Chapter 1002: Wait and See

Chapter 1002: Watching and Waiting

Because of the Shining World, countless factions now gather within the Shattered Star Ring; this star sector is currently the most bustling region in the entire cosmos, drawing the gaze of all, so that the slightest ripple of disturbance spreads to every corner of the universe with breathtaking speed.

Toraine’s challenge was kept no secret, and intelligence of the duel raced through the sprawling quantum network channels, igniting the entire Shattered Star Ring in a matter of mere hours!

The birth of every Beyond Grade A is a monumental event across the cosmos, and following Black Star, the Shattered Star Ring has finally welcomed its sixth supreme entity!

The news arrived with such suddenness that no faction was prepared; everyone scrambled to gather Hela’s past records, desperate to understand this newly ascended powerhouse who had emerged from the shadows.

Before this, Hela’s prolonged cultivation left few traces of her activities across the stars, drawing little attention; her most notable title was merely Captain of Black Star’s Royal Guards, and for the past two decades she had vanished from sight, yet now she had quietly stepped into the realm of Beyond Grade A, and upon her first reappearance, she unveiled her might to the entire universe, carving out a record of undeniable, ironclad triumph!

Toraine, who had joined the Void Spirit Sect years ago, was no weakling himself, yet his bold attempt to challenge her on her own turf ended in defeat, only to burnish her renown—a classic case of dropping a stone on one’s own foot that never fails to amuse the masses.

A newly ascended Beyond Grade A defeating another of the same tier proved her immediate combat prowess was formidable at this echelon; moreover, investigations revealed that while Hela’s ascent could not match Han Xiao’s record, it still far outpaced the average timeline for such a breakthrough, signaling untapped potential and suggesting her destiny would hardly end here.

Remote and isolated, the Shattered Star Ring had long languished at the bottom among all star sectors in terms of Beyond Grade A powerhouses, a plight somewhat alleviated by Black Star’s rise, and now Hela’s ascension has once again elevated the region’s standing.

Yet, more than the birth of a supreme entity itself, what truly captivated the major factions was Hela’s background.

This newly born Beyond Grade A of the Shattered Star Ring hailed from no ordinary origins!

Intelligence revealed she was not only a member of the Black Star Army but also Ames’s disciple, connected to two towering figures, and, like Black Star himself, born on the planet Aquamarine!

Upon seeing her birthplace, nearly every faction was struck with astonishment.

Aquamarine—a backwater that was merely a surface-level civilization decades ago—had actually produced two Beyond Grade A entities in one breath?!

What hidden marvels did this world possess to nurture such extraordinary talent to this staggering degree!

Perhaps they had simply stumbled upon a stroke of absurd, heaven-sent luck!

Even accounting for figures throughout history, these two remained, among all the Beyond Grade A entities in the cosmos… the only pair of fellow countrymen!

These unique ties were the true catalyst for the upheaval among the great powers; at this critical juncture, everyone’s foremost concern was how the emergence of this new supreme entity would reshape the current balance of power.

Given that Hela’s official title remained an officer of the Black Star Army, every faction understood that the army was likely on the brink of a seismic shift, perhaps even a schism where Hela might carve out her own domain, and how would Black Star respond?

Harboring such thoughts, the entire universe held its breath, watching to see how the winds would blow.

……

War Domain, Planet Heber.

“What, that Hela has stepped into Beyond Grade A?!”

Chief Vanguard Frothes whipped his head around, staring fixedly at Jorde who had come to deliver the report, his face etched with sheer disbelief.

“Yes, just yesterday she defeated Toraine of the Void Spirit Sect; the intelligence is confirmed.”

Jorde offered a bitter smile.

The event was so abrupt that upon first receiving the news, he too had been startled, frozen for a long moment before his wits returned.

“How could this be…”

Frothes murmured to himself, his expression one of utter incredulity.

