Chapter 1050: Movie King (Thanks to reader 20190708054703944's alliance leader!)

Chapter 1050: The Best Actor (With gratitude to patron 20190708054703944!)

Within the Black Star Palace, the clash between Emrys and the Traveler reached a fever pitch.

Guided by her manipulation of force fields, the satellite slab struck like a colossal iron fist, shattering the Traveler’s magical shields blow after blow and sending him careening through the void like a stray baseball.

Though Emrys appeared to hold absolute dominance, leaving her opponent battered and humiliated, she felt no triumph, only a deepening wariness.

The Traveler’s fragility had a deliberate cause; driven by some inscrutable purpose, he had repeatedly deployed puppet substitution spells, bleeding himself dry and plummeting in vitality as if deliberately courting self-destruction.

Simultaneously, the unsettling, sinister aura radiating from his form grew increasingly pronounced.

“Prolonging this only invites disaster; I cannot afford to remain entangled with him.” Emrys’s gaze flickered, and she gave a subtle nod toward the distant base.

The officers on the observation deck caught the signal; her gesture was a clear command to activate the spatial stabilization trap and sever the Traveler’s escape routes.

Melos, observing the cue, issued his orders without delay:

“Ambush units are in position. All hands, initiate……”

Before the command could finish echoing, the battlefield shifted violently! A torrent of violet and emerald energy erupted from the Traveler’s body, thick as molten glass, churning like liquid. It resembled octopus tentacles studded with suction-cup nodules, or a bubbling cauldron of alchemical brew, swelling with relentless pressure.

The energy writhed and coiled, condensing into semi-translucent, flesh-like tendrils of green and purple. It was less as if the Traveler were unleashing them, and more as if the tendrils were tearing through his own flesh, straining violently to birth themselves into the world.

Emrys’s eyes narrowed; she had no patience for witnessing transformations, and without a word, she began to weave her force fields.

Rings of force spun around her at breakneck speed, mimicking miniature vortices that rapidly sharpened into drill-like projectiles. After a heartbeat’s hesitation, they shot forth toward the Traveler.

In the next instant, the violet-green energy twisted and enveloped him, forming a second skin. The force fields struck against it but failed to pierce, merely pushing him back a short distance, leaving him seemingly unscathed.

“Hahahaha—useless, useless, utterly useless!”

The Traveler’s manic laughter echoed as if he had been entirely remade, his presence radiating an ineffable malice that left a lingering sense of profound defilement.

Merely gazing upon him caused countless legion soldiers to feel their hearts race and their breath shorten… in the terminology of their status panels, every single one had just passed a willpower check.

Emrys pressed her assault, yet the violet energy shrouding the Traveler proved impossibly resilient, deflecting every strike. Its true nature remained an enigma.

At that precise moment, the Traveler suddenly raised both hands high, his eyes burning with fervent anticipation:

“Behold this mighty foe, the sacrifice I, your husband, offer unto you. Answer my call, my beloved wife!”

BOOM!

The energy detonated outward, spreading as if without end, dyeing the obsidian velvet of the cosmos in swirling hues of violet and emerald that intertwined like serpents.

The very nature of this region shifted in that instant.

“Alert! Alert! Spacetime coefficients are fluctuating violently; peak waves have breached the reality stability threshold!”

“Spatial stabilizers operating beyond capacity… Alert! Stability anchors compromised! Stabilization failing, requesting immediate deployment of additional spatial stabilizers!”

“Analyzing event parameters… Analysis complete. Match probability one hundred percent. Event: Secondary Dimensional Descent!”

If space were a sheet of paper, the spacetime stability coefficient would dictate its smoothness; the more stable, the flatter the sheet. Yet in this very moment, that paper was crumpled into a ball, and another sheet, representing a secondary dimension, wrapped tightly around it.

Secondary dimensions were perilous yet wondrous, born from disparate origins, but when they descended upon the primary universe, they warped the spatial properties of a given region into their own likeness, which, more often than not, heralded catastrophe.

Han Xiao had once witnessed an artifact within the Empire known as the Shadow Lantern, its wick forged from a fragment of the Shadow Dimension’s primordial energy, capable of summoning that very realm into existence; the Traveler’s current act mirrored that precise capability.

This sinister secondary dimension slowly unfurled around the outer perimeter of the Black Star Palace, enveloping Emrys and the surrounding fleets in a maroon-hued expanse, as though they had been swallowed whole and now dwelled within its digestive tract.

Countless energy tendrils materialized from the void, each stretching at least a hundred thousand meters, flailing without purpose. The fleets were instantly battered into disarray, ships listing and groaning as their shields crackled with violent arcs of electricity.

