Chapter 1044: Gradually Revealed Fangs (Revised)

Chapter 1044: The Baring Fangs (Revised)

The Free Competition Zone, the Emerald Star Cluster, the Black Star Legion's forward exploration outpost.

Within the vast, silver-white cultivation chamber, Hela sat cross-legged in midair, her eyes half-lidded, her breath drawn in long, steady rhythms. Ribbons of crimson radiance coiled around her form, the surging energy fluctuations causing the high-collared cape of her Crimson Serpent Prime battle armor to billow like a churning cloud of black and red.

Before her hovered a sphere of highly concentrated, scarlet death energy. At its crimson heart, a faint, brilliant golden speck pulsed, extending vein-like filaments of gold that struggled to spread and permeate the mass.

Just then, Hela's brow furrowed slightly. The energy sphere before her suddenly boiled, as if undergoing a violent chemical reaction, before detonating with a sharp crack. A pale crimson shockwave rippled outward, echoing through the chamber.

Failed again, Sister.

Aurora's voice, thick with frustration, suddenly echoed within Hela's mind.

It is nothing. The fault is not yours, Hela replied, shaking her head.

As the qualitative nature of their abilities shifted, gaining in raw intensity and precise control, psychics could unlock a wider array of applications and effects for their powers.

A unique vitality link had always bound the two. Since Aurora ascended to the Calamity tier, that connection had deepened, birthing a bidirectional telepathy that allowed them to converse directly within each other's minds.

The transmission of life energy was inherently bound by distance. Their current endeavor sought to forge an energy conduit that defied spatial limits, a project still in its infancy as they searched for a viable method.

With Aurora's ascension to the Calamity tier, Hela finally felt confident in her sister's ability to defend herself, and thus lifted the restrictions on Aurora's use of her abilities and expenditure of life energy.

Sister, the distance-defying life link already has a rudimentary form. I can project my life energy outward, but it fails to reach you.

Not entirely a failure, Hela nodded, her voice thoughtful. I did receive a trace amount of your life energy. The attrition along the path is simply too severe; what reaches me is perhaps one ten-thousandth of the original output. To my senses, the vast majority of your energy appears to be siphoned away mid-transit by an unknown sub-dimension. Strangely, that sub-dimension shares a faint resonance with me. I can sense its presence.

Is that so? I felt nothing of the sort, Aurora replied, startled.

I only began to sense it after my own promotion to Super-A rank. I believe we must first remove this obstacle to complete the link. I previously attempted to reverse-feed death energy into that sub-dimension, but the moment it entered, all contact was severed. I fear I must find a time to venture there personally. I have a lingering feeling that some secret pertaining to us lies within... Let us call it the intuition of a Super-A.

As she spoke, Hela shook her head and raised a finger. Suspended at her fingertip was a brilliant golden speck, roughly the size of a peanut, the mere trace of Aurora's life energy that had managed to arrive.

Her eyes flickered. With a subtle command, she guided a sesame-sized particle of death energy to merge with the life energy. In the next instant, a brilliant flare erupted. The two energies dissolved into one another, the crimson and golden specks fusing into a single, luminous particle of golden-orange.

Sister, have you succeeded in the fusion? Aurora's voice brightened with delight.

Not yet. I am still calibrating the fusion ratio. For now, I can only harmonize a minimal amount.

Hela exhaled softly. She and Aurora had attempted to blend their energies long ago, but lacking sufficient control over their psychics, they had failed repeatedly, triggering constant explosions. At the time, they had assumed the failure stemmed from a fundamental clash in their energy natures.

Now that Hela had reached Super-A, and Aurora's power and stability had crossed into the Calamity tier, Hela resumed her experiments. Only then did she realize their energies were indeed compatible, albeit volatile, requiring immense control to maintain equilibrium.

Upon fusion, the result transformed into a golden-orange energy. Its fundamental properties seemed entirely altered. While healing and destructive effects remained, neither was enhanced; both were significantly diminished. Hela had yet to discern any special application for this hybrid energy.

Just then, the chime of an incoming communication request suddenly sounded.

Beep. Beep.

A holographic screen materialized before her. Her adjutant appeared within the frame, the shock still etched upon his features as he spoke. Lady Hela, the Pontiff of the Ethereal Spirit Sect requests an audience. Shall I connect you?

Hela's pupils contracted slightly.

For a figure of such supreme stature to reach out so abruptly caught her off guard.

After a moment's consideration, she replied in a low, steady tone. Connect it.

Moments later, the display shifted, and the Pontiff's silhouette materialized on the screen.

The leaders of the Three Great Civilizations were frequent fixtures in the news, and Hela knew him well enough. Her expression settled back into its customary detachment as she spoke slowly.

I wonder what brings the Pontiff to my attention?

Given the tense relations between the Ethereal Spirit Sect and the Black Star Legion, Hela made no effort to feign excessive deference.

The Pontiff did not beat around the bush. His voice was cool and measured. I wish to invite you to join the Ethereal Spirit Sect.

To be personally recruited by the leader of a cosmic-level civilization is truly an honor... If Black Star were here, he would likely say the same. Hela's face remained impassive. But I am not him.

The Pontiff continued slowly. We have studied you. You are a seeker of power, and the Ethereal Spirit Sect can grant you formidable strength. I...

