The next day, governments in various cities on Planet Aquamarine organized gatherings of citizens, and the first to undergo the transformation using the Evolution Cube were the residents of the capital city, Black Star City.
The spaceship carrying Han Xiao and Bennett's group slowly flew over the city, looking down at the living beings, the energy released by the Evolution Cube covering the crowds.
"Perhaps this could open a new chapter for the civilization of Planet Aquamarine," Bennett sighed as he watched the scene unfold.
He had already undergone the modification last night and had a deep understanding of the effects of the Evolution Cube. It was as if he had returned to his prime, with abundant physical strength and a more agile mind. The Evolution Cube's enhancement of ordinary humans is mainly in terms of mental abilities.
Turning to look at Han Xiao's the Sight of Father's Back, Bennett was filled with emotion. The fact that Planet Aquamarine had reached its current state was largely thanks to this old friend.
Twenty years ago, who could have imagined that a traitor to a Germinal Organization could reach such an incredible height?
The interstellar spaceship traveled around the world at a rapid pace, quickly spreading the Evolution Cube to various cities.
Han Xiao didn't care how Inspiration the people were; Bennett would naturally take care of the aftermath, and would definitely publicize his achievements extensively, perhaps even including this feat in textbooks.
Han Xiao had finished his work and didn't plan to stay on Planet Aquamarine any longer. He wanted to leave immediately— Sylvia had sent word that the Crimson Dynasty's forces had entered the Garton Star System and were finally about to reach the Black Star Army's headquarters. He had to go back.
The spaceship returned to the dock, where a gentle woman was waiting with Nero by her side.
Bennett led the officers off the spaceship, chatted with the woman for a few words, then turned around and nudged Nero on the back, gesturing for him to get back on the spaceship.
"Go, your future is the stars and the sea, Black Star will take care of you," Bennett said slowly.
Nero's eyes were red. Last night he learned that he was going to go into space with his godfather. He almost thought his father didn't want him anymore and cried. Bennett had to persuade him for a long time before he accepted it.
He had only read about interstellar societies in textbooks and online. This was his first time entering the universe. Thinking about the strange-looking aliens in the books, he felt both apprehensive and secretly hopeful.
Nero, with his short legs, struggled to climb the gangway. Han Xiao stood by the door and pulled him through the hatch.
Han Xiao and Bennett exchanged a glance and nodded to each other.
"Close the door," Han Xiao ordered from the front of his mouth.
laugh--
The hatch slowly closed, and Nero looked back, his gaze passing through the narrowing crack in the door, and saw Bennett and his mother standing on the dock, waving goodbye to him with reluctance on their faces.
Click.
The last glimpse of the world disappeared, and the hatch was locked tightly, as if separating two worlds.
"Come with me."
Han Xiao shook his head and pulled Nero to the spaceship's cockpit.
Nero looked out the porthole and watched the city shrink rapidly below him, while the sky above gradually turned from azure to deep black.
Thump.
The ship shuddered slightly, breaking free from the planet's atmosphere, and the entire Planet Aquamarine was revealed to Nero. He stared in disbelief, mesmerized by the sight; the experience was far too overwhelming for a child like him.
He clung tightly to Han Xiao's trouser leg; it was the only support for his young heart at that moment.
Han Xiao stood quietly to the side with a smile on his face. After the spaceship entered warp mode, he pulled Nero out of the cockpit and introduced him to various interstellar facts while showing him around the entire spaceship.
"... That's all the precautions. Don't be nervous. With me here, the vast majority of people in the universe can't hurt you."
The two entered the hall, where Ames, Hila, and a group of guards were chatting. Upon seeing Nero, they all greeted him warmly and took turns playing with him. Everyone seemed quite fond of this well-behaved child; even Hila softened her aura, her sharp features appearing gentler.
"This is Uncle Bennett's child." Aurora hugged Nero tightly, unable to put him down. She was the youngest in terms of age and seniority, and now that someone even younger had come, she was very happy, especially since this was a friend's child.
Nero blushed and stood frozen in place, too afraid to move.
Han Xiao couldn't help but pull Aurora away, saying helplessly, "Stop hugging him, do you want to suffocate him?"
Looking down at her heavy chest, Aurora blushed slightly, let out a soft snort, and punched Han Xiao hard in the back, but to him it was more like a tickle.