Emrys frowned, directing her force fields to pulverize the tendrils one by one, yet the secondary dimension spawned new ones without cease. Realizing the futility, she shifted her focus to the Traveler’s core, unleashing wave after wave of kinetic force.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The Traveler made no move to evade, hovering motionless as his hands, marked with violet sigils, swept through the air. Each gesture stirred the space into rolling waves of emerald and violet energy, seemingly inexhaustible, effortlessly snuffing out Emrys’s relentless assaults under his absolute command.

“I once fell to Oulu, witnessing his terrifying prowess, which drove me down the path of hunting secondary dimensions.” Violet and emerald patterns crawled across the Traveler’s face as his vitality surged back, his demeanor radiant and unhinged. He laughed with arrogant glee. “At last, I have found a new power! Allow me to introduce you to this realm: the Convergence of Sinister Energy. She is my wife! Within her embrace, I may draw upon boundless power! Summon Black Star forth; you are no match for him!”

“You have not defeated me yet.”

Emrys’s eyes narrowed slightly, a shadow of grave concern crossing her features.

The Traveler’s gaze swept the surroundings, observing countless fleets rising from the Black Star Palace to deploy additional spatial stability anchors across the perimeter.

Unfazed, he offered a cold, dismissive smile.

Having caused such a commotion, Black Star would surely not stand idly by; the initial objective was achieved, and now it was merely a matter of waiting for his arrival.

Yet he needed to stoke the flames further, maintaining relentless pressure upon Black Star.

With this thought, the Traveler fixed his gaze upon Emrys and slowly licked his lips.

“Then I shall grind you to dust first.”

…

Emerald Star Cluster, frontline outpost of the Black Star Legion.

The sudden appearance of the Radiance Federation captured the attention of every combatant, halting all movements as expressions shifted across the battlefield.

Six figures materialized, led by Serion, while the remote-assisting “Warden,” Rama, remained absent.

“One, two… six Super-A ranks.”

Hela’s heart sank, the thrill of establishing a zero-distance life link evaporating in an instant.

If they had come solely to claim her life, she saw no possibility of survival.

Even with Aurora’s life energy tethered to her own, Aurora’s stamina was finite and would inevitably deplete; united, these Super-A elites possessed the power to slay her countless times over.

In her estimation, despite her astonishing regeneration, facing such overwhelming force meant death was merely a matter of time; moreover, rapid healing offered no guarantee against capture or subjugation.

“Sister…” Aurora’s anxious voice echoed through their telepathic bond.

Feeling the ceaseless flow of life energy coursing through her veins, Hela’s sharp features softened, and she instinctively turned her gaze upward toward Han Xiao’s Dominator avatar hovering in the sky.

During the earlier ambush, she had assessed the situation and concluded that her only path to survival lay in successfully linking with Aurora; thus, amidst the fray, she had divided her focus to coordinate with her sister, attempting to forge the connection again and again.

Whether it was a surge of latent potential triggered by mortal peril, or some unknown variable, the secondary dimension that had acted as a barrier had undergone an inexplicable shift, gradually ceasing its mid-transmission siphoning of life energy, and with that obstacle removed, the link stabilized seamlessly, allowing Aurora to finally share her power through their spiritual and bloodline ties.

While the combatants watched in suspense, the Radiance fleet made its move.

Swarms of drones and mechanized units surged forward to assault the planetary outpost’s defensive screen, while the remaining vessels rapidly reconfigured their formation, sending engineering ships to the perimeter to deploy segmented, curved mechanical components that interlocked to assemble a high-dimensional Apocalypse Transmitter, requiring the same cross-shaped enclosure to trap the fleet.

The six Radiance Super-A elites swiftly closed in on Hela’s position, and Serion, his four arms crossed, looked down upon Hela and Sagman with chilling detachment, remarking coldly, “It seems we have arrived at the perfect moment.”

The Kthulhu avatar drifted slowly forward, murmuring, “So the Radiance has intervened as well.”

“Hmph. You Void Spirits are truly useless; you still haven’t managed to kill Hela,” Serion remarked coolly.

“Since the Radiance has arrived, our objectives likely align. Why not join forces to eliminate Hela?” Sagman’s voice was grave. “She just revealed regenerative capabilities akin to Black Star’s. Only through cooperation can we ensure her demise.”

Haidis’s eyes darted, and he suddenly cut in, declaring, “Agreed. Since we share the same goal, let us form an alliance.”

Serion paused, considered the matter, and offered no clarification regarding their true intentions.

The Void Spirits were numerous; revealing their hand now would be unwise, so a temporary alliance was the optimal strategy.

Upon hearing this, Sagman and his four companions felt a surge of relief, while Hela’s heart plummeted to the abyss.

…It seems today marks the end of my days.

