[Unknown Sea, New Ember Base]
The aircraft penetrated the hidden force field of the Ember Base, stirring up a ripple of pale blue star power as it slowly descended onto the landing platform.
The moment the hatch opened, a blast of air carrying metallic coldness and salty sea spray swept over them. Mo Ying was the first to perk up its pointed ears and scurry out, its short legs trotting lightly across the platform.
However, upon seeing the figure standing in the center of the platform, Mo Ying suddenly retracted its neck and obediently burrowed back into Jing Liuli's arms.
The figure appearing before everyone was none other than the leader of Ember who had not appeared for a long time, the mastermind behind the Stars Project—Doctor Dragon.
Doctor's tall frame was outlined by a silver-gray combat suit. Half of his face was covered by a silver-white mechanical mask, obscuring everything above the bridge of his nose and leaving only the sharp lines of his jaw visible. From a distance, he exuded an aura that was both steady and mysterious.
"Doctor," Yun Meng stepped forward first, her tone carrying more respect than she showed others. The Star Beasts also reigned in their playfulness.
Little Jin pressed close to her feet docily, while the Spirit Fox crouched on Caroline's shoulder, gazing at the Doctor with a wary yet non-defensive look.
Doctor nodded slightly. His gaze swept over the group and the Star Beasts, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes beneath the mechanical mask. His voice carried a faint metallic quality but was exceptionally gentle.
"It is good to have you back. Regarding the century-long covenant between Enite and the 'Star Beast Court,' have you told Tendo and the others?"
Yun Meng shook her head, indicating she hadn't mentioned it yet.
Doctor wasn't too surprised by this.
"No matter. Follow me first."
Amidst the thoughtful expressions of Tendo and the others, the group followed the Doctor into the interior of the new Ember Base.
Tendo frowned. He had seen this term in the old base archives but had never known the specific details. "What covenant is that?"
The newly built Ember Base continued the core layout of the old one. The familiar mechanical patterns and star power devices provided a sense of security, though key corridors and defensive nodes had been reinforced and repaired. A pale blue star power barrier flowed faintly within the walls, clearly designed to deal with the impending crisis.
Under the Doctor's lead, the group soon reached a sealed conference room. After the heavy alloy door closed, all external noise was completely cut off.
Once everyone was seated, Doctor raised his hand, and a pale blue holographic projection emerged from his palm, displaying a scene from fifty years ago.
A massive, indescribable unknown Star Beast, surrounded by dark purple star power, stood in confrontation with Enite. Their auras were as piercingly cold as ice. Behind this man and beast stood dense ranks of Star Beast tribes and human Star Envoys respectively. The tension was so thick it felt as though it might break through the projection—a picture of a great war about to erupt.
"Fifty years ago, a great war broke out between the Star Beast tribes and the Association, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. Finally, the first Star Beast leader and Enite established a covenant."
"The Star Beast tribes surrendered part of their territory and assisted the Association in stabilizing the order of the Federation."
"The Association, in turn, promised to stop hunting and experimenting on Star Beasts and to protect their habitats."
"The covenant was anchored by the core power of both sides, with a validity period of fifty years."
"Now the covenant is nearing its end. Neither Enite nor the Star Beast Court wishes to renew it."
Doctor paused, a hint of gravity adding to his eyes.
"The Court's thinking is simple: they believe they hold the absolute advantage."
"Enite, on the other hand, wants to thoroughly secure the status of humanity, implement 'Human Supremacy,' and ensure the permanence of the 'New Human Federation,' thereby allowing the human race to firmly establish itself among the stars."
At this point, Doctor fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"As an existence who has long stood at the peak of Level 5 Legend, Enite is the recognized strongest in the New Human Federation. Yet he has been stuck at this boundary for decades, unable to break through the barrier known as 'Godhood.'"
"In his eyes, the core of a Star Beast is its Star Nucleus."
"If he can control all Star Beasts and devour enough Legendary-class beasts, it will not only safeguard humanity's position but also help him break through to that unreachable realm."
"No one doubts whether Enite can achieve this, because both humans and the Star Beasts themselves are well aware of it."
"Because sixty years ago, the Star Beast Court had a large-scale conflict with humans."