There is no need to continue. I decline. Hela had no desire to listen further, her refusal absolute and unyielding.

Name your terms. Any condition will be met, provided you are willing to join us.

I have no interest.

The Pontiff paused, his expression unreadable. Is your unwavering loyalty to Black Star rooted in personal sentiment?

That is none of your concern.

The Pontiff nodded. My offer remains open indefinitely. Should you change your mind, the Ethereal Spirit Sect will welcome you at any time.

With that, he severed the connection without another word.

Hela watched the holographic screen fade to black, her brows drawing together in a frown.

The Pontiff's personal involvement carried more sincerity than any overture from the Crimson Empire. Likely, it was precisely because of their enmity that they were so eager to poach from the Black Star Legion.

A newly ascended Super-A might well have capitulated on the spot under such an offer. Yet leaving the Black Star Legion was never an option for her. No matter how lavish the Sect's terms, her refusal would remain steadfast.

...

Elsewhere within the Emerald Star Cluster, a handful of starships were making their slow approach toward the Black Star outpost.

The vessels bore the insignia of a minor mercenary syndicate, appearing to be nothing more than a standard band of interstellar hirelings. In truth, they carried several Super-A enforcers of the Ethereal Spirit Sect.

The Pontiff's directive has been received. Recruitment has failed. We may proceed. Photon Sagman glanced at his comm-unit and spoke in a grave tone.

The Sect had long prepared a contingency. They had gathered their Super-A forces in recent days, ready to strike with sudden, devastating force to eliminate Hela should the Pontiff's overture fail, lest delay breed complications.

The circumstances favor us. The Empire and the Black Star Legion remain unaware of our assembly. We must conclude this swiftly and avoid repeating the errors of last time, Realm Gate Tayledi remarked.

Previously, the vast distances between star sectors meant gathering Super-A forces took considerable time, making any covert movement easily detected. Now, with a significant concentration of Super-A entities residing within the Shining World, proximity worked in the Sect's favor. They could strike before the enemy even realized the threat, leaving their opponents utterly unprepared.

It would be ideal to draw Hela away from the outpost. Otherwise, the Empire's allies could reinforce her through the outpost's star gate with alarming speed.

Leave that to Tolaine. Issue another challenge to Hela and lure her out. The farther from the outpost, the better, Sagman instructed.

Tolaine hesitated, his reluctance plain, but swallowed his pride and agreed. I will attempt it.

Understood. Should she refuse the challenge, we will first shatter the outpost's star gate conduit. A pity Lord Sun Hunter does not join this campaign... Tayledi, as a mage, your methods are versatile. The destruction of the star gate will fall to you and me. Sagman paused, his voice dropping. As for the Black Star Sovereign clone accompanying Hela...

I shall hold him at bay.

At that moment, the Cthuyeh clone, who had remained silent thus far, spoke.

The Ethereal Spirit Sect had offered sufficient incentives to secure Cthuyeh's involvement in this operation. Yet, disliking both coordinated assaults and the bullying of newcomers, he had dispatched merely a clone, treating it as an insurance policy for the mission.

Agreed. None of us are confident in handling Black Star's clone. Among us, only Lord Cthuyeh possesses the capacity to suppress him, Sagman nodded.

A shame Lord Urnos does not lead this charge. Slaying Hela would be a matter of mere minutes... Desolate Beast Metes muttered under his breath.

Do not dwell on it. Urnos will not leave the Pantheon of Gods. He has no interest in such mundane affairs, Tayledi replied, shaking his head.

The Sect had deployed six Super-A entities for this operation: Photon Sagman, Realm Gate Tayledi, Desolate Beast Metes, Crimson Demon Tolaine, a clone of Cthuyeh, and a Sovereign clone belonging to a master mechanic under their command.

Cthuyeh's clone functioned similarly to a mechanical Sovereign clone, housing a fraction of the original's combat prowess. It was far superior to the mass-produced, quasi-Super-A clones of the Alien Gods.

Though the number of combatants matched the Lighthouse Star campaign, replacing Sisco and his close companion Dilun with Cthuyeh's clone and another mechanical Sovereign clone had drastically elevated their overall strength. Such an array of power, directed against a single Hela, amounted to a severe overmatch.

Furthermore, unlike the Lighthouse Star engagement, the enemy lacked permanent imperial allies, most notably Milizaus. Black Star's main body was also absent, meaning they would not encounter the Temporal Amber. With these advantages compounding, the Sect deemed the situation highly favorable. Moreover, their target was Hela, not the relentlessly clingy Black Star, making the endeavor considerably more manageable.

Withdrawing from the group's deliberations, the Cthuyeh clone turned his head, gazing out the viewport at the starfield, his eyes deep and unreadable.

Manixson, you will not strike, will you... If Hela falls, Black Star will undoubtedly descend into madness... Heh. What a difficult choice to make.

You are not suited to draw your blade. I understand your intent. Allow me to play the part for you.

……As long as I remain, she shall not die.”

——

(Throughout the National Day interlude, the chapter remarks remain temporarily veiled from view, though they may still be submitted; they will likely materialize only after the festivities draw to a close. I shall seek rest early tonight, and rise before dawn tomorrow to behold the grand military procession (??????)?)