Outside the command-deck viewport, the starfield looked like a cosmic meat-grinder. Swarms of Antimatter Legion warships spat beams of annihilation, igniting and shredding the station's fragile defense fleet like paper torches. Farther out, the titanic Doomsday Beasts—each the size of a planetary fragment—carved lethal corridors through the screaming metal with every swipe of a claw or exhalation of breath. Hiroki felt as if an ice block had been shoved into his chest.
The station master's naive, starry-eyed declaration now sounded like a child stubbornly defying an oncoming flash flood.
Protect the station? This wasn't the cozy "starter village" he remembered! The enemy fleet and the number of Doomsday Beasts were more than enough to grind the entire station into cosmic dust.
One thought alone filled his mind: run!
Fortunately, it wasn't a dead end.
In the original story, the Stellaron Express would arrive at the station right after the protagonist quartet met; they would definitely board the train.
He and his group could simply hitch a ride with Asta and escape—no big deal.
"No, Miss Asta," Hiroki snapped, voice rising with finality, trying to knock some sense into this hot-headed heiress. "The enemy outside far exceeds our estimates! Doomsday Beasts roam like reapers, the Legion's armada blots out the stars! With the station's pitiful forces? We can't hold it—it's a mantis trying to stop a chariot!" He rapped the console for emphasis, eyes boring into her. "With our current strength, getting you out alone is already pushing our luck—we're betting everything we have!"
"Then I'm not leaving!" Asta spun round, pink braids whipping in a defiant arc. Despite her small frame she stood ram-rod straight, eyes bright as sparks. "I'm the station master! Ms. Herta's life's work, everyone's effort—I won't abandon Herta Space Station!" Her voice trembled yet carried a tragic stubbornness. "I'll live or die with the station!"
Live or die with it? Hiroki felt blood surge to his skull. This pink-haired princess's thought process spiked his blood pressure just like that honey-skinned girl back then! Sis, outside are fleets and beasts that can crush planets—what will you fight them with? Your pocket-money for buying star-destroyers?
While his mind ranted, his plan stayed ice-clear: find the Stellaron Express! It was the only chance his people had to survive. Escort Asta aboard and use that legendary train to punch through the blockade—the only way out.
Words couldn't breach the wall called "idealism"; Hiroki's patience hit zero.
"…What a shame," he sighed, yet a cold smile tugged at his lips. His gaze slid to the dark-skinned youth who'd been standing behind Asta—battered, breathing hard, but still coiled like wire. "Looks like we'll have to get rough." The instant the words left his mouth it became a signal.
The young man named Alan—the security captain who'd guarded Asta since the elevator doors first opened—lurched forward on his injured leg, reflexively throwing himself between her and danger, building one last wall of flesh and blood. That devotion and vigilance reminded Hiroki of a certain "little sidekick," tightening the screws on his already frayed nerves.
"Tch." Hiroki didn't hide the disgust in his eyes, as if the sight offended some deep aesthetic rule. "In the way. I hate dark skin." His extreme preference for pale complexions surfaced at the worst moment. "Shisui, do it. Put her to 'sleep' with a genjutsu—no injuries."
"Yes, sir." Uchiha Shisui stepped forward; the Mangekyo Sharingan flared open. Within crimson pupils the tomoe spun faster than sight, and the power to twist reality—Kotoamatsukami—prepared to settle silently over Asta.
At that razor-thin instant— "Wait!" Asta's terrified voice sliced through the forming illusion. She realized what was coming; her small face went white. Yet the instinct of a rich young lady took over. A single word—louder, cruder, and precisely aimed at Hiroki's weakest spot—burst out with her ragged breath: "I'll pay more!!"
Ding! The system's chime rang like both angelic music and a death knell inside Hiroki's skull: "Bonus mission points increased: 500,000!"
Five... five hundred thousand!!! Hiroki felt as if an invisible hand had seized his heart, twisted it, then punched it again. A violent spasm spread from his chest, almost blacking him out. That astronomical sum of points was within arm's reach! The key to unlock that mysterious shop was practically in the lock! Everything inside—divine weapons, cultivation manuals, even the capital to stand against the entire Soul Society?!
A sour mix of ecstasy, greed, and suffocating frustration surged up, clogging his throat. He could almost see a glittering river of points slipping through his fingers. System… he wailed inwardly, teeth aching. You think I don't want to earn that five hundred thousand?! But my strength won't allow it! Outside is a star-destroying legion! What am I supposed to fight them with, my head?!
As if hearing his blood-soaked complaint, the long-silent, good-for-nothing… "Ding!" The system spoke again, this time with a hint of… belated kindness? "System prompt: you still have one first-mission exclusive gift pack (novice only) waiting to be claimed."
A nameless rage flared. "Damn it, System! Are you trying to steal my gift?! Do you even get a commission?!" Hiroki erupted, roaring in his mind. Mentioning the pack now? This scammer did it on purpose!
The system replied coldly, "Host's assumption incorrect. The pack was issued at binding and remains valid; you simply never claimed it." Precise and merciless.
"…Anything else?" Hiroki asked, voice trembling in a last gasp.
"Confirmed. Only the novice pack."
"…"
Heart bleeding, body shaking—half a million almost lost, now a (possibly rigged) pie fell from the sky. He squeezed his eyes shut and grated, "…Claim!"
"Ding! Claim successful! Congratulations, host, for obtaining the limited item: 'Special Edition Taixu Divine Sword – Divine Essence'!"
"Special edition?" Hiroki froze, a bad premonition rising.
"Please check the description yourself."
He sank into the system space and yanked open the panel:
'Special Edition Taixu Divine Sword – Divine Essence'
Effect: consumes all of the wielder's energy to unleash one Envoy-level conceptual strike, powerful enough to shatter stars and annihilate laws.
Limit (mission only): one-time, uncontrollable release. Cooldown: 24 standard stellar hours (1 day).
Scarlet warning: after draining all power, the user enters extreme weakness; duration depends on base physique. Ensure a safe release environment or reliable guards. Use only in life-or-death moments!
Envoy-level?! Ecstasy exploded like thunder in his mind. That name—this description—power beyond his wildest imagination! Little Aizen dares covet my throne?! Hahaha—die!!
The sudden surge of might swept away every trace of grievance and despair. Confidence and delusions of grandeur filled him. "Um… respected sir?" Station Master Asta's cautious voice tugged him back. Her tone carried awe; the earlier clash and Alan's tension had shown her how unfathomable this mercenary leader was.
"A-hem…" Hiroki wiped the manic glee off his face, straightened, and, with a look of reluctant enlightenment, intoned gravely, "A-hem…"
He drew out his words, appearing reluctant. "Since Station Master Asta feels such deep, inseparable responsibility for the Herta Space Station… very well!" He waved a magnanimous hand. "For the sake of your dedication, I'll make an exception and accept the additional mission to protect the station!"
"Really? Truly?!" Stars blazed in Asta's eyes; her small face overflowed with joy. "Thank you so much, Mr. Hiroki! The station… the station is saved!" she babbled, overjoyed.
"Mm." He gave a reserved nod and began issuing orders. This new power was his ace—and his shackles: usable only once, and afterwards he'd be useless! "Izumi!" he barked. "You stay glued to Miss Asta. Guarantee her absolute safety—priority one!"
"Yes, sir!" Uchiha Izumi and several elite Uchiha answered in unison, forming an unbreakable ring around her.
Hiroki turned to the shadow at his side: "Shisui, with me!"
"As you command!"
Without hesitation the two flashed away, racing like a gale toward the passage leading out of the core area.