Chapter 38: Second Awakening (Combined)

Chapter 38: Second Awakening (Combined)

Rong Mi heard an eerie, ethereal voice.

Similar to the way the Abyssal Butterfly in Space City enunciated, yet vastly different.

The voice resonated directly within Rong Mi's mental domain, filled with politeness.

"I'm glad to meet you again."

"Unfortunately, this won't be our last encounter."

"I look forward to our next reunion."

Rong Mi broke out in a cold sweat.

He abruptly looked out the window, pressing his hand against his temple. Energy swirled instantly within his mental domain, searching for the enemy that had infiltrated it.

He directed his gaze towards the epicenter of the explosion.

The myriad of scarlet energy threads transformed into thousands of palm-sized butterflies that fluttered outward.

They were composed purely of energy, visibly downsized by several dozen times compared to the ice butterflies that were similar in size to actual mechas. Nonetheless, they featured bright red bodies, extremely pale blue wings, and an abundance of venom glands on their wings.

As they swirled and expanded, the interconnected red venom glands formed a twisted red eye that stared directly at Rong Mi.

Unconsciously, Rong Mi held his breath.

As the explosion's energy dissipated, their colors gradually faded. In a moment, the miniature ice butterflies vanished like illusions, leaving no trace behind.

Yet, Rong Mi's retinas seemed to retain the image of that eye, causing a chill to run down his limbs.

Until he heard a familiar, slightly cold voice.

Weaker than usual.

"Rong Mi."

Rong Mi immediately turned back.

It met another pair of eyes.

Icy blue, sharp yet serene and tranquil.

"Awake," Rong Mi murmured. "Don't move, I'm bandaging your wound."

Lu Yi was held in Rong Mi's embrace.

The General's head rested on Rong Mi's shoulder. He had just slipped into a brief unconscious state, his gaze unfocused.

At that moment, the glint in those icy blue eyes was just beginning to coalesce, not yet clear and bright.

The admiral's back was a mangled mess, and medical droids were busy disinfecting and bandaging the wounds.

Rong Mi propped himself up, reaching into the robotic medic's chest cavity to retrieve a vial of mental energy replenisher.

"Open your mouth." Rong Mi uncapped the mental energy supplement and brought it to Lu Yi's lips, intending to feed him.

Lu Yi: "..."

The general shifted his body, intending to sit up straight to receive it. Rong Mi followed his movement, assisting him in adjusting his posture slightly, but in doing so, inadvertently pressed down on his arm.

"Gently now, don't move," he whispered. "Drink it quickly."

A moment of silence passed as Lu Yi sensed the gentle pressure of Rong Mi's glass bottle against his lips. Eventually, he opened his mouth.

The admiral's lips were beautifully shaped, but their color tugged at one's heart with concern.

Thanks to the initial success of the mental domain's healing and the brief duration of the confrontation, his mental domain stabilized promptly, preventing any mishaps.

Rong Mi gently pressed her lips together, offering Lu Yi a nutrient tube to drink from as she watched him close his eyes.

However, Lu Yi didn't rest but merely closed his eyes to gather his thoughts.

When he opened them again and gazed at Rong Mi, his gaze was utterly clear.

Lu Yi asked, "What did you see in the explosion just now?"

Rong Mi replied, "..."

Rong Mi: "Huh? What?"

Lu Yi: "You don't look well."

Being close, he could discern the gravity and surprise hidden in Rong Mi's eyes, along with the accelerated breath of the young man compared to usual.

Lu Yi: "You've been sweating quite a bit."

Rong Mi: "..."

Indeed, he had broken out in a cold sweat.

It was unclear how much was due to the Ice Butterfly's fright and how much was because of Lu Yi's presence.

Rong Mi exhaled softly.

Rong Mi: "You should rest first."

Lu Yi: "I am resting."

Rong Mi: "…Don't joke around."

"Ouch." Lu Yi closed his eyes. "Talking helps me divert my attention."

Rong Mi: "…"

Rong Mi held onto him, sensing that despite Lu Yi's efforts to suppress it, he was still trembling slightly from the excruciating pain as the medical robot tended to his extensive wounds.

