by <unknown>
After waiting for a while, specks of light lit up at the end of his sight and stopped in the blink of an eye not far from Planet Heber, revealing the appearance of the Black Star fleet.
The fleet size of both was incomparable. Heber had more than a million spaceships on his side, while the Black Star fleet only numbered dozens.
On the other side, accompanying the Black Star fleet was also the Klent fleet, along with many galactic residents and galactic media groups.
Heber snorted, taking out his communicator and switching on the wide area communication channel before speaking.
“Black Star, I didn’t invite you, you did not mention in advance that you were coming to visit me, and you are not even here in person… What’s the meaning of this?”
Hearing this, many of the spectators got excited. They could sense the gunpowder in this sentence, and they carefully awaited Black Star’s reply.
After a moment, a cold mechanical voice sounded, without greetings or politeness, going straight into the main point.
“Heber, still remember our unfinished battle?”
Heber suddenly narrowed his eyes.
Without waiting for his answer, Han Xiao’s mechanical host said, “When I first stepped into the Beyond Grade A stage, you challenged me to a duel, and because of the dynasty, I had to agree, but there was no victor.”
“Humph.” Heber coldly snorted. “So, you’re here to send a duel challenge?”
“That’s right,” Han Xiao coldly replied. “When I first reached Beyond Grade A, you wanted to bully me. Now’s a good time for me to settle this debt with you. In twenty days, I’ll fight with you in the Seoul Star Cluster. You can choose the location.”
“Twenty days, heh? Can you even make it back from the dynasty?”
“Relax, only the two million mechanical troops and one of the mechanic hosts in this fleet now will go against you,” Han Xiao slowly said. “I don’t think you’ll be scared, right? Where’s the confidence you had when you fought me? I just stepped into Beyond Grade A a few years ago, but you don’t dare duel me?”
His mechanical life forms were developing in the Flickering World, so Han Xiao did not bring them over this time. Thus, there was only one batch of mechanical soldiers as well as a host, all of which were the reserves of the Black Star Army headquarters. This batch was even manufactured before he hit level 300, so there was no manufacturing bonus at all.
Hearing this, Heber immediately grew annoyed.
After the battle of Planet Lighthouse, Heber suspected that he was not Han Xiao’s opponent, but that was if Han Xiao came personally. Now, he did not even bring a single one of his apostle weapons, and he only wanted to rely on a host and a batch of mechanical soldiers to challenge him?
He was showing Heber zero respect!
“Hahaha…” Heber’s expression was frosty. “You’re just afraid to come over personally, right? Are you scared that you’ll be cornered with nowhere to run? Humph, to use only a bunch of mechanical soldiers to challenge me, even if I destroy all of them, you’re still safe, right?”
“It’s up to you how you want to think. I’ve already issued the challenge. Do you dare accept?” Han Xiao did not bother explaining himself.
Heber thought about it and realized that Han Xiao had actually sealed off all his paths of retreat.
First of all, the matter had already blown up, and the Tyrant’s reputation did not allow him to admit defeat. Secondly, when he issued the challenge when Han Xiao first reached Beyond Grade A, the other party had agreed easily to the duel. If he tried to argue back now, it would be embarrassing for him.
Turns out, this was your plan all along…
Heber was furious.
Resolving this grudge was just an excuse to force him to be unable to refuse. In essence, this happened because of the recent undermining of the Black Star Army’s businesses. The other party struck into the core of the matter and openly issued a challenge, wanting to use fists to talk, to destroy his prestige.
Black Star, your timing is really good. I’m now riding on the back of a tiger and cannot get down!
Heber smiled through his anger. “Good, I’ll accept your challenge. Black Star, you’ve been too successful recently and have become arrogant. I’ll give you a free lesson in humility!”
If it was Han Xiao’s main body, it would be different. Heber knew that he was not Han Xiao’s opponent, but if it was just a mechanical host, Heber thought that he would not lose to him.
To actually dare look down on me…
Do you think that my title of Tyrant was obtained through nothing‽
“Very well, I’ll wait for the details.”
Seeing that Heber had accepted, the Black Star fleet turned back and went away, quickly disappearing from the eyes of everyone present.
“Disperse.” Heber snorted, waving his hands and commanding his fleet to retreat.
He coldly swept his gaze across the spectators before walking back into his palace.
The galactic residents who watched the whole journey became excited immediately.
Many of them had seen the battle between the two men many years ago, and now history was repeating itself before them.
This time, however, the roles were reversed!
“There will be a nice show to watch!”
“Last time, the dynasty came forward to mediate, so there was no clear winner and loser. This time, I don’t know if the dynasty will mediate.”
“I doubt so. They have no reason to intervene. Last time, they didn’t prohibit the Tyrant from issuing the duel, so they cannot do the same for Black Star.”
The countless galactic residents began to chatter and discuss the fight among themselves.
Within the headquarters of the Bloodshed Land, Sorokin sat there with a frown as he watched the Black Star fleet leaving.
Black Star’s move was bold, and there was even a suspicion of infighting. Sorokin had guessed that this situation was a possibility, but he did not expect Black Star to really carry it out.
