The Villain Is Too Popular

Episode six of Stars Prequel: Ember.

Boom!

Episode six opens with Tendo attacking the super-alloy test column with his 'Star Energy Art - Dark Azure.' Although the crater left by 'Dark Azure' on the super-alloy test column wasn't particularly world-shattering, the vibrating test column could now make the entire training room noticeably shake.

This alone demonstrated how terrifying Tendo's strike was, and how remarkably unordinary the seemingly ordinary super-alloy test column actually was. Through this scene, the audience finally understood what the 'earthquake' Chen Kong and others felt outside was all about.

"So... I can only reach a maximum of ten times the rotation speed right now?"

"Caroline, how was it? Did you record the Star Energy values of that last strike?"

"Star Energy reading 1900, impact force equivalent to a Level 2 Novice."

"But your energy utilization rate is only 95%, meaning this is pretty much your current limit."

"Tendo, I personally believe you can stop here for now. After all, that 5% utilization rate isn't worth you spending a lot of time improving; the gain is too low."

"Only nineteen hundred?"

Through the dialogue between Tendo and Caroline, the audience finally understood Tendo's current level among the Children of Stars. Having a Star Essence and a base Star Energy value of 100 points was the standard for a Level 1 Star Envoy.

The current Tendo was not only a bona fide Level 1 Star Envoy, but his Level 1 Star Envoy attack had even reached the level comparable to a Level 2 Star Envoy. 

For the other Children of Stars, who generally hovered around Level 1, Tendo was undoubtedly two full versions ahead of them. Yet, despite this, Tendo on screen was still not satisfied, showing a clear expression of regret. This kind of 'humblebragging' undoubtedly left the audience completely stunned.

'No way, you're already two versions ahead of everyone else, and you still think it's not enough? Tendo, what exactly do you want to do!'

'Please stop, King of Men, you cannot advance any further. Any further... and that's the realm of the gods!'

Facing Tendo, who was still striving for perfection, the audience was completely awestruck. Gifted and hardworking, it's no wonder he's the strongest!

Not long after Tendo temporarily stopped his training, the training room door opened. Seeing the Chen Xing siblings enter his training room, Tendo immediately greeted them with a smile.

However, just as he had been depicted in previous episodes, Tendo was a man perfect in every way except his personality. Because often, Tendo could speak politely, but he chose not to; he simply loved to poke at sensitive topics.

"Xing, look at your brother's recovery. Not even a single scar on his body."

"Now look at you, insisting on keeping that scar on your arm, and even calling it a reminder to push yourself harder. If you ask me, you're just living too comfortably, enjoying suffering for no reason. Otherwise, why would a normal person refuse scarless surgery and insist on one that leaves a scar? Are you sick?"

Faced with Tendo's teasing, Chen Xing never tolerated it and immediately retorted domineeringly. Not only that, she even used her newly acquired Star Essence ability, 'Red Lotus Karma Flames.' For a moment, under the deliberate rendering by the production team, even through the screen, the audience clearly felt the astonishing destructive power of 'Red Lotus Karma Flames.' But facing Chen Xing's extraordinarily terrifying Red Lotus Karma Flames, Tendo casually brushed them aside.

"No way, you're already losing your cool? Are you not going to let anyone speak the truth?!"

Watching Tendo effortlessly neutralize Chen Xing's attack, the audience once again gained a more intuitive understanding of his current 'power.' After all, putting everything else aside, just the act of brushing away flames with bare hands was not something an ordinary person could do, let alone doing it as effortlessly as Tendo. One could only say that this man... was terrifyingly strong.

In the show, Chen Xing was not surprised by Tendo's casual neutralization of her attack. It was clear she had suffered similar setbacks before. Afterward, Tendo and Chen Xing, the bickering pair who always clashed when they met, after another round of everyday banter, concluded with Tendo preparing to go to the cafeteria to eat. However, before Tendo could get far, Chen Xing suddenly called out to him.

"Wait a moment."

"What is it now, my dear Miss Chen Xing? I've been training all day, I'm utterly exhausted. Can you please just say what you need to say all at once?"

"Tendo, fight me again. I want to see the gap between us."

"Huh? Again?"

