Last Z Story Episode 5

Alliance Shadow War: Star Core and Guardianship

Half a year after VixentheFox left, C137 took on a special mission—escorting an interstellar archaeological team to the "Forgotten Star Sector," where the legendary "Star Core Crystal," capable of stabilizing interstellar magnetic fields, was hidden. Husnain volunteered to be the escort captain. Before departure, G Morty handed him an old communicator: "This belonged to C137’s former leader. It’s said to be able to receive the fluctuation signals of the Star Core Crystal; it might come in handy at a critical moment."

When the fleet arrived at the Forgotten Star Sector, they realized it was more dangerous than expected—countless wreckages of abandoned warships floated in the sector, and the chaotic magnetic field was strong enough to interfere with the warships’ control systems. The archaeological team found traces of the Star Core Crystal on a barren planet, but as soon as they approached the cave where the crystal was located, the ground suddenly shook violently. A group of well-equipped mercenaries rushed out from behind the wreckages; when the leader took off his helmet, it turned out to be Karen, a former subordinate of RVX.

"Hand over the Star Core Crystal, and I’ll let you leave alive," Karen’s voice was threatening. Husnain immediately ordered the archaeological team to retreat and led his team to fight back. However, the mercenaries’ firepower was far beyond expectation—they even carried "dark matter weapons" that could absorb energy, and the shields of C137’s warships soon developed cracks.

In the critical moment, Husnain remembered the communicator G Morty had given him and pressed its switch casually. Unexpectedly, the communicator emitted a burst of high-frequency fluctuations. The Star Core Crystal deep in the cave suddenly lit up with blue light, the surrounding magnetic field stabilized instantly, and the mercenaries’ dark matter weapons lost their effect. Husnain seized the opportunity, ordered an all-out counterattack, and quickly suppressed the mercenaries’ offensive.

Seeing the situation turn against him, Karen actually activated the bombs he had pre-planted in the cave: "Even if I can’t get it, I’ll destroy it!" The sound of the bomb’s countdown rang out. Just as Husnain was about to rush in to move the crystal, a red warship suddenly broke through the atmosphere and stood directly in front of the cave—it was VixentheFox.

"You take the crystal and leave; I’ll handle things here!" VixentheFox’s voice came through the communication. She piloted her warship to crash into Karen’s mercenary ships and activated the warship’s self-destruct program at the same time. Husnain’s eyes welled up with heat; he immediately directed the archaeological team to evacuate with the crystal. When he looked back, he only saw the flames from the explosion of the red warship and the mercenary ships, illuminating the night sky of the entire barren planet.

After the fleet returned to C137 safely, Husnain stayed by the communicator all day, sending signals repeatedly, but never received a response. Until three days later, a weak signal came in—it was VixentheFox’s personal communication code: "I’m okay, but my warship is destroyed. I’m temporarily stranded on an asteroid."

Husnain immediately piloted a warship to rescue her. He found VixentheFox in a cave on the asteroid; her arm was scratched, but she still held the "Rebirth" fountain pen. "I knew Karen would come to snatch the Star Core, so I’ve been following you all along," VixentheFox said with a smile. Her tone had lost its former sharpness and gained a touch of gentleness.

After returning to C137, VixentheFox no longer mentioned leaving. She took the initiative to offer help in modifying C137’s warship defense systems and occasionally deduced battle tactics with Husnain. One day, the two stood on the warship’s deck, looking at the starry sky. VixentheFox suddenly said: "I used to only think about power, but now I realize that guarding what you want to protect with people who are worth it is far more meaningful."

Husnain turned to look at her, their eyes met, and both smiled. In the distance, G Morty stood in the command room, watching the two on the deck, and a relieved smile also appeared on his face. The Star Core Crystal was placed in C137’s core cabin; its blue light spilled over everyone through the porthole, as if declaring: This interstellar journey spanning betrayal and redemption has finally ushered in a warm prologue.