In Rong Mi's opinion, if someone else had suffered such large burns from energy exposure, they would have screamed in agony by now.

Rong Mi turned to glance at Silver Wolves again.

Ayin was lying beside Rong Mi, resting against his leg, while a medical robot bandaged its paws.

Ayin's wolf claws, which were already injured, were now both front paws wrapped up like buns, and there was a burn on its back as well.

Exhausted from the recent battle, Ayin's eyes were half-lidded, slowly closing before abruptly snapping back open with heightened alertness. Having just experienced a surprise attack in an unfamiliar environment, Ayin couldn't find peace to sleep.

His ears swiveled, sensing Rong Mi's gaze. He let out a soft mewl and tilted his head slightly, resting it on Rong Mi's lap.

It was a rare gesture, uncertain whether it was a display of affection or reassurance.

Rong Mi gently stroked the uninjured hind paw of the creature.

"I'm sorry," he apologized to Lu Yi and Ayin, "Next time, don't risk yourself to protect me..."

"You're our healer," Lu Yi calmly interrupted, "Not protect you?"

Rong Mi: "..."

After a moment of silence, Rong Mi chuckled softly.

"Don't twist my words," he said with a hint of resignation, "I'm not one of those healers with low mental strength who truly need protection."

And... he knew that Lu Yi's actions weren't rooted in Rong Mi's role as a healer.

If the ones standing alongside Lu Yi and Ayin had been ordinary Federation citizens or soldiers, they might have made the same choice.

...To protect the "weak."

These two words carried no derogatory connotation, but simply referred to a difference in strength.

When confronting Ice Butterfly's mental power just now, Rong Mi sensed that Lu Yi's mental strength level had surged repeatedly within a short span of time. Even Ayin's mental energy fluctuations had significantly increased.

...Far surpassing Rong Mi's current S-class strength, even exceeding the 2S level.

Rong Mi was more accustomed to being the protector.

In his past missions, even when faced with danger, he would fight with his back against the wall, making a desperate counterattack. He had never before been shielded under someone else's protective umbrella like this.

Such protection was invaluable.

But it wasn't easy to accept.

Rong Mi guessed that his expression might have looked somewhat disheartened, or perhaps his eyes hadn't concealed the profound self-reproach welling up inside him. As a result, Lu Yi had invoked the healer's role as a means to comfort him.

Truly unfortunate.

To have the injured console him instead.

He looked at Lu Yi.

The general's lashes fluttered slightly from the pain of the bandaging.

Lu Yi's voice was gentler than usual, "You still have a long future ahead."

Endless possibilities for growth.

Rong Mi: "..."

There was nothing extraordinary in Lu Yi's tone, but Rong Mi found himself inexplicably disliking the way he spoke those words.

"You have a long future too," the young man replied, addressing Lu Yi with the same sentiment.

After a moment of silence, he glanced at the medical robot tending to Lu Yi's wound before speaking, "I saw Ya Die's eyes."

"...No, it's the gaze of an Ice Butterfly even more powerful than a Baida Butterfly. I've never encountered such a high-ranking insectoid before."

"I saw it, and I heard its voice."

"I sensed it speaking to me in my mental domain, but when I scanned my own domain, I found nothing out of the ordinary," the young man frowned slightly. "Maybe I should get a mental imprint check from Gem Rabbit."

"The lack of direct contact means that even a higher-level Ice Butterfly wouldn't be able to leave a mark in your mental domain," the admiral reassured him. "There's no need to worry."

"What you 'heard' were unique energy waves emitted by the insectoid," the admiral explained.

The medical robot had wrapped Rong Mi's upper body entirely in bandages.

Though the pain remained, it was somewhat alleviated after the wound cleaning and dressing.

Supported by Lu Yi, Rong Mi sat up and reached out to receive a brand new military jacket offered by the medical robot.

The old one had been charred by the explosion and then torn apart by the robot, ending up in the trash bin.

Lu Yi asked, "What did it say?"

"Speaking to me," Rong Mi sneered. "Polite words, but I suppose it's regretful that we escaped and is looking forward to our next encounter for the kill."

Lu Yi draped a coat over his shoulders, protecting his injured back as he leaned diagonally on the chair.