"Oh, right, Han Xiao gave you a gift, so I'll give you one too." Aurora's eyes suddenly lit up, and she reached out her fair hand to grab her heart, pulling out a ball of warm golden energy, which she then slapped into Nero's chest.
"What... what is this?" Nero was startled, then felt a warm and comfortable sensation all over his body, and an inexhaustible amount of energy welled up inside him.
He touched his chest curiously, seemingly puzzled as to how the golden light had entered his body.
Aurora blinked and said proudly, "This is my special ability. I gave you a ball of refined life energy that will prevent you from getting sick and continuously revitalize your cells, gradually enhancing your physical fitness so you can grow taller and stronger in the future."
Her life-sustaining abilities can not only heal people, but also provide buffs to targets and even stimulate the growth of living beings.
For example, the giant white bear that was kept at the Black Star Army headquarters and fed well every day until it became a ball of fat, indirectly absorbed a large amount of life energy from Aurora and became a powerful individual... In technical terms, long-term absorption of Aurora's life energy has a chance to transform from an ordinary template into an elite template and gain stronger attributes.
Seeing this, Hila, who hadn't said much until now, stood up and slowly said, "Then I'll give you a gift too."
She flicked her fingers, sending out a red energy blast that struck Nero's hand.
"Ah!" Nero cried out as he felt a burning sensation on the back of his hand, clutching it with tears welling up in his eyes.
He glanced down and saw a bright red pattern appear on the back of his hand, extending all the way to his elbow, like a tattoo.
"This is Necromancy Mark. As long as you kill a creature, this mark can absorb the remaining remnant soul of that creature and strengthen your spiritual power," Hila said casually.
Although it's not appropriate to talk about murder with children, everyone is used to it. Almost everyone present is at the Calamity Grade, and none of them have not taken hundreds of thousands of lives. They never deliberately paint a fairytale world for children. Moreover, since Nero has been trained by Black Star, he will definitely not be an ordinary person in the future, so no one avoids this topic.
Nero was a little scared and carefully tugged at his sleeve, trying to cover the tattoo on the back of his hand.
"Then I'll give you something too." Fording smiled slightly, his overwhelming friendliness immediately putting Nero at ease.
Fording released an invisible psychic force into Nero's mind, forming a psychic barrier of Calamity Grade power to prevent others from spying on or harming him on a mental level.
The guards were generous, giving Nero all sorts of odds and ends. Although these were worthless items in the eyes of Calamity Grade, they were treasures in the eyes of a low-level superhuman in the universe.
Looking at this scene, Han Xiao suddenly had a strong sense of déjà vu.
This scene... seems familiar.
Isn't Nero exactly the kind of protagonist who's been raised by a bunch of old men since childhood and has a destiny to fulfill?!
"As expected, such High-Level Lucky Halo..." Han Xiao chuckled inwardly, "With so many treasures at such a young age, this kid's path is destined to be wide open."
Finally, it was Hadavy's turn. Hadavy touched himself and felt like he didn't have anything worthwhile to offer.
Seeing everyone staring at him expectantly, he thought for a moment, then pulled out a deck of Veyne Cards from his pocket and chuckled.
"Then I'll teach you how to play cards."
"Get out of here!"
Bang!!
Han Xiao suddenly sprang into action, delivering a powerful Irish kick that sent Hadavy sprawling to the ground. The nanoparticles crackled and transformed into shackles, binding Hadavy tightly.
Nero was startled and quickly stepped back, while the other guards looked around, pretending to be admiring the scenery.
"Waaaaah..." Hadavy's mouth was also sealed with alloy, rendering him unable to move, except for his eyes which were darting around.
"You lie on the ground and reflect on your actions for a while!" Han Xiao was furious.
Teaching others to play cards is a sin against heaven!
Not only are they not fertilizing my plants, but they're also trying to poison them?!
Are you trying to make my good leek cloth follow in Melos's footsteps and drown in the abyss of slacking off?!
Ames rested her chin on her hand, chuckling as she watched this scene. Suddenly, she beckoned Nero over.
Nero obediently approached Ames, somewhat nervous. Although Ames was also very kind, she gave him a completely different feeling from the other guards, as if she possessed a special noble air. In her presence, Nero subconsciously became reserved.
