Chapter Thirty-Seven

Camouflage—a unique ability of the Sandworm. By manipulating the irregular protrusions on its surface, it can disguise itself as a rock and evade enemy detection systems. However, the conditions for activating this function are extremely stringent: every power system must be completely shut down. Restarting from a fully powered-off state requires a complex series of operations, which means that once you choose to use this ability, you have already given up on speed. All you can do is pray you successfully evade the enemy’s search, for if you are discovered, escape will be impossible.

Undoubtedly, the high level of operational skill required is one of the main reasons this ability is not widely used.

Ye Chong’s Sandworm slipped silently among the merchant ships.

If one looked closely, they would notice that this “rock” always flew close to the undersides or sides of the merchant vessels, each time missing them by a hair’s breadth—dangerously close!

Every time he passed a merchant ship, Ye Chong used its cover to quickly complete the sequence of starting the engine, correcting his angle, and shutting the engine down again—all in a matter of seconds.

Only after passing the last merchant ship did Ye Chong allow himself a brief sigh of relief.

Propelled by inertia, his Sandworm drifted diagonally toward a distant floating rock. In the still, dark night sky, the unobtrusive glide of a simple rock drew no one’s attention.

Only then did Ye Chong realize he was drenched in sweat, as though he’d just been pulled from water. A dull ache and slight spasms ran through his hands—a result of pushing past his usual training limits. The strain of those operations was too much, especially for his right hand, which had already been injured when he’d punched through the storeroom door. Normally, such an injury wouldn’t have concerned Ye Chong, but now he could only hope his right hand wouldn’t fail him at this critical moment.

Sweat mixed with blood, and the salt stung his right hand, oddly making it feel less fatigued.

At his current speed, it would take about five more minutes to reach the rock.

With the cockpit lights off, only the holographic screen floated before Ye Chong’s eyes, casting a faint, dreamlike glow.

Unfortunately, he had no time to appreciate it. His eyes were glued to the screen as he worked to steady his breathing and recover a bit of spent energy. His hands moved in gentle motions to ease their fatigue.

Ye Chong dared not look at the battlefield’s current state.

Five minutes. He watched as the rock ahead grew steadily larger in his view, feeling an unprecedented tension rise in his chest. He had completed the first step perfectly. What about the second?

Closer, closer—now!

As the Sandworm entered the shadow of the rock, its engines roared to life. The auxiliary engines on its wings fired at full power, constantly adjusting its angle. The Sandworm, as if drawn by the rock itself, traced a graceful 120-degree arc, sliding in from one side of the rock and out the other in the blink of an eye. The whole maneuver was smooth and seamless, as if it had happened naturally.

The rock was distant enough from both sides to avoid drawing attention—precisely why Ye Chong had chosen it.

He was using it to change direction!

Ye Chong executed the maneuver with remarkable skill. He was sure that even Mu, if he were here, would have been satisfied with that turn.

Before the Sandworm emerged from the other side of the rock, its power systems were already entirely shut down.

Its new trajectory: the pirate ship!

No one noticed the “rock” drifting steadily toward the pirate ship, a detail that could very well alter the entire course of battle.

As the pirate ship loomed closer, Ye Chong’s nerves grew taut.

His angle was flawless!

The Sandworm brushed past the outermost pirate ship by a hair, sending cold sweat down Ye Chong’s back. There was no chance to adjust course now; if the Sandworm’s engines even so much as flickered, the camouflage would immediately fail—and Ye Chong was certain that in that moment, he would be obliterated by a barrage of fire.

The Sandworm’s flawless navigation was a testament to Ye Chong’s calculation skills. Not once did he collide with any pirate vessel as he continued deeper toward the heart of the pirate fleet.

He finally reached his destination—a pirate ship with an unusual design!

Ye Chong was now convinced that this was no ordinary pirate ship. Seeing his prey, protected in the center of the formation, an unprecedented thrill surged through him, like an electric current racing through his body. He was so excited he nearly trembled.

Ye Chong’s eyes burned red. The fatigue, the pain from his wounds, the cramps in his hands—all had vanished. His whole body felt charged with new energy, his mind sharper and more focused than ever before.

Despite the fervor in his heart, his hands moved with precise order, not a single wasted motion.

As the Sandworm skimmed beneath the pirate ship, its “scorpion tail” suddenly flicked out—there was a soft thud, transmitted along the alloy cable. The Sandworm’s tail ended in a large circular suction cup, which was usually retracted into a cone. In an instant, it snapped open and latched firmly onto the bottom of the pirate ship.

The Sandworm’s momentum finally ceased, and Ye Chong allowed himself to relax.

He took a careful look at the ship’s underbelly, now so close at hand.

At the ship’s center was a circular, concave hatch, likely only openable from within.

Every space mech was equipped with an escape suit for its operator. It could provide up to ten hours of oxygen and even limited flight capability—just enough to reach the nearest ship.

Ye Chong donned his escape suit, tucked the dagger Gu Shaoze had given him at his waist, took up his toolbox, and silently climbed out of the cockpit. He did not immediately ascend the alloy cable; instead, he floated to the Sandworm’s storage compartment.

With care, he used his tools to unfasten the Sandworm’s laser sword. He didn’t dare use firearms—those would reveal his position, and Ye Chong was not one to risk his life so carelessly.

Clutching the three-meter-long laser sword, he made a somewhat comical figure.

He cautiously climbed up the alloy cable to the pirate ship’s bottom, right up to the concave hatch. A closer inspection confirmed that it could only be opened from the inside, so Ye Chong abandoned the idea of opening it with his tools and tossed the toolbox aside. Gripping the laser sword in both hands, he raised it high.

Life or death—this was the moment! Without hesitation, Ye Chong drove the laser sword toward the hatch.