Game of Wits

[Desolate Bone Desert, Temporary Helipad]

The hatch of the Star Energy Ship Explorer Seven slowly opened, and a scorching gale laden with grit instantly surged inside, whipping everyone's clothes with a fierce flutter.

Blinding sunlight pierced through the clouds and spilled over the rolling yellow dunes, reflecting a dazzling sheen.

In the distance, the abandoned Energy Ruins flickered in and out of view through the windblown sand. The outlines of its ruined buildings resembled slumbering colossal beasts, radiating a desolate yet strange aura.

Chen Kong was the first to step out of the hatch. The Alloy Helipad beneath his feet had been baked scorching hot by the blazing sun, and he instinctively activated his Star Energy. Fine pale-blue patterns emerged around his body.

This was his improvement of the Mark of the Void after drawing inspiration from Tiandao's Myriad Repulsion.

Though he had not actively triggered its nullification effect, the circulation of Star Energy still formed a thin barrier that blocked part of the heatwave and grit.

Liu Ma followed close behind. The moment he landed, he could not help complaining.

"Damn, this place is seriously hot!"

He raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his face. Enhancement-type Star Energy spread across his skin, forming a pale-red Protective Layer over his body and knocking away the approaching grit.

Isabelle adjusted the goggles on the bridge of her nose, and their lenses automatically shifted into anti-glare mode.

She swept her gaze across the surroundings. The display of the Tactical Glasses Vivian had given her immediately began showing real-time environmental data.

Temperature: 52°C. Wind speed: 18 m/s. Grit hardness: medium. No high-level Star Beast Fluctuations detected. Current status: safe.

At the same time, An Qin descended with Lin Feng, Zhao Yu, and Vivian.

She took five silver communicators from her tactical