"Enite took action personally. With his power alone, he beheaded three Legendary-class Star Beasts that came to stop him, leaving no remains. He intimidated the entire race with absolute strength."
Jing Liuli hugged Mo Ying, her face full of disbelief. She knew the Chairman was strong, but she didn't expect him to be this strong.
Ignoring Jing Liuli's shock, Doctor continued: "The fall of the Level 5 Legendary Star Beasts completely broke the Star Beasts' will to resist."
"You must realize that several Legendary Star Beasts still exist within the Court. If they joined forces, they would have a very high chance of taking down the General Chairman."
"However, the trade-off is that once that decision is made, several of them would absolutely perish at the General Chairman's hands."
"Therefore, out of wariness for the General Chairman and a desire to preserve their own lives, they ultimately chose to sign that fifty-year peace covenant."
"But not just the General Chairman—the Court is also well aware that this covenant is not a full stop, but merely a pause."
"After all, human lifespans are short."
"They have been enduring and waiting all these years just for an opportunity."
"Waiting for an opportunity?" Jing Liuli asked, confused. "Do they have a way to counter the General Chairman?"
"Yes." Doctor's voice deepened, a sharp glint flashing in his dragon-like vertical pupils.
"Though the General Chairman is strong at the peak of Legend, when he slew those three Legendary Star Beasts, he was also severely wounded by their death-throes. He was left with old injuries that are difficult to cure."
"This is not a simple physical injury; it involves his foundation. It relapses every six months, and as his age increases and his obsession with breaking through to the Divine Realm deepens, the frequency of relapse increases, and the injuries worsen."
"The Star Beast tribes have been waiting—waiting for the moment his old injuries completely erupt and his Star Source becomes disordered. That is their only chance for survival."
Just then, Mo Ying suddenly leaped out of Jing Liuli's arms, ran to the Doctor's feet, and rubbed its head against his ankle as if acting spoiled.
Doctor leaned over, his fingertips lightly brushing the top of Mo Ying's head. His movements were gentler than those of the steady researcher he usually appeared to be.
Jing Liuli said curiously, "Doctor, you seem to understand Star Beasts exceptionally well, and they aren't afraid of you at all."
As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent. Yun Meng also looked at the Doctor, a look of realization in her eyes. She had followed the Doctor for many years; she knew his identity was mysterious, but she never knew his past.
Doctor remained silent for a moment, then slowly reached up and removed the mechanical mask from his face. Beneath the mask, several pale silver lines extended from the bridge of his nose, spreading along his cheeks to his jaw. His pupils were deep dragon-like slits, shimmering under the lights.
"Because I was never a pure human to begin with."
His tone was flat, as if he were stating a trivial matter.
"I was once a Calamity-class dragon-shaped mechanical Star Beast named 'Cang Ming,' and a member of the Court."
"A dragon-shaped mechanical Star Beast?!"
Everyone cried out in surprise; even Tendo could not hide his astonishment. Calamity-class mechanical Star Beasts were rare enough, but for one to give up its Star Nucleus power to become human was unheard of.
Amidst the shocked gazes, Doctor raised his hand. A wisp of silver-white star power appeared in his palm, and within the power, one could faintly see the patterns of dragon scales. His tone carried a bit of distant melancholy.
"You must be curious about the original intention of the Stars Project. I can tell you the answer to that question now."
"The so-called Stars Project was never something I founded alone. It was a prototype planned by Enite and myself while I was still in my Cang Ming form."
This revelation shocked everyone. Even Yun Meng looked surprised; she never imagined the Doctor and Enite had such a history.
"At that time, I was still a Calamity-class dragon-shaped mechanical Star Beast, and Enite had just touched the threshold of the Legendary class. We were both stuck at our respective power bottlenecks, desperate to find a possibility for a breakthrough."
Doctor's vertical pupils flickered slightly, as if looking back at the time fifty years ago.
"We both agreed that the Star Nucleus of the Star Beasts and the Star Source of humans are essentially of the same origin but separated. If we could break through this barrier and allow the two powers to fuse and coexist, perhaps we could step into that so-called 'Divine Realm.'"
"That was the original core of the Stars Project, the goal we pursued together."
