Chapter 1304 - 1164: Seeking Fugui Amidst Danger

Chapter 1304: Chapter 1164: Seeking Fugui Amidst Danger

"Charge, charge through?" Nutrient Injection asked in surprise as she turned to Qu Jianlai, "The energy beam is still expanding!"

The expansion continues, but it’s getting slower and slower, so the acceleration is negative!

Nutrient Injection considers herself quite brave, but boss, this operation... it’s beyond bravery, isn’t it?

"We’re more than ten million kilometers away," Qu Jianlei replied calmly, "By the time we charge through, it should be just about right."

Nutrient Injection blinked and couldn’t help asking a sensitive question, "Is it intelligent calculation?"

She wanted to know if the boss’s artificial intelligence had intervened, calculating the related probabilities.

She knows quite a bit about artificial intelligence, but ultimately she’s a woman, not a professional, so her understanding is somewhat superficial.

To be more precise, she is uncertain about the level of the boss’s AI and how much relevant data it has stored.

Qu Jianlei hesitated before answering, "The official exploration team has already been dispatched, fifty million kilometers away."

Nutrient Injection blinked again, realizing, then nodded.

"Well, there’s not much time left, charging through... let’s see as we go."

Just as they stopped to observe before, now that they’re gradually approaching, the danger won’t be greater than before.

Of course, there’s no reason to an abnormal celestial phenomenon; sudden reversal is not unexpected, but it’s ultimately a small probability.

Although Nutrient Injection is fearless, if they can avoid conflict with the official fleet, that would be best.

It didn’t take long for them to close half the distance, and they noticed that the expansion speed was slowing down.

Considering the official exploration team’s speed isn’t very fast, they didn’t sprint at full speed.

When they were about three million kilometers away from the energy beam, the beam unexpectedly stopped expanding.

However, it didn’t begin to contract but expanded and contracted as if it had the breathing of a living being.

At this moment, the Big Head Butterfly turned again, "The fleet has increased speed!"

Qu Jianlei furrowed his brows and decisively commanded, "Sprint!"

"Boss!" Nutrient Injection couldn’t help but shout again, "This is way too fierce!"

She’s not afraid of death, but the risk... should be worth it, right?

Qu Jianlei glanced at her and spoke calmly, "In overload defense mode, this starship can stay inside for at least ten minutes."

The diameter of the energy beam had already expanded to over two thousand kilometers, and the energy inside was extraordinarily chaotic.

The 6503 was originally a standard warship, known for its defense capabilities, far superior to similar-sized starships.

The overload defense of a company-level ship lasts ten minutes at most; longer, and there’s a high probability its equipment will be damaged.

But this period is enough for the 6503 to rush into the energy beam, obtain the alternate space organism, and retreat.

Nutrient Injection frowned slightly: This must have been calculated by the artificial intelligence!

Then she decisively nodded, "Okay, I’ll follow the boss’s orders! Be cautious with overload defense."

She wasn’t reminding the boss but the AI: this thing has a time limit!

When they began to accelerate fully, the relatively distant fleet also began to accelerate.

When the 6503 was less than five hundred thousand kilometers from the energy beam, the beam unexpectedly began to slowly contract.

"Damn..." Nutrient Injection realized the change and shouted in fright.

"Full speed sprint, beware of the energy reversal, quick! Quick! Quick!"

Qu Jianlei understood instantly; what does energy reversal mean? It was erupting before; next, it could possibly devour!

He didn’t think of this initially, but who would’ve thought Nutrient Injection did?

This judgment he absolutely supported; in this world, where there is light, there is dark; where there’s positive, there’s negative. Otherwise, how could there be balance?

So he nodded, "Sprint, be cautious of reversal."

Then the 6503 suddenly accelerated, and even the three inside could clearly feel it.

Nutrient Injection looked at her boss, "This AI really recognizes only you, huh."

Qu Jianlei chuckled inwardly; my own child listening to you wouldn’t make sense, right?

While speaking, the 6503 plunged right into the energy beam.

The next moment, the ship’s hull began to shake, so violently that even the three seated in the control room felt it.

It’s worth noting that most starships have anti-gravity devices; company-level ships definitely have them.

So during most operations, only extreme gravitational overload can cause discomfort for the crew.

Now they actually felt the tremor, which implies the pressure that the starship was enduring.

Moreover, this was only at the outer edge of the energy beam; what it’d feel like further inside was unknown.

However, Flower Scorpion said nothing, instantly fastening her seatbelt and reaching for a button nearby.

Once pressed, her body would quickly flip into the lifeboat.

Nutrient Injection also said nothing, simply grasping onto a chair back lightly; she chose to trust the boss.

Qu Jianlei’s face was as cold as water because the Big Head Butterfly had turned again.

"The energy inside is too violent, with strong viscosity."

Qu Jianlei sighed silently in his heart, this would indeed affect the speed.

