Black Reef Star, airspace.
The fleet hovered in the sky, eight escort frigates forming a protective arc before the massive destroyers, their engines casting faint rainbow glints.
The Federation Military tried to retaliate with fighters, missiles, and turrets, but Black Reef's meager garrison stood no chance against an Imperial fleet. Though the Xihe Fleet leaned heavily on escorts with lighter firepower, it was commanded by Jilun, Vice Commander of the Empire's Tianxuan Legion.
Jilun's fleet moved with fluid precision, elusive and unpredictable. The frigates dispersed and regrouped like flowing water, baring their fangs with beastly grace, effortlessly crushing opposition. Two large destroyers advanced steadily toward Black Reef's jump station. Federation barrages, like meteors, struck the destroyers' energy shields, blooming briefly before fading, scraping blue sparks across the barriers but failing to hit critical points.
At last, one destroyer breached the atmospheric storm's grip. A ferocious bolt of lightning brewed in its cannon, erupting as a blinding beam that slashed the sky. Federation soldiers flinched as a searing flash burned their eyes—the jump station was obliterated.
With the jump station gone, their final escape route vanished.
"Request aid! Signal the Military now—the Imperials are about to force-land on Black Reef!" the evacuation commander roared at his comms officer. "These Imperials dare rampage in our territory—we'll make them regret it! Where's General Ning? Find him! He needs to contact the High Commander…"
"General Ning… and the officers with him, they fled via the jump station the moment the Imperial fleet appeared," the comms officer said cautiously, noting his superior's face turn ashen. "Sir, surrender is our only option. We can't hold until Military reinforcements arrive—the Dark Prison will fall first."
Worse, they knew why the Empire had come.
"What about the prisoner interrogated by The Hub?" the commander said, calming suddenly, grasping at a lifeline. "Secure her immediately. We'll use her to negotiate with the Imperial fleet—"
"Her mental strength has gone berserk," the comms officer said, nearly in tears. "General Ning and the others left. No one can suppress her power."
The commander slammed the table, nearly toppling its contents.
"Execute all prisoners left in the Dark Prison," he said darkly. "If Black Reef falls to the Empire, they must not live."
These prisoners held too many Federation secrets, each a potential scandal if exposed.
The Empire must not take them.
The comms officer gasped but relayed the order.
The Xihe Fleet descended on the Dark Prison, black hatches opening. Commander Jilun stepped from a destroyer's lift, Black Reef's savage winds whipping against him.
His curled black hair billowed, his crimson cape shrouding much of his frame. His metallic golden eyes swept the scene impassively, addressing the tense Federation soldiers aiming weapons at him from below.
"Surrender, and you live."
His cold arrogance stung, but most soldiers, after a moment's hesitation, dropped their arms.
Jilun assigned Imperial troops to secure the area, then strode swiftly toward the prison's depths.
A lithe black panther materialized, padding forward at his side.
"Go," Jilun said. "Find her."
The panther's golden eyes narrowed, its claws flexing briefly before it bolted ahead.
Jilun followed, descending to the prison's lowest level. The panther halted before a lab door, its tail lashing, emitting short, hoarse growls.
Jilun sensed a rampant mental force within the prison.
Young Imperials often lost control of their mental entities in combat, a subconscious frenzy that stronger elders could soothe. Jilun had never calmed a junior, but he understood the basics.
He just didn't know the child's entity type…
Pausing, he contacted Boling. The connection, strained by Black Reef's environment, flickered with static.
"Found her?" Boling asked.
Jilun nodded, expressionless. "Her mental strength is berserk."
Boling's eyes twitched.
Jilun glanced around. The lab level was nearly ruined by the rampant energy. Muffled, earth-shaking clangs echoed from behind unseen walls, audible to Boling.
"It's not a full frenzy," Boling said after listening, sighing. "More like a tantrum."
"She needs an elder's guidance," Jilun said firmly. "As His Majesty's kin, her entity is likely avian. I'm not suited to calm her."
Imperials were categorized by entity types—avian, beast, and others. Mental soothing required compatible entities. Jilun's panther, a feline beast, was naturally at odds with most avian entities. His panther tolerated Boling's lark only due to their deep friendship, avoiding feather-strewn clashes.
This case was different.
Baisha's entity was in a rage. If Jilun's panther attempted to subdue it, he'd likely end up battered.
"I can't get there in time," Boling said, frowning with concern. "Her entity never manifested before. Now it has, but it's been forced into a frenzy… if this persists, it'll harm her."
Boling sighed. "Treat it like a dead horse—try anyway. Be gentle, don't fight back if she lashes out. She might trust you in time. If it fails, I'll take over. I'm en route to Black Reef."
This child had just endured Federation torture. She shouldn't be too hostile toward her rescuers.
Boling knew Jilun's temperament was kinder than his stoic exterior suggested. Many juniors warmed to him once they knew him.
Jilun lowered his golden eyes, pondering, then pushed open the lab door.
