Chapter 14 - Stelle's Contemplation

The scorching beam of light from the Doomsday Beast, even with its remaining power, was not something a human body could withstand.

By all accounts, Stelle's body should have been incinerated in an instant.

But...

BOOM————!

A massive surge of energy erupted from Stelle's chest, colliding with and neutralizing the beam.

Blinding light, deafening noise, and raging currents of air.

The platform was in chaos.

"This energy..." Himeko watched Stelle with a grave expression.

The beam dissipated, and the Doomsday Beast's head fell, dead for good.

Yet the energy within Stelle grew increasingly intense and violent.

"Ugh..." She clutched her chest tightly, letting out a pained groan.

She could feel it.

Her senses extended infinitely, traversing endless star seas, with time and space reduced to mere points and lines.

A voice echoed in her ear.

[It's time to set off...]

"What is this..."

Her body seemed to drift in the cosmos.

[Reach that end.]

"...Who are you?"

Countless images surged in her mind—past, present, future.

[Reach that conclusion with your will.]

[Look...]

[He has noticed you.]

A golden... wound?

An indescribable being appeared before her.

White hair, black skin, golden eyes.

From the divine wound in its chest, golden blood like lava flowed continuously.

But these external attributes were insignificant.

In an instant, Stelle felt the being's overwhelmingly deep and weighty essence.

He was Destruction itself.

He was Annihilation itself.

He was Ruin itself.

The mortals called him—the Aeon of Destruction, "Nanook."

"Stelle!"

Gu Tang's shout brought Stelle's thoughts back to reality.

She found the energy erupting from her body had transformed into twisted golden bands, radiating terrifying waves that shattered everything around her.

And Gu Tang stood in the midst of this fearsome energy, his hands interlocked with Stelle's, looking at her solemnly.

"Are you awake? How do you feel, can you control this energy?" Gu Tang asked as he saw Stelle come back to her senses.

Stelle frowned in pain, "Sorry... I... can't..."

"I see..."

Hearing Stelle's response, Gu Tang moved his face closer.

Those amber eyes kept approaching in Stelle's vision.

Her breathing quickened.

...Who would have thought that after waking up for only an hour, she would have to give up her first kiss.

Stelle sighed inwardly.

She closed her eyes gently and raised her head.

Despite considering herself daring, she found her hands trembling slightly.

Clenching her fists, she tried to suppress the trembling but couldn't control it.

Oh... please don't notice.

She prayed inwardly, clenching her fists tighter.

The next moment—

THUD!

Gu Tang's headbutt landed on her forehead.

Stelle's body slammed into the ground, even embedding into the floor.

As her consciousness faded into darkness, the raging energy gradually dissipated.

...

...

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Stelle slowly opened her eyes.

It seemed she was inside the space station, white lights, green space plants, and faint voices of staff in the distance.

"Hi, awake now?"

Gu Tang looked at her and said.

Stelle found herself lying on a bench in the space station, with her head resting on Gu Tang's lap.

"Mm..."

She responded softly.

The two fell silent for a while.

"Not getting up?" Gu Tang asked.

"I want to lie down a bit longer." Stelle adjusted her neck, making herself more comfortable.

"I see..." Gu Tang didn't insist, reaching out to smooth the messy strands of hair on Stelle's forehead, "Why did you save me, Stelle?"

Stelle's expression was calm, "When I woke up, a woman's voice echoed in my mind... She said: when you have the chance to make a choice, don't let yourself regret it..."

"And then?" Gu Tang raised an eyebrow, smoothing the last unruly strand.

"At that moment, I made a choice, and I don't regret it at all." Stelle showed a faint smile.

"...I'm a bit envious of you, Stelle. You're remarkable, with a heroic spirit. If it were me, I wouldn't risk my life to save others." Gu Tang sighed.

"No, you would. You would do everything to save someone." Stelle reached out, caressing Gu Tang's face, "If that 'someone' is still available, let me be that person... so you can become a remarkable hero too."

[Ding! Your affinity with Stelle +15]

[Ding! Mission 'Gu Tang's Affinity' activated]

[Mission Objective: Increase your affinity with Stelle]

[Reward: Gain enhancement skill points for each stage of increased affinity. The higher the affinity, the more skill points.]

"What an interesting mission..." Gu Tang muttered.

He then gently patted Stelle's head, "Alright, get up. Herta wants to see you."

---------------------------------

Gu Tang and Stelle arrived at a quiet corner of the space station.

Stelle noticed everyone gathered there—Dan Heng, March 7th, Himeko, and even Director Asta.

Upon seeing the two arrive, Asta ran over and hugged Gu Tang.

"You jerk..." she whispered in his ear.

Gu Tang noticed Asta's reddened eyes.

"Sorry, I was too reckless this time." He apologized honestly.

"Don't apologize to me! Hmph, I don't care about your life or death..." Asta murmured.

Standing nearby, Stelle couldn't help but think if her bat was as hard as Asta's mouth, she could have soloed the Doomsday Beast.

"Oh, it's really hot here, Asta."

A tender female voice came from behind.

Stelle turned to see a petite girl in Gothic attire elegantly walking towards them.

With beige long hair, a beret adorned with a purple flower, she looked noble and beautiful.

The black and purple Gothic outfit matched her petite figure, giving off an air of mystery and straightforwardness, fragility and arrogance.

Her purple eyes and flawless features made her look like a delicate doll.

No... not just like.

Stelle could clearly see that her exposed finger and knee joints were like a doll's ball joints.

The girl's body was indeed a delicate doll.

"Ah! Miss Herta!" Asta was startled, quickly letting go and stepping away from Gu Tang.

So, this is Herta, the true owner of the space station...

Stelle watched Herta, lost in thought.

Herta smiled at Asta, "It's okay, you can hug a bit longer."

"No no no... that's not necessary. Well... there's still a lot of work in the space station, I have to go! Excuse me, everyone!" Asta waved shyly and fled the scene.

Herta watched Asta leave, then looked at Gu Tang, "If Asta won't hug, I'll do it."

Her doll body hugged Gu Tang.

But this petite body only reached Gu Tang's chest.

Gu Tang showed a highly disgusted expression, "I've decided to charge you for hugs, one second for ten thousand credits."

Herta rubbed her face against him, saying, "No problem, just charge it to Asta's card."

Dan Heng crossed his arms, "Such a sinful man..."

March 7th pondered how many seconds she could hug with her savings.

Stelle considered that if hugs cost money, it would be more economical to knock the person out and do as she pleased.