In her past life, Hila earned the reputation of the Goddess of Death in the interstellar world, possessing formidable combat power.
Ever since Han Xiao rescued the two sisters from Germinal, he has always regarded Hila as an important helper in the future. He has waited for so many years, and finally Hila has grown up and has the strength of Calamity Grade, and can be of some help.
Han Xiao was well aware of Hila's abilities; she could absorb the souls of the dead to strengthen herself. This was a shortcut to power unique to her. In her previous life, she had slaughtered countless planets, and her growth rate even surpassed that of players.
In his eyes, Hila, though lacking Lucky Halo, was an absolute epic figure... and a villain, of course.
Now, Hila has not gone astray, but she happens to be in a time of war, where all the fallen soldiers can become her source of power. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to unleash Hila's true potential.
He needed a double-flower red stick who could take charge and keep order, Hila was the perfect candidate.
As for Aurora...
Han Xiao turned to look at him, smiling kindly, "How's your ability development going?"
Aurora chuckled, flipped her hand, and a dazzling golden halo emerged from her palm.
"I'm not good at fighting, but I can heal any physical injury, and I can also stimulate other people's life force, allowing them to unleash greater power. Give it a try!"
As he spoke, a golden light shone on Han Xiao, instantly invigorating Han Xiao. His entire body felt as if it were electrified, brimming with energy, and several buffs appeared on his panel.
Like Li, Holy Light!
Han Xiao's heart skipped a beat. "Can your abilities be stored?"
"Sure, I've tried infusing life force into energy potions, which can preserve them for a long time. However, I'm not as diligent as my sister, and I'm not at the Calamity Grade yet, so the shelf life is a bit short, and the treatment effect will gradually decrease, lasting at most two months."
Aurora scratched her head, a little embarrassed.
Han Xiao's eyes lit up, and he looked at Aurora as if she were a treasure trove. He saw hope in expanding the legion's business and entering the interstellar pharmaceutical industry.
Aurora's superpower is that of a natural healer. Even when she was still young, her healing abilities were already quite formidable. Now that Aurora is Grade B superhuman, her breasts have probably increased in size many times over, much like a bra cup.
"Also, although my combat strength is average, I can regenerate at high speed." Aurora pulled a high-energy pistol from her combat suit belt, deftly twirled it a few times with her fingers, and suddenly fired at her other palm.
With a bang, the beam of light pierced through her palm. Before Han Xiao could even be surprised by her actions, the wound healed rapidly and disappeared without a trace. Her palm was fair and smooth, like white porcelain, and there was no sign that she had been injured.
"See? I can protect myself now!" Aurora expectantly, like a child showing off, wanting Han Xiao to praise her.
Over a decade of training, Aurora not only developed her supernatural abilities but also learned numerous shooting and combat skills to compensate for her lack of fighting prowess. Due to the torment she Germinal in the past, although she appears delicate, she is actually incredibly resilient, possessing a strong inner core and an extremely high tolerance for pain. She can easily pierce her own palm without even flinching.
"What a man..." Han Xiao thought to himself, then smiled and praised, "Great ability."
As expected of the ability called "Life Returns," Aurora is currently only at Grade B. Once she reaches Grade A, her recovery ability will probably be even stronger than his. It's just a pity that her ability doesn't have high combat power, but it complements Hila's.
After the three finished catching up, Hila's barely perceptible smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "What are your plans for us?"
"Let me introduce you to the legion's officers first."
Hila shook her head. "While you were away, Sylvia introduced us to all the high-ranking officials. She said she would personally assign us our positions when you returned."
During the 2.0 version of the Mutation Disaster event, the most senior core members of the legion already knew Hila and knew that Han Xiao's relationship with her was special, so they naturally wouldn't neglect the two sisters.
"In that case, let's get straight to the point. You two will follow me and be my bodyguards for now. Once you understand the organization's structure, I'll assign you to formal high-level positions," Han Xiao said.
"I have no objection." Hila nodded.
Han Xiao thought for a moment and said, "You all rest for a few days first, then I'll lead you on tasks."
Hila shook her head and refused, "No need, we've rested enough. Give us a mission as soon as possible; I want to prove just how strong I really am."
