The Sky People.
Rather than calling them an interstellar civilization, Lucius preferred to call this bunch of Sky People beggars.
Following behind the Cocoon eating scraps and leftovers—that's how they'd survived for hundreds of millions of years.
Assessment: Roadside trash.
However, these roadside trash were still somewhat useful now—for instance, as an outlet to release Honkai energy.
The Honkai energy accumulated in Nagazora City that should have been unleashed across the entire East Asian region still needed to be resolved.
Leaving it on Earth wasn't a stable solution. Herrscher cores had capacity limits. After thinking it through, it was better to consume it.
Honkai energy could be converted losslessly into other forms of energy. Better to consume it directly as attacks.
These alien hicks were arriving at just the right time. Since there was a target available, wasn't that much better than dumping it on the Moon or into space?
After all, the solar system was a civilization graveyard, not a garbage dump. It wasn't good to litter casually.
Moreover, he wanted to see Mei's current power.
So he asked Mei: "Do you need me to send you up?"
But Mei just gently shook her head, then her body steadily floated upward.
"After mastering electromagnetic force control, I feel I can easily accelerate myself to third cosmic velocity."
"I'm now an energy life form. Theoretically speaking, as long as there's sufficient Honkai energy, I can survive in space."
"Then, do you need me to add some more chips for winning?"
What Lucius meant was naturally loading Mei with other Herrscher authorities.
His crystal balance still had quite a bit. He could completely give her another temporary authority.
Mei shook her head again.
"There's no need. I've already assessed the Sky People's technology previously. After obtaining the Herrscher of Thunder's authority, they're no longer a threat."
Mei's voice didn't even express confidence—she was stating a fact.
"How will you do it?"
Hearing Lucius's question, facing him and Kiana, Mei explained:
"After obtaining the Herrscher authority, I discovered that even as a Herrscher, there are limits."
"Relying solely on the Herrscher authority's output, defeating the Sky People's fleet would still be somewhat difficult."
"But we can change our thinking. Don't treat the Herrscher's power as a firearm, but rather use it as a key—a key to unlock the universe's own power."
"Even as a Herrscher, the electromagnetic force my authority can stir up is only a speck of firefly compared to the electromagnetic force pervading the entire solar system."
"But possessing the Herrscher authority means I have the key to open this arsenal. Theoretically, I can mobilize the entire solar system's electromagnetic force. What's lacking... is just the output."
"My power alone is limited, but if I borrow external objects to amplify the power, perhaps I can leverage the entire solar system's electromagnetic force."
"Higher degrees than that aren't achievable with my current knowledge reserves. That would require civilization to continue advancing—not something we can consider now."
"However, considering the Sky People's current technological level, this is completely sufficient."
After hearing Mei's explanation, Lucius knew she already had complete confidence.
"Then Mei, what do you need?"
Mei looked at Lucius and said:
"The power of the Herrscher of Reason. I need to borrow the Herrscher of Reason's power to construct all things to build an amplification device."
Hearing Mei's request, Lucius thrust his hand into his chest cavity. Then a crystal shining with faint light appeared in his hand.
Under his control, this crystal spun in a circle, then surged into Mei's body.
One of the Herrscher of Reason's many bug-level abilities—plug and play.
After transferring the Herrscher of Reason's authority to Mei, he saw a confident smile appear on Mei's face.
Her body continuously rose from the ground, speed increasing faster and faster, her voice falling from the sky.
"Now I possess the Herrscher of Reason's power to construct all things. The final puzzle piece is complete."
"Next, Father, please witness my thoughts and learning."
Mei's ascent into the sky grew faster and faster. At the same time, the Herrscher of Reason's authority to construct all things manifested.
With her body as the center, ring-shaped constructs began forming around her from nothing.
These ring-shaped objects nested layer upon layer, like a throne clustering around her.
Watching those futuristic sci-fi ring structures ascend into the atmosphere with Mei, Kiana's eyes sparkled.
"Cool!!!"
"So cool! Lucius, can I do this too when I get Herrscher authority in the future?"
Hearing her question, Lucius looked over Kiana's saintly pure face and sighed with regret.
"You can, on the condition that you have Mei's level of knowledge. Her fighting style isn't suitable for academically challenged people."
Hearing Lucius's words and seeing his eyes full of regret, Kiana felt her heart being stabbed.
"Lucius, I feel like you're questioning my intelligence!"
"Not at all." Lucius immediately denied it. "I've always thought you, good brother, are very smart."
"But specialization has its place. Why not leverage your strengths and avoid weaknesses?"
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, honestly trust your feelings and muscle memory. You possess the most powerful physique in history. As long as you trust your body, you can do anything."
Kiana nodded thoughtfully, but quickly realized something was wrong.
Trust her muscles—didn't that subtext mean abandon her brain?
"Lucius, are you insulting me?" Kiana's face showed suspicion.
"No! Absolutely not!"
Just as Lucius and Kiana were conversing, Mei had already rushed out of the atmosphere with the amplification device she had constructed.
And as she ascended into space, these ring structures began nesting layer upon layer.
Circuits and conduits intertwined within them. Honkai energy converted into surging energy driving their operation.
Then these nested rings began slowly rotating, speed increasing faster and faster.
Under the Herrscher of Thunder authority's control, electromagnetic force converged, surged, and finally... rotated under the ring's control!!!
