The pitch-black metallic planet rotated in deep space, filled with brownish, viscous soil. At this moment, everything in the vicinity was drawn toward it by the gravitational pull of its immense mass. 'Jia,' trapped within and possessing little inherent mobility, found it difficult to break free from its threat. While its frontal combat strength approached the generalized concept of 'Double-S,' its most dangerous ability at this stage was using crystals as a medium to spread Ethereal corruption.
Before Lei Ting, however, this ability was not exactly meaningless, but it was certainly negligible.
Nevertheless, Jia was a monster transformed from a super-powered entity; it would not die so easily. The formidable energy derived from the entire Gah race clashed with the power of the two outsiders, holding its ground for the time being.
In the darkness, a flash of gold-tinted blue-purple energy erupted within the metallic planet. The hundred-meter-tall heavy mecha instantly flashed outside the planet’s outer shell. The Imperial Blade followed beside it, suddenly asking, "Sun Star, how long have you been in here?"
"One and a half months, Human Federation time," Lei Ting replied calmly, his mental strength meticulously observing Jia and its internal core. "Why do you ask?"
"One and a half months..." The Imperial Blade swung his greatsword, raised an eyebrow, and asked further, "Have you seen the Devourer?"
"The Devourer? No." Lei Ting frowned and glanced at him, somewhat confused as to why the other would bring up an individual completely irrelevant to this battle while on the battlefield. "Is it in the Ethereal Plane now?"
"Perhaps," the Imperial Blade said softly. "If its current situation is as I imagine..."
He gazed at the pitch-black planet. Lei Ting could feel a large section of the seemingly soft, viscous soil inside suddenly harden. Sharp stalagmites that seemed to connect heaven and earth were created out of thin air, colliding with the crystal spikes amidst a thunderous roar, crushing the latter into the mud and stone.
"...Before the others arrive, especially that lunatic Dragon Slasher," he suddenly turned and approached the front of Lei Ting’s fully enclosed, windowless mecha—he knew Lei Ting could see him. "Sun Star, I want to ask a favor of you. I am willing to pay any price for this, except for the racial interests of the Tane."
"..." A nameless sensation rose in Lei Ting’s heart. He knew this must be something very, very, very important.
Therefore, he did not reply directly but instead took a careful look at the Imperial Blade.
The gold-and-brown warrior, clad in a white robe, floated before Lei Ting. He could perceive that this fellow truly wore no normal armor, nor had he undergone any biological modifications or module implantations. Even his weapon was not made of metal.
From head to toe, the only piece of metal or technology on the Imperial Blade was a pair of external optical brain devices by his ears. Every other part was sourced either from plants or non-metallic materials; it was as if he couldn't bear to have even a single piece of silicide on him.
At this moment, the Imperial Blade was also 'sizing up' Lei Ting.
Logically, his 'simple composition' should have made him feel a slight sense of security when facing this young man.
But unfortunately, despite holding the arrogant title of 'Imperial Blade,' Sane Tane was actually an extremely self-aware, pragmatic seeker of truth. No matter how he looked at it, he still felt that if he were to fight this young man, he would definitely be the one carried away.
As for this 'Sun Star'...
He would forever remain as 'immovable as a mountain.'
This brought a faint smile to the Imperial Blade’s face.
"One day in the future, I might need to ask you to help me kill someone. Rest assured, this matter does not violate public order or good customs. If it crosses your moral baseline, you may refuse..."
Amidst the waves of intense energy fluctuating from within the metallic planet, the Imperial Blade smiled craftily.
Lei Ting’s gaze remained indifferent; he gave no answer.
The Imperial Blade didn't expect a few words to make the other party willing to help. He knew they were strangers, after all, and there was still an unresolved historical issue between him and the Human Federation.
"Nineteen years ago, I fought Starstream at the Federation border. The result was my defeat. My ability is not inherently combative in nature; compared to fighting, I actually prefer farming."
Speaking of this, the smile on the Imperial Blade’s face faded slightly. "Me, Comist, Ghost, and the Dragon Slasher... everyone says we want to provoke a war. But, Sun Star, that is not the case. We simply owe the Devourer a favor."
"..." Lei Ting frowned, catching a key piece of information. "Nineteen years ago, was the Devourer still normal?"
"I don't know. Thinking back now, perhaps the turning point where 'She' became 'It' was at that time." The Imperial Blade shook his head. "Furthermore... since then, Comist’s original strain has also disappeared. We used to be friends."
*Boom!!*
A tentacle tipped with a crystal blade finally broke through Lei Ting’s astral-alloy barrier with his permission. But in the next moment, the closing astral-alloy severed it without mercy. With a squelch, it writhed like a dying fish amidst the lingering black mist.
"What does that have to do with me?" Lei Ting asked coldly.
Even if the Devourer was an enemy and Comist was an enemy, was the Imperial Blade some kind of ally? No, he wasn't; he was an enemy just the same.
Thus, Lei Ting could not understand why the Imperial Blade would abruptly bring up all these matters.
