"You were calling me?" Endymion turned around, looking at Lin Yun with a hint of disbelief in his voice. Had he heard her right?
"You're the only one named Endymion Lin," Lin Yun replied coldly. "Come here. I need to speak with you."
"Well, well, I didn't think you'd be interested in him, of all people," came a mocking voice. It was another beautiful woman—Lin Sisi.
Lin Sisi was attractive by most standards, but compared to Lin Yun, she was clearly outmatched. Her features were less refined, and her figure—especially in comparison to Lin Yun's stunning curves—left much to be desired. Particularly… up top, where Lin Sisi seemed to suffer from a serious lack of development.
"Lin Sisi, what I do is none of your business," Lin Yun snapped. It was obvious the two didn't get along. The Lin family was vast, its bloodline diluted over generations. Though they all shared the same surname, true familial bonds were rare.
"I'm only trying to help," Lin Sisi replied with a sweet, venomous smile. "Do you really think that trash can be of any use to you?"
Endymion didn't react. The word trash had long since lost its sting. She could repeat it a hundred times and it wouldn't affect him anymore.
"If that's the case, shouldn't you be happy about it?" Lin Yun retorted sharply. "And let me make one thing clear—I believe everyone has their own worth."
That caught Endymion's attention. His eyes flickered with surprise. In that moment, his opinion of Lin Yun shifted.
"Oh? Then tell me," Lin Sisi said, smirking, "what value does he have? Unless… his value lies in being a man?"
She turned to Endymion, her gaze suddenly laced with an indecent suggestion. "Yes… perhaps that's it. As a man, he might have some use for a woman like you."
"That's enough, Lin Sisi. Don't be so crude," Endymion finally snapped. Her words weren't just malicious—they were disgusting.
"Well, well," Lin Sisi grinned like she'd uncovered a secret. "You're actually defending her?"
The crowd around them looked equally surprised.
"Maybe my only worth is being a man," Endymion said calmly, "but I'm quite certain that worth will never be found on you."
"What did you just say?" Lin Sisi's expression darkened with fury.
"Oh, don't play dumb," Lin Yun cut in, smirking. "He means you're not his type. You're really not as charming as you think you are. Maybe try a mirror sometime."
For once, Lin Yun felt a strange warmth toward Endymion. She had always bested Lin Sisi in strength and looks, but the other girl had more influence in the family—and a sharper tongue. For the first time, she felt like she'd won a round, thanks to Endymion.
"Fine," Lin Sisi snapped, eyes filled with venom. "Endymion Lin, you've signed your own death warrant!"
He thought she might attack him then and there, but instead, she simply waved her hand and stormed off with her group.
With the spectacle over, the rest of the onlookers slowly dispersed, leaving only Lin Yun and the members of her squad.
"Yun-jie, she's basically threatening to backstab us during the trial," said a petite girl named Lin Xiaoya, who despite her size was a formidable Level 9 Mecha Warrior.
"She'd do it even without the threat," Lin Yun replied with a shrug. She turned to Endymion. "Anyway, come meet the rest of the team."
Aside from Lin Xiaoya, there were three men. One was tall and skinny—Lin Bai, a 1-star Mecha Knight who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. He clearly had no fondness for Endymion. The other two were only Level 8 Warriors: Lin Xiaopang, a round-faced guy who lived up to his nickname, and Lin Xiaozhuang, who ironically was quite slim despite his name. The two were twin brothers.
They didn't show open hostility, but neither did they show any warmth. To them, Endymion was little more than dead weight.
"We still don't know where the trial will take place, but we need to start preparing," Lin Yun said firmly. "That means mech maintenance, survival gear, everything. The trial lasts one month. Don't expect the family to supply food and water for the whole time."
"But Yun-jie, outside of mech combat, we don't know how to survive in the wild…" Lin Xiaoya looked helpless.
Lin Yun sighed. "Then prepare the best you can. That's all we can do. Dismissed. We leave early tomorrow."
The next morning, a transport ship departed from Millennium City's aerospace base, carrying thirty-six of the Lin family's young warriors, thirty-six mechs, and essential supplies.
Endymion remained in his private room aboard the ship, not particularly afraid of the dangers ahead. They'd be in transit for around ten days, giving him ample time to continue training in both magic and aura techniques.
No one came to disturb him. Even Lin Yun—the only one who didn't treat him with disdain—made no effort to speak to him. Endymion didn't mind. The solitude suited him.
Despite rumors of space pirates, none dared provoke the Lin family. The voyage passed without incident, and soon, they reached their destination.