Tendo, being forcibly asked to work overtime by Chen Xing, immediately expressed his reluctance. However, as the person who pampered Xing the most, he ultimately did not refuse Chen Xing's presumptuous request. But for this game, Tendo immediately proposed a new way to play. He waved his hand, drawing a circle with a diameter of only one meter around himself, indicating that he would remain within this circle. As long as Chen Xing could force him out of the circle within three minutes, he would lose.

Watching Tendo's forced but helpless demeanor, the CP fans were utterly thrilled.

'Lock them down, Tendo-Xing must be locked down!'

'Keep pampering her, you'll spoil her sooner or later!'

'It's just a little game between husband and wife, look how excited you guys are, it's embarrassing! (I'm excitedly wriggling like crazy)'

With the CP fans' expectant gazes, Chen Xing immediately walked towards Tendo with a serious expression. However, as she passed by Chen Kong, Chen Xing suddenly spoke.

"Watch closely, Kong, because you will soon see the true gap between us and the monster..."

"And that gap... is truly despair-inducing."

Some words are more impactful only when spoken by others. Hearing Chen Xing herself state that there existed a chasm named 'despair' between herself and Tendo, the audience's perception of Tendo's 'naturally strong' persona became even more solidified. Because no power comparison is more convincing than the No. 2 personally admitting that they are far inferior to the No. 1.

'Chen Xing, what exactly do you want to do? Without you, how will we resist the Great Demon King Tendo!'

'It doesn't matter, it's normal for a wife to not be able to beat her husband, isn't it?'

'You Tendo-Xing shippers, don't go too far. Clearly, our Caroline is the true queen, you're the ones who should back off!'

'Heheheh, queen? Laughable!'

'Are there no Tendo-Liuli shippers in the bullet comments...'

'Tendo-Liuli? Who's that stray from the roadside, go sit at the kids' table!'

Just as the CP factions were fiercely arguing about 'Tendo-Xing' versus 'Tendo-Caroline,' the scene in the show suddenly switched to Chen Xing's childhood memories. Unlike Tendo's flashback earlier, Chen Xing's flashback featured many childhood scenes. In these scenes, although Chen Xing's parents' faces were blurred, it was still clear that Chen Xing was living a very happy life at that time.

But soon, this happiness disappeared. In the scene, Chen Xing, wearing a paper crown, blew out the candles on her birthday cake with a smile. But with that single breath, the entire screen instantly began to show a large number of 'mosaic-like' distortions. And this sudden screen tearing immediately gave the audience a bad premonition.

Sure enough, as the screen became 'clear' again, the warm and brightly lit little house that was once before Chen Xing was gone. In its place was a dark, dusty, and dilapidated post-disaster room.

Although Chen Xing still stood in the same spot where she had blown out the candles, her clothes had changed from a cute and clean princess dress to a tattered short-sleeved shirt and shorts. In addition, the birthday cake that was originally placed in front of Chen Xing had turned into a foul-smelling, expired piece of bread covered in flies.

Watching Chen Xing, who was in heaven one second and plunged into hell the next, everyone felt the production team's strong malice. This was... the trace of a blade!

"Kong, you stay here. I'm going out to find some food for you. Don't run around."

"O-okay, Sis."

Though equally young and equally in need of protection, Chen Xing at that moment displayed a maturity and strength far beyond Chen Kong. She settled her brother, then slung her backpack over her shoulder and, with unwavering resolve, ventured into the silent and dangerous urban ruins under the cover of night.

This scene perfectly corresponded to what she had told Chen Kong during the final assessment: even if she knew the next step ahead was an abyss, she had to walk into it without hesitation, because there was no one... in front of her.

Chen Xing was always proud, and the reason her pride never drew the audience's dislike was because her pride was never just talk. She would truly go to great lengths to overcome any mountain that stood before her, all for the sake of her inner pride. People might despise a hypocritical liar, but they would never slander a brave individual carrying a heavy burden forward. Because courage... is humanity's greatest hymn.

Meanwhile, Tendo, who was watching this sixth episode through a dimensional screen in his dorm, was also shaken by Chen Xing in the scene, instinctively sitting up. This wasn't just because he hadn't expected the young Chen Xing to already display such a strong side.

It was also because the content of this sixth episode was something he had never seen in the original work before. In other words, with his unexpected appearance, the current Stars Prequel: Ember... had taken the liberty of changing the plot again!

And regarding the content of this flashback, Tendo... knew nothing.

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