Chapter 111: Stellar Prodigy #35 · Liu Ma

“H-how… could this be…”

Inside the torrential downpour of the Abandoned Factory, Jacks lay sprawled on his back amidst a mire of metal shards and rainwater, his lower body still fused to the severed head of a mechanical rat. His face was frozen in disbelief.

In the narrow slit of his constricted pupils, a figure stood bathed in the storm — a silver-armored girl. Vivian.

The newest model of Gear Church’s combat exosuit — the Silver Gleam II — gleamed coldly under the acid rain, its sleek, mechanical sheen perfectly contouring Vivian’s slender frame. It was as if the armor itself whispered of its own overwhelming power.

But more than that — more terrifying — was the long needle-sword in Vivian’s hand, its blade emitting a steady, rhythmic tick-tock, like a clock ticking down the final moments of a dying man.

Jacks, barely clinging to life, managed a weak whisper:

“This… is the true power of the Black Iron Clock?”

“Looks like William really did give me a chance to start over… I just… didn’t take it.”

Hearing this, Vivian remained calm.

“My father never unlocked these two abilities. He channeled all his power into the one weapon — the Hour-Hand Heavy Sword, the weapon of Guardian.”

“Is that so?”

“Mm.”

【Black Iron Clock · Minute Needle Sword】

[Effect: Increases user’s time flow speed by 200%]

[Note: Unlike the Hour-Hand Heavy Sword’s ‘Time Reversal’ or the Second-Hand Dagger’s ‘Ultimate Precision Cutting,’ this is pure, focused artistry of slaughter.]

Where the Hour-Hand Sword emphasized protection through time reversal, and the Second-Hand Dagger amplified cutting precision, the Minute Needle Sword represented the perfect balance — a fusion of both.

And this time-dilation effect wasn’t limited to Vivian’s body. It also amplified her Mechanical Armor, enhancing both speed and responsiveness.

Though Vivian lacked a Mechanical Stellar Source, she couldn’t access the massive computational power of a typical Intelligent Mechanism-class Stellar Envoy. Thus, she couldn’t fully unlock the potential of her gear.

But different Stellar Sources, when paired with specific mechanical equipment, could create a 1+1 > 2 synergy — a spark of brilliance born from unexpected combinations.

Vivian’s Minute Needle Sword and Gear Mechanism Armor were one such fusion.

So too were Tian Dao’s Vector Control and Portable Mechanical Core.

Gear Church may be the Mechanical Church, but that didn’t mean every believer was an intelligent machine.

And yet, Vivian — a non-Intelligent Mechanism Class Stellar Envoy — had risen to the rank of Silver Knight, a position usually reserved for Second-Rank Stellar Envoys.

There was a reason.

And that reason? Her unparalleled combat talent.

In the world of Stellar Envoys, rank didn’t define everything.

Because some geniuses could shatter numerical limits — using their innate mechanics to defeat enemies far beyond their reach.

Vivian was one such genius.

“My father gave you a chance. But I won’t.”

Boom!

In the thunderous roar of the storm, a silver streak tore through the rain like a lightning bolt — Vivian’s sword carving a flawless arc through time itself.

One stroke.

Jacks’ head separated from his body.

---

Reality World, Station 13

“Holy crap, this new character is insane!”

“Three time-based forms in one sword? This concept is perfect!”

“I knew she wasn’t just some random girl — she’s the daughter of that righteous old man from last season!”

“Dude, her identity was obvious — they gave that kids’ watch a close-up the moment she appeared.”

“A non-Intelligent Mechanism-class Stellar Envoy mastering mechanical armor like this? That’s real tech mastery.”

“So it is possible for non-Intelligent Mechanism-class Envoys to join Gear Church, even though it’s mostly machines? Wow, learned something new!”

As the Dimensional Audience gasped in awe at Vivian’s dazzling debut, the screen cut to the underground tunnels beneath the Abandoned Factory — Chen Kong’s battlefield.

To everyone’s surprise, Chen Kong’s opponent was none other than someone from his past — Liu Ma, ranked #35 among the Stars.

The very one who had failed the final evaluation and been expelled from the base early, among the twenty-four “failures” sent away by Doctor.

[Name: Liu Ma]

[Stellar Ranking: #35]

[Stellar Core: Golden Demon Ox]

[Stellar Source: Shadow War Horse]

Chen Kong stared at the towering figure emerging from the shadows — two meters and twenty centimeters tall, clad in a tailored suit, tie slightly loosened. His lips twitched.

“Seriously? These days, is everyone suddenly wearing suits and pretending to be corporate executives?”

“Liu Ma, is this really your thing?”

Liu Ma chuckled, then yanked off his tie with a sharp tug. He wiped the oil-slick shine from his pair of massive horns with a handkerchief, then snorted.

“Huh? What do you mean, ‘is this my thing’? I’m out here doing business for the company. If I show up in rags, I’ll embarrass them, won’t I?”

“Yet you’re this big. Doesn’t the suit feel… tight?”

Liu Ma paused. Then sighed.

“Can’t help it. Workers don’t get many choices.”

