Chapter 1 Leaving

A Galactic Empire spaceship slowly moved away from the Red Ring Star Cluster. In the cabin, Han Xiao stood at the porthole, looking at the shrinking outline of the Empire's mother planet, his expressionless.

He accepted the cleanup mission and also notified the Empire, which specially arranged a spaceship to send him off. The operation was finalized yesterday, and there was no delay today. He, Beoni, and Ames, accompanied by Hela and her group, boarded the spaceship dispatched by the Empire and set off to the garrison base in the border region to participate in the routine cleanup of the Fallen Ark.

"This time it really is a fleeting visit," Han Xiao muttered, his eyes reflecting the ever-receding Empire's mother star cluster.

He only stayed on the mother planet for a few days, which was not even as long as the time spent on the road. He did not stay long, completed the activities on the mother planet, and decisively left, acting with speed and decisiveness.

This trip allowed him to meet the Empire's Overlord, get acquainted with a number of Pillars of the Nation, deepen his connection with the Empire, expand his network, and make the Empire's imprint on him clearer. As the Crimson Dynasty wished, he could be considered a core member of the Empire from now on.

"The Empire's army has completed its assembly and is waiting for the Super A Grades to go and hold the line. Through the Star Gate passage, we can probably join the main force in four or five days."

Beoni walked over from the side and spoke, sparks sputtering from his mouth.

The Red Ring Star System was the central area of the Empire, and they were going to the edge of the Star Field, yet it would only take four or five days. This was not because the distance was short, but because the transportation in the Central Star Sea was far more developed than in the Shattered Star Ring. Civilized Galactic Civilizations had planted many Star Gates in their home base, forming a rapid transportation channel. If it were replaced by the sparse Star Gate distribution in the Shattered Star Ring, this four or five-day journey might take more than half a month.

Han Xiao turned his head, thought for a while, and suddenly asked, "Have you participated in similar operations before?"

"Yes, I have participated in two encirclements and suppressions of the Fallen Ark. This is the third time. Most of the Super A Grades who stay in the Central Star Sea have participated in this kind of operation," Beoni nodded.

It really is eating, sleeping, and fighting the Heteromorph. All those allies shirk their responsibilities and don't want to provoke the Heteromorph, but they just don't want to come with me... Han Xiao's mouth twitched.

"Then the Heteromorph has basically fought against all the Super A Grades of the three Great Civilizations?"

"You can say that, but most of the time, we can only encounter the Heteromorph's avatars. Only large-scale annihilation operations against the main team of the Fallen Ark are likely to encounter the Heteromorph's main body. That is generally an operation where Super A Grades of Krolti's level hold the line. The Heteromorph's main body is too strong. Just from what I know, more than two Super A Grades have died in his hands... How many Super A Grades are there in the entire universe? It's really a terrifying record."

Beoni shook his head.

Due to deliberately trying to build a relationship, Han Xiao was closer to him than other Super A Grade allies.

Hearing this, Han Xiao nodded to show his understanding, his eyes flickering.

The Heteromorph has strength, but for the three Great Civilizations, they should be able to eradicate him with gritted teeth, but they have tolerated him for so long, which is strange.

"This time, there are three Super A Grades sitting in command. Even if we are unlucky enough to encounter the Heteromorph's main body, we can still retreat safely," Beoni said again.

Unlucky? Heh, this time we will probably encounter the Heteromorph's main body.

Han Xiao secretly curled his lips. He had just arrived at the Empire's mother planet, and the Heteromorph had just exposed his whereabouts. He didn't think this was a coincidence.

Thinking of the Heteromorph's words when he took the initiative to contact him, this was probably the reason, but he still chose to participate in this cleanup operation.

Putting away his thoughts, he opened the panel and took a look. The routine cleanup mission was on the list, with a generous reward.

[【Empire Campaign: Fallen Ark (Repeatable)】]

[Mission Introduction: Fallen Ark, the paradise of thugs in the universe, infamous for doing all kinds of evil, has been besieged by the three Great Civilizations for many years. Now, the Crimson Dynasty has discovered the whereabouts of a Fallen Ark fleet. You have decided to participate in this campaign and contribute your strength.]

