Shattered Star Ring, border of Seoul Star Cluster, inter-cluster gate.
The territory of the Krent Empire borders the Colton Star Cluster of the Amethyst Civilization, separated by a Desolate Universe Belt and connected by a stargate. After the end of the Secret War, both sides lifted the state of emergency and reopened the civilian stargate, allowing the people of the two star clusters to resume free movement.
At this very moment, at the observation post of the Stargate Station, the observation sentry on duty today is brazenly slacking off, completely ignoring the fleet of spaceships passing through the Stargate. He is holding a communicator in his hand, his eyes glued to it, clearly a serious case of being a "smartphone addict."
Since the end of the Secret War, Krent and Amethyst have chosen to recuperate, and with the Black Star Army joining the Crimson Dynasty, there has been little opportunity for conflict between the two civilizations. Several years have passed without incident, and the garrison personnel have gradually become complacent.
This can't be blamed on their lack of professionalism. The main reason is that most transit ships are inspected by AI, so there are very few opportunities for manual inspection. Therefore, most of the time they are either spacing out or slacking off, and they have nothing to do at all.
"Virtual singers are amazing..."
On the communicator screen was a virtual image of a beautiful Krent woman, dressed in thin clothing, dancing gracefully while her melodious singing voice was like a clear spring or pearls falling onto a jade plate.
The sentry on duty was completely mesmerized, shaking his leg wildly as he swiped his finger across the screen, sending out several virtual gifts purchased with real money.
This software is a wildly popular entertainment app that allows users to customize their virtual avatars based on different ethnic aesthetics. Besides appearance, users can also choose an intelligent personality and try any style, offering a high degree of customization. After creating the avatar, users can engage in a wide variety of interactions, such as having it sing songs with intelligent music or playing online Veyne Cards with it. Users can even send virtual gifts, essentially treating the avatar like a real person.
After becoming a member, you can have the other person projected into a 3D image, appearing to be life-size. For further assistance, you can contact the official website to purchase a virtual sensory suit, which allows you to experience the touch of the 3D projection. These suits are available in youth and adult versions.
If you don't want to create your own character, you can find character templates shared by other users in the database. You can choose any race and any appearance, and try it out for any taste.
In this day and age, interstellar integration is very advanced, but there are still many people with autism who prefer to create perfect virtual friends, siblings, children, partners, and so on, rather than making real friends.
--In the interstellar era, the otaku market is incredibly prosperous, and it's really easy to make money off otaku!
It's worth mentioning that this software was developed by a sub-brand of the Infinite Financial Group, and its annual revenue is incredibly high; theoretically, the money it earns in a year could buy an entire War Realm.
The sentry on duty was admiring his dream girl with rapt attention when suddenly, an AI voice that sounded utterly inhuman rang out.
"Passengers with special markings detected; transfer to manual review stage."
The sentry on duty, who was shaking his leg, was startled by the sudden sound and almost dropped the communicator. After regaining his composure, he impatiently put down the communicator and, with resentment at being disturbed, turned to operate the censorship system.
"Who on earth is it...? The Black Star Army?!"
In an instant, the sentry on duty jolted awake, realizing that the troops now submitting their border crossing documents were none other than the Black Star Army.
In the database of civilian stargates like this, there are some specially marked individuals, such as interstellar fugitives. Due to the grudges of the Secret War and the growing influence of Black Star, Krent has also added the Black Star Army to the marked list. Any person with the Black Star Army affiliation who comes to Krent territory must be reported by the stargate station personnel.
Knowing he had no authority to review the information, the sentry on duty immediately notified his team leader, who in turn notified the head of the Stargate Station. The message was passed up the chain of command and eventually reached the mailboxes of high-ranking officials in the Civilization Bureau.
Not long after, orders came down from above, allowing the Black Star Army to cross the border.
Soon, a small fleet bearing the Black Star Army's insignia sailed out of the stargate, disappearing into the distance like streaks of light, leaving behind trails of lingering flames that were reflected in the eyes of the sentries on duty.
Although the Black Star Army was allowed to pass through, the Krent leadership was now filled with doubt and uncertainty.
Normally, the Black Star Army has no dealings with them and rarely comes to the Seoul Star Cluster.
This visit was sudden, and I have no idea what they're here for.
We must send someone to follow and monitor them!
To Krent's surprise, news of the Black Star Army's sudden visit to their territory spread like wildfire and quickly became known to many forces and interstellar citizens in the Shattered Star Ring.
