The battlefield stretched across the silent darkness of space.
Shattered planets drifted like broken stones in a dead ocean. Rivers of blazing energy cut across the void, colliding with exploding stars and collapsing asteroids. The once-beautiful galaxy had become a graveyard of worlds.
In the middle of this cosmic battlefield stood a lone warrior.
Lin Tian.
His armor was cracked, glowing faintly with fading energy. Crimson blood floated around him in small droplets, drifting slowly in the weightless void. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes were still sharp and calm.
In front of him stretched an endless army.
Thousands of colossal warships surrounded him like a steel prison. Their dark metal surfaces reflected the distant light of dying stars. Each warship carried terrifying weapons capable of destroying entire planets.
Beyond them floated countless alien warriors, their bodies covered in strange armor and their eyes burning with killing intent.
At the center of the enemy fleet stood a gigantic throne-like battleship.
On it sat the ruler of the invading empire—the Cosmic Emperor.
His cold voice echoed across the battlefield through powerful energy waves.
"Lin Tian," the emperor said slowly, his voice carrying both admiration and cruelty. "You are the strongest warrior humanity has ever produced. Even our entire army struggled to defeat you."
A faint smile appeared on Lin Tian's blood-stained face.
"But today," the emperor continued, "your legend ends here."
Lin Tian remained silent.
He looked around the battlefield.
Fragments of destroyed fleets drifted silently through space. Broken weapons floated like forgotten relics. The bodies of countless warriors—both human and alien—were scattered across the void.
This war had lasted for years.
Entire civilizations had fallen.
And now…
He was the last one standing.
Lin Tian slowly closed his eyes for a moment.
Images of Earth appeared in his mind.
The blue oceans.
The green mountains.
The warm sunlight.
It had been his home.
The place he had sworn to protect.
When the alien empire first appeared at the edge of the galaxy, humanity had been weak and unprepared. Their technology was far behind the invaders.
But Lin Tian had risen like a miracle.
Through relentless cultivation and endless battles, he had become humanity's strongest protector.
He had destroyed fleets.
Defeated alien generals.
Even forced the powerful empire to retreat many times.
But power always came with a price.
And today, the price had finally arrived.
Lin Tian slowly opened his eyes again.
The pain in his body was immense. His internal energy was almost completely exhausted. His armor was barely holding together.
But the fire in his heart still burned.
He lifted his sword.
The blade was cracked, yet it still shone with a faint silver light. This weapon had followed him through countless battles across the universe.
The emperor laughed.
"You still want to fight?" he asked. "Look at yourself. Your power is gone. Your body is destroyed. Even if you struggle, you cannot change your fate."
Lin Tian's voice was calm.
"A warrior fights until the last breath."
The emperor's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting," he said.
He slowly raised his hand.
Immediately, hundreds of warships began charging their weapons. Massive energy cannons glowed with terrifying power.
The surrounding space trembled as unimaginable energy gathered.
Even stars nearby seemed to dim.
"Fire."
The single command echoed through space.
In the next moment, thousands of beams of destructive energy shot toward Lin Tian.
The attacks were powerful enough to erase entire planets.
But Lin Tian did not run.
Instead, he stepped forward.
His body erupted with the last remaining energy inside him. A blinding golden aura exploded outward, pushing back the darkness of space.
His sword began to glow.
The light grew brighter and brighter until it looked like a miniature star in his hands.
"This…"
The emperor leaned forward slightly.
"…is his final technique."
Lin Tian's mind became incredibly clear.
All fear disappeared.
All hesitation vanished.
At this moment, only one thought remained in his heart.
Protect Earth.
Protect humanity.
He raised his sword high above his head.
The surrounding cosmic energy began rushing toward him like a storm. Even distant stars seemed to tremble under the pull of his power.
For the first time, the alien soldiers felt fear.
"This energy…"
"It's still increasing!"
"How is that possible?!"
Lin Tian shouted as he unleashed his final attack.
"Star Devouring Slash!"
The sword descended.
A colossal wave of silver energy burst forward, tearing through space itself. The attack looked like a giant river of light flowing across the galaxy.
The first row of warships exploded instantly.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Massive explosions filled the battlefield. Countless alien ships were destroyed in seconds, their fragments scattering through space.
Even the emperor's giant battleship shook violently.
The alien army fell into chaos.
"No… impossible!" one commander shouted.
"He's still this strong?!"
But Lin Tian knew the truth.
This attack had consumed everything.
His life force.
His energy.
Even the foundation of his cultivation.
The brilliant light slowly faded.
His sword slipped from his hand.
His body began drifting silently through space.
The emperor stood from his throne, his face filled with cold anger.
"Send the final strike."
A single enormous cannon extended from the front of the imperial battleship.
This weapon was their ultimate creation.
A planet-destroying cannon.
Energy gathered inside it, growing brighter and brighter.
Lin Tian watched quietly.
He no longer had the strength to move.
But strangely…
He felt peaceful.
He had done everything he could.
The emperor spoke one final time.
"Goodbye, Lin Tian."
The cannon fired.
A massive beam of pure destruction shot across space and swallowed Lin Tian completely.
For a brief moment, the entire battlefield turned white.
Then…
Silence returned.
The strongest warrior of humanity had fallen.
But at that exact moment, something unexpected happened.
Inside the collapsing explosion, a tiny spark of light appeared.
It was Lin Tian's soul.
Because of his powerful cultivation, his spirit had not been destroyed.
The spark drifted through the endless darkness of space.
Time seemed to lose meaning.
Years passed.
Maybe centuries.
The soul traveled silently through the universe, guided by an invisible force.
Finally…
A small blue planet appeared in the distance.
Earth.
The spark of light slowly descended toward the planet.
Through clouds.
Through the sky.
Until it finally entered the body of a young man lying in a small room.
The boy suddenly gasped.
His eyes opened wide.
For a few seconds, confusion filled his mind.
Then…
Memories flooded back like a crashing ocean.
The cosmic war.
The alien empire.
The final battle.
Lin Tian sat up suddenly, breathing heavily.
He looked around the room.
A small bed.
A desk.
A window showing the night sky.
He walked slowly toward the window and stared at the stars above.
His voice was barely a whisper.
"I… came back?"
The stars shimmered quietly in the distance.
And deep inside his heart, a new flame of determination began to rise.
The cosmic war was not over.
And this time…
Lin Tian would become even stronger.