"Um… why are you so sure Arlan will come to rescue us? Shouldn't the Security Department be under the most pressure right now?" Stelle thought for a moment and asked.
According to the normal plot, Arlan should be the one waiting for them to rescue him right now.
Uh… well, a lot of the plot has already been derailed anyway.
"The Security Department is indeed under significant pressure, but Captain Arlan is very strong. Clearing out the Legion's Voidrangers is only a matter of time for him," Dan Heng explained.
"…Signal. Is it coming from here?"
"Y-Yes, Captain, but the access control here seems to be malfunctioning. We can't open it…"
"Mm. Understood."
BANG!
A conversation suddenly came from the other side of the door.
After a brief silence, a crisp shattering sound was heard, and the specially reinforced security door was cleaved open by a greatsword.
As the dust settled, a figure with dark skin and white hair walked in slowly.
"…I'm here."
Arlan's expression was calm, the greatsword in his hand emanating an undeniable chill. He looked like a war god.
Stelle's mouth twitched: Talk about role reversal…
But he's pretty cool when he's being this noticeable.
"Arlan, the Legion's main force is still here. We're counting on you," Dan Heng said.
"You, take the civilian and leave. The Legion, I'll handle."
"Be careful. There are still a lot of Voidrangers over there," Stelle reminded.
Arlan nodded. "I'll deal with it."
He gives off a strangely invincible vibe…
After bidding farewell to Arlan, the three of them made their way towards the Master Control Zone. The journey was eerily quiet. Apart from the trouble of restarting the elevator's operating system, not a single Voidranger came to disturb them.
It felt a bit too smooth.
"So… is Arlan really going to be okay alone?" Stelle asked worriedly after restarting the elevator system. Only after entering the 'game' and seeing those Voidrangers firsthand could she truly feel how terrifying the mobs she usually cut down like roadside weeds really were.
They were essentially monsters without pain, without fear, their entire bodies weapons designed for killing.
"Don't worry. This is, after all, the Herta Space Station. To be the security captain under an Emanator, Arlan's strength is unquestionable," Dan Heng explained.
"However… the Legion's numbers are immense. For Arlan to have cleared this area so thoroughly in such a short time is indeed somewhat strange."
Stelle shrugged helplessly. Just as she was about to step into the elevator, a sharp sound of something cutting through the air suddenly assailed her ears!
A massive figure drilled out of the space ahead, thrusting directly towards her vitals!
It was a Voidranger: Trampler!
I'm done for!
The thought had just surfaced in Stelle's mind when her body was sent flying backwards like a cannonball, slamming heavily into the wall.
"Stelle!"
March 7th's beautiful eyes narrowed, her gaze instantly turning sharp. A long spear materialized in her hand, and she immediately engaged the Trampler in combat.
Dan Heng went to check on Stelle first, his antique bronze gourd appearing in his hand, ready to heal her at a moment's notice.
"I feel like my whole body is shattered…"
Stelle's face was scrunched up in pain as she struggled to get up from the ground.Got to admit, the Stellaron vessel's body was really durable. After taking such a heavy hit, an ordinary person would probably be in need of urgent life-saving measures.
"Are you alright?" Dan Heng asked.
"I'm okay, I'm fine." Stelle picked up her baseball bat, gritting her teeth. "Let's go help March!"
"Alright…"
Dan Heng had only uttered that one word when he suddenly froze in place, his eyes turning sharp as he stared intently in the direction they had come from.
"Dan Heng? What's wrong with you…"
Stelle noticed his state and followed his gaze, immediately freezing on the spot as well.
A few minutes earlier.
"Sorry, Blade. SAM makes quite a commotion, so I have to rely on you to clear out the Legion mobs."
Firefly smiled apologetically.
Along the way, it was basically Blade alone doing the fighting. Upon seeing Voidrangers, he would without a word start stabbing them.
The combat process was extremely simple and brutal.
Voidrangers generally had low intelligence, their combat style being to trade injury for kills. They had no concept of 'death', only wanting to destroy mindlessly.
And Blade's fighting style was somewhat similar. Since he couldn't die anyway, abandoning defense made fighting simpler and more efficient. So he just silently traded blows – the enemy stabs him once, he stabs the enemy to death.
By the end of the path, only Blade's clothes had suffered.
"…Hmph. No need for useless talk. Find her quickly. We leave immediately after confirming her safety," Blade said coldly.
"Mm."
The two of them pushed forward smoothly until they neared the central elevator. Then they heard a 'THUD', as if something had hit the wall next to them.
—"Stelle!"
A cry of alarm came from behind the wall, causing the gentle expression on Firefly's face to instantly darken.
Stelle? What happened to her? Is she in trouble? Who did it? Do they have a death wish?
And who is that speaking? That one word contained anxiety, anger, concern…
No, no, no. The priority right now is to ensure Stelle's safety, right?
Even though activating SAM will cause a big commotion, the current situation seems to leave no choice. Should I just activate SAM and smash through?
Beep!
Blade was only silent for a moment before he found the access control to the central area and pressed the switch.
"We can enter from here," Blade said, uncharacteristically using a few more words.
"..."
"Firefly."
"…Ah? Ahaha, sorry Blade, I was spacing out for a moment."
"…Sigh. I need you to remain calm at all times during the mission. Otherwise, you'll only hold your comrades back. Do you understand?" Blade lectured sternly. "Not just for me, but for all of us. For the 'Stellaron Hunters'."
"You're right. My apologies."
The two cautiously entered through the doorway. Once inside, Blade instinctively scanned their surroundings. Then, his eyes met those of a certain memorable, cold-faced young dragon.
"Phew, looks like Stelle is relatively safe. With those two from the Astral Express protecting her, one Voidranger Trampler shouldn't be a problem," Firefly let out a relieved breath. "Blade, let's go?"
"..."
"Blade?"
"…Heh… Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha!!"
Firefly: ???
Wait, what's going on? Firefly followed Blade's gaze and happened to see Stelle and Dan Heng over there.
Firefly's heart sank.
This is bad…
Before the mission started, Kafka had repeatedly warned her, absolutely, positively, under no circumstances should Blade be allowed to encounter the Astral Express's Dan Heng.
Because if that happened, ordinary people wouldn't be able to suppress Blade's Mara.
"Blade, calm down! You just said we need to stay calm, otherwise we'll hold our comrades back." Firefly pulled on Blade's arm, trying to drag him outside. "Calm down!"
Blade laughed heartily. "Is that so? A pity…"
"When the Mara strikes, I become a different person!"