Chapter 1018: Tit for Tat

Chapter One Thousand Eighteen: Clashing Heads

Death energy ravaged the fleet, corroding through shields and rending outer armor, while bursts of cosmic fireworks erupted in the void as Hela’s silhouette darted through the chaos.

Countless subordinates of Gorutan fell to a hybrid of physical and mental devastation, their life force siphoned by the death energy to replenish Hela’s vitality, while fragments of their souls were absorbed to fortify the potency of her abilities.

Caught off guard, the fleet faltered for a heartbeat before scrambling to retaliate, their broadside cannons unleashing a concentrated barrage that was largely evaded or deflected by her veil of death energy, leaving only a fraction to inflict actual harm upon Hela.

Yet against Hela’s ruthless efficiency in leeching vitality, such wounds vanished almost in the blink of an eye.

Gorutan’s gaze seemed to spit flames, his fury boiling over as his speed surged, piercing through the churning miasma of death energy surrounding Hela in a mere instant to close the distance to her true form, this time holding nothing back, his lethal strikes leaving trails of infinite afterimages that hammered into her like a tempest.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Ringing shockwaves of martial aura detonated outward, the concussive force of his fists relentlessly shattering Hela’s organs and bones, the wrathful might of a peak Super-A martial artist threatening to reduce her to a pulp of flesh.

Yet bolstered by a torrent of siphoned vitality, Hela’s endurance leaped several tiers, her life force plummeting and surging in a relentless cycle, barely holding the line.

Hela wove through evasions and parries, never ceasing her counterattacks, even trading blows for wounds with a ferocity that bordered on the savage.

“You are truly courting death!”

Burning with rage, Gorutan pummeled Hela while casting a murderous glance back toward the Black Star Legion fleet hovering not far behind.

If Hela dared slaughter his subordinates to vent her spite, he could easily return the favor upon the Black Star Legion, letting them bleed just as she had.

But at that very moment, Gorutan’s eyes narrowed as a mechanized legion surged forth from the Black Star fleet to shield the vessels, led by a figure radiating terrifying energy fluctuations—the Black Star Dominator’s avatar, accompanying the armada.

Han Xiao’s mechanical forces held their ground, showing no intention of rushing to Hela’s rescue, and Gorutan knew that striking the legion fleet would only trap him in a two-front war.

“I am but one man, incapable of splitting myself; if I attack the Black Star fleet, I will be locked in combat with Black Star himself, leaving Hela free to butcher my troops at will.”

The thought flashed through his mind, forcing Gorutan to abandon any notion of turning his wrath upon the fleet, his irritation only deepening.

Was he, a peak Super-A powerhouse, merely being treated as a sparring dummy?

Black Star, do you truly believe I lack the capacity to slaughter your officers?!

Very well! If you refuse to intervene, I will beat your vice-commander to death right before your eyes!

From the moment Hela began slaughtering his subordinates, the conflict had escalated beyond mere probing; Gorutan discarded any notion of restraint and embraced lethal intent. Was Black Star untouchable? So what! They were both peak Super-A entities. Did he truly think Gorutan feared him? He had his own pride to uphold!

Gorutan intensified his assault, channeling every ounce of his fury into devastating force, unleashing it all upon the adversary before him.

Relentless aggression inevitably breeds openings. Though blood sprayed from Hela’s battered form, she ignored the agony, maintaining icy composure as she fixed her gaze upon the increasingly dense death energy coiling around Gorutan, her eyes suddenly sharpening.

Suddenly, Gorutan’s fist, wreathed in violent martial aura, thundered forward, activating a technique that magnified its power exponentially, warping the very space around the impact point.

Swish!

The fist pierced through Hela’s chest as if she were hollow, the concussive force bursting outward and parting the crimson sea of death energy.

Yet Gorutan’s gaze tightened, sensing no resistance of solid flesh.

In the next instant, Hela’s body dissolved into a vortex of death energy that coiled around Gorutan’s arm, while far within the crimson miasma, a humanoid shape of energy rose, rapidly shifting and solidifying into Hela’s true form.

Dead Sea Stealth!