Rong Mi frowned. "Go to the rest chamber first."

"No need," Lu Yi glanced at his communication bracelet. "There's an emergency meeting coming up soon."

Rong Mi: "…."

Indeed, messages were continuously popping up on Lu Yi's communication bracelet. For a general, military matters took priority while he was still awake.

Lu Yi: "Carry on."

Rong Mi's expression showed some dissatisfaction. He wanted to urge Lu Yi to rest but didn't have the grounds to do so. He pressed his lips together in displeasure but ultimately continued speaking.

What he had to say was indeed a significant matter.

"It uses very polite language. More human-like than any Arachne I've encountered."

"I'm not sure if you noticed, but its energy level is far greater than that of the Yadi. It's not just a quantitative increase—it's a qualitative leap in hierarchy."

"It might be... an evolved form of the Yadi."

Rong Mi's voice was strained.

During the era of interstellar nomads, he had never encountered a Zerg of such a caliber!

The Yadi was already a terrifying adversary.

With humanity's current strength, every battle against the Yadi took a massive toll, with losses being disastrous and victories hard-won.

Rong Mi had always believed that the Yadi was the pinnacle of Zerg evolution.

And for the Yadi to evolve once more... This was definitely not good news!

The oppressive feeling that this Ice Butterfly, evolved from the Yadi, gave Rong Mi was truly terrifying.

Using himself as a benchmark, Rong Mi could clearly deduce that, with humanity's current technology and fleet, the chances of killing this butterfly were slim.

"The price... is beyond his imagination," Rong Mi said solemnly. "We need to inform the military and discuss countermeasures."

Lu Yi looked at him for a moment before calmly responding, "The military has records."

Rong Mi: "Wait, what?"

In disbelief, he turned to Lu Yi.

... Had such a high-ranking Ice Butterfly ever appeared? Yet there was no record of it anywhere!

Not even during the Interstellar Nomadic Era had they observed the aftermath of an Arachne's further evolution!

In the hundreds of years of conflict between fleets and the insectoid race, or within the human territories under insectoid rule... such a discovery had never been made.

Based on Rong Mi's energy perception from his recent encounter...

If this were true, many fleets might have already been destroyed! The Interstellar Nomadic Era should have come to an end for humanity!

Lu Yi: "Extremely rare. There has only been one recorded case in the past."

"Following the Academy's naming convention, it's referred to as the Metamorphosis."

"The conditions for the Metamorphosis's appearance are incredibly stringent. The Academy's research indicates that it takes at least a century for a creature to fully evolve into one."

"The military first encountered a Metamorphosis a decade ago." Lu Yi furrowed his brow. "We believed we had eradicated it back then."

"But it seems... it's still alive."

"Due to the Metamorphosis's immense strength, which could easily spark public panic, information about it is highly classified. Many citizens and even new military members are unaware of its existence."

Pausing in his speech, he looked directly at Rong Mi. "You haven't seen one either."

In that moment, Rong Mi sensed that Lu Yi's words held a hidden meaning.

He seemed to have gleaned something significant from Lu Yi's gaze, as if he had confirmed Rong Mi's true identity and seen through his origins.

Rong Mi did not avoid Lu Yi's gaze.

"Yes," Rong Mi replied, anticipating Lu Yi's next question.

He could sense that Lu Yi was speculating about his true identity.

He felt that Lu Yi was on the verge of revealing that he was not the original soul inhabiting this body, and then... no matter what inquiries or suspicions the admiral might have, he intended to answer truthfully.

Lu Yi had protected him from the investigation team's questions, and in return, Rong Mi had divulged quite a bit of information to influence humanity's future indirectly.

Rong Mi knew he had an obligation to answer Lu Yi's queries, for no one wished to be kept in the dark by their ally.

However, Lu Yi merely acknowledged him casually and continued their previous conversation. "Cheng Die can open multiple spatial wormholes simultaneously."

Rong Mi's pupils constricted slightly.

"Multiple?!" His attention shifted abruptly from his identity issue as he leaned forward involuntarily, asking eagerly.

"The upper limit is unknown," the admiral said calmly. "We didn't allow it to fully demonstrate this ability."

