Chapter 1 Hela

In her past life, Hela had established a fearsome reputation as the Goddess of Death in the intergalactic world, possessing formidable combat prowess.

Ever since Han Xiao rescued the two sisters from Germinal, he had regarded Hela as an important asset for the future. He had waited for so many years, and finally, Hela had grown up, possessing Calamity Grade strength, capable of providing initial assistance.

Han Xiao was well aware of Hela's ability to absorb the souls of the dead to enhance herself. This was her unique shortcut to rapid advancement. In her previous life, she had slaughtered countless planets, and her growth rate even surpassed the players.

In his eyes, Hela, although lacking a halo of fortune, was an undeniable epic character… albeit a villain.

Now, Hela had not gone astray, but she happened to encounter a period of war. All the fallen soldiers could become a source of her power. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to unleash Hela's true potential.

He needed a reliable enforcer who could hold the fort in his stead, and Hela was the best candidate.

As for Aurora…

Han Xiao turned to look at her, smiling kindly, "How is your ability development going?"

Aurora giggled, flipped her hand, and a dazzling golden halo emerged from her palm.

"I'm not good at fighting, but I can heal any physical damage, and I can also stimulate other people's vitality, allowing them to unleash even stronger power. Try it~"

As she spoke, a beam of golden light struck Han Xiao. Han Xiao's spirits lifted, and his whole body felt electrified, as if filled with energy. Several buff statuses suddenly appeared on his interface.

So this is, Holy Light!

Han Xiao's heart stirred, "Can your ability be stored?"

"Yes, I've tried injecting vitality into stamina potions, which can be stored for a long time. However, I'm not as diligent as my sister. I'm not yet at the Calamity Grade, so the shelf life is a bit short, and the healing effect will gradually decrease, lasting for a maximum of 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 the hope of expanding the Legion's business and entering the interstellar pharmaceutical industry.

Aurora's ability was that of a natural healer. Even when she was weak, her healing abilities were already very powerful. Now that Aurora was a Grade B Super, her healing output had probably expanded countless times, like the growth of her bra size.

"Also, although my combat power is average, I can regenerate quickly." Aurora pulled out a burst energy pistol from her combat suit's belt, spun it deftly with her fingers, and suddenly fired at her other palm.

With a bang, the beam pierced through her palm. Before Han Xiao could be surprised by her actions, the wound rapidly healed and disappeared without a trace. Her palm was fair and smooth, like white jade porcelain, and one couldn't tell that she had been injured just now.

"See, I also have the ability to protect myself." Aurora looked expectant, like a child showing off, wanting to be praised by Han Xiao.

Over ten years of training, Aurora had not only developed her abilities but also learned many shooting and combat skills to compensate for her own combat power. Due to the torture she had endured from Germinal, although she looked delicate, she was actually full of resilience in her bones, outwardly gentle but inwardly firm. She had a high tolerance for pain, and she didn't even frown when she shot through her own palm.

What a tough guy… Han Xiao secretly mused, then put on a smile and praised, "A very good ability."

As expected of the ability called [Life Returns], Aurora was only at Grade B now. When she reached Grade A, her recovery ability would probably be stronger than his. It was a pity that her ability did not have too much combat power, but it was complementary to Hela.

After the three of them reminisced, Hela put away her imperceptible smile and said with a serious face, "How do you plan to arrange us?"

"I'll take you to meet the Legion's officers first."

Hela shook her head, "Before you came back, Sylvia introduced us to all the high-level officers. She said that when you come back, you'll personally arrange our positions."

During the Version 2.0 Alienation Disaster event, the Legion's oldest core members had long known Hela, knowing that Han Xiao had an extraordinary relationship with her, so they would naturally not neglect the two sisters.

"Since that's the case, let's get straight to the point. You two will follow me first, as my bodyguards. After you understand the organization's operational structure, I'll arrange for you to have formal high-level positions," Han Xiao said.

"I have no objections." Hela nodded.

Han Xiao thought for a moment and said, "You should rest for a few days first, and then I'll take you to do things."

Hela shook her head and refused, "No need, we've rested enough. Give us a task as soon as possible. I want to verify what level my strength is at."