Hela could partially convert her body into energy, allowing her to teleport across zones saturated with death energy; it carried a lengthy cooldown, making it one of her scarce mobility techniques.

Gorutan frowned, having pummeled her for so long that he had assumed Hela lacked any evasive capabilities.

Just as he prepared to press the attack, Gorutan felt his fist grow heavy; the residual energy husk left behind by Hela’s teleportation wrapped around his hand, exerting a tremendous suction that dragged his arm downward, as though pulling him into the ocean of death energy beneath his feet.

Simultaneously, the layers of Death Erosion upon Gorutan surged from ten to a maximum of fifteen!

Ferry of the Dead!

Hela’s methods for stacking Death Erosion extended far beyond basic attacks; she possessed techniques capable of layering multiple marks instantly, and this was one of them—a semi-control skill that, upon successful activation, would impose five layers of Death Erosion upon the target.

She had concealed her abilities precisely for this moment, aiming to strike suddenly, max out the marks on Gorutan in one go, and detonate fifteen layers of Reaper’s Harvest before he could purge the debuffs.

Attacking Gorutan’s fleet served two purposes: to leech vitality and shape a battlefield favorable to her endurance, and to draw his aggression.

In her eyes, only by becoming bait and provoking Gorutan’s wrath could she force him to expose weaknesses; once he grew reckless and intensified his offense, his defensive focus would inevitably wane.

With cold clarity in her eyes, Hela allowed no time for Gorutan to react the moment the skill triggered, seamlessly chaining into Reaper’s Harvest to detonate all fifteen marks.

Boom!

A blinding crimson radiance erupted from Gorutan’s body!

Seizing the opportunity, Hela retreated, putting distance between them.

Yet in the very next instant, a beam of deep brown martial energy shot forth from the crimson blast, vaporizing the death energy in its path and striking Hela directly, hurling her straight toward the planet Phiri.

The brown ray pierced straight through Phiri, much like a toothpick through an orange.

But within a second, the perforation appeared at both poles of the planet, rapidly widening as the core’s incandescent crimson light began to bloom.

Hum!

In an instant, all vision was swallowed by blinding whiteness, forcing everyone to shut their eyes instinctively; had the ship’s viewports not possessed spectral and luminance regulators, such intensity would have seared the retinas of many present.

“Warning! Warning! Energy detonation detected! Detonation classification: Planetary Annihilation!”

Shrill alarms blared across every vessel, and when eyes finally reopened, a world of such magnitude had vanished without a trace.

Only a faint drift of dust remained where the planet had been, entirely collapsed and annihilated, its countless materials vaporized, and Hela nowhere to be found.

By then, the sphere of death energy unleashed by Reaper’s Harvest rapidly dissipated, revealing Gorutan’s figure, his body marred by numerous corrosive wounds that were slowly scabbing over.

His level was too high for an instant-kill effect to take hold, yet the strike had still vaporized twenty percent of his life force!

Since ascending to the peak Super-A tier, Gorutan had rarely sustained such severe injuries; he had anticipated dispatching a fledgling Super-A like Hela with ease, never expecting to suffer such a setback.

Consumed by fury, Gorutan ruthlessly unleashed one of his trump cards, a self-devised martial arts masterpiece: Beast Ancestor Style, Light of Piercing Annihilation. This was no mere martial fluctuation, but a technique infused with the cosmic laws he had internalized through bodily cultivation.

Though it appeared as a simple beam of martial aura, it actually swept up the ambient energy of the cosmic void along its trajectory, generating terrifying radiation that multiplied its destructive power; striking a planetary core would trigger a chain collapse to obliterate the world, and its lethality against living beings was equally dreadful.

Hela’s vitality was already depleted, and under such a strike, she seemed instantly vaporized.

Gorutan’s gaze, radiating murderous intent, shifted toward the distant Black Star, his martial aura steadily rising.

Having eliminated the vice-commander right before Black Star’s eyes, he did not expect the latter to remain indifferent, and had already prepared himself to face a formidable adversary.

Yet contrary to his expectations, Han Xiao’s mechanical forces did not charge forward for vengeance as he had imagined, but instead turned toward the region of planetary debris.

