On the vast Starrail Platform, March 7th, Dan Heng, and the others gazed into the distance, keeping a close watch on the Doomsday Beast.
All its outer armor had been torn apart, and even its spine had twisted. Its warped torso was a bloody mess, yet it had not disintegrated.
"ROAR!" With a shrill bellow, a hazy crimson glow flickered across its mountain-sized, ravaged body.
Spreading its tattered wings, the apocalyptic beast hurtled down toward the Starrail Platform with even more terrifying force than before.
Its enormous body swept through the starry expanse, whipping up a tremendous spatial storm.
"This Doomsday Beast is no ordinary specimen."
"Despite suffering that much damage, it not only survived, but became even stronger and more frenzied..."
"Evacuate this platform before we get caught in its attack. At this point, we can only rely on Lin Feng to fight it!"
His voice thick with caution, Welt Yang gave the order and immediately led Dan Heng and March 7th in a sprint toward a neighboring platform.
The Doomsday Beast crossed nearly a hundred kilometers in mere moments. As its immense, high-rise-sized claw slammed down with a thunderous crash, the Starrail Platform, weighing millions of tons, collapsed outright.
Fortunately, Welt Yang had anticipated this. The instant the platform collapsed, they leaped over a hundred meters and reached the platform on the other side.
Of course, they also took the gravely injured, unconscious Himeko with them.
"That was close... I nearly died of fright!"
The arm gripping her bow trembled slightly. Cold sweat beaded on March 7th's forehead as she gasped for breath.
"This state... a blessing from Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction? Or the full-power mechanism of a Planet-Destroying Rank biological weapon?"
Adjusting his glasses, Welt Yang looked at the bloody, distorted Doomsday Beast with a hint of surprise.
"I thought this would be an entirely routine trip escorting a Curio. To think we'd encounter a top-tier Doomsday Beast."
"As expected, even the Path of Trailblaze is always accompanied by danger and death..."
"Himeko is in bad shape. She needs treatment soon..."
Holding the ancient-looking, teal spear at his side, the normally impassive Dan Heng also furrowed his brow.
Beside him, the mature red-haired beauty lay on the hard platform as though asleep, her white dress stained red.
"Hey, don't look so gloomy! We still have Lin Feng, don't we?"
"He's already awakened the power of that... that Stellaron thing. He can definitely destroy the Doomsday Beast!"
Looking into the distance at Lin Feng hovering proudly among the stars, March 7th did not seem particularly panicked.
Lin Feng had protected her so many times. Surely this time would be no exception?
"Lin Feng! One more swing and that Doomsday Beast is done for! Go for it!"
Cupping her hands beside her cheeks, March 7th shouted up at Lin Feng as he hovered among the stars, her lovely eyes full of anticipation.
"The hour of your demise has arrived. I shall write your requiem myself!"
"Watch closely, March 7th! This next swing is going to look awesome!"
Standing proudly among the stars, Lin Feng looked as dazzling and heroic as a god. His voice rang down from above, and although he seemed to be showing off a little, it still reassured the watching Astral Express crew.
Rules are made to be broken...
With a sharp cry, he ignited his baseball bat with spreading silver starflames, and the enormous phantom weapon appeared once again...
This time, however, the move that had never failed him stopped working. The silver phantom extended to a hundred meters, then abruptly shrank back.
"What the fuck... are you kidding me? Get up!"
Unwilling to give up, Lin Feng tried again. The phantom baseball bat kept extending and retracting, growing shorter and smaller all the while.
Viewed from the space station in the distance, the scene looked like some bizarre looping meme.
"Uh... what's going on?"
Lin Feng frowned, his face full of confusion.
Oh, Stellaron, Stellaron, can't you put some muscle into it? All these people are watching, and this is what you give me...
"Haha... just pretend I never said any of that. Lin Feng really is unreliable after all!"
Scratching her head, March 7th muttered under her breath, her fair, pretty face full of embarrassment.
Watching Lin Feng's bizarre antics, Welt Yang and Dan Heng exchanged speechless, exasperated looks.
In the Central Control Zone of Herta Space Station, Asta was staring intently at the holographic surveillance feed, her face equally astonished.
"What... he's already out of steam? Last night... wasn't he so impressive?"
Her rosy lips parted as she complained softly, a faint blush rising across her snowy complexion.
"Hm? Last night... could it be..."
Resting his chin on one hand, Arlan looked at the young lady with an expression that said he understood everything...
High above the Starrail Platform, after several unsuccessful attempts, the silver starflames surrounding Lin Feng grew weaker and weaker. Finally, with a pop, they went out completely.
"I'm screwed... now it's gone completely limp!"
The words had barely left his mouth when, without the starflames supporting him, Lin Feng plummeted from the sky.
With a thunderous crash, he smashed a deep crater into the platform's alloy floor.
However, thanks to his Bronze Skin and Iron Bones talent and his Stellaron-enhanced body, the impact did not do him much harm.
"Urgh... my head hurts!"
Climbing out of the crater and rubbing his aching head, Lin Feng looked at the familiar faces before him and felt rather embarrassed. After all, his antics just now had looked utterly ridiculous.
After considering the cause, Lin Feng arrived at a rough conclusion.
Although the Stellaron had immense potential, in his current state, he could only draw out a small fraction of its power.
With that power exhausted, he naturally could no longer maintain his previous overwhelming state. Of course he had gone limp.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on obtaining the achievement "Cool for no more than three seconds." Reward: 150 Path of Elation Simulation Points.] [Current accumulated Path Simulation Points: 1,500. Keep up the good work, host!]
Just then, the mechanical female voice rang out in his mind again, giving Lin Feng a small emotional jolt.
Fuck you. What kind of bullshit achievement is that? I don't want it at all...
Fine. Since it comes with 150 Path Simulation Points, I'll let it slide.
Despite those thoughts, his body betrayed his true feelings, and a faint, smug smile curled at the corners of Lin Feng's mouth.
Before he knew it, he had accumulated 1,500 points, putting him halfway toward an S-rank simulation rating.
At that thought, Lin Feng felt that the ordeal he had just suffered had been worth it.
"ROAR!" Seeing Lin Feng land on the opposite Starrail Platform, the distorted Doomsday Beast bellowed, beat its bloody wings, and charged toward him, eager to tear him apart with a single bite.
After all, it was this young man who fought dirty who had beaten it into such a miserable state.
Now it was time for the Doomsday Beast to get its revenge and reclaim its pride.
Before you continue