"Since the project had the support of the General Chairman, why were you driven out of the Association later?" Tendo frowned and pressed. Such shared pursuits shouldn't have led to the current state of hostility.
"Because someone did not want to see this project succeed. There is more than just the Star Beast Court who wishes for Enite's fall." Doctor shook his head slightly with a hint of helplessness.
"The biggest difference between humans and Star Beasts is that humans are good at thinking. But sometimes, thinking too much... is not necessarily a good thing."
"And to ensure the project proceeded smoothly, the General Chairman and I worked together to put on this play."
"However, both the General Chairman and I underestimated the difficulty of this plan."
"It wasn't until I used myself as an experimental subject that I finally found a suitable path."
Hearing this, Tendo and the others all wore strange expressions. In a sense, the Doctor himself was the very first 'Child of the Stars' born from the Stars Project.
This also explained why only he could combine the power of the Star Nucleus and the Star Source to successfully create special Children of the Stars. Simultaneously, this information explained the General Chairman's unique attitude toward them. Had it not been for the General Chairman's intervention when the Ember Base was destroyed years ago, they would have long since been captured by the major factions within the New Federation to become experimental subjects in various senses. They wouldn't have their current special status.
Beside him, the little Star Beast Mo Ying seemed to understand. It tugged gently at the corner of the Doctor's clothes with its mouth, as if feeling pained by his risks back then. Little Jin let out a low howl and nuzzled Yun Meng's palm, a faint fiery star power rippling around it as if declaring it would fight side-by-side with everyone.
The Spirit Fox leaped onto the center of the conference table and yipped twice at Enite's silhouette in the holographic projection, its eyes full of wariness. The Streamer Bird landed on the Doctor's shoulder, lightly pecking at his hair with its beak as if soothing his emotions.
"Now the plan has entered a critical stage. Enite's old injuries are about to reach the threshold of eruption, and the chaos following the breaking of the covenant will become the best cover for the Star Beast Court to launch an attack."
Doctor put his mechanical mask back on, his tone returning to its steady state. At the same time, he revealed the real reason for calling everyone here.
"Tendo, Caroline, the main reason I called you here today is to tell you the General Chairman's decision. Especially you, Tendo."
Doctor's gaze landed precisely on Tendo. His expression was unusually solemn, and his steady aura had grown heavier. Even Tendo felt a chill in his heart and subconsciously sat up straighter.
In his memory, the Doctor was always a strategist—rational and calm, always having a backup plan no matter the crisis. He had never seen such a solemn expression. But at this moment, he sensed an emotion from the Doctor that shouldn't exist: uncertainty. It was as if even the Doctor couldn't guarantee the success of what he was about to say next.
"...Tendo, the General Chairman knows that the Court will not easily let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He also knows that in the current New Federation, only he can block an attack from the Legendary level."
"And the biggest reason he has never left the First Floating City, the Star-Rail Corridor, all these years is to use the Infinite Star Tracks within it to suppress the injuries in his body and maintain his state."
"But once he leaves the Star-Rail Corridor, it not only means he will take action without reservation, but it also means he is betting his hopes on others."
"Because the moment he completely steps out of the Star-Rail Corridor is the moment the New Federation and the Star Beast Court completely tear off their disguises."
"And the uniqueness of the Star Beast Court dictates that only Star Beasts can thoroughly step into that area. I think you should be very clear about what that means, right?"
Hearing the Doctor's words, Tendo understood instantly.
In a sense, the so-called Children of the Stars could be seen as humans, but also as 'Star Beasts' with human characteristics. In other words, they, as Children of the Stars, were capable of entering the 'Star Beast Court' that was originally only accessible to Star Beasts.
As for what the Doctor and the General Chairman wanted them to do, not only Tendo, but even Caroline and the others understood in an instant.
Thinking of this, Tendo looked at the Doctor and asked, "So... how much time do we have left?"
"Three years."
Doctor's tone was very calm, as if he were stating something trivial.
"Because the General Chairman told me that given his current situation, he can only maintain the harmony of the New Federation for another three years or so."
"And once that time is up, someone needs to take over his position and draw an eternal full stop between the New Federation and the Court."
"As for the candidate, both the General Chairman and I feel that it is none other than you, Tendo."
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