Chapter 288 The Cataclysmic Grade

Having thoroughly examined the changes at the Disaster grade, Han Xiao straightened his clothes, unlocked the security lock, and left the training room.

Turning down the base corridor, he ran into Aroshia.

"Where are you going?"

Han Xiao greeted her, almost blurting out, "Have you eaten yet?"

"Back to my room." Aroshia was about to brush past him when she suddenly stopped, leaned closer to Han Xiao, sniffed him, and her eyes flickered.

"What's wrong? Do I smell good?"

Seeing this, Han Xiao couldn't help but look down at his body.

Aroshia shook her head, her usually indifferent face showing a hint of uncertainty. Just now, as she passed by, she had keenly sensed that Han Xiao's aura was different, more ethereal and elusive. She thought she was mistaken.

"Have you changed in some way?" Aroshia, never one to hide her thoughts, asked directly.

"Oh, you noticed? My ability has made a breakthrough and reached the Disaster grade." Han Xiao didn't hide it; the officers would find out sooner or later.

Aroshia nodded, understanding. Han Xiao was special to her; she wouldn't doubt him no matter what he did, placing absolute trust in him. Besides, Han Xiao had just been through a major battle recently, so it was normal for him to have made a breakthrough in her eyes.

For characters without panels, combat was the most effective way to improve their strength.

Right…

Han Xiao suddenly thought of something, grabbed Aroshia, and smiled slightly.

"Don't be in such a hurry. I'll show you a magic trick."

With that, Han Xiao activated [Chaos Body Release], and his entire body disintegrated into a cloud of gray mist, floating in front of her.

Aroshia's eyes widened abruptly. This transformation into an energy field form was quite similar to her own energy form. She reached out and touched the gray mist, her finger passing right through it, feeling nothing, just like normal mist.

Buzz—

Aroshia directly transformed into an energy body, plunging into the gray mist. The shimmering golden energy body intertwined with the gray mist. She felt a warm sensation rising all over her body, an experience she usually only had when charging at the reaction furnace.

At the thought of charging, Aroshia subconsciously drew on the energy in the gray mist. However, the Chaos Body was maintained by Han Xiao's Qi, and this energy was under his control, immovable and impossible to absorb.

Sensing Aroshia's actions, Han Xiao released a small portion of his Qi, allowing Aroshia to absorb it. Aroshia suddenly transformed into a ball of light, constantly rippling. The energy she drew from the Chaos Body made her feel very comfortable, and she didn't even bother to maintain her humanoid form. If she hadn't lacked vocal cords after becoming energy, she would have almost sighed in comfort.

The quality of Qi at the Disaster grade was even richer and carried Han Xiao's genetic imprint, its taste completely different from the energy of the reaction furnace.

Qi was the Chaos Body's health. Having absorbed a little, the health immediately decreased. Han Xiao discovered that the Chaos Body could transmit mental signals and sent Aroshia an idea, asking her to input energy into the gray mist. Logically, energy could be mutually converted.

A stream of golden energy flowed into the gray mist, and sure enough, the Chaos Body's health was instantly replenished. Han Xiao had a new idea. Since most of the Chaos Body mode's specialties were frozen, Aroshia was not only a "battery" but also a mobile health potion for the Chaos Body.

Thinking this, he transmitted another mental signal. Aroshia changed her form, becoming the shape of the Chaos Body, completely merging into the gray mist. The Chaos Body immediately flickered with golden light. This state was a deeper connection, with a higher efficiency of energy conversion and transmission, as if Aroshia was possessing the Chaos Body.

After experimenting for a while, Han Xiao deactivated the Chaos Body and returned to his physical form. Aroshia popped out of him and also deactivated her energy form.

"Is this your new ability?" Aroshia couldn't help but ask, her exquisite face a little red for some reason.

"Yes, I have comprehended the power of the void."

Han Xiao's expression was a bit strange, feeling as if he had just done something weird.

Shaking his head to dispel the strange thoughts, Han Xiao recalled the feeling just now. He had suddenly thought that the Chaos Body was a field-form life, also relying on energy as its lifeline, so he had sought out Aroshia to experiment. As expected, as long as they were connected and consciously controlled, the energy of both sides could be mutually transmitted.

However, Aroshia could actively absorb energy, while the Chaos Body could not, only passively accepting energy input. Aroshia's energy ability had an important feature: it could adapt to almost all forms of energy, which was the basis for ensuring conversion.

"The talent of the Chaos Observer is very special, and there should be more ways to use it…" Han Xiao thought to himself.

Having advanced to the Disaster grade and gained a new ability, he still needed to familiarize himself with it.

Casually tossing an Observer tag on Aroshia, they each left.

Walking down the road, Han Xiao suddenly thought of Risda's request. He didn't intend to break his promise. Once Risda completed his work, he would help Aroshia restore her memories as soon as possible.

Anyway, he had already guessed the final goal of the [Reboot] mission, which was just to avoid going up against [Machinery Country] Mannison.

