Chapter: 54. Contact with X-Class
At the other end of the Earth, beneath the desert.
The Alpha System is flickering with white light, a sign of its contemplation.
Even though the Stars Association’s island is shrouded in the Mist Domain, the Alpha System still keeps track of the conversation between the Twelfth Lang and the fantasy monster through the communicator on his body.
However, it is evident that its greater concern at this moment is the black-haired girl who has been taken hostage by the fantasy monster.
The soul fluctuation she just exhibited almost made the Alpha and its projections believe in her identity—”The End.”
In the hall, whether it’s the projections or the cadres of the Crimson Cross, they have already vanished, leaving only a few researchers documenting certain records nearby.
They did not rush to the scene immediately.
Because if they were to face The End as an enemy, a long-range attack would be the rational choice.
In geostationary orbit, a silver-white satellite is quietly hovering, its surface reflecting the Earth’s blue light like polished metal, with clear and sharp structural outlines.
This is the space-based orbital weapon codenamed “Heaven’s Judgment”—jointly developed by the Special Circumstances Agency and the three major academies, equipped with extraordinary items that allow it to wield the devastating force of “elemental fusion.”
At this moment, the satellite has been fully controlled by the Alpha System.
Alpha’s system instructions leap within the satellite, calculating line by line, the silent thrusters emit a faint blue ion tail, adjusting angles and posture.
The rotation speed of the satellite is gradually decreasing, merely to ensure that the Earth’s rotation brings the target island into its precise targeting range.
All life around the Stars Association base is facing the final countdown.
—————–
In the mist.
Having gone through Nagi’s reasoning, DD-chan and the Twelfth Lang have completely shared their information.
They have also realized that their actions tonight, in a sense, are a piece of the puzzle orchestrated by the mastermind behind the scenes.
Their entanglement and predicament at this moment are precisely what the mastermind wishes to see.
Although Twelfth Lang’s face still carries a look of suspicion, Nagi’s intuition tells her that he has already grasped the stakes involved.
So she signals for DD-chan to release her to show that she means no harm.
Seeing this, DD-chan sighs inwardly, thinking: Sure enough, I am the one being taken hostage.
However, just as it was about to let go.
Twelfth Lang suddenly turned around, facing the thick mist, and spoke softly:
“If I hadn’t noticed you quietly approaching, I really wouldn’t have believed their words—”
As he spoke, he raised the weapon in his hand, his tone growing increasingly cold:
“If it weren’t for the alleged existence of the β system, how did you find your way here?”
“As far as I know, the X-Class abilities of the Astral Academy have no relevant abilities, and we should have received news about any assistance from other parties.”
Nagi and DD-chan also looked in surprise at what was behind Twelfth Lang.
Without Twelfth Lang’s reminder, the two of them might not have even noticed the movements of the others hiding in the mist.
With Twelfth Lang’s words, multiple footsteps suddenly echoed from within the fog.
Emerging are ability users dressed in uniforms identical to Nagi’s, but their uniforms bear more exquisite patterns, clearly distinguishing their status as “elite ability users” from that of the “student” Nagi.
“Mr. Twelfth Lang.”
The leader of the ability user squad spoke in a low voice:
“As the vice-captain of the Moon Academy’s ‘Special Squad for The End,’ do you really intend to believe the words of the fantasy monsters?”
The leader’s gaze didn’t remain solely on Twelfth Lang as he spoke.
For some reason.
The girl standing behind Twelfth Lang at that moment exuded an incredible “attraction.”
Indeed.
She was an extraordinary beauty.
In his forty-plus years of life, he had never seen such a beautiful and adorable girl.
Yet, this was the first time he felt so flustered.
Was it because he noticed the leader’s gaze?
Twelfth Lang slightly shifted his body to completely shield Nagi behind him.
In response to the question, Twelfth Lang’s expression remained unchanged as he replied coldly:
“So I ask you why you are here—‘Mr. Answering a Question with a Question’?”
Twelfth Lang’s hostility showed no signs of lessening.
