Chapter 90: Blazing Eye Heritage

The remaining three Trolls regretted not wearing their combat armor.

At the same time, they were terrified of exactly what kind of monster they were facing. To their shock, he had managed to endure the combined strikes of six Trolls without dying and even counter-killed half their squad.

Their Boss was currently locked in a brutal, death-match struggle with another Troll. Although they were not the sharpest tools in the shed, they knew the current situation was highly disadvantageous to them.

The three Trolls exchanged glances, let out deafening roars, and bared their gaping maws as they charged at Li Yu simultaneously from three different directions.

Activating the genes within their bodies, flames and water vapor surged from their forms, covering them in a layer of Fire Armor and Water Armor.

The vast majority of Trolls carried dormant genes for controlling fire or water elements, which generally awakened once they reached adulthood.

An even smaller fraction possessed more precious genetic abilities, such as Tu Rui, who had the Ice Element Gene.

The trio coordinated with surprising tacit understanding. One Troll unleashed a massive wave of flames to obscure Li Yu's vision, while the other two charged out from within the blazing inferno.

However, with Bullet Time and his incredible speed, Li Yu had more than enough time to react. His figure blurred into a Z-shaped phantom across the ground. Dragging his Scythe behind him, he unleashed a sweeping strike that carved a deep wound into the Troll on the left.

On the right, a Troll swung a fist the size of a boulder wreathed in roaring flames straight toward Li Yu's head. He raised an arm to block. Brown scales surfaced on his skin, with purple electric arcs dancing across them.

Boom!

A muffled impact rang out. A searing heat traveled down Li Yu's arm, but the attacking Troll was instantly paralyzed by the electric arcs, its arm locked stiffly in midair.

With a swift horizontal slice of the Scythe, the severed arm crashed to the ground. The scent of charred flesh drifted from the scorched wound. Thanks to the numbing shock of the electric arcs, the Troll did not even feel the pain immediately.

It simply stared blankly at its severed limb, unable to process what had just happened. But Li Yu was not about to wait for it to recover. Driving power from his waist, his spine popped like a coiled spring.

The sideways slash of the Scythe smoothly transitioned into a horizontal sweep, aiming directly for the creature's neck...

"Watch out!"

The Troll that had been casting fire from the periphery sprinted over frantically. It yanked its injured companion backward, narrowly allowing it to dodge the sweeping blade of the Scythe.

"Heh." A cold sneer played on Li Yu's lips. Gears ground, and steel springs fired. The blade at the head of the Scythe shot forward like a switchblade with blinding speed.

In the past, Li Yu himself had been caught off guard by this exact move from the Drey Brothers, leaving even his defensive scales completely shattered.

Let alone a Troll's soft, vulnerable throat...

Slash!

Blood sprayed wildly. The blade of the Scythe was not long enough to decapitate the creature completely, but that only resulted in a far gorier scene.

Pale red blood gushed endlessly like a ruptured fountain. The Troll's pupils gradually dilated, and after stumbling backward for a few steps, it collapsed heavily onto the ground.

Thud!

A heavy impact landed. A jolt of agonizing pain shot through Li Yu's back. The remaining Troll had not been idle, taking the opportunity to ruthlessly pound a massive fist into his spine.

Li Yu stumbled slightly but immediately twisted around, executing a horizontal slash. However, there was nothing but empty air behind him; the Troll had already retreated.

"Only two left." Rolling his neck to relieve the tension, Li Yu retracted the Scythe blade back to its original state, flicking off the residual beads of blood.

"Boss, no!" a wretched, desperate howl echoed from the other side of the battlefield.

The towering Boss was tightly bear-hugging the other wailing Troll. No matter how wildly the captive thrashed and attacked, the Boss refused to let go. Terrifying waves of scorching heat steamed from its entire body, and its eyes brimmed with a blinding mix of red and green light.

Fissures began cracking open across its skin. What oozed out was not pure blood, but a molten, magma-like liquid laced with raging flames.

"Boss, let me go! Let me go!" the trapped Troll shrieked in absolute terror, its fists relentlessly battering the Boss's skull.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Troll known as the Boss was bleeding from all orifices, yet its face remained entirely expressionless, as if it could no longer feel any pain.

As its massive frame trembled to the absolute limit, a blinding, searing light erupted outward. It exploded!

Several unidentifiable objects were sent flying through the roaring flames. One landed right next to Li Yu, rolling across the dirt a few times. It was a twisted, hideous, desiccated head.

The remaining two Trolls shuddered violently. They exchanged a single, horrified glance, their eyes entirely consumed by fear. Without a shred of hesitation, they turned and bolted.

"Trying to run?" Li Yu stared at their fleeing backs. "Isn't it a little too late for that!?"

"Halt!"

The two Trolls immediately froze in their tracks. A sharp sting pierced through Li Yu's head, causing him to frown. Moving with blistering speed, a flash of electric arcs illuminated the area, and another severed head hit the ground.

The last Troll broke free from the mental restraint, its will completely shattered. Bereft of any desire to fight and driven purely by the urge to flee, it was quickly caught by Li Yu and mercilessly cut down.