His panther, sensing his intent, retracted its fangs and claws, gliding silently over the debris toward the restraint chair at the lab's center.
Amid the dim, shattered metal walls, radiant feathers glowed, serene and luminous.
Jilun gazed at the solitary, massive wing, falling briefly silent.
Her entity hadn't fully awakened?
How could he soothe it then?
Baisha, seated in the wreckage, noticed Jilun. Her vacant eyes flicked toward him, her wing unfurling, poised to strike.
"I mean no harm," Jilun said softly, his voice like flowing sand, devoid of aggression. "I'm here to take you away."
His panther mirrored his deference.
It darted to Baisha's feet, sniffing gently, ears twitching, then lay down, bowing its head in quiet submission.
Jilun: "…"
Was this how to show deference?
Yet Imperial entities often outshone their masters in intuition.
The panther's behavior all but confirmed Baisha's noble lineage.
The wing, sensing Jilun's sincerity, hesitated, then slowly drooped, fading into transparency. It swirled around Baisha as a gentle glow before vanishing.
Baisha felt her consciousness resurface, as if pulled from the deep sea. She slumped in the chair, gasping softly. Sweat-soaked hair clung to her forehead, glinting silver.
"Who are you?" she asked warily, her mind still clouded.
Suddenly, the panther leapt onto her lap, nudging her hand with its plush forehead.
Its black coat shimmered like satin, its muscles elegantly defined, its golden eyes radiating pure strength and nobility.
And it was fluffy.
Baisha tested its reaction, then boldly rubbed its head and chin. The panther squinted, puffing short breaths, struggling to maintain dignity but purring like an engine.
Jilun: "…"
Baisha's mood lifted, her anger from the prison ordeal dissolving.
Jilun looked away, speaking gently. "I'm Jilun, Imperial Major General, here to take you… to take Your Highness home."
A question mark bloomed on Baisha's face.
Your Highness?
"How did you know I was here?" she asked slowly, her gaze mirroring the Emperor's in Jilun's memory—though her deep blue eyes, like flowing springs, were warmer, inviting fondness.
Jilun briefly recounted Yaning's group infiltrating the hotel and delivering the evidence.
Baisha fell silent, absently stroking the panther's back, processing her ties to the Federation and Empire.
The panther didn't resist.
Jilun's throat bobbed, his brow furrowing. "Please release my entity."
In the Empire, prolonged handling of another's entity, even among close relations, was rude.
Baisha started, reluctantly withdrawing her hand. "Sorry."
Petting a general's panther like a housecat was indeed improper.
Jilun's lips pressed flat, his aloof demeanor returning. Avoiding her gaze, he nodded toward the Xihe. "I'll escort you to the Empire immediately."
Baisha hesitated. "Just leave like this?"
"Your safety is paramount," Jilun said, walking beside her, subtly shielding her from surrendered Federation soldiers' stares. "The Empire won't let this slide, but given the peace talks, open conflict will end here. We won't spark war in Federation space. The Military officers who detained you will face consequences, but we can't dismantle their forces swiftly."
"Every day you remain in the Federation increases your risk."
Baisha suddenly felt like someone extraordinary.
Why else would this fleet-commanding general explain so much, his tone devoid of dismissal, as if ensuring her satisfaction?
"Though I have Imperial genes, I lack an entity," Baisha said calmly. "I heard all Imperials have one, no exceptions."
"Strictly speaking, you do," Jilun said, his golden eyes meeting hers quietly. "It just hasn't had the chance to meet you."
Baisha followed Jilun into the Xihe's control room, where silver-blue-uniformed Imperial officers bustled, managing the fleet's operations.
A gray-haired officer with a virtual console projected before him approached Jilun. "Commander, the Xihe is ready to return."
Baisha gazed at the massive star map, its cold starlight reflected in her eyes. It charted Federation territory, with the Empire at its far end.
Her true "home."
Her hand grazed the metal console, and she looked up, resolute. "Let me off."
Jilun paused. "What do you intend?"
"This mess started because of me. I can't just leave," Baisha said. "As you said, I'm Imperial. Though I knew nothing of my origins when applying to the Federation's Central Military Academy, exposing my genes was my mistake."
Sighing, she continued, "Your fleet attacked Black Reef. The Military never disclosed its existence, but firing on Federation soldiers is a grave diplomatic incident, isn't it?"
Jilun didn't respond immediately.
"And if we take the Xihe, what about your Foreign Minister and the delegation on Capital Star?" Baisha pressed.
Jilun trusted Boling to handle it.
If Boling faltered, Weili—and the Emperor—stood behind him. Rescuing Baisha was their priority; the rest could collapse, and someone would manage.
But Jilun saw Baisha's reluctance to abandon the Federation.
For over a decade, she'd seen it as her homeland, with friends she'd die for. Disillusionment was easy, but embracing her Imperial identity would take time.
To help her integrate, respecting her will was key.
She refused to flee Capital Star or ignore the fallout, proving she valued more than just survival.