At the same time, Mei also felt her power beginning to explosively increase, wildly increase, vigorously increase!
After integrating the Herrscher personality, Mei felt she always had an urge to make chuunibyou declarations.
Just earlier in front of Father and her best friend, it wasn't appropriate. But now in space, no one was watching her anymore.
So... the corners of her mouth pulled into the arrogant posture unique to the strong.
Arms crossed over her chest, her coat rustling loudly even in the windless vacuum of space.
"How dare you invade Earth—what arrogant fellows!"
"Don't you know Earth is protected by our heroic Herrscher squad?!"
Under Mei's precise manipulation using the Herrscher of Thunder authority, the ocean of electromagnetic force in the solar system seemed to be stirred with her as the center, smelted, aggregated.
Finally, as if converging into a sharp blade, it slashed toward the alien fleet emerging from the stargate.
She didn't know if the magnetic field's power affected her hormones, causing her to be extremely excited at this moment, the corners of her mouth pulling up uncontrollably.
"Hehe... a bunch of alien hicks, you shall be defeated by my Magnetic Field Heaven Blade!!!"
...
At the edge of the solar system.
As flashes of light passed, a massive fleet appeared from nothing.
This fleet seemed forged from flesh and machinery, its main body showing the red of flesh.
After appearing in the solar system, it flew ceaselessly toward Earth's direction.
At the same time, two consciousnesses within the ships were communicating.
And carrying their consciousness were two octopus-like constructs.
One octopus bore golden stripes on its body—clearly of higher rank.
It was the commander of this Sky People fleet, designated Commander.
The octopus beside it was more ordinary—this commander's adjutant.
"Commander, our forces have reached the solar system. Detectors have not detected any dangerous targets."
Having reached the solar system, the adjutant reported to the commander.
Commander: "Very good. Proceed steadily according to combat protocols."
"Your orders will be carried out by the fleet."
But after transmitting the order, the adjutant expressed concern.
"Commander, this is that god's proving ground. Should we really go there?"
"It doesn't matter. The vanguard already sent information fifty years ago. In this ranch called the solar system, only one planet has life."
"They still have a long way to go before breaking free of gravitational constraints. They're just natives—no threat to us..."
But as the fleet's two commanders conversed, they hadn't noticed that a gaze had been observing them since they appeared in the solar system.
It was a peacock-like behemoth. She lurked in the gap between the Sea of Quanta and the real world, her gaze cold.
Her name was Sa. Since that vanguard squad entered the solar system fifty years ago, she had been waiting here for prey to come knocking.
Originally she thought she could capture quite a bit of prey. She hadn't expected only such a small fleet to come.
But having blocked the bridge for so long, she knew well that mosquito legs, however small, were still meat. When it was time to strike, she had to strike.
Now was the time to harvest.
But at this moment, she sensed a terrifying aura coming from Earth's direction.
Sa's expression changed slightly. She abandoned capturing this fleet and retreated into the Sea of Quanta.
Inside the ships, the commander and adjutant were completely unaware they had just brushed past death.
"Commander, the planet we need to harvest Honkai energy from appears to be the god's proving ground. Should we really go there?"
"Of course, my adjutant. This place is indeed dangerous, but the rewards are equally great."
"Honkai energy spontaneously generated by other native civilizations is like a small puddle compared to the ocean when compared to what the god personally deploys."
"Just collecting a little, we can exceed our quota."
"As for that god..."
Fear flowed through the commander's processing unit, but was quickly drowned by greed and wishful thinking.
"As long as the Honkai energy harvested is within the threshold, we won't be noticed by 'It'."
Speaking of this, it seriously asked its adjutant:
"Adjutant, do you remember our operational principle?"
"Strike! Loot! Retreat!"
"Very good. You're already a qualified commander."
"But Commander, might we encounter those monsters granted divine authority by the god?"
What the adjutant meant was naturally Herrschers—those monsters exercising divine authority were equally terrifyingly strong.
But regarding its concerns, the commander paid no mind.
"Those monsters' targets are that civilization called Earth. As long as we don't provoke them, nothing will happen."
"Have you ever seen those beings who are enemies of civilization protect civilization?"
"True..."
After the commander's encouragement, the adjutant's confidence greatly increased.
It thought that after exceeding its quota, it could advance in rank.
Thinking about it was actually a bit exciting...
"Wait, Commander, there seem to be abnormal magnetic field fluctuations around the fleet."
"Are there enemies... Don't panic. Let me measure the energy level first. Raise shields and prepare for combat."
The commander connected its processing module to the fleet's detection system, preparing to detect energy levels.
But the moment it saw the energy index, the entire octopus trembled, then exploded.
The adjutant froze seeing this scene, then urgently screamed orders to the fleet.
"Wrong! This isn't a monster we can handle—retreat! Retreat!"
But unfortunately, it seemed too late.
The entire fleet was like a leaf of duckweed caught in an ocean of electromagnetic force, facing capsizing crisis at any moment.
The shields propped up by Honkai energy were torn apart the moment they rose. The ship hulls were annihilated inch by inch accompanied by brilliant light.
Before its consciousness disappeared, the adjutant seemed to see a great blade spanning the solar system slashing toward it.
Its processor burst out with a sharp explosion. Its only thought before consciousness completely dissipated was:
"Hiss... can we negotiate?"
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