Lu Yi's narratives were always succinct, barely a few words. However, Rong Mi, having just clashed with Chengdie's mental energy, could picture the brutality of that battle a decade ago.

So... was it this Chengdie? In the previous timeline, it had resurrected and launched the sudden assault that forced humanity to flee.

Though the human defeat in that attack could be attributed to military mismanagement and traitors from the Ice Butterfly Symbiosis Association, the sudden appearance of numerous wormholes was undoubtedly the catalyst.

Rong Mi: "You said... ten years ago, you had actually managed to kill it."

"Yes," Lu Yi's expression turned cold. "There was an explosion on the battlefield, Chengdie's body turned to dust, and its unique mental energy waves dissipated."

"Looking at it now, that wasn't enough to completely end its existence."

"It's still alive."

Perhaps not fully restored, maybe recuperating...

Rong Mi furrowed her brow.

"It left its mental energy imprint on the Yadian's mental domain, trying to hinder human research on Yadians and Chengdies. It aimed for more than that."

Rong Mi: "We have to find it and kill it again."

Lu Yi: "What's inside Yadi is just a fragment of Cheng Die's spiritual energy. Back then, when we fought, his spiritual energy was much stronger."

Rong Mi: "..."

"Looks like we've got quite a task on our hands," Rong Mi muttered. "Find the fragments and destroy them one by one..."

The military would indeed be occupied.

Rong Mi was eager to help but didn't know where to start.

From the fact that this fragment was hidden within Yadi, it was clear that finding concealed spiritual energy fragments wouldn't be easy, nor could it be accomplished overnight.

What he could do right now was to intensify his training and continue enhancing his own spiritual energy strength.

...At least in their next confrontation, he couldn't allow Cheng Die's spiritual pressure to overwhelm him as powerfully as an avalanche or tsunami, as it had just done.

Lu Yi observed Rong Mi, reading his thoughts through his gaze.

The despondency in the young man's eyes had vanished, replaced by unwavering determination and a deeper sense of combativeness.

The corners of Lu Yi's lips curved up slightly.

"There's no need to rush," he said. "You're familiar with the second awakening of the human spirit domain."

"I've heard Chen Shu and Commander Zhang Lingyu mention it," Rong Mi nodded. "But I don't know much about it."

It seemed to be another peculiarity of the Radiant Era, something Rong Mi had never come across before.

"The second awakening of the spirit domain significantly enhances your abilities," Lu Yi explained calmly. "It allows you to open a domain field, controlling the events within it. With the strength and vitality of your spirit, the signs of this awakening should manifest soon."

"After the awakening, its power won't overwhelm you like an overwhelming tidal wave or a crushing mountain."

"You'll be evenly matched opponents."

"So there's no need to worry," Lu Yi emphasized. "Don't be too hard on yourself."

Rong Mi tilted his head to look at Lu Yi.

This person was indifferent to himself but overly concerned about others.

He muttered inwardly and nodded at Lu Yi.

"Not strict," Rong Mi said seriously. "I've always done what I can."

He wouldn't neglect his training, that was for sure.

"What are the signs of a second awakening?" Rong Mi was quite curious.

"Abnormal release of mental energy," Lu Yi pointed at his eyes. "The most noticeable external manifestation is a change in eye color."

Rong Mi: "..."

Rong Mi came to a realization.

"It's like how your eyes turn silver when you release a high amount of mental power."

"That's right," Lu Yi nodded.

"An abnormal eye color during non-combat periods indicates the commencement of the Awakening phase. Once the process is complete, the unusual hue will be concealed once more," he continued. "I'll be observing your Awakening state closely."

"Be cautious until your Second Awakening is finished."

"That mature Butterfly is eager to eliminate you before your Awakening."

"Mature Butterflies do not wish for human evolution. Just as we don't want high-level Ice Butterflies to evolve into Sub-Butterflies, nor do we want Sub-Butterflies to advance to maturity,"

"Certainly, high-ranking Ice Butterflies are sentient beings." Rong Mi pondered over this new information. "Admiral, is your 'Domain' a result of your Second Awakening?"

Then why didn't it target Lu Yi first?

