"What do you think Black Star is planning to do by keeping that annoying bastard around?"
The numerous Beyond Grade A who left the conference room walked down the corridor. The Sun Hunter, with his tiny body floating in mid-air, followed the crowd and asked in a muffled voice.
Kant shrugged, fiddling with the thrusters on the back of the Manison Dominion's clone, and said dismissively, "It's definitely not good news."
The Secret Master glanced down at the glow of the enchanted tattoo and said calmly:
"I just did a divination, and Dilron's fortune is bleak; it seems he may face a bloody disaster."
"Hmm, it seems Black Star is planning to settle scores with him and teach him a lesson. That guy deserves to get beaten up."
The Sun Hunter smacked his lips and chuckled.
Just as the group was speculating, a loud bang suddenly erupted from behind!
BOOM!!
A powerful shockwave from the explosion suddenly struck from behind, causing everyone to stumble.
Many Beyond Grade A turned their heads in surprise, only to see that the corridor they had come from had been blown into pieces. The center of the explosion was the conference room, which had now become a giant hole. The change in pressure inside and outside generated an astonishing suction force, sucking out a large amount of debris. Meanwhile, two streams of light intertwined and shot into the sky, instantly plunging into the universe.
The group looked up in surprise and saw that Psionic Energy was shooting out and magic power was surging in the sky. Han Xiao was already locked in battle with Dilron. His black robes were swirling and shooting out streaks of deep blue Psionic Energy, which clashed with the spells that Dilron was continuously releasing in mid-air, exploding into rings of dazzling light.
"Whoa, a fight has broken out!"
"Hit me hard, Black Star! I'm backing you up in spirit!"
"Count me in, help me punch him a few times."
Whether they were members of the association or direct descendants of the civilization, they all gathered back at this moment, looking up through the open hole at the two people fighting fiercely in the air.
Given Dilron's unpopularity, he naturally lost support due to his unpopularity. No one stepped in to help him; everyone just watched with a smug expression, their faces full of schadenfreude, as they watched this annoying guy get beaten up.
In the outer space, Dilron kept trying to create distance, but Han Xiao kept him close. Because it was a sudden attack at close range, Dilron was caught off guard and had to deal with several heavy punches to the face. His fair face swelled up slightly and dark blue bruises appeared.
Dilron hurriedly summoned a magical artifact, his magic power flowing along a complex circuit, releasing an elven secret technique. Thin, long, blue-green light bands shot out rapidly, densely packed, their light almost solidified, wrapping around Han Xiao's hands and feet, flashing with countless elven runes.
Taking advantage of the brief moment of control, Dilron quickly activated the short-range blink enchantment. With a flash of light, he created a large distance and hurriedly raised his hand to cast a spell, constructing a long-range spatial portal.
He was unwilling to sit and wait for his death, and since he hadn't yet determined a victor over Han Xiao, all he wanted now was to escape from here as quickly as possible.
However, before the portal could even spark, Han Xiao tore apart his control spells, shattered his Void Leap artifacts, and instantly teleported to Dilron's side.
The next moment, the elbow strike, imbued with Psionic Energy, slammed into Dilron's magical shield, instantly shattering it into countless fragments of light. The still-powerful elbow then slammed heavily into Dilron's chest.
Thump!
A dull tremor traveled outwards from the point of impact. Dilron's eyes bulged as he felt an immense force almost crushing his internal organs. His chest caved in, and his back suddenly bulged as large sections of his bones broke.
"Cough--"
A surge of blood rushed to his throat, Dilron involuntarily coughed up a mouthful of blood mist. Enduring the excruciating pain, he quickly activated the Phase Dispersion spell, instantly sparing Han Xiao's subsequent headbutt.
Before he could even cast a spell, a mecha hand enveloped in pale white light swiftly attacked. The force field emitted by the phase stabilization device instantly neutralized his spell, and the large hand immediately grabbed his body, gripping his throat. Then, a Rainstorm of fist shadows rapidly magnified in Dilron's vision.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
In the blink of an eye, Dilron lost count of how many punches he had taken to his face. He felt as if his head had become a sandbag being relentlessly pounded, with dents appearing everywhere and the whole thing deflated. Forces penetrated his skin, muscles, and bones, reaching deep into his brain, almost turning his brain matter into foamy matter.
Get out of my way!
Dilron gritted his teeth, and his mana surged into his mind along a specific circuit, stimulating his spirit. The dizziness was cleared, and he regained his focus on casting. Without saying a word, he raised his hand and cast a five-fold instant spell.
Amidst the swirling, colorful magical light, five spells instantly coalesced into a combo. A shield specifically designed for melee defense regenerated, barely managing to block a few consecutive attacks. Then, an escape spell broke free from control, followed by a high-level immobilization spell that momentarily hindered Han Xiao. Finally, a burst of magical power propelled him away, while Han Xiao himself used a Starlight Escape Technique to glide away, creating distance once again.
