Ch.361Chapter 361 – The Ultimate Trump Card

The body of the malevolent star captured by the spaceship’s camera looked like Jupiter with a red filter applied.

“Wow. It’s really ugly.”

When looking at photos of celestial bodies in space, most evoke a sense of awe and mystery.

But the malevolent star’s body looked more dirty and ugly than awe-inspiring or mysterious.

[Master. Multiple energy reactions have been detected from that star.]

“Energy reactions?”

[Yes, the radar has detected multiple approaching energy reactions that appear to be attacks.]

Multiple energy reactions. Do we have weapons that can counter energy attacks?

“Is evasion impossible?”

[Even if we evade one, there are attacks coming from other directions.]

“Then activate the defensive weapons installed on the spaceship to intercept them.”

[Understood.]

Soon the terminal’s screen changed to show the view from the spaceship’s external cameras.

Cylindrical structures extended from hemispherical structures mounted on the upper and lower parts of the spaceship’s hull.

These cylindrical structures began projecting energy beams toward the energy projectiles fired by the malevolent star.

There weren’t just one or two structures, but at least twenty of them engaged in combat simultaneously.

Judging by the dozens of light beams filling the screen, the malevolent star had sent quite a number of energy projectiles.

Gradually, the beams on the screen began to disappear, and the results were displayed on the terminal.

[Master. We have successfully intercepted all enemy attacks.]

“Good. Then let’s approach and strike its main body.”

We’ve already removed the shield that prevented us from directly hitting its body.

Now all that remains is to plant a torpedo equipped with the weapon that destroyed the moon into the malevolent star’s body.

[Master! The enemy is attacking again!]

“What?”

Come to think of it, I shouldn’t have assumed the malevolent star would only attack once.

According to the information displayed on the terminal, energy projectiles were approaching faster than before.

[Please issue your orders.]

“Use your autonomous judgment to intercept the attacks that would cause the most damage if they hit us!”

[Understood.]

I ordered the spaceship’s AI to make autonomous decisions.

The AI began firing beam turrets and railguns to intercept the approaching energy projectiles.

At first, it seemed to be blocking them well, but gradually the number of energy projectiles sent by the malevolent star began to increase.

[Master. If this continues, the weapons mounted on this spaceship may overload and cease functioning.]

“Can I control them in real-time through the terminal?”

[That is possible.]

Okay, so it’s firing so many attacks that the weapons might overload?

“Then we just need to avoid them all.”

I operated the terminal to take control of the spaceship.

While leaving the weapons operation to the AI, I began moving the spaceship based on the information displayed on the terminal.

Despite being a massive spaceship spanning 2 kilometers, it was remarkably agile, regardless of what technology was used to build it.

There was a slight gap between my input commands and their execution, but I could compensate for that.

As the spaceship maneuvered to avoid the energy projectiles fired by the malevolent star, the screen showed the weapons’ load gradually decreasing.

Fortunately, the energy projectiles sent by the malevolent star didn’t seem to have guidance capabilities.

‘If they had guidance capabilities, this would be a real headache.’

I continued piloting the spaceship, gradually moving within maximum torpedo range.

Although space is vast, this spaceship was currently moving at about 50 kilometers per second.

The distance between us and the enemy, which had been tens of thousands of kilometers, was quickly reduced to just a few thousand kilometers.

“AI. Prepare anti-fleet missiles along with torpedo launch!”

[Understood. Opening the main torpedo tubes.]

As the torpedo tubes opened, the malevolent star’s attacks came again.

This time, they weren’t just coming from the front but from all directions—up, down, left, and right.

I moved the spaceship backward to slowly increase the distance, then advanced in a direction where no projectiles were approaching.

As we got closer to the enemy, projectiles occasionally grazed the spaceship.

[Master, the recent hit has damaged the engine room’s hull armor by about 45%.]

“We’ll repair later, focus all efforts on evasive maneuvers now!”

[Understood.]

Since the AI was reporting damage levels, it seemed we could withstand at least one hit.

I piloted the spaceship to avoid the barrage of energy projectiles while waiting for the torpedo to be ready for launch.

“Is it still not ready?”

[I apologize. Since this spaceship is not designed for combat, torpedo adjustments take time.]

