Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 849 - 608 Set Sail!_2

"Understood, Doctor." After listening to the Doctor's account, Bai E nodded in agreement. "I will focus on monitoring them... After we leave, the development of the Storm Battle Corps on this planet will be entirely in your hands."

The Doctor beamed with a hearty smile. "Of course!"

Creating a group of mortal angels capable of conquering all corners of the universe was his life's greatest ambition!

Shortly after the Doctor departed, Helen, the chief designer of the entire Starship Project, also came to find Bai E.

The passage of time and the weight of responsibility had added a certain hardened weariness to the radiant and alluring woman.

Years of tireless dedication left her eyes full of fatigue, but upon seeing Bai E, she couldn't help but show a bright smile. "Bai E, it's time for launch."

To fulfill her promise to Bai E, she had thrown herself completely into the Starship project for nearly a year.

Endless reviews, tests, with every detail demanded to be nothing short of perfect.

All for the sake of this single, unassuming announcement today.

Upon hearing that the day had finally arrived, Bai E froze momentarily, then smiled warmly at her. "These past two years... you've worked so hard."

"Hard?..." Helen's eyes flashed with a rare intensity. "You're about to leave. Can I ask you for a first and final request?"

"What is it?"

"Your... seed."

Helen had never forgotten her vision of the genetic prototype project.

Especially as the Doctor's modification surgeries became increasingly sophisticated.

She had also heard rumors about those twelve special cases.

However... could these exceptional individuals, chosen from ordinary humans, rival Bai E's unparalleled potential?

Bai E himself had never undergone any form of surgical modification, nor had anyone conducted a thorough examination of his body to determine its compatibility with such procedures.

As humanity's reigning champion, who had reached the pinnacle without any enhancements, no one had demanded that he resort to those methods for self-improvement.

Yet if an army of warriors could be created based on his genetic blueprint, could they not become an unparalleled and transcendent force of invincible soldiers?

Faced with Helen's request, Bai E, who had never considered this possibility, froze momentarily. "Seed? You can have anything you want from me. I just don't know what seed you're asking for?"

Helen's cheeks flushed red, her eyelids lowering slightly. "The means... are rather primitive..."

Bai E never would have imagined that this graceful yet coldly stunning female scientist had such intentions ever since their first meeting!

...

The launch of humanity's first interstellar exploration team was finally set.

On the day of departure, nearly all core personnel from cities worldwide gathered on-site to witness humanity's inaugural attempt at interstellar exploration.

It was a moment destined to be etched into the annals of human history; no one living in this age could bear to miss such an event.

Those who lacked the qualifications but came with admiration—whether players or indigenous inhabitants—formed layer upon layer of crowds, encircling the plains in every direction.

During these two years, Bai E and countless human military forces had cleared nearly every threat on land multiple times over.

Except for the unfathomable deep seas and underground realms, the surface world was now devoid of any danger that could threaten humanity.

Humanity had once again ascended to the position of planet's overlord.

The gradual recovery of transportation networks encouraged countless ordinary people to flock to the scene to witness this monumental milestone for humanity.

Before the Starship's launch, the plains buzzed with lively excitement.

"I'm so envious of them..."

"I wonder when the next interstellar voyage will be? I'll definitely sign up next time!"

"Signing up won't help you! I heard they mainly recruit those 'Children of Demons' and 'Warlords.' Without their extraordinary learning abilities, you think you could join the interstellar exploration team? Some things just aren't in your cards."

"But I heard an ordinary person made it in! One of the students taught by the neighbor of my cousin's great-aunt's teacher was selected for the first astronaut team."

"Those are critical crew members with even stricter selection criteria than the so-called 'Warlords.' Out of billions of people globally, this first crew only has a few dozen members! Don't get your hopes up."

"If one doesn't dream, how are they any different from a salted fish?"

"Ha?"

"What are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing at how there might never even be a next Starship, let alone another recruitment."

"What do you mean, brother?"

"From what I know, just building this Starship exhausted nearly all of Earth's resources. Without Bai E, the legendary figure spearheading this initiative, it would've been an impossible feat. A second attempt? Highly unlikely..."

"Unless they discover something in space that humanity cannot possibly refuse—or something dangerous..."

Amid the world's gaze, the pitch-black Starship finally sprung to life.

With the help of its anti-gravity modules, the massive Starship steadily lifted off from the ground and into the sky.

Its colossal shadow blanketed vast swaths of land below.

From the control tower, Helen, Ares, and others watched as the Starship ascended, offering one last blessing before it moved out of communication range—

"May you return victorious."

The Starship rose, until everything on the planet's surface became distant black specks.

With a gentle tremor, the Starship breached the atmosphere and smoothly entered the dark expanse of space.

The fierce solar winds ruthlessly swept past from afar, but the Starship's surface coating shielded it from all harmful effects.

Among the spacecraft's crew, Wen Jie—one of the rare individuals who was also a player—frowned deeply, scrutinizing all Starship diagnostic readings and observing the health conditions of its onboard personnel.

His inherently cautious nature compelled him to fixate on even the slightest anomalies in the data.

This was the most significant human endeavor he had ever been engaged with!

Interstellar travel—a monumental achievement yet to be realized even in the real world!

Not to mention, the game featured much professional knowledge that he believed was worth learning from.

At that moment, Wen Jie felt no sense of being in a game. Instead, he considered himself a responsible crew member tasked with safeguarding the lives of everyone aboard.

The deep void of space was silent.

The sleek, black Starship sailed like an ethereal ghost toward the unknown.

The journey's destination was a star system identified through extensive observation as likely bearing signs of artificial modifications.

Although it was at least 200 light-years away from their original planet, thanks to the Starship's warp capabilities, they would reach it within a timeframe that would not exhaust their lifespans.

The entire crew consisted of surgically enhanced individuals, each boasting a lifespan far exceeding the biochemical warriors who had guarded the Root Server ruins for over 400 years.

The crew brimming with confidence for this interstellar expedition!

That is, until the Starship had traveled a certain distance from their home planet, and several individuals reported hearing some eerie sounds within the cabin.

"Creak~"

"Creak~"

The noise resembled countless tearing sounds happening simultaneously—making people uneasy.

The crew reacted immediately, but the Starship's diagnostics found no fatal threats.

"It might be high-energy radiation penetrating the surface's coating and causing minor damage to some structures, but our Starship is built with a highly active, self-repairing alloy series. This level of damage is insignificant."

The crew commander, having meticulously reviewed all Starship indicators, had absolute confidence in this collective masterpiece of human ingenuity. "Everyone, stay calm. It's all within controllable limits."

Among the crew, only Wen Jie, not of this world, felt a lingering sense of unease.