When Dan Heng saw your appearance, his imposing aura instantly receded, and his face showed obvious helplessness and worry. He looked at Stelle and March 7th, then at you, seemingly very concerned about what his friends thought. Then, he quietly explained his identity and past. Stelle and March 7th were still in shock, unsure of what to say for a moment.
At this moment, you walked up to Dan Heng, looked into his uneasy eyes, and softly said: "Who doesn't have an unknown past? It's normal, I understand you."
These words allowed the tension in Dan Heng's heart to finally relax. He looked into your sincere eyes, and the huge stone that had been weighing on his heart was finally lifted.
"Orion... thank you."
Although Stelle and March 7th hadn't fully recovered, upon hearing your words, they gradually accepted the truth. They stepped forward, and March 7th patted Dan Heng's shoulder: "No matter what you become, you're still our companion! Dan Heng of the Astral Express!"
Stelle also nodded, still a bit dazed, but followed suit and patted him: "Mm! Good partner!"
The bond of the Astral Express crew seemed to solidify at this moment. In your opinion, the tighter this string was pulled, the easier it would be for you to cut it yourself when needed.
Subsequently, Dan Heng, with his powerful Dragon Lord's strength, opened the path to the deepest roots of the Ambrosial Arbor. Everyone entered the passage together, and you walked at the very back of the group, silently watching those ahead. Just as they were about to reach their destination, Stelle, who was walking in front, suddenly turned back.
"We're almost there, Orion, you... be careful." Her voice seemed to contain too many unsaid emotions.
You smiled and nodded gently in response: "Okay, you too."
Then, you caught up with the team and walked into the depths of the passage. The sight before them made everyone gasp. A colossal figure, intertwined and fused with the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor, exuded a suffocatingly powerful pressure. She held a massive fan, and two completely different forces, Abundance and Destruction, were eerily intertwined around her.
So this is what it has become... You assessed the strength of this clone in your mind. Although it was only a result of part of your power combined with the power of Abundance, it looked quite impressive.
Battle erupted instantly. Jing Yuan and Dan Heng, as the main force, charged towards the colossal Huan Long. You, Stelle, and March 7th provided support from the periphery, clearing out the Mara-Struck and Abundance monsters that emerged from the Ambrosial Arbor, while simultaneously looking for Huan Long's weak points.
The colossal Huan Long wielded her fan, easily scattering the group's formation. She seemed to sense the strongest threat among the crowd and focused her attacks on Jing Yuan. Jing Yuan parried with Huan Long, but under the stark contrast of her massive size and immense power, he gradually fell into a disadvantage. Huan Long seized the opportunity, and the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor instantly coiled around, binding Jing Yuan tightly! Destructive energy converged in her hand, preparing to transform Jing Yuan into a Voidranger!
Jing Yuan was in crisis; however, his eyes suddenly sharpened! He activated his Divine General, and the Divine General's phantom appeared behind the colossal Huan Long, preparing to launch a desperate counterattack!
"Dan Heng, now!" Jing Yuan shouted, seizing the moment Huan Long's attention was diverted by the Divine General.
Dan Heng understood, his Dragon Lord's power pushed to its limit, just about to assist Jing Yuan!
Suddenly, a dark shadow instantly appeared behind Dan Heng!
"Who?!" Dan Heng felt the abnormality behind him, his heart jolted, instinctively wanting to dodge or counterattack, but the opponent's speed was too fast.
[Accompanied by the sound of metal piercing flesh, two cyan-green longswords, condensed from pure Heliobus energy, precisely and mercilessly pierced through Dan Heng's weapon-wielding hands!]
[Immediately after, a third and fourth sword pierced his feet, pinning him firmly to the ground!]
Stelle, March 7th, and Jing Yuan's shocked expressions froze on their faces. They looked at you in disbelief, at the longswords in your hand that had pierced Dan Heng's body.
Stelle's lips trembled, letting out a broken cry of alarm: "Orion?! You... what are you doing?!"
In her eyes, shock was quickly filled with incomprehension, as if she had seen the person she trusted most transform into a monster she had never imagined in an instant.
March 7th was equally horrified, her weapon almost slipping from her hand, she shouted: "Orion! Are you crazy?! Why!"
She couldn't understand why this always steady and reliable companion would suddenly commit such a crazy and evil act.
Jing Yuan's Divine General phantom condensed behind the colossal Huan Long, gleaming with golden light, about to launch a counterattack. But seeing Dan Heng attacked, the solidified phantom's movement paused, and anger and confusion flashed in his eyes. He sternly demanded: "Who are you?!"
You maintained your usual smile. But that smile, in everyone's eyes at this moment, appeared incredibly twisted. You did not answer Jing Yuan, but instead plunged the longswords in your hands deeper into Dan Heng's body. The movements were fluid and cruel, without the slightest hesitation.
"What? What am I doing?" You chuckled softly. Your voice was no longer the gentle and friendly one from before, but carried a chilling mockery. "Of course... completing my plan."
You looked at Dan Heng, who was staring at you in disbelief: "Sorry, Dan Heng."
"You are too dangerous; the power of the Imbibitor Lunae is a variable."
"And... this little game of ours, it's time for it to end."
These words, like the sharpest spear in the world, not only pierced Dan Heng's body but also caused Stelle and March 7th's hearts to ache intensely. They suddenly realized that all the intimacy and playfulness on the Astral Express before, those seemingly sincere smiles, were just an elaborate deception meticulously planned by you.
Stelle felt a dizzying sensation; she couldn't accept this fact. That gentle Orion, who would play with her and call her "wife," was actually such a monster? She staggered forward a step, reaching out her hand as if trying to grasp that disappearing phantom: "No... This isn't you!"
Your gaze turned to Stelle, the amusement in your eyes intensifying. It was the smugness of a prey falling into a trap, being toyed with by a predator.
"Oh? Stelle."
Your voice carried a captivating power, directly piercing into the depths of Stelle's heart. "You look very disappointed?"
"Is it because I'm not the 'boyfriend' you imagined?"
"You... you lied to me!" Stelle's eyes instantly reddened.