The shadow cast by the Burning Universe's main cruiser, like a cloak of death, enveloped the hidden wreckage of the starship. The behemoth hovered above the wasteland, its cold lines gleaming ominously in the dim light of the twin stars. The energy fluctuations within it felt like a physical pressure, nearly freezing the air within the wreckage. Dozens of detached small attack pods, like sharks scenting blood, swiftly and agilely surrounded the wreckage. Their dense energy cannons began charging, flashing with destructive glare.
Desperate situation! Truly desperate situation!
"I can't be trapped here!" Lin Xingyun hissed, clutching the spatial compass bound to his soul. In the compass's center, the pinprick of light representing the Qingai Galaxy and the solar system, as well as the "main vein" connecting them, was clearly visible, but the stability readings of that vein were fluctuating wildly—clearly due to the spatial disturbance caused by the approaching Burning Universe army. "Forcibly activating unstable teleportation is extremely risky. We could be thrown into unknown star regions or even spatial turbulence!"
"Stay and you're doomed. Trying to break through might offer a chance!" Buakaw roared, his energy erupting like a volcano. Crimson star energy emanated from his body, making him appear like a god of war. "I'll clear the way for you! Go!"
"No!" Aisha immediately objected. With a swift wave of her hands, several of the largest batik cloths soared upwards as if imbued with life. The protective patterns on them blazed with unprecedented brilliance, forming one resilient barrier of light after another at the entrance to the wreckage. "Let's go together!"
Nguyen Thi Mai said nothing, but she tapped her toes and launched into a resolute and swift dance. This time, she no longer channeled water (there was no water to channel here), but used herself as a guide, frantically absorbing every available free energy in the surrounding environment, even the violent and chaotic cosmic rays and spatial turbulence! Guided by her exquisite dance, these dangerous energies transformed into countless roaring and hissing energy dragons, circling the wreckage frantically, forming a chaotic yet extremely threatening outer barrier, temporarily halting the attack pod's advance!
Dilawang held the Jade Buddha aloft, expanding his peaceful mental field to its fullest extent, attempting to disrupt the attacker's lock-on and provide a final mental shield for his companions. "Lin Xingyun! The opportunity is fleeting! We must take a gamble!"
The first wave of energy beams pounded Aisha's batik barrier like a torrential rain! The light wall swayed violently, leaving scorch marks on the fabric. Aisha's face paled, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth, but the barrier remained intact!
"Now!" Lin Xingyun knew there was no time for hesitation. He poured all his mind and spiritual energy into the spatial compass without reservation! He ignored the wildly fluctuating stability readings and focused his will on a single, unwavering goal: home! Back to Earth! Back to Angkor Wat!
"Guided by my heart! Relying on the star map! Spatial veins... open!"
He wasn't trying to activate the teleportation with complete stability. Instead, he wanted to harness the compass's power to forcibly tear open a temporary passage to the "main vein," even if it was fraught with storms and thorns!
The spatial compass erupted with a blinding light! An indescribably powerful spatial fluctuation suddenly spread out from Lin Xingyun's center! The space at the entrance to the wreckage began to twist and fold, forcibly opening an extremely unstable spatial rift, its edges flickering with dangerous lightning! Beyond the rift, no longer the star wasteland, but a bizarre passage filled with grotesque lights and violent energy vortices—the interior of the unstable "main vein"!
"Go!" Lin Xingyun roared, charging first into the rift! The powerful spatial tearing force instantly acted upon him, as if to crush him!
"Cover him!" Buakaw roared, and with both fists, two blasts of crimson energy, condensed to the utmost, slammed into the two nearest attack pods like meteorites, blasting them apart mid-air! He used his body to shield Lin Xingyun from the flanking fire!
Aisha screamed, channeling her final strength into the batik barrier. It glowed brightly once more, withstanding another wave of concentrated fire before shattering with a bang! She spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed, only to be grabbed by Nguyen Thi Mai.
Nguyen Thi Mai danced relentlessly, directing the energy dragons to drastically contract inward and then explode! The violent energy surge temporarily cleared an area around the entrance to the wreckage!
Dilawang harnessed the Jade Buddha's radiance to its fullest potential, his gentle yet resilient mental strength like a shield enveloping those charging towards the rift!
In a split second, the five of them, like moths to a flame, plunged relentlessly into the unstable spatial rift! "BOOM!"