Krent knew perfectly well the reason behind it all; someone must be stirring things up and spreading rumors.
After much thought, only the Black Star Army would do such a thing. Krent initially did not understand the Black Star Army's actions, but when he discovered that the fleet was heading towards the War Realm, Krent's high command suddenly realized the truth.
Yes, it must be the recent actions in the War Realm that attracted the Black Star Army!
Krent was unaware of the true story behind the alliance between the War Realm and the Infinite Financial Group. All they knew was that the War Realm's power had surged as a result, encroaching on and seizing the Black Star Army's interests, leading to direct competition between the two sides.
Heber was an ally of theirs, Krent had intended to use some means to protect him, but by the time he realized it, it was too late.
The news that "the Black Star Army's target is the War Realm" has spread, and now most of the Shattered Star Ring knows that the Black Star Army is about to take some action against Heber.
Furthermore, the Black Star Army made the fleet's itinerary public, making no attempt to conceal its purpose, and the distance to the War Realm headquarters was constantly shrinking every day.
With such a high-profile publicity campaign, many interstellar citizens of the Shattered Star Ring were eagerly anticipating the meeting between the two sides, waiting to see what would happen.
The issue has become a hot topic in public opinion, and now Krent has no good way to manipulate things.
After waiting for more than half a month, the War Realm Headquarters finally welcomed the menacing Black Star Fleet.
Above the headquarters of the War Realm, fleets filled the sky like a steel cloud. All the Vanguard Officers had been summoned back, leading their respective fleets, ready for battle.
Heber stood with his hands behind his back on the planet's surface, looking up at the deep black sky, expressionless and silent.
According to the schedule announced by the Black Star Army, today is the day this fleet will arrive.
When Heber realized the Black Star Army was heading his way, he knew his bad premonition had come true. But this was his territory; he couldn't run away.
Not only that, Heber also had the headquarters, which was constantly on the move, stationed in one place, waiting specifically for the Black Star fleet to arrive. He deliberately showed that he was not flustered at all, so as not to mislead anyone into thinking that he was afraid of Black Star and manipulated the headquarters to run away and delay the journey.
In reality, Heber did not understand Black Star's intentions, and he did not believe that Black Star would dare to provoke infighting among the Empire's allies.
Could this guy be trying to intimidate him using this method?
You were clearly staying within the empire's borders, not coming here in person, and you think you can make me wary?
Hmph, what a pipe dream!
Therefore, Heber is now very calm, only wanting to see what Han Xiao is up to.
Although he felt that Han Xiao wouldn't really do it, he still had to put on a show, so he put the headquarters fleet on high alert.
As for whether the soon-to-arrive fleet might suddenly detour and trick him, Heber didn't even consider that possibility. If they did, it would be the Black Star Army that would lose face.
After waiting for a while, suddenly, dots of light lit up at the edge of the field of vision, and in the blink of an eye, they stopped not far from Planet Heber, revealing the Black Star Fleet, which stood in distant confrontation with the fleet of the War Realm.
The two fleets were incomparable in size. Heber's side had a million ships, while the Black Star fleet only had a few dozen, making them like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Meanwhile, the Krent fleet, which had followed, also arrived at the scene, along with many interstellar citizens and media personnel who had come to watch the spectacle.
These people, referencing the Black Star Army's itinerary, arrived early, ready to forcefully observe the scene.
Heber snorted, took out his communicator, opened the wide-area communication channel, and preemptively spoke in a calm tone:
"Black Star, I haven't invited you recently, and you didn't mention visiting me beforehand, so what's the meaning of your uninvited visit...?"
Upon hearing this, the many interstellar citizens who had gathered to watch the spectacle became excited. They sensed the hostility in the words and eagerly awaited Black Star's response.
After a short wait, a cold, mechanical voice finally rang out on the wide-area channel. Without any pleasantries or formalities, it went straight to the point, creating a chilling atmosphere:
"Heber, do you remember our unfinished war?"
Heber's eyes narrowed suddenly.
Before he could answer, the mechanical body possessed by Han Xiao continued speaking to itself:
"Back when I first entered Beyond Grade A, you challenged me to a duel. But because of the Empire, that duel was called off and remained unresolved. We still haven't settled our score."
"Hmph." Heber's tone turned cold. "So, you've come to issue a challenge?"
"That's right." Han Xiao said calmly, "You tried to bully me when I had just become Beyond Grade A. Now's the perfect time for me to settle this score. I'll fight you in the Seoul Star Cluster in twenty days. You can choose the location."