If he could defeat the Tyrant, Black Star would have the pressure on him alleviated somewhat, but the price of that was that the prestige of the Tyrant would plummet. The Crimson Dynasty was unlikely to sit back and watch this happen, as the deterrent power of their Beyond Grade A allies was equivalent to a bargaining chip of the dynasty.
If you really succeed, then my plan will again rise in difficulty. Sorokin was lost in thought, his brow tense.
Chapter 950. Showing Oneself, Entering the Scene! |
With the bystanders spreading the word, the news of Black Star’s battle against the Tyrant quickly spread throughout the Shattered Star Ring and even to other major star fields.
The grievances of the two were dug out like melons by the crowd, adding an extra gimmick to the battle and attracting widespread attention.
It was not like conflicts between allies in the advanced civilizations had not occurred before. Although they were working for the same civilization, their alliance was not bound, and it was all for mutual benefits, with the resources ultimately divided. This would inevitably create a conflict of interests.
So long as the friction between allies did not cross the line and did not result in any serious internal strife, the advanced civilizations would not come forward to mediate. They did not plan to make sure all their allies had a good relationship with each other. Furthermore, competition would bring forth vitality. The issue of resource distribution was also too troublesome for the civilizations to mediate.
As for the challenge Black Star issued to the Tyrant, this was at the very edge of their limits. Thus, the dynasty could choose whether they wished to interfere or not.
This incident was brought up to the upper echelons of the dynasty.
“A few days ago, Black Star officially issued the Tyrant a challenge for a battle in twenty days. The Tyrant has accepted, and now the news is spreading like wildfire. Everyone, what are your views?”
At the head,
Urranrell tapped her slim fingers on the table, surveying everyone present.
“Well, Black Star did not discuss this with us first, moving before he asked for permission. This will affect the dynasty’s influence in the Shattered Star Ring, which is not good for us,” a senior official said seriously.
“Indeed, the external environment of the dynasty is now worrying. For us, maintaining the stability of the star field is the most important. I feel we should intervene in his matter,” another echoed.
Some others had a different opinion. “We can’t put it like this. Black Star’s approach is justifiable, as the Tyrant proposed the duel years ago to Black Star when he had just entered the Beyond Grade A realm. Black Star wishing to resolve this grudge now is completely understandable.”
Hearing this, an official from the neutral faction added, “It’s true. At that time, we didn’t stop the Tyrant because Black Star had only joined us after accepting the duel invite. A Beyond Grade A’s promise cannot be taken back easily, so we cannot interfere with Black Star’s duel now, or it would be unfair.”
“Yes, not to mention that the recent actions of the Bloodshed Land have affected the interests of the Black Star Army. If we are biased toward the Bloodshed Land, this will greatly affect Black Star’s perception of the dynasty.”
“But the reputation of the Tyrant…”
The officials present were divided into two sides, one supporting interfering and one supporting standing by to watch. However, those that were talking were only the pawns in charge of conveying the intentions of each faction.
As for those leaders of the factions, none of them had spoken up till now.
Urranrell listened quietly before gazing at the Chief Commander of the Exploration army, Tarrokov, and asking, “Tarrokov, what do you think?”
Once this remark came out, the audience tacitly quieted down, knowing that it was the time for the bigshots to display their stances.
“Black Star… I’m very acquainted with him already.” Tarrokov smiled. “I believe he knows his limits very well.”
“Hmm.” Urranrell nodded before gazing at Bekorodi, who was representing the opposite end. “And you?”
Bekorodi’s expression was calm like a mirrored lake, and he only smiled before slowly saying, “I… choose to remain neutral.”
Hearing this, a flash of doubt passed through Urranrell’s eyes, along with some surprise.
She knew that Bekorodi had always been against Black Star, as though that guy had cuckolded him.
But to think that he gave such an unexpected response. This implied that Bekorodi was taking Black Star’s side this time.
Supporting neutrality right now was akin to supporting Black Star because everyone there knew that if the battle were to proceed, the reputation of the Tyrant would be severely damaged, and Black Star’s reputation would skyrocket.
What Heber did not know was that, in the eyes of the dynasty’s upper echelons, the chance of Heber winning against Black Star’s avatar was less than ten percent!
This was because, not too long ago, the outpost had delivered the observation report of Black Star when he advanced, and this report had caused a sensation among the upper echelons of the dynasty.
Black Star had only entered the Beyond Grade A realm a few years prior, and the battle at Planet Lighthouse as well as the fall of the EsGod had shown his growth. The dynasty originally thought that he would remain quiet for a while, but it was as though Black Star had drunk some high-energy motor oil, setting his buttocks on fire and shooting him straight up into the sky. He actually grew once again in such a short time!
Compared to the normal speed of a Beyond Grade A, these few years were far too short!
While they were unaware as to what extent Black Star had grown, based on ‘Dark Lord’ Clotti’s hypothesis, Black Star should be near or even at the peak of the Beyond Grade A realm. He had achieved this hundreds of years ahead of the projected time, and even the Dark Lord had been shocked, saying how he had never met someone so perverted in his entire life.
