When the superpower mecha pilots returned to the fleet, all thirty-five members of the team were present and accounted for, with zero casualties.
However, most of them looked somewhat dazed. After passing through the routine space pathogen filtration and submitting their mission progress via their light-computers, they drifted back to their respective cabins like a flock of wandering ghosts.
Lei Ting was about to return to his own quarters for a rest when he was intercepted by Legion Commander Valianna and taken to her office.
Inside, she looked him up and down, retracting her faceplate to meet his gaze. Her light brown eyes were filled with a complex array of emotions.
Lei Ting watched her in silence. He was no longer the person he had been when he first awakened; back then, his mental energy had been so unstable that he could read a pie chart of emotions in Luoxian’s eyes. Now, he deliberately restrained his spiritual perception when not in combat.
Consequently, he didn't know exactly what her emotional fluctuations were.
After staring at him for a long time, Valianna suddenly asked, "How do you feel?"
"…?" Lei Ting paused, not expecting such a question.
"I mean," she said, "possessing power great enough to reshape the form of war and redirect the course of scientific research… Do you realize? Simply by existing in this world, every member of the Galactic Community must begin to consider a single question: Is there anything in this world that can completely replace 'metal'?"
Lei Ting understood her meaning. He smiled and said, "Clearly, there isn't. Not only is there none, but under specific conditions, any substance can exhibit 'metallic' properties. I imagine they will start considering how to make 'metal' take a form that can bypass my range of control."
"Yes, and everything will change because of it. The first step will be materials science."
Valianna rubbed her brow. It was hard to describe her feelings… *Too strong,* she thought. *He is simply too strong.* With this level of power at his age, who could say what the future would become because of him?
Human history was a history of war, a story written in blood and tears that had undergone countless revolutions.
From throwing stones and thrusting wooden spears to smelting metal… Metal. It had such a long history, a history that walked hand-in-hand with civilization. Humanity could not bypass the term 'metal' because they could not bypass their own history.
Even if that history, passed down to the present, had lost too many details and distorted too many plots, everyone knew that metal flowed through it all.
From the gold and silver that formed the basis of most trade systems to the copper and iron used to cast weapons. Eventually, humans found a way forward from the meager resources of Earth. They piloted ships forged of metal, used space elevators constructed of metal, spoke with artificial intelligences supported by metal, and finally arrived in this starscape overflowing with metallic resources, living alongside them for ages.
Most other races were the same.
It was common knowledge that metal was the most safe and reliable category of material from primitive society to the interstellar age.
And now, the appearance of one person made it no longer reliable, no longer safe.
"After today, many people will want to kill you… because you are a threat to them. Even if you have no subjective intention to be one," Valianna said softly. "To be honest, I feel the same. You will become a sword hanging over everyone's head. No one can fully trust you because you can—at any time, any time at all—break the existing rules and overturn the lives of countless people…"
"..."
Lei Ting said nothing. He had known this moment would come sooner or later.
From the moment he realized the power surging in his body was not 'Calcium Manipulation' but 'Metal Manipulation,' he understood what his future would hold.
If he were truly just a B or C-rank as initially guessed, 'Metal Manipulation' would make him powerful enough to be relied upon and worried over. But at 'A' rank, that reliance and worry would be built upon a foundation of severe precaution…
Furthermore, as of now, no one knew the maximum range of his 'Dual-S' ability. But using previous same-rank or 'S' rank individuals as a reference, one could reach a terrifying conclusion.
If one day he could easily peel open a planetary warship, leaving it shattered like falling petals.
If one day he could, with a single thought, pull a planet with multi-metal ore veins, causing its magnetic field to collapse and its temperature to spike.
If one day he could, from thousands of miles away, cause the structure of a Stargate to self-dissociate, making a forced-stabilized space-time rift suddenly close or explode…
Amidst such horrific possibilities, Lei Ting believed one of the few reasons he hadn't been classified as a high-risk target and dealt with accordingly was that the people in the Federation who would do such a thing lacked the certainty of success.
And…
"I heard that both Yondell and Angye offered positive opinions regarding your arrangement during the meeting. It’s the first time they’ve agreed on anything in a decade." Valianna sat back in her chair, looking at the growing young man before her with undisguised complexity. "Angye goes without saying; you joined him, which makes you a heavy bargaining chip for him. But Yondell…"
"Yondell believes that you are the first 'Dual-S' in the relatively short history of Orion humanity compared to other races. Your arrangement will directly affect any potential successors. Choosing to use violent measures before you have shown any instability won't lead to anything good."
