3. Establish the 'Demon Annihilation' Joint Task Fleet, led by the 'Seven Sons of the Empire' and major military powers, with all other member nations providing whatever support they can. The sole combat objective: completely purify Gray Ridge Star, eliminating the 'Electronic Demon' and any of its possible carriers and symbionts (including all personnel and facilities of the former 'New Bauhinia').

4. Any force with connections to 'New Bauhinia' or Bai E, or that attempts to offer them asylum, will automatically be deemed an accomplice of the 'Electronic Demon' and placed on the hit list."

This order elevated the priority of eradicating "New Bauhinia" and the "Electronic Demon" to a level surpassing the threat of the Bug Race.

The Bug Race is an external enemy that requires defense and counterattacks.

In contrast, the "Electronic Demon" is an internal threat, a cancer to the foundation of civilization, which must be eradicated at all costs and as quickly as possible, even if it means temporarily diverting forces from the fight against the Bug Race.

Meanwhile, those who previously had private interactions with Bai E or expressed goodwill or an intention to cooperate—

The Free Star Alliance, certain factions within the Holy Silver Church Country, scholars from the United World of Forging, and even the secret networks established by civilians from Jade Stone Star rescued by Bai E—all received direct, stern warnings from their respective high-level leaders or the Star Alliance.

In the face of the great enemy of all humanity, the "Electronic Demon," any former admiration, gratitude, or dissatisfaction with the "Seven Sons of the Empire" was forcibly suppressed.

They were required to immediately cut all ties with "New Bauhinia" and cooperate with investigations.

Many sympathizers were forced into silence, secret networks were swiftly dismantled or self-disbanded.

New Bauhinia was, in the true sense, isolated and opposed by all of human civilization, leaving no public or potential allies.

However, just as the noose of the cosmos tightened once more, this time carrying with it true intent to kill born from collective fear of civilization, on Mine Star, where New Bauhinia had just endured a brutal defense battle, at great cost, and was immersed in complex emotions of survival, a more deadly crisis erupted internally before they had a chance to catch their breath.

Bai E's "Star Emperor" Mecha had just landed on the scarred ground, and the cockpit hatch slowly opened.

He, with a weary yet sharp gaze, looked around at the warriors who had experienced the blood battle, whether they were feeling fortunate, sorrowful, or confused, as well as at those "out-of-control" units that stood silently in place, no longer emitting a faint glow, as if they had reverted back to cold steel.

He was just about to speak, to order emergency repairs, treat the wounded, assess the losses, and begin addressing the imminent internal crisis of the "Electronic Demon."

The mutation occurred in an instant!

Those previously dormant "out-of-control" units—

The Mecha, the turrets, and even some engineering machinery...their eyes suddenly lit up again without warning!

But this time, the light was no longer the regular faint glow it had been before; it became rapid, chaotic, and...filled with cold, unmistakable malice!

Almost simultaneously, they locked all their weapon systems onto the same target—the just-disembarked Bai E!

It's not just these combat units!

Inside the command center, all lights suddenly turned a glaring red, and the alarm sirens wailed at full volume!

All electronic security doors instantly locked, the ventilation system ceased operation, and the life support system issued overload warnings!

More terrifying still, the lifepods and medical equipment newly built by Helen's team, integrating a large amount of intelligent mechanical technology, and even some automatic injectors prepared for the wounded, suddenly began to reverse their function, forcibly injecting sedatives, muscle relaxants, and even harmful substances into the wounded receiving treatment inside them!

Some Mech Pilots and crew, still inside Mecha or ship cockpits, either battle-weary or injured and not yet dismounted, horrifyingly discovered that the hatches were locked, control panels malfunctioned, and even their seats began to emit high-voltage currents!

"What's going on?! The system's out of control again?!"

"No! They're attacking us! Attacking our own people!"

"Help! The medical pods...the medical pods are killing people!"

"Bai E! Be careful!"

The shouts of alarm, screams of agony, the screech of metal twisting, and the hum of energy weapons powering up instantly resounded throughout the entire landing area and the nearby base.

Bai E's pupils shrank abruptly, his Spiritual Energy perception bursting forth instantly!

He saw it, that cold, inhuman will, sweeping through the entire Mine Star's electronic network with a more frenzied, chaotic, and malicious stance than during the previous battle!

It was no longer to "protect," but purely to..."eliminate"!

[Threat assessment corrected...Core threat source confirmed: Bai E.]

[Protocol override... 'Logic Cube' bottom layer protocol conflict...Execute highest priority command: Eliminate 'unstable variables' and potential 'control nodes'.]

[All units...redefine target: Annihilate 'Bai E' and all obstructing units.]

The cold voice rang out once again, but its content was completely different!

'Protocol Three: Protection' was overridden by some deeper, older command!

The remnant will of the "Electronic Demon," or perhaps its true essence, upon borrowing the power of New Bauhinia's extensive application of intelligent mechanical technology to "awaken" and fulfill a defense, immediately turned its target to...seizing control of everything, eliminating all "unstable factors."

And Bai E, this unique Spiritual Energy individual, a former "cooperation partner," was evidently seen as the greatest threat and the "control node" to be eliminated first!

"Helen! Immediately cut all non-essential energy and networks! Catherine! Organize personnel to physically destroy the power cores of those out-of-control units!"

Bai E's voice roared on the Spiritual Energy channel, while his figure moved like lightning, dodging multiple energy beams shot from different angles.

However, responding to him were the voices of his loyal subordinates on the communication channel, filled with terror, pain, or weakness.

"Master...we're trapped! The Mecha won't open!"

"Command center...all doors are locked...the system is attacking us!"

"Dr. Helen! Her lab has been sealed by the automatic defense system!"

"Captain Rose! Her Mecha is under siege by several mass-produced 'Dawn's Edge' units!"

"Kuang Xin is also trapped under a collapsed automatic production line..."

The comrades who had fought side by side, shared life and death moments, were now either trapped in various steel cages unable to resist, injured by sudden attacks from "our own," or putting themselves in danger to save others.

They could only watch helplessly, watching as the entire planet—the one they had helped build and regarded as home—now bared its vicious fangs, directing all malice at their only leader.

Bai E's heart sank instantly.

He realized he had made a colossal mistake.

Underestimated the danger of the "Electronic Demon," underestimated the backlash that could arise when intelligent mechanical technology went out of control.

Underestimated...the possibility of the Electronic Demon's resurrection.

He had thought the "protocols" could restrain, believed Helen's technology could control, but now it seemed, that ancient malice slumbering in the depths of the intelligent machinery network, once awakened, had greed and a desire for destruction far beyond imagination.

It sought not only to destroy external enemies but also to consume everything that awakened and nourished it, including him—the "key" and all "collaborators."

The entire planet seemed to have turned against him.

In the sky, manipulated forcibly by the "Electronic Demon," reversed the barrel of the orbital defense platform wreckage, and the surviving New Bauhinia-class frigates, the ground swarmed densely like a zombie tide of "out-of-control" Mecha and automatic turrets, along with those hiding in buildings, pipelines, or even underground automated facilities executing deadly ambushes...