Spineless Cowards

About half an hour later, the Jiji began to subside.

Lister was also eager to take a look.

[Jiji (Rank S) (Symbiosis Contract - Obligor, Mother)]

[Level: LV180 (Note: Requires upgrading via forging process)]

[Class: Lord of Soul Shadows (Mechanical)]

[HP: 3740302/3740302 (Shared with Symbiote during combat)]

[Stamina: 741873/741873]

[Attributes: Strength: 180, Stamina: 180, Intelligence: 360, Agility: 360]

[Skill: Death Resistance (SS) LV180: When the host's health is below 5%, forcibly remove all negative effects, quickly restore health to 30%, and increase the host's four main attributes by 60 points.]

Information Transmission (SS) LV180: Establishes a dedicated encrypted channel for ultra-long-distance transmission of information to multiple targets (cosmic and galactic scale).

Mechanical Bird Breeding Chamber (SS) LV180: Consumes energy to create a breeding container that can absorb an unlimited amount of metal and energy to create offspring, Evil Shadow Mechanical Birds. Base rank is 17.

Mechanical Bird Summoning (SS) LV180: Commands and controls the Evil Shadow Mechanical Bird, increasing the base attributes of all Mech Birds by 80%.

Robustness Aura (SS) LV170: Grants a 300% boost to the HP, DEF, and stamina of all Evil Shadow Mechanical Bird offspring.

...]

[Overall Rating: S]

[Evil Shadow Mechanical Bird (Child)]

[Level: LV170 (Note: Can be increased during battle, maximum LV180)]

[Health Points: 330000/330000]

[Skill: Swift Shadow Wing Needles (S) LV180: Wings transform into flying needles, striking all enemies within a certain range, dealing 19430~20890 damage, with an additional 29.5% true damage effect, and inflicting bleeding and poison effects.]

Energy Transfer (S) LV180: Defeating an enemy allows you to absorb their energy to power yourself, and some of this energy will be transferred to the breeding pod.

[Overall Rating: Grade A]

The strength of this boost is greater than that of the mechanical guards.

Despite its S-rank rating, all of its skills have been upgraded from S-rank to SS-rank.

In particular, the active skill Death Resistance, which was Lister's last trump card, has now been upgraded.

So far, he has never entered the era of extreme competition in the third stage, and he tries his best not to get himself into such a situation.

But being able to improve this trump card was naturally something he was happy to see; it was an unexpected bonus.

As for the improvement of the sub-body, it can be considered another major improvement for the Mechanical Alliance.

"Jiji ~!"

His silver-blue pupils and the eerie aura he once exuded had diminished considerably.

His eyes also gave off a colder and more mature aura.

Aside from that, there weren't many other changes to his body, except that his wings were sharper and some runes would appear and disappear when his energy gathered.

"From now on, you will stay in the Babylon Galaxy or the Blue Cluster Galaxy."

I touched the Jiji that was close by.

Lister could understand its inner desires.

I'd rather not be confined to the sealed space than be in the vast universe.

After a moment's thought, Lister simply agreed.

In any case, within the vast universe, Jiji's identity was instantly freed from constraints.

Whether it's Mechanical Civilization or a Zerg civilization, there are countless worlds in the universe.

The competition they face is much stronger, but there isn't as much deliberate exclusion.

"Jiji ~!"

As if delighted by Lister's agreement, Jiji spread its wings and began to circle around him.

"Kavin, do you have Jiji a higher-tier Chick?"

"At my current level, I'm not qualified to plan Jiji's advancement path."

Kavin shook his head upon hearing this; in the field of mechanical engineering, there is a principle that is difficult to break.

That is, it cannot create mechanical entities that exceed its own level.

"Moreover, Jiji has already progressed beyond simple forging and upgrading to its current level."

"It needs to be truly treated as a living organism, and it needs to find the right materials to replace its own body."

Indeed, it is not easy for any living being to truly enter the ranks of the Hegemon species.

There's an inexplicable barrier blocking their way.

Moreover, looking back, it seems that Jiji's improvement was indeed primarily driven by itself.

At the very least, the collection of materials reflects its own preferences and desires.

Therefore, Lister was no longer in a hurry.

Three days later.

The departure of the Babylon Allied Army, led by the Kavin Mechanical Legion, into the Blue Cluster Galaxy foreshadows the imminent annihilation of the new star system.

At this moment, in the Deep Blue Star Region at the core of the Blue Cluster Galaxy.

"Lord Yatke... is he really dead?"

In the highest council hall of the star system within the Deep Blue Star Region, dozens of Fourth Advancement powerhouses gathered together, the atmosphere so heavy it was almost palpable.

These are all the major powers that are dependent on Yatke.

Among them, two are the most influential: Yawente Bluecluster, Yatke's younger brother, and the current leader of the Blue Cluster Civilization in the Blue Cluster Galaxy.

