WebNovels

Chapter 16 - Ch.16 Aeons Are All Stubborn

Herta Space Station, Platform.

Stelle shielded March 7th from the Doomsday Beast's beam, the Stellaron Core in her body overloaded with imaginary energy, teetering on the edge of explosion.

Adrian stepped in front of Stelle, sensing the restless Stellaron Core within her. He flicked her forehead with a single finger.

Pop!

Stelle's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.

Don't underestimate that flick. The [Eternal Shackle] sealed the imaginary energy in her Stellaron Core instantly.

"Take care of her. I'm going to solo the Doomsday Beast."

Before anyone could react, Adrian leaped off the platform, vanishing with the Doomsday Beast from everyone's sight.

Dan Heng watched the trail of Adrian's departure, recalling his void-tearing move from before.

"His movement just now was no different from the Express's warp—maybe even faster," Dan Heng remarked.

Welt's voice came from behind as he adjusted his glasses, spotting the unconscious Stelle.

"Sorry, I'm a step late."

"Adrian… he just vanished?!" March 7th stammered, cradling the unconscious Stelle.

"Let's talk somewhere else. This isn't the place," Welt said.

As he spoke, the Astral Express pulled into the platform.

With the Doomsday Beast taken away by Adrian, the crisis on the space station was resolved.

Asta expressed her deep gratitude to the Astral Express crew, bowing repeatedly.

The Antimatter Legion had been repelled, but the station had taken significant damage.

Fortunately, contrary to Adrian's earlier words, there weren't countless casualties. Most researchers evacuated in time, unscathed.

Only a few sustained minor scrapes—no one lost their life!

As for the damaged research equipment, Asta wasn't too concerned.

She could fund replacements easily, but lives couldn't be bought back.

Recalling Adrian's earlier words, Asta fell into deep thought.

Adrian must have some grudge against the Antimatter Legion to harbor such hatred for the Aeon of [Destruction].

Could it be…

Asta thought of a novel she'd read in her spare time, penned by the Mask of Fools.

The story's protagonist was a black-haired boy named Yan Ye, whose hometown was destroyed by the Antimatter Legion. Miraculously surviving, he vowed revenge for his fallen family, embarking on the Paths of [Trailblaze], [Elation], and [Eternity], aiming to take down every Annihilation Lord and, ultimately, slay an Aeon!

The book was riddled with plot holes. His hometown was destroyed, yet he didn't follow [The Hunt], instead pursuing three unrelated Paths.

It was written by the Mask of Fools, after all—what truth could come from their mouths?

But…

Considering Adrian's situation:

A Pathstrider of [Eternity], now aboard the [Trailblaze]'s Astral Express, and, as Lady Herta once mentioned, his antics leaned toward [Elation].

He was practically the novel's protagonist!

Asta's eyes widened in shock. She'd uncovered something terrifying.

Could that novel… be based on a true story?

Galactic Frontier, a mysterious tower faintly visible in a vortex.

Adrian, in a fresh set of clothes, appeared here. Looking at the room filled with magical girl aesthetics, he thought of his priestess.

"Lady Herta, did you know that just a few system hours ago, your space station suffered a devastating attack from the Antimatter Legion?"

Dodging all the cleaning puppets, Adrian approached the resting Herta.

No wonder Asta couldn't reach her—Herta's phone was on do-not-disturb mode during her nap.

"Ugh… with an Aeon watching over, what does the station need me for?"

Herta groggily poked her head out from under the covers. It was a rare day off.

"Did you know Ruan Mei's experiment failed again?"

"Her baffling life science research—don't you find it fascinating?" Herta said, updating Adrian on recent events.

A puppet brought Adrian a wooden stool.

Every time Herta heard of Ruan Mei's failures, she'd rush over to "congratulate" her thoroughly.

This time, Herta planned to bake a delicious cream cake as a celebratory gift.

"For a genius, nothing's more valuable than failure."

Looking at Adrian, a question sparked in her mind.

"But… for an Aeon?"

"I think… this is more interesting." Adrian pulled a gilded trash can from his system space.

"Recognize this?"

Herta hesitated.

"You turned Nanook into a trash can?"

"Got to admit, you've got a knack for humor."

Herta grew suspicious. Aeons were all stubborn—she'd just seen this guy brawl with a colleague. Hadn't the Mask of Fools said it?

[Erudition] is a pile of scrap, [Preservation] is a dimwit; [The Hunt] has no sense of humor, [Destruction] is a lunatic; [Voracity] eats everything, [Nihility] slacks off all day; [Finality] is nowhere to be found; [Eternity] runs around causing chaos, never doing anything serious. Aeons are all stubborn, and Aha's got no face!

Adrian coated the gilded trash can with a protective film. "Oh, right. I've got some ancient beast fragments. Want to study them?"

He presented the remains of a Doomsday Beast, forged by the Antimatter Legion using fragments of the Twilight Ancient Beast and the wails of countless souls from the [War Forge].

Adrian hadn't expected the Doomsday Beast to be so fragile, unable to withstand even a basic warp, tearing apart into pieces.

He'd planned to drag it to meet Nanook for a little "Aeon shock" for Stelle, even transforming into a trash can for the occasion.

Why a trash can?

For the fun of it, of course! And to instill in Stelle a good habit of rummaging through trash cans!

"Not interested."

Herta tossed the remains into the trash can. She'd studied Doomsday Beasts before.

"So, the station got hit by a Doomsday Beast this time?" Herta asked.

"Five, to be precise."

Adrian began recounting the series of events to Herta…

"The Stellaron Hunters turned a Stellaron into a kid? That's intriguing! Can I study her?"

Herta's interest was piqued. She glanced at the gilded trash can by her bed but set it aside—this research was too important.

She wasn't keen on studying [Destruction] Nanook alone, but a Stellaron kid? That was worth a deep dive!

"You'd have to ask her. What if she says no?"

"A Stellaron in her body—how fascinating! If I help her, it's a service even the IPC's money can't buy."

Herta grew more excited, her sleepiness gone, but seeing Adrian's half-smile, she swallowed her words.

"Ugh… in the eyes of you Aeons, a Stellaron's nothing special."

"You could study her intermittently. The Astral Express stops by the station now and then."

"Good point. Keeps it fresh. Breakfast?"

Herta snapped her fingers, and a puppet promptly handed her pre-baked bread.

"Your sleep schedule… needs some serious tweaking."

"You wouldn't get it. A genius's life is busy!"

Herta took a bite of bread. "What do you think about the IPC higher-ups getting attacked?"

"Aha's doing."

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