The Villain Is Too Popular

'Tendo, are you sure you want to do this?'

Outside the gravity chamber at the Embers Base, Caroline looked at Tendo, who was about to enter the gravity chamber alone, and seriously asked him again. For Tendo, who was neither an 'Enhancement-type' nor a 'Transformation-type', entering the gravity chamber too early would not only fail to help him with his training but would also, to a certain extent, suppress his growth. After all, at twelve years old, he was still in the midst of growing. Undergoing such high-intensity physical training in a gravity chamber before his body was fully developed was definitely not a rational act. At least, that's how Caroline saw it.

However, since Tendo had decided to do this, he naturally had his reasons and confidence. This was not only related to his current defensive methods but also to the 'embryo of his future Domain.' Therefore, even after Caroline's repeated persuasion, Tendo still calmly stated that he was fine, declining her kind offer.

So, unable to dissuade Tendo, Caroline had no choice but to let him enter the gravity chamber, while she stayed outside to monitor him throughout.

As Tendo entered the gravity chamber for the first time, the dimensional viewers quickly understood his insistence on doing so. Others typically entered the gravity chamber to find ways to strengthen their physique. But Tendo entered the gravity chamber to train his 'Vector Control.'

Upon entering the gravity chamber, a translucent vector field immediately appeared around Tendo's body. Initially, Tendo's vector field could only counteract the gravity imposed on him by the chamber through a method similar to counteraction. But gradually, as Tendo adapted to the gravity and his proficiency with his Star Source increased, within a few days, he achieved the ability to precisely differentiate gravity. The result was that the 1.5 times gravity originally imposed on him was differentiated, leaving only normal 1 times gravity on his body.

A few more days passed, and Tendo had already reached the point of completely neutralizing 'gravity.' The effect was similar to the 'gravity' applied to Tendo, which began to flow past his body like water, eventually being guided by him to the floor of the gravity chamber, unable to affect him.

At this point, Tendo's training in 'Vector Control' had reached exactly what he had envisioned. In the following days, Tendo continuously increased the gravity effect in the chamber, reaching an exaggerated five times gravity. Even in five times gravity, Tendo could still move freely, completely unaffected.

This was the brand new defensive Star Energy technique that Tendo had developed: Azure Stream Robe.

Star Energy Technique - Azure Stream Robe: After activation, it covers the user's body within a 9mm range with a directional vector field, deflecting all incoming attacks and redirecting them elsewhere.

Seeing the on-screen explanation of Tendo's Star Energy Technique, Azure Stream Robe, and Tendo's entire training process, the dimensional viewers not only understood why Tendo could unleash terrifying close-combat abilities comparable to, or even surpassing, typical 'Enhancement-type' and 'Transformation-type' Star Envoys despite not being one of them. They also grasped the current power level of Tendo within the story.

For long-range attacks, Tendo had the astonishingly powerful and quickly charged Black Azure.

For close-quarters combat, Tendo had the Azure Stream Robe, which provided fixed damage reduction and immunity to low-value attacks.

Mentally, Tendo possessed the Star Eclipse Eye, capable of seeing through all illusions, making him largely immune to mental manipulation and illusions.

It could be said that the current Tendo was a well-rounded warrior with maxed-out five dimensions, possessing no weaknesses whatsoever. Invincible below Level 2, and casually eliminating ordinary Level 2s as if plucking something from a bag. The title of 'Pinnacle of the Stars' was truly well-deserved!

'Good heavens, so this guy can not only reduce fixed damage but also completely ignore all attacks below a certain value? Haki Ten, you've really played Vector Control to its limits!'

'I knew it! That's why Claude, even with his mecha in Overdrive, couldn't break your defense with one punch. Turns out you were redirecting all his power into the sand beneath your feet!'

'Fixed damage reduction + low-value damage immunity + a certain degree of counter-damage + immunity to most elemental attacks... Seriously, dude, is this still Vector Control?!'

'Tendo: Unless you drain my mana bar, you expect to see my HP bar? Naive!'

'Run! Katsura, it's Katsura!!!'

Amidst the dimensional viewers' commentary, the anime scene cut back to reality.

Bang!

As Tendo began to get serious, his speed suddenly increased by an exaggerated two to three times. The result was that even with an infrared tracking system as an aid, Claude still couldn't keep up with Tendo's speed. Coupled with the clumsy movements of his mecha, he was constantly suppressed by Tendo after his initial punch.

Soon, numerous red lights flashed in Claude's mecha cockpit, accompanied by an ear-piercing alarm.

Click!

After Tendo kicked Claude's mecha's right arm joint, the mechanical arm instantly flew off. The connection point between the arm and the main body immediately exposed a large number of wires and hydraulic pipes. These broken wires and hydraulic pipes, like severed human blood vessels, began to continuously discharge pulsating currents and spray large amounts of blue coolant.

At the same time, because Claude shared senses with the mecha, although Tendo didn't directly injure his physical body, the 100% pain feedback from the neural synchronization system still made him feel unprecedented agony, letting out a sharp scream.

Tendo didn't stop his movements because of the scream. He instantly moved to Claude's mecha's only remaining left arm, embraced the mecha's forearm with both hands, and pulled hard.

Crack!

With Tendo's force, Claude's mecha arm was actually ripped off. Then, Tendo swung the two-ton piece of scrap metal like a baseball bat, smashing it hard into the mecha's chest.

Rumble!

Claude, mecha and all, was blasted into the shallow sea. The massive mecha body instantly created a huge splash, nearly ten meters in diameter, on the water's surface. At the same time, the alarm inside Claude's cockpit became even more piercing.