Hearing this, Lei Ting was somewhat surprised. He expected Angye to speak for him, as such words would eventually reach his ears, and Angye wasn't the type to leave unnecessary rifts in a partnership.
But truthfully, Yondell speaking this way was indeed beyond his expectations.
He remembered that day, the magnificent blue-violet glow in the brown-eyed middle-aged man's eyes. He always felt that power could do more than just reconstruct the past within a certain space; it was the reason Yondell chose to protect Lei Ting—or rather, to use 'rules' to bind the Federation's violence.
Moreover… to believe that 'more Dual-S ranks might exist in the future' showed a level of optimism for humanity's future that was truly heartening.
"…But even now, many still believe your danger needs to be properly managed," Valianna said deeply. "While I don't agree with the 'proper' methods they suggest, I believe you understand that the basis of such arguments is also a sense of responsibility toward the Federation."
"Yes." Lei Ting nodded in agreement.
Then, Valianna spoke what she truly wanted to say. These words, which laid out the stakes without beating around the bush, perhaps exhausted her lifelong talent for diplomacy: "You need more reasons to be able to do your work in peace. Angye can be one reason, but he isn't enough. His power is concentrated at the level of political authority…"
She looked directly into Lei Ting's eyes and said solemnly, "And I can provide you with more military assistance. Join me—or rather, give it a try." She extended her hand to him. "Don't you want to become a 'Champion'? And I… I want to see a true 'New Sun' rise in the Federation's star sectors."
***
Reflection plunged Lei Ting into silence.
Yes, it was true… he had always known he needed more than just strength; he needed power.
The reason he viewed the two separately was because the essence of power—authority—is influence; you only have it if those you influence believe you have it. The essence of strength is violence; as long as you have it, you have it regardless of what others believe.
The two are entirely different in nature, and the way they function and are applied to others is different, so they cannot be compared.
Now, Lei Ting needed both. A premonition told him that danger was approaching.
But he wasn't sure if he should agree.
"You can think about it. This isn't a trivial choice, like what to eat today…" Valianna turned her extended hand and gave his firm, powerful shoulder a pat. "But I believe that one day, I will get an answer, won't I?"
"Thank you for your understanding," Lei Ting said, bowing his head slightly.
Valianna tried with difficulty to muster a gentle smile, only to give up after a few seconds. Her expression remained cold and hard as she saw Lei Ting out of her office. She watched his retreating back until the door closed.
*Lei Ting, this young man… his psychological state is too stable.*
He was so stable that he didn't seem to fear losing anything in a gamble, nor was his will easily shaken by anything. He was so stable that even when facing things that might cause an ordinary person to suffer a mental breakdown, he remained eternally calm. It was as if all psychological disturbances simply didn't count for him.
Valianna looked at him and saw her younger self—though the difference was that he was stronger and even more stable. Perhaps abnormally so.
She knew everyone had their psychological breaking point. But for someone like Lei Ting, that limit would be higher than an ordinary person could imagine in a lifetime.
However, to be honest, she was curious…
Was it possible for something to appear in this world that could shake this heart, this person?
If such a thing appeared, what form would it take in his vast and bright future?
A terrifying sense of danger spread from the distance. Valianna shook her head and re-equipped her Phantom Superpower Mecha, which had reached its maximum integration limit. She picked up her 'Champion' and walked out of her office.
She knew a new battle was coming. But it was fine; she wasn't anxious this time. After all, this would be a decisive battle between the Legion fleet and that Star Beast from afar.
She wasn't like that perfectionist Seventh Legion Commander, who insisted on personally handling every problem to the highest level—even crime.
For her, she was only responsible for leading the Legion, direct combat, and placing officers in positions where they could best utilize their abilities… As for unified strategic command? Don't make her laugh. If she had to keep a constant eye on that, what were her staff and command center for? To eat for free?
Valianna arrived on the bridge and saw Lei Ting, whom she had just parted with. He was standing with several of his classmates, gazing at the distant red nebula through the display screens.
Valianna knew what they were looking at.
It was a fish.
At that moment, a giant, black, transparent fish swam out of the Orion Nebula. It looked like a combination of a whale, a swordfish, and some kind of bird. Its torso was half the size of the First Legion's fleet cluster, and endless purple starlight flickered within its body. As it swam through space, it flapped black-purple transparent glowing wings with a span of nearly a thousand kilometers, trailing long, shimmering purple tail feathers. The brilliant light shattered at the ends of dozens or hundreds of light ribbons, swaying silently in the starry sky like silk falling on waves.
"It’s so beautiful…" Alan murmured.