The battle had not lasted long, yet an entire six-man Troll squad now lay dead on the ground.

Li Yu looked at Mo Duo as she slowly descended to the ground. Her brows were deeply furrowed, and her complexion looked awful. However, this was clearly not the place to talk.

The trio promptly departed the area. It was not long before a few Marauders, drawn by the commotion, cautiously appeared. They stared in horror at the mutilated Troll corpses strewn across the battlefield.

They looked at each other in dismay, struck with profound shock. They knew immediately that the Black Skull legion was going to be absolutely furious over this.

Finding an isolated, quiet corner, the three finally stopped to rest. The primary reason was Mo Duo; her face was deathly pale, looking as if she might collapse and expire at any second.

"What's wrong?" Li Yu asked, ordering Purple Sniper to keep watch nearby. The weapon had been hammered out of shape by the Trolls and could barely maintain its transformations.

"I just activated the Blazing Eye Heritage... I'm a little unwell, but it's nothing major," Mo Duo replied, shaking her head. She massaged her temples, her slender figure swaying unconsciously, looking as though she would fall over at any moment.

"You don't look like it's nothing major," Li Yu remarked with a shake of his head. He supported Mo Duo's delicate arm and gently helped her sit down.

Mo Duo's limbs were slightly stiff, and an unnatural flush briefly touched her pale face, though under the current circumstances, it was difficult to notice.

"Old Six, you fucking got me killed!" On the other side, Hunter stood off to the side, cursing loudly into his Smart Terminal.

"Do you remember who dragged your sorry ass out of that Kodo Beast's stomach?"

"Do you remember..."

"How many damn times I've saved your life? And now you're trying to set me up?!"

Hunter cursed until his lungs burned, his face flushed crimson with rage. The person on the other end remained silent for a long time before finally speaking up. "Zeth, it's my fault..."

"I thought that even if this connection went sour, they would only deduct some Star Coins at worst. I never expected them to actually hunt you down..."

The voice was muffled and heavy, carrying a trace of deeply suppressed anger.

Hunter scoffed coldly. "So what? A simple 'my fault' covers it?"

"I will give you a proper explanation..."

The call abruptly ended. Hunter muttered a few more curses under his breath before shuffling over with a guilty conscience. He reached up, instinctively trying to tug down the brim of a hat, only to end up awkwardly rubbing his bald head.

He was the one who had secured the channel, yet it had resulted in them being hunted. Naturally, he felt too ashamed to face Li Yu.

Li Yu and Mo Duo sat close together. A gentle breeze brushed past, lightly lifting Mo Duo's long hair. Her brows remained tightly knit, her face ashen and completely drained of color. It was a sight that couldn't help but evoke a deep sense of sympathy.

The sky had grown dim. There was no real star in this system; only artificial light sources simulated the time cycles of the Star Glory Empire.

"Uh..." Hunter stared at the scene before him, momentarily stunned. He wanted to speak but didn't know what to say.

"It doesn't have much to do with you," Li Yu spoke up first, his expression somewhat indifferent. "After all, there was indeed a discount..."

"You win some, you lose some."

Hunter's heart sank. He had never seen Li Yu act like this before. He was being way too reasonable...

"Never forget reciprocity," Li Yu said, glancing at Mo Duo, who had her eyes tightly shut. "Otherwise, it is highly improper!"

"What are you planning to do?" Hunter felt a sudden chill run through his heart.

"Return the favor," Li Yu replied, his gaze fixed on the gradually dimming artificial light sources above.

...

Port Thirteen. This dock belonged strictly to the Black Skull legion. A massive fleet of Marauder spaceships was moored here. Although they varied wildly in design, and some were even severely dilapidated...

They all shared one defining feature: every single vessel bore the unmistakable insignia of a black skull.

Members of various interstellar races slung their arms around each other's shoulders, acting like sworn brothers. One could even spot a Lion-person chatting amicably with a Sheep-person.

There were a few isolated shipyards completely encased in metal, making it impossible to see what was inside. They effectively served as VIP docking bays.

A large, imposing entourage marched over from the distance. Leading the group was none other than Mavi.

Even though he was a Goblin, no one dared show him any disrespect. Wherever he passed, the rough Marauders immediately ceased their chatter to show reverence, thoroughly demonstrating Mavi's lofty status.

A look of sheer excitement painted his face. For all male organisms, a spaceship possessed an absolutely fatal attraction.

A high-quality spaceship was no different from a new wife... perhaps even more precious than a wife.

"Honorable Mr. Mavi..." In front of the shipyard, a sharply dressed Interstellar Human in a business suit had been waiting for some time.

Spotting Mavi's arrival, he hurriedly rushed forward, bearing a somewhat flattering smile. "I've finally had the pleasure of waiting for you..."

"Haha," Mavi laughed heartily. "The moment I received the news, I rushed over here as fast as I could."

"I wasn't talking about myself," the man replied, shaking his head. "I meant the Mavi. It has been waiting anxiously for you..."