[Warning: Body damage reached 40%]

[Warning: Partial critical functions lost]

[Warning: Power core output overloaded, estimated shutdown in one minute]

With the piercing alarm ringing in his ears on one side, and the continuous feedback of intense pain from the neural connection device on the other, the already frail and sickly Claude could no longer withstand the dual agony of mind and body, and he violently coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. The emaciated Claude was curled up in the cockpit, the blood he vomited even mixed with fragments of internal organs. This showed just how terrible his physical condition was at that moment.

Tendo and Claude's battle seemed to have lasted a long time. In reality, however, only about fifteen seconds had passed since their fight began. Including the ten seconds Tendo used to deal with Fushan, Tendo had, by all accounts, taken only about twenty seconds in total to kill Fushan and severely injure Claude.

Just as Claude finally managed to overcome his terrible physical state and was about to activate the mecha's hidden rear energy source for one last desperate attack on Tendo, a sharp alarm sounded in the cockpit again.

[Warning, Warning! Detecting massive Star Energy readings! Evacuate immediately! Evacuate immediately!]

Claude desperately looked up through the cockpit's observation window. He clearly saw Tendo in the distance, raising his hand, and the familiar black light pulsating at Tendo's fingertips. The source of these black lights was precisely Tendo's signature Star Energy Technique... Black Azure.

Given his current physical condition and the state of his mecha, it was impossible for him to dodge this Black Azure from Tendo.

Shadow Weaver: Phantom Strike!

Just as Tendo was about to use Black Azure to definitively finish Claude, a shadowy figure suddenly emerged from his own shadow. Lina, who had seemingly been standing far away, had appeared in Tendo's shadow at some unknown moment, intending to catch Tendo off guard. However, even though Tendo had his back to her, he seemed to have anticipated her appearance, speaking words that sent shivers down her spine.

"After waiting for you for so long, are you finally willing to come out?"

Hearing Tendo's words, Lina's heart immediately skipped a beat. At the same time, a terrifying power, one that filled her with immense dread, appeared before her. It turned out that Tendo's left hand had, without her noticing, secretly moved behind him, slowly opening in her constricted pupils. In Tendo's open left palm, there was a Black Azure that Tendo had prepared for her long ago.

"I never said my Black Azures could only be used one at a time."

Bang—!

As the words fell, Tendo simultaneously fired two Black Azures. One aimed at Claude in the seawater, and the other at Lina behind him.

Boom!

The first Black Azure precisely hit the core of Claude's mecha, completely igniting the remaining Star Energy within it, causing the entire mecha to explode spectacularly in the seawater like fireworks. At the same time, the other Black Azure, which Tendo had hidden away early, precisely pierced through Lina's chest, leaving a charred hole the size of a bowl on her pale skin. This caused her to collapse heavily onto Fluorescent Beach in shock and despair.

"Why..."

Lina couldn't understand. She had always appeared before Tendo as a Specialized-type Star Envoy, like a 'musician.' So why could he not only guess that her true Star Source was 'shadows' but also prepare for it in advance? She knew that she had once used this method to secretly kill many powerful enemies stronger than herself. This even included a Level 2 Star Envoy. That person had mistakenly thought she was not skilled in close combat, so he lowered his guard after approaching her to a certain distance, allowing her to luckily deliver a fatal blow. But why didn't the same trick work on Tendo?

Facing Lina's question, Tendo tilted his head in thought, then gave a cryptic, smiling answer.

"Why? Perhaps it's because I'm special. After all, that shadow you thought you hid so well was far too obvious to me."

At these words, Lina's peripheral vision noticed Tendo's cerulean eyes, which had peculiar star trails. All the confusion that had previously lingered in her mind was now completely explained. It seemed Tendo was able to see through her 'pseudo-musical note' attack, which she had cast earlier by combining 'shadows' with her 'Star Relic: Human Bone Harp,' precisely because of those eyes, and ultimately guessed her true Star Source effect.

Thump...

With her confusion gone, Lina's mangled body collapsed completely onto the beach. Fresh blood continuously poured from her pierced chest, staining the surrounding sand particles a crimson red. At the same time, Fushan's headless corpse, soaked in blood not far away, and Claude's mecha wreckage burning like a torch on the sea surface, combined with her own tragic and beautiful body, formed a hellish tableau with the theme of 'death' and 'elegy'.

As for the artist who painted this tableau... it was the silver-haired youth smiling innocently on the beach.

Half a minute.

From the moment the four of them first engaged Tendo to the complete demise of three of them, only a mere half a minute had passed. This time was only half of what Bohard had requested. Yet, with half the mission time still remaining, three out of the four Dark Star Envoys were gone.

Meanwhile, after witnessing his three teammates successively die tragically before his eyes, Plague Doctor Visel's white coat was already drenched in cold sweat. This madman, who usually reveled in torturing others and enjoying their fear, was now experiencing his own fear.

Mission?

To hell with the mission!

Without any hesitation, driven by a strong instinct for survival, Plague Doctor Visel decisively turned and ran. However, just as he turned, before his drug-enhanced beast-like wolf legs could even push off, a playful chuckle suddenly came from beside him.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Hearing that voice, Plague Doctor Visel slowly turned his head, his neck stiff. He saw that Tendo was not only standing beside him, but Tendo's right hand had also, imperceptibly, come to rest on his shoulder. Although Tendo currently showed no killing intent and wore an innocent, kind smile on his face, only Plague Doctor Visel knew how terrifying that smile truly was, and what meaning it contained. Because this seemingly harmless silver-haired youth was, in fact, a devil in human skin!

To illustrate just how terrifying Tendo was in Plague Doctor Visel's eyes at that moment, Tendo's shadow, illuminated by the sun, visibly began to stretch. It quickly transformed into a gigantic, faceless humanoid monster silhouette with an exaggeratedly wide grin. In front of this humanoid monster's shadow, Visel's constantly trembling body appeared incredibly small and helpless.