"…Yes," whispered Luoxian, who rarely spoke these days.
Indeed, all the students were here. Regardless of their department, they had been excluded from the combat sequence in a battle plan of this scale.
After all, this situation was different from what Lei Ting had faced before. In Legion combat, operations in all areas needed to be coordinated and interlinked. If any link failed, it could cause a major accident affecting thousands or tens of thousands of people.
"Luoxian, I remember you're in the Mechanical Starship Piloting department, right?" Alan asked curiously. "They should have allowed you to observe."
"They didn't, just like the rest of you," Luoxian said softly. "I asked."
Alan was just asking casually and didn't really care about the answer. As Luoxian spoke, he looked at Yolanda nearby and asked with a smile, "Aren't you very popular with the special mecha pilots here? Why aren't you with them?"
"..." Yolanda, leaning in the corner, ignored him completely. Her arms were crossed, her gaze pinned to the screen. Every time the giant fish flicked its tail, the expression on her face grew a degree colder.
During this time, a faint glow flickered deep within her purple eyes, the purple light pulsing with her breath. At first glance, it was strikingly similar to the giant fish cruising in space.
A chilling sense of oppression radiated from her. In the silence, the corner she occupied was nearly frozen into ice.
Lei Ting’s silence was much the same. He stood alone in the middle of the crowd, watching the large screen through the gaps between his classmates.
After a moment, he suddenly said, "They're here."
Upon hearing this, the faces of those around him turned serious. Only Alan was startled: "…What?"
"The Abomination Legion. *Its* Abomination Legion." Yolanda's voice carried a rasping hatred. "They act as its vanguard and protect each other… Now, they're here."
*Beep—*
The unchanging alert tone of 'Xihe' sounded. A prompt flashed: [Preparing to engage the enemy. Non-combat personnel, please ensure your safety.]
The Star Beast seemed massive and clumsy, but its flight speed was incredibly fast. Once it locked onto its target, it charged straight toward the Legion fleet. It moved so quickly that any asteroid belt it encountered was ground into dust, leaving only small fragments to be knocked away by the residual force, flying into the deep space like meteors.
In the dark deep space where the mysterious giant fish charged, the Legion fleet—whose diameter was long enough to take a ship a month or two to traverse—moved. In the direction of the enemy's frontal approach, medium assault ships with bright blue lights burning at their sterns kept their energy-charging flashes lit. At this moment, they released countless small drone-like discs that looked like snowflakes, shimmering with the light of the charge they had received from the assault ships. They surged forward like a waterfall of stars, then turned and flew into the deep space, clearing a path for the enemy.
"…What are they planning to do?" Alan whispered his question.
"It should be some kind of special tactic… after all, this giant beast is said to have very high thermal absorption, which makes most weapons less effective." Other students nearby joined the discussion. "But the Abomination Legion, bolstered by the Star Beast's energy field, will fly even faster than the beast itself. How do you think the Legion will handle them?"
"I don't know, let's see," someone replied. "Anyway, the Legion must be practiced enough to make it look easy when dealing with these things…"
*Practiced enough to make it look easy…* That was an interesting choice of words. Lei Ting glanced at the speaker—it was the girl with the green neck ring, one of the pair of girls (one B and one O) from before.
Lei Ting looked at her and vaguely remembered her name was 'Wan Huan.' She was one of the top ten students in the Basic Tactical Command course. He had seen her avatar in the tactical simulation training system; they had even sparred a few times, ending in a draw after a best-of-three.
The situation back then had been very precarious. If Lei Ting hadn't taken a desperate risk in the final moments to drag her flagship down with him, he would have suffered a narrow defeat.
Although he hadn't recognized her immediately because her avatar was overly flashy, that incident had left a deep impression on him. Her playstyle was even more aggressive than his; she would sacrifice anything for victory, including the flagship where her own command center was located. Unfortunately, before she could set up a command system for personnel at all levels that could operate automatically without a flagship, she and Lei Ting's flagship had turned into space fireworks together…
Thinking of their mutual disregard for their own lives back then… Lei Ting’s gaze became complex. The students in this academy were truly a gathering of elites, hidden dragons and crouching tigers—every one of them was a talent.
"The Abomination Legion is too numerous and scattered; most conventional weapons are inconvenient to use," Wan Huan said, pondering the current situation. "The best method is actually… filtering."
"Filtering?" Yolanda chimed in. She seemed curious about this.
"Yes, the filtering tactic—extending the battle line and dividing the defense network into multiple layers. Some are dealt with on the spot, while the rest are let through. It filters down layer by layer. After repeating this process ten, a hundred, or a thousand times, it’s all over."
