997 A Simpleton“s Killing Move
After releasing his doppelganger, Han Xiao’s consciousness returned to his main body, and the scene in front of him changed back to the room where his Divine Mechanical Throne was located in Black Star Palace within the Flickering World.
He took off the Evolution Cube that he wore around his neck, looking carefully at it. The small silver square reflected the gleam of light.
“It’s been twenty years since I got you from Psyker’s hands...”
Han Xiao touched the cube, and from the icy cold touch, a sense of intimacy rose from his heart.
According to the incomplete legacy of the Evolutionary Civilization, Han Xiao had long resonated with the Evolution Cube, forming a soul connection.
If he passed this over to the Dynasty, he also did not know if the dynasty would request for him to cut off his soul connection, letting someone else like Dark Lord Clotti form a connection.
Shaking his head, he buried this thought before putting the Evolution Cube back around his neck. He left the room to find Feidin.
From the surveillance shown by Phillip, Han Xiao found Feidin as well as the other older officers in the recreation area. He took a floating vehicle, arriving outside the Black Star Guards’ exclusive recreation room.
As he walked in, he could hear Hadavy’s delighted voice.
“... I can feel it. A few days ago, my Esper Ability rose a bit once again. There have been some minute genetic changes in me, and I feel that a small corner of the door to Beyond Grade A has opened.”
Aurora turned to look at Feidin. “How many times has he said this?”
Feidin laughed. “About two hundred and thirty-three times.”
“That’s right. Every day, you talk about how you’re about to reach the Beyond Grade A realm, but it’s been a decade, and there’s still no change,” Aurora added.
“You may not believe me, but every time I finish sparring with the Army Commander’s Apostle Weapons, I show some improvement, even if it’s only a small bit.” Hadavy snorted.
“Spar? More like being beaten up.” Feidin waved his hands in dismissal.
“So what if it’s being beaten up? My Esper Ability is like that.” Hadavy was not angry. “At least I can now last longer than all of you. After all, I can be considered Black Star’s trump card.”
Now that he was already a peak Calamity Grade Super, only the powerful attacks of a Beyond Grade A could stimulate his cells to improve further.
After the first of his Apostle Weapons, Psionic Prime, was born, Han Xiao had handed the task of beating up Hadavy to his Apostle Weapons. With the improvement in his abilities, the combat prowess of the Apostle Weapons naturally increased. Since they were able to fight against Beyond Grade A Supers, they could naturally thrash Calamity Grades. Thus, Hadavy would always run over to them to seek abuse.
Because of his superior defense, he could remain in the hands of the Apostle Weapons for a long time, surpassing other guards. After receiving more than twenty years of beatings, Hadavy had been steadily progressing, and his combat power had significantly improved. As a Beyond Grade A seed, he had always boasted about being the top warrior in the army.
This moment, everyone heard footsteps and turned around to see Han Xiao walking in. They all stood up in respect.
“Sit, I just came over for a look.” Han Xiao waved his hands before walking over to Feidin, his hand grasping his shoulder.
“Again‽” Feidin spoke in resignation, only using his hand to hit Han Xiao’s chest as a token of resistance.
After so many years, he had already gotten used to it. The friendship of men was simple—the more they touched each other, the better their relationship would get.
With the rise of Black Star’s prestige, there were more and more officers who felt cautious about Han Xiao. In the army, only a few old friends, including Feidin, could be so casual in front him.
After Han Xiao was satisfied that he had gotten enough luck, he turned around to look at Aurora before asking, “How’s the accumulation of life energy?”
Aurora smiled, and the entire room seemed to be wrapped with sunshine. “It’s quite huge, and I can feel that as long as I train for another half a year, I’ll step into the Calamity Grade.”
Upon hearing that, Han Xiao nodded.
Aurora’s Esper Ability was that of life, and thus, her life energy was increasing every moment, resulting in the transformation of her body. Not only would her physical fitness become better, her genes would also naturally optimize, and she would maintain her youth forever.
At Grade B, her abilities were upgraded in a different manner. It was difficult for her to train her life energy; she had to wait until the total amount reached the standards of the next level.
This approach had its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage was that progress would be slow. Every day, only a certain amount of life energy would be generated based on one’s level. Because Aurora had created many life potions, her life energy had not yet reached the Calamity Grade, so she rarely did so anymore.
But the benefit in this approach was that there was almost no bottleneck for her in the long term. As long as her life energy reached a certain standard, she could advance, which meant that it was only a matter of time for her to advance to Beyond Grade A, but it might take hundreds or even thousands of years.
Speaking of which, Hila functioned through grabbing the life energy of others to strengthen herself, while Aurora shared her life energy with others and slowed down her own growth rate. Both their abilities and advancement modes were diametrically opposite.
“That’s right, uncle, when will my sister return?” Aurora could not help but ask that.
“I don’t know.” Han Xiao shook his head. “A few days ago, I sent out news to them, but they didn’t reply, nor did they pick up my call. They might have run off to some dangerous place where there’s no signal.”
“Sigh, it’s been so many years. I miss my sister.” Aurora scrunched up her face, looking a little depressed.
“Me too.” Han Xiao nodded.
“Me three.” Hadavy added on.
The duo immediately glared at him, with an expression of ‘what has it got to do with you’ on their faces.
Hadavy crossed his hands and coldly snorted. “She left twenty years ago and is still hogging the title of Captain. Feidin is only a stand-in, and I’m still the deputy, without being able to challenge her position.”