Rong Mi clearly recalled that the mature Butterfly's initial assault was directed at him.

Lu Yi perceived the young man's curiosity from his expression.

The Admiral shook his head and replied softly, "No."

"I've already failed my Awakening."

"Losers have no second chances to start anew," Lu Yi spoke with an unsettling calmness. His icy blue eyes betrayed no emotion, yet Rong Mi held her breath at that instant.

Anybody could fail and let a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip through their fingers.

But somehow, at some point, Rong Mi began to believe that such misfortune shouldn't befall Lu Yi...

He shouldn't have to bear the regret and pain of it.

Though the Admiral's expression was serene, not a trace of negative emotions showing,

Rong Mi was convinced that Lu Yi had, without a doubt, hoped for his abilities to improve.

"The second awakening has never been successful in human history," Lu Yi stated matter-of-factly. "However, my mental strength did increase significantly after my failed attempt. It was just enough to hold my own against Chengdie."

"But my mental domain is in terrible shape. Using mental power could lead to my death at any moment, and that wouldn't be its primary objective."

Lu Yi's words pulled Rong Mi out of her inexplicable sentiment. She couldn't resist tapping lightly on his knee, a subtle reaction.

If it weren't for the concern over Lu Yi's wounds, he could have pushed back even harder.

"Don't talk nonsense!" This time, he was genuinely angry, voicing his displeasure strongly. "Who curses themselves on purpose?!"

"The depth at which I enter your mental domain has increased with each successive treatment, and the Ice Butterfly poison is gradually being removed..."

Rong Mi held his breath, falling silent halfway through his sentence.

It was true that Lu Yi's condition was not suitable for frequent use of his mental powers.

But an Admiral had to endure such demands.

Whether it was this instance or their previous battles.

If only he were present without Lu Yi... the outcome wouldn't have been too favorable.

He wasn't powerful enough yet.

Rong Mi didn't scold himself, but he couldn't help feeling unhappy about it.

A tranquil silence reigned within the cabin.

After a moment, Ayin, who had been lying beside Rong Mi, suddenly tilted its head towards her, actively inviting her to stroke its head.

Rong Mi: "..."

She stroked the wolf's head and looked up at Lu Yi. "You're asking Ayin to seduce me with its charm?"

Lu Yi: "Yes."

"You've saved both me and Ayin on numerous occasions."

It started with the Icy Butterflies on the Desolate Star.

If not for Rong Mi, the consequences would have been disastrous.

Lu Yi was uncertain if his mental domain could have withstood the battle on the Desolate Star, let alone whether he could have survived.

Rong Mi had no insight into the admiral's thoughts, but she found no fault in Lu Yi's words.

His mood improved slightly.

Rong Mi absentmindedly stroked the wolf's head, returning to the main topic at hand.

"So it left a mental energy bomb inside Adai, to detonate upon its death and devastate its body, while also attacking us?"

Below the starship, the Adai disassembly zone was now a ruin.

Amidst the chaotic, blackish-red soil that billowed with smoke, Adai's corpse had been torn asunder; not a single piece larger than a palm could be found.

Rong Mi: "…We survived. But its primary objective succeeded, didn't it?"

Lu Yi: "No."

The military knew of Adai's appearance and had naturally taken precautions.

Though there wasn't much they could do.

While the Research Institute's laboratory was searching for a way to completely seal off Adai's evolution into a mature form, they had conducted autopsies on Adai to uncover the key points of its transformation.

They believed that the crucial evolutionary organ was located in the upper abdomen of the Subbutterfly, near its heart or the base of its wings.

Consequently, in the disassembly of Yade, the first segment to be taken apart and stored within the spatial twist is Yade's second insectoid body segment, a location deemed by the Research and Development Department as the most likely to unlock the secrets behind Yade's advancement.

During military decommissioning procedures, should the operation be under attack, those involved in the process would prioritize securing that section of the insectoid body into a spatial button at all costs.

In the event of any abnormality, all working mechas would prioritize protecting the mecha that held the Arachne's Chrysalis Space Button.

Despite the widespread belief that the previous butterfly had been vanquished and that another would not emerge for a century,

Despite neither the Third Legion nor Lu Yi himself anticipating the sudden assault of the Chengduo, their training had never slackened.