Wan Huan explained the issue to Yolanda in a gentle tone. "Of course, this tactic has its limitations. First, if the defense network is composed of 'people,' the losses on one's own side will be enormous. Second, the target cannot have the leeway to make a temporary detour, or they will definitely double back and strike the front line from behind."
"Then isn't this thing only useful in space against something like the Abomination Legion…" Alan muttered.
"No." Wan Huan’s expression suddenly became serious. "This tactic first appeared during the 'Ghost Realm Campaign' of the Second Total War. At that time, the ones acting as the 'filter' were the 'Solar System United Army'."
Hearing this, even Lei Ting was slightly stunned. Few people had heard of the 'Ghost Realm Campaign,' but he was not among them.
In that campaign, humanity's enemy was not other humans, but the race of the 'Cavern'—one of the opponents Valen had encountered in that game long ago.
That race resembled the ghosts or reapers of legend, and their abilities were quite similar. Some had suggested they might be the reason for the widespread similar legends in ancient Earth's Western civilizations—a 'wraith' had landed on Earth for some reason and then proceeded to do some very un-human things…
In that campaign, the United Army used various tactics and coordination that were considered very backward by interstellar standards, suffering heavy losses. But at the same time, they completely annihilated the 'wraith' vanguard, forcing their rear forces to halt their advance, buying precious time for the civilization behind them to develop and recover.
Alan clearly didn't know about this. He was a standard interstellar youth; if he ever chose to learn about an old event, it wasn't because he thought it deserved to be remembered, but because 'it was cool.'
"Watch, I think they'll choose to lay out a filtering net," Wan Huan said, gesturing toward the wide light-screen projection. She then asked casually, "Lei Ting, what do you think?"
Lei Ting glanced at her. She didn't seem to fear him much… or perhaps the fear had already passed.
"I concur," he said.
Wan Huan smiled. She seemed to find this single word of agreement very valuable, because in her eyes, Lei Ting was a worthy opponent in tactical command. Even if she couldn't beat him with a single finger in a direct fight.
The subsequent development was exactly as the two had predicted. Amidst the rolling black and red waves, the snowflake-like drone discs paired up, facing each other from a distance.
In flashes of light, sharp, straight lines of light ignited between them, forming asterisk-shaped networks that swept forward toward the Abomination creatures.
Even when scattered, the tens of millions of Abomination creatures were densely packed. A single sweep of a dozen networks could kill hundreds of thousands at once. Their shattered corpses drifted in space, and the color of blood soon filled the entire starscape. The crimson blood merged, and in the not-so-cold star sector, it didn't turn into frozen blood-ice but formed a terrifying ocean.
"..."
Such efficient slaughter made the young people in front of the screen tense up. Of course, even the most fragile logistics students didn't vomit; their faces only turned pale for a moment when a disgusting monster's body part drifted in front of the camera.
Soon, the vanguard of the Abomination Legion was wiped out. Scattered remnants were picked off by the front-line units; not a single one managed to break into the fleet.
But the atmosphere in the room grew even more somber. "The big one is coming," Wan Huan said. "Both the 'big one' itself and its even larger legion."
Lei Ting’s expression was equally grave. He stared intently at the giant fish approaching with ten thousand streaks of brilliant purple light.
Through the unified information sent by the light-computer, he learned its name: [Star Whale-32].
This proved it was the thirty-second generation reincarnation of a giant beast named [Star Whale-Prime]. Perhaps in the beginning, the creature that earned the title of [Star Whale] had no wings, horns, or tail feathers, but now, after thirty-two reincarnations, it had lost its original form…
The Star Whale’s speed increased, but the fleet was also moving, as was the flagship. It and two other giant ships identical to it each took a portion of the fleet and spread out. When the black-purple transparent giant fish passed through the clear space left by the fleet, the onlookers could barely make out the scene inside it, but the high-speed snapshots displayed beside the screen still vaguely showed the original appearance of the complex starlight within its body.
They were fish. Small fish.
Each was about two meters long, entirely transparent, and identical in appearance to the Star Whale itself. They swam within its transparent body, providing it with new energy.
The reason they appeared to be glowing was that their bodies contained spheres of light. It seemed to be energy swallowed by the Star Whale, stored perfectly in this manner.
Looking at them, Lei Ting suddenly had a thought: *With such beautiful things around, why does the Logistics Director like those Abomination creatures made of meat clumps, lumps, tentacles, limbs, and strange shells?*
*Truly, human fetishes are completely free…*
As he thought this, the various warships and vessels launched… beacons?
