mtl008 Chapter 3728 Doomsday (21)
Chapter 3728 Doomsday (21)
Chapter 3728 Doomsday (Twenty-One)
The good news is that the planetary shield of the Fierce Feather Star didn't break. However, after the impact, the entire shield flickered and then completely lost power.
The better news is that the Magellan-class battleship's shields didn't break, but because of its small size and low mass, it was directly knocked away and got stuck in a ring of gravity traps, becoming incapacitated due to gravitational imbalance.
The best news is that the heads of two great empires are aboard this planet and this ship, respectively. Right now, both of them are in a daze, not worried about state affairs, but simply because they've bumped into each other.
The situation is now somewhat awkward.
They agreed to attack Earth, but before the battle even started, the supreme leaders of the two great empires clashed, and the current situation can barely be described as a draw, with neither side gaining an advantage.
The more troublesome thing is that the Skrull Emperor has been knocked out and is now trapped in a gravity trap. The situation isn't much better for the Fierce Feather Star; after the impact, it lost its shield, and crucially, since the planet itself has no propulsion, it can only remain stationary after the collision, surrounded by the Skrull Empire's main warships.
The culprit, Earth, threw it out and hit people, then slunk away, now standing not far away, quietly spinning and watching the show.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!! The planetary shield has been breached!! What... what do we do?!" A nobleman rushed in, trembling with fear. "The Skrull Empire's capital ships have their cannons pointed at us! If we get hit by even one shot, the entire planet will fall apart!"
“What’s the rush!” Lilandra said. “We didn’t do it on purpose. I’m going to talk to their emperor!”
The moment she connected the communication, the roar of the Skrull Emperor echoed throughout the royal palace's council hall:
"Lilandra!!! What are you good for?! You've already been hit once, don't you know how to use a gravity anchor?!"
"We don't have gravitational anchors! What home planet keeps those things on hand?! Does your home planet have them?!"
Emperor Skrull was taken aback. Their homeworld didn't seem to have one either. Just like Lilandra said, who would keep a gravity anchor on a planet?
These gravity-stabilizing devices were originally designed for spaceships to prevent gravitational imbalances during boarding maneuvers, and they were mostly only needed on relatively small ships. Who would have thought that planets would need one?
Moreover, even if they were to bring it in from the spaceship, it wouldn't be fast enough. The gravity stabilizers used to stabilize small spaceships simply couldn't hold back a planet. Only civilizations like the Kree Empire, with planetary warships, would produce large-scale gravity stabilizers. And basically only they would be unafraid of a collision with Earth.
Didn't you see how Earth is crashing and smashing things? It's all aimed at the Skrull and Shiar Empires, isn't it? It's because the Kree Empire has its own planetary warships and knows how to deal with this kind of tactic. Earth can't drag them into this mess, so it can only pick on these two weaker targets.
"I'll send a frigate to deliver the gravity stabilizing device to you," the Supreme Intelligence's voice rang out in the communication channel. "Our production line here is still running, so there's no need to worry about running out."
Just as Emperor Skrull and Lilandra breathed a sigh of relief, the Supreme Intelligence suddenly said, "Wait, the escort ship has been intercepted... by Magneto."
“This thing is huge,” Stark said, circling the cylindrical device that was about two stories high. “And it looks somewhat similar to the gravity anchor that Wanda picked up earlier. You guys need to keep one; I’ll study it. Maybe we’ll have our own gravity anchor soon.”
Magneto nodded and said, "China needs one too. That will leave six, which should be enough to stabilize Earth and the Moon. I see the Kree Empire just places them directly on the shield; I'll go try it out."
Then the three great empires watched helplessly as six beams of light appeared on Earth's magical defense network.
The emperor of the Skrull Empire covered his eyes:
"These illiterates!!! The Kree Empire's massive gravity stabilization devices can hold a star in place with just one. And they've installed six on their own planet?!"
“Now that’s it.” He sighed again. “Nobody’s going to get it out of here. Lilandra, maybe you should consider moving the capital.”
“Impossible!!!” Lilandra roared.
The situation on the field was deadlocked for a time.
The Skrull Empire was busy clearing mines, after all, they had to rescue their Emperor first; the Shi'ar Empire was busy sending ships to salvage their homeland from the Skrull Empire's warships, after all, they had to rescue their Queen first; the Kree Empire was busy studying Earth, after all, of the three great empires, the other two were basically unreliable, and now only the Kree Empire had any way to deal with Earth.
