C2 Codename God of Slaughter(2)

The Ice Queen had charged forth with unwavering resolve. Before Eliza could grit her teeth and catch up, half of the dense swarm of red dots had vanished in a flash.

In the next instant, the remaining dots disappeared too.

"Keep up!" Princess Eliza was struck with a profound shock, sensing that today's events would be etched in her memory forever.

The Ice Queen's mechanist wielded no firearms, relying solely on a sword of ice crystal to thrust and slash. Each blow struck true, hitting either the cockpit or the main engine of a mech.

Flames engulfed the targets, yet the reaper hesitated to claim them.

The Ice Queen became a whirlwind of ice crystals, shredding everything in its path.

As time passed, an increasing number of pirates took notice of the disturbance and converged on the location.

A large group of enemies loomed to the left.

Leap, charge, spin.

Good, they were gone.

A large group of enemies lay ahead.

The sequence was repeated.

Good, they were dealt with.

With Lucas dead, the pirate ranks were headless.

Despite the abundance of mechs, an opportunity for escape presented itself.

The pirates were in disarray, incapable of halting the transformed Ice Queen.

All followed in its wake until nothing lay before them.

"The lifeboat is ready. I've initiated the starship's self-destruct sequence. Move quickly!"

Eliza's voice was hauntingly beautiful as they ushered the Ice Queen into the lifeboat.

With a hiss, they darted away beneath the vessel, unnoticed among the throng of pirate ships.

Inside the lifeboat, the scent of gunpowder lingered among the remaining dozen mechs.

Though the battle was over, their tension only heightened.

They encircled the Ice Queen, not as one would a lifesaver, but as if facing a formidable foe.

The fifteen-meter Ice Queen stood silently amidst them.

The palms of the surrounding mechanists grew slick with a nervous sweat.

"Hiss."

At last, the cockpit opened, and the Ice Queen transformed into a diamond tiara cradled in someone's hand.

"Clank, clank, clank..."

Footsteps echoed, mingled with the sound of chains dragging across the floor as a young man shackled in electronic alloy chains stepped into view.

"Shua!"

All eyes turned to him, and almost in unison, a collective sigh of relief was exhaled.

The lifeboat was cramped, and aside from the machine's beeps, there was a profound silence.

Chained at the wrists and ankles, the young mechanist lifted his head to address one of the golden mechas. "Princess Eliza, I have kept my word. Now, please honor your vow."

The golden mechas were absorbed into the space converter, and Princess Eliza materialized before them.

"By the authority of the Siron Royal Family, I hereby absolve you of all charges." Eliza inclined her head slightly, shattering the heavy quietude. "Mr. Gu Xian, you shall be a friend to the Siron Empire for all eternity."

Gu Xian, the young man in question, inclined his body in a modest bow, his eyes never straying from Eliza.

Someone stepped forward to release Gu Xian from his shackles.

Eliza summoned a 3D display from her wrist device, accessing the Federation's most-wanted list. On the very first page, she delicately erased a wanted notice with a swipe of her finger.

Displayed on the notice was Gu Xian's profile.

A Federation Class A fugitive — Gu Xian, ranked fifth on the overall list, known as the "Killing God". Over the course of a year, he had traversed eleven galaxies, destroying eight hundred and fifty mechas, with no known master or origins. No power had yet claimed him; he was like a specter...

"What are your intentions now?" Eliza inquired with caution.

Gu Xian disregarded her question, countering with one of his own. "And where are you headed?"

"We're set to dock within the Meteorite Zone to rendezvous with General Cheng."

"I wish to travel to Siron Planet."

Siron Planet was the principal world of the Siron Galaxy, the seat of the Siron Royal Family, conveniently on their path.

Eliza's face contorted slightly with discomfort as she diplomatically declined, "I fear General Cheng would not agree to escort someone of your... reputation."

In the wake of the recent pirate incident, General Cheng, tasked with the princess's protection, was understandably vigilant. Gu Xian empathized.

