"DarkStar, it's over..."
At the last moment, Degulish realized that his troops were completely wiped out and he had nowhere to escape. He lost his will to fight, gave up resistance, and his exhausted body collapsed backward into the dust.
Dealing with Degulish wasn't easy for Han Xiao either, as quite a few more adorable machines perished.
Because he hadn't had time to restore the machinery lost in the Battle of Planet Aquamarine, he was temporarily using the spare combat machinery he had accumulated in the past. Degulish, that muscle-bound guy, had wiped out two-fifths of his inventory.
However, after this battle, Han Xiao gained a clear understanding of his own combat capabilities, which was well worth it.
His current combat style is quite good, and the combination of his various specialties and skills is almost perfect. He calculated that against ordinary Grade A superhumans, he can be invincible with his strong physical strength, making him a veritable torture king. Once he recovers his mechanical legion, he can even fight against Calamity Grade three or four thousand higher than his own—they will be evenly matched.
The strength range of the Calamity Grade is huge. I have only been in this field for a short time. There are still many strong people who can threaten me, such as those high-level players with a total level of 200 or above. They can suppress me. However, with my tankiness, even if I can't kill you, I can still annoy you to death. "I just want to kill you all, or be killed by you all" perfectly matches my current fighting style.
In contrast, opponents who use mind attacks pose a greater threat. Mind attacks are not included in the damage absorption type of [Medium Energy Absorption]. Only attacks that hit one's own body (whether physical or energy) will be converted into energy. Mind attacks can break his "health-energy exchange" cycle.
There are also certain schools of magic that are difficult to deal with, such as curse magic that specializes in debuffs, skills that counter life regeneration, and mind magic that attacks the mind, or certain supernatural abilities with mental attributes, like Hila who has a certain degree of mental attack.
"There are countless abilities in the universe, and powerful individuals are as numerous as the stars in the sky. I am far from being able to sweep through Grade A- level opponents," Han Xiao thought to himself.
He knows perfectly well that expansion is impossible.
Seeing that Degulish had no intention of fighting anymore, Han Xiao stopped provoking him and asked curiously, "Anur has more backbone than you. I thought you would fight me to the death."
Degulish gritted his teeth and said, "Black Star, don't be so smug, you haven't won yet!"
He still held onto a last glimmer of hope. The DarkStar forces had been annihilated, but the high command had not been wiped out. The DarkStar Leader had not returned and was not in the Garton Star System. This was his hope; as long as the leader was alive, DarkStar was not completely destroyed.
Therefore, he chose to surrender, preferring to be sent to Rainbow Light Prison and suffer torture rather than lose his life. He wanted to live until the day the leader came to rescue him, so that he could serve the leader again and make a comeback.
"The DarkStar Leader...?"
Han Xiao rubbed his left pectoral muscle, lost in thought.
The DarkStar Leader is a formidable figure. He was lucky to escape this time, but the DarkStar mothership was almost completely destroyed. Even if the enemy wants to make a comeback, they will have to remain dormant for a long time to avoid the Pursuit of the Goddora people. They won't be able to cause any trouble in the short term.
Besides, Goddora wanted to kill the DarkStar Leader even more than he did, so worrying about it himself was pointless.
Dragging the lifeless Degulish along, Han Xiao retraced his steps to rejoin the main force. The sight of corpses strewn across the ground drew his attention, and he nodded silently.
The player performed very well, achieving the desired effect.
Before long, the mercenaries and the Goddora landed together. The DarkStar prisoners were handed over to the Goddora, and Degulish was escorted onto the ship by two Goddora Calamity Grade officials. He would enjoy free housing in the future, with wealth in one hand and a better life in the other, and happily received a cell in Rainbow Light Prison.
Resta completed her mission, returned to the Blacklight Stealth, and shoved Phillip out of the group.
The DarkStar mothership was also handed over to Goddora, as agreed upon when persuading the high command of the War Bureau.
The panel displays a notification that two items in [Alliance of Goddora] have been completed:
[[Deputy Leader - Degulish] Completed. You gained 24.2 million experience points, +1500 favorability with Goddora Civilization, and [Character Summon Card - Degulish]]
[[Capture the Mothership] Completed. You gained 30 million experience points and increased your favorability with the Goddora Civilization by 1800.]
In addition, the [Operation Hodrarias - War Employment] was also marked as completed. Even if he remained on the sidelines, it seemed that he could still complete this mission. However, Han Xiao thought about it and realized that to get this benefit, he first needed to be qualified to trigger the mission. Moreover, Resta had played a significant role, so it was credited to him.
