Chapter 1616: Chapter 1616

All remaining interstellar fortresses on the battlefield were adjusting their cannons, but unfortunately, turning an interstellar fortress around wasn’t easy. After all, it’s a planet, not some other object.

If the rotation speed was too fast, it wouldn’t just be a matter of whether the weapons on it could withstand it—the people aboard wouldn’t be able to endure it either.

Moreover, the location of the incoming threat was at a special angle; without turning, they had no way of attacking that position.

The warships were faster, but the distance was too great. By the time they arrived, the magic array on the other side would already be complete. Those around them were eager to see how things would develop further, so no one intervened.

Once the red magic array was completed, an immense power gathered together. In the next second, a crimson light flashed and disappeared. What began as fine tendrils steadily grew thicker until, finally, the entire battlefield was enveloped.

When the light faded, silence fell over the battlefield as if nothing had happened. No, something had happened. Even the cannon-fire that had been blazing earlier was now completely still.

Du You gazed at the scene before him, his heart filled with astonishment. "Such overwhelming Law energy. I didn’t expect that even after reaching the seventh tier, there would be magic arrays capable of this level. It seems I’ve been a frog at the bottom of a well after all."

The power of the seventh tier far exceeded Du You’s imagination. Originally, he thought himself invincible among those of the same level.

Indeed, in direct combat without external methods, Du You was nearly invincible at the same tier. However, once other approaches were used, everything changed. He could feel it; the person controlling the magic array wasn’t significantly stronger than him, but the force of Law being channelled through the array was incomparably potent.

"Master, even you can’t resist such power?"

Du You shook his head. "The strength contained within is too immense. If I were to face it directly, my two layers of defense wouldn’t be enough. Perhaps, once my Star Guardian advances, there’s a chance I might withstand it."

Even then, Du You merely felt there might be a chance; he wasn’t certain he could endure such an attack.

"Master, don’t worry. Such attacks are extremely slow, their maneuverability is poor, and there’s no locking capability. Even if we face it in the future, we can escape easily in time."

They weren’t like the sluggish, immobile interstellar fortresses; leaving quickly was something no one could prevent.

"And what if, someday, they develop a powerful magic array with locking capabilities?" Du You said with a smirk.

Lin Yushi rolled her eyes; this sounded like nitpicking, but she didn’t dare retort against her master and could only suppress her frustration.

As they spoke, the battlefield ahead underwent an enormous change. Initially, it seemed as though nothing had happened, but now, the transformation began. Everything, whether it was interstellar fortresses or warships, started to crystallize into red. Metal and soil alike continued to turn into crimson crystals.

Once the objects transformed into red crystals, they shattered into fragments, scattering bit by bit and dissipating. Soon, the space around them was filled with fine red dust, like an expansive, crimson desert forming in the void.

Quietly, without any resistance, and without escape—there wasn’t even a single sound emitted.

The entire scene resembled a silent movie. Everything disintegrated; everything was disappearing. First, the small weapons and surveillance devices disintegrated into dust within moments.

Next followed the mechas and warplanes, then the warships—starting with tier-four ones, followed by tier-five, and then tier-six warships. One by one, they all crumbled into powder. The larger the object, the longer it took.

Such an environment of waiting made the terror even more palpable.

If someone could see inside the warships, they would discover that the people aboard were already gone.

More precisely, those individuals had already transformed into crimson statues, which then disintegrated into piles of powder far quicker than the warships themselves. External communication signals continued to demand explanations from them, but the warships had already lost all functionality.

Under the red light’s irradiation, the warships ceased functioning altogether, becoming enormous statues.

After the warships disintegrated, next in line were the interstellar fortresses and Starry Sky Beasts. These, too, could not escape destruction; though the process was slower, they continued to vanish steadily.

The Starry Sky Beasts didn’t even struggle; their eerily quiet demise instilled an even deeper dread.

"Thankfully, these creatures haven’t comprehended the Laws; otherwise, exterminating them wouldn’t be easy. Even if their physical bodies were destroyed, their souls would escape, which would be quite troublesome," remarked the Blood-colored Empire’s advisor indifferently.

Another person beside him chimed in, "After all, we didn’t fully unleash the magic array, so the cost wasn’t too high."

"True, but it’s a pity we didn’t witness the magic array at its full power," another replied.

"If it had been fully unleashed, the losses on our side would’ve been disastrous. It doesn’t matter now; anyway, it was a one-time use. This harvest has been completely worth it—once we’re back, the organization will compensate you for it," he said.

The advisor shook his head. "That’s not what I’m concerned about. I just feel regret that the magic array’s full potential wasn’t realized. Also, it’s unfortunate that no others escaped for us to eliminate further," he said.

Looking into the distance, not only were the interstellar fortresses being shattered, but even the planets within range were breaking apart and disappearing—along with their native inhabitants and the Professionals and locals caught in the battlefield’s area. These unfortunate souls could blame their bad luck. Perhaps someone might protest over this on Earth later, but what could that achieve?

Since they dared to take such action, they were undoubtedly ready to deal with any backlash, unafraid of protests.

This silent spectacle stunned everyone watching. Finally, a member of the alliance’s upper class regained their senses. "What happened here? Damn it, how did this happen?"

"The enemy is gone, but so is our entire military force! This was every asset we had—what are we supposed to do now?!"

"Damn it, don’t dwell on it! While others haven’t reacted yet, let’s hurry home and take our people and flee. Otherwise, the enraged masses and those with ambition won’t spare us."

An elderly man turned and fled, moving faster than he had ever before. He wished he had four legs to run even faster.

The alliance’s upper class scrambled to leave, abandoning the battlefield in their haste. Their priority now was their future, with both sides’ forces utterly decimated in the conflict.