[Tip: This mission is a Faction Series Mission. You can complete the following requirements in this mission:]

[Elite Soldier: Kill a total of 2,000 enemies, reward 3.8 million EXP, Crimson Dynasty Contribution +20]

[Fierce General: Kill more than 200 Class C Supers, reward 8.1 million EXP, Crimson Dynasty Contribution +30]

[Sweeper: Kill a total of 10,000 enemies, reward 13.35 million EXP, Crimson Dynasty Contribution +50]

……

[Beheader: Kill the Fleet Commander, reward 120 million EXP, Crimson Dynasty Contribution +220]

[Face the Heteromorph I: Accumulate damage to the Heteromorph's HP by 0.5% (main body or avatar), reward 200 million EXP, Crimson Dynasty Contribution +350]

[Face the Heteromorph 2: Accumulate damage to the Heteromorph's HP by 5%, reward 1.5 billion EXP, Crimson Dynasty Contribution +550]

[Face the Heteromorph 3: Accumulate damage to the Heteromorph's HP by 15%, reward 6.5 billion EXP, Crimson Dynasty Contribution +900]

[Face the Heteromorph 4: Successfully cooperate with the Crimson Dynasty forces to eliminate a Heteromorph avatar, each 1% of output ratio rewards 250 million EXP and 80 Empire Contribution Points, obtain [Character Arrival Card—Heteromorph]]

This was not a one-time mission. As long as there was an opportunity for routine cleanup, this mission would appear.

The Crimson Dynasty was a top force in the Star Sea, and the mission rewards it gave were basically the standard for the mid-to-late game. Involving Super A Grades, the highest reward even reached hundreds of millions of EXP.

This time, the Fallen Ark sub-fleet was discovered near the Empire's border, so the Empire took the initiative to send troops.

Han Xiao accepted this mission because he was attracted by the generous rewards.

The "Face the Heteromorph" series of rewards accounted for more than 90% of this repeatable mission, and it was challenging in nature. Ordinary players could at most only complete the basic requirements of killing enemy troops, and it was almost impossible to cause too much damage to the Heteromorph, even cumulative damage.

But he was different. When he was at the Calamity Grade, the Heteromorph's avatar beat him up pretty badly, but now, even if the Heteromorph's main body descended, he might not be able to defeat it, but merely a Heteromorph avatar with limited energy would hardly put any pressure on him.

The Contribution Points required for players to exchange for Ultimate Knowledge from a Galactic Civilization was 12,000 points, but his current status was completely different, discounted by half, and he could exchange for an Ultimate Knowledge with 6,000 points.

The stronger the faction, the harder it was to grind favorability. In his previous life, players had burned out their livers for Ultimate Knowledge, and his business as a power-leveler was therefore very popular. At this time, Han Xiao did not want to stay in the Central Star Sea for too long to grind favorability, so he was prepared to use his strength advantage to complete the super-high difficulty requirements that were almost impossible for players to complete, and earn a large amount of Contribution Points in one go.

In the mission list given by the Empire, only this mission could meet his requirements for the time being, and it was the most convenient.

Coincidentally, he could also take this opportunity to draw a clear line with the Heteromorph and send a signal.

Not wanting to continue talking about this topic, Han Xiao changed the subject and suddenly asked, "By the way, you've been hanging around in the Old Star River, what's your relationship with the Machinery Country like?"

Beoni was a Fiery Demon before advancing to Super A Grade, and he still maintained a similar appearance. He still regarded himself as a member of the Fiery Demon race, leading a group of his race in the Old Star River, and widely accepted concubines to reproduce his own Super A Grade race, living a very comfortable life, and was a big shot in the Old Star River.

Manison of the Machinery Country was also entrenched in the Old Star River, so Beoni must know him.

"Manison? Why are you asking about him?" Beoni asked in confusion.

"He is, after all, a top Super A Grade in the Mechanic class. I have long admired his name," Han Xiao said casually.

Beoni did not suspect anything, "I have very little contact with him. His power in the Old Star River is deeply rooted, far surpassing mine. If you want to visit him, I can introduce you, but he is from the Shining Federation, so meeting him in private is not very good."

"You're overthinking it. Galactic Civilizations won't restrict our private interactions."

"Well, anyway, I don't like to see people from other forces," Beoni shook his head.