The other is Jieao Paxson, the captain of the Blue Skirt Galaxy Hunting Team.

"The news has been confirmed. Lord Yatke's life imprint has been completely extinguished, and even his soul fluctuations have disappeared."

Who did it?

"Lister Merrick, a Hegemon I've never heard of."

After saying that, even Jieao himself found it hard to believe.

But the hunters who escaped from the front lines all gave the same account, and some even had video footage of them, leaving him no choice but to believe them.

"Impossible!"

"Lord Yatke is a level 23 Hegemon, how could he possibly be killed by a new level 20 Hegemon?"

Even after watching the video message, Yawente still found it hard to accept.

Although he led today's meeting, it wasn't actually what he wanted to hold.

Rather, it was forced upon them by the dozens of other powerful factions they were affiliated with.

Faced with the potential arrival of a new Hegemon, no one is willing to wait to die.

Some are preparing to seek refuge, while others are preparing to move to new star systems to develop.

But that's just the way it is.

Another powerful figure stepped forward to remind him once again to accept reality.

This man's Amasi, the commander of the Keer Legion.

Among the many forces, they ranked low and in the past, they didn't even have the right to speak at such meetings.

But now they dare to step forward, and no other power holders find it strange.

"..."

Yawente's face turned completely grim, and the meeting room fell silent for a moment.

In truth, he knew that the fall of his elder Yatke meant that the Blue Cluster Galaxy had lost its greatest asset.

In the vast universe, any power without Hegemon is destined to be divided up and destroyed by other Hegemon.

Even if no one tries to divide it up, it will still split internally and become a public galaxy again.

He was actually the first in the galaxy to receive the news, but after dragging it out for more than half a month, he could no longer hold out any longer.

Sure enough, even though he remained silent, the others, after waiting a while, stopped giving him face.

"Jieao, what do you suggest we do now?"

"I've heard that the Babylon Allied Army have already set out. Are we going to pledge allegiance to that new Lister Hegemon?"

Amasi seemed to have gone all out, directly asking about Jieao on the other side.

They attempted to join forces with Jieao to pledge allegiance to the new Hegemon.

At his suggestion, other powerful figures who had been eager to act also joined the discussion.

"Are you all crazy?"

I'm still here!

"What? Do you really think our Blue Cluster Civilization is dead?!"

A loud shout from Yawente finally interrupted the discussion.

That's true. Even though many faction leaders now believe that the Blue Cluster Civilization, as the civilization belonging to Yatke, is likely to be the target of Lister's extermination.

However, for the time being, the Blue Cluster Civilization remains the dominant power in the Blue Cluster Galaxy.

Even though Jieao's hunting team has the strongest overall combat power, the largest number of its members belong to the Blue Cluster Civilization.

To discuss overthrowing this new Lister Hegemon so soon, and to disregard Yawente's feelings, is indeed going too far.

If a dying person were to bite and kill them along with the dying person, it would truly be a case of losing more than you gain.

"Even if the allied forces are fast, it will take them at least a month to get here."

"Give me a little more time to think about it, is that okay?"

Yawente's gaze swept over the crowd, his threat unmistakable.

Especially when looking at Amasi, he forced the other to bow his head and dared not say another word at this moment.

In fact, Amashi was bowing his head at that moment, did not look embarrassed.

Instead, he calmed down, and gradually the corners of his mouth inexplicably began to turn up.

After all, his identity Amasi was just a cover; his true identity was Hoffman!

He couldn't help but nod inwardly. After this meeting, he had thoroughly muddied the waters for the remaining forces in the Blue Cluster Galaxy.

The sight of the Babylon Allied Army advancing through the universe was quite awe-inspiring.

The smaller forces passing by initially thought the detection radar was broken.

Only after actually seeing this scene did they flee in a frenzy, hiding far away.

Inside the warship, Lister was still trying to materialize his killing intent.

This was the first time he had truly been able to solidify his killing intent into a crystal, but unfortunately, as soon as he restrained it, the killing intent immediately dissipated into nothingness.

After fiddling with it for a while, he finally shook his head.

Reopen the warship's navigation panel.

The coalition forces' overall deployment to the battlefield was simply too slow.

It's not as good as a single small unit, which has better mobility.

Fortunately, after a month, we will finally arrive in the Blue Skirt Galaxy today.

Inside the Allied fleet's command center, Hendeli observed the situation on the outskirts of the star system.

The gravitational barrier surrounding the Blue Cluster Galaxy shattered silently as the mechanical coalition's steel torrent tore open the final stargate.

The Evil Shadow Mechanical Bird's silver-blue wings reflected a cold luster under the starlight, like arrows announcing the arrival of a new order.

"Report! NS-7 to NS-9 sector defense arrays are offline!"

