this technology has risks, it is not obligated to be handed over to the three great civilizations, nor has it harmed interstellar society. So how can there be talk of heinousness? On the contrary, your dispatch of a large army to surround the Mechanical Race's territory, attempting to coerce Mechanical Country into handing over the technology, is not very honorable."

"Mechanical Country has a criminal record. The motives for his research of this technology are questionable. For safety reasons, we need to control this technology and Mechanical Country himself. This is all to safeguard interstellar society, and it is the duty of the three great civilizations," Mablus said, his expression solemn.

Han Xiao remained unfazed. "Back then, during the Intelligent Plague, multiple Beyond Grade A mechanics worked together to resolve the disaster, which has already proven that the Association also safeguards cosmic security. We will also ensure that this technology does not harm interstellar society. This is an internal matter of the Association and does not accept the interference of the three great civilizations."

The head of the EsGod solemnly said, "The Beyond Grade A Development Federation is merely a non-governmental organization. Its guarantee has no practical significance. The three great civilizations have the right to manage it. At the same time, the three great civilizations also have the right to supervise any factors that endanger interstellar society. This is in accordance with the authority granted by the Civilization Jurisdiction Act. Mechanical Country must hand over the Virtual Rebellion Virus technology!"

"Impossible," Han Xiao flatly refused. "The Association's statement has already expressed its position. Individuals have the freedom to research and do not accept forced submissions. The Association will independently regulate the scope of application of the technology. We hope that the three great civilizations will immediately withdraw their troops and return from their misguided path!"

Louis paused, raised his tone, and said majestically, "As long as Mechanical Country hands over the technology, we will withdraw our troops. Before that, we will not terminate this military operation for any reason. We will issue a final ultimatum of ten days. We hope that the Association will carefully consider during this period, act wisely, and not make the wrong decision."

"So there's no room for negotiation?"

"You have ten days."

Han Xiao nodded, his tone changing, and said in a deep voice:

"Since that's the case, from now on, I will be the line. If you want to force the Association to hand over the technology, you'll have to get past me first!"

With that, he sat down cross-legged, hovering in the central area in front of the two armies. Although he was only one person, in the eyes of everyone, he seemed to have become an infinitely extending line.

The leaders of the three great civilizations gave him a deep look, and their remote projections disappeared offline.

The conversation between the two sides took place in the broadcast channel and was not hidden from the outside world. It reached the ears of everyone present and was also transmitted to the media broadcasts.

Countless interstellar citizens immediately changed their expressions.

"Has the negotiation failed?"

"It's over. Neither side is backing down. It looks like a fight is really going to break out!"

"There are still ten days. I wonder if there's enough time to evacuate."

Interstellar society was in a state of panic.

Han Xiao scanned the fleets of the three great civilizations and shook his head inwardly when he saw that they were standing by.

As the president, he represented the Association's position. Softening was impossible, and the technology would definitely not be handed over, not setting this precedent. The three great civilizations had put on such a big show and would not withdraw their troops until their goal was achieved. Neither side was giving way, which was not good.

"Ten days…" Han Xiao muttered softly.

This was the final ultimatum given by the three great civilizations. If a consensus was still not reached after ten days, they would probably really fight. This time, the three great civilizations seemed to be determined and willing to bear the consequences of starting a war.

He opened his interface and saw that a new item had been pinned to the top of his quest list. It was the quest triggered from Manison, which required him to resolve the siege of the Mechanical Race's territory by any means. As long as he could get the three great civilizations to withdraw, he would complete the quest.

Perhaps it was because Manison had personally "asked for help" that the reward, in addition to a large amount of experience, also included a chance to draw one of Manison's abilities.

Another chance to swipe Old Man Manison's underwear; Han Xiao would naturally not let it go.

He casually opened the forum and glanced at it. His earlier statement had also been recorded by the players in the fleet.

Unlike the panicked interstellar citizens, the players were basically afraid of nothing except a boring life, and they were almost all excited about the current situation. His statement of "I will be the line" was accompanied by various comments like "domineering" and "666" on the recording.

"Beep, beep…"

At this moment, the communicator suddenly rang. It was Mablus calling.

Han Xiao was not surprised at all. Public negotiations were more about expressing a position to the outside world, while the real deals had to be negotiated in private.

Upon connecting the communication, the projections of the leaders of the three great civilizations appeared on the mecha's built-in screen.