Why are you more anxious than I am...?
Han Xiao chuckled, thought for a moment, and nodded, saying, "Alright, let's set off tomorrow. I'll lead you into battle."
He was planning to keep a low profile for a while, and in addition to accumulating experience with players, he decided to personally develop Hila's potential so that this double-flower red stick could be fully formed as soon as possible.
West Wind Star System, Eleventh Sector.
This was the first border star system to be invaded. The largest force of the War Realm was stationed here, with hundreds of strongholds spread across various star sectors of the West Wind Star System. Section Zero set up blockades at some strategic locations to prevent the War Realm from invading the surrounding areas from West Wind.
Blockade Line 027, with multiple members of the Section Zero stationed there year-round, including the Black Star Army's fleet, and personnel are rotated periodically.
Aside from the occasional large-scale military operations, the blockade lines were where battles occurred most frequently. The War Realm would occasionally attack the blockade lines, and the blockade line forces would often send small fleets to harass and raid the War Realm's strongholds. Each blockade line was, in a de facto sense, the "front line."
After the Kant Star System campaign ended, players began to explore freely. Han Xiao's 50% discount for participating in battles remained in place, and the requirement to continue enjoying the discount was to continue participating in battles. So, during the month or so that Han Xiao traveled back and forth, most players were scattered across various blockade lines, where there were countless battles—this was also the normal way to progress through the main storyline of the Secret War.
Some players didn't follow the main storyline; some became mercenaries, some explored various places, some focused on life skills, and some guild members pooled their money to buy various mining equipment and small transport ships, and went to the resource planets under the Black Star Army's jurisdiction to become miners.
More than 20,000 players have gathered at Blockade Line 027 to participate in various daily combat missions.
Not long ago, a War Realm fleet attacked the blockade line but failed and returned. The blockade line garrison was cleaning up the battlefield. In the office of the military space station, Commander Rexon of Blockade Line 027 looked out the observation window at the troops salvaging the wreckage of the warships and listened to his adjutant report the results of the battle.
"The enemy lost 86 small warships and 19 heavy frigates, while we lost 38 warships. As for personnel... cough, enemy casualties are unknown. Our casualties are still being tallied, but preliminary estimates suggest very minor losses..."
"Is this another achievement of the Black Star Army?" Rexon asked casually.
"Yes, the Black Star Army's undead destroyed numerous enemy warships by boarding them. Because they didn't need an evacuation plan, our side suffered no additional casualties..."
The adjutant swallowed hard. The battle report stated that many men used the assault pods to board enemy warships and then detonated them without considering retreat. Some even carried nuclear bombs aboard. It was incredibly aggressive; they were practically all suicide squads.
"Since the Black Star Army brought in tens of thousands of undead, our combat pressure has significantly decreased. These people are simply born warriors," Rexon exhaled.
Nearly two months after the version launch, over a million Legion players have reached level 100 on a large scale, gradually completing advancement quests and gaining the opportunity for racial ascension. Player diversity has been further enhanced, and the first batch of veteran players have finally entered the Grade B tier in large numbers.
Although it was only the lowest Grade B, the improvement in rank still brought about a qualitative change. The Black Star Army's mid-level combat strength immediately rose to a higher level, and more than one million core combatants were deployed to various blockade battlefields. Many blockade lines reversed their decline and the pressure was greatly reduced.
With just the Blockade Line 027, over 20,000 Grade B players had secured victories in all recent battles. Rexon couldn't be more satisfied with the Black Star Army's players.
This group of veteran Black Star Army players has finally transformed, no longer the low-level cannon fodder they once were, and is now capable of having a decisive impact on smaller-scale battles. This was discussed on player forums, and when Meat Bun made a video, he posted Frenzied Saber's theory, stating that as players' strength increases with version updates, they will exert a greater real-time influence on the world, a view that has gained widespread acceptance.
Real-time feedback is a major source of fun for players. If NPCs treat a max-level player and a new player exactly the same way, and both can only do quests without affecting the environment, it would be too rigid. The most attractive feature of Galaxy is the immersive and engaging experience of living in a real world.
