Chapter: 53. X-Class Ultimate Masterpiece
Accompanied by the shock waves generated by the spatial jump, the night sky seemed to tear open, and several star-shaped warplanes suddenly materialized in the high altitude.
The fuselage reflected the starlight, its contours sharp, with the thrusters still emitting brief magical flames.
Following closely, a gigantic spaceship leaped out from the sky.
The ship was wide and enormous like an aircraft carrier but constructed more compactly, with clean lines. The emblem of the Star Academy was prominently displayed on its metallic shell—a deep blue star insignia that stood out, and on this aircraft carrier was loaded the strongest team of psychics from the Star Academy: the “X-Class Psychics.”
The spaceship slowly descended, hovering in the air above the target area.
On the distant sea surface, an isolated island was continuously releasing unstable magical fluctuations; it was the hidden base of the Stellar Society.
“Spatial jump completed; the target is on that island.”
Inside the ship, in the command cabin.
A man in uniform reported to the leader standing in the center.
This was the core tactical hub of the bridge, with three walls consisting of large tactical screens displaying real-time topography, air routes, and signal detection maps.
A translucent tactical projection floated in the central area, showing the island’s topography modeled via infrared scanning, with a red dot flashing at its center.
That was the location of “Tiancheng Reinlight.”
Beneath the projection’s glow, a girl stood quietly in the center of the command room.
She had striking platinum long hair that drew attention, and her fair face featured delicate, three-dimensional features. Her profile lines were cold and sharp, and her expression was calm, exuding undeniable coldness and confidence. She wore the Star Academy’s white uniform, the fitted design outlining her slender yet curvy figure.
Her ruby-like eyes quietly watched the red dot on the projection map, creating a sense of overwhelming focus and authority.
“Captain Yangxiang, please give the order to strike.” A man, also dressed in a white uniform, stepped forward and said, “There’s no doubt that a fierce battle is taking place on the island, and Professor Tiancheng may be in life-threatening danger at any moment.”
Upon hearing this, the girl—Yangxiang Mana—slightly turned her face.
Purple-black starlight was speckled like stars in her crimson eyes.
This was the influence of the “X-Class” program; to become an X-Class psychic, she had actively sought out the modeling light after her childhood friend died and willingly accepted the “Fragment of Doom”—in an era when everyone feared the Fragment of Doom, she was a rare contrarian.
Having exceptionally entered the Star Academy, she was no longer the green and naive psychic she once was. After gaining the modeling light and the training of the X program, Mana was now the captain among the X-Class psychics.
In other words, she was at the pinnacle of psychics, except for the S-Class.
“Which faction is battling the remnants of the Stellar Society on the island?”
Mana responded coldly.
The man under the gaze of her ruby-like crimson eyes felt immense pressure and seemingly uncontrollably opened his mouth to answer:
“According to the communication number and magical reaction, it should be the ‘Special Operations Team Against Doom’ from the Moon Academy.”
“…Led by an S-Class from the Moon Academy—”
“Exactly, led by the S-Class Black Flame King. Although it’s unclear how they found Professor Tiancheng, it’s evident they are currently engaged in combat with the Stellar Society…” the man added.
However, Mana clearly noticed something was amiss.
The “Special Operations Team Against Doom” appearing there meant that the man must also be present.
But at that moment, the data received from the projection wall indicated that intense fighting was happening in the island’s center.
“Yuejian Kanade, what are you doing…” Mana’s gaze became sharper, obviously dissatisfied or irritated with that man’s performance.
—Is this a small matter you plan to mess up again?
Mana turned around and ordered the others in the command room:
“Team A, follow me to breach the Stellar Society’s base; Team B, stay behind to protect the ship; Team C, form a siege on the island, and don’t let anyone escape—”
After Mana led the X-Class psychic team out of the command room.
The middle-aged man serving as deputy commander on-site pulled out a terminal from his pocket, which displayed commands from the modeling light and more detailed intelligence.
However, he found himself puzzled:
【Since you don’t want the captain to discover the real target, why let her lead the team from the very beginning?】
【No, Yangxiang is currently one of the most trusted psychics by those old-timers at the Star Academy. Her involvement makes the failure of this operation more convincing.】
The modeling light replied.
Yet, the chat records of both people were erased from the network data world by an invisible hand before even three seconds had passed.
This made the man realize once again the power of the system.
If he were involved—even if it meant keeping the captain in the dark, this secret operation could succeed.
However, the subsequent order from the modeling light disrupted the man’s plans.
Originally, their only task of keeping it from the captain was to “rescue Professor Tiancheng and fail,” but now the order given by the modeling light was—
【Kill all individuals currently on the island.】
From this command, the man sensed the urgency and unease of the modeling light.
This made him curious—
What could exist on that island that would provoke such a reaction from the modeling light?
—————–
In the mist.
After Shirakuro saw through DD-chan’s illusion and arrived before Nagi and DD-chan.
Nagi’s brain was racing.
After catching a glimpse of Shirakuro’s figure from the corner of her eye, she quickly signaled DD-chan—a gesture to treat her as a hostage.
Should it be said that DD-chan was quite adept at cooperating with her?
DD-chan understood immediately.
Though it had considerable doubts about this order, its body reflexively obeyed Nagi’s command.
It swiftly appeared behind Nagi, controlling its trembling right hand as it carefully placed it on the latter’s neck.
DD-chan worked hard to keep its expression calm, resembling a demon holding an innocent girl hostage rather than a pitiful creature being captured by a suspected carbon-based organism.
“Indeed, you vile monster are despicable for using ordinary people as hostages—”
The performance seemed to have passed muster.
Noticing this, Nagi quickly took advantage of the cover of the mist, whispering softly in a voice only DD-chan could hear:
“(Next, you will repeat my words.)”
Having thought through the recent situation, Nagi had roughly pieced together what was happening.
As one of the parties involved, she had witnessed the scene in the laboratory tonight and inferred from various details that the “β system” had been designed by the modeling light, and the arrival of new era fantasy demons proved that the β system was now online.
In this way.
The Stellar Society’s actions tonight were evidently a trap.
They had become pawns used by the modeling light—Nagi was certain of this, as in her previous state, to ensure the β system went online, she might have employed similar means to sacrifice the Stellar Society and Tiancheng Reinlight.
“Now is not the time for battle.” DD-chan forced itself to remain calm, trying to exhibit a serious and solemn expression as it repeated Nagi’s words.
“Our actions tonight have completely fallen into someone else’s trap; the β system is now online.”
“…What?”
Upon hearing this, Shirakuro involuntarily retorted.
Though he suspected this was a delaying tactic, there was currently no good solution available.
The Ms. Amane he brought along had unexpectedly fallen into the other party’s hands.
From the perspective of the Special Circumstances SEMAs and the three major academies.
Compared to the life of an ordinary psychic, it was clear that priority should be given to the safety of heavyweight figures like Professor Tiancheng.
However.
When Shirakuro met the girl’s gaze.
An uncontrollable feeling surged within him, as if something was demanding that he must not let her come to harm.
It was the first time Shirakuro felt this “must not neglect her” sensation.
As a psychic who had always fought on the front lines, he had always believed in his “intuition.”
Therefore, at this moment, he could only hold his ground against the fantasy demon before him.
