Hekaton's footsteps... faltered.
"What you're protecting... is the Phaeron's betrayal!"
"...Logic... error." Hekaton's compound eyes flickered.
"There's no error!" Liu Zhipeng pointed at the Dolmen Gate like a raving lunatic. "The Phaeron... she's going to use this! She's going to run! She's going to abandon the entire Maynarkh Dynasty!"
"The Flayer Curse... has driven her mad!!"
"...The Phaeron... has gone mad?" For the first time, Hekaton's logic processor descended into... confusion.
"Yes!" Liu Zhipeng seized that fleeting opportunity. "She... she's hidden the 'cure' on the other side of the Dolmen Gate! She's going... alone!!"
"And I! Leo! I'm here to... stop her!!"
"...Stop... the Phaeron?"
Hekaton's programming became trapped in an... infinite loop.
Duty one: guard the Dolmen Gate and forbid anyone, including the Phaeron, from using it without the Silent King's permission.
Duty two: remain loyal to the Phaeron.
Current situation: the Phaeron was suspected of intending to use the Dolmen Gate.
Current situation two: Leo, the Corruptor, intended to stop the Phaeron.
...Who should I... help?
That paradox... overloaded Hekaton's ancient processor!
"Logic... conflict!!" It slammed its enormous fist into its own head! "Bang!!"
"Now!!"
This was the moment Liu Zhipeng had been waiting for! He activated the Phase Shifter!
Whoosh!
His entire body became a phantom as he rushed toward the nearest docked... Night Shroud-class Scout Ship!
"Fuck! You big dumb oaf! Take your time figuring it out!"
Liu Zhipeng's figure passed straight through into the Night Shroud's cockpit!
Boom-!!
Hekaton finally recovered from its logical confusion!
It realized... it had been tricked!
"Cor-rup-tor-!!"
It let out an earthshaking roar and wheeled toward the Night Shroud, its arm transforming to reveal a Gauss Cannon with a terrifyingly large bore!
"Too late, baby!"
Inside the cockpit, Liu Zhipeng extended his metal palm without even looking at the control