Herta Space Station, Base Zone.
The Antimatter Legion's invasion still hadn't ended.
In the corridors, every researcher was extremely busy.
Some were transporting data.
Some were online shopping for star-destroying warships.
Some were fleeing in panic.
And some were singing at the top of their lungs.
"Oh oh oh oh~~~"
Thump thump thump thump thump——!!
Finally, someone couldn't stand the noise anymore and frantically pounded on the door of the room producing the song.
Accompanying the furious knocking was a childish, milky voice:
"Stop singing——! The station master told me to hurry you up—finish showering quick and go support Captain Arlan!"
Soon, the sound of running water in the room stopped.
The door opened.
A young man wearing a fresh black long coat walked out with a calm expression.
He didn't forget to close the door behind him.
Zeig sighed: "Sigh, actually, it would've been no big deal if I didn't shower. They're just making a fuss over nothing."
The one who had come to rush Zeig was a little girl named Wen Shiling.
She was so short that she didn't even reach Zeig's legs—if she hadn't spoken, he might not have noticed she was there.
Wen Shiling looked at Zeig's smug appearance and snorted in disdain:
"So you're Zeig? Didn't expect you to look pretty decent."
It had to be said, Zeig's facial features were indeed quite good.
He was actually rather handsome.
Of course, it would be even better if there weren't something wrong with his brain.
"Heh, not worth mentioning!"
Hearing the praise, the corners of Zeig's mouth curved upward wildly.
As Wen Shiling led him on their way, he strutted grandly, occasionally flicking his coat for effect, fully displaying his flamboyance.
The researchers passing by saw the two of them and kept their distance.
As if they were looking at a lunatic.
Wen Shiling also noticed this, her mouth twitching slightly as she turned to Zeig with a dark expression:
"Hey, can you walk normally? So many people are staring—it's embarrassing!"
Faced with Wen Shiling's scolding, Zeig hooked a smile and put on what he thought was a profound and enigmatic expression:
"In all my life, Zeig has acted as he pleases—why should I explain myself to others?!"
Come on, he was now at Emanator First Order strength.
He might not dominate Herta Space Station, but walking arrogantly was basic, right?
Moreover, his martial arts had reached great completion—the mere foot soldiers of the Antimatter Legion weren't even worth considering.
But in Wen Shiling's eyes, he was just a cringe guy. Her childish voice sneered repeatedly:
"Heh, you should really learn more from Mr. Capote. You two are worlds apart—one in the sky, one in the dirt."
Hearing this, Zeig paused in surprise, stopping in his tracks with a very serious expression:
"Who's this Capote? Does he have even a tenth of my handsomeness?"
After the question, Wen Shiling huffed.
"Heh, compared to Young Master Bo, you think you're worthy?"
Immediately after, the little girl's face filled with adoration as she began introducing her idol:
"Young Master Capote is the greatest existence in Herta Space Station—at least in the hearts of us in the fan club, he's the one and only light!"
Wen Shiling led the way while excitedly recounting the legendary life of "Young Master Bo."
She gestured wildly, did several backflips, then crawled around on the ground.
Supposedly demonstrating to Zeig how Young Master Bo once used flashy footwork against enemies.
Like some kind of malformed creature.
"Did you know, Young Master Bo once…"
Zeig: "…"
All sorts of miraculous, godlike feats of "Young Master Bo," along with his classic quotes—she recited them fluently from memory.
Her face wore a infatuated grin, snot running down to her chin without her noticing.
"Hehehehe… let me tell you more."
Nearby researchers who saw Wen Shiling's possessed state quickly gave them a wide berth.
Zeig also quietly stepped back a few paces to keep his distance.
This kid.
Was probably beyond saving.
At this age, she should be doing more homework, properly preparing for the elementary-to-middle-school transition exam.
As the two walked, the surrounding scenery gradually changed.
Along the way, Zeig didn't spot March 7th or Dan Heng at all, nor did he see Station Master Asta.
What he saw most were.
Groups of researchers wrapped in bandages, gritting their teeth in pain as they carried stretchers bearing other researchers on the verge of death.
They passed by Zeig in a hurry, carrying the smell of blood and disinfectant.
Zeig didn't know what the space station had been like before, but now it was a scene of desolation.
Smashed screens lay crookedly to the side.
The corridors occasionally had large craters that had to be walked around.
A few researchers with blood-soaked bandages sat by the roadside, breathing faintly. Their expressions were tense—completely different from Wen Shiling's endless chatter.
This place had just endured an unprecedented crisis. The people they knew were either dead or injured.
Their faces were all grave.
No matter the world, humanity is bound to suffer hardship.
Once, there was the Herrscher of the Void running amok, and Herrschers committing atrocities.
And now, there are Aeons standing at the very top of the food chain.
"Humans have it rough," Zeig lamented for his race.
The existence of Aeons was one thing.
But an Aeon born solely for "Destruction"—that was the misfortune of all things.
Wanting nothing, just the withering of everything.
The reason being that the universe will eventually end anyway, so why not hasten it.
These Voidranger soldiers of the Antimatter Legion were the underlings of the Aeon of Destruction.
And Wen Shiling, walking right in front, continued leading the way while her mouth never stopped:
"Have you understood the greatness of Young Master Capote yet?"
Zeig helplessly replied: "Since you've put it that way, I'll reluctantly admit that this… spinach has maybe a ten-thousandth of my strength."
Wen Shiling: "…"
By now, the two had reached their destination. The rift crystals around them were growing thicker.
From the dark corridor ahead came waves of low growls.
Wen Shiling turned around, looked up, and said to Zeig in dissatisfaction: "It's Young Master Bo, not spinach! Also, you're just jealous of his fame, but you'll never reach his heights."
Her childish voice rang clearly at that moment.
Zeig smiled but said nothing more.
Just half a second after Wen Shiling finished speaking.
"Clang——!!"
A flash of blade light slashed toward the little girl's head.
"Ah…!!"
In that instant, Wen Shiling's pupils contracted sharply!
She held her breath, staring blankly as the blade came straight toward her eyeball.
Fear, terror, despair.
All surged from her heart like a tidal wave in that single moment.
She instinctively tried to run, but her legs felt as heavy as if filled with lead.
Just as Wen Shiling's eyes filled with red veins and her whole body stiffened.
"Clang——!!" The sound of metal clashing rang out before her.
A hand firmly gripped the sharp blade like an iron vice.
The little girl stared dumbly at the scene, her legs going weak as she lost balance and fell on her butt.
"Mon, monster…!!" Wen Shiling shouted.
The one whose blade Zeig had caught barehanded was none other than a Voidranger soldier lurking in the shadows.
"Tch, making a fuss over nothing."
Zeig directly delivered a left straight kick to the ambushing Voidranger.
"Boom——!!" The whoosh of air was relentless.
The Voidranger was actually sent flying backward by Zeig's kick, letting out a pained wail.
It traced a beautiful parabolic arc in the air before slamming hard into the metal barrier.
Lifeless.
"There, I've brought you this far. See? That left straight kick of mine—was way cooler than that spinach guy, right?"
After showing off in front of Wen Shiling, Zeig smiled faintly, clasped his hands behind his back, and strode toward the dark rift ahead.
The little girl remained kneeling on the ground, unable to recover for a long time.
One hit.
He killed a Voidranger with one hit?!
Her innocent eyes stared at the towering back in front of her, lost in a daze.
…