Chapter 392: Who Is the True Galactic Overlord

???

What's going on?

NuoWa was utterly shocked.

Just now, Kezi was still trying to put her to death, and now she surrenders hands‑bound? Moreover, no gunfire or artillery sounds come from the surroundings, indicating that the Shadow Guard has not engaged in battle with the Midnight Lord.

Her OriginalBody elder brother, however, remains far more composed.

Kelakesi, titled the "Cold‑hearted Redeemer" by the legion and auxiliary forces, wore a detached expression, his eyes fixed on Kezi as if he were his own brother, saying nothing.

Conrad Kezi, on the other hand, wore a look of relief, even kneeling on both knees, tilting his head back to deliberately expose his vulnerable neck, and in a low voice said: "Brother, my palace is empty except for me; earlier I only used a few small tricks to deceive that little girl, so no innocent died in the recent incident.

Therefore, either kill me and then annihilate my legion, servants, and any mortal who dares to resist, thereby seizing control of the Dark Star Region.

Or take me to meet your father; I will have my legion, servants, and all mortals cooperate with you, allowing you and your Dark Crows to smoothly, without battle or sacrifice, control the Dark Star Region.

Listening to the probing words, Kelakesi remained silent, then walked slowly to Kezi's front, extending his right arm, pressing the tip of the blood‑colored claw against Kezi's neck, opening communications and ordering the hidden flagship and the legion waiting on the outer rim of the system: "Dispatch ground forces to take over everything in this system."

Kelakesi rarely speaks; since the Kezi before him, calling him "brother" repeatedly, willingly surrenders, he no longer hesitates, seizing him outright and then proceeding to take over the Noster Mo system.

At this moment, relying on her Spiritual Energy and HES's superior shielding, NuoWa, who had already recovered, stepped out of the shallow pit.

"I say…" Moreover, she approached Kelakesi, raised the short sword her father had given her with her right hand, pointing the blade toward the eyes‑closed Kezi, who seemed indifferent to everything around him, and asked with doubt:

"Can we really trust this guy? Don't forget, he's an OriginalBody adept at stealth and concealment; in short, he's a troublemaker—might as well kill him, the doctor said just bring the corpse back."

"No need." Kelakesi retracted the blood‑colored claw, looked down at Kezi, and said calmly and confidently: "If he does make any move, I can kill him directly, no problem."

"After all, you're the supreme commander." NuoWa shrugged, then sheathed the short sword, adding a snide remark: "Next time I never want to do infiltration missions for you again."

Conrad Kezi claimed there were no innocent deaths, yet just now in the palace, when Kezi attacked NuoWa, he showed no mercy.

Fortunately, NuoWa's own strength is formidable, and in her spare time she often learns martial techniques and Spiritual Energy experience from Rog and Magnus, which allowed her to survive an OriginalBody's attack.

After all, even with her agility and considerable bodily enhancements, her reaction speed still pales in comparison to that of an OriginalBody.

One‑on‑one, there's simply no chance of winning.

By this point, NuoWa finally realized that Kezi's lack of mercy wasn't due to great hatred toward her, but because Kezi knew she could withstand the attack, so he dealt a killing blow, clearly toying with her.

Anyway, she never wants to face an OriginalBody alone again; the suffocation is overwhelming.

———————

…

Soon after.

In the core world of the Never‑Fall Ship, atop the research center's office building…

"Sir! I've gathered enough data! Perhaps… we can try cloning an Angelong?! My god! I'm truly ecstatic, hahaha! After waiting countless years! Finally a project that excites me again!"

The office resonated with the plague doctor's high‑spirited tone and rapid speech.

Sui Bian, seated behind the desk, perused the relevant data displayed on the desk while listening to the plague doctor, standing before the desk, gesticulating wildly, delivering an incoherent report.

According to the data compiled by Bai Hou for him, they now have full capability to clone an Angelong.

However, the cloned Angelong lacks Spiritual Energy and is even an isotopic counterpart with only a fragment of a soul, incomparable to his eighth son.

This is not the outcome Sui Bian expected; he hoped to achieve "secondary creation" using a specially cultivated G gland, combined with OriginalBody and Astate technologies.

