The Mastermind Emerged

The white clock towers of ancient port cities.

Their melodious bells guided ships when it was time to set sail or return to harbor.

If everything was an inescapable, endless loop.

Then that distinctive sound had to play an important role within it.

In those scattered chapters of fables.

Every beginning and ending was accompanied by the ringing of bells.

Then, aboard Herta Space Station in this age of interstellar travel.

Any device capable of broadcasting sound over a wide area naturally became a target of Lin Chen's suspicion.

Besides, recalling their experience huddling together on the first night.

March 7th, still rather naive and innocent back then.

Had also thought that the eerie midnight singing was merely a lullaby over the broadcast system.

Although March 7th's thinking had always been unconventional.

According to Pom-Pom, her instincts had always been remarkably accurate.

"Rat-tat-tat..."

Before Asta and March 7th's stunned eyes.

A furious, concentrated torrent of metal.

Instantly riddled the central broadcast tower with holes.

Explosions erupted one after another, and the white alloy tower collapsed with a thunderous crash.

The next instant, every light in the Master Control Zone abruptly went out.

Through the portholes in the walls.

Lin Chen saw that the entire Herta Space Station had gone dark.

Only the silver starlight spilling through the overhead glass.

Illuminated the world before him.

As far as he could see, the Space Station was deathly still.

So quiet it was frightening.

Asta and March 7th had long since vanished as well.

"Bong... bong..."

Deep, muffled bells tolled through the deathly silence.

Chaotic black lines wove themselves into floating steps.

A woman dressed in a black formal gown.

Slowly descended from high above along the staircase.

With every step the mysterious woman took.

The surrounding space twisted for a fleeting instant.

An inexplicable mental tremor and a wave of dizziness.

Made Lin Chen feel as though he was about to suffocate.

With some effort, Lin Chen raised his head, hoping to glimpse the woman's true face.

Only to discover, to his shock.

That she seemed to have merged with the starry night outside the windows.

There was no way to discern her true appearance.

He could only vaguely make out the curves of her devilishly alluring figure.

"Commander, watch out! According to the biological energy-level assessment system, this target poses an extreme threat!"

"Commander, get out of here now! Leave this to us!"

As those words fell, the Space Marines led by Tychus.

Stepped in front of Lin Chen, forming a wall of alloy steel.

"Rat-tat-tat..."

The Gauss electromagnetic machine guns roared.

Dazzling muzzle flashes erupted one after another, lighting up the darkened control chamber.

Tens of thousands of metal casings bounced across the chamber's alloy floor.

Yet this time, the depleted-uranium armor-piercing rounds capable of punching through metal buildings.

Formed a torrential storm of metal that had no effect whatsoever.

The mysterious woman, whose face remained unseen as she blended into the night.

Lightly tapped the air before her with a slender fingertip.

Ripples of chaotic black lines spread outward, forming a barrier that warped space.

Every bullet fired at her vanished into nothing.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... your guards are quite loyal, aren't they?"

"In that case... let's make these ants disappear first."

Somewhat disjointed syllables sounded beside his ears.

Though the language was incomprehensible to Lin Chen, he instantly understood its meaning.

"Pop!"

A crisp snap of fingers rang out.

Lin Chen felt the space around him twist with dark ripples.

It was as though all the matter that had existed there had vanished into thin air.

However, in the instant before those dark ripples swept over them.

Lin Chen, his mind still clear, acted with a thought.

He immediately took all twenty-six Space Marines, including Tychus.

And stored them inside the system space.

Was this some kind of joke? They were all he had left.

He absolutely couldn't lose them here.

Although the mysterious woman before him had yet to employ any uncanny methods.

The terrifying pressure she exuded alone.

Was enough to leave him feeling a little hopeless.

Lin Chen felt that even if he had more than these few trump cards.

Even a fully armed interstellar army would be wiped out here.

"Oh? Quite quick to react."

"Interesting..."

"As expected, you're an ant unlike the others."

As the crisp footsteps drew ever closer.

A whisper that shook him to his core sounded beside Lin Chen's ears.

It did not seem to be ordinary spoken communication.

The mysterious woman was transmitting her thoughts directly.

"System! Activate the Universal Countermeasure Card!"

Having clearly grasped the situation before him.

Lin Chen hesitated no longer and immediately brought out his final trump card.

Although this little golden legendary card.

Was something he truly did not want to expend so rashly, so soon.

Things had already come to this. Was there any room left to maneuver?

Although she had not immediately erased his existence.

Lin Chen had an inexplicable gut feeling.

That she could make him vanish completely in an instant if she wished.

[Universal Countermeasure Card activated!]

[The system will safeguard the host.]

[Please remain calm and composed.]

[There is no need to remain vigilant against any external threats.]

The system's cold, mechanical voice sounded in his mind.

Giving Lin Chen an inexplicable sense of confidence.

This goofy system was often slow to respond and overly rigid.

But it was fairly reliable in other respects.

Countless densely packed parameters and symbols flickered and unfolded before his eyes.

Within Lin Chen's field of vision.

The mysterious woman's true appearance had become clearly visible.

Beneath long, snow-white hair that cascaded like a waterfall.

Two crimson, crescent-shaped horns looked somewhat jarring and strange.

On her fair, breathtakingly beautiful face.

A faint scarlet runic mark was just visible on her left cheek.

Within her clear, captivating scarlet eyes.

Patterns resembling clocks and crescent moons seemed to give off a mesmerizing glow.

Her delicate, rose-colored lips curved into a faintly indifferent, teasing smile.

"Oh... you can see my face?"

"Is it pretty?"

Her delicate brows rose slightly, and the woman, three parts seductive and seven parts bewitching.

Showed a trace of amusement in her clear scarlet eyes.

Then her soft tongue slipped out and lightly licked her lips.

"You're not ugly..."

"But I'd guess your true form looks pretty bizarre."

"After all, that [Deep-Sea Nightmare] under your command is unbelievably ugly."

"As a similar sort of being, you probably aren't much different."

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

As casually as if he were taking a stroll, Lin Chen stepped forward rather than retreating.

And spoke in a casual, indifferent tone.

After he activated the [Universal Countermeasure Card].

That terrifying pressure had already vanished without a trace.

The creature before him was merely an uncanny entity in the form of a beautiful, humanlike demon.

If she really dared to attack.

The all-powerful system would surely strike back.

"Wrong, wrong... that little thing is merely a pet of mine, a god."

"It can devour everything within conventional understanding. Isn't that interesting?"

With only a few meters separating them.

This time, Lin Chen saw clearly.

The mysterious, bewitching woman before him truly had not opened her mouth to speak.