Thus, in the eyes of the dynasty, the Tyrant’s odds of victory were so low that they could be considered pathetic. To that end, they even wondered if Black Star sending an avatar to battle was merely to infuriate the Tyrant further and let him think that he had a chance of victory.
The outcome of this war was already set in stone, and Black Star would likely become the new spokesperson for the dynasty in the Shattered Star Ring. The Tyrant could still grow his influence, but it would never reach the same level as before Black Star challenged him…
In the eyes of the outsiders, it meant that Black Star would take the head seat of the Beyond Grade As within the Shattered Star Ring!
Urranrell was naturally willing to see this happen, so all those within the Ruler’s faction sided with Black Star. She originally thought that someone would jump out today and insist on interfering in the battle, but she did not expect Bekorodi, who would usually give her trouble, to change his position!
Frowning secretly, Urranrell then looked toward Ludwell.
“I also support neutrality.” Ludwell’s expression did not change. It was not because he was grateful to Black Star but rather because he typically followed the direction of the Ruler’s faction.
Moreover, he was not as radical as the hardliner faction. Containing Black Star would be a strategy for the future. right now, it was more important to gain Evolution Cube uses or to buy Evolutionary Totems.
Today is a weird day. Why are all of them suddenly speaking so nicely? Urranrell grumbled to herself.
By the side, Bekorodi lightly closed his eyes, casting a deep look at Ludwell.
Just a few days ago, Sorokin, whom he had a deal with privately, had sent him a message, hoping for him to interfere in the battle. If they allowed Black Star’s name to continue rising, Sorokin’s plan would become more difficult.
Normally, he would definitely have interfered in the battle, but the situation now was different. Ludwell had spoken to him about half a month ago, and the deep meaning between his words had made him wonder.
Thus, Bekorodi could only ignore Sorokin’s opinion and temporarily sheathe his weapon, observing the situation. Acquiring the Evolution Cube would be good, but protecting one’s life was more important.
The conference room’s atmosphere was a little heavy, and after the senior officials of the factions sent out a unified reply of their opinions, no one dared jump out to object.
Urranrell only felt that this was too successful and slowly said, “Since no one has any objections, let’s make it as such. As long as Black Star doesn’t act unreasonably, like killing Heber, we will not interfere.”
“Understood.”
Everyone nodded while having their own inner thoughts.
…
“Black Star and the Tyrant are duelling?”
In the group chat of the Dynasty’s Beyond Grade As, Beyoni excitedly posted that question and blew out all the lurkers within the chat.
Milizaus snorted. “I knew that both of them would fight one day.”
“No need to talk any further. Start the bets.” Beyoni rubbed his hands.
“I’ll put a small bet to not hurt any feelings. Black Star, fifty million Enas.” Ravenlaude laughed, not even the least bit embarrassed at selling out the Tyrant.
“Oh, I’m close to Heber and understand his strength quite well…” Viru stroked his chin. “I’ll bet on Black Star too, ten million.”
“Black Star, two hundred million,” Lotus Swordsman indifferently commented.
“Oi, how are we going to open the bet if all of you bet on Black Star?” Milizaus was unhappy.
“Simple, you can go call all The Ancient Ones out, and I’ll pull in those from the Federation of Light and the Arcane Church. This will make it more interesting.” One of the lurking three National Pillars of the Dynasty could not take it any longer and surfaced, joining in the fun.
“Ingenious, ingenious plan.” Milizaus la
ughed out loud.
While the Arcane Church had hurt him, the other party had lost even more, so he did not have much of a grudge against them.
The Beyond Grade A circle was only this big, so while they belonged to different civilizations, they would still have their own private dealings.
The Ancient Ones along with those in the three Universal Civilizations made up more than half of the entire population of Beyond Grade As in the explored universe. This could be said to be a grand event.
Regarding the battle between Black Star and the Tyrant, not only did no one worry, they even riled up the matter. Only those that belonged to the direct line of the Dynasty’s Beyond Grade As would carefully consider the matter from the viewpoint of the dynasty.
Everyone was a Beyond Grade A, and there was no good drama without fighting!
…
On a blood-red planet in a distant star field, an endless beast tide rushed toward a red figure like a black ocean. Countless broken beast carcasses fell to the ground, their blue blood infiltrating the soil, leaving the red land splattered with blue.
The beasts were a ferocious galactic life form that could sleep and drift through the universe. Once they fell to a planet, they would quickly multiply and consume everything on the surface, forming a catastrophe.
In the prosperous star fields, these sorts of galactic creatures had long been eradicated, but there were still some nests in the remote and wild areas of the universe.
At this moment, from the center of this beast tide, a rich crimson energy continuously exploded. Wherever it passed, the energy swept through, harvesting all life.
Hila’s eyes were frosty, and she took in nothing except for the incoming beast tide. Her death energy radiated out from her as though it was free, and the soul energy of the beasts that died to it was absorbed by her body, constantly strengthening her abilities.
In the sky, Ames was suspended in midair, overlooking Hila who was slaughtering the beast tide with no intention of helping.
