Chapter 39: Tianji Moyao · Kalolin

Deep Blue Metropolis, Harbor Parking Lot.

"This should be the last one, right?"

Kalolin stood beside the corpse of a crab-like aberration, her tail—a cable-like appendage resembling data lines—suddenly extending behind her and hovering precisely above the dead creature’s body.

Click-clack—

A crisp, mechanical whirring echoed as a tiny scanning device unfolded from the tip of her tail, emitting a soft blue beam that swept across the corpse with surgical precision.

As this happened, Kalolin’s hair turned completely silver, each strand shimmering with an ethereal glow.

It wasn’t just hair—each strand seemed like a finely tuned circuit, pulsing with latent energy, as if her very body had become a living node of data.

Using her unique Intelligent Mechanism Class physiology, she rapidly gathered battlefield intelligence—this was her greatest strength.

Stellar Core: Tianji Moyang

> Type: Intelligent Mechanism Class

> Effect 1 – Data Transmission: Can act as both signal receiver and transmitter, linking up to five Star Energy units and sharing data with them upon consent.

> Effect 2 – Mechanized Transformation: Can convert parts of her own body into semi-permanent mechanized organs. Currently active: Electronic Cat Eye, Signal Cat Ear, Multi-Functional Electronic Tail

As a Stellar Envoy of the Intelligent Mechanism Class, Kalolin knew full well that frontline combat was never her specialty.

Gathering data before battle, analyzing it afterward—this was where she truly shined.

Even though she possessed formidable latent power, she rarely engaged directly unless absolutely necessary.

After all, with Tian Dao blazing like a radiant sun, she, the shadow, needed only to stand quietly behind him.

Because Tian Dao would handle everything.

So even though her mind burned with urgency to find where Tian Dao and the others had gone, her tactical discipline held firm.

She refused to recklessly charge into the fog, blindly and dangerously searching.

Instead, she chose to trust Tian Dao—and focus on collecting every scrap of useful information, to understand what had truly happened as quickly as possible.

With the combined capabilities of her Electronic Cat Eye and Multi-Functional Electronic Tail, the two crab aberrations were quickly analyzed.

> "Stellar Core severely atrophied. Major organs barely maintaining minimal function."

> "Strange… This thing should have died three days ago. It shouldn’t still be active. Unless…"

At that thought, Kalolin swiftly donned a specialized Star Energy-resistant glove and pulled out a small, sleek data blade—used now like a surgical scalpel.

With surgical precision, she sliced open the crack in the crab’s shell and carefully extracted the purple coral embedded in its head.

As soon as the coral was removed, it began to wilt visibly—its vibrant color fading within seconds.

Holding the specimen, Kalolin’s green electronic eyes reflected a cascade of data.

> Detected: Neural Parasitic Strain

> Maximum Viability Duration: 72 hours

> Estimated Stellar Source Traits of Origin: Oceanic / Toxin-Based / Trait Class

She dropped the coral and formed a conclusion in her mind.

The enemy is an Oceanic-class Stellar Envoy. Their Stellar Source possesses traits like parasitism, toxins, and coralization.

Moreover, the number of enemies is at least two—or more.

This sudden fog isn’t something a single Oceanic Envoy should be able to produce. Unless… they’ve undergone a second Awakening, merging poison and mist into one.

But if they truly had that power, why would they resort to ambush? A visible Third-Rank Envoy wouldn’t need stealth—especially against a target like us.

Considering Yun Meng’s disappearance as well… the enemy’s strength and numbers are likely: one Second-Rank Stellar Envoy, backed by multiple First-Rank Envoys.

The realization settled over her like a heavy weight.

She hadn’t expected to face such a threat so soon after docking.

This was far worse than she’d imagined.

"Older sister Kalolin."

Just as she was lost in thought, a voice called from behind.

Instinct took over—she spun around violently, and her electronic tail lashed out like a whip.

But she stopped just in time.

The tail’s tip hovered only 0.5 centimeters from Chen Kong’s neck, its blade-like end crackling with blue electricity—deadly, precise, ready to sever.

Chen Kong, nearly impaled, collapsed to the ground in shock, pale as a ghost, sweat pouring from his brow.

He was still reeling from the near-death moment.

But Kalolin didn’t care. No apology came.

"Chen Kong. Why are you alone? Where’s Tian Dao?"

Chen Kong wiped his forehead, trembling as he stood.

"I… I don’t know, Sister Kalolin. I don’t know where Tiandao is. You’re the first person I’ve seen."

Disappointment flashed across Kalolin’s face—brief, but unmistakable.

But reason pulled her back.

She steadied herself and asked why he was here.

Just as she’d guessed, Chen Kong had been enveloped by the strange fog the moment he entered the parking lot.

Communication vanished. People disappeared.

His first instinct? Find them—especially Tian Dao and Yun Meng.

Yes, he now had his First Stellar Core: Void Pattern, and had unlocked Stellar Source: The Dreamer.

But his frontline combat strength hadn’t improved much.

Void Pattern reduced his presence and nullified others’ Star Energy.

The Dreamer allowed him to temporarily copy another’s Stellar Source.

If he could use both at once, he’d be a perfect, shape-shifting assassin.

But the problem?

Just like his Second Stellar Core: Black Star—which was suppressed by the Void Pattern and rendered useless—his The Dreamer also failed whenever he activated Void Pattern.

While other prodigies were called Dual Stars, mastering both Core and Source simultaneously, Chen Kong could only choose one.

It was… absurd.

Yet, thanks to Void Pattern, he’d avoided the crab aberrations entirely—his low profile and energy nullification allowing him to slip through the fog, briefly clearing the mist around him.

That’s how he’d managed to survive—and reach Kalolin.

But now, as he deactivated Void Pattern, the fog reclaimed him.

The crabs, which had lost their target, instantly reoriented—drawn back by the sudden return of his presence.

Before Chen Kong could finish his sentence, Kalolin suddenly turned toward the fog, raising a hand to cut him off.

"Chen Kong. Step back. Now."

"O-oh… r-right. Yes, okay."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end