Intelligent beings with innate talents can awaken Esper Gene, and then through various training methods, their cells can generate special bio-energy, which is called Qi. Qi is like a rushing river, and cells and genes are like stubborn rocks in the riverbed. As the river grows stronger and is washed away day after day, their own genes begin to transform, gradually becoming more rounded and perfect, as if compressing the long biological evolution of millions of years.
Grade A is a watershed moment, also known as the Calamity Grade. It represents advanced power in interstellar space, and very few superhumans are fortunate enough to reach this level. Once their genetic evolution reaches a certain height, they will all encounter an indestructible bottleneck. In more fantastical terms, it's like "not being able to see the road ahead."
Before the Galaxy Era, during the Exploration Period, the Three Universal Civilizations were still engaged in a fierce battle of wits and squabbles. The world believed that various power systems were independent. It wasn't until Dr. Stuart Ona of the Federation of Light pioneered the Energy Level Theory that everyone realized "strength" was a common trait among superhumans, integrating it into a larger system that formed the current ranking system. At that time, Grade A was considered the endpoint of individual power evolution, and no one broke through the barrier of Grade A.
War is a double-edged sword. Countless talented Grade A powerhouses who were about to break through died in the war, but at the same time, the battlefield was also a catalyst. If they were lucky enough to survive, their potential would be pushed to the maximum. Towards the end of the war, one superhuman finally broke through to Grade A, which was a completely different level and caused a great sensation.
None of the civilizations expected that individual strength could reach such a level, actually able to contend with the powerful armies that the Three Universal Civilizations were so proud of. Although it was still insignificant compared to the boundless interstellar battlefield, no matter how strong the collective strength was, it could not match the awe-inspiring feeling of a powerful force being wielded by an individual. The existence of Beyond Grade A being was itself a deterrent, and this later became one of the many reasons that led to the ceasefire among the Three Universal Civilizations.
After the advent of peace, the existence of Beyond Grade A powerhouses became profoundly significant and held a very high status. Gradually, the levels above Grade A were further subdivided, with Grade S being the next level up, and even higher levels above that. However, all superhumans above Grade A were still referred to as "Beyond Grade A," a way of remembering history and showing respect for the strong, shrouded in a veil of mystery.
In the current Galaxy Era, there are only four well-known Beyond Grade A powerhouses in the Shattered Star Ring, all of whom are renowned, have brilliant achievements, and possess numerous titles. Ames's most widely spread nickname is "[Dragon Emperor]", a double entendre. The first meaning comes from her Void Dragon Bone Throne, and the second meaning symbolizes that she is the creator of Floating Dragon Island, which is her most famous achievement.
At this moment, Ames hovered in mid-air, and everyone at the dock felt a sense of pressure and trepidation. More Dragon Calm Guard arrived and surrounded the mercenaries, with countless guns pointed at them. The members of the three mercenary groups were unsure of Ames's attitude towards them and were filled with anxiety.
The Silver Spirit People prisoners stood to one side. Ames glanced at them and roughly guessed what had happened. She said with interest, "So you're Silver Spirit People Silver Spirit People. So you're the mercenaries they hired?"
Her voice wasn't clear at all; instead, it was somewhat hoarse and magnetic.
Goya forced a smile and said, "Yes, the Silver Spirit People were sold to Floating Dragon Island, so we tracked them down. We're sorry for the accidental damage, but we hope you can let them go back." She wanted to make one last effort, and now she could only hope that Ames would show leniency for the sake of the Silver Spirit People, after all, the Silver Spirit People were Cosmic Nobility with a very strong background.
Ames simply smiled faintly, completely unconcerned about the Silver Spirit People ' status, "This is the Shattered Star Ring, not the Sea of Star Spirits."
Having said that, she controlled the Throne to fly towards her residence in the center of the floating island, leaving behind the order, "Bring all the mercenaries here."
The Dragon Calm Guard escorted the group toward the center of the floating island. The group had no choice but to obey; at least Ames hadn't killed them immediately, so there was still hope.
However, everyone was in a bad mood. Looking back, the Silver Spirit People prisoners they had finally managed to rescue were being escorted by another group of guards towards the slave market. Horlade was in the group, looking smug. In Ames's eyes, the Silver Spirit People issue was a trivial matter; she didn't want to get involved at all. She only intervened because she heard reports of trouble, leaving other issues to her subordinates to handle, thus benefiting Horlade.
