Brandy took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The gate of Apocalypse Base was ahead, its towering alloy doors adorned with a giant Bat Emblem that gleamed with a cold light in the setting sun.
He was about to enter this legendary behemoth, said to stand alongside the Sentinel Alliance, and become one of its members.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous.
But with the arrow on the string, it had to be shot.
He had just taken two steps—
"Whoosh—"
A powerful gust of wind descended from the sky!
Brandy's pupils suddenly contracted, his body instinctively entering a combat state.
But the next second, the strong wind abruptly stopped, and a petite figure, light as a feather, landed gracefully in front of him, blocking his path.
Her military boots tapped lightly on the ground, making a soft clack.
Her dragon wings folded and disappeared behind her.
The brim of her cap lifted slightly, revealing a small face so exquisite it was suffocating, yet devoid of any expression.
Brandy was completely stunned.
One second.
Two seconds.
He stood there dumbfounded, eyes wide, mouth slightly agape, his mind a blank slate.
This wasn't his first time seeing Lilith.
But every time he saw her, he had the same feeling—
Is this really human?
Not in terms of strength.
But this face.
That exquisite beauty, that natural presence that, despite showing no expression, seemed to draw all eyes to her.
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto her, bathing her in a faint golden halo, her silver-white long hair gently swaying in the breeze, and the red eyes beneath her cap brim were as calm as an abyss.
She stood before him, saying nothing, doing nothing.
Yet Brandy had the illusion of being watched by a deity.
Then, subconsciously, he...
Gave a thumbs up.
"Leader's outfit—"
He blurted out, his voice filled with undisguised admiration.
"Compared to the dungeon, you're truly handsome!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he froze.
What... what kind of outrageous flattery was that?!
She asked him to come here to work, not to blow rainbow farts!
But the words were out; spilled water could not be retrieved.
Brandy stood rigid, his expression a mixture of emotions.
Three parts embarrassment, two parts apprehension, one part regret.
Lilith subtly raised her head, her crimson eyes staring at him for two seconds.
Then.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.
The curve was so shallow, almost imperceptible.
But in that instant, Brandy clearly saw a subtle flicker of pleasure in the depths of those consistently cold, abyss-like red eyes.
"You can release the Alien Queen," Lilith said, her voice still cool and childish, as if nothing had happened.
"I have a use for it."
Brandy felt as if he had been granted a great pardon and nodded repeatedly.
"Oh, oh, alright, alright!"
He dared not say another word, immediately closed his eyes, unleashed his mental power, and fully activated his Storage talent.
The surrounding space rippled slightly, like water disturbed by a stone, creating visible waves.
The next second—
A behemoth abruptly appeared in the open space!
"Boom—!!!"
The moment its massive seventy-meter body hit the ground, the entire earth trembled violently!
Dust billowed, flying stones, and the monstrous beast, covered in a cerulean Exoskeleton, finally descended upon this land!
The Alien Queen.
It slowly raised its head, its dark golden vertical pupils narrowing slightly, adapting to the sunlight of the real world.
From the fissures on its back, dozens of tentacles slowly stretched out like sleeping giant pythons.
An aura of extreme savagery and terror, like a tangible shockwave, violently spread out from its center!
Inside Apocalypse Base.
The Reincarnators who were patrolling, training, and transporting supplies froze in place at the same moment.
It was a sense of trembling originating from the depths of their life essence.
Not fear, but the instinctive paralysis of creatures at the bottom of the food chain sensing the presence of a top predator.
Someone's weapon clattered to the ground.
Someone's legs went soft, instinctively leaning against the nearby wall.
Someone's face turned pale, cold sweat trickling down their temples.
Then, they all turned their heads in unison, looking outside the base gate—
At that monstrous beast, blotting out the sky, exuding an aura of destruction.
"Enemy attack—!!!"
The Reincarnator on guard immediately raised the alarm!
The shrill alarm instantly echoed throughout the entire base!
The next second, the entire Tianqi erupted like a stirred hornet's nest!
"Everyone, prepare for battle positions!"
"Heavy weapons! Mobilize heavy weapons!"
"Notify Lord William! Notify Lord Fenrir!"
"What kind of monster is that?! An Alien?! How can there be such a huge Alien?!"
Combat supplies were continuously transported to the city walls, energy weapons began to charge, heavy machine gun barrels turned, and everyone entered combat readiness in the shortest possible time!
However, just then—
"Everyone, stop!"
A clear female voice, carrying undeniable authority, echoed throughout the entire base!
Leah rushed out of the Command Center, with William close behind.
She stood on high ground, her cerulean eyes sweeping over the tense Reincarnators, her voice clear and powerful.
"That's not an enemy! It's the Leader's pet! Everyone, cancel the alarm!"
When her words fell, the entire scene was dead silent.
A pet?
That seventy-meter Alien Queen, exuding a terrifying aura, was... a pet?
Everyone looked at each other, their expressions a sight to behold.
But Leah's command was not to be questioned.
As the acting leader who had been managing Tianqi during this period, her prestige was deeply ingrained.
The alarm was canceled.
But the Reincarnators did not disperse.
They stood on the city walls, some with good eyesight, along with the Hunters, staring dumbfounded at the petite figure standing on the giant beast's head.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, Lilith stood atop the Alien Queen's head, covered in a cerulean Exoskeleton, her military uniform flapping, her silver-white long hair fluttering in the wind.
She lowered her head slightly, looking down at the Tianqi members who had just been in a state of panic, her crimson vertical pupils calm and unmoving.
Someone, nobody knew who, was the first to shout.
"Long live the Leader!!!"
The next second, cheers rose one after another, echoing throughout the entire base!
Lilith withdrew her gaze and looked down at Brandy, who was standing not far away.
She subtly lifted her smooth, white chin.
The meaning was clear—
You can go report.
Brandy understood, nodded quickly, and hurried towards the base gate.
As he passed by the Alien Queen, he couldn't help but secretly glance at the behemoth, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
In the dungeon, he was the nominal controller of this giant beast.
But now he understood.
Controller?
No such thing!
The true owner of this giant beast was only one person—the true leader of Tianqi.
Only she could truly command this colossal creature!
...