Having finally gained a brief respite, Dilron quickly activated the healing magic that the elves were skilled in to repair his injuries. However, after suffering a series of Heavy Strike, his once handsome face was now swollen into a crooked pig's head, and the swelling was taking a very long time to subside.
"Although Dilron is annoying, he's not entirely useless. Unfortunately, his opponent this time is someone outside the usual ranks; he's definitely in trouble."
The numerous Beyond Grade A viewers below watched the spectacle while whispering amongst themselves.
Peak Beyond Grade A mages are known for their abundant methods. As a renowned arcane master in history, Dilron naturally knows countless spells. Unfortunately, these tricks can only prolong his life and have no other use. As a fellow Peak Beyond Grade A, Han Xiao's level far surpasses his.
Seeing Dilron get beaten up, the crowd became even more excited. If they weren't mindful of their status, some of them might have cheered loudly... If they didn't know Han Xiao's background and had seen the close-combat suppression just now, they would have thought that Dilron was being beaten up by a martial artist.
At this moment, Han Xiao mustered his strength, shattering the runes of the high-level immobilization spell. He raised his hand and summoned the Dimensional Barracks. A dark, dense army surged out instantly, finally switching to the style of a mechanic.
Dilron's heart skipped a beat, and he dared not be distracted any longer. He chanted incantations rapidly, and one powerful forbidden spell after another was unleashed, transforming into magical cannons that bombarded the endless mechanical army, bursting out colorful yet deadly explosions in the dark sea of machines.
However, Han Xiao's mechanical soldiers are now incredibly powerful, and with the added advantage of high affinity with Mechanical Force, Dilron simply can't mow them down. The soldiers are as tough as if they've entered Nightmare difficulty, and most of their attacks are blocked by the shields and armor of the mechanical troops.
After switching to the mechanic's gang-up mode, the battle entered a rhythm that Han Xiao was familiar with. Dilron was surrounded and could not get rid of it no matter how he charged left or right, while the mechanical troops harassed him back and forth, like a rag wiping away a stubborn stain.
Having withstood one impact after another, Dilron's aura slowly declined from its peak and gradually weakened. Each attempt to open a stable portal was thwarted by the fluctuations of the spatial device.
He was already at his last gasp, struggling to survive in the dark, mechanical sea. Even with the endless stream of magic, he could only hold out for half a day.
Finally, the flickering magical shield could no longer withstand the onslaught of the Apostle Weapon and shattered with a bang.
Sizzle!
The next instant, beams of laser light pierced through his body, leaving charred, penetrating wounds, his body almost riddled with holes.
However, although the mage is fragile, the vitality of Peak Beyond Grade A is not so easy to destroy; he still has a breath left, barely clinging to life.
Han Xiao waved his hand, and several Apostle Weapon escorted the battered and bruised Dilron to the broken conference room, where they arrived in front of the many Beyond Grade A who had been watching the battle without leaving.
Everyone grinned and chuckled at Dilron's miserable state; Dilron's personality truly left him with no friends.
The Sun Hunter floated onto Dilron's head, grabbed a tuft of hair, and yanked it out, clicking its tongue and saying, "You're so arrogant, aren't you? Say another one of those foul words and let's see?"
"You gave him a good beating; hopefully, he'll learn to be more discreet in the future." Baigel shook his head.
Aurora she reached out and grabbed a ball of life energy, asking, "Do you need me to heal him?"
Han Xiao waved his hand and said casually:
"No need, I was just about to kill him anyway."
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere changed slightly, and everyone's smiles vanished, replaced by expressions of surprise.
They had always thought Han Xiao was just teaching Dilron a lesson, so they were happily watching the show. But now that they realized Han Xiao wanted him dead, the situation was completely different, and everyone's expressions immediately turned serious.
"You're going to kill him? This guy is annoying, but surely it's not worth taking his life?" the Sun Hunter asked doubtfully.
Oulu echoed, then asked in surprise, "This guy is a decent fighter. Since he's willing to join the war, why kill him? Besides, you'll have to revive him sooner or later anyway, isn't this just redundant... Don't you plan to revive him?!"
Immediately, many people spoke up, expressing their opposition in a cacophony of voices.
Despite their dislike, most Beyond Grade A individuals didn't want to kill Dilron, not because of any personal relationship, but mainly because it involved their own interests... Although the Sanctuary Revival was their lifeline, no one wanted to see Black Star use it to take advantage of Beyond Grade A individuals and kill them at will.
Han Xiao glanced at everyone, not surprised at all.
The truth about the Sanctuary Revival is a double-edged sword. The fact that the Beyond Grade A group tolerates his control is because he is strong enough, not because they have become obedient children.
From beginning to end, these Beyond Grade A were a group of untamed beasts, always watching with predatory eyes.
The chance of immortality is tempting. Some Beyond Grade A can put aside their arrogance, but they will not completely give up their dignity and bottom line. It is best if everyone can live in peace. Everyone is willing to follow his orders within the bottom line. However, if he goes too far, the Beyond Grade A group will not be submissive or indifferent.