Why are you more anxious than me…

Han Xiao chuckled, thought for a while, and nodded, "Alright, then we'll set off tomorrow. I'll take you to war."

He was planning to keep a low profile for a while, and in addition to reaping the players' experience, he also decided to personally develop Hela's potential and let this enforcer take shape as soon as possible.

…

West Wind Star System, Eleventh Star Zone.

This was the earliest border star system to be invaded. The troops stationed here by the war realm were the largest, establishing hundreds of strongholds throughout the various star zones of the West Wind Star System. The Zero Authority had set up blockades in some strategic locations to prevent the war realm from invading the surrounding areas from West Wind.

Blockade Line 027 was one of them. Many members of the Zero Authority had been stationed there year-round, and the Black Star Army's fleet was also among them, with personnel rotating periodically.

Apart from the occasional large-scale military operations, the blockade line was the most frequent place for battles. The war realm would attack the blockade line from time to time, and the blockade line's troops would also often send out small fleets to harass and attack the war realm's strongholds. Each blockade line was the "front line" in a real sense.

After the Kant Star System campaign, the players began to explore freely. Han Xiao's 50% off participation benefit had not been withdrawn. The requirement to continue enjoying the benefit was to continue participating in the war. Therefore, in the one-month period of Han Xiao's absence and return, most of the players were scattered to various blockade lines. There were countless battles here – this was also the normal way to carry out the secret war main storyline.

There were also players who did not do the main storyline. Some went to work as mercenaries, some explored everywhere, some focused on life occupations, and some guild players crowdfunded to buy various mining equipment and small transport ships and went to the resource planets under the Black Star Army's jurisdiction to work as miners.

Blockade Line 027 had gathered more than 20,000 players who participated in various daily combat missions.

Not long ago, a war realm fleet attacked the blockade line and failed. The blockade line's garrison was cleaning up the battlefield. In the office of the military space station, the commander of Blockade Line 027, Leikesen, looked at the troops outside the viewing window who were salvaging the wreckage of the warships, listening to the deputy behind him reporting the results of the battle.

"The enemy lost eighty-six small warships and nineteen heavy frigates. We lost thirty-eight warships, and the personnel losses… cough, the enemy is unknown, and our casualties are being counted. Preliminary estimates suggest that the losses are very small…"

"Is it the Black Star Army's contribution again?" Leikesen's expression was relaxed.

"Yes, the Black Star Army's Undying used boarding tactics to destroy many of the enemy's warships. Because they don't need evacuation plans, we didn't have any additional casualties…"

The deputy swallowed. The battle report stated that many people used assault pods to land on the enemy warships and directly detonated the assault pods, without considering retreating. There were even people who landed with nuclear bombs. It was too fierce, and they were all practically suicide bombers.

"Since the Black Star Army transferred tens of thousands of Undying here, our combat pressure has significantly decreased. This group of people are simply born warriors." Leikesen let out a breath.

Nearly two months after the opening of the version, more than one million Legion players had largely reached level 100 and had successively completed their advancement quests, obtaining the opportunity for racial sublimation. The diversity of the players had further increased, and the first batch of veteran players had finally entered Grade B on a large scale.

Although it was only the lowest level of Grade B, the increase in level still produced a qualitative change. The Black Star Army's intermediate combat power immediately improved by a notch. More than one million core combat forces were invested in various blockade line battlefields, and many blockade lines reversed the decline in pressure and were greatly reduced.

On Blockade Line 027 alone, more than 20,000 Grade B players had led the blockade line to win all the recent battles. Leikesen could not be more satisfied with the Black Star Army's players.

This batch of the Black Star Army's earliest veteran players had finally undergone a transformation, no longer the low-level cannon fodder they used to be. They finally had the ability to have a decisive impact on small-scale battles. The players' forum discussed this matter. When Meat Bun made a video, he posted Crazy Blade's theory, saying that the players' strength would increase with the version and would have a greater real-time impact on the world, which was widely recognized.

Real-time feedback was an important source of fun for players. If a max-level player and a new player were treated the same by the NPCs, and could only do quests and not affect the environment, it would be too rigid. The most attractive feature of Galaxy was the sense of immersion and substitution in living in a real world.

