Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 525 - 159. Dialan’s Invitation

Chapter 525: 159. Dialan’s Invitation

"The front-line battle, I’m afraid, is more brutal than we imagined."

Li Aozi pondered for a moment before offering his perspective:

"Generally speaking, magicians need to be trained to the Zeta Rank to be useful on space battlefields. For example, controlling magic arrays, calibrating rapid-fire magic, jump support combat, confronting enemies head-on, and airborne operations, all require the Zeta Rank to be destructive."

A Zeta Rank on the Azure Star could destroy the surface; it was just a matter of time, but on a space battlefield, one person defending a line could be spaced over ten kilometers apart from their comrades, like waves, one after the other, needing to be organized to muster the strength for an assault.

"Aozi, what do you think?" Hobbs asked curiously.

"I think probably the space battlefield has already ended, and the next step is to enter the ground phase," Li Aozi speculated. "Ground wars require population; in space battles, information is more important than numbers, but on the ground, there’s no choice, when it comes to control and occupation, you have to fill the ranks with people."

"I had the same thought," Lucite said in a serious tone. "Hobbs, Aozi, you two are both Tower People. You need to pay extra attention."

Hobbs was dismissive:

"We are not registered in Trevela, so the first round of enlistment will definitely target the spellcasters in the capital area. They have the highest quality of soldiers, highly educated; with a bit of training, they’re ready for the battlefield. They also await their chance to earn military honors on the battlefield every day."

"But Karlva, our senior, he comes from a remote area," Lucite expressed his concerns. "I suspect the number of dead on the front lines exceeds imagination, honestly, we haven’t seen our upper-classmen in school since last week. Where do you think they have gone?"

"There’s no use thinking about these things," Li Aozi shook his head. "When it comes down to it, nobody can escape. The Crystal Tower won’t give up on this war, neither will the Night Butterfly Federation. For both parties, the value of Corinna Star, both politically and strategically, has far surpassed the original territorial dispute."

Besides, with so many dead now, the original conflict would have turned into a vendetta.

"Tsk, I just hope to graduate in peace..."

Hobbs clicked his tongue and picked up his coffee, taking a sip. Li Aozi glanced over and noticed something off about the ring on Hobbs’ left middle finger.

"Hobbs, did you change your ring?"

Li Aozi pointed at the other’s white ring:

"How come I remember you used to wear a black one?"

"Eh? Did I?"

Hobbs glanced at his hand, his face changing slightly as Li Aozi immediately caught the panic in his eyes.

"Ah, looks like it’s a low-quality product that’s lost its color."

Hobbs waved his hand nonchalantly.

"Hey, it’s nothing. When you come to our planet, I’ll get you a black pearl for a ring."

"Wow, as expected of Lucite, a really awesome friend."

Li Aozi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Hobbs was pretending to be calm; such acting might fool Lucite, who was straightforward in his thinking, but in front of Li Aozi, who was seasoned in the arts of deception, it was like an amateur playing a trick.

[I’ve been curious... What kind of gear emits spiritual power? I’ve played games for so long and never heard of such a thing.]

While everyone has their secrets, Li Aozi was still quite concerned.

If that thing was alive, he needed to be cautious and prevent it from harming his few friends.

Li Aozi was contemplating how to borrow Hobbs’ ring for a closer look when suddenly, he noticed the other two had gone quiet and were giving him a strange look.

"Hmm?"

Li Aozi was taken aback and touched his face, then realized that Lucite and Hobbs were not looking at him, but past him, toward what was behind.

Li Aozi couldn’t make heads or tails of it, so he simply turned his head and immediately met a pair of radiant golden eyes.

The Dragon Titan Emperor Yalan was standing right behind him, still radiating an unapproachable and noble coldness.

"Oh, Classmate Yalan, good afternoon,"

Li Aozi bore no ill will toward the Dragon Titan. The True Dragon’s majestic presence had a completely different effect on him, who harbored Arcane Energy of a powerful Bloodline. He even found her somewhat endearingly out of place when he saw her eating vigorously in the cafeteria last time.

Yalan watched him closely, took a brief moment to assess, and then spoke,

"You have been promoted to Delta Rank."

"Sort of," shrugged Li Aozi, glancing at her before replying, "Haven’t you been promoted to Delta Rank as well? When did that happen?"

"Yesterday," said Yalan. "In our first year, there are four at Delta Rank, and with you, five."

"Mhm, that’s pretty good." Seeing that Yalan wasn’t there for small talk, Li Aozi got straight to the point and asked, "Is there something you need from me?"

"I want to enter Professor Queltana’s workshop."

"Queltana!" Hobbs exclaimed in surprise, "That’s a professor of a family belonging to the highest council, with unlimited prospects."

"Professor Queltana’s ’Guiye Workshop’ is the school’s second-largest workshop. It’s not only adept at theoretical magic but can also uncover the power within one’s Bloodline," Yalan explained. "But Professor Queltana is an eccentric character, and she only accepts pairs of partners, working together in twos."

"Er, let me think..."

Li Aozi tentatively asked,

"Are you saying that you want to invite me to be your partner?"

"Mhm," Yalan nodded.

"May I ask why me? If it’s about hierarchy, aren’t there three other Delta Ranks?"

"The other three Delta Ranks have already been beaten by me. They are too weak to keep up with me."

Yalan looked at Li Aozi and pulled out an Information Rune from her pocket:

"If you’re free recently, fight me. I want to test your strength—don’t worry, I won’t let you fight for nothing, 20 school credits."

Li Aozi had been inclined to refuse, thinking it too much trouble, but at the mention of credits, he immediately nodded,

"Deal, I’m free tomorrow afternoon."

"Good," Yalan nodded. "You’re the only one so cooperative with me, thank you."

Without any further ado, Yalan turned and left.

"Hey, Oz, you’re not really going to fight her, are you?" Hobbs patted Li Aozi’s shoulder, saying anxiously, "The Golden Princess is really harsh when she fights. If you treat her like a regular Mage, you’re going to suffer a lot."

"Exactly, you can’t just take anyone’s credits because you need them," Lucite’s mouth twitched. "That woman, when she first enrolled, without distinction, struck me and Beizhong Gui Ming. Our hefty and strong bodies of the Xilus Clan, she could inflict serious injuries with just a slap..."

"No need to worry, I have my own judgement. If I can’t win, I’ll just surrender,"

said Li Aozi casually.

It just so happened he hadn’t been in a fight lately, and over on the Azure Star, Isaac’s persona had been active by itself, with intermittent visits by him for learning—it had left him itching for some action.

"It’s also time to test the fruits of my study."