There was a trace of confusion in Sam's voice.
Usually, anyone who encountered them-not even all three, just one-would be on their guard. They would be lucky not to wet themselves in fright.
PS: The picture shows Silver Wolf.
[Chapter 3: I can help, but I have one condition]
For a moment, Sam was even a little relieved that she hadn't set the battlefield ablaze the moment she landed, as she usually did on missions.
That was only because there hadn't been any bugs where she landed, though. Otherwise, she wouldn't have minded opening with a battlefield buff.
"Now that's rare. Young man, interested in joining the Stellaron Hunters?"
Silver Wolf tilted her little head and folded her arms, intrigued.
This was her first time seeing someone act like this despite knowing who they were.
He didn't look particularly powerful at first glance, but there was no reason a remarkable man like him couldn't handle logistical support or something. He could always learn, after all.
"I'll pass. Also, my name is Lingchen."
Lingchen shook his head. The Stellaron Hunters spent every day running around for some better ending, following a fortune-teller's prophecies and completing mission after mission. They didn't even have time to settle somewhere and enjoy a relationship.
"But there are three of us here. Aren't you afraid we'll kidnap you?"
Silver Wolf asked curiously. Wasn't this man a little too calm?
Who were they?
Those corporate dogs would probably faint at the sight of them.
Kafka stood silently to the side.
After spending so long as a wanted criminal, meeting someone who showed them goodwill really did pique her curiosity.
Especially since Elio hadn't mentioned anyone being here. Rather, Kafka thought Elio might simply have felt it wasn't worth mentioning.
"Silver Wolf, don't count me in when you want to kidnap someone. I don't want to kidnap him."
Sam casually crushed a few bugs that charged over, her electronically synthesized voice emerging from her mask.
"Hey, Sam, do you really have to undermine me like that?"
Silver Wolf grumbled. Sam was great in every way except that she was far too serious-more clueless about romance than even the most oblivious woman.
"And you still haven't told us how you got here. Kafka already asked."
That soft, milky voice helped Lingchen relax considerably. Yes, that was the feeling.
"I transmigrated here."
"Transmigrated? Oh, I get it. You're from another world, right? Where's your spaceship? Didn't know that technology existed. Were you passing by and fell down here?"
Silver Wolf looked around, but there was nothing before her except snow, wind, and bugs.
"No. I got here with a stick poking my scalp."
"Are you messing with me?"
Silver Wolf's eyes widened. He'd arrived with something poking his scalp, yet there wasn't even a scratch on it?
"It's time we moved, Silver Wolf."
"Sam, clear out the bugs blocking our way as quickly as possible, then head straight to the Stellaron's location. Three mother bugs will arrive soon, and this place will become an inferno. We can't spend too much time here, and we have other missions afterward."
"Since this gentleman doesn't wish to join the Stellaron Hunters, I wish you a safe journey."
With their abilities, they certainly could deal with the mother bugs. Every Stellaron Hunter possessed the power to destroy a planet; only their methods differed. That was also one reason they had been able to chat with Lingchen for so long.
After all, apart from the very strongest individuals in the universe, no one could stop the Stellaron Hunters.
But they had no desire to wade into unnecessary trouble.
"Wait?"
"What, you aren't asking us to take you along, are you? We're not running a charity."
Silver Wolf put her hands on her hips, her expression unfriendly.
She had only just learned Lingchen's name. This was their first meeting.
If Lingchen had agreed earlier, they could have taken him with them. But since he hadn't... if he really wanted them to take him along now, they might have to teach him a lesson.
"I can help you. I'm sure you'd like to get the Stellaron out of here as quickly as possible. After spending so long talking to me, you're probably running a lot shorter on time, right?" Lingchen glanced around. Bugs were everywhere, though they weren't particularly strong.
The flames from Sam's landing had raised the temperature around them considerably. Although it was beginning to drop again, he was no longer the same person he had been moments ago.
"But I have one condition."
"Oh? You're the first to set conditions for the Stellaron Hunters. Let's hear it."
Curiosity surfaced on Kafka's face once more.
This man really wasn't ordinary. Just offering to help wasn't something an ordinary person would have the confidence to do. She had already decided to ask Elio whether he had foreseen Lingchen's presence once they returned.
Besides, not just anyone could chat with the Stellaron Hunters for this long.
"After the battle, fight me."
"You look so clean-cut. I didn't expect you to be a battle maniac."
Silver Wolf rolled her eyes and couldn't resist commenting.
She had thought this handsome guy was a little more normal.
"No. I just want to know how strong I am."
After all, he had only just transmigrated here and had no idea where he ranked in this world.
Judging by what Kafka had just said, mother bugs-relatively powerful members of the Swarm-would also appear here. And since this place would become an inferno, the corporation probably wouldn't pay attention to it.
On top of that, there was the Stellaron, as well as the Antimatter Legion already sealed here and a few stiff Doomsday Beasts.
If the relevant events considered by the system included the people he challenged to a fight... that would leave him plenty of room to maneuver.
Silver Wolf: "..."
"All right. Let's go."
Kafka also wanted to see how strong Lingchen was. He had shown them goodwill, after all.
