Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 990: Despair

The alarms were piercing, as the Bug Race fleet, resembling six meteors trailing eerie green tails, tore through the tranquility of Mine Star's outskirts.

Many mechas shot out from the "Shield of Defense" space station like reverse-moving meteors, charging towards the Bug Race fleet.

During Mine Star's six-month rapid development period, in addition to the newly recruited mobile warriors, Kuang Xin and his "Dusk" security company's former pirates-turned-experienced mecha fighters formed several auxiliary strike teams.

These teams accompanied Bai E, Catherine, and other main forces, like a reverse iron meteor shower, attempting to clear a path for the leaders or execute harassment and interception missions.

Yet, the battle plunged into anticipated difficulties from the onset.

The Bug Race fleet had evidently absorbed lessons from the previous two encounters.

Unlike in Karian, they did not try to initially cover with dense firepower or dispatch large numbers of bugs for frontal assaults.

Instead, the six biological warships, upon entering long-range fire range, did not rush to attack the orbital defense facilities of Mine Star, but rather began to disperse and maneuver in a bizarre but efficient manner.

Numerous openings on the warships' surfaces unleashed countless types of new "floating organisms."

These units were much smaller than regular flying bugs, only the size of a mecha's fist, entirely translucent, with faint spiritual energy glows flickering inside.

Their movement trajectories were erratic and fast, like phosphorescent lights or ghosts in the cosmos, swarming Bai E's team and Mine Star's defensive positions.

"Beware! They're new units!" Catherine's warning echoed in the tactical channel.

The attack method of these floating organisms was neither traditional acid nor bone spikes.

Once close to the target, they would self-detonate, releasing intense spiritual interference pulses and high-intensity electromagnetic radiation.

Although the explosive power of individual blasts couldn't penetrate mecha shields, they were too numerous, and the explosions' spiritual pulses severely interfered with mecha sensors, fire control systems, and even the stability of spiritual energy links.

For humans who rely on sophisticated equipment and spiritual energy coordination in warships and mechas, this harassment tactic was incredibly nauseating and effective.

Even more troubling were those six Bug Race motherships themselves.

Unlike before, when they advanced slowly like moving fortresses or remained stationary as turrets, they began irregularly high-speed movements on the battlefield with astonishing acceleration, like six giant whales swimming in the deep sea, their trajectories unpredictable.

While moving, they intermittently sprayed precise plasma beams or acid barrages from various parts of their hull, attacking Mine Star's orbital defense platforms and approaching mechas.

Bai E attempted to lead the mobile warrior team to forcibly break through the floating organisms' harassment, closing in on one of the giant ships for jump ship operations —

This was the most effective way they had experienced against the Bug Race fleet.

However, the Bug Race tactics had clearly strengthened against this point.

Whenever the "Star Emperor" mecha, relying on its outstanding performance and "Insect Race Killer" perception, narrowly penetrated the floating organisms' interception to lock onto a giant ship, that ship would accelerate instantly and change direction.

Additionally, more dense floating organism swarms would launch from the ship's surface, forming a moving "Spiritual Minefield" composed of self-detonation units, forcing Bai E to abandon the chase or expend massive energy on defense and clearing.

Other giant ships would seize the opportunity to launch precise volleys from the flanks or rear, forcing Bai E to defend or evade.

The spiritual coordination of the Bug Race fleet reached unprecedented heights, as if controlled by a unified and incredibly calm will, seamlessly combining harassment, maneuvering, and fire suppression, completely denying Bai E any opportunity for close jump ship operations.

"They're delaying! Consuming us!"

Black Beast roared in the channel, her "Night Owl" mecha's actions had become sluggish due to continuous interference from the floating organisms' self-detonation pulses, and her armor bore numerous charred marks. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Catherine's "Silver Feather" attempted to use sniping for precise long-range strikes, but the interference from floating organisms made aiming extremely difficult, and the special armor-piercing rounds mostly were dodged by the giant ships or deflected by the momentarily lighting spiritual shields on their surfaces, with little effect.

Bai E's expression was solemn.

He realized that the Bug Race's purpose this time was very clear:

To use absolute numerical superiority, new harassment units, and flexible tactics to maximally deplete Mine Star's limited defensive power, while focusing on limiting him, the greatest threat.

They weren't rushing to destroy Mine Star in one go; instead, they wanted to gradually erode all resistance, like a dull knife cutting meat.

The situation quickly deteriorated.

Those newly recruited warriors, modified mechas of former pirates, and "Dusk" mecha warriors became the first sacrifices under the dense interference of floating organisms and the precise sniper shots of Bug Race giant ships.

Their mecha shields overloaded under continuous pulse explosions, sensors malfunctioned, actions became delayed, and they were subsequently consumed by plasma beams or acid barrages.

In space, small fireballs constantly erupted, each representing the fall of a mecha and a warrior.

The communications channel was filled with short screams, desperate cries, and system failure alarms.

Kuang Xin's mecha warriors, despite their bravery, faced unprecedented tactical tactics beyond their previous experience, making their wild fighting skills seem pale, suffering especially heavy casualties.