"Black Star, do you really want to provoke a war?" Mablus whispered sternly.

"I should be asking you that question," Han Xiao said leisurely.

"Don't think you can be reckless just because you have the Sanctuary Revival. You're leading the Beyond Grade As down a dead end," Louis said coldly.

"Isn't that what you want to see? If you weren't worried about the losses of starting a war, why would you be negotiating with me privately now?"

"Heh, our research isn't without results. The Sanctuary Revival requires the consumption of certain special resources and can't be used at will. You can't fool us now. Besides, those resurrected ones have already used their chance to be resurrected. If we really fight, there will still be losses. No one wants that," said the head of the EsGod.

"So what's your wise opinion?" Han Xiao smacked his lips.

"We want the Virtual Rebellion Virus technology and the relevant information on the Sanctuary Revival. In exchange, we will not only withdraw our troops but also lift the blockade and bans against the Association and instead support your development. We can even provide you with enough cosmic treasures and technical blueprints, and we promise that the personnel of the Black Star Army will not be on the future purge list. These deals will be completed in private, without publicizing them to the outside world. Our reason for withdrawing our troops can be that we are wary of your strength, thus fulfilling your reputation…"

"You're ugly and you think you're beautiful. Goodbye, you motherfucker."

Before he could finish speaking, Han Xiao directly ended the communication, not wanting to waste any more words.

This was the first time he had proactively hung up on the leaders of the three great civilizations. Before the falling out, he would not have given such high-ranking figures a cold shoulder, but now he felt a burst of relief.

…

On the other side, in the flagship command room of the three great civilizations' joint fleet.

“…Okay, I understand.”

After listening to the instructions from above, Fleet Commander Simon responded a few times, put down the communicator, returned to the command platform, and calmly ordered:

"Pass on my orders. The engineering units will begin assembling the High-Dimensional Apocalypse Transporter. It will be preheated in twelve hours and coordinate alignment with the transmission location."

"Are the higher-ups sending reinforcements?" the chief of staff next to him asked.

"Yes."

Simon turned his head, looked out the porthole at Han Xiao sitting alone in the void, a glint flashing in his eyes, and said in an enigmatic tone:

"The higher-ups have ordered us to welcome the direct line Beyond Grade As that will be teleported over."

"How many are coming?"

Hearing this, Simon glanced at him.

"All of them."

…

In the Black Star Palace, in the reception room.

A group of Beyond Grade As gathered together, watching the news broadcast of the Mechanical Race's territory, their expressions varying, discussing in hushed tones.

"Black Star's attitude is too tough. There's no room for mediation if this continues," the old dragon Milizaus said worriedly.

The Hunter was fiddling with his guns, his voice muffled. "Mediate my ass. This fight is unavoidable. Black Star staying there alone isn't just for show. I bet he's waiting for the three great civilizations to send direct line powerhouses to deal with him. Whether it's a siege or a gauntlet match, he'll take it all on. He's trying to establish his authority."

"Is he reliable on his own…" Kant frowned. "If the three great civilizations send out all their forces, Dark Emperor and Golden Ring will definitely not be left out, and those guys guarding the secondary dimension world bases will probably be transferred back as well. Even if he's strong, it'll be enough to give him a hard time. Even the Chosen One might make a move."

"Black Star should be able to handle the others, but the Chosen One…" Kesuye hesitated. "If he uses the EsGod's 'national treasure,' Black Star might be in trouble."

Hela crossed her arms and crossed her legs, coldly saying, "Don't worry about Black Star. He's tough as nails. Let's think about the threat at hand first. The three great civilizations' army groups have already blockaded the Morning Star Cluster, the gateway to the Flickering World. They could attack at any time. I estimate that there are already no fewer than ten thousand super-horizon star-destroying weapons aimed here."

"Ten thousand? You're underestimating the three great civilizations," the Hunter snorted.

Kesuye shook his head. "We've made all the arrangements we can. We can only wait for the changes on the Old Star River's side. At least until the three great civilizations attack the Mechanical Race's territory, the troops in other areas will not open fire."

Everyone sighed. When this scene really happened, they still felt uneasy.

No matter what, the opponent was, after all, the overlord of this universe. This long-standing fear could not be easily eliminated.

The turning point of the situation came swiftly. Even many Beyond Grade As were not used to it, but the great changes of the era always came suddenly, rarely giving people a chance to adapt slowly. They could only accept reality.