Decades ago, the two had clashed as representatives of the War Domain and the Black Star Army, their duel halted before a victor could be decided; he had always regarded Hela as his rival, yet never imagined he would once again be left far in the dust by the very adversary he had measured himself against.

First it was Black Star, and now Hela; Frothes was utterly baffled, unable to suppress a creeping suspicion… could the Black Star Army truly possess some secret art for ascending to Beyond Grade A?

The threshold of Beyond Grade A still lay distant for him, while his old rival had already crossed it; the bitter taste of being surpassed weighed heavily upon him, breeding a profound sense of powerlessness in Frothes’s heart.

Meanwhile, within the Hegemon’s palace, Heber was discussing this very topic with Sorokin’s projected consciousness.

“A key officer of the Black Star Army has ascended to Beyond Grade A; the most likely outcome is that they gain another ally, which will further expand Black Star’s power and influence in the Shattered Star Ring, to our detriment.” Sorokin’s face was drawn with resignation; this sudden development lay outside his calculations, and he had no ready counter.

“Another one tied to Black Star.”

Heber was visibly displeased, a sour jealousy gnawing at his chest.

Why did Black Star enjoy such fortune, constantly drawing exceptional talents to his banner?

I am a Beyond Grade A entity as well, so why do I lack such formidable officers under my command?

“I lack sufficient intelligence; to contain Hela, we will need time to uncover her weaknesses, and I will task my subordinates with this.” Sorokin spread his hands. “Until then, we watch and wait.”

“Hmph, do as you please.” Heber offered a noncommittal grunt.

……

Shattered Star Ring, Homeworld of the Star-Pupil Divine Clan.

“Another one?!”

Staring at the news broadcast detailing Hela’s rise on his communicator, Cisco ground his teeth, all seven of his eyeballs aching with sheer fury.

Following the Lighthouse Star incident, his clan’s position in the Shattered Star Ring was already precarious, and now Black Star had gained yet another local Beyond Grade A ally.

Black Star served the Empire, standing directly against him; Heber, though no friend of Black Star, shared that same opposing stance; beyond them, the other three Beyond Grade A entities in the Shattered Star Ring were all entangled with Black Star to some degree… not a single local supreme being stood by his side, and his local adversaries had just multiplied from four to five.

What in the bloody hell!

Is this wretched place even fit to live in anymore?!

Cisco’s composure utterly shattered.

……

While storms gathered beyond, amidst this turbulent climate, Hela departed from Longtan alone, setting course for the Black Star Army headquarters.

Ames did not accompany her this time, having been forcibly detained on Longtan by Jenny to bury herself in a mountain of backlogged duties, leaving her no room to slip away.

Aquamarine lay close to the army’s central command, and before long, Hela arrived at the headquarters she had not seen in years; Han Xiao, who had recently returned from the Shining World, was already waiting for her.

The moment she stepped into the army’s domain, Hela sensed a shift in the air.

News of her ascension to Beyond Grade A had already swept through every rank of the Black Star Army; along her path, every pair of eyes followed her, each gaze brimming with reverence and quiet curiosity.

Keeping her gaze fixed straight ahead, she first sought out Aurora, whom she had not seen in years, striding directly into the officers’ lounge where numerous army cadres had already gathered in anticipation.

“Congratulations on reaching Beyond Grade A.”

As Hela entered the room, the crowd stepped forward with smiles, offering their congratulations in unison.

“Thank you.” Hela nodded, acknowledging each one in turn; though her demeanor remained cool, she was far from unapproachable.

The room was warm with camaraderie when suddenly, a robust voice rang out, drowning out all others, dripping with overwhelming enthusiasm:

“Captain, you’ve finally returned! I’ve missed you to death!”

Hadaway pushed through the crowd, executing a flamboyant side-step to glide right before Hela, his face plastered with obvious sycophancy and his voice booming.

“You missed me?” Hela’s brow furrowed in suspicion; she recalled no such closeness with Hadaway.

