Chapter 59: The Star-Forging Dragon
Containment Zone — The Void.
"So this is a Stellaron. The power inside is indeed quite impressive," Kenji said with great interest.
A glowing golden sphere was held in place by a protective field. If it were to erupt, the entire Herta Space Station would be affected, unless Herta herself intervened. The space station was built for the very purpose of containing this inactive Stellaron, to prevent the nearby planet, Jarilo-VI, from being affected by a Stellaron disaster.
Seeing this Stellaron, Kenji had a bold idea.
"Although the Stellarons scattered throughout the universe aren't everywhere, would the Stellaron Hunters really clash with Herta over a single one?" Ruan Mei's interest in the Stellaron itself wasn't particularly high.
You should ask Elio or MiHoYo about that.
"It feels very dangerous," Furina shivered. If this Stellaron were to erupt in Teyvat, probably no one could stop it.
The Star Forger could create stars, so Kenji could now also absorb the power of stars. The Stellaron also had the word "star" in it.
In Kenji's eyes, this golden Stellaron had a use. He couldn't help but lick his lips.
VMM—
Kenji instinctively reached his hand toward the Stellaron. The field that contained it did not trigger any counter-attack or alarm.
The Stellaron seemed to sense a threat and began to resist.
Muda, muda—
Kenji grabbed the Stellaron and immediately began to refine it.
"Itadakimasu."
The phantom of a Star Dragon appeared behind Kenji—mysterious, powerful, majestic...
Furina and Ruan Mei both felt a disparity in their very beings. They felt as small and insignificant as dust.
However, the dragon phantom didn't last long. Kenji's right hand, which was holding the Stellaron, began to shimmer with starlight. The golden glow of the Stellaron, now as timid as a quail, flowed up his arm and into his body.
The power of the Dragon King was just that awesome. It directly suppressed the Stellaron's energy. A Pathstrider would never dare to absorb the power of a Stellaron like he was doing.
His review of the Stellaron's taste: average, not even as good as a Bird-Beak Toad.
The energy of the Stellaron was not pure, so when Kenji absorbed it, his body automatically discarded a large, unpalatable portion. After all, he wasn't NEO, who would eat anything and everything.
(Disclaimer: The power of the Star Forger suppresses the Stellaron. The protagonist's level of existence is no longer that of an ordinary human. Absorbing the energy of a Stellaron... there shouldn't be any problem with that, right?)
Besides ingredients, Gourmet Cells could also devour other forms of energy. For example, NEO, to a certain extent, could devour the energy of various attacks. It had devoured the energy of Jiro's Earth Knocking and Don Slime's attacks.
"He can actually absorb the power of a Stellaron?!"
Ruan Mei was shocked. She had never heard of anyone who could absorb this thing. After all, the Stellaron was known as the "Cancer of All Worlds," and it contained a great deal of harmful energy. If one were to try to refine a Stellaron, even if they weren't killed by the sheer amount of energy, their body would be contaminated.
At this moment, Kenji's consciousness seemed to enter an unknown place.
Here, there was only endless darkness and nothingness, like the beginning of the world.
The next moment, a giant star dragon, covered in starlight and the colors of the cosmos, appeared in this empty space. Its true form was too vast to be measured, too grand to be described.
Kenji's eyes widened. It was the Star Forger.
"The silence of the cosmos..."
This place of nothingness made the Star Forger feel bored and lonely. He had been born too early.
The Star Forger opened his giant, starry dragon claw, and an endless amount of stardust gathered in his palm, forming a rotating galaxy.
In an instant, a bright stellar core formed, and then it expanded violently. An endless light burst forth from the star in his palm, like a newborn star.
The giant star erupted with a terrifying light and heat, standing out in this void, illuminating the eternal emptiness.
BOOM!
Perhaps because this star had no life, the Star Forger gently squeezed his hand, and the star, which contained a terrifying amount of energy, was instantly crushed into dust and dissipated.
Kenji was shocked. For the Star Forger to crush a star... it was probably easier than for a human to crush an ant. He knew this was just the tip of the iceberg of the Star Forger's power.
The Star Forger began to create again. This time, he used Primordial Starfire, a flame from before the creation of the world, which could create and forge stars, as well as incinerate all things.
A vibrant star was born in his palm. He could feel that the Star Forger was pleased.
For countless eons, he had tirelessly created stars, crafting an endless cosmos with the heart of an artisan.
My stars shine because of all things.
Kenji watched intently.
With this 3D movie-like tutorial, he could avoid many detours. He was eager to improve.
The energy of the Stellaron had given him a certain boost, equivalent to a Capture Level of about 500. After all, he had wasted a large part of the energy in the process. The main gain was not the increase in strength, but the many images he had witnessed.
Before, he had used the Star Forger's abilities like following a formula. But now, after watching this 3D movie, he could intuitively grasp the details, which would allow him to use his abilities more smoothly. For example, before, it took him ten seconds to create a mini-planet. Now, he could do it in under three.
"Ruan Mei... and two unfamiliar beings. It seems you are the variables Elio spoke of."
Kafka and Silver Wolf arrived in the space. Seeing the people who were not in the script, their brows furrowed slightly. Not to mention Kenji and Furina, the presence of Ruan Mei, a member of the Genius Society, was completely unexpected. Great Herta hadn't appeared, but her colleague had.
"Kafka... Silver Wolf..."
Ruan Mei's calm gaze fell on the tall and short pair. It was said that Kafka could not feel fear. Was it a problem with her amygdala, or her autonomic nervous system?
As for the little one, Silver Wolf, Ruan Mei had heard of her. She had once fought against Screwllum, but that was because Screwllum hadn't been serious. The computing power of Screwllum's planet was terrifyingly immense. What adult would get angry with a child?
"You seem to know that we would come here?" Kafka asked calmly. She now suspected that Elio's script had been leaked, or that someone on the same path as Elio had intervened.
"Kafka, look... the Stellaron!" Silver Wolf's shocked voice rang out.
Kafka looked over, her brows furrowing tightly. The Stellaron in Kenji's hand seemed to have been completely drained. It had become a transparent glass sphere. The energy inside had been sucked dry.
Is this person an Emanator?
At the very least, an ordinary Pathstrider could never do such a thing.
"Hi, hello there, Kafka, and Bronya," Kenji said, opening his eyes and looking at the two with a grin. As expected of Mama Kafka, she was very... motherly. As for Silver Wolf, she could sit at the same table as Furina.
Furina, who was familiar with Kenji, retreated behind him, using him as a shield.
Kafka's expression was a little grim. The starlight that had flashed in Kenji's eyes just now had made her tremble. Although she couldn't feel fear, she could feel a kind of superior pressure.
Tsk, this one's a bit tough. A member of the Genius Society and an unknown powerhouse.
Only Furina looked easy to bully.
"I'm not Bronya (ᗜ‸ᗜ)"
Silver Wolf felt that the nickname carried a deep malice. She subconsciously looked down and could indeed see her own feet. Of the girls present, only the 500-plus-year-old Furina gave her a little comfort.
It's fine. I'm still young. I can still grow.
Silver Wolf comforted herself.
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We cross the 2200 power stone goal and as promise here the bonus chapter
Next goal 2300 power stone, good luck guys.
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