Just as confusion took hold, a wisp of gray light ignited within the ruins of Phiri, threads of pale gray energy coalescing into a whirlwind where Hela’s spiritual form flickered in and out of view, drawing Gorutan’s attention.

In the next moment, Hela’s body reconstituted within the vortex, death energy draping over her like a cloak that concealed her form, leaving only her face exposed, her expression slightly pallid.

A mechanical soldier tossed a legion insignia, which Hela caught and activated effortlessly; countless nanites flowed forth, weaving themselves into a fresh Crimson Serpent Mark I combat suit that automatically sealed around her. Immediately after, the suit’s integrated Aurora serum flooded her system, rapidly reversing the lethargy of her near-death state, her complexion flushing with vitality as both her life and energy reserves rebounded past the halfway mark.

“Not dead?!” Gorutan’s eyes narrowed, his expression instantly darkening.

If he had merely spared her, it would be one thing, but he had struck with lethal intent, and her survival altered the dynamic entirely, instantly souring his mood.

Yet with Black Star now involved, pursuit would be futile; frowning, Gorutan ordered his fleet to reform while he held position to recover, reasoning that since Hela lived, Black Star would undoubtedly demand an accounting.

Elsewhere, Hela returned to the Dominator’s avatar, and Han Xiao turned to glance at her with a faint, knowing smile. “How was it? Care to take more beatings?”

“I couldn’t win, but I did manage to inflict some damage upon him.”

Hela shook her head, feeling the encounter had been fruitful; she had gathered invaluable experience battling a Super-A, reaped numerous enemy forces, and seen a modest increase in her ability potency.

Particularly, several Calamity-tier officers had fallen to her blade, granting her substantial bonuses that far surpassed the gains from her past training regimens of slaughtering beasts.

As she spoke, Hela paused, her tone unusually hesitant. “This time… did I cause you trouble?”

To reverse her own waning fortunes, she struck at the opposing fleet; such a tactic was bound to make enemies, and it had surely carved a deeper grudge with Gorutan.

Naturally, Hela harbored no remorse for Gorutan. Once the battle cry rang out, enemy lives were nothing more than walking reservoirs of blood in her eyes; her only regret was directed toward Han Xiao.

'My nature seems cursed to breed enemies. Perhaps remaining within the Black Star Legion was a grievous error, destined only to weave trouble for him...'

The thought slipped unbidden through Hela’s mind, and she pressed her lips into a thin line.

She remained the Goddess of Death from her former existence, one who weighed mortal lives as lightly as withered grass. That callous disregard was carved into her very marrow... or perhaps it was merely an inherent trait of her awakened power. The sole grace of this life was her restraint from slaughtering the innocent; her cruelty now knew only one target: her foes.

Han Xiao knew well that Hela possessed no aptitude for political maneuvering; she was blunt, fiercely reckless, and the notion of expecting her to hold back was utterly futile.

"We shall speak of such matters upon our return." Han Xiao shook his head, his tone brooking no dissent. "Board the vessel first. I shall see to the remainder."

At his words, Hela parted her lips, words catching in her throat, before finally offering a silent nod and stepping aboard the starship.

Han Xiao, meanwhile, guided his Overlord avatar forward, drifting with deliberate leisure toward Gorutan’s forces.

Upon reaching the neutral expanse, the mechanical legions hurled forth a series of compressed spheres, which rapidly assembled into a modest, hovering orbital outpost spanning roughly a thousand square meters. Its maw stood wide open, and Han Xiao raised a hand toward Gorutan, extending a silent invitation.

Gorutan narrowed his eyes and glided into the structure. The interior breathed with artificial atmosphere, a long table resting at its heart, flanked by a solitary chair at either end.

Han Xiao took his place at one end, offering Gorutan a slight, acknowledging nod.

"Take your seat."

Gorutan dropped heavily into the chair, letting out a cold snort. "Black Star, your vice-commander possesses a truly staggering audacity. I have never encountered a fledgling Super-A so eager to court death. Does she believe your patronage grants her license to run rampant?"

"Ha, you flatter her. Her courage has always been boundless, and it bears little relation to my own design." Han Xiao shook his head.