“Kong, if you’ve got a problem with my clothes, go tell my boss. I’m not saying a word — she’ll dock my pay.”

Then, suddenly, his tone shifted.

“And don’t you dare judge me. What about you? What’s with that bartender outfit?”

“I mean, come on — with that face and build, you’re not exactly the type to charm rich women into spending money at bars. Are the people in Rust Iron Hell into weird stuff?”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Chen Kong hadn’t expected this. After years, finally meeting an old comrade — and this was the welcome?

Liu Ma was obviously a big, dumb-looking guy on the outside, but sharp as a blade on the inside.

He didn’t let Chen Kong recover — he pressed on.

“And hey, Kong — how’s it going? You’ve been stuck at the same level for six years, haven’t you?”

“Your Stellar Source’s still first-rank. Your Stellar Core hasn’t even Awakened. What’ve you been doing all this time?”

“Stellar Core… Awakening?”

Chen Kong froze. He had no idea.

Liu Ma stared at him, then groaned, pressing his palm to his forehead.

“You’ve survived this long just by luck, haven’t you?”

“Back then, you barely passed the Final Evaluation — only because your sister and Yezhen Lin were pulling strings.”

“Not even knowing about Core Awakening… you’re a disgrace to the Stellar Prodigy name.”

Chen Kong snapped back:

“Are you kidding? I’m last in every evaluation — and you’re second last! What’s the difference?”

“Bullshit!” Liu Ma’s nostrils flared. “You dare say there’s no difference? There’s a huge difference!”

“I just didn’t try hard enough. That’s why I was second-last.”

“But now? I’ve Awakened my Stellar Core. I’m a key asset in the new company. My future’s bright.”

“You? A guy who sells your looks for money? We’re nothing alike!”

“I didn’t sell my looks!”

“Yeah, yeah, you wanted to sell — but nobody was interested.”

“…”

Chen Kong’s fist clenched.

The emotional blows kept coming.

But then — Liu Ma laughed.

The sound was infectious.

Chen Kong, caught off guard, couldn’t help but join in.

They stared at each other — and both burst into laughter.

But after the laughter faded, silence returned — deep, quiet, and full of memory.

Finally, Chen Kong spoke:

“Hey… how’s everyone doing? Any news?”

Liu Ma thought for a moment.

“Jing Ruli? She’s riding high with the Shuangyin Family now. A household name in the New Federation. Concert fees start at millions. Endorsements, commercials — she’s counting money till her fingers bleed.”

“Your sister? She’s in the Sunfire Clan. They treat her like royalty. I swear, they’re practically worshipping her.”

“Kalolin? I heard she’s apprenticed under the Central Council of the Stellar Envoy Association. Details are fuzzy — that was years ago.”

“Everyone’s gone, but… they’re all doing well.”

Chen Kong nodded, a soft sigh escaping him.

“Yeah… back in the base, it was small. But the rain was heavy.”

“I thought the outside world — the real world — would be even stormier. But now… I’m realizing…”

Liu Ma cut in:

“…It’s actually clear, right? No rain at all?”

“Yeah.”

Then Chen Kong changed the tone.

“Hey… about Tian Dao… you’ve heard, right?”

“Of course. Everyone knows. That incident scared the Council so much, even Benjamin uploaded some of his combat footage just to prove it.”

“But still… they kept dredging the sea, searching for Tian Dao’s body.”

“And?”

Liu Ma spread his hands with a grin.

“They found nothing.”

“So… do you think Tian Dao is dead?”

Liu Ma looked at Chen Kong, eyes deep and knowing.

“You already know the answer, don’t you?”

“Yeah…” Chen Kong said, voice heavy.

“Logic says… he’s dead. The injuries were too severe. He couldn’t even perform Quantum Jump. He couldn’t have escaped before the base exploded.”

“But… my gut says…”

Liu Ma interrupted, firm as stone:

“My gut says… a monster like that? Impossible to kill.”

Chen Kong smiled faintly.

They both exhaled.

Even with all the sarcasm, the mockery, the barbs — deep down, it was still them. Two old comrades, reunited in a forgotten world.

But the silence didn’t last.

A violent tremor shook the ceiling above.

The walls trembled. The sounds of battle echoed from above.

Liu Ma casually tossed the golden-embossed Mechanical Bible in his hand.

“Kong… beat me, and this belongs to you.”

“Boss just sent me here to deliver a package. But when I arrived… one item was missing.”

“Performance review’s ruined either way. Might as well have some fun.”

“I saw you came for it too, didn’t you?”

Chen Kong nodded.

He was after it.

But in truth — in the silence between the lines — the real target was someone else entirely.

A green-haired girl, sitting on the factory roof, casually munching on chips.

No one knew that — not even Vivian.

“Liu Ma… be careful. I’ve improved too, you know.”

With that, Chen Kong vanished — his presence erased.

Liu Ma didn’t flinch. He grinned.

“Still playing your invisibility trick, huh?”

Then — boom — he swung his fist straight into the air.

“Is this… your improvement?”

And there, where Chen Kong had disappeared — he was forced to reappear, dodging at the last second.

One exchange.

Chen Kong’s Stellar Core ability was already broken.

He was already behind.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end