"Let's do this: we'll leave you this lifeboat before we depart. You can make your own way to Siron Planet, agreed?" Eliza proposed.

Gu Xian consented.

Before long, an escort frigate arrived, and they departed posthaste.

Gu Xian set the lifeboat to autopilot as he initiated the search for Siron Planet.

"Warning: Lifeboat energy insufficient for travel to Siron Planet. Please select B-183 Planet for emergency landing."

B-183?

With a furrowed brow, Gu Xian reluctantly accepted the directive and rerouted his course. He was determined to reach Siron Planet to fulfill Old Charlie's dying wish. If not for the unfortunate shipwreck and his subsequent capture by Princess Eliza, he would have completed this task long ago. Since his escape from the training camp, Old Charlie's wish was the only one left unfulfilled.

Old Charlie had entrusted him with a message for someone on Siron Planet: to tell her that he had always loved her. Now, to continue his journey to Siron Planet, he'd need to catch a starship from B-183 Planet.

The lifeboat made an emergency landing in the outskirts, and Gu Xian pushed the charred door open, straightened his clothes, and stepped out with composure. A sudden halt in his stride, he remembered something important. His belongings had been confiscated when he was captured; now on B-183 Planet, he was penniless and couldn't afford a ticket to Siron Planet.

For the first time, a look of astonishment crossed Gu Xian's stoic face. He frowned slightly, pressed his lips together, and resolutely set off in a chosen direction. Though uncertain of what lay ahead, he was determined never to halt his steps.

...

Three days later, a weary Gu Xian arrived at the first city he encountered on B-183 Planet, known as Aelley. It was a steel wasteland, with bizarre and rugged steel structures everywhere, their surfaces cloaked in red rust, resembling the remains of colossal giants. Aelley's once-glorious past belonged to the era of grand interstellar voyages, now faded into obscurity.

Gu Xian resolved to find work. He was aware that this was neither a training camp nor the vastness of space. Under the protection of the Confederation's laws, the only legitimate way to earn money was through labor.

Gu Xian had taken many lives in his quest to fulfill the wishes of others. He took no pleasure in killing. Now, with his own wish realized and Princess Eliza having absolved him of his crimes, he was no longer a fugitive in the Siron Empire. Gu Xian treasured this newfound peace, harboring a fear akin to revulsion for the blood-soaked training camp he had left behind.

He longed for the simple life of an everyday person.

Now, only Old Charlie's wish remained. Maybe after fulfilling it, he could make a home on Siron Planet? Or perhaps secure a steady job on B-183 and savor the relaxed pace of life that ordinary folks enjoyed.

The mere thought of such an existence sent a flutter of excitement through Gu Xian's typically impassive heart.

Gu Xian had checked out the spaceship fares from Aelley City to Siron Planet at the boarding terminal. The ticket was a mere 73,750 star dollars—a bargain compared to the usual interstellar fares that could run into the hundreds of thousands. B-183 wasn't too far from Siron Planet, after all.

Gu Xian was confident that earning that amount wouldn't be too challenging. He had little understanding of money's value; after all, his past exploits had netted him numerous untraceable bank cards, each loaded with millions of star dollars.

But reality struck a harsh blow—he lacked a diploma, which meant he couldn't submit his resume for job screenings.

Raised in a training camp, he was only taught to pilot mechas, never learning about the existence of academic qualifications like diplomas.

Yet, as inconsequential as they seemed, these credentials were essential for employment.

With a furrowed brow, Gu Xian was deep in thought and feeling quite stuck when a poster at the job market caught his eye: "Engineering Mecha Pilots Wanted."

The requirements were clear: skilled operation of engineering mechas, no diploma necessary.

The sign-up location was listed as the construction site at 33 Bay Road.

The phrase "no diploma necessary" leaped out at him, and the compensation was enticing—80,000 star dollars, payable upon the project's completion.

Gu Xian's interest was piqued.