"I shall not squander breath on pleasantries." Gorutan swept a heavy hand through the air. "Out of respect for you, I shall spare her life. Yet she has butchered my progeny, and this ledger demands balance. Speak plainly: how do you propose we settle this?"

"The solution strikes me as exceedingly simple." Han Xiao guided his metallic fingers along the jaw of his avatar. "Withdraw your forces, and I shall consider the matter closed. Does that suffice?"

"What did you just utter?! Dare to repeat yourself!" Gorutan’s eyes blazed wide, his martial aura surging like a sudden gale.

"Pray, do not lose your temper. Steady yourself."

Han Xiao raised a hand in a soothing gesture, his voice remaining placid:

"I suppose Hela never consented to a duel with you, so whom could one possibly fault? Moreover, you have likely discerned that her assault upon your fleet was no mere venting of rage. She sought only to unleash her full potential and carve a favorable terrain from the chaos. Given she stands no chance against you in a fair contest, she naturally leveraged the battlefield itself... Indeed, from my vantage, it was you and your entire armada descending upon a solitary figure. Might I ask, where lies the greater outrage?"

"...My prior dealings with you were scarce. Indeed, the reality surpasses the rumor. You are as utterly shameless as the whispers claimed." Gorutan’s lips curled into a sneer.

"Is that so?" Han Xiao let out a soft, derisive click. "Does a zenith Super-A find glory in preying upon a fledgling? We shared no ancient feud, yet you chose to provoke my kin and trample my vice-commander. She could never hope to best you in single combat, yet you denied her the liberty to shape the battlefield to her advantage. You laid bare your intent to crush my own, and yet you dare claim the moral high ground?"

Gorutan fell silent for a heavy moment before his voice dropped to a grave timbre. "Regardless, the ranks of my command are woven from my own bloodline. Several Calamity-tier officers, nurtured with meticulous care, perished by her blade. She struck your fleet first; she ignited this conflagration. There is no manner in which this shall pass unavenged!"

Han Xiao let out a low, mocking chuckle. "Were you not the architect of this provocation? How swiftly the blame shifts to my doorstep. Furthermore, you marched to my gates seeking conflict, only to now lament that my blade struck too true. I daresay your shamelessness eclipses my own."

A thunderous crack split the air.

Gorutan’s fist hammered the table, and he rose to his full height, his visage alight with seething fury.

"Black Star, mind your tone!"

"Very well, very well. Let us assume the scales tip in your favor. What remedy do you demand of me?" Han Xiao spread his hands in a gesture of weary concession.

Gorutan’s voice turned glacial. "Reparation, naturally. I shall not demand blood for blood from your ranks. I require you to restore what was lost, and I demand that Hela kneel to offer her apology and penance."

"Mmm, a profoundly reasonable petition." Han Xiao’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Yet I shall deny it."

"Black Star!!"

Gorutan’s wrath boiled over; his palm shattered the table into splinters as he bellowed through the dust. "Do you truly seek to forge an eternal enmity with me?!"

Han Xiao’s voice shed its warmth, dropping to a razor’s edge. "Do you fancy yourself the sole bearer of indignation? You preyed upon an old comrade of mine and sought to undermine my very foundation; that ledger remains entirely unsettled! And pray tell... what delusion convinced you that I lack the means to answer your provocations?"

The Overlord avatar drifted upward, hovering until it stood eye-to-eye with Gorutan. Their gazes locked, colliding with such intensity that sparks seemed to fracture the air between them. Their auras swelled in relentless escalation, clashing in perfect symmetry, while phantom lightning and gale-force winds howled through the confined chamber.

Holding Gorutan’s stare unflinching, Han Xiao’s voice emerged, slow and deliberate:

"My kin are not yours to command!"

With those words, he raised a hand and drove a single finger against Gorutan’s sternum, his posture unyielding, his tone ringing like struck steel.

"One after another, you march forth to probe my limits, truly believing I lack a temper? I slaughter your kin with deliberate intent! You wish to play this game? I shall see it through to the bitter end! Do you possess the fortitude to survive it?!"