Chapter 905: Dragon-Tan Strike Warning

Chapter 905: Dragon T’s Strike Warning

The invitation to battle was sent privately, never made public, yet its tone was far more formal than their usual exchanges. It bore the precise time and place of the encounter: five days hence, on a desolate planet within the Guduo Star System.

The message struck Han Xiao like a sudden gust of wind, leaving him momentarily disoriented.

Their alliance, he assumed, remained intact. He could not fathom why Emily would summon him to combat without so much as a courtesy beforehand, let alone dress the matter with such solemnity.

What on earth was she plotting?

Han Xiao had been negotiating the terms of an evolutionary totem’s exchange with a representative of civilization when Emily’s invitation arrived. He cut the call short and reached out to her immediately.

He did not wish for their alliance to falter.

The connection was established swiftly, though not by Emily’s hand, but by the increasingly sparse-haired Jinny.

“What’s this?”

Han Xiao frowned, puzzled. He had dialed Emily’s private line.

“Where is Emily?”

“You received her challenge, didn’t you?” Jinny inquired.

“Yes. What does she mean by this?”

“Literally. Before we clash, she intends to say nothing to you. I’m merely conveying her message: this time, she means business.”

“Why the sudden shift?” Han Xiao wondered.

“What question is there? Ask her yourself when you meet—be punctual.”

Jinny’s voice dripped with disdain as she disconnected.

Han Xiao stared at the darkened communicator, his fingers itching to scratch his scalp.

—A formal duel between Super A-class beings was nothing unusual. Between us, a simple call would have sufficed. Why the ceremony? Why the gravity, as if they stood atop the Forbidden City on a full moon night?

He sighed, resigning himself to the notion that Emily had once again acted on a whim. Her manner, ever spontaneous, had always been this way—and he had long since grown accustomed to it.

Meanwhile, in the Hall of the Dragon T Floating Island, Jinny set down the communicator and turned to Emily, seated upon a hovering dragon-bone throne. Her expression was layered with complexity.

During the call, Emily had listened intently, nodding gently and offering a soft smile.

“Thank you.”

“To be honest, I don’t quite grasp…” Jinny ventured, unable to hide her unease. “I dislike the Black Star, yet his strength is undeniable. I must say it plainly—I believe your chances are slim. Why challenge him at all?”

Emily’s eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement.

“Do you doubt me?”

Isaac, seated nearby, shook his head. “This has nothing to do with confidence. After the Lighthouse Star Campaign and the Divine Being Incident, the Black Star has proven himself. Based on his demonstrated power, your odds are indeed low. Why initiate a contest you’re bound to lose?”

Emily’s smile faded.

“Whether I can win—or not—we’ll see.”

She paused, her fingers tracing the armrest of her throne, a sigh escaping her lips.

“Perhaps I’m no longer the Black Star’s equal. But at least… facts must speak.”

—

Five days blurred past in the blink of an eye.

In the Guduo Star System’s Second Sector, G-S7058, a gas giant loomed. Its swirling atmosphere bore a prominent asteroid belt, a ringed planet not far from the Black Star Legion’s headquarters or the Azure Star. The designated battlefield.

A streak of light cut through the void, descending to the planet’s outer atmosphere. Han Xiao’s vessel emerged, its pilot alone and resolute.

“Large unknown target detected. Database scan initiated… Match found. Target: Dragon T Floating Island.”

Philip’s voice echoed through the cockpit. Han Xiao didn’t need reminding; he saw the colossal island hovering in the gas giant’s skies, encased in a golden planetary shield. Ten massive silver-black alloy satellites orbited either side—his gift to Emily: Super A-class “plate armor.”

The Dragon T had already engaged combat mode, its structures sunk deep into the planet, no activity visible on its surface. Only Emily stood at the dock, gazing across the expanse.

Han Xiao’s lips twitched, a wry smile forming.

She’d brought the Dragon T along too. This was serious.

He tried Emily’s private number again—she answered.

Her refined face materialized on the holographic screen, calm and composed.

“You’ve arrived.”

“I came. You called.”

“This isn’t merely a sparring match,” Emily said, her voice steady. “I’ll deploy every ounce of my strength against you. I expect the same from you. One careless moment, and we both pay the price.”

Han Xiao inclined his head, his smile fading.

“What are you planning?”

Emily’s gaze remained unwavering.

“Since you ascended to Super A-class, you’ve been plagued by turmoil. We’ve fought side by side—against the Tyrant, against the Divine Being—yet we’ve never truly tested ourselves. I want to settle this… properly. Until one of us can no longer resist.”

“Is such a contest necessary between us?”

Emily’s expression remained serene.

“In the time since your rise, you’ve accomplished feats that echo across the cosmos. In under two years, you’ve grown from a fledgling Super A-class to where you stand now. I watch your evolution daily. Do you know how it feels to be pursued?”

