Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 271 - 091. The ring is rotating_2

Chapter 271: 091. The ring is rotating_2

"This thing, it gave me the capital to step into the Gamma Phase," Mirror said. "But at the same time, it’s eroding me."

"Ersha has the effect of catalyzing human evolution—or rather, it accelerates human time," Arkannu touched his chin. "You’re lucky, Ersha didn’t turn you into a monster, instead, it granted you superpowers. The Anaerobes weren’t so fortunate—when we found him, he had already been turned by Ersha into a block full of branches and tentacles, eerily floating in midair... We used an antimatter bomb from the old era to eliminate him, you should feel lucky."

"Answer my question, teacher."

Mirror looked up at the other person:

"Do you want to go to space?"

"No," Arkannu shook his head. "I don’t want to, not at all. I was born in the Outer World and I want to die here. My ancestors have already borne enough burdens. Now, I just want to stay here and quietly meet my end—but I know you won’t be satisfied with the status quo."

"You’re right, teacher."

"You want to go to space?"

"No, I want to rescue Gretto, and then, send a Red Arrow Person into space."

"Give me the Ether Elixir."

Mirror reached out his hand toward him:

"I need strength. I need to obtain the power that can save the world. I’m not strong enough yet. If I can accomplish this, the entire Azure Star might just have a chance to see the sun."

"Mirror, you’ve grown up."

Looking at Mirror’s determined eyes, Arkannu was greatly moved. He showed a relieved expression, nodded, and chuckled:

"Well said, but I won’t give it to you."

Mirror’s expression faltered, "Teacher—"

"You don’t understand, Mirror," Arkannu looked at him complexly. "Ether is more dangerous and terrifying than Ersha. If you don’t want to betray humanity, then you should never touch it. That’s what my ancestors told me."

"...Do you really believe in that ethereal legend?" Mirror spread his hands, furrowing his brows. "Society... Professionals... Citizens... The Jury... Senators and the Speaker... You can’t really believe that a ’living civilization’ exists, can you?"

"Mirror, since you believe in the existence of the sun and universe, you should understand that if there truly is a universe, given its vastness, anything could happen. Whether Azure Star will nurture life or if there are living civilizations, rampaging like monsters across the cosmos."

Arkannu took off the graphics card cooler from his neck, placed it on the bed, and shook his head, saying:

"Nightingale’s ancestors were great people. They knew the reasons for all this, but before they could leave any information, that entity known as ’Society’ destroyed him. After Ersha swept across the land, we even forgot our own civilization, not to mention that hidden message—I only know that Ether is the source of that societal entity."

"Gray’s ancestor—he bragged a lot about ’Gandok Nightingale’ when he was a child, didn’t he?" Mirror sneered. "He’s someone from five hundred years ago. We don’t even know if he existed. His parents might have indulged him, but why would you believe such rumors, teacher?"

"I don’t know, Mirror, but I just believe," Alcardo said with a bitter smile. "Ether is an extremely precious existence, but the pure Ether Elixir is toxic to humans. Perhaps you could survive the poison of Ether, letting your blood be filled with powerful and mysterious energy, but I don’t want you to die."

As he spoke, he took out a medicine vial as thick as a finger from his bosom, inside which a clear silver-white liquid peacefully floated, never dispersing or decomposing despite shaking, always maintaining the steadiness of mercury.

"This is the Ether Elixir," Alcardo said. "If I open it here, it could kill everyone on this ship. I’m not joking. I am also a victim of its poison, narrowly surviving. However, the price is that 97% of my tissues were replaced with prosthetics. If you’re not worthy, you’ll not only die, but your death will be utterly gruesome."

Mirror said, "I know."

He stared at the other person and said:

"Ersha is not as terrifying as Ether, for Society can enslave your soul through Ether. You might become a puppet and some sort of resource, to be arbitrarily manipulated and used by those high-ranking Speakers and Senators in society—this is more humiliating and painful than destruction."

Mirror nodded, "I know."

"You don’t know! Even if you survive by a hair’s breadth, paying a heavy price, you will encounter more problems—and, you will no longer be human, no longer an ’Assassin’—but a monster known as a ’Professional.’ Poison Blood will flow through your veins, you will become part of society, your thoughts will be distorted, believing society is your mother, your creator, your soul, and conscience all corrupted! You won’t be yourself anymore, just a tool!"

Mirror stepped forward, "I know."

"Did you even listen to what I said?!" Arkannu was furious, "Your death will be worthless, and when you die, mortals won’t remember you anymore, understand? Gretto, and even your friends, they will completely forget you! Your existence will be erased as if it were pencil marks erased by an eraser!"

"I will die someday, teacher."

Even upon hearing such a heavy price, the look in Narrow Space Mirror’s eyes remained steadfast:

"I am willing, to become a Professional."

——————————

Upon returning to Nuliang City, Li Aozi intentionally walked on the streets, ostentatiously letting people know he was around in prominent places in Nuliang City.

The appearance of Li Aozi soon caused a stir among the People of Sky Ring, and the beta testers, who had been looking for Li Aozi, quickly sensed the gathering crowds and rushed over.

Although the beta testers did not have access to internal data and training like the military players, they had the advantage of professional teams’ guidance and training, which made the game easy to handle, knowing that the soul figure in the promotional video—[Sovereign] series tutor Li Aozi had arrived, they were eager to try and shift their occupation to [Mutant].

Li Aozi’s charm was too powerful; he stayed at a square for a while, idly browsing the forum, quickly drawing countless citizens of Sky Ring to watch.

"Please give me an autograph!"

"You are so beautiful, please let me be your dog."

"Are you, the superhuman Li Aozi who famously defeated the Frost Plated Air Force? It’s really you! Please accept this small token of my appreciation."

Soon, the gifts around Li Aozi had piled up into high walls. He also interacted enthusiastically with the ordinary citizens and passersby fans, fiercely boosting his public favorability.

"Really now." Some citizens couldn’t help but mutter as they saw how approachable Li Aozi was: "Frost Plated’s propaganda is utterly vile. How could such a beautiful and gentle person possibly orchestrate a massacre?"

"I don’t believe Li Aozi would do such a thing. It takes two to tango; it’s clearly that humanitarian organization that’s dirty—Frost Plated People should really reflect on what they did wrong to push such a good person like Li Aozi to the other side. It must be Frost Plated’s fault!"

"A beautiful appearance is a rare resource; even if he really did commit a massacre, what of it? Dying by a beauty’s hand is their honor."

"My God, he’s like a god of beauty. I’ve forgotten that I’m a man. For me, Li Aozi is the only goal worth pursuing for the rest of my life."

As Li Aozi was enchanting and increasing his public favorability, within the view of the [Eye of Truth], he also spotted a player identified as ’Bai Ri - Night Owl God.’

Li Aozi was delighted:

"Hah, it’s not in vain that I’ve been standing here so long—the big guild has come knocking."

The Bai Ri Guild is a very famous large guild and studio in Fiery Summer, with thousands of enforcers, deputies, and salespeople under their command, making it a ready-made pigpen.

"Now, there’s a big score to make."