Chapter 104: Into the Void
Yuan Feng had barely adjusted to his new life and abilities when the summons came. The Zenith Federation was at war with the Voidborn, an ancient and relentless race that consumed worlds and left nothing but chaos in their wake. Every able-bodied Upgraded Citizen was drafted into the interstellar army, and Yuan Feng, now a Martial Ascendant, was no exception.
As he stood in the vast hangar of the Nova Imperius, surrounded by soldiers and towering spacecraft, he couldn't help but feel a familiar sense of purpose stirring inside him. In his past life, he had defended the Jianghu. Now, he was called to protect something much larger—a galaxy teetering on the brink of annihilation.
His new comrades were all enhanced in ways he had never seen before. Some had bodies reinforced with synthetic muscle fibers, others had advanced cybernetic limbs that could crush steel or fire plasma with a thought. Yet despite the futuristic technology surrounding him, Yuan Feng felt the same steady calm he had always relied on in battle. The tools may have changed, but the principles of war remained the same: discipline, focus, and mastery of the self.
"Yuan Feng," called a stern voice behind him. He turned to see Commander Sato, a seasoned officer with a heavily augmented body and piercing cybernetic eyes. "You've been assigned to Alpha Squad. I hope your… unique abilities can keep up with our tech."
Yuan Feng nodded. "I won't let you down, Commander."
Sato gave him a measured look. "Good. We're heading to the frontlines—the Yulan Expanse, deep space. Voidborn forces are pushing into our territory, and we need to stop them before they breach the core systems."
Yuan Feng listened carefully, his mind already calculating the strategies and movements he might need to employ in a battle that was far beyond anything he had known before. The battlefield would be in the vacuum of space, where traditional martial arts would be meaningless unless adapted to this new reality. But Yuan Feng was used to adapting. He had done it once before in this very world, and he would do it again.
As the ship roared to life, Yuan Feng suited up alongside the other soldiers in Alpha Squad. The Voidbreaker battle suits were advanced, sleek armor that allowed for full mobility in space. Each suit was equipped with thrusters for flight, enhanced strength, and an energy shield capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of space and the devastating weaponry of the Voidborn.
Yuan Feng's suit felt alien at first. In his past life, he had fought with his body and mind alone, relying on his inner strength and martial discipline. But this suit amplified his abilities in ways he hadn't imagined. It integrated seamlessly with his Martial Ascendant path, allowing his physical movements to translate into powerful bursts of energy through the suit's thrusters. His strikes were now enhanced with kinetic force, and his reflexes, sharpened by his evolution, were faster than ever.
The Nova Imperius launched into hyperspace, the stars stretching into lines of light as they sped toward the battlefield. Yuan Feng closed his eyes, centering himself. He remembered the countless battles he had fought before, how he had always found clarity in the heat of combat. No matter how chaotic the battlefield, he would remain calm. That was his strength.
"We're dropping in!" Sato's voice echoed in his helmet, jolting Yuan Feng from his meditation. "Prepare for deployment. Remember, we fight in squads, stay close, and don't get caught alone out there. The Voidborn will swarm you if you're isolated."
As the ship neared its destination, the viewports showed the sprawling expanse of the Yulan battlefield—an endless void dotted with the wreckage of shattered ships, floating debris, and the terrifying silhouettes of Voidborn vessels. The enemy ships were massive, organic-looking creatures, as if they were grown rather than built. They pulsed with eerie, purple energy and bristled with weapons that glowed with destructive force.
The hatch opened, and the vacuum of space greeted them with its cold, silent embrace. Alpha Squad launched into the void, thrusters firing as they descended toward the battlefield. Yuan Feng felt a brief moment of weightlessness before his suit's systems kicked in, allowing him to control his movement with precision. He flew through the void, his mind focused, his body attuned to every shift in the battlefield.
Voidborn ships fired at them immediately, their energy beams slicing through space. Yuan Feng darted to the side, his suit reacting with perfect precision, avoiding the deadly blasts. His squadmates moved with similar grace, their suits designed for high-speed combat in the void.
"Feng, on me!" Sato barked over the comms. "We're pushing toward the main Voidborn hive ship. They're controlling the swarm from there. If we take it out, we can turn the tide."
Yuan Feng nodded and followed, his mind racing. The hive ship was enormous, a monstrous creature that loomed in the distance, its surface writhing with strange, tentacle-like appendages. Smaller Voidborn drones flew around it, acting as both defense and offense. They moved with terrifying speed, like locusts swarming to devour anything in their path.