The beacons were slender and conical, with sharp claws. They didn't fly fast, yet they steadily followed the Star Whale through the terrifying high temperatures it left in its wake. Lei Ting could feel that their conical tips were made of a peculiar high- density alloy; it might not have a high production volume, but if used on a blade, the effect would definitely not be weak.
Sure enough, as countless beacons with flashing crimson warning lights caught up with the Star Whale, they slammed into its transparent body as it turned. One beacon was planted every square meter, quickly forming a dense, orderly grid across a small section of the Star Whale's body.
Such an attack was clearly not very noticeable to the Star Whale, but countless more beacons continued to fly in from the starscape. When it finally noticed them, it suddenly flapped its wings, and a massive burst of purple energy exploded from its entire body!
Silently, the purple energy surged out like a celestial river, and the expelled beacons were caught in it. But in the next second, a defense system unique to the First Legion was activated on all ships—the 'Impact Countermeasure System,' modeled after Valianna's superpower.
Fluorescent blue spherical shields, looking like orderly sea urchins, expanded, their spikes—dozens or even hundreds of meters long—shining brightly. The reason for the ships' earlier dispersal was now clear.
The purple waves swept past.
"Ah!!" In the violent shaking of the ship, some students stumbled and nearly fell, but those nearby quickly supported them, holding them steady to watch the orderly hunting activity.
Meanwhile, the ships refrained from using most of their energy weapons for the time being, instead continuously firing environmental-altering tools that could sustain cooling within a range. They froze small, hard sections of the Star Whale's body.
That seemed very uncomfortable for the Star Whale. It smashed through an asteroid, rolling amidst the fragments. Its wings, tail feathers, and asteroid pieces struck some warships several times, but mostly without causing much damage. The red sea of blood and corpses left by the Abomination creatures was also scattered by this force.
For a time, the various warships moved along their planned trajectories to avoid large obstacles. But the flagship and the two auxiliary ships remained motionless. The light-screen image grew brighter at the bottom as the undamaged beacons in the starscape rejoined the flock-like stream of beacons, stabbing into the Star Whale's body one after another.
Amidst the shattered sea of blood and countless pieces of space debris, red lights flashed urgently.
"They're going to blow," Wan Huan said.
As soon as she spoke, the beacons exploded in unison. Light shone densely upon the Star Whale.
The eyeless creature opened its mouth, filled with sharp teeth, and let out a silent wail amidst the chaotic purple energy storm.
At the same time, the three highest-grade warships shuddered simultaneously, and a beam of light shot out!
Flesh, transparent as jelly and crystal, splashed like a waterfall. Three simply designed triangular prisms—equipped with thrusters and signal receivers only on the back and three sides—pierced through its mouth, through its body, and out the tail, severing a small portion of its tail before flying off into the purple glow.
"Kinetic weapons?!" Luoxian’s eyes widened, and he blurted out.
Yes, kinetic weapons.
Or rather… high-tech linear ballistic precision catapults. A single strike, a total success!
"It’s tungsten…" Lei Ting murmured with a frown. "…No, that’s not right. It’s an alloy with similar properties but higher overall strength…"
Something like that could pierce through layers of obstacles in space… what if it flew into an interstellar residential area with inhabited planets?!
Lei Ting’s hand moved instinctively, a golden light flashing in his eyes. But in the next second, he stopped his intended superpower manipulation—the thrusters on the back and sides of the prisms kicked in. They seemed to have received a signal, beginning to self-propel and turn in the distance to bleed off momentum.
"..." Lei Ting’s lip twitched.
He was a bit muddled: the First Legion's Star Beast hunting operations were so smooth and practiced; how could they not have considered the issue of projectiles harming people?
"There probably won't be much else to see…" Wan Huan yawned lazily. "The efficiency of a highly coordinated Legion in hunting enemies is simply too high… no matter what they're hunting."
Exactly. That was it. Humanity's greatest combat power was never individual might, but the unity of many.
From the first cooperative hunt in ancient times to these scenes that frequently occurred in the starscape… even a Star Beast that could traverse a death trap like the Orion Nebula was caught by the flaw in its physical defensive strength and had now inevitably fallen into a disadvantage.
From that single launch of kinetic weapons that raised the flag of victory, everything gradually entered its long finale.
The group watched as the 'practiced' Legion tore the Star Whale's body apart step by step. This massive and beautiful target had no power to fight back and could only be erased bit by bit from the starscape.