"Twenty days? Ha, can you possibly get back from within the Empire?"
"Don't worry, the only ones you'll face are the two million mechanical legions on this fleet and one of my Dominion avatars," Han Xiao said slowly. "You're not scared, are you? What happened to your confidence when you challenged me? I've only been Beyond Grade A for a few years, and you're already afraid to fight me?"
Mechanical life forms are incubating civilizations in the Shattered World. This time, Han Xiao did not bring any Apostle Weapon, only a Dominion clone and a batch of mechanical soldiers from the headquarters warehouse. These mechanical soldiers were all manufactured before the level 300 advancement and did not receive Han Xiao's current manufacturing bonus.
Upon hearing this, Heber became furious.
After the Battle of Lighthouse Star, Heber knew he was probably no match for Han Xiao, but that was only if Han Xiao personally intervened. Now, you don't even bring an Apostle Weapon, just a Dominion avatar and a mechanical legion, and you dare challenge me?
Isn't this a huge disregard for me?!
"Heh..." Heber's face was frosty as he said in a deep voice, "You're afraid to come here in person, aren't you? Worried that you'll have nowhere to escape if you lose? Hmph, challenging me with a bunch of mechanical soldiers, even if I wipe them all out, you'll still be safe, right?"
"Think what you want. I've already issued the challenge. Do you dare to accept it?" Han Xiao remained unmoved.
Heber immediately began to calculate in his mind, only to realize that Han Xiao had already blocked his escape route.
First, the matter has already escalated, and the title of Tyrant does not allow him to admit defeat. Second, when he bullied Han Xiao had just entered the Beyond Grade A, Han Xiao readily agreed to the challenge. If he were to hesitate and refuse the challenge now, it would be seen as fear of Han Xiao, making outsiders think that he only bullies the weak and fears the strong, and the deterrent power of the title of Tyrant would plummet.
So that's what you were planning...
Heber was furious.
The grievances were merely an excuse to force him into a corner. The real issue stemmed from the recent competition. He had disrupted the Black Star Army's collective plan, so the other party was targeting him from the core, openly issuing a challenge and intending to settle things with force, aiming to damage his reputation Beyond Grade A.
Black Star, you timed this perfectly, putting me in a difficult position where I can't refuse!
Heber laughed in fury, "Fine, I accept your challenge, Black Star. You've been having too much success lately, getting more and more arrogant. Let me hand you a defeat to wake you up!"
--If it were Han Xiao's real body, Heber knew he wouldn't be a match for him, but it was just an avatar leading an army; he didn't think he would lose.
How dare they underestimate him like that...
Do you really think I, the Tyrant, am made of clay?!
"Great, I'll wait for your news."
Seeing that Heber accepted, the Black Star fleet turned and left swiftly, disappearing from everyone's sight.
"Go." Heber snorted coldly, waving his hand to order the fleet to land and return.
He gave the crowd of onlookers a cold glance, strode back to the palace, and his imposing the Sight of Father's Back disappeared from their sight.
The interstellar citizens who had watched the whole thing became excited.
Many of them had witnessed the duel between the two years ago, and now history was repeating itself before their eyes.
This time, however, the roles have been reversed!
"Haha, this is going to be good!"
"Last time the Empire intervened, the two sides ended up with no clear winner, and the matter was dropped. I wonder if the Empire will mediate again this time."
"No way, they have no reason to interfere. They didn't stop the Tyrant from challenging them last time, so how could they stop Black Star from settling scores this time?"
"Hey, so this is Black Star's ' Revenge,' he's finally planning his revenge!"
"I knew it! These two have always been at odds. Even if they become allies, a battle is inevitable!"
Countless interstellar citizens, observing from the sidelines, chattered and discussed the topic in the channel.
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the War Realm, the host possessed by Sorokin frowned and looked up in the direction where the Black Star Fleet had gone.
Black Star's move was quite bold, and it seemed to be a way to incite internal strife. Sorokin had suspected this possibility, but he didn't expect Black Star to actually do it.
If Black Star could truly defeat the Tyrant, he would be able to hold his head high and indeed reduce the competitiveness in the War Realm to some extent, but the price would be the Tyrant's reputation plummeting... In his view, the Crimson Dynasty would not easily sit idly by and watch this happen, and the deterrent power of the Beyond Grade A ally was equivalent to the Empire's bargaining chip.
"If you actually succeed, my plan will become increasingly difficult." Sorokin frowned, deep in thought.