When Han Xiao first breached Super A-class, they were equals. Emily had stood by him, guiding him through his trials. But in the span of two short years, he surged ahead, surpassing even the Dragon T’s legacy. Emily felt the imbalance grow—not just in power, but in status. Their bond, once equal, now carried a subtle undercurrent of change.

Emily, ever free-spirited, cared little for most things. Yet for those she held dear, she clung fiercely—as she had when she relentlessly sought Isaac. Han Xiao was among the few who mattered to her.

Once, when their ranks diverged, she had watched his ascent with calm detachment. Now, the tide had turned. She refused to let him drift further away, content only to witness his triumphs from afar. No longer would she settle for headlines and reports. She would challenge him herself, to truly gauge his might.

—To see how far the man who has reshaped the universe has come… and how vast the gap between them had grown.

In an instant, Han Xiao’s radar blared an alarm.

“High-threat target detected! Energy surge imminent!”

He looked up to see Emily releasing her power, her aura surging, her form ascending beyond mortal limits.

Her eyes, deep as starfields, shimmered with otherworldly light. She stepped forward, each stride defying gravity, her forcefields cradling her like solid ground. The black dress clinging her figure flowed like a midnight blossom, her pale legs splitting the fabric as she strode through the void.

Emily’s energy surged to its peak, her voice now resonant and ancient:

“Don’t hold back… come!”

She raised her arms, her forcefields converging, the Dragon T and ten satellite plates grinding to motion, hurtling toward Han Xiao.

At that moment, a task notification popped up on Han Xiao's interface.

[You have triggered an S-rank mission titled "Dragon Emperor Aimer."]

[Mission Requirements: Maintain engagement with Aimer for as long as possible (combat mode unrestricted, with each disengagement from combat lasting no more than thirty minutes; exceeding this will transition the mission into its settlement phase, with no limit on the number of disengagements allowed).]

[Rewards: The mission offers tiered rewards, with each milestone achieved granting corresponding prizes (disengagement time is calculated with only 1% accuracy for determining completion time).]

This mission's structure mirrored the one faced during the initial clash with the Berserker, where the longer one endured, the greater the reward.

Beyond experience points, it also included legendary degree, character cards, and the ultimate reward of obtaining a skill or perk from Aimer after enduring for twenty minutes.

Yet Han Xiao had no heart left to scrutinize the task panel.

"I couldn't possibly hold back from you..."

Han Xiao exhaled silently, the words never escaping his lips.

With his current strength, if he truly unleashed his full power, the devastation would be too immense.

She probably wouldn't survive it...

Han Xiao shook his head, having resolved not to seriously injure Aimer. After all, they were allies, and he couldn't let things escalate too far.

Seeing Aimer's battle-ready stance, he made a swift decision:

"I'll fight a drawn-out battle. My durability is enough to drain her stamina, leaving her powerless to continue. That way, I won't harm her, sparing us the heartache."

The distance between them closed rapidly. Han Xiao no longer hesitated, steadied his resolve, activated his exosuit, and exited the spacecraft. He then opened a secondary dimension, summoning a contingent of mechanical troops.

"Dominion."

You Zu arranged the diverse angelic weapons in a straight line.

Han Xiao spoke softly: "Forward, prioritize attrition, hold back on full-force firepower."

"Understood."

You Zu nodded, his rear thrusters spewing brilliant flames that became a sweeping arc as he surged forward, followed by the mechanical legion and the angelic weapons. They charged toward the approaching Aimer.

Aimer's eyes glowed brighter with an otherworldly light, her hands crossed over her chest as she slowly advanced.

Force Field Dragon Tank Meteor Hammer!

The force field atop the Dragon Tank swelled, propelling the massive mech into a furious acceleration, resembling a colossal meteor hurtling toward the dark tide of mechanical troops.

The scene resembled a sledgehammer striking a vast swarm of ants.

Such a massive Dragon Tank, if it struck a planet, would crush a world's crust in mere moments.

—This brute-force method of wielding weapons through force fields was the true essence of a Dragon Emperor.

The conventional approach would be to focus fire and obliterate the Dragon Tank, but Han Xiao couldn't simply destroy her homeworld. He found Aimer's reckless, sprawling combat style utterly frustrating.

The mechanical legion dispersed as per his orders, allowing the Dragon Tank to plow through their ranks.

The outcome was inevitable.

The enormous Dragon Tank crashed directly into Han Xiao, whose frame seemed as insignificant as a single grain of dust beneath it.

The shadow expanded rapidly, engulfing all vision.

Gazing up at the landmass descending like a mountain atop his head, Han Xiao grimaced through his visor.

Once, he'd tricked Aimer into using the Dragon Tank to save himself. Now, he was about to experience firsthand the crushing weight of that same tank slamming into his face.

Retribution, as they say, always catches up.