As it died, the few remaining small fish inside it simultaneously emitted a bright light. A terrifying explosion occurred—its final counterattack, filled with chaotic hatred.
In the end, it vanished into thin air along with its flesh and blood flowing through the deep space.
A body larger than an ordinary planet had disappeared. In the place where it had once existed, only faint purple energy continued to flow.
The onlookers watched it through the light-screen, most of them looking somewhat dazed. Such a powerful and beautiful giant life form had vanished bit by bit in the fires of war; visually, it was an extremely intense stimulus.
An officer who had been watching them from nearby and the soldiers beside him quietly breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, they didn't see any expression in the eyes of these young children that shouldn't belong to a Federation soldier.
As for that hint of daze…
Heh, who hasn't stared blankly like that before such a sight?
Soon, these children would see even more, even if they didn't all end up here after graduation…
But it was fine. The First Legion wasn't like the Seventh Legion; even if they weren't on the same path, they wouldn't really do anything.
The officer smacked his lips.
He knew the 'fishing demonstration' was over. It was time to call these young people away and let them get to work on their internships.
***
Several days later, Capital Star System, Angye’s residence.
When the scene of the nuclear explosion appeared again, the image suddenly paused.
"Note," someone said, "the matter at the center of the explosion was directly vaporized. Theoretically, the shockwave could have spread very far. The 'Dual-S' was able to remain stable within it likely because of that power that makes him 'hard to shake'…"
"But didn't the academy say when they archived his file that the power only had a slight stabilizing effect on his spirit?"
"The effects of an ordinary superpower evolve as the user grows stronger. Who knows what changes will occur in a 'Dual-S' ability… Currently, there is a theory that a 'Dual-S' can briefly spread this characteristic from his spirit to metal and himself. Of course, this is just a guess; we have no actual evidence."
In the meeting room, the light-screen projection was pulled back by a hand to the moment the warship's first corner was erased.
Then, it was quickly replayed at double speed. Then a third time, a fourth…
Finally, the image froze at the last moment. The black-armored esper floated alone outside the shield, golden light flowing over him. The silent deep space did not merge him into the darkness because that sun-like flash shone in the distance, and countless pieces of molten metal and structural fragments flew in all directions, only to be stopped beside him.
Apton Angye looked at this scene on the light-screen. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "When you were at this age, could you have done something like this?"
"No." "No…" "No." "No." The members of his staff answered frankly one after another.
Angye slowly looked over the group. "..."
A moment later: "And now, can you do something like this?" he asked again.
"No." "No." "Yes, but it would be very strained." "Yes." The staff answered again.
"..." Angye looked at the last person who spoke.
"..." Everyone looked at the last person who spoke.
"Get out!" Angye roared. "Who let you in!"
...
"Oh." The little black dragon silently rolled out of Angye’s staff meeting room.
Then, Angye’s gaze softened again. "Regarding the 'Dual-S,' I need you all to provide a reasonable way to handle him. You are dismissed; meeting adjourned."
The staff members responded and rose to leave. Angye suddenly added, "Falin, stay."
Falin, who had just taken two steps away from him, paused. After a moment of silence, he stopped and turned back.
To avoid suspicion, the others picked up their pace. Soon, only two people remained in the small meeting room.
"Sit." Angye gestured to the seat beside him.
Falin sat in silence, not taking the initiative to ask any questions. He knew Angye was about to confront him regarding the serious failure in the previous mission. Based on his past experience, he might face something extraordinary…
But it was fine; the other man wouldn't kill him on a whim. Probably, he thought.
At least he had brought these things back.
But unexpectedly, Angye didn't mention the fact that he had not only failed the mission but had also been thoroughly dismantled by his target, Lei Ting. Instead, he took out a paper document and handed it to him in his usual, not-at-all-haughty manner.
"Take a look at this," the man who held great power said.
Falin was stunned.
He looked a bit lost, his gaze sweeping over Angye’s cuff. He knew how much power that hand held… but it never used its methods against 'its own.' The last time it had crushed someone's throat was because they had betrayed his faction.
The young man silently reached out and took the document.
With just one look, his expression suddenly became serious: this document was Lina's physical examination report.
He flipped through it quickly and stopped at the section related to cranial nerves. There was a blurred pattern printed on it. He lowered his head and activated his light-computer monocle; the pattern transformed into a clear, floating 3D model in his digitized vision—it was a scan of Lina's brain.
On it, a red-marked area was clearly visible. It was the location of Lina's 'Third Eye,' and a tiny instrument was fixed upon it.
