Chapter 11: Overwhelm

"Tian Dao, do you think Chen Xing can pass this evaluation?"

Outside the arena, Kalolin watched the battlefield with growing unease. The Earth Dragon Lizard before her radiated an unnatural, oppressive aura.

She was deeply worried about Chen Xing’s upcoming trial.

Because if it hadn’t been for Tian Dao and the others’ earlier provocation, even with the vast power gap between Chen Xing and the beast, there would’ve still been a decent chance—thanks to the Earth Dragon Lizard holding back. They could’ve secured a solid score.

But now, all that hope had been shattered by Tian Dao’s single, brutal strike.

Now, the dragon lizard stood fully focused—no longer holding back. Its eyes burned with fury.

Kalolin knew with chilling clarity: the trial ahead would be pure hell.

Especially since Chen Xing had chosen to step onto the stage after Tian Dao’s team.

Tian Dao adjusted his sunglasses. "Who knows? But—" He turned to look at his two teammates still waiting to enter the arena:

NO.036 Chen Kong, and NO.005 Yezhen Lin.

"—as long as the two of them perform their roles, their result might just exceed everyone’s expectations."

"Ah?" Kalolin raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. She had just fought the Earth Dragon Lizard herself—she knew exactly how terrifying it was.

And yet, Tian Dao was saying Chen Xing’s team might still succeed?

The only variable left was Chen Kong—the so-called "ordinary" one.

Because Kalolin knew Tian Dao never spoke without purpose.

If he kept insisting Chen Kong was special, then there had to be a reason.

She was right.

In the original timeline, this very Earth Dragon Lizard had been designed as a tool to create Chen Kong’s first spotlight moment.

The only difference was timing—then, Chen Kong’s team had been the first to enter, not the second.

Now, the situation had changed slightly from the original story.

But Tian Dao believed the outcome would remain largely unchanged.

Because Chen Kong still had Chen Xing and Yezhen Lin as his teammates.

And in the original tale, they’d been utterly dominated at the start—completely outmatched, unable to fight back.

It was only in the final moment, when Chen Kong activated his unique abilities—Black Star and Void Pattern—that he temporarily nullified the dragon lizard’s stellar field, creating a fleeting opening for Chen Xing to land a decisive blow.

That moment had become the defining highlight of Chen Kong’s journey.

But Tian Dao had already stolen that moment—earlier, with his own performance.

Still, given Chen Kong’s rare bloodline and his staggering Black Star · Stellar Core, Tian Dao believed there was still a real chance they could recreate that miracle.

Only now, with Tian Dao’s brilliance already on display, any such feat would merely come across as a feeble imitation.

And just as Tian Dao spoke, Chen Kong and Yezhen Lin finally stepped onto the stage.

They hadn’t wanted to face a beast already enraged—especially not one as furious as this Earth Dragon Lizard.

But Chen Xing’s words had shifted their mindset.

As she had said:

As Stellar Prodigies, they couldn’t keep hiding behind others forever.

And Tian Dao had already proven it—Second-Rank Earth Dragon Lizards could bleed.

"Big sis," Chen Kong whispered, stepping behind Chen Xing. His hands trembled as he gripped a training-grade Stellar Energy Pistol.

The moment he raised it, a wave of scorn rippled through the crowd.

Even the VIPs in the viewing boxes sneered.

Because in the era of Stellar Sources, traditional firearms had long lost their dominance.

Save for a few rare Intelligent Mechanism Class weapons, most conventional guns were useless against powerful Stellar Envoys or higher-tier Stellar Beasts.

Against first-rank Envoys or second-rank beasts, they were utterly ineffective.

So in the Stellar Envoy community, there was an unspoken rule:

If you weren’t an Intelligent Mechanism Class user, using a gun was tantamount to admitting weakness.

Out of the 36 participants in this Starlight Evaluation, only Chen Kong had chosen a firearm.

Even Kalolin—despite being an Intelligent Mechanism Class—hadn’t.

Not because she couldn’t, but because she refused to rely on external tools too early.

So while the sight of a pistol in Chen Kong’s hand drew mockery from the crowd, Chen Xing, as his sister, felt a quiet pride.

"Not bad. At least you know you’re a waste of space, and didn’t come here pretending to be brave just for the sake of pride."

Chen Kong rubbed the back of his head, flustered. He didn’t know what to say.

Beside him, Yezhen Lin—dressed in her sleek ninja-style suit—offered no judgment.

As a pragmatist, she wouldn’t have cared if the weapon was “weak” or “strong,” as long as it worked.

If the Final Evaluation hadn’t restricted them to one main weapon, she’d have brought a rocket launcher to the stage without hesitation.

"Alright, are you two ready?" Yun Meng approached the trio with a smile.

Chen Xing nodded calmly.

"Good. Then... good luck."

With that, Yun Meng stepped back.

"Final Evaluation – Second Match: Begin!"

ROAR—

The Earth Dragon Lizard’s roar shook the arena barrier.

Its amber, vertical pupils locked onto the three new challengers.

Smoke, thick with sulfur, poured from its nostrils.

The metallic scales along its backplate clattered like swords being drawn.

Tian Dao’s earlier strike had ignited its fury.

And now, Chen Xing’s team was its perfect target for release.

"…We’re doomed. This is going to end in blood," one Stellar Prodigy muttered under his breath.

Then, in an instant—

The beast charged.

With a single swipe of its claw—

CRACK!

Metal met beast.

Chen Xing barely managed to block with her Xueyan Blade.

But the force sent her staggering back seven steps before she could stabilize.

Her lips split open. Blood dripped from the corner.

Her right palm—torn open at the knuckles—bled freely.

That’s what it feels like when a second-rank Stellar Beast fights seriously?

Chen Xing’s heart sank.

Could they really defeat this monster?

Was Tian Dao’s earlier strike just luck? Or had he truly been the one to make the beast underestimate him?

"Shadow Bind: Dark Thorn!"

Yezhen Lin’s black hair whipped in the air as dozens of shadowy tendrils erupted from the ground, lashing at the dragon lizard’s limbs—trying to slow it down, buy Chen Xing a chance.

But less than a second later—

CRACK!

The chains shattered.

Yezhen Lin gasped, blood trickling from her lip.

"Can’t hold it… Star, it’s too strong in this state!"

Hearing that, Chen Xing clenched her teeth, suppressing the rising tide of blood in her chest.

She charged forward again—despite the pain.

But Chen Kong?

At that moment, he couldn’t even see what was happening.

Frozen in place, he was utterly lost in the chaos.

Outside the arena, the crowd of Stellar Prodigies fell silent.

They finally understood.

Not everyone…

…is Tian Dao Siming.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end