Rebirth of the Super Battleship

Chapter 818: The Warships of a Level 7 Civilization

The shortening of a defensive line inevitably meant an increase in defensive strength per unit area. In Xiao Yu’s current situation, defending the entire small universe was very difficult, but defending a single star system required almost no effort at all. Even if the opponents he faced amounted to more than three hundred Level 6 civilizations, this remained true.

The most critical stage of Level 7 technological research had already passed. Xiao Yu had become a true Level 7 civilization, though for the moment only within the domain of science. In terms of combat strength, he was still a short step away from the Level 7 standard. After all, applying Level 7 technology took time; it was impossible to achieve a breakthrough in the lab one day and see it widely deployed on the battlefield the next.

“The foundation of a Level 7 civilization lies in a deeper level of spatial utilization. It is not just higher speeds, more defensive methods, and stronger firepower. These scientific achievements influence the entire civilization comprehensively and profoundly. It is precisely on the basis of a more profound understanding of space that Level 7 civilizations have the energy to branch out and develop so many different specializations.” Xiao Yu thought to himself. “Although I do not plan to pick a single direction to develop and instead intend to advance in all directions, at this initial stage I still need to start with warships whose combat power is stronger.”

The first batch of experimental Level 7 warships was already under development. This first batch numbered ten ships, classified by Xiao Yu as Province-Class. These Province-Class warships were only the size of Town-Class spaceships, yet the space inside them was even larger than that of his current Planet-Class ships. Within that space, Xiao Yu had stacked up countless amounts of fuel and instruments of many different functions.

“It seems my choice back then, not to throw everything I had into annihilating all these Level 6 civilizations right away, was very wise.” Xiao Yu mused. “Once my first batch of Province-Class Level 7 warships is completed, I can use these Level 6 civilizations and the single-entity civilizations to test their performance.”

“To obtain the chance to cross blows with a Level 7 civilization at the technological level of a Level 6 civilization, you should feel honored. This is not an opportunity just any civilization can have.” Xiao Yu thought coldly.

These civilizations had come to rob him of his technology. Wiping them out would not cause him the slightest psychological burden.

The fierce war for the star systems had already begun. With the reduction in the area he needed to defend, Xiao Yu could claim a greater advantage. Here he could completely transform himself into a millstone, grinding all invading enemies to dust. Yet he did not do so. Instead, he deliberately held back his strength, occasionally allowing the enemy to gain small victories. Xiao Yu was worried that if he unleashed his full power, the enemy would turn tail and flee. If that happened, where would he find such convenient test subjects again?

There were five star systems in total that Xiao Yu needed to defend. Of these five, one was the Flame Civilization’s base. Since the Flame Civilization had lost all their military power, they had no choice but to let Xiao Yu take over its defense. The remaining four star systems were Xiao Yu’s own bases. The members of the Andromeda Galaxy Alliance had split into five groups and were carrying out fierce attacks on these five star systems.

Time flowed slowly by. Since these three hundred plus Level 6 civilizations had entered the small universe, the small universe had lost all peace. The flames of war had never stopped for a single moment. In particular, once the alliance realized there was no longer any danger within the small universe, they even moved those several thousand lower-level logistics civilizations into it. At this moment, those lower-level civilizations had taken root in the small universe and almost monopolized all its star systems. Countless intelligent beings had begun to multiply here, working diligently to supply the front line with everything it needed.Out of the thousands of stars in this small universe, there were only five whose star systems remained under Xiao Yu’s control. Yet it was these five star systems that were giving Ao Tian endless headaches. Ten years of fierce attacks had passed, and other than some insignificant gains, such as destroying a single Planet-Class warship or pushing the front line forward by several hundred thousand kilometers, he had not managed to take a single star system. Some of the more hot-tempered single-entity civilizations had already become less willing to follow his commands.

This posed a serious challenge to his prestige. Ao Tian needed a major victory to strengthen his authority. The alliance needed a major victory to enhance its cohesion. If the situation on the battlefield failed to progress, the enormous alliance might disintegrate. This was an alliance held together by interests. Once the promised benefits remained out of reach for too long, the member civilizations would begin to develop ulterior motives and cohesion would decline.

At the same time, Xiao Yu had also noticed this problem.