"I suspect the Devourer consumed the previous Comist original strain. In a sense, the current Devourer is an 'original strain' itself, though perhaps it cannot link to the Comist fungal network," the Imperial Blade said softly. "I don't know why it did that... but it’s not a good thing. Look..."
He gestured toward Jia. In the direction he pointed, dozens of tentacles shot out, only to be severed in an instant to deplete its regenerative energy.
"...A thing covered in tentacles, wanting to devour everything." He laughed. "Don't you find it familiar?"
"Are you saying," Lei Ting frowned and countered, "that it’s related to the Devourer?"
"To be precise, it’s related to the faction that caused the Devourer to become what it is now."
'Faction'...
Lei Ting’s eyes lit up. This word corresponded to some conjectures he had previously kept to himself, causing a surge of excitement in his heart.
However, he did not let this excitement show too clearly. He merely continued to transmit his voice via mental strength through the heavy armor. "Then, the one you want me to kill is a member of that faction?"
"No. Regarding that, you will know when the time comes." The Imperial Blade smiled. "As for now, we are on the same side, Sun Star. The Devourer is a key node. As long as we find it, we will understand many problems..."
"The Devourer?" A boisterous, deep female voice crashed arrogantly into the conversation. "I happen to be looking for that bastard to settle some scores!"
"..."
Although he, like Lei Ting, had long since detected this person’s approach, the Imperial Blade’s expression still darkened.
Without turning his head, he said coldly, "I'm truly unhappy to see you, Voroniya."
"Likewise, likewise." The tall woman, clad in heavy armor and wearing a black heavy-horned mask, flew over laughing. From three hundred meters away, she drew a giant axe over two meters long and performed a leaping strike toward the Imperial Blade from a distance!
The Imperial Blade wasn't stupid enough to idly take an axe strike capable of killing the starry beast 'Sulong-03.' He flashed over four hundred meters away in an instant. But in the next moment, he realized the hidden intention behind that strike, which had seemingly been a greeting aimed at him—
It actually shifted its edge with ease mid-air and smashed toward Lei Ting!
A crimson glow flashed, and Lei Ting’s heavy mecha shattered and vanished.
"Strip the armor!" the Dragon Slasher shouted with a loud laugh. "Hello, Sun Star!"
The Imperial Blade was also startled by her move, subconsciously calling out, "Be care—"
"..." Lei Ting looked down at his gloved hands and sighed helplessly.
Simultaneously, power like a wave of crimson blood descended from above. He raised his hand and lightly flicked a finger upward.
The Dragon Slasher, along with her giant axe and armor—or rather, carried by the two—came to a dead halt in deep space.
"—ful." The second half of the Imperial Blade’s warning finally landed.
Dragon Slasher: "..."
Dragon Slasher: "...Damn it, I knew it would be like this."
She gritted her teeth and moved, trying to break free from the restraint, but the quality of this armor she had forged herself and took pride in was too high. Thus, a mature hunter admitted defeat within a second: "Sorry. I'll compensate you."
"Are you here to deliver supplies?!" The Imperial Blade was visibly aghast.
"Scram!" the Dragon Slasher replied with 'sweet' words.
Then, she said seriously, "Do you two know? That prince from Yabrisak suddenly said he saw the destruction of the Haglen Starry Waters..."
Lei Ting’s eyelid twitched. "...Which prince?"
"The little octopus kept by that Vice Chairman of yours, of course." The Dragon Slasher shrugged with difficulty inside her armor. "Please, don't look so terrifying... gathering information is a basic skill for a hunter." Though she said this, she seemed to be laughing happily. "That little fellow is nearly scared out of his mind. The whole Human Federation capital planet knows about it; how could I not?"
Lei Ting was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Thank you for telling me this."
Then, he released her.
"..." The Dragon Slasher didn't seem to expect his reaction. She dazed for a moment and subconsciously looked down at Lei Ting. "That’s it?"
Lei Ting thought for a moment. "?"
"No, I mean..." She suddenly pulled the axe from her back, a whirlwind slash tearing out a blood-red energy blade that severed thousands of tentacles attacking from behind. "I provoked you, Sun Star."
Lei Ting tilted his head, understanding her meaning. "You want to fight me?"
"I do!" the Dragon Slasher replied decisively. "Who doesn't want to challenge the stronger? Only trash like Sane don't want to do that! Would you consider a bout with me, Sun Star? I'll pay..."
No, I think most creatures in the galaxy don't want to... Isn't it better to enjoy a peaceful life when possible, and create the conditions to enjoy life when it's not?
Amidst the Imperial Blade’s angry roar of "Hey, wait a minute, who are you calling trash?!", Lei Ting glanced toward a certain direction in the distance and said softly, "Do you think there will be anyone else?"
"Not sure." The Dragon Slasher spread her hands, dodging a leaping strike from the Imperial Blade. "At least I don't sense anyone else heading this way... that’s a hunter’s intuition!"
"..."
Lei Ting suddenly gave an inscrutable smile.
As he smiled, on the inevitable path behind a giant crystal fragment flying into the distance, a tall and slender figure crossed their arms and sighed helplessly.
"Little rascal," the person muttered.
***
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