As Alpha Squad closed in, the drones attacked. Yuan Feng's instincts kicked in, and he unleashed a flurry of precise movements, his body flowing effortlessly within the constraints of the battle suit. His hands moved in intricate patterns, drawing upon his Martial Ascendant path, converting his strikes into blasts of energy that shattered the drones upon contact. Each motion was a perfect fusion of his old-world discipline and the advanced technology that now enhanced him.
Beside him, the rest of Alpha Squad fired their plasma rifles and launched missiles, creating a symphony of destruction around the hive ship. But despite their firepower, the Voidborn drones kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. For every drone they destroyed, two more would take its place.
"Keep moving! Don't let them box us in!" Sato commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. His thrusters flared as he blasted ahead, leading the charge toward the hive ship. Yuan Feng stayed close, his eyes scanning the battlefield for any weaknesses in the enemy's formation.
Suddenly, a massive tentacle from the hive ship lashed out, smashing into one of the Alpha Squad soldiers, sending them spinning into the void. The squad member's suit shattered under the force, their lifeless body drifting away into the abyss.
"Fall back! Regroup!" Sato ordered, but the swarm of drones intensified, cutting off their retreat. Yuan Feng gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he calculated their next move. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and pinned down. But he had faced worse odds before.
"We need to break through!" Yuan Feng shouted over the comms. "The swarm is being controlled—if I can get inside the hive ship, I can disrupt their command structure from within."
Sato hesitated, the cold logic of a seasoned commander weighing the risks. "That ship is a death trap, Feng. You won't make it out."
Yuan Feng met Sato's cybernetic gaze, his voice steady. "I'll make it. Just give me cover."
For a moment, Sato said nothing, then nodded. "Alpha Squad, focus fire on the drones! Feng, you're on your own."
With a burst of thruster power, Yuan Feng surged toward the hive ship. Plasma fire and energy blasts erupted around him as his squad created a temporary opening in the swarm. His focus narrowed, every fiber of his being attuned to the flow of battle. He dodged and weaved through the onslaught, feeling the familiar clarity that came with the heat of combat.
The surface of the hive ship loomed before him, a pulsing mass of organic tissue and writhing tentacles. Yuan Feng clenched his fists, channeling his inner energy, and with a powerful strike, he breached the ship's outer shell. The impact tore through the organic layers, and he plunged inside, leaving the chaos of the battlefield behind.
Inside the hive ship, the atmosphere was oppressive and alien, the walls pulsating with a sickly purple glow. Yuan Feng moved quickly, his instincts guiding him through the maze-like interior. He could feel the Voidborn's presence all around him—an unnatural, consuming hunger that threatened to overwhelm his senses.
But Yuan Feng pushed forward, deeper into the heart of the ship. His mind remained focused, his breathing controlled. He had faced darkness before, and he knew that fear was the enemy. The Voidborn were not invincible. Like all living things, they had a weakness.
As he neared the ship's core, Yuan Feng felt the presence of something vast and malevolent, an intelligence that directed the swarm with cold precision. This was the mind behind the invasion, the central node that controlled the Voidborn forces. If he could destroy it, the swarm would collapse.
He found the core—a massive, pulsating brain-like structure suspended in the center of the chamber, surrounded by thick tendrils of energy. It throbbed with a deep, rhythmic pulse, each beat sending waves of control to the Voidborn drones outside.
Yuan Feng wasted no time. Drawing on his Martial Ascendant powers, he focused all his energy into a single point, his body radiating with raw power. With a primal roar, he unleashed a devastating strike that sent a shockwave of energy crashing into the core.
The hive ship trembled as the core shattered, its purple energy flickering and fading. Yuan Feng could feel the Voidborn's grip loosening, their once-coordinated movements turning erratic and chaotic. The drones outside faltered, their connection to the hive mind severed.
"You did it, Feng!" Sato's voice came through the comms, relief evident in his tone. "The swarm's falling apart!"
Yuan Feng exhaled, his body weary but his spirit resolute. The Voidborn had been stopped—for now. But he knew this was only the beginning. The Void was vast, and the war against the Voidborn would not end with one victory. Yet as long as he drew breath, he would fight. Not just for the galaxy, but for the world he had once sworn to protect, even if it was now a distant memory.
With one last glance at the shattered core, Yuan Feng turned and made his way back to Alpha Squad, ready for whatever came next.