Chapter 642: Master of Science Fiction

In the void, apart from Aio, Beth, Xu Sibo, and Fushan Miyuki, there was no one else; among them, all could sense each other, knowing none had spoken—under these circumstances, only an outsider could have spoken.

“Who?”

“Me.” Ye Nan slowly stepped out from the black hole, smiling as he greeted: “It’s been a long time, chosen ones. I don’t think I’ve brought shame upon myself.”

“How are you still alive?” Aio exclaimed.

“Simple.” Ye Nan’s lips curled slightly. “At the moment the Cosmic Emperor detonated, I had already won. The entire Milky Way acknowledged me as the new Master of Science Fiction. All technology, past and present, merged into me, granting me the power to withstand the explosion.”

Ye Nan smiled faintly. Though he had not delivered the fatal blow, he had inflicted the greatest damage upon the Cosmic Emperor—and thus, when the Cosmic Emperor self-destructed, he was chosen as the new Master of Science Fiction.

“Congratulations on becoming the Master of Science Fiction. Then Aio is yours to handle—deal with your own affairs.” Beth smiled warmly at Ye Nan, taking a small step back. The others followed suit.

“Divine Punishment Thunder.”

Aio struck first, his gun firing the opening salvo.

He knew full well he was at a dead end; surrender was impossible. Only a desperate, final strike could grant him a sliver of survival.

“Civilization Cannon.”

A shadow emerged behind Ye Nan—a massive cannon muzzle materialized, unleashing a blinding white light in an instant. Countless civilizations seemed to rise within the radiance.

This was the oldest Civilization Cannon. Civilization—civilization—was never peace. From the moment the cannon appeared, it stood in absolute opposition to the barbaric, fire-and-plow savages. This Civilization Cannon was the weapon that defended civilization: its muzzle pointed, countless civilizations followed, spreading enlightenment, transmitting culture, slaughtering alien races—it was an unrivaled weapon.

When the cannon roared, civilization followed. Fierce civilization clashed with barbaric alien races—and Aio was the barbarian, the alien.

The blinding white light devoured the Divine Punishment Thunder, devoured the golden divine barrier. Under Aio’s stunned gaze, it swallowed him whole.

"Barbarian." Ye Nan spat coldly, retracting the Civilization Cannon, then smiled at the others. "How was my performance, everyone?"

Fushan Miyuki and Xu Sibo both looked uneasy. They understood the fury of civilization contained within the Cannon—and they themselves were precisely those who had suppressed civilization’s spread.

Fushan Miyuki’s Rasenmon world was a samurai era, and due to her suppression, it had remained so. Xu Sibo’s Honghuang world was even more so.

They had no intention of developing civilization. In their eyes, technological civilization brought nothing but destruction to nature—and so they had always suppressed the birth of modern civilization. The moment any sign appeared, they eradicated it.

Beth was different. She had forged her own path: a magical civilization. She fused technology and magic, birthing a unique magical civilization. Though its level was low, it had taken shape.

Thus, Beth was not greatly troubled by the threat of the Civilization Cannon. But Fushan Miyuki and Xu Sibo feared it deeply.

Having slain Aio with a single strike and intimidated Beth, Xu Sibo, and Fushan Miyuki, Ye Nan’s smile deepened. “What brings you all to my Milky Way’s domain during this Dark Age of the End?”

“Isn’t it for the supermassive black hole in your Milky Way?” Xu Sibo drew the sword on his back. “We’ve reached the final moment. It’s time to meet that being.”

“I see.” Ye Nan frowned, then suddenly turned around—his back revealing the faint outline of the Civilization Cannon.

“What are you doing?”

“Do you want to start a war?”

“Ye Nan, don’t bring ruin upon yourself.”

Though the Civilization Cannon was not aimed at them, Ye Nan’s strange action made them wary.

“Civilization Cannon—Annihilation.” Countless civilizations flickered within the cannon’s barrel; blinding white light erupted from its muzzle.

The white light surged outward, engulfing the entire Milky Way. All creatures within—the insectoid race, the mindless beasts, everything that dared obstruct the birth or development of civilization—were utterly annihilated in the radiance.

“The spread of civilization requires the power of iron and blood. That is civilization.” Ye Nan retracted the Cannon, turned, and smiled at the three before him. “What do you think of my Civilization Cannon?”

“Excellent.” Fushan Miyuki’s face turned even paler.

“Not bad.” Xu Sibo’s expression was grim.

Only Beth’s expression remained calm. “A formidable attack.”

“Then let us enter together. Let’s see what lies within the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way.” Ye Nan smiled, tore open space, and stepped forward toward the Galactic Core.

Long ago, civilizations had observed a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. Legend claimed it expanded ceaselessly, ever seeking to devour the entire Milky Way.

Ye Nan himself had long ago made contact with the Galactic Core. His daughter, Ripley, had been captured by the shadowy force within it.

Having torn through space to stand before the Galactic Core, Ye Nan halted, gazing at the supermassive black hole with caution.

It wasn’t the black hole he feared. In truth, no matter how large or small, all black holes were the same to him.

It was the unknown being within that made him wary.

Behind them, Xu Sibo was wrapped in swordlight, Hakki carried Fushan Miyuki through the void, and countless deities chanted in welcome as Beth arrived.

“What, afraid to go in?” Xu Sibo sneered.

“Oh? Are you?” Ye Nan tossed a soft but sharp barb back at him.

“You—” Xu Sibo pointed at Ye Nan, speechless. If he dared enter, he wouldn’t have lingered here, nor resorted to provocation. Yet Ye Nan had the audacity to openly admit he was afraid—utterly shameless, truly invincible in his lack of dignity.

“What? Even our fearless Xu Sibo dares not enter?” Ye Nan mocked him again.

“Hmph. When did I ever claim to be fearless?” Xu Sibo swept his sleeve, adopting the posture of one too noble to speak with such a petty man.

“Enough quarreling. Now is the time for unity,” Beth interjected quickly.

“What’s happening?”

Fushan Miyuki suddenly cried out in terror: before her, the supermassive black hole surged violently, swallowing everything whole. (To be continued.)