He had desperately hoped that they would provide a reasonable explanation, such as installing a hidden tracker on Professor Tiancheng or employing some extraordinary item from the Astral Academy…
Unfortunately, they first responded to his question with one of their own.
This caused Twelfth Lang’s mood to plunge.
His life experience told him—people who typically answer a question with another question are definitely hiding some secrets.
In contrast.
The fantasy monster that had just analyzed all the information with him, logically and backed by evidence, was much more trustworthy.
“…”
“Are there any other visitors besides ‘Mr. Answering a Question with a Question’—is there also ‘Ms. Silent’?”
At this moment, Twelfth Lang’s anxiety peaked.
The ability user squad before him was not his teammates.
The information provided by the fantasy monster to him seemed to be coming true.
The Astral Academy indeed hides a significant secret, and these summoned ability users’ goal wasn’t solely to rescue Professor Tiancheng.
Their willingness to use X-Class ability users indicates that Professor Tiancheng is even more critical than he imagined, and they absolutely cannot allow anything to happen to him—
Thinking of this, Twelfth Lang also gave up the last shred of hope.
He shouted to DD-chan with his back turned:
“While I still haven’t regretted it, quickly take Miss Tianyin and leave this place—”
Since his “Special Squad for The End” would be obstructed by the Stars Association on the island, the only members who could quickly notify Professor Tiancheng to evacuate and protect him were the Stars Association’s own members.
X-Class ability users had already landed on the island, and in the face of their strength, ordinary ability users were no opponents. In contrast, the fantasy monster he had just engaged with still possessed considerable strength and might have a chance to help Professor Tiancheng escape the pursuit of the X-Class ability users…
“I really hope there’s another form of what you just said that isn’t a lie—”
As soon as he finished speaking.
Twelfth Lang and DD-chan, who were meeting for the first time yet reaching a tacit understanding in this moment, took action simultaneously.
As Twelfth Lang charged toward the equally battle-ready X-Class ability users, DD-chan lifted Nagi and fled in the opposite direction.
It sensed that the ability users before them were not to be trifled with.
As for the X-Class ability users present, they were not a team led by Jin Nai; they were secretly following the orders of Alpha and had never intended to let anyone on this island escape, so they were too lazy to waste time persuading Twelfth Lang.
Even though they had heard of Twelfth Lang’s fame as an Ace-Class ability user.
In the face of X-Class ability user’s power—
He was ultimately just an ant.
They harbored fragments of The End within them, granting them unimaginable power.
The battle was about to commence.
……
……
On the other side, DD-chan, who was carrying Nagi away, saw that there was no one around and seemed unable to hold back any longer as it began to ask:
“What’s the situation now? What’s wrong with your body? What are we going to do next?”
“Too many! Too many questions, can’t you ask them one at a time?”
Nagi couldn’t help but retort.
In reality, she was also surprised by the sudden appearance of the X-Class ability users.
“Then let me first clarify the most important thing. What’s your plan next?” DD-chan’s expression seemed to indicate: the other aspects will be addressed once everything is over.
Without thinking, Nagi replied immediately:
“Where did you tie up Tiancheng Akihikari? Take me to him!”
Now that she has lost contact with The End and cannot bring it to her aid in the short term, and with her magical power in a state of depletion.
The only way to regain her strength—was through the fragment of The End in Professor Tiancheng’s soul.
“He should be with Alice right now. I don’t know if they’ve managed to escape this island… as long as you take me to see Professor Tiancheng, everything can be resolved, right? Just like back then!”
“No, meeting him isn’t enough… Do you have any way to make his emotions fluctuate wildly in a short period? Especially leaning towards sorrow and anger!”
Because of the vaccine, Nagi couldn’t use the resonance of the Star’s Authority to reclaim the fragment of The End.
She needed him to undergo “secondary awakening” to let the power of The End surface.
DD-chan, upon hearing this, clearly froze, evidently unable to understand why a seemingly carbon-based lifeform was going through such lengths just to make that old human feel anger and sadness.
After a brief pause, it slowly spoke: “You mean—let him buy a lottery ticket and win, then tell him it was just a joke?”
