Xyrin Empire-Chapter 401: Finish with One Shot, Pack Up and Go Home

Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Finish with One Shot, Pack Up and Go Home

In the pitch-black, freezing void of space, near a region known particularly for its emptiness, an abnormality suddenly appeared due to unprecedented mass and spatial disturbances; distant starlight contorted abnormally upon passing through the collapsing area of space, forming a semi-transparent, jelly-like sphere. And when this immense illusion gradually transitioned from nothingness into reality, what was revealed was a dreadfully lifeless black shadow.

This was a planet long dead, its inner energy exhausted over eons until not even a flicker remained detectable. No one knew whether it had ever harbored a splendid civilization nor what had become of such life forms if they ever existed. Now, its crust bore only wrinkles unchanged for hundreds of millions of years—wrinkles of high mountain ranges rich in heavy metals that barely glistened a bloody hue against the dim backdrop, much like the countless ruptured vessels of the planet itself. And near its equator, a brighter crimson glow, akin to the source of these blood vessels, acted as the heart of the entire planet.

It was there that fragments of the Star Ring had fallen, the formidable energies of the Void and the Abyss intertwined, igniting the residual high-energy substances within the planet’s soil, triggering a fountain-like eruption of energy. This exotic energy surged through the entire planet, driving its desire to collide with a certain blue cosmic water drop.

Then, just as this black planet of death had begun to materialize, and before it even had a chance to move toward Earth, an unprecedented energy fluctuation erupted mere thousands of kilometers above its south pole.

A massive silver-white Energy Array suddenly spread across space, forming a giant halo adorned with mystic symbols. In the center of this halo, with a radius spanning thousands of kilometers, surged a liquid-like, swelling radiance. From within this brilliance, myriad complexly structured energy bands burst forth like fireworks and in an instant formed dozens of three-dimensional rings. These rings presented specific angles to each other without ever crossing, creating a colossal spherical energy magnifying array. The rings grew in brightness incrementally until they were blinding to behold. We must recognize that in this moment, the brilliance of the Starlight Burst dazzled the universe...

Finally, the Sniper Star Cannon in the distant outer space was fired, its fearsome energy penetrating the intervals of time and space, gushing from the super-spatial muzzle, and striking directly the gloomy black Death Star.

A colossal white light, though thousand kilometers in radius, seemed delicate in comparison to the entire planet, like a toothpick against a ball of yarn. It was hard to imagine what damage such a "fragile" light could inflict on the entire planet. However, the reality was that just after a few seconds, this planet, formed entirely of heavy metals, had begun to disintegrate in a chain reaction.

From the point of impact, a crimson glow violently spread across the surface of the planet. Where the glow passed, nothing was left but surging magma—the planet’s sturdy crust was melted and vaporized into a sky full of rock steam by the terrifying energy of the Sniper Star Cannon, then re-condensed upon the now molten mantle of the planet. The unprecedentedly powerful laser had penetrated every barrier of the planet and was now irradiating unobstructed from the other side—though its brilliance seemed to carry much less destructive power, as its energy funneled entirely into the assaulted planet.

Under the extraordinary energy shockwaves, the entire planet shook violently, its immense mass succumbing to the energy’s onslaught as if it were a mere feather, defenseless. The tremors within the planet grew stronger and stronger, but the deadly white beam continued pumping even more tremendous energy into its interior.

In the end, the last semblance of balance was utterly destroyed. The immense pressure from the swiftly heating exterior combined with the internal burst of energy reached a critical point. Under the extreme heat, γ-oscillations, and Ghost Energy Radiation, the fundamental structure of matter—the molecules—were torn asunder.

This spectacle was beyond the theoretical modeling capabilities of human scientists. In an instant, the entire heavy metal planet transformed from a huge solid mass into a dazzling light ball. All of its constituting matter had been molecularly disassembled, forming a pure atomic aggregation; some transformed into the fuel for nuclear reactions, becoming pure light and heat, while others turned into free space gases, drifting in the orbit of Mars. The remaining portion served as fuel for the high-energy reactions, sustaining the entire chain process until no more atoms were available to react.

It sounds complicated, but all of it concluded within just three minutes.

The planet was utterly gone. What remained in its place was only a cloud of free atoms and the still-tumultuous thermal radiation.

This was the Sniper Star Cannon. Utterly different from the so-called "Pseudo Star Weapons" mounted on giant mother ships that are used to scorch crusts with the intent of killing life forms on the surface. At best, these could cause damage to the crust, while the latter disassembles every molecule of the entire planet into an atomic fog or outright transforms it into light and heat—a true annihilation.

Hence, such weapons are deemed the most wasteful...

"That thing is really kickass..."

After disconnecting from the Sniper Star Cannon and setting it to recharge mode, I was still marveling at the moment when controlling unprecedented energy incinerated an entire planet.

"Really kickass..."

