056. Civil War Among the Echoers
"—Damn!"
Flanna felt a chill down her back, drenched in cold sweat.
Looking back through the monitor, she saw that two-thirds of the cloud cover over Karanz's western hemisphere had been sliced away.
Had she not reacted in time, with the pod quickly returning to the recovery orbit, she would have been dragged back to the ground along with it.
Falling from 300,000 meters, face first to meet the ground—a bloody, visceral scene to imagine.
"Anyway, the mission's done, right?"
For some reason, she kept calling Li Aozi, but he wasn't responding at all.
"How could something like this happen…"
The assault pod was pulled back to the space station, and Flanna stepped into the main ship, immediately using the onboard high-power communicator to call Li Aozi:
"Mr. Leoz? Mr. Leoz, are you there? I can't detect your signal…"
But even the onboard equipment couldn't connect to her employer.
"So strange… where did he go?"
Flanna looked out the window—the shocking atmospheric phenomenon over Karanz had caught many people's attention and hadn't dissipated yet.
She switched to the public channel to gather information. Not long after, she heard an emergency docking suspension notice broadcasted:
"Attention all travelers! Attention all travelers! This space station has been subjected to unknown gravitational wave interference; we are temporarily closing the port and interstellar routes. We have detected individuals from an unidentified organization battling in space at target region D-A-C (103, 143, 14559)… For your safety, please avoid approaching."
Flanna blinked:
"Battling?"
Boom!
Li Aozi tore through the ripples, bursting out of the atmosphere, facing a gravitational shield that easily distorted space-time, forming a non-continuous temporal zone—some parts frozen, some slowed, some sped up.
Space-time abilities are advanced in the universe, and gravity is the pinnacle of space-time abilities. For an [Echoer], briefly distorting space-time is as natural as eating or drinking.
As the unstable temporal zone spread, it soon disrupted the surrounding environment. Some civilian routes were distorted, computers encountered errors and crashed, and frantic voices filled the public channel, sparking widespread panic, which, to an extent, concealed his position.
But Li Aozi knew that this trick wouldn't fool them for long.
Hum—
In the next moment, a blue-purple wave tore through the atmosphere, a violent roar reverberating through the thin air, producing an unending echo.
"Get back here!"
Liuer's roar thundered like a storm between the sky and earth. Also a [Gravity] Omega wielder, also an [Echoer], with a higher level than Li Aozi, her aura was far stronger.
She didn't warp into space but used gravity like a slingshot, propelling herself into the cosmos, drawing a beautiful red line across the sky—the friction creating a blazing heat barrier.
"So she's still chasing. Fast, too."
Li Aozi turned around, seeing a stream of settlement notifications.
—————————
[Reward Settled]
B. "Wings of Freedom"—Liuer's confinement couldn't contain you; you chose to escape on your own strength.
Even with future hardships, you chose to face this tragic fate.
To rule all, transform into a dictator.
Reward: 5 million experience points.
C. "Serial Pursuit"—Before escaping, you gathered sufficient information, especially warning Liuer's students, successfully avoiding confrontation with them.
Broadcasted message:
"I know you, you're a citizen of the Fianis Federation, with two kids. I know your weaknesses and workplace. Don't think I can't find you—don't try to get clever, just leave Liuer. You don't want someone using your ID to get loans, borrow money, or commit murder, and you certainly don't want to never see your kids again, right?"
Reward:
Information collection completion at 100%, Liuer's students will not pursue you.
————————————
Finally resolved.
Although threatening people is a low, dirty tactic, it works well.
Thanks to Liuer's students being naive and kind-hearted, they never wanted to join their former mentor's research. Now threatened by Li Aozi, they hesitated little before agreeing not to provide any support.
Unexpected but within reason.
Liuer, unaware of the lack of reinforcements, planned to capture him in low orbit with the incoming cosmic assistance, missing her best chance.
She should have thrown Li Aozi to the ground, binding him with Tro's help.
Li Aozi counterattacked, checking other information with ease:
[You have completed the first Path advancement mission and have been promoted to the Path profession [Astral Echoer]]
[A new Path is now open to you]
[All your future promotions within the Dominion path will now be Path professions]
[Now, you can either shift to a new Path or pursue in-depth study on this Path.]