Horlade received the Silver Spirit People without any major incident, and with Paiji's fate still unknown, Holland didn't even have to pay anything, making him the biggest winner.
The mercenaries' intervention in the rescue had initially made him anxious, but now he only found it amusing. These people had done all that work, yet he had gotten the biggest profit – a complete joke! Horlade was secretly pleased and smug. He glanced mockingly at the mercenaries and swaggered away, leading the Silver Spirit People away.
The members of the three mercenary groups were dejected and extremely depressed. Porter, being straightforward, was indignant and grumbled in his native dialect the whole way. No one liked the feeling of failing at the last minute.
The guard escorting the Black Star Mercenary Group happened to be Sion's squad. Sion shoved Han Xiao aside, sneering repeatedly, and said, "You're finished! You dared to attack the Dragon Calm Guard! Lady Ames will definitely use her power to crush you into atomic dust!"
Han Xiao was pushed and glanced back at Sion.
"What are you looking at? Keep going!" Sion snapped.
He was pushed a few more times, but the force was like a light breeze, and he couldn't move him at all. He felt nothing. Han Xiao shook his head, ignoring Sion, and secretly thought about what would happen next. Based on his understanding of Ames, as long as her subordinates were not killed, things could turn around. Although Ames was protective of her own, willful, and had unpredictable moods, she was not cruel or bloodthirsty.
At the center of the Floating Dragon Island was Ames's residence, a massive fortress resembling a palace, decorated with dragon bones everywhere. The group passed through room after room and entered an exquisite hall to await their fate.
After a while, Ames floated in through a side door of the hall, stopping on her Throne in front of everyone. Resting her chin on her hand, she said casually, "You attacked my men, and although there were no casualties, I will punish you. Wilsander, what are our rules?"
A skinny man emerged from the side, almost like a bamboo pole, making one worry that a gust of wind could blow him away. He was so ugly it was almost comical, or one could say his handsomeness was understated. He had a pair of horns on his head, fiery red skin covered in patterns, a tail that swung around, and a pair of bony wings on his back. He was also a hybrid race, possessing some kind of demonic gene.
This man was named Wilsander, the captain of the Dragon Calm Guard and one of his most trusted subordinates. He stepped forward, squinting, stroking his sparse goatee, and casually said, "According to the rules, anyone who retaliates will be executed."
Everyone's hearts jumped into their throats.
Ames nodded. "Then lock up the people from Sky Ring, Blades, and Purple Gold, and have their legion commanders ransom them."
"Well... the rule is execution..." Wilsander choked on his breath and said cautiously.
"My word is law." Ames said calmly, exuding an air of dominance.
Wilsander's eye twitched, looking quite aggrieved. "Then why are you asking me?"
Ames blinked. "I was just asking." She was basically uninvolved in things and had forgotten what rules she had set before. She only asked on a whim, and now she could change the rules as she pleased, which was quite capricious.
"Contact your legion commanders and make them pay, then I'll release you." Ames had some connections with the three major mercenary legions, occasionally hiring them for tasks. The legions never charged her, and each time their commanders personally helped, hoping to cultivate a good relationship with her. And since she couldn't refuse someone who was being friendly, Ames didn't want to make things difficult for the mercenaries.
Upon hearing this, Goya, Fasereni, and Porter all breathed a sigh of relief. They were unaware that Ames knew their respective legion commanders and felt as if they had escaped death.
However, Ames turned her gaze to Han Xiao, her expression playful, and said, "Then it's your turn. If you have nothing to say, I'll make my move." The three major mercenary groups were one thing, but this small, unknown mercenary group didn't need special treatment.
The atmosphere suddenly turned tense, and the expressions of the people from the three legions changed.
These mercenaries were not indifferent. Having fought side by side and developed a bond, they could not stand by and watch their comrades be killed before their eyes, and they all became anxious.
The surrounding air became stagnant; this wasn't a psychological effect, but rather Ames's force field beginning to solidify.
"Hey, this discrimination is way too obvious!" Melos felt his urinary tract trembling.