Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 299: Reunion After a Long Separation

Chapter 299: Reunion After a Long Separation

Its design was quite simple, angular, with a recessed inverted triangular head that lit up with twelve green electronic eyes. The turbine engine on its chest spun at high speeds, distributing the reactor’s energy throughout its body. The overall lines were mostly comprised of sharp triangles, exuding a futuristic, sci-fi aesthetic.

The paint job of the mecha was simple—white with touches of yellow and black at the edges. Yet, this simple color scheme carried an inexplicable sense of oppression,

as if it were a warning.

Carrying a rifle and a shield as tall as itself, it stood alone among the ruins of the city, like a knight who still upheld justice at the end of the world.

The three pairs of huge sail-like thrusters on its back were filled with various cannons and missiles. The rocket pods on its shoulders and the twin electromagnetic railguns at its waist all testified to it being a pure war machine.

Li Aozi hovered midair, facing this nameless mecha, and asked again:

"Du Zexin, is that you?"

"...Why make Frost Plated’s colony independent?"

The only response was a cold voice that came through the broadcast:

"Aren’t you one of the Frost Plated People?"

Li Aozi scratched his chin:

"Well, I just got my green card from Red Arrow—"

Bang!

The beam rifle lifted, targeting Li Aozi’s figure.

"You’re lying to me, Li Aozi!"

With anger, Du Zexin shouted:

"You said you were acting for the benefit of the Frost Plated People, so why then would you take away our colony?!"

"Did the Third Rule send you to assassinate me?"

"Answer me, Li Aozi! Have you truly never thought of helping the Frost Plated People? You said you were also from the David Lyn Faction, and you introduced Miss Yawen to me. Were all those things... all lies?"

Li Aozi steadied himself by the waist, his face armor slowly opening to reveal his calm visage.

"I didn’t lie to you."

His tone was sincere as he threw down the weapon in his hands.

"Du Zexin, I have told many lies, but in truth, the only person I never lied to was you."

[Charisma Judgment successful, ’Du Zexin’ believed your lie.]

"Oh, Li Aozi... Li Aozi, why can you always make me believe your sweet nothings?"

Du Zexin lowered his gun but still maintained a hostile stance. He opened the cockpit of his mecha, stood in front of the massive monitor, appearing even more polished than a few months ago, with his black and white hair fluttering in the wind, dressed in the elite spy uniform of Third Rule.

His haggard face, however, was filled with distraught:

"Who... who are you really?"

"In Frost Plated, I am one of the Frost Plated People; in Red Arrow, I am one of the Red Arrow People."

"This is not the time for jokes, just tell me. I don’t want to shoot you, Li Aozi. You have helped me a lot, but you also took the colony from the Frost Plated People... I... I don’t know what you’re trying to do or how to face you."

"Why are you so strong?"

"Why do you keep changing sides?"

"Why did you know that David Lyn got captured?"

"Why did you cause such a commotion at Sky Ring?"

"If you’re not a spy for Red Arrow, I really don’t know what else could explain it."

Du Zexin looked at him with complex eyes:

"I thought we could be friends."

His tone for a moment made Li Aozi think of a little cat abandoned on a rainy day, curled up in a cardboard box, hoping for some kind soul to take it home.

However, it made sense, as after these past few months, the events surrounding Mingji Humanity, Frost Plated, and Grante had deeply disappointed Du Zexin in the nation, and Li Aozi’s actions had also left him feeling shaken.

Now, he probably didn’t even know what he was fighting for anymore.

"If you put it that way, I’d seem like a scumbag if I didn’t respond," he said.

Li Aozi shrugged and answered seriously,

"My true identity is the thirteenth narrator of the Empire of Heralds—Galaxy Civilization—Fenesis Federation’s envoy, nicknamed ’Echoer.’ I have lived on the Azure Star for over twenty years and only now have I awakened."

The corner of Du Zexin’s eye twitched: "Do you think I’m stupid?"

"Otherwise, how do you think a bank security guard like me could make such rapid progress in just a few months, becoming a powerhouse capable of killing four Gamma Rank individuals?"

Li Aozi’s statement left Du Zexin speechless.

Because what was said indeed had no logical errors.

If Li Aozi truly were from another planet, then his strength and many mysterious aspects could be explained.

However...

"Li Aozi, if you really are an alien, what are you doing all this for?"

"For you all."

"Us?"

"Yes, I like you," Li Aozi rubbed his fingers, a flame ignited at his fingertips and quickly healed as he nostalgically said, "There are people on this planet who understand me, and I think I would feel uncomfortable just watching you meet your doom."

"Are you implying—"

"Yes, exactly what you are thinking." Li Aozi looked up at Du Zexin: "This planet is about to be destroyed. I am going to the cosmos to find a way to save it."

"From the beginning, I have been working towards that. Whether it was infiltrating Mingji Humanity, coming to Sky Ring, or going to Grante, I was always searching for a way to reach the cosmos."

"Now, I have found it."

The barrier had already shattered, Li Aozi pointed to the nearby Houjo Tower:

"Under the Houjo Tower, in the Abandon Mist, there is a 1.4 billion ton hydrogen bomb."

"I plan to use that thing to blast me into space."

"That’s my plan, Du Zexin. If you still want to stop me now, then you can make your move."

As Li Aozi spoke, he waved his hand, and two weapons fell back into his palms; he cautiously faced off against Du Zexin to prevent accidentally killing him should Du Zexin decide to take action.

He knew his methods had hurt Du Zexin’s national feelings, but he had no choice; Grante was bound to be liberated sooner or later, so it might as well be him who did it early in exchange for the chance to attend this gathering.

What would Du Zexin think?

He surely thought that his own methods were terrible; as someone from the Azure Star who had never even seen the sun, he surely couldn’t understand his actions.

But that was fine because when Li Aozi first met him, they fought, and if men couldn’t talk things through, then fists were a clear way to communicate.

Yet for some reason, Li Aozi decided to trust Du Zexin.

Perhaps it was based on his own powerful "Charisma" that could convince the other, maybe because he didn’t want Du Zexin to be even more unlucky, or perhaps Li Aozi felt good about Du Zexin and did not want to further hurt him.

Above all, even though the official military forces of Sky Ring and the remaining three Gamma Rank were quickly approaching, he gave Du Zexin plenty of time to think.

However, after a long silence, Du Zexin suddenly touched his forehead, sighed, and jumped back into the cockpit.

[Indeed, he still couldn’t understand.]

A faint sense of loss welled up in Li Aozi’s heart.

If that was the case, then there was nothing more to say.

Reluctantly, he raised his blade, about to aim it at Du Zexin, but then he heard Du Zexin’s voice over the loudspeaker:

"One hydrogen bomb is not enough."