Meanwhile, the data also indicated that the isotopic counterpart has no utility, and even the plague doctor cannot purge its chaotic influence, nor heal its deformed body and appearance.

Nevertheless, the plague doctor, whose "medical skill is superb" and who exists like a "bug," succeeded in extracting the butcher's nail—the source of the isotopic counterpart's centuries‑long torment and madness.

Although there are currently no further research plans, everyone in the company knows that once an experimental material loses its research value, the only fate awaiting "it" is destruction.

He fell silent for several seconds.

Sui Bian shifted his gaze from the holographic screen, finally landing on the plague doctor, waved his hand to signal the incessant physician to quiet down, then said:

"Doctor, I understand your desire to repeatedly clone and study, but please hold off on cloning for now; I think you could first research and dissect the captured chaotic Astate, how about that?"

"Sure, no problem! As long as you give me enough material, anything works!" the plague doctor replied gladly.

And after speaking, the plague doctor started to chatter nervously, muttering to himself as he left the office, looking like those still‑imprisoned chaotic world‑devourers were about to be tormented.

When the automatic doors closed, only the silent Constantine, holding a Cassius gun and standing by the doors, and the equally mute Bai Hou at the right side of the desk remained in the office.

At this moment.

Bai Hou's eyes flashed blue, as if receiving important intel; immediately, she projected a new holographic screen on the desk and reported to Sui Bian:

"Chairman, OriginalBody Kelakesi and his expeditionary force have taken over the Noster Mo system, now preparing to gradually control the Dark Star Region, and OriginalBody Kelakesi captured the fully organized Midnight Lord and his mortal army, as well as the Midnight Lord's OriginalBody Conrad Kezi."

"It's surprisingly smooth."

Hearing that, Sui Bian raised his left eyebrow lightly, waved his left hand toward himself to pull the holographic screen generated by Bai Hou closer, intending to scrutinize the battle details of the Dark Star Region.

"Indeed, according to the briefing Kelakesi uploaded, Conrad Kezi voluntarily surrendered, and this Midnight Lord's OriginalBody also wishes to meet the Chairman," Bai Hou added.

"Oh?" Sui Bian turned his head toward Bai Hou, then chuckled and shook his head, re‑examining the data his secretary compiled, and ordered:

"I can't just see him whenever I want; tell Kelakesi to hold the Dark Star Region first. Once everything normalizes, I'll make time to go through him to negotiate with Conrad Kezi."

It's not that Sui Bian doesn't want to send Kezi to the plague doctor for research; rather, with only one day left, he will take Rog and the elite of the Glory Iron Fist aboard the Never‑Fall Ship straight to the core of the Devout Star Region.

Indeed, there's no time.

As for Conrad Kezi's surrender, Sui Bian felt a slight surprise but still found it within acceptable bounds.

This "Midnight Specter," who resembles his sixth son Kelakesi in many ways, also shares a special ability with his youngest son Shengjilesi—

"Can foresee the future."

Therefore, Conrad Kezi may have chosen to surrender his arms to Kelakesi and the Dark Crow Guard according to what he deemed "correct."

In the original Warhammer 30, 40k, Kezi was also an OriginalBody with a strong sense of justice, but during his childhood, he had to rely entirely on himself for survival and understanding people and matters, lacking a loving family or wise mentors.

Even so, Kezi continued to enforce his own notion of rooting out evil, relying on sheer force and the populace's fear to bring his planet's crime rate down to near‑zero, even "zero."

However, as he aged, Kezi became increasingly haunted by visions of a grim future, and due to various incidents, could not truly confide with his OriginalBody brothers; his mental state deteriorated and loneliness intensified, ultimately leading Conrad Kezi down a dead‑end path.

Clearly, the Kezi of Warhammer differs somewhat from the Kezi captured by Umbrella; although the Dark Star Region endures Kezi and the Midnight Lord's oppressive rule, the people's fear and repression are not as extreme.

Sui Bian, combining the rebellion's origins he previously obtained from the veteran Shadow Moon Grey Wolf, analyzed Kezi's various lenient maneuvers…

From this, it seems that Kezi's mind must harbor some secret.