“Perhaps I should let them achieve a fairly significant victory.” Xiao Yu pondered. “The star system defense war has gone on for ten years. Ten years with no progress is very disadvantageous for maintaining the alliance. If the alliance collapses, the attacks against me will naturally stop and all these civilizations will withdraw. Then it will be difficult for me to find such convenient whetstones again. As it happens, my Province-Class Level 7 warships have already been completed. I can use this moment to conduct my first trial and also give them a taste of victory.”

A plan quickly formed in Xiao Yu’s mind. To support this plan, ten Province-Class warships, each only the size of a Town-Class spaceship and outwardly very ordinary, departed from the shipyard, merged into the main fleet, and advanced with it toward the front line.

It was a very routine fleet movement. Every so often, a certain number of ships would set out from the main base for the other four star systems to participate in their defense. Each time, this type of fleet movement would invariably be intercepted by the alliance. Large numbers of warships would swarm in and try to destroy these fleets en route to prevent reinforcements from reaching the target star systems. Normally, however, such operations ended in failure.

This time was no different. After this fleet of one hundred thousand ships left the main base, about eight million alliance warships immediately moved to intercept, including one Level 6 Alien Beast as a strike force. Xiao Yu did not want to get too entangled here, so as usual, after sacrificing several thousand ships, he successfully brought this fleet to Star System Five.

Star System Five was the Flame Civilization’s base, the place that suffered the most severe attacks second only to the main base. As for why the Flame Civilization’s base had been targeted so heavily, Xiao Yu did not know.

Only Ao Tian understood the reason. Whenever he rested alone in his spacious lounge, he would think back with deep nostalgia to the female slave from the Flame Civilization he had once possessed.

“Unfortunately, I played that slave to death in just a few days.” Ao Tian sighed with some regret. “Once I conquer this star system and capture the Flame Civilization, I will definitely pick out several hundred thousand slaves and change to a new one every day.”

“This offensive will definitely succeed.” Ao Tian thought confidently. “I have drawn ten billion warships and twenty single-entity civilizations into this assault. With such power, we will surely be able to take the star system guarded by the Flame Civilization.”

“With that victory, the alliance’s cohesion will be strengthened once again and my authority will be reestablished.”

Such a large-scale fleet redeployment was impossible to hide, especially from an opponent like Xiao Yu. Very early on, Xiao Yu detected that the alliance was planning a major attack aimed precisely at Star System Five, the Flame Civilization’s base. It was because he detected this that he sent the ten Province-Class Level 7 warships there. Xiao Yu had already decided to abandon this star system, offering it to the alliance as bait to prevent the alliance from falling apart, while at the same time using this battle to test the performance of the ten Province-Class ships.

“Flame Civilization, note this. I have decided to abandon Star System Five. Your civilization must prepare to withdraw immediately. Once you receive my retreat order, you are to follow my fleet to the Primary Star System One. Do not worry, my fleet will ensure your safety.” Xiao Yu calmly transmitted this message to the Flame Civilization without offering any further explanation.

“Could it be that even the Sweepers Civilization cannot withstand the alliance’s offensive? We only have five star systems left. Now we have to abandon even this one…”

“Do not worry. Although we are at a disadvantage, there is still no sign of defeat. I believe the Sweepers Civilization will definitely defeat the alliance. After all, the Sweepers Civilization is the existence closest to a Level 7 civilization.”

Upon receiving Xiao Yu’s order, the Flame Civilization was once again shrouded in gloom.

“We must accelerate our military buildup and treat shipbuilding and soldier training as our civilization’s top priority. Our strength may be insignificant, but at critical moments in the war, even an insignificant force can produce a great effect.”

Xiao Yu paid no attention to the Flame Civilization’s various speculations. At this moment, in Star System Five, the enormous alliance fleet had already completed its assembly and was pressing in. Nearly ten billion warships and twenty powerful single-entity civilizations had formed an unstoppable torrent, whereas the defending forces in Star System Five amounted to barely fewer than one hundred million ships.

Those ten Province-Class warships were mixed among these fewer than one hundred million ships and charged onto the front line.

“I order a full assault. You must take this star system.” a stern command rang out from the alliance flagship.