The three city-level warships continued to chase after that small spaceship relentlessly. Finally, the small spaceship's power source was nearly used up, and it slowed down.

Those on the warships started to cheer. It should be known that those in the small spaceship were not ordinary targets. They were members of the "Rebellion Army" that had been elusive.

"Haha, we've finally captured the Rebellion Army alive. These people are extremely despicable, instigating Atlans everywhere. I heard that some places were instigated by this Rebellion Army, erupting chaos. Capturing them is a great merit. However, we must be careful in case they put up a last-ditch struggle."

The Atlans in the warships appeared cautious as well. Although they were excited, they remained vigilant against the "Rebellion Army", not daring to approach them lightly.

After determining that the spaceship had no power left and truly could not move anymore, the three city-level warships gradually approached.

"Rebellion Army in the spaceship, turn off your engine at once and set up a communication link. We want to see everything going on in your spaceship. We'll give you some time to consider. If you don't do as we say, we'll attack immediately!"

The three city-level warships did not act rashly, not even going too near. As long as the spaceship shut down its engine and establish a communication link, they could use this link to monitor every movement of the spaceship, even accessing the spaceship's control directly. In that case, any the Rebellion Army's plans would be useless.

The three warships were cautious but there was only silence in the spaceship.

"Originally, we wanted to self-destruct to affect those three warships. Now, it looks like they're too careful. Our self-destruction wouldn't harm them. I suggest that we initiate the self-destruct sequence."

The scar-faced man said in a determined voice.

Everyone else became quiet. Although they were the Rebellion Army, no one wanted to die. Even if there was the slightest hope, they would not choose to self-destruct.

However, now they truly had no other way out, surrounded by the three city-level warships. This armed spaceship that had just a little power left was not of much use.

"I agree. Let's initiate the self-destruct sequence."

Finally, someone else agreed. Soon, the rest agreed as well.

"Self-destruct sequence initiated. The countdown begins now. Ten, nine, eight…"

As the cold electronic voice rang out, they watched as the countdown of the self-destruct sequence approached the end. Although it was merely ten seconds, it seemed an eternity of agony to them.

It was not pleasant to slowly wait for the taste of death…

…

In the dark icy space, no one noticed that a small spaceship was hidden at a great distance.

"Should I rescue them? They're from the Atlan civilization but enemies of these warships."

It was Merlin in this spaceship. A few days ago, he had discovered this spaceship which was hunted by the three warships. He had followed it at a great distance without revealing himself. Although the distance was immense, avoiding the warships' sensors, Merlin's Mind Power was rather tremendous, able to observe everything clearly.

He knew that those on the spaceship were now at the end of their rope.

"Currently, I urgently need to understand the Atlan civilization – the more detailed, the better. As identification is a problem, I can't enter the starships. Even so, these people seem to be in conflict with the authorities of the Atlan civilization. Just right for me to blend in."

Merlin considered and ultimately decided to act. Nonetheless, this was the Atlan civilization. Before he ascertained the situation thoroughly, it was unwise to use a power foreign to the Atlan civilization.

However, his tiny spaceship was useless against these three city-level warships.

"Oh right, I have an empire-level warship. It doesn't even need to be manned for the Matrix is controlling it."

Merlin's eyes brightened. The empire-level warship was much more powerful than a city-level warship. Even in the Void Zone, it was a force comparable to an Honored Legend, a warship of high-ranking in the Atlan civilization.

With this in mind, Merlin immediately whipped out the empire-level warship, then kept the small spaceship before entering the warship.

"Honored Master, what are your orders?"

Although the Matrix controlled the empire-level warship, it was inextricably linked to Merlin hence he had control over it.

"Matrix, destroy those three city-level warships!"

Merlin instantly commanded the Matrix. Immediately, the empire-level warship's cannon started to aim, locking onto the three city-level warships swiftly.

"Fire!"

"Boom!"

Three fearsome beams of light shot by in a flash, thundering toward the three city-level warships.

"What? A danger alert?"

"D*mn it, we've been targeted. What's going on?"

"It's an empire-level warship. My heavens, have they misunderstood? The army has equipped our warships with a special identification system. How can there be a mistake? Could it be the Rebellion Army's warship?"