Don't be nervous, I have something for you too.
Ames smiled faintly, then suddenly reached out and took off the obsidian necklace from her neck, placing it in Nero's hand.
Han Xiao was somewhat surprised. This necklace didn't have any special function; it was just an ordinary piece of jewelry. But Ames wore it often, and he wondered what its story was.
Keep it safe.
Ames chuckled lightly and gave a brief instruction, seemingly without any intention of explaining further, before glancing indifferently at Han Xiao.
Nero nodded hurriedly and carefully put the necklace away.
After all the "old men" had given away their treasures, Han Xiao pulled Nero in front of him and asked with a smile, "I promised your father I would train you to become a powerful superhuman. You must have taken superhuman courses on Planet Aquamarine, right? Do you remember what kinds of superhuman systems there are?"
"Hmm." Nero nodded emphatically, counting on his fingers. "There are five: martial arts, superpowers, mechanics, magic, and telekinesis!"
"Now it's your turn to choose. Which type of superhuman do you want to become?" Han Xiao asked with a smile.
He wasn't sure what kind of superpower Nero possessed, so he simply asked directly.
The crowd fell silent.
Choosing a superpower system is a life-altering decision, and Black Star seems prepared to heavily invest in developing Nero, so his choice is crucial.
Nero hesitated for a moment, then looked up at the floating guards flying overhead, his gaze hardening.
"Godfather, I want to be a mechanic!"
Haha, great choice!
Han Xiao overjoyed and couldn't be happier. With Nero choosing the Mechanic Class, he could rightfully become his student. In the Shattered Star Ring, he was the pinnacle of the Mechanic Class, and no one was more qualified to teach others than him.
Upon hearing this, many guards secretly sighed.
Sigh, can't you just be a human being? Why do you have to act like one?
Han Xiao activated Nero's Mechanical Force on the ship. With his current level and skill, the method of activating Mechanical Force was no longer the electrotherapy that Sylvia had experienced, but a safer and painless method.
Planet Aquamarine was very close to the Black Star Army headquarters, and before long, Han Xiao and his group returned to the headquarters.
The next day, the Crimson Dynasty's transport convoy finally arrived.
The massive fleet blotted out the sky, making it seem as if Planet Golden Gate was experiencing a solar eclipse.
The legion headquarters became even more lively.
The first batch of resources supported by the Crimson Dynasty were unloaded in the industrial zone and transported to the legion's warehouses by mechanical workers.
The first batch of Imperial elites to undergo transformation also set foot on the docks of the Black Star Army headquarters.
There are four captains, each leading an elite member of their respective faction. Tenny is one of the captains, representing the young and middle-aged members of the Imperial military.
This elite group followed the legion's receptionist to the hall, keeping their eyes straight ahead the entire way.
Upon entering the hall, the imperial elites immediately spotted Han Xiao, who had been waiting for a long time on the throne.
"Lord Black Star."
Snap!
Tens of thousands of imperial elites simultaneously gave an imperial military salute, their movements perfectly synchronized, their boots clicking crisply on the metal ground like popping beans.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and stepped down from the throne. At this moment, the four captains also stepped forward and took turns shaking hands with Han Xiao.
These four were all famous NPCs in their previous lives. Among them, Tenny was the most famous. There was practically no player in the Crimson Dynasty faction who didn't know this renowned imperial marshal, and he was also the person Han Xiao was currently most concerned about.
Compared to his previous life, the current Tenny is still very young, with a powerful and imposing presence, and his brilliance is fully revealed.
When it was Tenny's turn to shake hands, Han Xiao stared intently at his face, then suddenly revealed a smile that was hard to decipher.
"Tenny Armandos? I've heard so much about you."
Tenny was taken aback.
Black Star didn't say a word when shaking hands with the others, so why is he only talking to me?
I've heard so much about you... Could it be that my fame has already reached the Shattered Star Ring?
Immediately, the intelligence he had gathered over the past few days flashed through his mind. A few days ago, he had discovered a characteristic of Black Star from this information:
--This person possesses a certain precognitive ability and extremely accurate insight.
There must be a reason why he only talks to me!
The thought flashed through his mind, but Tenny remained expressionless, clenched his fist, and then let go.