Dominion Path Announcement:
A. [Rugged Priest]
Requirements: [Dominion] Path
Prerequisite Professions: [Echoer]/[Missionary], Level 120
Must master at least one 'Psyche' type Omega Energy
Worldview: "Subjective Idealism"
Final Path: [Torchbearer]
"The rugged path, ascending to divinity."
B. [Sealed Magic Warrior]
Requirements: [Dominion] Path
Prerequisite Professions: [Echoer]/[Missionary]/[Psi User], Level 120
Must have mutated six times or more
Worldview: "Objective Materialism"/"Scientific Theism"
Final Path: [Conqueror]
"Returning from the dust, dazzling through the ages."
C. [Foul Warlock]
Requirements: [Dominion] Path
Prerequisite Professions: [Echoer]/[Missionary]/[Psi User]/[Mystic], Level 120
Must be of Evil Alignment
Worldview: "Objective Idealism"/"Social Darwinism"
Final Path: [Terminator]
"Nothing left through the ages, nothing but bones."
D. [Moon Chord Bishop]
Requirements: [Dominion] Path
Prerequisite Profession: [Astral Echoer], Level 120
Must master sequential Omega Energy—[Gravity], [Weak Force]
Worldview: "Subjective Materialism"
Final Path: [Starfall Master]
"When the moon chord rises, the universe shines."
——————————
Liuer rushed toward Li Aozi, ready to capture and drag him away.
In the vacuum of space, her gravitational waves echoed everywhere, causing interference across the cosmic region. Eight hundred and fifty-nine starports were forced to shut down, and everyone had to switch to gravitational wave communication to understand what was happening.
"Breaking news: high gravitational waves from planet Karanz have caused blockages in interstellar routes, mainly affecting Valkyrie Fortress, Fuldon Civilization, and Corrinment Agricultural Union…"
"Reporter from Ruipert News Network states: The source of the gravitational waves appears to be two unique advanced [Mutants]. Surprisingly, few have heard of a [Dominion] Path specifically controlling [Gravity]…"
"Reliable sources confirm the identities of the fighters—a Delta-grade and a Gamma-grade. Observers on the space station identified both as unaffiliated individuals, with the Delta-grade transcendent likely being the renowned former senior researcher of Life Commune, Alder Midkash Liuer."
"Exclusive! The Gamma-grade man fighting Liuer was reportedly seen just a day ago at Valkyrie Fortress…"
The Echo Blade slashed with deadly intent; Li Aozi instantly shifted gravity, pulling away. But Liuer also shifted gravity, changing direction mid-air, thrusting her sword forward.
Wham!
Li Aozi's chest was pierced again, and this time, Liuer didn't hold back, delivering a critical blow that almost wiped out his health.
Yet, instead of worry, Li Aozi laughed:
"You fell for it!"
He raised his hand and grabbed Liuer's wrist. Blue-purple neural tendrils shot out, and the [Extinguish Vitality] Omega Energy instantly imposed a no-recovery debuff on Liuer, while he drained her blood, pulling his health back to a safe line.
At the same time, Li Aozi's right fingertip danced as if pulling countless threads, creating a series of links.
[Death Link]!
Liuer shivered, feeling a chill despite space's average temperature of negative 270 degrees. Her bio-engineered body shouldn't have felt it.
Li Aozi's life was now linked to hers.
"Flamboyant tricks," Liuer, an old-school scholar, sneered.
"Narrow-minded," Li Aozi, the cutting-edge model, replied calmly.
In the next instant, the two shifted positions.
[Gravity]—Overload Acceleration!
Li Aozi tore through space ripples, accelerating away.
[Gravity]—Overload Acceleration!
Liuer opened her arms, transforming into a blue-purple meteor, pursuing him closely.
In the desolate cosmic domain, Li Aozi swung side to side, accelerating, influenced by the 'Truth Serum'. Entering battle seemed to shift his personality, making his actions seamless and efficient.
Unprecedented efficiency, unmatched control.
As he left Liuer behind, making sharp turns and facing his pursuer, he snapped his fingers.
Ping—
[Natural Ignition]
Vivid flames erupted from Li Aozi's body, and [Death Link] transferred the burns to Liuer, who groaned as scorching marks spread across her.
