[Royal Court Base, Outside the Secret Chamber]
The sound of footsteps grew clearer and clearer as three figures wrapped in thick black star mist slowly entered the secret chamber.
The leader was tall and gaunt, with a sinister face covered in black, spiderweb-like veins. Faint Corrosive Star Energy flowed through those veins. He gripped a Star Energy dagger steeped in venom, its blade giving off an eerie dark glow.
He was Moka, the remaining leader of the Star Beast Royal Court's western stronghold—a Calamity-class humanoid Star Beast.
Behind Moka followed two enormous Calamity-class modified Star Beasts. Their bodies were covered in heavy black scales, and viscous black saliva seeped from the gaps between them, dripping onto the ground and instantly corroding tiny holes into it.
Their eyes were scarlet, devoid of the slightest trace of reason, containing only pure savagery. Their auras were several times more violent than those of ordinary Calamity-class modified Star Beasts. Clearly, Moka had forcibly enhanced them through forbidden methods.
Moka's gaze swept across the secret chamber. He appeared not to notice Chen Kong and Su Xiao, but a flicker of disdain and killing intent passed through his eyes.
When his gaze settled on the black device, greed and fervor instantly swept over his face. His voice was hoarse and grating, like rusted iron scraping together.
"Good. The device is intact."
With that, he looked toward Chen Kong, raised a hand, and sent two streams of black Star Energy shooting into the two modified Star Beasts.
As the Star Energy entered their bodies, the two modified Star Beasts let out earth-shaking roars. Their bodies abruptly swelled by a full circle, the black patterns on their scales becoming increasingly distinct as they lunged madly at Chen Kong and Su Xiao.
They had accurately sensed that Chen Kong's