Great! I'm surrounded by villains!
Chapter 270 - 189: Exiting the Stage

Chapter 270: Chapter 189: Exiting the Stage

Actus had led Fortress Number to plunder countless planets and intercept over a dozen of Universe Company’s transport ships; his notoriety was known throughout the cosmos, and never in his life had he been robbed.

But now, the one who claimed to rob him stood before him, demanding Fortress Number itself with his first words.

The robber came alone, wielding a weapon that greatly resembled a Peach Wood Sword, the kind used by retired old men in parks. Faced with this bizarre and comical sight, Actus couldn’t muster a laugh.

Because the Cosmic Sword Saint aboard the ship had yet to make any more contact.

The Sword Saint was hired by the Chamber of Commerce to come aboard, and he had one purpose for visiting this planet—to challenge a swordsman from Blue Star.

Apart from the slightly comical Peach Wood Sword, Duan Mingyuan who suddenly appeared in the captain’s cabin indeed matched the characteristics of a swordsman.

However, Actus couldn’t bear to imagine that Duan Mingyuan had already crossed swords with the Cosmic Sword Saint. Wouldn’t that mean that the cosmos’s number one swordsman hadn’t been able to leave even a scar on Duan Mingyuan?

He raised both hands, merging the armguards together.

He must capitalize on the information gap that the other party didn’t understand his armor, and annihilate him with a single strike!

This might be his only chance at victory.

However, when Actus locked his gaze on Duan Mingyuan again, the entire captain’s cabin had changed; it had become a space shrouded in darkness, with him standing right in the center, and a prison constructed from giant swords in the distance.

While he locked his cybernetic eye on Duan Mingyuan, he too was being targeted by something else.

The Sword Intent, so clear and chilling, made his heart go cold.

Without any hesitation, Actus turned his armor to maximum power; the merged armguards burst into dazzling brilliance, and the scorching temperature instantly twisted the entire space.

The craftsman who forged this armor had named it "Sun," and its burning heat was enough to destroy everything within its range.

The last time he used "Sun," even Actus himself was frightened by its terrifying power.

He had aimed the "Sun" at the self-defense forces that dared to resist him on the plundered planet. After that searing beam flickered, the force of a thousand men vanished without a trace, leaving only a gaping chasm that stretched endlessly. The earth itself seemed to have been torn open by the beam.

When Actus returned to Fortress Number, he could still clearly see the fissure on the planet, like a shocking scar, leaving an indelible mark on the surface of the planet.

His deeds soon became big news, and people said he had destroyed a planet; hence, the title "strongest Cosmic Pirate" was born.

Although Actus understood that using "Sun" at full power on Fortress Number might seriously damage the entire ship, considering the opponent had defeated the Cosmic Sword Saint, it was all worth it.

The intense brightness dispelled the darkness, making the space as clear as day.

Like the last time, Actus was blinded by the intense light, unable to see anything before him, only the armor’s system reminding him that the "Sun" had finished launching.

At this moment, a faint smile finally appeared on Actus’s face.

This was originally his secret weapon against the Universe Company; he knew that one day he would lead his fleet to seek revenge against the company, and then the "Sun’s" glow would become the company’s everlasting nightmare.

But now, facing the opponent before him, he had to give it his all.

The blinding light lasted for an indeterminate time, perhaps ten minutes, or even longer.

The concepts of time and space became incredibly vague, but Actus was ready.

When his vision cleared once more, he expected to see Fortress Number perforated, and to hear the piercing alarm sounds as the whole ship plummeted toward the surface of Mechanical Star.

That would be a tremendous loss, but it would also proclaim his victory.

Finally, Actus saw something else amidst the strong light.

It was a place he knew well.

There were no scorched earth remnants from a fierce battle, nor a flagship spiraling out of control towards the ground.

It seemed to be the train station of his home planet, and he was sitting on the long bench at the platform, waiting for an impending train.

The armor on his body had vanished, and he had been away for so long that he had forgotten what his home planet looked like.

Back then, he was the king here.

Actus bowed his head, observing his own hands—the cybernetic parts were gone, and he seemed to have returned to his original flesh and blood.

In a trance, he couldn’t help but question whether being forced to leave his home planet by Universe Company and becoming the notorious Cosmic Pirate was just a thrilling and protracted dream.

But soon, Actus realized everything that had just happened was not a dream.

Because on the familiar train platform of his home planet, a man who should not have been there appeared.

His entire body had also undergone mechanical transformation, his arms especially had been modified to contain Light Swords.

The Cosmic Sword Saint.

That was the title people gave the man.

The Sword Saint sat beside Actus, seeming to also be waiting for the train that was about to arrive.

The Sword Saint looked relaxed, as if he had fulfilled a long-standing wish.

Feeling Actus’s gaze, the Sword Saint took the initiative to speak, "How about it? The swordsman from Blue Star."

Actus seemed to recall something.

Between launching the full-powered "Sun" and appearing at this train, something else had happened.

In the expanse of whiteness, he vaguely saw something zip past his body, and then his vision skewed as he fell backward, losing support in his lower half.

It all happened so briefly, within a matter of seconds.

The distant sound of the train about to enter the station could be heard, but Actus didn’t answer the Sword Saint’s question.

He rose from the bench and walked toward the waiting area of the platform first.

Compared to the death he had imagined, the scene before him was much more peaceful and serene; at least, he had the chance to see his home planet one last time before boarding that train.

...

"Seriously, who did you learn your swordsmanship from?"

Earth Wolf Twelve averted his gaze from the severed torso, trying to conceal his awkward emotions—just minutes ago, he had recklessly burst from cover, intending to use his own body to shield Duan Mingyuan.

Perhaps that would have been a fittingly romantic exit for an Interstellar Cowboy.

Regrettably, no sooner had he taken a step forward than Actus’s body, along with the heavy armor, fell heavily to the ground.

The scene was identical to the last time he dueled with Duan Mingyuan.

The only difference was that Duan Mingyuan, unlike last time, did not piece Actus’s broken body back together.

"Figured it out on my own."

Duan Mingyuan said, having just personally sent off Actus, the Cosmic Pirate.

As the former owner of Fortress Number, it was a dignified exit.

Defeat in a fair duel was the most honorable ending for a mighty warrior who once commanded respect.