Just as Leikesen was sighing, he suddenly received a notification. He glanced at it, and his face changed drastically.

"What's wrong?" The deputy quickly asked.

"Prepare quickly. His Excellency Black Star is coming over in person. He's almost here." Leikesen hurriedly walked out of the room.

Leikesen summoned senior officers and came to the port to greet him. After waiting for a while, the Black Light Lurker entered the dock.

Han Xiao brought the two sisters, Hela and Aurora, and Fording. Fording wanted to come along himself, worried about Han Xiao's mental brain domain problem. Before Han Xiao recovered, he planned to stay by Han Xiao's side in case of an emergency.

As soon as he got off the ship, Leikesen and the others greeted him, very respectfully. To him, Han Xiao was a big shot he could not normally contact. Han Xiao had gained the admiration of all members of the Zero Authority through his battle achievements.

"You don't have to be so polite. I want to understand the situation of the war realm's strongholds nearby." Han Xiao smiled.

Leikesen was flattered and hurriedly invited Han Xiao and the others to the war room, opened the tactical star map, and introduced it once.

Han Xiao stared at the star map and nodded, "I understand. I plan to attack Stronghold W-58."

Stronghold W-58 was the largest enemy stronghold near Blockade Line 027, and a Calamity Grade Super was stationed there. Leikesen had never dared to take the initiative here. At this time, when he heard this, he was secretly delighted.

"I need some helpers. Don't worry, the credit will be yours." Han Xiao smiled.

Leikesen nodded repeatedly, "I will dispatch the blockade line's fleet to cooperate with you."

Although Han Xiao was not his immediate superior, Leikesen was unwilling to miss this opportunity to hitch a ride on a big shot, not to mention that the credit for eliminating the enemy's large stronghold would still be his own.

"Alright, we'll move out in one day."

Han Xiao nodded. This time, he had come to the blockade line's battlefield to let Hela try her hand, so he naturally took the initiative to attack.

…

Stronghold W-58.

Manudo, the Grade A Super of the war realm stationed here, was feeling very flustered at this time.

Just a while ago, a spy sent news that Black Star had descended on Blockade Line 027, and he was the only Calamity Grade Super in the surrounding strongholds. Manudo felt that since Black Star had come, he definitely wouldn't mind taking down him, an unremarkable Calamity Grade Super, in passing. His heart was half cold.

Manudo hurriedly reported the news to headquarters, but he didn't expect the commander-in-chief to contact him actively.

"There is a high probability that Black Star will attack the stronghold you are in, but don't panic. Now I want to give you a task."

"Is it a retreat?" Hope ignited in Manudo's heart.

"Of course not!" Qiao De said in a deep voice, "I need you to do one thing, lure Black Star to make a move and fight with him."

"…You can just say you want me to commit suicide." Manudo looked lovelorn.

"Cough, I will transfer nearby Calamity Grades to support you. You are not fighting alone."

Qiao De was helpless. Black Star's fierce name had penetrated the hearts of the war realm's high-level combat forces. He had no choice but to explain, "Black Star was recently caught in my trap, and he is not in his best state now. I need you to test him."

Qiao De wanted to infer the extent of the damage that Xisco's psychic weapon had caused to Han Xiao by observing Han Xiao's reaction in battle. He could only be completely relieved if he saw it with his own eyes.

At the same time, on a desolate planet in the middle of the W-58 stronghold and Blockade Line 027.

Summer Nights Bloom and dozens of players who had joined Krent had come here on a spaceship.

They were doing the main storyline of the Krent camp. As a warrior of the war realm, they were transferred to a stronghold near the blockade line to participate in small-scale battles like the Black Star Army players.

The war realm had strict rules, and they could not explore freely like in the Black Star Army. Summer Nights Bloom and the others were very uncomfortable and couldn't help but miss the treatment of the Black Star Army. Only after losing it did they know to cherish it.

This time, Summer Nights Bloom and the others finally had free time and came to this planet to wait for someone.

Their position in the war realm was not high, and their benefits were temporarily not as good as those of the Black Star Army. So they contacted their friends who stayed in the Black Star Army and asked their friends to purchase the Legion's 50% off goods on their behalf. This planet was the meeting point.