Falin didn't actually know what that thing was, but he knew very well that if such a thing was clamped onto a person's superpower organ, it couldn't be anything good.
And…
"A 'controller'?" he blurted out.
"You know about it?" Angye raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
"…Lei Ting mentioned it," Falin said softly. "He said it was made of metal."
"That sounds like something he would do." Angye nodded. "He’s a good person. Isn't he?"
"Yes…" Falin pursed his lips.
"I know what you're thinking," Angye said suddenly. "You think I’m the one who installed the controller on 'Heart-Sound,' don't you?"
"…!"
Falin was startled. But he didn't argue, because he knew that if Angye said it, he must already have the corresponding evidence.
And that evidence was likely the 'Ultra-Psychology' team under Angye, composed entirely of behavioral and cognitive scientists.
But as he thought this, he saw Angye’s hand rise.
A faint sound of the light-computer’s external structure unlocking was heard. When the hand was lowered again, Angye tossed his light-computer onto the table beside him.
The expensive information terminal, with its sleek and simple design, was just thrown aside. Falin knew that Angye had not undergone any physical modifications; he didn't have an internal light-computer in his brain like Yondell…
So, right now, Angye was not using his 'Ultra-Psychology' team.
He was speaking to Falin as himself.
And he wasn't using his authority to pressure him.
"That controller has nothing to do with me," Angye said softly. "Lina Valentine is your sister, and she is also the 'Heart-Sound' I rely on. Although 'Lina' is more important to you and 'Heart-Sound' is more important to me, she is a key figure to both of us."
Apton Angye was not the kind of fool who would blindly tamper with an irreplaceable key figure.
Falin knew this; before he had come to Angye’s side, many people had already studied Angye’s personality for him.
"You adopted her, didn't you?" Angye suddenly changed the subject. "You have no blood relation… let me guess, the 47429 Spindle Galaxy?"
Falin’s eyes, hidden in the shadows, suddenly widened.
"I know you hate me for issuing the extermination order there," Angye said. "But have you ever wondered why I did it?"
"..." Falin’s lips trembled slightly. He knew Angye was baiting him into continuing the conversation, but after a moment, he couldn't help but ask the question: "…Why?"
"The Devourer spread the 'Boiling' virus there." Angye’s tone was calm and gentle. "Think back to the last time you saw your fellow townspeople… were their faces generally flushed, and did their superpower strength rise abnormally? *It* needed that… *It* needed someone who could survive the 'Boiling' to evolve a related power, to spread it for *It*, and then merge with *It*."
Falin was completely stunned. He began to recall the past. Yes, Angye was right; it was exactly like that…
Eight years ago, the last time he had returned to his hometown, the villagers he saw were indeed like that. At the time, he hadn't realized there was anything wrong with such an abnormal sight, because flushed faces could be explained by hot weather, and rising power could be explained by him being away for so long and not witnessing their progress.
But a few months later, when he returned to that star sector again, what he saw was a living hell—the Federation’s Legion was massacring the only inhabited planet in the galaxy numbered 47429.
His hometown.
In despair, he had saved the only person he could find, who was now 'Lina Valentine.' Then he brought her, suffering from multiple mental illnesses like split personality due to intense external trauma, to the Federation Capital Star. After a series of events, he became Angye’s aide, and Lina became one of the mental espers under Angye.
Among them, 'Lina,' as the primary personality, only retained a low-level telekinesis. She was somewhat delirious and needed the assistance of other mental espers to be calmed so she could live and study normally.
The self-protective sub-personality 'Heart-Sound,' born later, was calm, gentle, and firm. She possessed an A-rank mental exploration ability that could turn the deepest things in the hearts of her targets into music that only the two of them could hear, which could then be extracted as audio through technical means and analyzed by the 'Ultra-Psychology' team.
Such power made her easily influenced and harmed by the outside world. Perhaps that was why the girl, who was only eleven or twelve at the time, split herself, letting a more 'super' personality use the power in her stead…
To Angye, 'Heart-Sound' was ten thousand times more important than 'Lina,' but the former’s birth was for the purpose of protecting the latter; her existence had to be built on the foundation of 'Lina living a normal, healthy, and happy life.'
In Falin’s eyes, 'Lina' was the most important, and 'Heart-Sound' was just a part of Lina who would eventually return to her. Perhaps this was unfair to 'Heart-Sound,' who also viewed him as a brother, but it was the truth.
To him, Lina was his only and last family.
So, it wasn't incomprehensible that he would lose his composure over something happening to Lina.
"..." Angye looked at the seemingly confused Falin and shook his head.