…

Over the next few days, the mercenary group's officers gradually learned that Han Xiao had officially stepped into the Disaster domain. Unlike Aroshia's calm demeanor, each officer was surprised.

That was the Disaster grade!

When the leader hadn't reached the Disaster grade, he could withstand three Disaster grades head-on. How strong would he be now that he had officially entered this realm!

The most shocked was Melos. He had joined the Black Star Mercenary Group before Han Xiao had even reached Grade B, witnessing Han Xiao gradually catch up to him at a miraculous speed, then surpass him, and finally leave him far behind. Now, he couldn't even see the taillights.

In just a few years, he had gone from Grade C to Grade A?!

He was only touching the edge of Grade B+!

Melos had never heard of such an example. What did this guy eat to grow up?!

Sylvia was the happiest. Over the years of living together, she had come to regard the Black Star Army as her second home. The mercenaries here were so nice to talk to, and she loved it here.

Now that there was finally a Disaster grade to hold the fort, and Black Star was her teacher, she felt honored as well.

However, the army's officers hadn't seen Han Xiao these past few days. Han Xiao was in the mechanical modification room in seclusion.

Grade A was a potential prerequisite for integrating some advanced blueprints. One's equipment could be fully upgraded. The mode didn't need to be changed, but one could use stronger machines of the same type. Han Xiao had lost a lot of machinery in the war, and he needed to replenish his weapon reserves.

The Void Dragon Mechanical Armor had been destroyed, leaving only the core material, the Void Dragon Bone. Han Xiao had integrated a more advanced mechanical armor blueprint and was preparing to create a stronger combat suit to keep up with his Disaster grade strength.

The core materials for the new armor were three types: Kael Alloy, PR-909 Super-Nanometer Polymer Fiber, and Refined Overga Metal Ore. All were military-controlled resources, extremely rare and expensive, and the ones controlling these three resources were none other than Star Cluster-level civilizations.

These three materials were strategic materials for inter-civilization trade and were almost never circulated on the market. As soon as they appeared on the black market, they would be bought by anonymous customers in seconds, highly sought after by interstellar mechanics. A kilogram of Kael Alloy was worth a small spaceship, but unfortunately, it was available for a price but not for sale. Even if you had money, you couldn't find a way to buy it.

However, Godora, as a civilization controlling a star system, had a stock of these materials, which they secretly purchased from Star Cluster-level civilizations.

When Han Xiao sold the Alienized Primordial One, he attached the condition that Godora would open up some of their controlled material purchase channels to him.

This meant that Grand Technician Han had a way to obtain these controlled materials. However, although Godora had made a compromise, they also had additional requirements: these controlled materials had an annual purchase limit. They did not allow too many controlled materials to flow to the outside world.

Taking out his communicator and contacting Nagokin, Han Xiao prepared to apply for a purchase, but before he could speak, Nagokin spoke first.

"Black Star, it's time."

Nagokin's tone was serious.

Hearing this, Han Xiao temporarily put aside the matter of buying materials, narrowed his eyes, and said in a deep voice:

"Is your Godora ready?"

"The fleet has been fully deployed, the locations of all DarkStar mother ships are under control, and the higher-ups are ready to launch a full-scale attack at any time. This is a top-secret operation, codenamed [Hoderias]!"

This code name was a phonetic translation of an ancient Godoran word, meaning something similar to "uprooting" or "cutting off the roots."

Han Xiao's expression became solemn. He had known this day would come since he sold the information. Godora's official counterattack against DarkStar was about to begin, and this was a war he had single-handedly caused.

This event did not exist in his previous life.

"Black Star, we need you," Nagokin said solemnly.

Hearing this, Han Xiao's eyes flickered, and he smiled, his tone teasing:

"Hey, you should know that providing information and participating in the war personally are two different things. Are you proposing a war hire to me?"

"We will pay you a satisfactory reward, on par with large mercenary groups such as the Heavenly Ring Alliance."

Han Xiao's heart stirred. He had intended to participate in the war, but he had only mentioned it casually. He didn't expect Godora to be willing to pay another war hire.

It seemed that Godora was willing to spare no expense to kill DarkStar this time.

DarkStar had been causing trouble for many years, and the resentment that Godora had accumulated had already broken through the sky. Once there was a way to vent it, it would be like a flash flood or an avalanche.

Without the ability to hide, DarkStar was about to endure Godora's rage, encountering the full-force of Godora's regular army without knowing it.

The grudges between the two sides for so many years had finally reached the time for reckoning.

This was also an opportunity to complete the [Godora Alliance] and perhaps an important part of the [Bloodline] mission.

Hanging up the communication, Han Xiao rubbed his chin and called Melos over.

"Old Mel, we have work to do. Gather all the mercenaries and prepare to set off."

"Including the hundreds of thousands of new joined Supers?"

"Yes, everyone."

Han Xiao revealed a smile.

Using an interstellar war as an entry point to lead the players into the Star Sea seemed pretty good.

It was time for the universe to recognize the Black Star Army again!