The mechanical guards' electronic voices boomed across the channel.

On the holographic star map, the red dots representing enemy defensive fortifications are going out in large numbers.

Seeing this, Hendeli Oz slammed his fist on the control panel, sending sparks flying across the tactical sand table.

"Damn it! These spineless cowards!"

The projection displayed the movements of the major forces in the Blue Cluster Galaxy —countless points of light were surging from different star regions toward the Allied Forces' route, like iron filings attracted by a magnet.

It was obvious that the fortifications were closed, yet large crowds were pouring in.

Unless it's a trap, this is definitely not a place for fighting.

The outer perimeter of the Deep Blue Star Region has now been transformed into a cosmic parking lot.

Yawente Blue's private ship rammed through several smaller vessels, and representatives of various races kneeling in the asteroid belt flashed past the portholes.

Some held up lists of resources, others displayed maps of the galaxy's defenses, and the most extravagant of all, the Moruk Race, even used tractor beams to drag the entire resource star over.

"Sir! The entire Paxon Hunting Squad has disarmed and is positioned ahead on the course!"

The adjutant's voice trembled.

Yawente saw that Jieao Paxson was floating in space shirtless, with the universal phrase "Welcome, Hegemon Lister" engraved on his back in plasma flames.

His face inexplicably darkened, and his already complicated feelings turned into anger.

When his elder brother was the Hegemon the Blue Cluster Galaxy, the other party didn't act this way.

The hand beneath the bio-armor crushed the armrest, Yawente suddenly burst out laughing in anger.

Fortunately, the situation was pressing, and Yawente quickly readjusted.

"Did everything I asked you to bring turn out alright?"

"My lord! Everything is ready. I just checked it over myself again."

Upon hearing this, Yawente let out a long sigh.

His face showed both relief and a surge of humiliation.

As for the items carried on board, they were naturally a list of gifts to present to the Hegemon Lister.

That was the crystallization of star cores accumulated by the Blue Cluster Civilization over three thousand years, enough to build hundreds of large warships.

"Enable full-band broadcasting."

He adjusted his star-studded ceremonial robe, the highest form of etiquette for the Blue Cluster Race to pay homage to their Hegemon.

As the hatch opened amidst the plasma beams, Yawente's voice echoed throughout the galaxy.

"Archiver of the Blue Cluster Civilization, Yawente Blue Cluster, welcomes Hegemon Lister to the Deep Blue Star Region!"

At this moment, inside the Lister ship, Jieao had just expressed his allegiance, looked somewhat embarrassed.

He thought he could still offer his loyalty by attacking Yawente, but who knew the other side would act so quickly at the last moment.

At the Mingxing Group meeting, the other party still acted as if they were unwilling to yield, as if they were a tough nut to crack!

"Send someone to bring him here."

After gesturing to the mechanical guards, Lister glanced at Hoffman beside him.

Given that everything is going so smoothly, let him take charge of the rest of the work.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the Blue Cluster Galaxy, a reconnaissance ship bearing a golden gear emblem quietly emerged from the wormhole.

Inside the reconnaissance ship's command center, an observer trembled as he projected data onto a holographic star map—the crimson banner that once belonged to the Yatke Hegemon had been pierced by crimson blade marks, replaced by a new emblem of mechanical gears surrounding the Shadowless Blade.

"Report this to Lord Gebeier immediately!"

The observer's prosthetic eye sparked due to data overload.

"Babylon Galaxy changes hands; Yatke confirmed to have perished!"

Bloodred Galaxy, Core Star Region

The Hegemon of Gebeier ran his hand over the cracks on his bronze staff—a relic of a battle with the Yatke seven hundred years ago.

When he heard the battle report, the star marks on the staff suddenly emitted a piercing sound.

"Slaying a level 20 enemy against a level 23 enemy?"

The Hegemon of Gebeier suddenly crushed the bronze staff in his hand.

"Order all affiliated civilizations to suspend development of the M-77 Galaxy and send someone to make contact with this... Lister."

The servants looked up in astonishment; their Bloodred Alliance had not adjusted its strategy for a century due to a new Hegemon.

Eternal Sea of Trees - Mother Tree Royal Court

On the throne woven from emerald branches, the leaves at the fingertips of the Green Vine Overlord suddenly withered and turned yellow.

She stared at the battle footage from the Babylon Galaxy; the blood mist rising from Lister's Saber Soul Embodiment gave her a guess at Lister's strength.

"Could it be... really... the World Annihilation?"

The Green Vine Overlord suddenly broke off a withered branch.

"Notify the Honeydew Council."

"Triple the resource quota originally allocated to the Blue Cluster Galaxy, send it directly to the Church of Mechanical Truth, and then send a team of Tree Whisperers there... for learning and exchange..."