He Lowered His Head, Motionless

Unlike conventional propulsion-based navigation, this method relies on ejecting matter to provide the starship with forward momentum.

The so-called warp engine operates by bending space using a gravity generator while the starship itself remains stationary, creating a magnificent and surging spatial tide. This propels the starship through a cosmic "surfing" motion.

Stretching.

Bending.

Compressing.

As the dark starship officially began its journey, the surrounding cosmic space became utterly abstract, resembling vibrant, chaotic lines that radiated a blend of stillness and ferocious brilliance.

The starfalls surged, flowing upstream only to spiral back into their own vortices.

On the bridge.

Xu Xi, a mere mortal, gazed directly at the truths of the cosmos. His eyes reflected the intertwining of points and lines, completely filled with dazzling colors.

The machine spirit rejoiced, and mechanical forces resonated.

Two key terms continuously enhanced both the starship and Ailei.

"Master, the starship is about to breach the critical point. Please prepare yourself."

"Understood. Begin."

Xu Xi sat at the main console, watching as the external starscape grew increasingly chaotic. This indicated that the warp starship was surpassing the speed of light and was about to leave the visible universe.

Finally, the dark hull of the starship vanished into space, leaving only a fleeting trace.

From a macroscopic perspective, it struck the cosmic barrier, using the distortion of space to counteract the silent blockade.

Boom!

Boom!

Almost simultaneously, terrifying echoes of impact reverberated from both the barrier ahead and the starry sea behind.

Some pre-deployed rear detectors even captured the gravitational waves of a neutron warstar.

"As expected, attempting to cross the barrier triggers the neutron warstar's aggressive return."

"Ailei, initiate quantum information transmission."

"Hopefully, this will buy us some time."

Xu Xi remained calm and composed, quickly reviewing all preparations to ensure there were no oversights.

At the same time, he resonated once more with Ailei's machine spirit, assisting her in conducting high-dimensional observations and linking with pre-established quantum protocols.

The vast cosmos stretched across light-years.

In this miraculous instant, countless information constructs activated, departing from various points in the universe and heading toward pre-determined destinations.

Without exception, they carried vast amounts of production materials and advanced technologies.

Would it be enough?

Xu Xi didn't know.

The enemy was too powerful, rendering any countermeasures seemingly futile. Thus, he had to struggle with all his might to seize even the slimmest chance of survival.

"Master, I entrust my body to you."

"Go, Ailei."

To ensure the warp starship's normal operation, Ailei's computational power temporarily left her humanoid form, fully dedicating itself to the superluminal navigation and breaking through the cosmic barrier.

Her body naturally collapsed, caught by Xu Xi.

The moment he caught her, Xu Xi's arms trembled, nearly dropping Ailei's body.

"Starting to overdraw... As expected, the cost of pushing the prototype warp engine into superluminal speeds is too high."

Xu Xi lowered his gaze.

He adjusted his breathing as steadily as possible, leaning back in his seat to maintain an outward appearance of composure.

His slightly trembling fingers gently cradled the mechanized servant.

It was quiet.

Silent.

Xu Xi sat in the captain's seat, continuing to resonate with the machine spirit to aid the warp navigation, observing the external phenomena in a dazed state.

The warp starship moved swiftly, propelled by waves of spatial tides, ascending the vast starry sea and reaching the apex of the infinite barrier.

It was a spectacle Xu Xi had never witnessed before.

In the overlapping of space, it felt as though he was confronting the essence of the universe, conversing with the galaxy, whispering with starlight.

The once formless and seamless cosmic barrier was torn open by the increasingly distorted gravitational field, revealing a real breach leading to the mysterious prison beyond.

Behind them, the boundless starry sea shrank into a tiny point, stretched infinitely by the light, almost invisible.

It was at this moment.

The barrier's counterattack and the neutron warstar's pursuit arrived simultaneously.

The red light points that had once caused the mechanized rebellion surged into the starship with an overwhelming force, their numbers so vast that they even enveloped Ailei's machine spirit.

The warp engine's operation was slightly affected as well.

"Warning! Warning! Warning!"

The urgent alarm blared incessantly.

Inside the bridge, the once bright white lights shifted to a dangerous crimson.

Just as Ailei was struggling to maintain control, a familiar voice came from behind—gentle, offering her confidence and comfort.

"Don't worry, Ailei."

"I'm here."

The "Machine Spirit's Joy" term activated once more, dispelling the influence of the red light points. No matter how many times they encroached, the machine spirit remained unscathed.

However, the breathing from behind grew increasingly faint.

"Master, thank you."

The mechanized servant seized the opportunity, quickly adjusting the warp engine to accelerate away from the red light points' encirclement.

The remnants inside the ship were no longer a threat to her.

But the crisis was far from over.

Through the gravitational wave detection equipment, the mechanized servant could clearly "see" the neutron warstar relentlessly pursuing them from behind.

"We must go faster, as fast as possible, to take Master away from here," the mechanized servant thought. Her normally unshakable mechanical mind now burned like fire.

Restless.

Anxious.

Afraid.

Those human emotions she had once searched for in the federal database now vividly surfaced in Ailei's thoughts.

Yes, if they could just leave this place, Master could truly rest.

If they could just leave this place, there would be no separation.

If they could just leave this place, Master would not die.

If they could just leave this place, she could once again gaze at the stars with the most important person.

The stars didn't matter; what mattered was that person—the one who had imbued her with humanity, the one who could never be replaced.

"Boom—"

Ailei's counterattack began.

Or perhaps it was better described as a desperate struggle.

When the neutron warstar caught up, it first encountered not the warp starship but a pre-established cosmic firepower array—a crisscrossing network of high-energy coverage.

Yet it was futile.

The density of the neutron star was too overwhelming.

Conventional weapons were ineffective, unable even to slow it down.

In stark contrast, the neutron warstar's radiant brilliance intensified, nearly causing the warp starship's hull to fracture.

Spatial weapons.

A far-reaching application of spatial technology.

Amid the violent shaking, Xu Xi was thrown to the ground. Upon getting up, his first action was to steady the mechanized servant's body.

Breathing became even more difficult.

It felt as though an invisible mountain was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

"As expected of a civilization capable of modifying neutron stars. Even their spatial technology is so advanced."

"Ailei, release all restrictions. Try to escape at maximum speed."

Xu Xi channeled the last of his mechanical energy into the starship, barely maintaining some of the damaged sections.

In a gentle tone, he urged Ailei to make one final gamble.

After speaking, he staggered back to his seat, lowering his head and remaining motionless, as if resting, waiting for the mechanized servant to bring him the ultimate success.