And she knew nothing about his background. Rashly turning someone's goodwill into hostility would be rather foolish, even if they were the Stellaron Hunters, a terrorist organization in the eyes of the outside world.
PS: The picture shows Firefly.
[Chapter 4: Using the character cards]
Lingchen silently glanced at the three character cards lying in his system storage.
He had already asked the system. The character cards could be used simultaneously, and each card could handle the current situation.
Although he was somewhat reluctant to part with them, using all three was indeed his best option right now.
And as Kafka nodded her agreement, the descriptions of the three cards in his system storage changed.
[Herrscher of Rebirth character card: Using it under the current circumstances grants true Emanator-level authorities over [Death] and [Life].] [[Death]: All conscious beings shall die. Withering, fading, and erosion are its primary manifestations. [Life]: All things die; all things live. Purification, vitality, and affinity are its primary manifestations. [Herrscher of Fire character card: Using it under the current circumstances grants Emanator-level authority over [Fire].] [[Fire]: Burn everything to ashes. Combustion, annihilation, and high temperatures are its primary manifestations. [Herrscher of Domination character card: Using it under the current circumstances grants Emanator-level authority over [Domination].] [[Domination]: All things hang from the threads in your palm. Control, seizure, and theatrical acts are its primary manifestations.
As expected, both the character cards' energy levels and their authorities have changed.
A Herrscher's original energy level couldn't reach that of an Emanator. Moreover, a Herrscher's authority leaned more toward physical laws, rather than the philosophical concepts described by the system.
Still, even if these were philosophical concepts, they were probably only low-level interpretations.
But philosophical concepts covering three aspects probably placed him among the upper ranks of Emanators.
This also made Lingchen realize that anyone he was going to fight could serve as a means of enhancing his character cards.
In that case, then...
[Ding! Bug detected. These character cards will not be adjusted this time. Future character cards will be adjusted: use will require the clear presence of at least two of the following-intent to fight, hostility, and killing intent.]
Lingchen's expression stiffened. It seemed he wouldn't be able to exploit bugs anymore.
Clearly, Sam might take a fight somewhat seriously, but Kafka was probably only curious. Silver Wolf might show some interest if they were playing a game.
Dragging all three into it at once really did count as exploiting a bug.
If he could, he would go straight to Aha and say, "Dare to fight me?" Then the system would only have to raise the character cards' power to an Aeon's level, and he would receive far greater rewards.
But clearly, that wasn't possible.
...System, if I can use Emanator-level cards again later, will the rewards stack or accumulate?
[Ding! Energy stacks, while authorities accumulate. Authorities will only stack after you draw the same character card again.]
Stacking added to the original foundation until it caused a qualitative change. It was like taking one apple and turning it into an apple twice as large. Accumulation, on the other hand, was a quantitative change: one apple simply became two apples.
One provided depth, the other breadth.
Use all three.
These three cards provided recovery, destructive power, and mental protection. Someone like Kafka was here right now, and he might encounter others like her in the future. Using them all was unavoidable.
More importantly, Lingchen was satisfied with their strength.
Reaching an Emanator's level was extremely difficult.
[Ding! Activating...]
As the system spoke, Lingchen felt three streams of Imaginary Energy suddenly emerge within him, each capable of effortlessly destroying a star in an instant. Their corresponding authorities followed.
So this is an Emanator's power. The three character cards really are separate.
The three Emanator-level powers remained distinctly separated within his body, neither interfering with the others.
"What's your deal, Masked Rider?"
Silver Wolf stared blankly at Lingchen, pointing at him with her pale little hand, unable to get another word out.
A moment earlier, Lingchen had seemed like an ordinary person. Then, in the blink of an eye, the aura he suddenly unleashed made her breath catch. Surely only a Masked Rider from the movies could pull off a transformation like that.
Kafka understood. This man really wasn't ordinary.
She had thought as much. A man capable of showing them goodwill really did have the power to say, "I don't eat beef."
"You're challenging us at your level? Don't tell me you were waiting here for us specifically. An Emanator of [Elation]?"
Silver Wolf was somewhat speechless. If Lingchen hadn't shown them goodwill earlier, she would have been extremely tense right now.
She couldn't beat a Xianzhou general head-on, but the Xianzhou had vast holdings. As a top hacker, she wasn't afraid of them. If it came down to mutual destruction, she could simply crash their economy.
But facing this unknown man, Lingchen, she was still somewhat worried. After all, he was very close to them, and she didn't know which [Path] he followed.
"No wonder you were showing us goodwill. So you've been toying with us~"
"Not at all. I really do like you."
Sam should have been able to sense it, and Kafka, the devil hunter who excelled at manipulating people's hearts, should have been able to judge for herself as well.
"Y-you know what you're saying?"
Silver Wolf pointed a little finger at her own cheek. Her meaning was obvious: I'm a Stellaron Hunter.
This time, even Sam was a little surprised.
With that kind of power behind him, his earlier words carried real weight.
"I know. I don't care how vicious or evil someone is. As long as they aren't vicious or evil toward me, we can all be good friends."
Lingchen was already floating in midair. He had clearly sensed the Stellaron's location.