Amidst the emptiness of space, Hoshigaki Sora moved like a pale reaper.
Wherever he passed, swarms of True Sting met instantaneous death.
The crimson blade in his hand swung like a sickle harvesting lives, creating a brilliant neon curtain against the darkness.
Within that luminous veil, the True Sting fell one after another, wilting like fragile petals. Yet, undaunted, they continued their relentless charge toward Sora's location.
For Sora, however, this battle provided a much-needed opportunity to stretch his muscles—grown stiff after so many idle days aboard the spaceship.
The blade flickered again, and another True Sting perished beneath its keen edge.
If such elegant swordsmanship were broadcast throughout the universe, countless interstellar fans would undoubtedly exclaim in awe at the sheer coolness on display.
His strikes were precise, clean, devoid of wasted movement.
Each action was minimal yet calculated for maximum effect, each sweep of his sword sealing another insect's fate.
The vivid flashes from the spaceship's cannons accentuated every one of his swift movements, each slash perfectly synced with the roar of artillery.
With every moment that passed, the number of True Sting dwindled rapidly.
"Truly worthy of a ship personally chosen by Anna. This kind of firepower would dominate small-scale conflicts effortlessly."
Seeing Sora unharmed, Robin shifted her focus to the spaceship itself.
Nothing could be allowed to go wrong here. Any malfunction meant drifting helplessly through space indefinitely.
Fortunately, considering how much Anna cared about Sora, the spaceship's firepower and comfort level ranked among the best available.
Yet, astonishingly, this very ship was slated for retirement soon—solely because Sora had been aboard for too long...
Who'd even believe it if she told them?
Robin couldn't help but sigh at the thought.
Observing Anna's behavior, she had a peculiar sense of déjà vu—something she'd witnessed elsewhere before.
Anna now resembled those fervent fans tirelessly pouring their resources into idol rankings.
But then again..."Robin's eyes softened as she returned her gaze to Sora.
When someone dedicates everything they have to protect others, isn't it only right they receive this kind of treatment?
Soon, all True Sting signatures vanished from the scanner, and the vast space returned to its habitual stillness.
Apart from the spaceship wreckage drifting ahead, nothing hinted at the brief yet intense battle that had just occurred.
With the threat subsiding, Sora carefully gathered the insect remains scattered across the deck, ejecting them into space for Robin to incinerate.
He couldn't risk attracting more bizarre creatures. Extreme caution was essential.
Even after entering the ship, Sora meticulously inspected himself several times to ensure no stray insect had followed him aboard to disrupt his journey.
Only after all these precautions did he finally slump back into the softness of the sofa, releasing a tired breath.
Stretching his limbs, he instantly felt relief wash over him.
This battle, using ordinary synthetic armor, had allowed Sora to gauge his current strength.
"Even without enhancements, my swordsmanship alone could probably earn some recognition across the galaxy," he mused aloud.
He hadn't even used special abilities—if he had, his capabilities would surely ascend several more tiers.
The Four Horseman's smug smiles.jpg
Then again, how exactly did our Great Benefactor manage to take those four offline?
"You did well," Robin approached, updating him smoothly. "I've reported the Tru Sting presence on this route to the Interstellar Peace Corporation."
Alerting them would help future travelers avoid the danger here.
"That's good," Sora nodded, then casually asked, "By the way, how many days do we have left until our destination?"
"Based on our route, we should arrive in a few more days…" Robin trailed off abruptly, catching Sora's amused gaze. She smiled sheepishly. "When exactly did you find out?"
Sora gave her a deadpan stare. "Did you two seriously believe I'd hop aboard some random spaceship without suspicion?"
Come on—he'd boarded this ship immediately after wiping out a group of nihilists trying to forge their own future.
Moreover, that had been within his partner's territory.
Did they even understand the status of Promia's Guardian Deity?
Someone of his stature couldn't simply be kidnapped onto a spaceship without inside assistance.
Counting carefully, only a handful of people close to him possessed both the motivation and capability.
"So, you already knew…" Robin muttered, slightly embarrassed by her unsuccessful cover-up.
"Forget it, it's not a big deal," Sora dismissed lightly. Upon confirming there were still a few days of travel remaining, he relaxed once more.
With only a short distance left, what else could possibly go wrong?
All that remained was to wait leisurely aboard the ship and see just what kind of relaxing vacation spot Anna had arranged.
Yet before Sora could rest long, alarms blared again from the ship's scanner.
This time, however, the alerts weren't triggered by Swarm activity. Instead, a spaceship was drifting idly through the galaxy.
As soon as Sora detected them, the other party sent a communication request.
"Looks like they've run out of fuel," Robin deduced cautiously. "Still, we can't lower our guard—space pirates sometimes pretend like this."
"Let's first see who's aboard," Sora replied calmly.
Robin nodded and activated the communication channel.
Static filled the screen briefly, clearing seconds later to reveal the image of the individual aboard the stranded ship.
Seeing who it was, Sora fell into stunned silence.
Why are you always tangled up with these insects...?
"Ah, how beautiful you two are, drifting amidst the stars!" A voice melodiously proclaimed from the screen.
The red-haired man gazed dramatically into the camera, exclaiming passionately:
"To encounter you both in this vast galaxy must surely be Idrila's divine guidance!"
Then, from nowhere, he produced a single rose, holding it forth theatrically:
"Allow me, in the profound weight of this rose, to offer my greetings!"
How come you're always showing up wherever there are bugs involved?