The deep, star-strewn sky, the mysterious and vast expanse above—perhaps one should also mention the frantic, aurora-like streaks that blaze across it when a cosmic storm rages...

To someone new to the universe, all this might inspire a sense of grandeur and wonder.

But for Fang Senyan, or perhaps for anyone who has stared at nothing but these sights for seventy-two hours, or even longer, the sheer monotony is something one can begin to grasp.

The magnetic interference here was truly intense. This wasn't just evident in the readings on the Gauss indicator; it manifested more acutely as a physical, intuitive reaction. Dizziness, even nausea. Perhaps they should be grateful for the formidable shielding of the Tier-II Mothership Skylark, and the superb piloting of Captain Rusk; thus far, they hadn't encountered any truly grave dangers.

Suddenly, Fang Senyan saw the red light flashing on the bulkhead. He swiftly returned to his quarters, instinctively pulling on the bulky, cumbersome flight suit, and without wasting a moment, dashed toward the training grounds.

Over the past several dozen hours, this scenario had played out at least seven or eight times. Aldarice’s deduction was spot on: they were primarily learning to pilot the Empire’s small craft known as the "Wasp."

This simple flying machine capable of operating in outer space held the same status relative to starships as the helicopter did among atmospheric vehicles: quick, straightforward, convenient, practical—and, of course, complex.

Up to this point, the intricate instrumentation and controls had not posed much of a problem for Fang Senyan. While he wasn't a piloting prodigy, the cockpit of a 'Wasp' model was barely one and a half square meters. Fang Senyan had started grappling with the comprehensive mechanical instrumentation of a five-thousand-ton freighter when he was fifteen—that represented an entire wall's worth of work and study.

In the training area, both General Mongo and General Fei Ji were present. Behind them stood a line of twenty military police, radiating authority. Yet, their martial might, while not quite a joke to Fang Senyan and his cohort, could only be described as negligible.

What truly constrained all the Contractors was the power wielded by these two generals! At this moment, Fang Senyan and the others had gained a profound appreciation for the sheer scale of the current human Empire. What they revered was the Empire’s nearly infinite territory, its terrifying technological might, and its suffocating military force... Even the Nightmare Space that bestowed their power was a creation of the Empire. The mere thought was enough to make every Contractor hold their breath.

General Mongo stepped forward, maintaining his usual iron-blooded, cold demeanor: “I know you are all geniuses. This is not praise; it is a statement of fact based on my interactions with you over these few days.”

Some Contractors smiled faintly upon hearing the General’s words, but the General immediately executed a sharp reversal: “However, if you fail to engrave every word I say from this point forward into your minds, I can guarantee that the corpses of you so-called geniuses will soon be rotting in the bellies of other organisms, decomposing, stinking, and finally being excreted as a pile of feces—because Captain Rusk has flawlessly completed his mission, piloting the massive Skylark to its destination. Your journey officially begins!”

At this juncture, General Fei Ji, who had remained low-key until now, stepped forward. With a flick of her finger, a star chart illuminated nearby: “Here is Alpine Base Seven. This is our current location; you may also call this the bridgehead. The Skylark will transform into a space fortress here to await you. And two point seven million kilometers away lies your objective.”

“The fact that the Skylark reached this position while traversing the terrifying temporal storm was already a low-probability event. Therefore, we will pause here, and you will use the piloting skills you've learned over these days to navigate the Wasp to the planet Epross—and then return!”

“We have already charted the onward route using computer simulations and inputted it into the system. It sounds simple, doesn't it? But I believe what you require is not just courage, but luck.”

Having said this, General Fei Ji stepped back. General Mongo, holding a newly opened classified document, showed a flash of astonishment on his face—though he concealed it quickly, it did not escape Fang Senyan’s notice.

“Now, according to military regulation, I will detail the mission for you. If we were to let you complete this task based only on the information in your summons, then this could hardly be considered a special mission issued for the Empire's celebration.”