Goddora's original intention in hiring him was to have him control the mothership, so capturing Degulish and the others alive was an unexpected bonus.
These three tasks brought a total of more than 70 million experience to Han Xiao. Although it was a drop in the bucket compared to the income from cutting leeks, they also showed huge benefits.
Therefore, even if the player's mission rewards are a scaled-down version, they still make a fortune.
The players were happy, Han Xiao was even happier.
Unfortunately, players don't have the [Alliance of Goddora] quest, so they can't get the other two rewards - what a shame.
After three consecutive missions, Han Xiao's favorability with the Goddora Civilization has exceeded 6000, and the relationship has soared to the highest level, [Revered].
Come to think of it, he provided intelligence that gave Goddora the opportunity to counterattack, then captured the deputy leader Degulish alive, and even seized a mothership. If he were a civil servant within Goddora's system, he would probably be promoted ten ranks, and might even become a candidate for a high-ranking position in the War Bureau. As long as his superior was exposed for corruption, he could immediately take office, which would be wonderful.
Just as Han Xiao was communicating with the higher-ups of Goddora, the legion commanders, including Gurega, Youyu, Justin, stared intently at the Black Star Army, who were cleaning up the battlefield. Their expressions varied, and they occasionally revealed envious glances.
Defeating tens of thousands of DarkStar warriors is something their legion could also do, but it would be absolutely impossible for them to achieve the same results as the Black Star Army!
There were practically zero casualties!
Their suspicions about the Black Star Army have become a reality.
These legion commanders all knew that once the news spread, the Black Star Army would become famous in the mercenary world, making a name for itself and overturning previous impressions, officially entering the ranks of top mercenary groups.
"Apart from this captured ship, all of DarkStar DarkStar's motherships have been destroyed. Only a very small number of people managed to break through and escape, and we cannot confirm their identities for the time being," a high-ranking official from the War Bureau explained on the communicator screen.
"Yeah..."
Han Xiao pondered.
DarkStar had no fixed base; their mothership was their base. After being wiped out by Goddora, they were basically finished, and the "DarkStar" organization no longer existed. Han Xiao was more concerned about whether Ashes had perished.
Ashes's powers are highly lethal, and he harbors a deep-seated hatred for himself. He's also not very bright. If he gets away, there will be a significant problem.
Perhaps, the whereabouts of the Ashes can be predicted using the Child of Destiny card?
Han Xiao had only two uses left on the Child of Destiny character card, and he hadn't decided whether to use it here.
At this moment, a high-ranking official from the War Bureau said, "In a while, we, Goddora, will announce this victory to the entire galaxy. As per your request, Serre V will personally publicize your achievements and tell everyone that you are the hero who destroyed DarkStar and the benefactor of Goddora."
For years, DarkStar has threatened the Garton Star System, causing countless disasters. Now that this thorn in our side has finally been removed, Goddora will surely issue an official statement, broadcast live across the entire galaxy, detailing DarkStar's crimes, publicizing this great victory, greatly Inspiration the nation's confidence, and announcing to the entire galaxy that DarkStar no longer exists and that we have saved the world, and so on.
When Han Xiao sold intelligence, he had one condition: that his achievements be made public after the mission was accomplished. This was done to greatly increase his fame.
He's almost certain to achieve galaxy-level Legend Points with this kind of legendary event.
"You will need to be present at the ceremony. Serre V will personally award you the medal, and you will be a lifelong friend of Goddora. After the ceremony, we will pay the remaining balance in full: fifty medium-sized warships and one large flagship, plus the remaining 15 million in compensation, and some superpowered knowledge."
Han Xiao's eyes lit up.
I'm finally going to get the final payment, but the awarding of the medal was something I didn't expect.
Goddora was very accommodating; it was a great honor for the country's highest leader to personally bestow the medal upon him. This was not his request, but rather Goddora's own initiative.
With a quick thought, Han Xiao roughly understood Goddora's intentions. Her gratitude was genuine, and the credit was real, but part of the reason was definitely because she valued his status and wanted to befriend Dragon Calm.
If the officers of Dragon Calm's field armed forces are honorary heroes of Goddora, the relationship between the two sides will become even closer.
This was a tacitly agreed-upon good deal, and Han Xiao naturally wouldn't refuse it.
"Before leading players to Number One Base to officially begin their mercenary careers, let them watch a 'clipse' of awarding medals. It's very beneficial for improving my personal image; it's all about reputation!"