Contrary to me, who could only observe the process through a vague spiritual Perception, Qianqian and the others watched the synchronous broadcast images on the holographic projection all along. The moment the Sniper Star Cannon turned a planet into light was so magnificent that Lin Xue almost wrote a poem about it.

If only she hadn’t struggled to find even the final word...

"That truly is a very, very, very powerful force!"

With three "extremelies," Sylvanas managed to describe her thoughts after being crammed with universal knowledge by Sandora. She knew that the black spherical world, even larger than Azeroth, just moments ago, had turned into the purest light and heat, billions of kilometers away.

And with that, all fragments of the Star Ring that threatened this world were finally dealt with.

As for the third part of this Star Ring fragment... Well, the Sniper Star Cannon is so powerful, it was already good enough to control it and avoid accidentally damaging other planets in the Solar System, you still want me to precisely dodge an iron lump as small as a fly compared to it? That’s just torment!

Anyway, we’ve already collected two-thirds of it, and nobody’s planning to restore the Visca Corridor as it was. Losing one-third of the fragments shouldn’t be a problem, right?

"Are you really... leaving?"

At the entrance to the underground area of the research institute, Tsuruya said with a look of reluctant farewell on her face.

The time to leave had come, and farewell scenes must be endured. Even Bai Jing Heizi, who always said such impolite things like "The scumbag who dares to steal Big Sister should leave for good," was now standing not far away, her head tilted up against the cold metallic walls of the corridor, hiding the slight redness in her eyes.

And what’s with your Big Sister being stolen! She merely took me as a friend because I helped her, you perma-thunderstruck dead lily!

Apart from Zuotian Tsuruya and Bai Jing Heizi, there were also Chichun Shili, Misaka Mikoto, and Kiyama Haruaki. All five friends we made in Academy City were here.

Alright, I’ll just ignore Lin Xue’s completely irreverent but utterly unarguable murmur next to me, "All beauties indeed, definitely a harem guy."

"The mission is already complete, we definitely have to leave,"

I said, scratching my head and trying to keep my tone neutral.

"At least... At least stay a few more days... No! I mean, at least stay until after the celebration..." Mikoto spoke quickly, her face turning a noticeable shade of red, either from urgency or some other reason, "Everyone has prepared such a grand celebration, for such a huge accomplishment as saving the world, at least... you should stay to accept the gratitude of those you saved, shouldn’t you?"

I wanted to! The problem is, if I don’t go back home, Little Baobao will start tearing down the house, damn it! And even the kid’s mom is tearing down the house ahhh!!

Screaming inside, I almost blurted out my lamentable family situation, when Kiyama Haruaki, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

"In that case, it seems you really have to leave," he said.

"Hey!" Mikoto started to object angrily with a word, but Kiyama cut her off: "Don’t be capricious, little girl. His identity forces him to do a lot of things, very important things, perhaps even things that we humans wouldn’t dare to even think about, but that he must do... Sorry, Director... did I say too much?"

I really didn’t want to admit that I was actually going home to take care of my child.

Also, my titles are indeed quite varied, this "Director"... Why does it still sound so pathetic now? I run the Xyrin Research Institute, not Umbrella, damn it!

"Director Brother," Zuotian Tsuruya finally bit her lip hesitantly and began to speak, "will we be able to see each other again in the future?"

At her question, Mikoto and the rest immediately focused their gaze on me, and even Black, who had been insisting "I don’t care" from a distance, pricked up her ears with a start.

It was clear that, despite thinking it unlikely, they still wanted a definite answer.

I continued scratching the back of my head, "If you want to find me, go to the Central Zone of Academy City, say hi to Aresta for me; he’s got a door that leads straight to my place. If you’re overseas, you can ask the British Puritan in London for help; I’ve already spoken to them, their Leader is a friend of mine... Huh? Why do you all look so strange?"

Speaking of which, why did the girls in front of me suddenly show signs of realization followed by murderous expressions halfway through my speech? And what’s with this feeling of being cursed from the depths of their hearts?

"So you’re saying..." Mikoto’s forehead sparked with little bolts of lightning as the petite girl exuded an overwhelming presence, "you’ve actually had a fixed passage ready all along, and even if you go back today... we can come and find you anytime, right?"

Sweat formed on my forehead as I nodded stiffly.

Chichun Shili now had a grim look on her face, "So this emotional farewell scene right now..." freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"Playing with the pure and fragile hearts of young girls," Black suddenly appeared in front of me, now thoroughly evil, "Such people should be struck down by divine retribution!"

Hey, hey, hey! What’s going on, how did this nice start end up with such a twisted ending? Did I say something wrong just now? I had said everything I should have, right? Knowing they could still meet me any time in the future should have made them happy, right?

"You should’ve said those things right from the beginning, you idiot!" In the end, accompanied by the indignant roar of Lin Xue, who couldn’t stand it anymore, and Tsuruya’s tearful accusation of "Director is an unprecedented big idiot", the world... fell silent...

"Waha... I’m finally home!!"