Lu Yi lifted his hand to tap on the communicator. "Sun Ming."

The intense energy waves that had abruptly appeared had dissipated. Although the signal was still somewhat weak, communication was now possible.

Through the intermittent connection, the voice of the Third Legion's commander could be heard.

"It took you half a day to answer the call..." Sun Ming said. "Are you still alive? What about Rong Mi?"

"Good heavens, how could this be..." The admiral exclaimed, looking up at the sky. "I should have taken your advice. Now I'll go back and write a confession... Damn it, where did this Cheng Die come from? Wasn't she supposed to be dead?!"

Lu Yi inquired, "Have we successfully acquired the critical components of the Subterranean Insect?"

"Of course I received it!" Sun Ming exclaimed. "If it were truly destroyed, how could I have the face to be talking to you now? How could I live up to the expectations of those fellow mecha pilots..."

There was a momentary pause in Sun Ming's voice. Overcoming the regret and sorrow from the loss of his troops, he sternly said, "Something sinister is at play on Barren Star."

"You said, we have been at odds with the Zerg for so many years...and suddenly there is Huangxing and Yadie, and now there is an adult butterfly resurrected...this matter. Could it be that the Zerg is going to make a big move??”

"Didn't that butterfly transform die in your second awakening, self-destructing and killing itself? ! Could it have come back to life? Its remains were stored in the confidential laboratory of the research institute... This surely calls for the Supreme Commander's inquiry!"

"What suspicious matter were you referring to earlier? Could it be an intuition born from your encounter with Cheng Die?"

"Not at all," Lu Yi replied, glancing up at Rong Mi.

Observing the young man's furrowed brow, he read his lips, silently uttering, "Self-detonation?!"

"Something that happened ten years ago," Lu Yi said in a low voice.

Sun Ming: "What? Admiral, what did you say? Why did your voice suddenly become so soft?"

"Jeweled Hare," Lu Yi turned back to the holographic screen.

Sun Ming: "Huh?! Jeweled Hare?!"

"What kind of Jeweled Hare? Are you talking about the domesticated star beast I know?!"

Rong Mi looked up towards the other end of the cabin.

Chen Shu had stayed after summoning the medical robot, fearing that these two formidable figures might need him for some errand after their intense exchange.

During this time, he had overheard them mentioning psychic domain treatment, classified information, and something about becoming a butterfly. Out of curiosity, he had pretended not to notice and remained standing where he was.

Their eyes met, and Chen Shu coughed dryly before promptly declaring, "Actually, I didn't hear anything!"

Rong Mi: "..."

Rong Mi approached Chen Shu.

"You knew quite a bit already," he recalled Chen Shu's mention of the secondary awakening and glanced back at Lu Yi, suddenly realizing that Lu Yi had intentionally allowed Chen Shu to overhear their conversation.

Rong Mi: Seems like Chen Shu comes from an extraordinary background.

Not from a high-ranking military or federal official's family, but perhaps related to Lu Yi in some way.

Unconcerned about Chen Shu's background, Rong Mi didn't inquire further. Instead, he looked down at Damon, the rabbit Chen Shu held in his hands, now curled up into a ball, and asked with concern, "Is Damon alright?"

Damon, who had been nestled in Chen Shu's embrace, perked its ears slightly at the sound of its name, revealing its sparkling black eyes.

"Oink." Recognizing Rong Mi, it gave a pitiful cry before retreating back into its ball.

"He's still a bit scared," Chen Shu said, stroking the rabbit. "Damon didn't expect to encounter something so frightening."

The Silver Wolves watched the terrified rabbit for a moment, swishing their tails gently. Suddenly, one of them let out a low growl.

"Ow."

Ayin leaned out slightly, his wolf claws resting on Rong Mi's arm, issuing a deep and steady howl, as if conversing with the rabbit.

Curious, Rong Mi looked down at Ayin, then at the rabbit.

Damon's rabbit, after listening for a moment, cautiously revealed its eyes again, glancing at the Silver Wolves, then at Rong Mi, and finally at Lu Yi.