He will wait until he has dealt with Luojia, Motarian, and the Devout Star Region before proceeding, because crossing 16,000 light‑years to conduct "interrogation" and a Spiritual Energy gaze without a Spiritual Energy amplification device is also a burden on Sui Bian.

Of course, the burden does not stem from physical or Spiritual Energy consumption, but from the disruption of Sui Bian's thoughts; ever since the "Human Truth" was enforced across all territories, devout "prayers" numbering in the order of zhao‑yi constantly echo in his ears.

Although these are not prayers to a deity, people choose to firmly believe in the Human Truth because of him, the Chairman Sui, so when faced with danger or difficulty they instinctively "confide" and "share" with him.

This is why Sui Bian can grow to such terrifying power without relying on the Spiritual Energy of plundered demons or evil gods.

But the side effect is extremely "grueling"; even now, Sui Bian has only barely adapted to the "surrounding chorus" in his ears.

The White Queen, who had received Sui Bian's orders, nodded lightly to show she understood, but she also proactively asked, "Chairman, how should we deal with the isotopic counterpart of OriginalBody Angelong?"

"Isotopic counterpart…" Sui Bian murmured, then said, "Tell Artemis to give that pitiful yet hateful child a proper end."

"Very well." the White Queen replied.

———————

…

At this moment.

"Dong, dong."

Artemis was walking through the underground area of the research center together with two helmet‑less gray knights named Ran Min and Xi Jisi.

Soon, their party arrived at a cage guarded by four gray knights.

The gate opened.

The moment they stepped into the cage, they could see the limb‑less isotopic counterpart of Angelong bound by a beam of light on a metal platform tilted at a 45° angle.

The isotopic counterpart, which had been peacefully sleeping, was startled awake by the gate opening and the noises of magnetic boots on the floor, and with its now clear eyes stared fixedly at Artemis and the others, who approached but halted.

"…" Both sides were silent at first.

"Let's act," but it was the isotopic counterpart that spoke first, breaking the heavy atmosphere; its twisted face even showed a relieved expression as it said, "I've lived long enough; only death can atone."

"…"

Artemis still said nothing, but she took down the full‑moon bow hanging at her waist.

She raised it level.

She drew the bow.

A Spiritual Energy arrow shimmering with golden light materialized out of thin air.

"Swoo~!"

As Artemis released the right hand hooked on the bowstring, a "Swoo~!" rang through the air.

"Pfft!" The arrow struck the isotopic counterpart's chest.

However, the expected explosion or the body's disintegration from inside out never occurred; instead, the arrow merged into the isotopic counterpart's body.

Immediately, a burst of golden light erupted, instantly enveloping the isotopic counterpart.

"Hahaha~!" Moreover, the isotopic counterpart's hearty laugh echoed throughout the cage and the entire underground area of the research center.

Finally, the isotopic counterpart unprecedentedly said, "So… so warm…," and when the golden glow faded, its shattered body vanished as well, ending its pain yet leaving a voice full of sin.

Calm returned.

"Heh." Ran Min frowned and said, "Father is too merciful toward this traitor."

Artemis glanced at Ran Min, re‑hung the full‑moon bow on her waist, turned, and walked toward the cage exit, briefly saying, "Let's go."

"Yes, ma'am." Ran Min and Xi Jisi replied in unison.

———————

…

The next day.

Inside the control room of the Never‑Fall.

"Father…" Rog looked at Sui Bian beside him, who was casually spreading his left hand, fiddling with a brass‑colored light sphere about the size of a ping‑pong ball in his palm, and curiously asked, "What is that thing in your hand?"

"It's nothing," Sui Bian pinched his hand, extinguishing the light sphere, and scolded, "And stop asking stupid, mouth‑y questions."

"Yes…" Rog forced a laugh.

"Enough." Sui Bian shook his head, then looked at the slightly shrunken star map, smiled again, and ordered, "Take us to the Punishment Star Region; it's time to tell all races, and even the evil gods and demons of the alternate dimension, who the true galactic overlord is."

"Yes!" Rog instantly perked up.

(End of chapter)