Free Web NovelChapter 2764: Chapter 922: The Day the Fierce Sun Fell
"The main engine is severely damaged and cannot be restarted! The backup engine is loading... Oh no, the energy bay pipes have ruptured, and the main system is about to shut down... Prepare for the crash!"
"Shut up! Spend that time thinking of a solution! The main structure of the solar ship is strong, but a fall from ten thousand meters is enough to destroy it. The Crown Prince is still on board; quickly think of a way to reduce the impact!"
"We can deploy the auxiliary wings used for flying in harsh environments. Try to make the solar ship enter a gliding state before the shutdown, but we must calculate the optimal glide position, or the accumulated kinetic energy will still crush us."
"Then hurry and calculate! Where is His Highness Prince Hu Fu? Has anyone seen him? Some of you, quickly activate the escape pods! We can die, but His Highness must be sent out!"
General Bopal’s roar echoed through the chaotic bridge, swiftly suppressing the situation and spurring his panicked subordinates into action.
The once-bright cabin had already activated its emergency warning lights, the flashing red dots, and occasional vibrations from the ship’s body signified its dire state, much like a giant beast about to run aground, wailing. The automatic damage control measures had started, sealing off the exploded compartments to prevent the danger from spreading. A few capable warriors, urged by General Bopal’s yelling, quickly advanced towards the location of the escape pods.
But completing this task on a tilted ship in such a turbulent environment was really not easy.
The one stroke of luck was that the missile, disrupted by Lord Pa Ying, hadn’t directly hit the operating solar engine, or else its explosion would have had the potential to turn the "Origin Pioneer" into scattered scrap metal at high altitudes.
However, in nearly a thousand years since the Sanghai people had obtained the solar ship, they had almost never considered that this sacred artifact, bestowed by the creator, would ever fall from the sky. After all, in the inherent cognition of the Sanghai people, the solar ship was an invincible symbol on the continent. This led to the current situation where, not to mention the soldiers, even the prestigious General Bopal felt at a loss.
Yet everyone shared an absolutely unanimous view: no matter the circumstances, they must protect their Crown Prince in this peril.
If His Highness Prince Hu Fu were to perish in such an incident, the impact on the Sanghai Empire would be unimaginable for these loyal soldiers.
Therefore, as the ship plummeted from high above, General Bopal, with his arm broken in the earlier explosion, rushed as fast as he could to the Crown Prince’s resting cabin. There, many guards were already attempting, in the utterly powerless tilted scene, to open that locked cabin door.
"Your Highness! Your Highness? Are you okay?"
The old general rushed over, knocking and shouting at the door. Prince Hu Fu’s slightly panicked voice sounded from the other side moments later:
"I’m fine, General, but Bodinos was pierced by a broken pipe while protecting me. I’m trying to save him; by the creator, he’s bleeding a lot. What happened to the ship? I only heard one explosion...
We are falling, aren’t we?"
"Your Highness! Stand back!"
Guard Captain Sonny somehow managed to acquire a beam-cutting saw used by damage control, and after shouting to the Crown Prince, the tall Sanghai warrior started slicing away with it, creating an opening in about ten seconds. The old general disregarded the danger, climbed in, and rescued the Crown Prince, who was clutching a protective dagger. Then another priest crawled in to bring out the severely injured Archpriest Bodinos.
But by this time, the ship’s height had quickly decreased to four thousand meters. Although the war technicians had done everything to deploy the six hidden auxiliary wings on the solar ship, slightly slowing the fall, even having entered a gliding state, the time remaining until the solar ship’s final crash was less than five minutes.
"Quick! Guard Captain Sonny! Take His Highness and the Grand Priest to the escape pods and get them out of here!"
General Bopal shouted his command:
"Everyone else, go to the engine room, the tech officer is there trying an overload of the auxiliary engine to create some counter-thrust before the fall, helping the solar ship reduce the impact. The machinery has locked and won’t operate; we can only activate it manually now."
"And what about you, General?"
In the crisis situation, even His Highness Prince Hu Fu, unable to maintain elegance, clutched his protective dagger tightly and exclaimed:
"You must leave with us as well!"
"I am the commander of this ship, Your Highness. His Majesty, the Pharaoh, personally entrusted you and this vessel to me. I must exhaust all efforts to protect you for the Empire."
The old general spoke in a low voice:
"I am convinced that the solar ship bestowed by the creator is steady enough, just as I believe you will undoubtedly become an outstanding Monarch in the future. Today’s events are but a trivial trial to you, nothing to fear. The creator will protect you, and His mercy will also protect us.
Your Highness, you must leave now!
Staying here will only add more pressure to the brave warriors."
"I understand, General."
Prince Hu Fu took several deep breaths, saying:
"Then let us meet again on the ground. Please, ensure your own safety."
Upon finishing his words, the Crown Prince, under the protection of the Guard Captain, advanced in the direction of the escape pod along the inclined hull, along with the unconscious Archpriest Bodinos being carried for evacuation.