After a journey that was billed as crossing the barriers of planes and the Shattering Void but was actually just stepping through a door from a transmission device in the basement of the institute, we finally returned to the long-missed Shadow Base. Naturally, the exit was in the Space-Time Management Center—in that coffin-like building...

"Ah~~ So this is where we’ll be living from now on? It seems like a very advanced place—more advanced than Academy City—"

Only Silvia, whose mind always seemed to operate in an other dimension, would speak in such a soft and leisurely tone.

What I couldn’t fathom even more was how someone could be so oblivious as to not realize, even now, that they’d undergone a series of events including Earth being hit by an asteroid belt, traveling to another world, and currently standing in front of an armored scorpion in full gear, and still happily marvel at the wonders of high tech.

But at least with her arrival, I no longer had to lament that my little Angel Sister was a dummy.

"This is just a... well, a station. I’ll take you to see your new place in a bit..."

I was conflictingly explaining to Silvia while trying to come up with a convincing and believable explanation for her, but before I could finish, the silver-haired slowpoke in front of me had already jumped in, "Ah? A station? So that was a car just now? So fast—"

Forget it, it’s giving me a headache. I’ll just give her a random explanation.

In an instant, I made the wise decision to treat the other party like a three-year-old.

"Welcome back to the base, great Emperor, and the Madams."

With such a serious tone, Taville came before us, bowing respectfully.

"Taville, you’ve worked hard."

I sincerely said. Although it appeared that we had resolved the issues outside, those who served as the major support back home had it even tougher, especially the scientists who dealt with all sorts of technical challenges and provided us with powerful support like the Sniper Star Cannon under extremely tight deadlines. They were the ones who had the toughest and most exhausting roles in this operation!

After all, everyone knows that the Leader and his entourage do nothing proper besides squandering public funds on food and drink—speaking of which, isn’t squandering public funds improper too?

"Gurgle!!"

Just as I was about to ask Sivis about the current situation at the base, an urgent call suddenly interrupted me. It’s worth mentioning that this cry, at its onset, seemed quite distant, but by the time it reached me, it was already close at hand, so the short two-syllable sound strangely had the sharp rising tone of a train’s whistle as it whizzed past...

While I was getting ready to seriously contemplate the relationship between pitch and direction of movement that I’d left to my high school physics teacher, a small white figure had already collided with me head-on and sent me flying...

Ah! I remember now! Rising pitch means it’s getting closer!

With such an epiphany on my face, I watched as Qianqian and the others flew past me—couldn’t you at least help stop them?

"Snap... Daddy! Daddy!" The little white Angel clung tightly to my neck, curling up in my arms with all her might, as if she needed to call out for all the days she’d missed me at once.

By the way, my hp was starting to drop...

Really, are women such terrifying creatures once they reach a height of one meter?

After flailing about for a while, I finally managed to grasp the slim and agile Little Baobao’s arm, and with some effort, detached her from my neck. Only then did I manage to escape heavenward and take a long breath.

"There there, darling, next time I’ll definitely take you out~~"

With seventy percent affection and thirty percent apology, I bent down to stroke the hair of the little girl in front of me, who immediately squinted her eyes, basking in the long-missed care.

I didn’t expect this little one to be so clingy. We’ve been in touch frequently, after all. Is this the kind of careless mistake that only rookie dads make? An emotionally-moving case of insufficient love for one’s clingy daughter leading to a family crisis.

Then, just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief and pick up Little Baobao, another small hand suddenly emerged from nowhere and yanked my precious daughter to the side.

The same white dress, the same tender face, and even the color and length of the hair showed no difference at all. Who could it be but Baobao?

"Kid, let’s go," Baobao said in a grown-up manner, tugging on Little Baobao’s hand, "Don’t bother with this heartless deadbeat!"

A second after being struck by lightning, I began to turn my head, tearfully, and thumped into the wall. You, just over a meter tall Little Loli, don’t put on such a look of a widow who has been abandoned by an irresponsible husband, struggling to take care of her daughter at home, and then when she runs into her ex-husband who has made good on a sudden day, she immediately pulls her child away, who is seeking her father, and then to add salt to the wound, you utter such subtly meaningful words! Where’s your otaku attribute, huh? And at this time, why aren’t you quietly playing with your own Warhammer 40k inside your crystal column, you rascal!!

While I was speechless and choked up, the girls on the other side were already giggling into a group. Silvia, usually slow on the uptake, unexpectedly began speculating this time, "Eh? Eh? Mr. Chen has a wife and daughter at home—this is not good... It’s terrible to abandon your pregnant wife for so many years~~~~"

You collapse-artist, stop causing chaos for me! At least question the height and age of this so-called mother! And that setting of a man who abandoned his wife and child for years, please tell me how you came up with that!

(End of the month, those who still have votes left, don’t hoard them! Let me at least appear on the rankings!)(To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters there, support the author, support genuine reading!)

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