Han Xiao smiled. Although he was not prepared to provoke the Machinery Country, he was always a little more concerned because of Aroshia.

As for visiting, he was not lying. He was indeed interested in Manison's "Undying Mechanical Country" technology, but he would not visit now. The development of the Flickering World was imminent, and he did not have the leisure to run to the Old Star River.

However, when it came to the Machinery Country, Han Xiao couldn't help but think of an old enemy—Myriad Shadows.

This guy had not taken action for several years. Han Xiao guessed if he had given up, but the [Prey] mission was still hanging on the panel and had not disappeared.

"I'll go to the Star Cluster Abyss to meet him in the future," Han Xiao thought to himself.

He had not forgotten the trouble this guy had caused him. Now that his wings were gradually growing, he would find time to settle the score in the future.

……

In the border region of the Central Star Sea, a huge fleet was slowly moving, and this was a branch fleet of the Fallen Ark.

Inside the main ship was a palace, and the ground was covered with energy transmission circuits, connected to the central throne. Sitting on the throne was a Heteromorph avatar. The spaceship's energy core continuously transported energy to the Heteromorph avatar through the throne, just like a socket charging the Heteromorph avatar.

At this moment, the Heteromorph's main consciousness was descending on this Heteromorph avatar.

"I wonder who the Crimson Dynasty will send this time to hold the line." The Heteromorph rested his chin and pondered, "Intelligence shows that Black Star is currently a guest on the Crimson Dynasty's mother planet. Hmm, he's carrying the Evolutionary Cube. Will he come to find me…"

His eyes in the Shattered Star Ring had learned about Black Star's journey to the Central Star Sea more than half a month ago. If Black Star wanted to trade with him, he would need an opportunity to contact him, so the Heteromorph deliberately allowed a sub-fleet to be discovered by the Empire and proactively created an opportunity. This was not a coincidence.

He could not easily leave the Central Star Sea. If he wanted his main body to use the Evolutionary Cube, he could only have Black Star come to his door. In order to avoid being double-crossed, Black Star was unlikely to sneak over to find him secretly, so he needed to create a situation that would not easily arouse suspicion.

"He should understand what I mean…"

After thinking for a while, the Heteromorph shook his head.

He did not doubt Black Star's sensitivity, but Black Star had not contacted him, and he probably had not decided whether to trade with him or not.

In this case, the Heteromorph felt that Han Xiao might not dare to contact him.

……

"Black Star has already set off, and Beoni will be watching him."

In the Overlord's office in the Tayron Harmil Palace, Krolti reported the situation to Ulan Riel with a straight face.

Ulan Riel put down the documents in her hand, rubbed the corners of her eyes, and slowly said with her eyes closed, "He chose to fight the Heteromorph, which is beyond my expectations. The timing is a bit too coincidental. He's carrying the Evolutionary Cube, and the Heteromorph has also shown interest in this thing. We can't help but be wary."

Originally, what mission Han Xiao chose was a trivial matter that did not require her, an Empire Overlord, to care about, but she noticed the suspicious points and had to pay attention to it.

For the Empire, the Heteromorph stealing the Evolutionary Cube was not a secret. Han Xiao taking the Cube to fight the Heteromorph might be because he knew of the Heteromorph's covetousness and wanted to show his sovereignty and retaliate, but it might also be for other ulterior motives. Black Star was, after all, a new ally. It seemed that the Empire was taking care of him in every way, but in fact, from the moment he set off for the Central Star Sea, he had been closely watched by the Empire's eyes and ears.

Beoni agreed to Han Xiao's invitation partly because he was deliberately trying to build a relationship with a member of the younger generation, and partly because of Krolti's request, to protect him and also to watch Black Star's actions for Ulan Riel.

It was always good to be wary of others. The Empire did not want to see any allies having an affair with the Heteromorph, eating inside and out.

"Black Star's information shows that he is good at cooperating with all parties in the Shattered Star Ring, maneuvering in the cracks between many forces, and establishing his current foundation. He is obviously not an honest fellow…" Ulan Riel opened her eyes, her expression calm and indifferent, and slowly said, "I hope he won't be too arrogant and repeat the same trick, thinking that the Empire is someone he can deceive."