At that moment, Han Xiao’s Dominator avatar descended beside her, standing shoulder to shoulder, and produced a compressed sphere containing a new Crimson Serpent Mark I mecha, which instantly unfolded as he assisted Hela in changing her armor.

Hela turned to face him, hesitated for a breath, and spoke softly over the comms channel:

“Black Star, if I fall today, I entrust my sister to your care from this day forward.”

“You will not die today,” Han Xiao said, shaking his head.

“Spare me your comforts. Over a dozen Super A-ranks stand before me... This spectacle is far more dreadful than what you once faced. Even your personal arrival would not save me... Do not send your true form. Leave. Do not attempt a rescue; you would only endanger yourself.”

“One must try to know,” Han Xiao replied, offering neither confirmation nor denial.

Hela shook her head, paused, and whispered, “I owe you far too much. For decades, you have watched over me... In truth, I am profoundly grateful.”

Han Xiao glanced sideways. “Why the sudden rush to deliver last words? This is hardly like you.”

“Heh, rest assured, I will not await death with folded hands. Even in my final breath, I shall inflict the utmost ruin upon our foes... I have spent my life striving to catch your retreating shadow. Before the end comes, I have finally earned the right to stand beside you, to fight shoulder to shoulder. That is enough for me.”

Hela instinctively reached out, but her hand halted midway. After a moment's hesitation, she altered her gesture, resting a light pat upon the shoulder of Han Xiao's Dominator avatar, and let out a soft sigh.

In the next instant, her countenance hardened once more into glacial ice. Energy erupted violently from her frame, and alone, she charged forth with reckless fury against the dozen Super A-ranks arrayed before her!

Her only regret was that it was not Han Xiao's true form standing beside her now.

Still, before I fall in battle, I should be able to see you one final time...

“Reckless fool.”

Sagman snorted coldly, rallying his companions to once again clash with Hela in a maelstrom of combat.

High above, Serion prepared to descend with his allies into the fray, when a sudden pang of alarm seized him.

A deafening rumble echoed through the air——

A tide of peerless telekinetic force swept across the battlefield. The Radiance faction recoiled in shock, hastily erecting various defenses, yet were still hurled backward. The psychic wave carried a devastating mental assault, leaving many trembling violently, their skulls splitting with agony.

This sudden turn of events left everyone stunned. Sagman and his four companions hastily ceased their assault, looking upward with bewildered suspicion. The attacker was none other than their own leader, the Cthulhu avatar.

Had they not become temporary allies? Why would Lord Cthulhu strike at the Radiance operatives?

Hela too faltered in her movements, utterly perplexed.

How peculiar. Why had the enemy suddenly turned upon itself?

Serion shook his head, dispelling a faint dizziness, and glared fiercely at the distant Cthulhu avatar, bellowing:

“What is the meaning of this?!”

Cthulhu clasped his hands behind his back and spoke slowly. “The Radiance's objective is not merely to slay Hela, is it? You intend to capture her alive, to use her as leverage, to force Black Star into serving your designs.”

Serion's eyes narrowed. Cthulhu's certainty meant he had undoubtedly received intelligence. Pretending further was futile, so he dropped the pretense entirely and replied coldly, “Where did you obtain your information?”

“Based on your consistent modus operandi, deduction was sufficient,” Cthulhu replied calmly. “You intervened only midway through the battle, and brought a high-dimensional Apocalypse Transmitter. This resembles an abduction far more than an execution... The Scepter of All Gods remains in your possession. If I am not mistaken, you intend to trade Hela to compel Black Star to break the Scepter's seal for you.”

As he spoke, the telekinetic aura surrounding Cthulhu surged violently, as though consumed by wrath.

“Were this any other matter, I might overlook it. But the Scepter of All Gods is a supreme treasure of the Xuling. Its preservation outweighs Hela's life or death. You of the Radiance harbor unyielding malice. Even if I abandon my mission today, I will stop you from abducting her—under no circumstances shall the Scepter fall into Radiance hands!”

Sensing the towering momentum erupting from Cthulhu, Han Xiao immediately turned his gaze toward him.

Good heavens, a master actor. You have woven this entire narrative flawlessly!

With this justification, even if his current actions were reported to the Xuling high command, they would only praise Cthulhu's decisive measures.

Then a thought struck him. Wait. Perhaps this was not an act at all. Perhaps it was the unvarnished truth...

Remarkable. The pinnacle of acting is believing one's own performance!

If the Academy did not bestow its golden statuette upon him, it would only prove their own ignorance!

——

(Note: A typographical error occurred in the previous chapter. Six members of the Radiance arrived in person, not seven; one operated remotely.)

(By the way, I highly recommend the novel Mythological Three Kingdoms. It is a renowned classic. When I first read it, it had only three or four million words; now it has surpassed ten million. The author even gave me a shoutout, so I return the favor in mutual respect.)