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Chapter 739   A Distinction Forged by Necessity

While the missiles handled the initial phase of interception, the sleek spheres communicated and coordinated seamlessly with each other. Each one generated a hexagonal shield, which linked together to form an interlocking barrier around the fleet. This network of shields braced for impact, prepared to handle the incoming mana-powered attacks that could not be countered through conventional methods alone.

The first attack to challenge the hexagonal shields was an immense ball of fire, burning with such intensity that it could melt most metals by mere proximity, demonstrating its destructive power. As it reached the shield, it passed through seemingly without much resistance. However, by the time it emerged on the other side, it had been completely neutralized—disappearing into nothingness.

The hexagonal shields had not been designed to physically block attacks but to strip them of their mana. The moment the fireball entered the shield’s zone, the shield absorbed all the mana sustaining it, rendering it inert. Without its magical energy to keep it alive, the fireball disintegrated before it could pose any threat to the imperial ships. This was the brilliance of the shield system—rather than stopping attacks with brute force, it nullified anything reliant on mana, making magical assaults ineffective unless they had their own protection against mana depletion.

This capability was strong enough to repel all basic attacks that relied on magic as the primary source of weapon damage. However, it appeared that some enemy weapons were immune to its effects, as a few attacks bypassed the shield entirely. These particular weapons became the focus of attention, as they were physical in nature but exhibited a phasing ability. Whenever they were about to be struck by an interceptor’s explosion, they passed through it effortlessly, as if the blast were nothing more than wind through a net. Once these weapons reached their target ship, they phased through its walls and detonated inside, destroying a small attacking vessel with a single strike.

Hundreds of ships from the empire\'s side were destroyed by these attacks, yet it seemed that these types of weapons were rare, as only a limited number were deployed despite causing the bulk of the damage to the fleet. Most other weapons sent by the enemy were intercepted in time, with only a few making it through. These either caused varying degrees of damage or had their impact absorbed by the ships\' shields. Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn

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Amid the chaos, the empire was desperately trying to fend off relentless attacks that rained down in overwhelming numbers, making them nearly impossible to count. Nearly all of the hundred million ships had unleashed multiple weapons in the same time frame, aiming to annihilate the opposing forces in a single devastating strike.

Despite the semi-joint attack, each faction remained vigilant, knowing they had to keep an eye on one another in case anyone attempted to outmaneuver them by using this period as an opportunity and launch attacks at them.

The Valthorins stood out in this tumultuous situation, appearing resolute in their mission to obliterate the enemy entirely. They launched a greater volume of weaponry than any other faction, seemingly intent on ensuring that the opposing side was removed from existence.

As a result, the empire found itself unable to launch a counterattack, a situation deemed normal given their focus on avoiding annihilation. Meanwhile, the Conclave forces strategically advanced closer to the star system while maintaining a careful distance from one another. They understood that if this wave of attacks succeeded in decimating the opposing forces, it would not only be time to refocus on each other but also the perfect opportunity to rush into the solar system and seize its advanced technology—particularly the terrifying bombs—before any rival factions could.

While the majority of the fleets were focused on advancing and preparing for their dash to the star system, one civilization’s forces, the Shadari, noticeably halted their movements. Instead of following suit, they directed their attention elsewhere, opening fire toward an area that appeared empty, filled only with asteroids. To an outside observer unfamiliar with them, this might have seemed like an act of madness. However, knowing the Shadari’s reputation as masters of stealth, no one dismissed it as such.

When the Shadari launched an attack in a seemingly barren direction, it signaled that something significant was concealed there. Realizing the implications of this, the other Conclave forces quickly pushed their sensors to their maximum limits, eager to uncover what could be prompting the Shadari to act in such a peculiar manner.

In the realm of stealth, the Shadari were unmatched, a distinction forged by necessity. Their home star system was located in a region where space-time was distorted, giving rise to natural stealth zones where light, sound, and even energy signatures were suppressed or redirected. This environment not only shaped their technological advancements but also influenced the evolution of the local fauna, resulting in stealth predators capable of becoming invisible or intangible for varying durations.

These adaptations rendered traditional combat methods nearly ineffective, compelling the nascent Shadari civilization to evolve and refine their own strategies for survival in such hostile conditions. As a result, they became masters of stealth, able to move undetected and strike when least expected, a skill that proved invaluable in their ongoing conflicts.

So when a species like the Shadari initiated an attack in close proximity (relative to space), it indicated that the enemy they were targeting possessed a level of stealth that even the masters of concealment struggled to detect until it was almost too late. This was evident as the attacks launched by the Shadari fleets simply vanished from existence upon reaching a certain distance.

Before the other forces could receive any meaningful feedback from their sensors, the enemy finally revealed themselves. Attacks began raining down from seemingly nowhere, catching many off guard. Alongside these assaults, tens of thousand of breaching pods descended, primarily aimed at the control ships or the largest vessels within each civilization\'s or organization’s fleet. This strategic focus made it clear that the enemy was intent on targeting the leadership, aiming to destabilize the command structure and sow chaos among the ranks.