"We can reconsider returning," Jilun said. "My plan was to escort you to the Empire, then lead the Tianxuan Fleet to support Boling, continuing the peace talks."
Baisha's lips twitched. "You mean 'force the Federation to accept peace'?"
"The Federation is unlikely to break ties completely," Jilun said.
He explained their capture of the Federation's mining vessel and key hostages. The Federation's wrongful interrogation of Baisha gave the Empire leverage, especially with the pretext of revising the Cross-Border Extradition Law. Boling's sharp diplomacy could shame the Federation into overlooking the Xihe's assault on Black Reef.
The Federation's secret detention of a minor Imperial matched the Empire's destruction of their prison—a balanced ledger.
Peace talks were a separate matter.
Wars weren't sparked by a single Baisha or Black Reef. Over centuries, conflicts arose when one side's strength peaked and star-bug tides waned. With bugs resurging, both nations, strained, sought cooperation. The Federation couldn't afford war; the Empire didn't want it. Peace would hold.
"I get why the Federation would back down," Baisha said. "But the Empire? You say it has reasons to avoid war too."
Jilun answered plainly, "The Empire avoids war for two reasons: star-bugs threaten all sentient races, demanding unity; and the throne lacks an heir, fueling noble infighting. War risks internal and external collapse."
Baisha hissed. "No heir? Can't the Emperor have kids, or are there too many to choose from?"
Jilun glanced at her, silent, dodging the topic to avoid her speculating about the Emperor's virility. Before he could redirect, a comm signal from the Empire interrupted.
It was Weili, Privy Council President.
Jilun answered, Weili's figure projecting into the void.
Jilun saluted. "Greetings, Mr. President."
Weili nodded, eyeing Baisha beside Jilun. "The rescue succeeded."
"Yes, but Her Highness wishes to return now," Jilun said.
Weili nodded understandingly. "A spirited soul wouldn't leave so vaguely." His gaze lingered on Baisha, his breath catching, his amber-brown eyes seeming to see beyond her. "You're Baisha, yes?"
She nodded.
"Who named you?" Weili asked.
"I did," Baisha replied.
Weili paused, then said, "Though Federation matters remain, someone urgently wishes to meet you—a likely relative."
Baisha blinked. "…"
"Personally, I believe the delegation can handle the Federation for now. Unraveling your origins may be more pressing," Weili said patiently.
Baisha faltered. "I have family in the Empire?" She caught herself—her body, native to this era, naturally had parents. Relatives weren't surprising.
"He didn't abandon you," Weili clarified quickly. "He only just learned of you and is eager to confirm."
"Meeting is fine," Baisha agreed. "But we're in Federation space. Won't reaching the Empire take long?"
"The Empire has quantum jump technology," Weili said, a hint of pride. "Provide the fleet's coordinates, and we'll open a jump channel, minimizing travel to the border. Your relative will use the same tech to meet you there."
Dual travel would halve the time.
Jilun was startled. Quantum jumps consumed vast energy, but Weili implied the Emperor himself would journey to the border.
The Emperor, unmoved from Youdu Star for over a decade!
Baisha asked about jump duration—roughly two hours, acceptable. She agreed.
She'd seen Federation jump tech, but not the Empire's precise, on-demand channels.
After five minutes, a radiant sea of light appeared before the Xihe Fleet—the jump channel.
They sailed through, emerging in a new star system.
A vast, azure planet loomed, rotating slowly. Its dark half shimmered with delicate golden veins—cities aglow with brilliant lights.
On the system's edge, a massive fleet approached—hundreds of ships in strict formation, like silent fish in the deep. They glided between starlight and shadow, stardust misting their paths, breathtakingly beautiful.
"So many lights, so many ships… you call this a border planet?" Baisha said skeptically.
Jilun remained silent.
Indeed, an obscure border world—its lights blazed to welcome the Emperor; the dense fleet was his Royal Guard, the "Starbreaker" armada.
As the Xihe landed at the planet's spaceport, Baisha felt a sudden unease.
"How did you confirm my relation to this person?"
She had no memories or tokens, only her Imperial genes. No genetic tests had been done…
Was this all just a hypothesis?
Jilun gazed outside, the planet cloaked in night.
"You'll understand when you meet," he said simply. "They await you in the spaceport hall."
The hatch opened, and Baisha froze. Rows of fully armed Imperial soldiers lined the path, their silver armor and pulse rifles glinting in the dark.
Baisha: "…"
She stepped onto the lift, descending.
In the dazzling lights, she saw a figure in the distance.
Silver hair cascaded like moonlight, his posture tall and graceful, his deep blue eyes clear yet shadowed.
A glowing, ornate brooch adorned his chest—a large sapphire, cut to resemble a passionflower frozen in bloom, the Empire's royal emblem, famed even in Federation gossip. Baisha had heard of it—but that wasn't the point…
What mattered was his face, strikingly similar to hers.
So similar, anyone would assume a blood tie at a glance.