“Damn it.”

If I had known this would happen, I would have asked for a combat vessel.

I could only wait for the AI to complete the torpedo launch preparations.

[Master. Torpedo launch preparations are complete.]

“Can you launch anti-fleet missiles as decoys along with the torpedo?”

[That is possible.]

“Then fire without delay!”

As I gave the AI the launch command, anti-fleet missiles flew from the vertical launch tubes, and between them, a massive torpedo was fired from the spaceship toward the malevolent star.

When I launched the torpedo, the malevolent star suddenly stopped attacking me and began firing energy projectiles at the torpedo.

“Use all anti-air missiles and self-defense weapons to protect the torpedo!”

[Understood. Activating all self-defense weapons.]

Soon the self-defense weapons activated, and hundreds of light beams and small projectiles presumed to be missiles filled the space from the spaceship.

Since the torpedo targeting the malevolent star was the most important, the spaceship was now attacking the energy projectiles heading toward the torpedo.

The energy projectiles sent by the malevolent star were powerful, but they seemed a bit slow to intercept the torpedo, which was moving faster than expected.

But it was still too early to feel relieved.

As the distance between the torpedo and the malevolent star narrowed, the energy projectiles were becoming more accurate, nearly grazing the torpedo.

‘If we’re not careful, the torpedo might get destroyed.’

The malevolent star seemed more desperate, as if it had realized that what I had sent could be a weapon capable of destroying it.

In that case, we had no choice but to prepare a second attack.

“Prepare the black hole cannon too.”

[Excuse me, Master? If we prepare the black hole cannon, we’ll need to focus all energy except the minimum required for the spaceship’s operation on firing the cannon.]

“We need to be prepared in case the torpedo gets intercepted.”

[Understood. However, I will launch several similar torpedoes to deceive the enemy.]

The spaceship’s AI launched several more torpedoes to deceive the malevolent star.

As a result, the malevolent star’s attacks began to disperse toward the subsequently launched torpedoes.

While the attacks were being dispersed, the first torpedo I had launched hit its target.

There was an enormous flash on the surface of the malevolent star, and…?

‘Wait, why is it getting bigger?’

As the bomb carried by the torpedo exploded, the malevolent star grew in size.

‘The malevolent star got bigger?’

Does this mean the weapon that destroyed the moon didn’t work…?

Seeing this, I came up with a hypothesis.

Could this malevolent star be capable of absorbing and making any destructive force its own?

That would explain why the moon-destroying bomb that hit the malevolent star didn’t exert its full power.

‘If that’s the case, will the black hole cannon work either?’

The black hole cannon was our last resort.

If even this doesn’t work, we’ll have to call Dearside as our final measure.

“AI.”

I called the AI as soon as the notification appeared indicating that the black hole cannon was fully charged.

[Yes, Master.]

“Fire the black hole cannon.”

[Understood.]

Our last resort and final gamble.

It was to fire the black hole cannon, the most powerful weapon equipped on the spaceship.

When I ordered the firing of the black hole cannon, a very small but brilliantly shining ball of light began flying toward the malevolent star from the spaceship.

It was so tiny that compared to the massive bulk of the malevolent star, it seemed like an insignificant attack.

But as soon as that small light touched the malevolent star, a terrifying sight began to unfold through the spaceship’s cameras.

The ball of light that touched the malevolent star’s surface lost its brightness instantly, turning into complete darkness, and began to devour the malevolent star.

The malevolent star tried to resist the black sphere consuming it by firing energy projectiles, but these were repeatedly absorbed by the black sphere.

It was exactly as described—a small black hole had been created.

Although it couldn’t penetrate to the enemy’s core, watching it completely destroy the outer shell and slowly suck it in… I almost felt sorry for the malevolent star.

In human terms, it was like being pulled from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure one.

But it had tried to destroy this world, so in a way, it was getting what it deserved.

Thus, the malevolent star hit by the black hole cannon was completely sucked into the black sphere and disappeared.

[Energy trace search failed. The energy signature of the enemy classified as the malevolent star has completely vanished.]

Only after hearing the AI’s report could I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

‘I hope this battle was the last one.’

I prayed fervently to whatever gods might be in the heavens.

After going through all this, don’t I deserve some rest now?