However, he did not intend to blame Little Lake—the impact of the energy beam was simply too great.

Not only is it violent, but it can also distort human perception and device sensing. Just by observing externally, it’s difficult to make accurate judgments.

At this moment, he wouldn’t inquire about those details either, "It’s up to you. If the judgment cannot achieve the goal, retreat decisively."

"Rest assured," Big Head Butterfly answered firmly, "I’ve set a return trigger mechanism, and there’s considerable surplus."

As time goes by, the vibrations inside the starship grew increasingly violent.

The three of them could even vaguely hear faint cracking sounds coming from the ship’s hull.

It should be some materials being overwhelmed, already nearing collapse.

However, Nutrient Injection and Flower Scorpion still didn’t speak, with no expression on their faces.

Finally, as the cracking sounds grew louder, the starship paused slightly.

"Alright, we’ve seized it!" Qu Jianlei exhaled lightly, "Four minutes and twenty-one seconds... there’s still a considerable surplus."

One in and one out, yielding seventy-eight seconds of surplus, which is over a minute.

Of course, this figure isn’t an absolute value; the overload defense can persist for ten minutes—it was just an estimate.

This relates to the starship’s age, maintenance level, etc., and whether it’s had a great overhaul is critical.

When they got the 6503 ship, it wasn’t a new ship; it had undergone proper repairs.

Moreover, whether they’ll encounter unforeseen circumstances during the return, and how long it’ll entangle them, is the crux of the matter.

But in any case, they could run now, and no one had to worry about achieving the goal.

Currently, the only thing they could do was pray the starship flies faster and avoids any more mishaps.

However, Nutrient Injection still asked, "Should we bring the creature from alternate space into the cabin?"

Her aim was clear, if it could be brought into the cabin, then attempting to store it in the storage talisman was possible.

That wasn’t the key point; the point was that if stored in the storage talisman, they could abandon ship and escape at a critical moment.

Qu Jianlei twitched his lips, replied in a deep voice, "Extreme load, external pressure too great, unable to bring it into the cabin."

To retrieve cargo into the cabin or eject a small attack ship for battle in space, it has to go through double vacuum doors.

Without this door, internal air would escape entirely.

The vacuum door is actually very sturdy; as long as there’s enough compressed air, it can be used frequently in battle.

But given the current situation, with overwhelming pressure from all directions, the usage environment isn’t very favorable.

And the starship itself is already in overload defense mode, coupled with some structural damage, recklessly retrieving items is not advisable.

"Tsk," Nutrient Injection smacked her lips regretfully, yet didn’t say anything more.

As the starship was desperately rushing towards the outer periphery, the vague cracking sounds gradually lightened and reduced.

Yet the intense shaking of the starship itself did not become significantly gentler because of this.

Flower Scorpion remained strapped to her seat, couldn’t help but sigh, "This starship... certainly needs a great overhaul."

Her mechanical knowledge isn’t strong, but she knew enough about combat machinery.

Probably feeling her words were a bit ominous, she added, "As long as nothing unexpected happens, it will suffice."

Qu Jianlei tightly pursed his lips, remaining silent.

Nutrient Injection turned her head to glance at him, noticed his appearance, couldn’t help but laugh "pfft."

Qu Jianlei helplessly rolled his eyes, refusing to admit he attracted bad luck, but people at times must engage in a bit of superstition.

After all, it was clear Flower Scorpion didn’t have a jinxed aura, without danger and mishap, the 6503 ship rushed to the energy beam’s outer edge.

The time remained at one minute and forty-two seconds until the ten-minute limit.

Note that when they left, the mechanical arm was still holding that alternate space creature.

The total volume had expanded from what it was, and the energy beam’s diameter was contracting.

Given this situation, the time actually shortened, indicating increased propulsion force during the breakout.

Reaching the edge of the energy beam, the pressure on the hull noticeably reduced, and the tremors within the cabin became much gentler.

The complexion of Flower Scorpion and Nutrient Injection visibly softened.

Yet at this moment, Big Head Butterfly suddenly spun around, "Oh no, suction has appeared behind us!"

"Suction?" Qu Jianlei exclaimed in shock, "Could it be that the energy operation mode truly reversed?"

"Eight or nine out of ten, that’s the case," Big Head Butterfly’s body spun quickly, clearly analyzing this possibility.

"But fortunately, we rushed in timely, enabling a prompt escape."

Upon hearing this, Qu Jianlei couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride: It’s all thanks to my decisiveness!

Yet in the next moment, Big Head Butterfly’s body froze, "Dang it, the suction is strengthening so quickly?"

Immediately, the intensity of the starship’s trembling slightly intensified again.

Nutrient Injection’s perception ability was extraordinarily strong; realizing something was amiss, she immediately looked at Qu Jianlei.

Then she was astounded to see the leader’s face didn’t look quite right, so she raised her voice to ask, "What’s happening?"