“Not just me! For twenty years, every royal guard has longed for you ceaselessly; without your command, we’ve been utterly lost! You’ve traveled so far, you must be exhausted; don’t just stand there, please sit and rest, don’t wear yourself out.” Hadaway fawned over her with relentless warmth, his attitude so excessively eager it bordered on the pathetic devotion of a hound.

The onlookers were stunned by his performance, exchanging sidelong glances.

We distinctly remember you singing a very different tune before…

His sudden shift in demeanor was as stark as a Sichuan opera mask-change!

Fudin raised an eyebrow, offering a teasing reminder: “Is that so? I seem to recall you claiming Hela was unfit for duty, and that upon her return, you would challenge her for the captain’s seat. Well, she’s back now; your chance has arrived.”

“Nonsense! I never uttered such words!” Hadaway declared with an air of righteous indignation, his tone ringing with conviction. “Hela, pay no heed to their slander; they are merely trying to drive a wedge between us. Every time I’ve spoken of you in private, has it not been in praise?! Do not trust these jealous souls who envy our bond!”

The moment he learned of Hela’s ascension, his jaw had nearly hit the floor, and he instantly wished to slap himself senseless, desperate to swallow every word he had ever spoken against her over the years.

They have already ascended to the Super A-grade, and you expect me to challenge their throne? Do you take me for a complete fool!

What? You call that cowardice?

Utter nonsense!

Since when does a wise man's prudence equate to timidity? It is called measuring the shifting tides!

The crowd stood aghast; to weave such falsehoods without so much as a flutter of the eyelids—truly, your hide remains as impenetrable as ever!

“Is that so? Then why do I find it so utterly unconvincing?” Hela scoffed.

Amidst the idle banter, Aurora stepped into the chamber, her voice ringing out in delighted surprise.

“Sister, you’re finally back!”

Hela turned her gaze toward Aurora, her eyes melting in an instant; she hastened to her sister’s side, drinking in the sight of the girl she had not seen in years, and unleashed a torrent of long-suppressed, tender inquiries:

“How have you fared all these years? Have you been eating properly, sleeping soundly…”

Though she knew Han Xiao would see to Aurora’s well-being, never since the fall of Germinal had they been parted for so long; each passing day had been plagued by restless imaginings, her heart tethered to every detail of her sister’s life.

After the sisters exchanged a few tender words, Hela reluctantly tore herself away—for she knew Han Xiao awaited her in his office.

Making her way to the Legion Commander’s office, Hela pushed open the heavy doors to find Han Xiao, a long-missed figure, seated behind his desk and offering her a quiet smile.

“You’ve arrived.” Han Xiao nodded with a gentle smile. “My congratulations on ascending to the Super A-grade.”

“I have kept my vow, returning only after breaking through.” Hela gave a nod and took the seat across from him.

“I always knew you would succeed; I never harbored a single doubt.” Han Xiao’s gaze swept over her, noting how every facet of her being had been honed to near perfection.

“And I knew, without question, that you believed in me.”

A shared smile passed silently between them.

“I would gladly hear tales of your journeys, but those can wait; let us attend to matters of consequence first.” Han Xiao tapped his fingers against the desk, his eyes locking onto hers as he spoke deliberately. “You stand at the Super A-grade now. Tell me, what path do you intend to walk? Do you wish to strike out on your own?”

“Were I to choose independence, would I have your blessing?” Hela countered.

“We are friends. I would never chain you to my service. Should you choose to stand alone, I will lend you every ounce of support I can muster, furnishing whatever resources you require to forge your own Super A-grade dominion.” Han Xiao rapped his knuckles lightly against the wood, a faint smile gracing his lips.

At his words, Hela did not answer at once; a rare shadow of hesitation clouded her features.

A heavy silence settled over the chamber.

——

(An urgent matter arose today, so the chapter runs a touch short. (:?:)