Since the victory in the war six years ago, Dabo's scientific and technological development has surged once more, with new technologies appearing ceaselessly and products evolving day by day.

Many citizens knew that all this progress was due to Major General Zhong Yun, the great hero who turned the tide back then. Rumors had been circulating for a few years—nobody knew where they originated—that after Major General Zhong Yun captured Hong Xianbang's capital, he brought back a massive amount of high technology, which spurred Dabo's rapid advancement in recent years.

Recalling the fate of Major General Zhong Yun, not a single person could help but sigh with regret.

Six years ago, just as all the people of Dabo were eagerly awaiting the return of their hero, earth-shattering news broke: the 45th Fleet, led by the Commander-in-Chief, Major General Zhong Yun, along with these supremely meritorious warriors, had their arms stripped from them and were escorted back to the country by the Military Police on their way home.

This news immediately caused an uproar. Initially, most people met it with skepticism. The 45th Fleet had saved the entire nation when the Dabo Tower was on the brink of collapse. How could the current government commit such an act that infuriated both gods and men, given such colossal contributions?

Soon, the government attempted to quell the rumors, but the public was not so easily fooled. As time passed and the 45th Fleet failed to appear, suspicion grew. Consequently, waves of protests erupted; furious citizens surrounded government offices at all levels, demanding the release of Major General Zhong Yun and all members of the 45th Fleet.

Within a few days, almost every citizen in Dabo took to the streets. Social production nearly ground to a halt, and the clamor of the populace grew louder and louder. The Presidential Palace urgently summoned the army to maintain order, but when the troops took to the streets, they joined the ranks of the protesters.

As a precedent-setting riot loomed, the sitting President, Shi Jinfan, stepped forward and laid bare the entire truth of the matter before the entire nation.

Upon learning that Major General Zhong Yun had offended the Ge'an Empire, the people gradually calmed down. And the fact that Major General Zhong Yun had not been captured by the Ge'an people brought immense relief to everyone.

Finally, Jinfan, on behalf of the current government, announced their collective resignation.

This event, in which nearly every citizen of Dabo had participated, slowly subsided. The newly formed Provisional Government quickly restored social order.

Years have passed since then. These memories have slowly settled. However, when war once again descended upon their lands, everyone missed their great hero—Major General Zhong Yun—intensely.

"I never thought the one to finally destroy us, Dabo, would be the Ge'an Empire," several young people were discussing in a luxurious room. The speaker was a strikingly heroic-looking young man, his expression laced with bitterness.

The slightly round-faced young man beside him grumbled resentfully, "What madness has seized the Ge'an Empire to suddenly surround us? Is it really true what the rumors say, that they intend to keep us as livestock?"

He turned to another young man and asked, "Ah Xiao, have you gotten any news from your family?"

The young man called Ah Xiao was brooding over his drink. Hearing the question, he sighed, his expression downcast.

Seeing his look, the other two knew the rumor was likely true, and a heavy weight settled in their hearts. The room fell silent for a time.

"I will not surrender meekly," the round-faced youth snarled, shouting fiercely, "To make me a slave? They must be dreaming! If I die, I'll drag a few down with me. So what if it’s the Ge'an Empire? I fear nothing!"

"Tianhai, don't be reckless," the first speaker advised.

These three were Zhong Yun's closest friends: Tianhai, Chen Wen, and Zhang Xiao. A few days ago, the Ge'an Empire's fleet had suddenly surrounded all thirteen administrative planets of Dabo, strictly forbidding any spacecraft from entering or leaving, yet they remained completely static.

"Xiao Wen, you've always been smarter than me, why can't you see? The Ge'an Empire intends to extinguish us, Dabo. Either way is death; I certainly won't debase myself to become a slave," Tianhai declared righteously.

Chen Wen shook his head. "The situation hasn't reached the point of no return."

Silence descended upon the room once more.

Suddenly, Tianhai sighed, "If Xiao Yun were still here, he would surely have a way to resolve this crisis."

Chen Wen and Zhang Xiao couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness upon hearing this. Zhong Yun had left Dabo six years ago, and there had been no news of him since; they didn't know if he was alive or dead. Yet, they firmly believed that Zhong Yun was somewhere, living well.

After a long pause.

Zhang Xiao seemed unable to bear the heavy atmosphere and spoke up, "Currently, Wol Star is blockaded by the Ge'an Empire's fleet. Anyone attempting to fly off Wol Star will be fired upon by the Ge'an fleet. The situation on the other planets is similar."

"All the principal members of the great families reside on the administrative planets. If the Ge'an Empire truly breaks in, then none of the families can be saved."