"I heard that the Rebellion Army has seized empire-level warships but only a few to think that we've encountered one. Ask for assistance quickly. We're under attack from the Rebellion Army's empire-level warship…"

The three city-level warships directed all their energy into their defensive energy shields at once. If they were faced with a common city-level warship, doing this might be useful in blocking the attack.

Nonetheless, they were up against an empire-level warship comparable to an Honored Legend. Thus, their efforts were useless.

"Bang bang bang."

Three deafening explosions sounded as the three city-level warships blew up like fireworks in the cold dark empty space, reduced to fragments.

At this sight, the Rebellion Army of the armed spaceship watched with mouths agape.

"Countdown for self-destruct sequence – three, two, one…"

The armed spaceship's self-destruct sequence had nearly reached the final second. Fortunately, someone in the Rebellion Army had managed to respond in time, yelling, "Stop the self-destruct sequence."

"Beep. Self-destruct sequence stopped!"

"Phew…"

Everyone sighed softly in relief. The spaceship had nearly self-destructed. No one would have imagined that the tide would turn at this point.

"What's going on? Why would that empire-level warship destroy the three city-level warships?"

"It doesn't bear the logo of the Rebellion Army, so it shouldn't be our empire-level warship. Moreover, no matter how impressive the Rebellion Army's warships are, it can't possibly appear here out of the blue."

"We must be careful. There might be something fishy about this warship."

These members of the Rebellion Army appeared prudent and cautious, staring attentively at the screen at that colossal warship which appeared in the distance. Just the body of the ship alone gave them a sense of pressure.

This was one of the high-level warships of the Atlan civilization – the empire-level warship. It could not possibly be stationed there for the sake of the average starships. Only strongholds directly under the army might be stationed with an empire-level warship but even then, it would be in small numbers such as one or two.

Now that an empire-level warship had popped up here, it was suspicious indeed.

As the enormous warship approached, the Rebellion Army became nervous. They did not know whether they had gotten out of the frying pan into the fire.

"Beep. Unknown communication request. Accept request?"

The mechanical female voice in the spaceship rang out suddenly.

Those on the spaceship exchanged dismayed glances. Finally, an armored man who was the head made the call, saying hoarsely, "Accept communication request."

Soon, an unfamiliar face appeared on the screen, looking rather excessively young. Nevertheless, the Atlan civilization's technology was very advanced, even able to extend lives to a significant extent. It was easy to live to a few hundred or a thousand years. Thus, almost every Atlan appeared youthful and beautiful.

However, as the average lifespan increased sharply, the population numbers shot up as well. The entire Atlan Dimension was huge in the first place but their population numbered in the millions and billions. Luckily, the Atlan civilization had come up with the crucial technology for transmuting energy into materials. Otherwise, having to feed so many mouths would be a gargantuan problem.

"Who are you? What do you really want?"

The Rebellion Army's leader, upon seeing Merlin, shot out a string of questions.

As for the young man on the screen, he smiled calmly. "I think first, you have to thank me for rescuing all of you!"

The spaceship was dead silent. It was true, this young man had rescued them.

"I'm just like you. After seeing how I destroyed the three city-level warships, you should stop being so wary. Now, this place is unsafe. Before they were annihilated, they must've sent out a distress signal. If we stay here, none of us will be able to leave. Bring your spaceship into my warship."

Following that, the communication ended. Soon, the colossal empire-level warship began to open its rear cabin, which could accommodate a few hundred small spaceships.

"Bellio, this person is odd. However, he's seasoned and careful as well, so we must be the same."

Merlin's tactic of cutting off the communication immediately was an old trick. This made sense. Someone who could pilot an empire-level warship to destroy city-level warships – how could they be that simple?

This group's leader was named Bellio. Of course, he knew that there was something fishy about their savior but what choice did they have now?

"Staying here is dangerous indeed. No matter what, he destroyed the city-level warships. The Senate and the army will never let him off the hook. Even if he doesn't belong to our Rebellion Army for now, we can request for him to join us in the future!"

Bellio's face broke out into a smile. If they could persuade this person who possessed an empire-level warship to join the Rebellion Army, his position in the Rebellion Army would become much higher.

Thus, these ten or so members of the Rebellion Army did not hesitate, immediately steering their spaceship into the cabin of the warship.