"Have you still not understood my meaning? Falin Valentine?" A hint of disappointment entered his gentle yet authoritative tone. "I always thought you were a smart man."
Falin was startled. Even though his mind was still immersed in the tragic events of the past, he reflexively began to think about what Angye wanted him to understand.
After a moment, he said in shock, "Lina… is related to the 'Boiling'?"
"…No. My soldiers are not that incompetent."
Angye rubbed his brow. He seemed finally unable to bear it, yet he still sighed patiently and said, "I mean, that controller in her head was installed by the 'Devourer's' people. They do this kind of thing everywhere—regarding this, did your rebel researchers really not realize it?"
Falin suddenly looked up. He saw Angye take off his glasses.
A gaze interwoven with pitch black and crimson crashed directly into his panicked eyes.
The psychological defense line, which had been continuously dismantled from the start, finally collapsed completely. He lost consciousness for a split second, then let out a roar of agony. Crimson, stinging blood seeped from his eyes, and his entire body trembled in the overwhelming pain within his mind. His memories were boiling; he could hear chaotic sounds from his memories as he saw scenes replaying in reverse… the mansion, the starship, the starry sky, the distant glimmer of the nuclear explosion, the cold young man, starship starship starship starship, 'Heart-Sound'…
No, not this one either. Angye casually skipped and skipped again, making the story named *Falin Valentine* trace back further. He didn't care about the scattered bits and pieces, whether they were beneficial to him or not.
Finally, the memory froze two years ago, on that light transport ship belonging to the academy.
In the frozen image, the man who had hitched a ride but was dragged along to make up the numbers had his thin lips pressed tight, staring intently at the 'Dual-S' ahead who was facing a life-threatening situation.
Oh, back then, no one knew that he would one day shine his first light in the starscape like a true 'New Sun.'
"Anger response? Well, that fits his usual personality…" Angye sighed softly. Blood began to flow from his eyes, and a pain like a hammer blow rose in his head, but he just yawned lazily and stopped the mental control.
Falin, in extreme pain, didn't make a sound; his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
Angye caught him, pulling him into his arms and offering a few words of comfort: "There, your mission is complete…"
From the beginning, when he had Falin take Lina to 'test' Lei Ting, he never expected them to break through a mental defense that even he couldn't break.
He was just catching a traitor… no, a mole, and then letting him fulfill his final value: in Lei Ting’s eyes, placing the boundary of precaution between himself and Angye out in the open. From now on, neither of them would casually cross that safety line.
But the existence of a 'tolerable' safety line itself meant the other party's mind would no longer be impenetrable.
As for why Angye, who clearly had countless methods, insisted on using this one…
It was quite interesting, wasn't it? Watching a smart mole return to his side for the sake of his sister, even though he knew he might have been under surveillance all along.
Angye smiled and casually handed Falin over to the medical team that had entered silently. He spoke to the light-computer he had tossed aside: "Prepare a gift for our 'Dual-S,' one so generous that no one could refuse it. Then, go ask that one from the Kang family… uh…"
He paused, finally finding the name in his mind, which was a bit sluggish after the overloaded use of his ability: "…Essencal? Or something else?"
He raised his hand and rubbed his brow.
"…Anyway, my dear team, go ask him. Ask if 'Star-Flow' has ever returned. If so, when." He said softly, "He’s that guy’s brother, but he’s just an ordinary person, right? I’m saying… if you can't even handle an ordinary person, then don't bother coming back."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 星鲸-32 | Star Whale-32 | A massive, transparent space beast; the 32nd generation of its kind. |
| 万幻 | Wan Huan | A female student, top ten in tactical command, known for aggressive tactics. |
| 过滤战术 | Filtering Tactics | A military strategy involving multiple layers of defense to thin out enemy numbers. |
| 冲击反制系统 | Impact Countermeasure System | A defense system modeled after Valianna's power. |
| 沸腾 | Boiling | A virus spread by the Devourer that causes abnormal power surges and physical flushing. |
| 吞噬者 | The Devourer | A mysterious, hostile entity or faction mentioned by Angye. |
| 47429梭状星系 | 47429 Spindle Galaxy | The location of Falin and Lina's hometown, destroyed by the Federation. |
| 超心理 | Ultra-Psychology | Angye's specialized team of behavioral and cognitive scientists. |
| 星流 | Star-Flow | A name or title mentioned by Angye at the end of the chapter. |
| 康家 | Kang Family | A family or faction mentioned by Angye. |
| 埃森卡尔 | Essencal | A name mentioned by Angye, likely a member of the Kang family. |
