The signs of awakening mystical powers were becoming more frequent, and the future would only intensify. Lu Sizhou was well aware that the modern technology civilization would have to continue the struggle against the supernatural powers of the previous era, and the intensity of this protracted war would continue to escalate.
It would take this long for the emergency damage control troops called together by Lu Sizhou to arrive. Their main fleets were tied up in naval standoffs with Black Fire Innovation, and pulling even one space mothership from the fray proved extremely difficult.
"Warning: It is advised to move to a safe distance to avoid cognitive harm," the artificial intelligence "Zhishi" suggested to Lu Sizhou, who was also the pilot of this shuttle machine.
Lu Sizhou furrowed her brows, staring at the changing port district.
She wasn’t afraid of the psychological impact brought by the giant angel because she had learned the methods of mental defense. Simply by reciting the True Heavenly Arts in secret, she could nullify the foreign illusions. Such miracles were collectively known as Immortal Law in Xia.
What Lu Sizhou needed to do was to continue observing and assessing the giant angel’s combat strength to determine whether additional assistance should be summoned.
Her currently prepared damage control troops included 1 space mothership and 12 missile escort ships. If the enemy’s combat strength was misjudged, resulting in damage to the space mothership, it would affect the entire battle situation.
Whether Xia could become the hegemon of the Eastern Hemisphere hinged on this decisive battle. The situation had already begun deteriorating due to the mysterious angel suddenly seizing the Haiyun, and she could not afford more losses.
At that point, not only would Lu Sizhou’s position be shaken, but even her father’s control over Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing would be threatened.
"Warning: Abnormal astronomical movements detected," the artificial intelligence continued to report.
Lu Sizhou walked towards the intelligence room of the shuttle, where the outer space detectors had already summarized the relevant disturbances.
She stared intently at the satellite readings, her brows knitted together. Could this also be one of the angel’s terrifying powers? She immediately began to plan, preparing to mobilize more fleets to hunt down this angel.
The outer space was being "shaken."
At that moment, Farosa, holding the Star Tamer, was rapidly approaching the edge of space. She had been brought to the high altitude by Xu Yang, piloting Innovation, which had reached the sky’s limit, where darkness and cold reigned supreme. The shuttle machine raised alarms, indicating that it had reached its maximum altitude.
"I can only take you this high," Xu Yang said.
"I want to go out," Farosa walked toward the cabin door.
"You’ll be torn apart," Xu Yang warned, "The difference in pressure is too great inside and out. The shuttle can’t withstand it, and we’ll be sucked out."
Farosa let out a laugh, her voice sounding especially eerie in these conditions.
Xu Yang knew she had made up her mind, so he turned off the external communication facilities, locked the network access points, and activated the jammer to prevent the position of the vessel from being tracked.
He stowed away any items that might get blown out, unfolded the Cloud Beast, and covered his body with Nano Armor.
Then he took a deep breath and braced himself.
With one hand on the interior railing, he pressed the button to open the cabin door.
The door of Innovation let out an overloaded groan; it was never designed to be forcefully opened at tens of thousands of meters in the air. As the door locking block was released, the entire moving door was instantly blown open.
The inevitable explosive decompression occurred as the door was forced open at such a high altitude, with such a considerable difference in internal and external pressures, nearly sucking Xu Yang out! Even though he desperately clung to the railing, anchoring himself in place, his internal organs churned, and his arm nearly tore off. The Nanometer Armor fought fiercely to protect its wearer, preventing him from being pulled out!
As the pressure inside and outside stabilized, the ice-cold frost-laden air attacked nonstop. Xu Yang tried his best to stand firm in the cabin, sending a signal to turn off the incessant alarm sound. The Innovation didn’t want to bring them here to seek death, to experience the lethal dangers of the thin, frigid high altitude, but its final warning was also silenced. Now, it could only accompany them in facing the severe danger.
Farosa stepped to the edge of the cabin door, feeling out her now divine, non-human physical shell. It was stronger and more robust than her former witch’s body, with the high-altitude frosty winds and thin oxygen causing her no harm. The agony and suffocation that would destroy an ordinary person were harmless to Farosa, like an itch through a boot.
A body made for a deity.
As internal and external pressures reached equilibrium, Farosa stood inside the hatch, arms spread wide to welcome the gale that was rushing at her. The temperature within the cabin had already dropped below zero, and the moist air that fell everywhere turned to frost due to the sudden chill. Farosa, however, felt nothing, maintaining a delicate balance.
"How high are we?" she asked.
"10,000 meters!" Xu Yang leaned against the cabin wall, every breath of air feeling raw. A severe pain under his ribs was unbearable; he felt certain that he had internal bleeding somewhere.
As Farosa leaned out, Xu Yang anxiously grabbed her arm to prevent her from falling.
She looked down, viewing the Northern Archipelago from high above, a sight that had its unique appeal.
Anjiu City stood isolated on White Island, with the sparkling giant angel still menacing at the port, unaware that Farosa had truly taken flight. The tall buildings constructed by humans looked so insignificant from this distance, just as humans view an ant colony: intricate but only sufficient for the builders to take pride in, hardly a remarkable achievement.
The city was just a corner of this vast world. To its northeast stood an even larger and more magnificent super city cluster, "Shangjing." She also saw the Xisheng Shrine, soaring like swords and needles, starkly prominent amongst the predominantly low-rise ancient architecture of the protected zone.