"At this juncture, all the major families have united to prepare to implement a plan: using the main forces of the families as cover, they must ensure the safe escape of the most outstanding youths under thirty years old, preserving the seed of the family for a future resurgence."

Zhang Xiao finished speaking in one breath.

Tianhai downed a cup of wine fiercely, slamming the cup down onto the table. His chest felt completely blocked, an unbearable tightness.

Chen Wen leaned back on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the window outside. An aura of despair permeated the air.

Yes, despair.

Six years ago, during the war against Hong Xianbang, even in the most perilous situations, the people of Dabo had never lost hope, because they knew they had a chance to defeat the enemy. Even if they failed, it would only mean losing a few administrative planets.

As long as the Dabo Republic existed, there was a chance to rise again.

But the Ge'an Empire was an insurmountable presence. In Dabo's development, they were constantly dependent on the influence of the most powerful nation in the Aomi star system.

The disparity in strength was too vast; even the most arrogant person would not believe Dabo stood a chance against the Ge'an Empire, not even against a single fleet of the Ge'an Empire.

Moreover, according to reliable intelligence received from the families, Dabo was not the first nation invaded by the Ge'an Empire. Before them, hundreds of nations far stronger than Dabo had already fallen as colonies of the Ge'an Empire.

The Ge'an Empire sought not only to conquer them but to utterly exterminate their civilization, turning them into mere colonies that supplied blood.

This was a true crisis of life and death for them. If the Ge'an Empire succeeded, the Dabo Republic would be completely wiped from cosmic civilization.

It was a tragedy that they received this news too late; before they could even begin to evacuate, the Ge'an Empire had already blockaded Dabo.

Was Dabo truly destined for annihilation? Chen Wen felt a deep sorrow; the nation was doomed, yet he felt utterly powerless—this profound sense of futility tortured him.

No, perhaps there was a glimmer of hope.

A flash of light ignited in Chen Wen's eyes.

On Qiyun Star, it was as if the apocalypse had descended. Earthquakes ravaged the entire continent; volcanoes erupted one after another. The ground seemed to split into several pieces, and deep chasms, four or five in number, opened up on the surface, stretching to the horizon.

All sorts of animals fled everywhere, as if sensing impending doom. In every forest, torrents of thousands of animals rushed by, foreseeing death and fleeing for their lives.

The tremors reached the sea, causing it to boil; monstrous tidal waves rose up, more terrifying than any natural disaster.

The violent changes on the surface quickly triggered meteorological anomalies. Tornadoes descended from the sky, ravaging the land and the ocean. Violent winds whipped up, and an unprecedentedly massive cyclonic system formed over the sea, rapidly evolving into a storm.

At the center of all these anomalies, the World Tree that pierced the clouds had become a colossal green eye of the storm. Countless invisible green energies surged in from all directions, spiraling into the center, like a gigantic vortex.

Standing within the eye of the storm, Zhong Yun’s body felt as if it was about to burst. His arm was the very epicenter of the tempest, and all the green energy converged there. Only a minuscule portion entered his body, wreaking merciless havoc.

Zhong Yun’s clothes were shredded piece by piece, leaving him utterly naked. Vein-like protrusions surfaced on his skin, writhing across his body as if they were alive, presenting a horrifying sight.

He was enduring pain unimaginable to ordinary people. His body fluctuated like a lone boat on a raging sea, tossed by the waves, perpetually on the verge of capsizing.

Those outside were already stunned by this bizarre phenomenon. Chu Tiange and the other five had already entered their mechs, setting the thrusters to maximum to resist the fierce winds.

The Mercury and Mars hovered nearby in the air, completely unaffected by the air currents.

Yun Qi stood in the main control room of the Mercury, staring at the scene outside through the main screen, biting her lower lip, her heart pounding in extreme anxiety.

Yun, you absolutely cannot be harmed.

The entire storm raged for dozens of hours before gradually subsiding. As the vortex dissipated, the scene at the eye was revealed: the once towering World Tree had vanished. On the ground lay a naked, prone body—it was Zhong Yun.

Chu Tiange and the other five immediately leaped from their mechs and rushed over, frantically checking Zhong Yun’s body.

Touching Zhong Yun’s chest, the twenty-first exclaimed with joy, "There's a heartbeat!"

The other five breathed a sigh of relief; a heartbeat meant he was alive. Chu Tiange quickly lifted him and carried him onto the mech, flying toward the Mercury.

Yun Qi had already opened the airlock. They flew straight in and handed Zhong Yun over to a robot, which transported him to the medical bay.

The Mercury possessed extremely advanced medical equipment. Yun Qi personally supervised the meticulous examination of Zhong Yun, inside and out, only relaxing when she confirmed his body was completely sound.

P: The pace has been slowed down to consider future plot development; there is only one chapter today. First release