Heat transfers through three primary methods—convection, conduction, and radiation. In the vacuum of space, lacking air for convection, only conduction and radiation can cool, and while space is cold, living organisms can't rapidly cool down in typical ways.
Liuer's response was skillful and seasoned; her body expanded, expelling two spheres that spiraled, emitting intense light.
She became a spindle-shaped, azure fireball, radiating blood and light to dissipate heat, with the expelled spheres accelerating via centrifugal force.
No flashy tricks, no Omega Energy reliance, just precise calculations and a deep understanding of gravitational theory.
In seconds, her skillful actions turned the spheres into blistering, high-temperature, high-pressure fireballs.
Super Pressure Collapse!
In an instant, the brightness of Liuer's controlled spheres exceeded five times that of a sun. If lucky, this display of light would reach Azure Star in 500,000 years, giving unrefined scientists there a grand spectacle.
Li Aozi was instantly blinded, but instinctively, his body began evasive maneuvers, maintaining gravitational acceleration.
In space, you can't go too fast.
Force is relative; a bird hitting a Mach 3 fighter jet shatters, but the jet also endures the same impact force.
Both Liuer and Li Aozi capped their battle speed at fifty times the speed of sound, careful not to collide with space debris or meteors.
Their bodies were far from the sturdiness of a spacecraft's alloy.
Moreover, they weren't in the clean, safe interstellar public route but rather skirting the planetary atmosphere.
Civilian satellites, space junk, abandoned space stations, private flights, spy drones on military missions… countless obstacles.
Comparatively, it was like ballet dancing in a minefield, one misstep and it's game over.
Thud!
Li Aozi crashed into an abandoned rocket, shattering on impact, his body reduced to a bloody mess as Liuer momentarily hesitated, only for Li Aozi to activate his Omega Energy.
[Blood of Immortality]
Cells regenerated rapidly; Li Aozi's body reformed, bathed in blood, standing amidst the carnage in the space station.
"Thanks, Nomi."
Li Aozi cracked his neck, muttering.
One level gap—definitely tough.
Just as he spoke, he felt a surge of alertness; time around him slowed as the space station exploded, destroyed by a high-temperature, high-pressure sphere.
A 15-kilometer-long abandoned space station was consumed in an instant, igniting the cosmos in an explosive firestorm.
"Last forced dodge—tch, only four focus points; not nearly enough."
With the Elai species' [Hyper-Mind] racial talent, Li Aozi's body swiftly evaded the inferno, dodging most damage while retaining some flames.
Not a mistake—intentional.
This way, he could continuously inflict damage across the vast distance.
The [True Eye] scanned the surrounding space, but in the chaos of the gravitational wave echoes Liuer created, it masked most useful data, making it difficult to pinpoint her location.
But locked in combat, the red outline of his opponent updated in real time.
Liuer's bio-engineered body, carrying multiple pseudo health bars, swapped one bar for another as she endured, with level-based damage reduction making Li Aozi's attacks relatively weak.
Similarly, with the perfected Blood Demon build, Li Aozi's life was also exceptionally resilient. Liuer's recent collapse sphere attack, under normal circumstances, could breach force shields, ceramic-steel alloy armor, nano dragon-bones, and ignite a central fusion reactor to consume an entire planet-class warship.
No wonder they call [Echoers] "Ship Breakers"—lacking specialized attack skills, but devastating to ships.
Liuer's form shifted at high speed, clashing multiple times. Li Aozi realized he didn't need to draw his weapon.
She was faster than him, leaving no chance to draw his sword.
Her level was higher; he couldn't parry her attacks.
Both wielded gravity manipulation, both skilled with the same techniques, knowing each other's strengths.
To break through, he'd need some unconventional tactics.
"It's not over yet!"
Li Aozi's ethereal head ignited in flames, faintly glowing with purple-red stardust. Raising his forefinger, he aimed at her:
"Sequence Seventy-Seven • Calamity."
Catastrophe directed, focused on you.
Flying at high speed, Liuer suddenly gasped as her blood pressure dropped sharply and her electrolyte levels plunged.
"What's happening—colonized body experiencing a biological shutdown now?!"
Blood burst from Liuer's neck, her body swaying limply, limbs flailing like a marionette, lifeless.
"A biological shutdown during colonized operation has an eighty-million-to-one chance—how could I be so unlucky?!"