Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 222 - 044. Resigned to Death

Chapter 222: 044. Resigned to Death

As the ages shifted, the technology on Azure Star steadily regressed. Governors dressed more and more plainly as they reverted to using prosthetic technologies, replacing their own skeletons with titanium alloys and their lungs with carbon fiber lobes in an attempt to extend their lives. However, it was to no avail, and each generation of governors was always succeeded by the eldest son of Duke Gamos.

Duke Gamos himself gradually became less affectionate with his children, initially casually resting a hand on the governor’s shoulder, later sitting with arms folded to the side, and eventually, he stopped showing up altogether. His expression worsened over time, just as his physical health visibly declined, becoming hunched and decayed, with his muscles atrophying and his eyes growing profoundly cloudy.

Over three hundred years, so many people and events changed, yet Duke Gamos kept gasping for life, constantly manipulating the nation behind his sons’ backs. Later, he even stopped dealing with government affairs, turning instead to obsequiously appeasing the Frost Plated People, with more and more devices crafted from Frost Plating on his body.

His life, like that of a Divine Emperor, was sustained by the blood and sweat of the people of Grante, the civilians of Grante.

Ms. Alicxia arrived at the final gate. The duke’s guards retreated behind the door, preparing for their last stand there.

"This is it, the Flame King Hall," Amanda said. "The ancient sovereigns discussed state affairs here, leading the nation towards prosperity. Gamos has destroyed all of this, including the just deeds of the Wise Kings, turning it into a mouthpiece for his unilateral actions."

Her words were full of resentment. The people of Grante had endured for 300 years, during which no matter how they struggled or fought, they could never receive the treatment they deserved. The economy was in ruins, lacking its own industrial system, and everything they earned through hard work was exploited by the Frost Plated People.

Such an era needed to end.

"You take control of the palace."

"What do you mean by this, Ms. Alicxia—"

"I can handle the enemies inside alone," Ms. Alicxia calmly and confidently said, "Rather than wasting troops here, it’s better to clear the dangers at the Sulut Palace. Honestly speaking—in front of the Gamma Phase, you’re just marching to your deaths."

Amanda was speechless; she had witnessed Ms. Alicxia’s abilities, easily killing two allegedly invincible Third Rule Agents without even breaking a sweat.

Moreover, Ms. Alicxia was genuinely a straightforward and sincere person; even though her directness could be hurtful, Amanda and the others, after exchanging looks, could only relent.

They could not ignore the ominous and lethal aura seeping from within the Flame King Hall;, that presence seemed to awaken an intrinsic fear of natural predators deep within their genes, coupled with a kind of trembling of the soul. Some were trembling uncontrollably just standing outside the door.

In addition, not long ago Bemudes’s warriors had attempted an airborne attack to assassinate the duke, and that entire team perished, including many from the Alpha Stage. They did not consider themselves significantly stronger than those daredevil squads.

To claim they were not afraid would be a lie.

Ms. Alicxia actually gave them a way out, and the Alpha Stage assassination teams unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. Despite not fearing death, when actually facing someone from the Gamma Phase, the physiological discomfort was something neither human will nor psyche could overcome.

The warriors of Bemudes felt somewhat ashamed, perceiving their own weaknesses and frailty, they dared not raise their eyes to Ms. Alicxia.

"Please be careful," Amanda kindly said, not wanting her subordinates to die in vain.

Although Ms. Alicxia was a great help to the people of Grante, she was still an outsider. Everyone felt that outsiders couldn’t compare to their compatriots.

The people of Grante had already sacrificed too much in their resistance against the duke, with countless families shattered and lives lost. She couldn’t bear to see her team members die, especially in such a pointless way.

"Don’t worry."

Ms. Alicxia picked up the communicator, indicating that Li Aozi would act with her.

Only then did Amanda relax, leading her Alpha Stage warriors to disperse and clear the enemies at the Sulut Palace.

As Amanda’s silhouette disappeared, Ms. Alicxia still did not proceed to activate the communicator to call Li Aozi.

According to the plan, she was supposed to contact Li Aozi for a coordinated action.

But she could feel an extremely terrifying force behind the door. Even in the old era of the Yamiriko Federation, such a presence was a pinnacle of the food chain, a troublesome existence for the entire Federation.

The sensation was chilling to the bone; merely sensing it momentarily caused one to tremble involuntarily, and the closer one’s strength was to that level, the clearer Ms. Alicxia understood the terror of that existence.

’...This battle was originally none of your concern, I truly admire you, Alic—Elise.’

Li Aozi’s words echoed in her ears.

Alicxia’s gaze shifted as she murmured softly,

"This is definitely my concern, Aozi."

Although the handsome groom seemed nice and appeared very strong, he still lacked the ability to step into this battle.

Rather, the moment he would enter this domain, he would surely be overwhelmed by the Duke’s life tier directly.

As Alicxia, who was approaching this level, she knew all too well the terror of that level known as ’Gamma Phase,’ to such an extent that even this planet could neither restrain nor tolerate such an existence.

Li Aozi, even the team members of Alpha Stage, had no power to confront the enemy.

’Although I cannot defeat him, dying together is still no problem.’

In this world, things that were once beautiful had perished, but hope also emerged. People could not see the sun, yet they still longed for happiness and light, and idealists struggled for it.

She had already seen the vision five hundred years later and recognized the future groom—a young man with regular features and extraordinary charm.

Five hundred years ago, the leaders and scientists of the Yamiriko Federation told her, ’Alicxia, you are too outstanding, no one in this era deserves you.’

They left behind a selection mechanism called the ’Huang Dujuan Blood Pact,’ a complex battery of tests including ideological state, political stance, intelligence testing, and psychological characteristics, attempting to select the most suitable match to pair with her, the ’Bride from the Past.’

As for the purpose—there was no particular purpose, other than the Federation believed that every citizen should have the most suitable partner so that they could live happily and harmoniously, and society would also become more stable.

Unfortunately, five hundred years later, compared to him, Alicxia felt she again did not deserve him.

If one said she was too naive, yet her actual age was too great, carrying outdated ideas, far from youthful and beautiful; if one said she was too old, her mind was yet not mature enough, and she could not yet be a wife who could bear the family’s responsibilities.

Alicxia’s mindset was very serene.

Her homeland had been buried in the river of history, her heart had also died with the nation; only the harrowing words of oppression and injustice reignited her faith and anger, motivating Alicxia to continue the fight in this bleak era, five hundred years later.

She had witnessed how Duke Gamos, a ghost from the old era, had become disheartened and numbingly indifferent—and Alicxia was very aware that she herself was not far from the Gamma Phase either.

Indeed, if it meant becoming a zombie-like being, living in pain, Alicxia would rather follow her homeland and exit this era, leaving everything to the people of the present.

As long as, next, she used her remaining life to pass down the spirit of Yamiriko; no, not the spirit of Yamiriko, but the ingrained, indomitable longing for the new world in people’s bones.

She put down the communicator, choosing not to call out to Li Aozi.

’Sorry, Li Aozi, you should find a better, prettier bride who suits this era more.’

Alicxia lifted her head and placed her hand on The Gate, slowly pushing it open.

"Let’s go."

Screech——

The Gateway opened slowly, and six guards of Beta Rank from the Duke immediately looked up and launched a sudden attack on her.