The motivation for participating in the war in exchange for a chance to recover was to unite against a common enemy, which was a reasonable request and therefore acceptable to everyone. However, this did not mean that the Beyond Grade A group would unconditionally obey all orders. Although everyone cherished the opportunity for immortality, they did not truly become subordinates and be completely controlled by others.
Once the truth about the Sanctuary Revival is revealed, it is no longer a private matter, but a public interest in the eyes of the Beyond Grade A group. It can be controlled by one person, but complete privatization cannot be tolerated.
If the intention is to use this channel to seek absolute control over the Beyond Grade A group, the most likely outcome will be that the Beyond Grade A group joins forces to seize control of the Sanctuary Revival, even if it results in a lose-lose situation.
They either fight against all the heroes alone, or they gather a group of Beyond Grade A to deal with the rebels, and they stop reviving troublemakers. This is the path that the Federation of All Stars is taking.
Han Xiao was fully aware of this and had no intention of controlling everyone, so he slowly said:
"Dilron has repeatedly undermined internal unity and is an unstable factor. This time, his defection from the association with his men has already proven his instability. What if he accidentally leaks intelligence? Considering that he returned voluntarily, I will reduce his punishment. However, for the sake of the war, I plan to temporarily send him to the Netherland. He will enjoy normal recovery treatment after the war ends."
You are all here to bear witness and prevent me from breaking my promise in the future.
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, exchanging glances and pondering amongst themselves.
What they oppose is killing without cause, not that killing is forbidden. I feel that Black Star's statement makes some sense.
Considering Dilron's behavior, sending that foul-mouthed guy to the Netherland to isolate himself for a while might be a good option; the world would be half as peaceful then.
With this in mind, everyone stepped back and did not continue to obstruct them.
Seeing this, Dilron was utterly desperate, coughing up a mouthful of charred blood and his breath died down.
"Since everyone agrees, I'll get started."
Seeing this, Han Xiao turned to signal to the troops.
Pfft!
The next moment, Dark Emperor thrust his spear into the back of Dilron's head, piercing through his skull and extinguishing his last vestiges of life.
Hila immediately raised her hand to capture Dilron's soul, then she and Aurora disappeared from the spot and entered the Netherland to transform Dilron's spirit.
Han Xiao glanced at Kasuyi, pointed to the hole in the ceiling, and said, "Don't forget to have someone fix the conference room."
After saying that, he changed into the Sovereign and teleported away in a flash.
As the mechanical troops dragged away Dilron's corpse, the many Beyond Grade A soldiers present were secretly horrified.
After a moment's reflection, everyone felt that Black Star had deliberately killed Dilron in front of them, seemingly to establish his authority. Black Star's subtext was that while he didn't want to use the revival quota to control the Beyond Grade A group, he also didn't want them to think that they could do whatever they wanted just because the Sanctuary Revival. He was indicating that he wouldn't cover up for the mistakes of others.
Initially, everyone was quite excited about receiving Black Star's promise of Infinite revival slots by expressing their willingness to participate in the war. However, now that their emotions have finally calmed down, some dangerous thoughts that had been secretly brewing have been reined in.
The group composed themselves and dispersed, each with their own thoughts.
On the other side, in the Netherland Dimension.
Dilron's soul floated in mid-air, while Hila and Aurora mobilized the power of the Netherland, continuously pouring it into Dilron's body to transform his spiritual form, while the nine great Heroic Spirit King of the Netherland watched from the sidelines.
With a flash of light, Han Xiao teleported over, and his appearance immediately drew the furious gaze of Dilron.
"Black Star! I volunteered to return to the war, and you killed me! I swear I will never forgive you!"
Dilron cursed and swore, gritting his teeth.
Han Xiao didn't take it seriously and clicked his tongue:
"You looked half-dead just now, but you're full of energy now that you're dead."
"You're shameless! You have no shame! I believe you're truly blind! I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Hila silenced him expressionlessly, and no matter how hard Dilron opened and closed his mouth, no sound came out.
Han Xiao shrugged, turned to Sorokin and the others, and said, "This guy will be the tenth Heroic Spirit King from now on. You guys should teach him a lesson and make him reflect on what it means to have trouble with your words."
Sorokin was in a good mood, having risen in seniority again, and asked curiously:
"How strong is this guy?"
"Peak Beyond Grade A mage, the former Holy King of the Elf race, his combat power is considerable. You might not even be his match, only slightly inferior to me," Han Xiao said casually.
"The new recruits this time are of good quality," Sorokin replied in a mature and sophisticated manner.
Han Xiao ignored him, turning to look at the silently roaring Dilron, his eyes flashing.
With this, the Heroic Spirit King the Netherland will now have ten powerful warriors. With this additional "lively" fellow, Sorokin and his companions' lives will likely become even more "colorful."
No longer watching the Hila sisters' heroic spirit transformation ceremony, Han Xiao opened the panel and looked at the quest list, where Dilron's Beyond Grade A challenge quest was shining brightly.
"A magician... I wonder what ability they'll draw..."