Last Z Story Episode 4

Alliance Shadow War: Star Path and Echoes

Three months after VixentheFox left, an anomaly suddenly occurred in the interstellar route—multiple merchant ships of the neutral alliance lost contact while passing through the "Mist Nebula". Only alliance emblems scorched by high temperatures were found in the wreckage, and the modus operandi was identical to RVX’s raids back then. When the news reached C137, G Morty immediately called a meeting. Husnain stared at the photos of the wreckage in the holographic projection, his fingers unconsciously tightening: "This doesn’t look like the work of ordinary pirates; it’s more like an organized military operation."

To find out the truth, Husnain volunteered to lead a team to the Mist Nebula. Before departure, he saw the fountain pen engraved with "Rebirth" on the storage shelf in the command room—it was secretly left by VixentheFox when she left, and a note was tucked in the pen cap, which read, "There is a secret stronghold of LDE’s former members in the Mist Nebula." He tucked the pen into his arms, then piloted a warship and led the team into the nebula.

The magnetic field in the nebula interfered with communication signals, so the warship could only move forward slowly. At that moment, the radar suddenly detected traces of multiple stealth warships. The enemy opened fire directly, and laser cannons streaked past the warship’s flank. Husnain immediately ordered a counterattack, but the enemy’s tactics were extremely tricky—they clearly knew the terrain of the nebula well. During the fierce battle, the shield of one enemy warship was breached, revealing its hull—and on it was actually printed RVX’s personal emblem.

"Wasn’t RVX already dead?" The team members were shocked. But Husnain’s heart sank: after the energy core explosion back then, no one had found RVX’s body. It turned out he had been hiding in the nebula all along, and even gathered LDE’s former members. The enemy warships gradually formed an encirclement. Just as Husnain was about to activate the emergency escape procedure, a familiar voice suddenly came through the communication channel: "Head for Route 3—I’ll draw them away!"

It was VixentheFox.

Husnain broke through in the direction she had indicated. Through the porthole, he saw a red warship charging toward the enemy vessels—it was the same one VixentheFox had taken when she left. She kept using artillery fire to attract RVX’s attention, but due to the insufficient firepower of her warship, her shield was soon breached. Husnain immediately turned back to support her, but RVX’s warship had already locked onto VixentheFox, and its main cannon was charging up, glowing with light.

"Get out of the way!" Husnain roared, and at the same time activated the warship’s electromagnetic jamming, temporarily interrupting the firing of RVX’s main cannon. VixentheFox took the opportunity to adjust her course and fought side by side with Husnain’s warship. "Why are you here?" Husnain’s voice was breathless. VixentheFox’s reply came through the communication, with a hint of hoarseness: "I knew RVX wouldn’t die that easily. I’ve been tracking his traces, just afraid he’d harm the interstellar route again."

The two worked together to break through the encirclement, but they were closely pursued by RVX’s flagship. VixentheFox suddenly said: "I know the weakness of his warship—I helped him modify the engine compartment back then, and there’s a gap in the shield there. You distract his firepower; I’ll go blow up the engine compartment." Before Husnain could object, she had already piloted her warship toward RVX’s flagship.

Husnain immediately concentrated fire on RVX’s main cannon to buy time for VixentheFox. As he watched the red warship nimbly dodge the artillery fire and dart into the flank of RVX’s flagship, his heart was in his throat. A few seconds later, a loud explosion rang out. Smoke billowed from the engine compartment of RVX’s flagship, and its shield completely failed. Husnain seized the opportunity, ordered the main cannon to fire at full power, and RVX’s flagship was instantly engulfed in flames.

When the smoke cleared, VixentheFox’s warship slowly emerged, its hull covered in scars but still steady. Husnain piloted his warship closer, and the two looked at each other through the portholes, both breaking into relieved smiles.

After returning to C137, VixentheFox did not stay. She only handed Husnain a map marking the safe points of the interstellar route: "I still prefer to go alone, but if there’s trouble in the stars in the future, I’ll come back to help." Husnain did not try to persuade her to stay; he only returned the "Rebirth" fountain pen to her: "This time, let me wish you a true new start."

On the day VixentheFox left, Husnain stood on the deck of the warship, watching her ship disappear into the starry sky. G Morty walked over to him and handed him a cup of hot drink: "There’s still a long way to go." Husnain nodded and looked up at the vast sea of stars—the grudges of the past had long dissipated. Now, he had his comrades in C137, a clear goal, and even more hope for the future.

The interstellar wind brushed his cheeks, carrying a faint glow of stars. Husnain clenched the alliance badge on his chest and turned to walk toward the command room—the next journey of guardianship had only just begun.