Ayin howled, "Awooo."

Damon exclaimed, "!"

The rabbit glanced between Rong Mi and Lu Yi before tentatively stretching its body forward slowly, no longer cowering in fear.

Chen Shu asked, puzzled, "What did your wolf say?"

This was too immediate an effect!

Rong Mi cast a glance at Ayin.

"He's comforting Damon, perhaps?" he speculated.

The young man pondered for a moment, scratched his wolf head, and joked, "If Ayin were to say it, he'd probably boast that he's incredibly powerful! Even more so with General Lu Yi! We'd be unstoppable, slaying gods and buddhas alike. One butterfly wouldn't be a match, let alone two. There's no need to be afraid."

Chen Shu: "…"

Chen Shu thought for a bit and mindlessly agreed, "That's true."

"Once you successfully awaken for the second time! Teaming up with General Lu Yi! We'll surely make Chengdie regret ever crossing us!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance in Lu Yi's direction again and sighed softly, "General Lu Yi was supposed to succeed in his awakening."

A tinge of regret unconsciously crept into Chen Shu's tone.

Rong Mi didn't respond, but a slight twinge stirred in her heart.

Sun Ming had just mentioned Cheng Die and self-destruction. Based on her understanding of Lu Yi, Rong Mi had already guessed the direction the story would take.

"General's awakening was the first time Cheng Die appeared before humans, right in the battlefield," Chen Shu confirmed. "I don't have the specifics, but... I heard that the General voluntarily interrupted his awakening to join the fight."

Rong Mi gently flexed her knuckles.

It was something Lu Yi would do.

Interrupting the ascension of one's mental power inherently affected the mental domain. Then, to engage in high-intensity combat immediately after... It would defy logic if no lasting injuries were left!

His palms felt somewhat cold as he recalled the state of Lu Yi's mental domain... The deeper he delved, the more chaotic it became, making treatment increasingly challenging.

Rong Mi: ...Difficult be damned! Isn't it just a matter of time?! If a year isn't enough, then two or three years! I'll heal him, no matter what!

He had once been the ace healer on the main battleship; he refused to believe he couldn't heal Lu Yi!

Chen Shu seemed to have connected the dots regarding Lu Yi's mental domain situation as well.

"Ami," the scout approached Rong Mi confidentially, "I just saw you calming Admiral Lu Yi's mental domain... So you're his healer, right?!"

"You're truly amazing!" Chen Shu clapped his hands in delight upon seeing Rong Mi nod, mindful of keeping his volume down. "Although we repelled the Ice Butterflies in the last battle, the First Legion suffered severe losses, and the admiral was gravely injured! I've always worried that if the admiral were to leave the military or, heaven forbid, pass away... the First Legion might experience unrest."

"The First Legion has been swift and decisive in their actions these past few years, serving as the backbone of the military. However, they've also made many enemies, especially among those with unclear minds in the safe zones who have no idea how great the threat of the Ice Butterflies is. They're constantly causing unnecessary trouble."

"If no one within the First Legion has the strength to suppress those people, and they seize the opportunity to suppress us, the defense line in the war zone will weaken. In the event of another major battle, things won't be so easy. With the Ice Butterflies seemingly up to their old tricks again..."

Rong Mi sensed something amiss in Chen Shu's words.

... Could Lu Yi's influence on the First Legion be that immense? It made him almost believe that Lu Yi was the backbone and standard-bearer of the entire legion, perhaps even its commander-in-chief.

But that couldn't be right! Rong Mi recalled vividly that the last two commanders of the First Legion before the Ice Butterfly assault, based on their photos, were both over a hundred years old with nearly all-white hair!

Wait a minute.

Rong Mi felt like he had overlooked some crucial detail.

He opened his mouth, about to inquire, but at that moment, Lu Yi, who had been communicating with Sun Ming, turned his head slightly and said calmly, "Chen Shu."

"Present!" Chen Shu, resembling a schoolboy called upon by his teacher, promptly stood up with his rabbit in arms and walked towards Lu Yi's seat as instructed.

"Your reconnaissance mission records from the past three years with the Third Legion are available, including your battle pet's physiological data and reactions while inside the hoverball. If you consent, we can analyze these records alongside the ongoing tests on Damon to further verify the Gemrabbit's response."