“Firstly, allow me to reintroduce the planet Epross. Epross is merely the official designation. Strictly speaking, according to the rules of Interstellar Common Law, this planet should be named by its first discoverer. Thus, its true name should be: Noktesa'ang, which translates into our human language as: The Sacred Hunting Grounds!”

“What?!” Fang Senyan exclaimed in surprise. “Hunting Grounds! And on the scale of an entire planet? That is quite the undertaking.”

“The density, atmosphere, and even the indigenous life forms of this planet have been meticulously modified. Even the intensity of the terrifying temporal storm we just endured was not naturally occurring. The life form behind all this engineering, you should not be unfamiliar with.” As Mongo spoke, the holographic screen behind him flashed, displaying a grotesque and eerie visage: an exoskeletal mask resembling a beast’s skull, tendril-like serpentine hair, cold, merciless eyes, and a peculiar symbol branded on its forehead…

“Impossible!” Dardanion couldn't help but cry out. “Isn't that a Predator? These beings, which should only exist in parallel worlds and be products of human imagination, why are they appearing here?”

General Fei Ji stepped forward, speaking with deep meaning: “Believe me, the shock I experienced when I first saw this intelligence report was no less than yours! The line between illusion and reality has always been blurry. In fact, I believe you all now understand why we created the Nightmare Space and conscripted you for various missions in parallel worlds—the bizarre emergence of Predators in our world already indicates the severe consequences of allowing parallel spaces to develop unchecked. That consequence is the breaching of the barriers between illusion and reality, leading to parallel worlds attempting to merge or even replace the Prime World!”

Silence descended as everyone processed General Fei Ji’s words. But she continued: “Do you know what the most complex thing in the entire universe is? It is something every normal human possesses: the brain! A magnificent treasure constructed of fourteen billion neurons. Even the most brilliant individuals in history have only developed their brain capacity to a mere 17% of its total potential. Therefore, when tens of millions of human brainwaves are influenced by fictional narratives, thinking collectively about their plots and forms, that power can even affect the mysterious laws of time and space, causing related parallel worlds to manifest and gain momentum.”

However, at this moment, Hedikuri raised his hand and stated seriously: “I mean no offense, General, but we are somewhat pressed for time. Compared to these macro-level concepts, I value my own life more.”

General Fei Ji's expression flickered with coldness; she clearly felt put on the spot. But General Mongo stepped forward immediately and stated grimly: “Then let us discuss your specific missions! First, I must warn you that the most dangerous creatures you might encounter are the Predators. They are an extremely powerful humanoid species whose entire existence is intertwined with combat. When electing a leader, there are intensely bloody dominance battles. When a youth comes of age, they must undergo a warrior trial. When bored, they engage in Culling Wars. When debating, they conduct Honor Duels to determine the victor…”

“However, based on our investigations, intelligence officers have forwarded the following summary in a few sentences… Their weapons are primitive yet advanced; their code is brutal yet merciful; their actions are frenzied yet rational.”

“The term ‘primitive weapons’ refers only to their outward appearance; this requires no further explanation. As for their killing habits: Predators decapitate their prey and hang the body upside down from a high place—a rather brutal act. But they will not proactively attack creatures that are unarmed or pregnant; hence the combination of brutality and mercy.”

“As for their frenzy, many Predators are even keen on challenging situations that are almost certain death. Their feeling toward this surpasses the fervor of mere intoxication—it is ecstasy. Yet, during the fight, they are as cold and calculating as an ice block that makes virtually no mistakes.”

“……………”

After lecturing Fang Senyan and the others on a great deal of knowledge regarding the Predators, General Mongo returned to the main topic: “Epross—oh, correction, the Hunting Planet—after being modified by the Predators, it has become a paradise for all manner of ferocious creatures. They can thrive there quite happily, while the Predators constantly hunt and seek out those peculiar and powerful life forms, subsequently deploying them onto the Hunting Planet for cultivation…” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian to cast recommendation votes and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)