Han Xiao was in a good mood.
After the communication was disconnected, the battlefield on the planet's surface had been cleared. The Goddora fleet pulled the DarkStar mothership out of the ground, like pulling up a radish, and then dragged it into outer space, ready to take it back.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the interstellar battlefield, numerous Goddora ships were also cleaning up the wreckage of the DarkStar Fleet.
This was a resounding victory, and the soldiers of Goddora beamed with joy.
Not only Han Xiao, but all the mercenary groups were invited by Goddora to go to the home planet to participate in the official ceremony that would be held soon. Making an appearance would help with advertising, so no one refused.
The Black Star Army and the Allied Fleet set sail for their Goddora.
After experiencing a battle, the players were very excited, and various screenshots and videos were posted on the forums.
Melos was extremely excited. Han Xiao had promised to eliminate DarkStar, a promise he had always thought was unlikely. Standing behind Han Xiao, watching him take action step by step, he never expected that Han Xiao would fulfill his promise in just a few years. Now, Black Star's promise had only one remaining: to send hundreds of thousands of superhumans to resolve the problem on Planet Sunil. Even DarkStar had been destroyed; Black Star would never break his word on this matter. His gamble of trusting an unknown mercenary had paid off!
Inside the Blacklight Stealth's cockpit, Han Xiao didn't pay attention to the players' movements as usual. After pondering for a long time, he made a decision—to predict Ashes's whereabouts. Although it might waste a character card use, he would be prepared if Ashes was still alive.
[You used [Character Summon Card - Child of Destiny]]
[Number of uses: 4/5]
The familiar fog filled my vision once more; piercing through the thick fog, a blurry scene appeared before me...
A small DarkStar assault ship is speeding through space, fleeing for its life.
Ashes was the only one on the ship.
Even before the ambush, he felt uneasy and remained vigilant. When the incident occurred, he reacted the fastest. Seeing no chance of victory, he abandoned the mothership immediately and boarded a small but fast assault ship to break through the encirclement under pressure. With all his strength and a bit of luck, he managed to escape successfully.
Hundreds of assault ships broke through together, but in the end only he escaped. Ashes witnessed the mothership disintegrate under the bombardment, and his companion Terry was swallowed by endless beams of light. Countless DarkStar warriors' remains and ashes floated in the cold universe.
DarkStar is finished— Ashes already knows it.
What should I do?
Piloting the spaceship, with the star map projection glowing Glimmer, Ashes was lost and bewildered.
As a wanted criminal who slaughtered tens of millions of Goddora people, the Goddora will not give up Pursuit him down.
It seemed that he only had one path before him—to leave the Garton Star System, or even the Colton Star Cluster, and go to other star clusters in the Shattered Star Ring to live a different life under an assumed name.
Thinking of this, my eyes instantly became bloodshot.
He didn't want to keep running.
DarkStar still has itself; DarkStar is not destroyed yet!
"I am destined to become Goddora's nightmare, to make them reflect on their backward traditions that have lasted for countless years through slaughter. Their insistence on bloodline theory violates the way of reproduction and the laws of nature. It is this distorted ideology that created us. Only after they repent will they swallow the bitter fruit brewed by thousands of years of pure-blood theory. DarkStar will rebuild a new Goddora on their ruins!"
"At that time, there will be no more pure-bloods, no one will be superior because of their bloodline, discrimination will cease to exist, and no one will be born inferior!"
Ashes murmured to himself.
These words were the DarkStar Leader's expectations of him when he was very young, and he has always kept them in his heart and regarded them as his beliefs.
"Goddora will surely hold a celebration, announcing to the entire galaxy that they have defeated DarkStar and that the rule of the purebloods remains secure..." Ashes gritted his teeth, "While you think it's all over and are cheering for victory, I will tell the whole galaxy that DarkStar has not disappeared."
He decided to go to Goddora's home planet.
During Goddora's ceremony, under the watchful eyes of the entire galaxy, he used his supernatural abilities to wreak havoc and destroy Goddora's declaration of victory.
However, Goddora's homeworld is a den of dragons and tigers, and he doesn't know how to sneak in. There will definitely be many Goddora's Calamity Grade officials as guards at the ceremony, and the price he pays for doing so might be his life...
Just as Ashes was lost in thought, preparing to make a decision, his communicator suddenly rang. The DarkStar Leader had sent a communication request.
Oh right, I almost forgot the leader is still alive!
He must have a better way!
Ashes came to his senses, overjoyed, for he had found his pillar of support.