“Oh, it’s like that.” Aurora sighed in relief, patting her bouncy chest. “I thought you had something for my sister.”
“Your sister is so aloof. How could I like her...” Noticing Han Xiao’s gaze, Hadavy trailed off and coughed, mumbling in a small voice, “And how could I dare?”
When he first joined under Black Star, Hadavy did not have many qualifications, so he was willing to serve under Hila as a deputy despite being a Beyond Grade A seed.
However, so many years had passed, and Hadavy was considered an old-timer now. His capabilities had improved, and he had influence and qualifications. Furthermore, Hila had been gone for twenty years straight, so he felt that he had the right not to be under any other Calamity Grades. He wished to have a higher position, becoming the captain of the Black Star Guards.
This was also good for his reputation in the universe. The title of ‘Captain of the Black Star Guards’ was just like the Chief Vanguard Official for Bloodshed Land, and there was a bonus in terms of influence. Hadavy was someone who sought authority and strength, so he considered this as well.
“Alright, when Hila returns, as long as you can defeat her, you’ll be the new captain.” Han Xiao laughed.
“Ok, you’ve said it.” Hadavy perked out.
After some idle conversation, Han Xiao left the room. As he walked down the corridor, he opened his interface and selected Silver Shadow’s Beyond Grade A mission.
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Mission: Silver Shadow is complete!
You have completed all the mission requirements and received 24,500,000,000 Experience.
You have received: Character Summon Card – Silver Shadow
Character Summon Card – Silver Shadow: [Comet Rush]. For a short time, +15% DEX, +45% Move Speed, and +300% Acceleration. Upper cap for move speed is removed, and one can accelerate endlessly. Lasts for 12 seconds. Number of times used: 0/4
You have received a reward: Draw one of Silver Shadow’s skills (Ability/Talent)
Tip: Silver Shadow is a Pugilist, so some of the abilities and talents are adjusted according to your class.
Randomizing... complete!
Please select one from the five options below as the reward:
1. Charge—Endless Potential – Ability: Your next melee attack will grant additional damage based on the sprint distance. The greater the distance, the higher the damage. There is no upper limit, but at the same time, your body will suffer from the recoil, being damaged for 70% of the total damage inflicted on the other party. Consumes 200 Energy and 3,000 Stamina. Cooldown: 240s. Remark: To strike the enemy, or to strike yourself, that is the problem.
2. Dark Energy Extraction – Ability: You can draw upon the Dark energy within the universe, recovering 15% – 25% of your Energy each time. Consumes 800 Stamina. Cooldown: 24s.
3. Nuclear Force—Structure Reinforcement – Talent: Your cells will undergo particle structure reinforcement, gaining 12% immunity to all physical damage. You are immune to True Damage, Armor Piercing, Shock, and other special attacks (non-immunity, converted to normal damage).
4. Self-Refresh – Ability: Remove all negative status affecting you (does not work on [Silenced] and [Energy Locked] states). Consumes 300 Energy. Cooldown 420s.
5. Repeated Critical Strike – Ability: Passive skill. When you accelerate, your body’s melee Crit Rate and Crit Damage multipliers will rise, providing up to a maximum of 80% Crit Rate and 375% Crit Damage. The effect is constant when you maintain your speed. When speed is reduced and peak speed is not restored within 2.5s, the effect will begin to irreversibly decline after 8s and return to zero in 4s. A cooldown of 120s will be applied the moment it hits zero. Remark: Life is like exercising. Start running, don’t stop!
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“The quality this time is quite good.” Han Xiao was satisfied.
There was even a Molding Talent, and the other skills were all good. Apart from his ‘touched’ luck, the main reason was that the average quality of Silver Shadow’s skills was high.
Taking a closer look, Han Xiao first ruled out [Dark Energy Extraction]. The Pugilists required a lot of energy, but he had a more efficient manner of gaining energy through being beaten.
Generally speaking, Han Xiao would want to choose Molding Talents where possible, but [Nuclear Force—Structure Reinforcement] only provided damage immunity, which would duplicate the ability given by the Germinal Organization Leader.
As for the twelve percent of Absolute Physical Resistance and immunity to shock, armor piercing, and so on, it was a good effect, but the cost to performance ratio was not good.
Since Han Xiao was already tanky, the defense improvement would be weak. Furthermore, he had trampled upon little Ty-Ty the last time and obtained his [Legendary Fixed Damage Reduction], which was enough.
After thinking for a bit, he finally made a choice.
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You have acquired the skill: Charge—Endless Potential!
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“This suits me better.”
While [Repeated Critical Strike] was good, it was limited to only one’s melee Crit Rate and had to be triggered by speed. This was suitable for Silver Shadow’s combat style but not too much for Han Xiao.
In contrast, [Charge—Endless potential] was very fierce. It provided unlimited additional damage according to sprint distance, but one had to bear seventy percent of the damage inflicted. It had great power and side effects.
This was a move that would result in a pyrrhic victory where no one would benefit.
However, the Great Mechanic Han was a unique character unseen in this world!
With his ability to recover energy from taking damage and use the energy to recover his HP, not only was his skull thick, he was not afraid of recoil damage.
Furthermore, he was a Mechanic, and he need not even go personally to battle. Just by having one of his avatars rush forward to hit them, all danger was gone. This was even more suited for him than Silver Shadow!
“What a reliable ability. I finally got my hands on a fierce attacking skill. Silver Shadow is really generous, to give me such a good welcome gift.”
Han Xiao was extremely satisfied.
This brother is interesting. I’ll have to look after him more in the future.