Chen Shu, stroking the rabbit, nodded immediately.

Lu Yi tilted the screen towards the scout, revealing Sun Ming's embarrassed face on it. He looked at Chen Shu and said, "Ah Shu, how about withdrawing your resignation application for now, and think it over again?"

Chen Shu shook his head. "There's no need, Admiral."

"The Third Legion's Beast Tamer Medics don't have much respect for Damon. They've always looked down on him and refused to treat him. I'm not at ease continuing to stay in such an environment."

"Hmm..." Sun Ming scratched his head. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he couldn't help but feel ashamed that Chen Shu so openly criticized their legion in front of Lu Yi.

Scratching his head, he didn't say much, only responding, "Alright then."

Rong Mi stood behind Chen Shu, recalling something. Out of Sun Ming's sight, she mouthed silently to Lu Yi as a reminder, Ask Lai Li!

That was the mechanic Chen Shu had mentioned, the one the Gemstone Rabbit feared.

Lu Yi nodded at Rong Mi but severed the communication with Sun Ming.

"I've checked," he said.

Upon hearing Ayin's account of Rong Mi's hint, he had already conducted an investigation.

Prior to the Barren Star incident, Lai Li aided the 3rd Legion in calibrating a new Zerg lure device and embarked on a military flight route back to the Capital Star. The accident at Barren Star unfolded just as he arrived at the spaceport city orbiting near the Barren Star.

Rong Mi paused in his actions. "A Spatial City where the Azure Butterflies appeared and battles took place?"

"Yes," Lu Yi nodded. "His name is on the list of missing persons."

"Search and rescue operations are still ongoing near Spatial City. We'll be notified immediately if anyone is found."

Rong Mi: "..."

Rong Mi: "…This is too coincidental…"

Amidst the desolate star, an incident occurred; the elusive Yadao was lurking within the Spatial City. Coincidentally, Lai Li, the one that even the Gem Rabbit feared, had docked at the very same city.

At that time, they had also been stationed at the Space City's military aerodrome, though they hadn't actually met Lai Li. It could be said that they had "passed by each other narrowly."

"Are you suspecting that Brother Lai Li has a connection with Ice Butterfly?" Chen Shu whispered. "N-No, that doesn't seem likely, does it?"

"I have a pretty good rapport with Brother Lai Li. Ever since he joined the Third Legion, I finally have someone to have heartfelt conversations with within the legion."

"And I've been recollecting intensively these past two days!"

"Damon does indeed... have nightmares every time he sees Brother Lai Li, and he doesn't dare to stick his head out much when Lai Li is around – he mostly stays hidden in my sleeve..."

"But it's not like, you know, that kind of fear," Chen Shu explained with effort. "It's more like... a person who's all muscle and scars, someone extremely ugly and frightening."

"Even if you know deep down that they're a good person, you'd still be... scared after seeing them. Mm..."

Rong Mi blinked.

"So what you're saying is," he ventured, considering the gem rabbit's sensitivity to the Zerg.

"That Lai Li, from Damon's perspective... his mental energy fluctuations exhibit characteristics similar to those of the Zerg."

"But he... is actually human?"

Chen Shu hissed, rubbing his arm.

"That sounds rather unsettling," he said with some difficulty. "But yeah, something along those lines..."

"So Brother Lai Li went missing in the previous battle?" There was concern in his tone, and he promptly activated his communication bracelet. "But I received messages from him afterward?"

"Tell me to focus less on stargazing and stop following that Deep Space Resonance band..."

Rong Mi: "...?"

Deep Space Resonance? The name sounded familiar, vaguely connected to the original owner's past occupation – they were a popular band on the Star Network.

"I had no idea Brother Lai Li was on the missing persons list in Space City..."

As Chen Shu spoke, he opened the Star Network to search for news related to the space station battle, hoping to find any updates.

He tapped into the network, then suddenly widened his eyes as he looked at Rong Mi, swiftly pushing the holographic screen in front of the young man.

"Wow, Ami!" the investigator exclaimed. "The top news on the Star Network... it's about you!"