The moment they vanished, the main guns of the Cosmic Burner cruiser finally charged to capacity. A terrifying beam of light, powerful enough to annihilate asteroids, descended, instantly reducing the entire wreckage of the starship and even the earth below to nothingness!
...
Inside the spatial corridor, there was indescribable chaos and agony.
There was no direction, no sense of time, only an endless, soul-rending storm of energy and spatial turbulence. The five figures were tossed and spun like leaves in a raging wind. Aisha's batik cloth had long since shattered, barely emitting a faint glow to shield her. Nguyen Thi Mai's dance was nearly ineffective in such a chaotic energy environment, and she could only cling to the weakened Aisha. Buakaw roared furiously, punching repeatedly to shatter the oncoming energy fragments, but his body was covered in wounds. Dilawang's Jade Buddha shone, his mental shield flickering in the storm.
Lin Xingyun bore the greatest pressure! He had to maintain a connection with the spatial compass with all his might, straining to sense the faint directional guidance from the "main veins." Meanwhile, he had to distract himself with the power of his newly merged "heart anchor," trying to stabilize a small area within the storm and protect his companions. Blood began to seep from all his orifices, his body felt as if it were being torn apart, his soul trembling.
"Hold on! I can feel... we're still within the veins! We're heading in the right direction!" Lin Xingyun's voice was intermittent in the storm, yet it carried an undeniable resolve. The spatial compass glowed in his palm, pointing the way to the only path of survival.
An unknown amount of time passed, a fleeting moment, yet an eternity. Just as everyone was about to reach their limit, their consciousness beginning to blur, a faint yet strangely familiar blue glow suddenly appeared in the chaotic energy storm ahead!
That was... the aura of Earth! The spatial coordinates of the solar system!
"See it! We're almost there!" Lin Xingyun's spirits rose, flaring up his last bit of strength, activating the spatial compass and charging towards the blue light! It was like piercing a sticky membrane, or leaping from a bottomless abyss!
"Plop! Plop!"
The muffled thuds of heavy objects landing echoed in quick succession.
A strong sense of dizziness and the discomfort of spatial displacement washed over them, but even more powerful was the familiar, welcoming scent that flooded their nostrils—the scent of moist earth, the fragrance of plants, and the faint, ancient aroma of Angkor Wat's stone!
They're back!
Lin Xingyun raised his head with difficulty, and what came into view was the ever-familiar Bayon stupa, standing silently and solemnly in the moonlight! The enormous Buddha's face, adorned with an eternal smile, gazed silently at these wanderers returning from the sea of stars.
They had succeeded! From the distant Qingai Galaxy, across the endless starry sky, they had truly returned! Landing right here at Angkor Wat, right where they had started!
But before they could savor the joy of surviving, a flurry of hurried, chaotic footsteps and the hum of energy weapons reached them from all sides! At the same time, a voice, filled with suspicion and greed, shouted in English:
"Who are you?! What was that spatial fluctuation just now?!"
"It's those missing indigenous awakeners! They've returned!"
"Capture them! They must hold a secret!"
Dozens of heavily armed soldiers in Gene Alliance uniforms, along with several "Shadow Snake" sorcerers with sinister eyes and a dark aura, emerged from the surrounding ruins and shadows, surrounding the five of them.
Clearly, Angkor Wat hadn't returned to peace during their absence. Instead, it had become a heavily contested territory for control by the Gene Alliance and the Shadow Snakes!
Just escaping the dangers of the starry sea, they instantly fell into the clutches of Earth!
Lin Xingyun struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his face, and shielding his frail but determined companions behind him. The spatial compass in his hand warmed slightly, resonating with the ancient earth beneath his feet. He gazed at the surrounding enemies, a tired yet battle-filled sneer curling his lips.
"It seems the 'welcome ceremony' back home was quite grand."
The starry sea is far away, and the journey home isn't easy. But now that I'm back, it's time to settle some accounts!
(Chapter 30, also the end of Volume 2)
Thus concludes the story of "The Mystery of the Green Mist," Volume 2 of "Witches of the Star Sea." The protagonists have successfully returned from outer space, with increased power and a clear goal, but they also face new challenges on Earth. I hope this ending meets your expectations. If you need ideas for a third volume on Earth, I'd be happy to assist.