"Where are your planetary warships, Supreme Intelligence?" Lilandra asked. "What time is it? Why are you still reluctant to use them?"
"What's the use of a planetary warship?" the Supreme Intelligence countered. "Will it just come here and get us played like billiards by Earth?"
"Where are the Kree Empire's planetary warships?" Schiller stood by the window, craning his neck to look. "Why aren't they here yet? I'd like to play some billiards."
“The Supreme Intelligence probably isn’t that stupid,” Jarvis said. “Their planetary warships are severely flawed and unsuitable for this kind of situation. Even if they came over, we would just ram them.”
"There should be a few of the larger ones; they shouldn't be blown away, right?" Schiller squinted and thought for a moment before saying, "I remember one of them has a mass more than four times that of Earth; it should still be somewhat useful, right?"
“They’re probably afraid we’ll steal it,” Steve said. “The human powerhouses haven’t even been deployed yet. Magneto only struggled a bit, the others are in good condition. If they bring over such a powerful weapon, we can just send our people to join the fray, and they won’t be able to do anything about it.”
“No,” Schiller shook his head and said, “The Rikri Empire, one of the three great empires, is the least afraid of boarding actions because all electronic equipment is under the control of the Supreme Intelligence…”
“That’s not necessarily true,” Jarvis said. “The Supreme Intelligence knows of my existence, and he wouldn’t dare gamble on whether I can breach his firewall. If I do break through his restrictions, then the planetary warship will definitely be the weapon he least wants me to possess.”
So, can you do it?
“The sharpest sword is the one used for the first time,” Jarvis said. “The first attack will yield the best results, so it should be used at the crucial moment. There’s no need to use it now.”
"Why do I feel like none of the three great empires really want to fight anymore?" Star-Lord asked, tilting his head as he lay in his hospital bed.
“That’s the brilliance of this plan,” Schiller said. “Their envisioned scenario was that all of humanity’s strongest warriors would come out and fight them to the ends of the universe, with both sides suffering losses, before sitting down to talk. But the reality is that, apart from Magneto, none of humanity’s strongest warriors have even shown their faces. They’ve made a mess of things purely with Earth, the Moon, and the Hydra. What will happen when the strongest humans finally come out?”
Steve also fell silent for a moment. He said, "If I were one of the three great empires, I wouldn't want to fight either. The thought that Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Professor X, Phoenix, and Legion haven't even made their move yet makes me feel a bit hopeless."
Although the others remained silent, they all agreed with his point of view. This was all without any of these cosmic nuclear weapons even showing themselves, yet Earth was already traversing the galaxy. If they all came out, wouldn't the remaining blockades and traps of the three great empires be a joke?
What's most disheartening is that the three great empires dare not engage in a suicidal attack, because this is, after all, the capital of the Shi'ar Empire. If they were to launch a massive explosion that destroys the entire star system, then all the armies and the capital would be lost.
But Earth doesn't have this concern. For example, the Crimson Power could wipe out an entire galaxy, but Earth would be completely unharmed because they have a magical defense network and ample energy; at worst, they'd just be blasted away by the aftershocks. The troops the three great empires deployed here, along with the Shi'ar capital, are utterly destroyed.
“Let’s give them another push,” Schiller said. “It’s time to move on to the next step of the plan.”
"Are you ready?" Professor X smiled at Jean Grey and said, "Don't be too nervous, Jean. The experts in China said that a complete release of power will also benefit Phoenix."
Jean Grey nodded, took a deep breath, and said, "Don't worry, Professor, I'm not a child anymore. Phoenixes aren't so obedient, so I can't always do anything about it, but when it comes to destruction, I think I'm quite good at it..."
Logan stepped forward, hugged her, and said, "I've said it before, destruction isn't entirely meaningless. If we destroy the armies of the three great empires here, at least we can bring peace to the earth, and you will become a hero of humanity."
Qin touched her cheek and then said, "I know, I told you I'm not a child, you don't need to coax me."
After saying that, she strode out and flew towards the magic defense network.
