The "Thorny Bird" used the wreckage of the "Traveler" to shield itself, successfully breaking away from the main pursuit of the Bug Race, quietly entering the relatively safe near-Earth orbit of the Jade Stone Star's northern hemisphere.

The sensors on board and the "Ash" processed data from the "Traveler" together painted a hellish scene of the planet at this moment.

On the vast surface of the planet, the areas representing human civilization were largely extinguished or flickering uncertainly, replaced by large patches of ugly dark purple fungal blankets, like poisonous sores spreading on the planet's skin.

In the atmosphere, explosive flashes occasionally lit up, traces of the ongoing battles between resisting human defenses and the Bug Race ground forces.

The global communication network had long since collapsed, leaving only scattered, static-laden, desperate shortwave distress signals.

Catherine projected a high-resolution tactical map onto the main screen; it was from the "Traveler" platform, showing major city defense deployments and the subsequent timeline of their fall during the initial phase of the Bug Race invasion.

Near the temperate sea region of the northern hemisphere, several anomalous energy gathering points in the "CT-7" trench area were highlighted. It was the target of White Calamity Squad's second phase mission — suspected location of the "Main Nest Prototype."

However, just as Catherine was about to plan the concealment location for the "Thorny Bird" and the starting coordinates for underwater operations, the area scanner "Ash" reported urgently.

"Sir, Captain! About three hundred kilometers northwest of the designated concealment point, land area (coordinates X-77, Y-42) detected high-intensity, sustained firefight signals! Energy signatures show a fierce collision of standard human energy weapons and Bug Race biological weapons! Multiple Bug Race Spiritual Energy gathering points exist around the signal source, moderately high intensity, rapidly encircling the human signal source! Human energy reactions are rapidly weakening!"

On the map, that area was marked in high brightness.

It was not a major city but a mid-sized industrial mining town and its affiliated defensive outposts amidst rolling hills.

According to the "Traveler" data, the town put up a stubborn resistance during the initial Bug Race invasion and temporarily held the passages to several resource points behind, but later lost contact with the main defense line, current status unknown.

"But that's not our mission area," the Star Alliance record keeper on board said quietly, "Our primary target is the 'Main Nest Prototype,' time is of the essence, the Bug Race could finish that thing at any moment."

No one from Bauhinia spoke up.

Catherine looked at Bai E; everyone was waiting for his decision. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Bai E's gaze lingered on the coordinates of the intense firefight area for a few seconds.

Through the perceptive power of the "Insect Race Killer," he could vaguely "hear" the agonizing screams from countless lives struggling at the brink of death in that area, and the Bug Race's greedy, cold hunting intent.

It scarcely took more than two breaths for Bai E to make his decision.

"Adjust the course."

Bai E's voice resounded calmly and decisively through the bridge, "Go there first. Save them."

Catherine did not hesitate: "Understood! Adjusting course, target area X-77, Y-42! All personnel prepare for battle, expected arrival over the combat zone in three minutes!"

"You all!" The Star Alliance record keeper opened his mouth but found no one paid him any attention.

Ultimately, he could only sigh in resignation, silently noting down the details of the team's movements.

In mid-air, the "Thorny Bird" abandoned its original stealth posture, thrusters at full power, dashing towards the land being devoured by death like a bird of prey pouncing towards the hunting ground.

…

Jade Stone Star, Northern Hemisphere, the designated "Anvil" outer defense line of the hill mining area.

This was originally the human front line for extracting rare metal veins, equipped with solid alloy fortifications, automatic turrets, and an underground bunker network.

But now, this defensive line was riddled with holes.

Heavy alloy walls were covered with pits corroded by acid and dents from biomass impacts, over half of the automatic turrets lay smoking and incapacitated on the ground, the remaining defenders huddled in the last few firing points, mounting a nearly futile resistance.

In the command post—a semi-buried reinforced bunker—the sergeant major Malcolm Red leaned against alloy walls rife with cracks, gasping for air.

His powered armor was damaged in multiple places, his left arm hanging awkwardly, faceplate screen flooded with blood red, an effect of system damage mixed with external blood.

The communication channel was filled only with static and distant, despairing cries and explosions.

"Sir… Tower three has fallen! They've come in through the ventilation ducts!"

"Ammo! I need ammo!"

"Medic! Someone needs… Ah!!!"

Malcolm shut down the noisy public channel, leaving only the command link open.

It too was silent.

The last time he received orders from his superiors was six hours ago—

"Hold out to the last moment to buy time for the evacuation behind."

Then, communications went dead.

He didn't know if the evacuation had been completed behind, nor did he know if the position he held had any strategic value left.

He only knew that outside, those seemingly endless Bug Race units, charging forward with roars, were inch by inch consuming him and his last few dozen brothers' lives.

Through the bunker's narrow observation slit, Malcolm could see the scene outside: beneath the dim sky, the earth seemed to writhe alive—that was countless "worker bees," "hydralisks," and newly emerged "raiders" clad in thick chitin armor charging over the fungal blanket.