"The Mavi." A thrill ran through the Goblin. This was his custom-ordered, high-end spaceship. It cost an astronomical sum, and he had eagerly awaited its completion for nearly half a year.

Right at that moment, his Smart Terminal buzzed. He glanced down, and instantly, his pupils contracted. His expression changed drastically, as if he had just read some earth-shattering news.

Forcing a stiff smile onto his face, he looked up and said, "An urgent matter has suddenly come up. I'm afraid I won't be able to inspect the goods right now..."

The man was slightly taken aback but quickly waved his hands. "No problem, no problem at all. Please, attend to your business first..."

Mavi didn't even bother to exchange pleasantries before hastily marching off, taking his large entourage with him.

The man watched Mavi's retreating back. His obsequious smile vanished, replaced by an expression of sheer contempt as he viciously spat on the ground.

He strode into the shipyard, prompting a few staff members to look up in surprise. "Where's the client?" they asked.

"Something came up at the last minute. Damned Goblin... couldn't he handle his business before coming here? Wasting everyone's time." He cursed under his breath, casually turning his gaze to the pristine, silver-white spaceship resting in the center of the dock.

The sleek, flawless surface of the hull refracted the ambient light, making it look like a breathtakingly beautiful naked woman. Every single inch of its sleek skin was utterly intoxicating, making one unable to quit staring.

A look of total infatuation shone in his eyes, but in the blink of an eye, it soured as if he had swallowed a fly. Whenever he thought about how such an exquisite beauty was destined to be flown by a filthy Goblin, an inexplicable wave of disgust washed over him.

At that moment, a knock echoed against the massive dock gate. He frowned, feeling slightly puzzled...

Pushing the gate open, he found a Marauder bearing the Black Skull insignia standing at the entrance.

"Can I help you?" he asked, his brow furrowed. Acting deferential toward Mavi did not mean he had to extend the same courtesy to these common grunts.

"Lord Mavi was worried you'd be too bored waiting here, so he ordered me to take you out for a good time..." The Marauder dropped a heavy hint, flashing a knowing smile that any man would understand.

'That Goblin is at least somewhat considerate,' he thought, pondering for a moment before voicing a trace of anxiety. "Isn't it a bit too dangerous outside?"

This was the Pale Land, after all. If he hadn't been squeezed out by his corporate rivals, he wouldn't have come to a godforsaken place like this to deliver cargo even if someone beat him to death.

"Relax, this is our territory. You are Lord Mavi's esteemed guest; who would dare disrespect you?" the Marauder flattered, adding with a sly wink, "Besides, we just got a fresh batch of Mermaids..."

"Mermaids..." The man's eyes immediately lit up. In the outside galaxy, the trafficking of Mermaids faced the harshest crackdowns among all slave trades. On any life planet governed by the Star Glory Empire, even in the Grey Zone, absolutely no one dared keep them.

But here in the No Man's Land System... none of those rules applied.

He unconsciously swallowed hard. It was said that the exquisite allure of a Mermaid was something only those who had tasted will understand.

"In that case... please lead the way." He was completely swayed. No man could resist the temptation of a Mermaid. This was likely the only opportunity in his entire life to have zero-distance contact with one. The experience alone would become a lifelong bragging right.

After giving his staff a few brief instructions, he followed the Marauder away. The port was boisterous and crowded, so hardly anyone noticed their departure.

Through a brief conversation along the way, he revealed his name was Li Ping, a sales representative for the Kamon Aerospace Corporation.

"Godslayer... where exactly have you brought me? I feel like we've left the Black Skull's territory..."

Initially, Li Ping had been thoroughly lost in his lustful fantasies about Mermaids. However, as they walked, a creeping sense of unease settled over him, mainly because the streets were growing increasingly desolate.

The Marauder who called himself Godslayer offered no response, simply keeping his head down and continuing to lead the way.

"You... I'm going back!" Li Ping yelled, his face etched with anxiety as he spun around, ready to storm off.

"Follow me!"

An inexplicable, commanding voice exploded directly into his ear. In an instant, his physical body moved completely out of his control, marching forward automatically.

They arrived at a secluded street corner. The area was half-abandoned, serving only as a grim shelter where a few addicts were eking out a miserable existence.

Kicking aside a delirious Interstellar Human covered in green pustules, they rounded the corner. The figures of Mo Duo and Hunter suddenly appeared.

Both wore expressions of high caution and vigilance. It was only when Li Yu stripped away his disguise that they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Who is he?" Hunter asked, a look of confusion on his face.

"A sales rep from the Kamon Aerospace Corporation... He's here to deliver Mavi's spaceship," Li Yu introduced simply.

"Are you... planning to hijack that ship?" Hunter instantly caught on to Li Yu's intentions.

Li Yu remained noncommittal. He released his mental control over Li Ping, who immediately stared back at the three of them with wide-eyed terror.

"Shh!" Li Yu made a silencing gesture. "If you accidentally make a sound, I will kill you..."

Li Ping immediately clamped both hands over his mouth, though his entire body shuddered uncontrollably.