After flying out of the magical defense network, she didn't rush to unleash her power. Instead, she stretched out a hand, and a blazing flame ignited. A small phoenix flew from her hand, emitting a clear cry. Though the sound was soft, the fluctuations of power resounded throughout the entire universe.
The first to show expressions of terror were the people of the Shi'ar Empire. Their race was inherently sensitive to energy, and they immediately recognized it as the power of the Phoenix.
The last time the Phoenix's power surged within the Shi'ar Empire, it directly destroyed their prosperous star system, second only to the capital in importance. Countless Shi'ar citizens perished, their souls left behind, let alone any possibility of resurrection. That was the most devastating catastrophe in the history of the Shi'ar Empire, a shadow hanging over the lives of generations of Shi'ar people.
Has the phoenix truly departed? Perhaps never. They all know that the phoenix still exists somewhere in the universe, and perhaps one day such a calamity will befall them again.
“The phoenix…it’s the phoenix…” In the council hall, an elderly nobleman with white hair trembled as he said, “The phoenix has returned! She has returned to judge us! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
"The phoenix is back! The phoenix is back!"
"What do we do? Our souls will be burned, and we will never be able to be resurrected. What do we do?!"
"Your Majesty, save us! We don't want to die, and we especially don't want to die at the hands of the Phoenix! Your Majesty!!"
A chorus of wails erupted in the council hall. The once high and mighty nobles were now weeping and rolling on the floor. Lilandra also looked terrified, but no one could see the coldness in her eyes.
"Don't panic... don't panic! Humans, humans definitely know we're afraid of phoenixes, they're just trying to scare us..."
"Your Majesty!!!" the old nobleman raised his voice, "You knew perfectly well that Phoenix was a mutant!! He was Charles Xavier's student!!! You were the one who let them go. You disregarded the lives of countless Shi'ar citizens because of your personal feelings! Do you intend to continue running away?!"
"Shut up!" Lilandra took a deep breath.
“Your Majesty, this war cannot continue!” a guard officer stepped forward and said. “If the Phoenix is released here again, not only will the capital of the Shia Empire be lost, but the troops that the other two great empires have sent here will also be burned. They will hold us accountable for this!”
Lilandra jumped to her feet, but quickly sat back down, saying, "Are we to accept this humiliation?! I refuse to accept it!"
"This is not the time to be stubborn, Your Majesty!" The old nobleman slammed his cane into the ground again. "Humanity has done nothing yet, and they've driven the three great empires to this point. We must admit they are powerful and dangerous enough. If anyone refuses to admit it, let Earth go after them! Go now, Your Majesty, talk to them, ask them what they want, and make them take the benefits and leave quickly, returning to their nine kingdoms!"
“Nine kingdoms…” Lilandra murmured to herself, “Yes, nine kingdoms.”
She suddenly stood up again and said, "We don't need to negotiate with Earth. I have a way to make them leave!"
Everyone else looked at her.
"As long as the three great empires attack the nine kingdoms, Asgard will not be able to defend itself on its own. They will definitely need Earth's strength. At that time, Earth will have to go back to defend, and then they will leave our capital!"
Lilandra reconnected the communication and shared her thoughts with the Skrull Emperor and the Supreme Intelligence. The two were speechless for a moment after hearing her message. Although they knew Lilandra wanted Earth to withdraw its troops, they still didn't know what to say.
However, neither of them was entirely against the idea—it wasn't that they really thought there was any benefit in fighting the Nine Kingdoms, but the key issue was that the current situation couldn't be resolved.
They were also afraid of the Phoenix, especially the Skrull Empire, which had suddenly deployed more than a dozen large legions from four star clusters. If the Phoenix were to bomb this place, the Skrull Empire would have wasted five hundred years of effort, and the defenses of the four star clusters would have to be rebuilt from scratch.
They wanted to run away, but it would be too humiliating. What would the advanced civilizations below think of their lord? As the saying goes, when a nation grows large enough, it must still execute certain strategies, even knowing they will result in losses, to give its allies confidence. Therefore, they couldn't afford to desert their posts.
Unwilling to accept losses, yet unwilling to be a deserter, what can one do? The only option is to find an excuse for their retreat. Attacking the Nine Kingdoms is a good excuse. Don't ask, the answer is strategic withdrawal.
I went for acupuncture for a migraine, and as soon as I saw the needles, I felt like I was cured QAQ
(End of this chapter)