Just as Rexon was feeling sentimental, he suddenly received a notification. After glancing at it, his expression changed drastically.
"What's wrong?" the adjutant asked hurriedly.
"Hurry up and get ready, Lord Black Star is coming in person, he's almost there." Rexon hurriedly left the room.
Rexon summoned senior officers to the port to greet them. After a while, the Blacklight Stealth sailed into the dock.
Han Xiao brought Hila and her sister, as well as Fording. Fording wanted to come along himself, worried about Han Xiao's mental state. He planned to stay by Han Xiao Han Xiao's side until he recovered, just in case.
As soon as he stepped off the spaceship, Rexon and the others came to greet him with great respect. To him, Han Xiao was a big shot he could not normally get close to. Han Xiao had earned the respect of all the members of Section Zero through his achievements.
"You're welcome. I'd like to inquire about the situation at the nearby War Realm outposts," Han Xiao said with a smile.
Rexon was flattered and hurriedly invited Han Xiao and the others to the operations conference room, opened the tactical star map, and gave a brief introduction.
Han Xiao stared at the star map and nodded, saying, "Understood. I'm preparing to attack W-58 Stronghold."
W-58 Stronghold is the largest enemy stronghold near Blockade Line 027, and a Calamity Grade enemy is stationed there. Rexon has never dared to make a move there, but upon hearing this, he was secretly delighted.
"I need some help. Don't worry, all the credit will go to you," Han Xiao said with a smile.
Rexon nodded repeatedly, "I will dispatch the blockade fleet to assist you."
Although Han Xiao wasn't his direct superior, Rexon wasn't willing to let go of this opportunity to curry favor, especially since the credit for eliminating a large enemy stronghold would all go to him.
"Okay, we'll move in one day."
Han Xiao nodded. He had come to the blockade battlefield to let Hila test her skills, so he naturally took the initiative to attack.
W-58 Stronghold.
Manudo, Grade A superhuman in the War Realm stationed here, was feeling very panicked.
Not long ago, a spy sent word that Black Star Descent Blockade Line 027, and that he was the only Calamity Grade being in the surrounding outposts. Manudo thought that since Black Star was already there, he would certainly not mind taking care of him, an unremarkable Calamity Grade being, and his heart sank.
Manudo hurriedly reported the news to headquarters, but to his surprise, the commander-in-chief contacted him on his own initiative.
"There's a high chance Black Star will attack your base, but don't panic. I'm going to give you a mission now."
"Is it a retreat?" Manudo's heart ignited with hope.
"Of course not!" Jorde said in a deep voice, "I need you to do one thing: lure Black Star into attacking and fighting him."
"... Why don't you just say you want me to commit suicide?" Manudo looked utterly hopeless.
"Cough, I'll send nearby Calamity Grade reinforcements to support you. You're not fighting alone."
Jorde was helpless. Black Star's fearsome reputation had already deeply penetrated the minds of the high-level combatants in the War Realm. He had no choice but to explain, "Black Star fell into my trap not long ago and is not at his peak right now. I need you to test him."
Jorde wanted to observe Han Xiao's reactions during the battle to deduce the extent of the damage Sisko's telekinetic weapon had inflicted on Han Xiao; only by seeing it with his own eyes could he be completely at ease.
Meanwhile, on a desolate planet in the area between W-58 Stronghold and Blockade Line 027.
Summer Night Blossoms and dozens of other players who Krent and _Book_ arrived here in a spaceship.
They would be tasked with the Krent faction's main questline, where they would be assigned to outposts near the blockade line as warriors in the War Realm, participating in small-scale battles like Black Star Army players.
The rules in the War Realm are strict, and they cannot explore freely like they did in the Black Star Army. Summer Night Blossoms and the others found it difficult to adapt and couldn't help but miss the treatment they received in the Black Star Army. Only when you lose something do you realize its value.
Summer Night Blossoms and the others finally had some free time and came to this planet to wait for someone.
Their status in the War Realm was not high, and their benefits were temporarily inferior to those of the Black Star Army. Therefore, they contacted friends who remained with the Black Star Army and asked them to purchase Legion merchandise at half price. This planet was the rendezvous point.