Broke? Now That's a Sore Spot!

Screeech!

A grating sound exploded through the void, like fingernails dragged hard across a blackboard. It made the scalp tingle.

Two great hands pried a silver rift open, revealing the cold, unfathomable depths of space beyond.

Yang Yu braced his hands against its edges. As though planting his feet on an invisible threshold, he drove his shoulders outward.

"Open... damn you!"

A vast spatial rift appeared in the void.

"Quit hiding! Line up and come through one at a time! Why are you pushing? Is the supermarket giving away discount eggs?"

On the other side of the rift, the once-silent void erupted into chaos.

"Stop pushing! Who stepped on my heel?"

"Duck your head up front! You're blocking my signal!"

"Old Wang! Put away that two-meter sword! You're poking me in the ass!"

Heads jostled to poke through the rift.

They looked less like professionals about to charge onto an interstellar battlefield than a crowd waiting for the doors to open at a village sale.

Yang Yu turned around and straightened his slightly rumpled Black Battle Robe, then brushed nonexistent dust from its collar.

"Listen up."

Yang Yu cleared his throat and pointed at the endless forest of cold, gleaming metal ahead.

"What's all that?"

"Money!" everyone shouted in unison, their voices shaking the void.

"Crass!"

Yang Yu rolled his eyes and scolded them for their lack of refinement.

"It's called 'spoils of war'! It's called 'a gift from the enemy'! It's called 'letting nature do the hauling'!"

"Yes, yes! Brother Yu's right!"

"Hauling! We're all hardworking haulers!"

With that settled, Yang Yu vanished without looking back and appeared on the flagship's deck.

Seven Divine Rings revolved against the vacuum, crushing the waves of interference around him.

Knock, knock, knock!

Yang Yu rapped his fingers against the flagship's shield.

"Hey!