Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 296 Escort Mission
“Give us some time to discuss,” Hong said.

“Of course,” Brolin nodded, “but we need to be quick; Luo Feng’s condition can’t be delayed.”

After the three left, they found a quiet place to discuss the matter.

"What do you think?" Hong asked.

“There’s no choice,” Thor gritted his teeth. “Luo Feng’s injury can’t be delayed; we must get the medicine as soon as possible.”

“But the risks of interstellar transport…” Rowan frowned, “especially in the Chaotic Star Region, which is notoriously dangerous.”

"Fortune favors the bold." Hong took a deep breath. "For Luo Feng's sake, this risk is worth taking. And with our strength, we should be able to handle it."

Ultimately, the three reached an agreement and returned to Brolin's place.

“We agree to your terms,” Hong said.

“A wise choice.” Brolin nodded in satisfaction, taking out an exquisite jade box from his robes. “This is the Ice Soul Purifying Pill. Quickly give it to Luo Feng.”

Hong took the jade box and could feel the chill emanating from it.

"I'll tell you the specific details of the mission after the competition," Brolin added. "Remember, this is confidential."

The three nodded and hurried back to the medical pod.

The physician took the pill, his eyes lighting up with delight: "Excellent! With this, Luo Feng's fire poison can be completely eradicated."

Under the physician's guidance, the Ice Soul Purifying Pill transformed into a cool energy, slowly flowing into Luo Feng's body. Visibly, the black lines on his right arm began to fade.

"It works really well." Thor breathed a sigh of relief.

But Hong's expression remained grave: "The price isn't small either. Interstellar escort, and to a chaotic star system at that."

"We'll meet force with force, and we'll dam water with earth," Rowan reassured him. "The four of us working together should be able to handle it."

Several hours later, Luo Feng finally woke up. Although he was still weak, his mental state had improved significantly.

"Thank you," he said weakly.

"Don't talk about that," Thor waved his hand. "Get some rest; we have tough battles to fight."

Luo Feng nodded; he could feel the fire poison in his body being cleared. But he also noticed the solemn expressions on the faces of the three men.

"What happened?" he asked keenly.

The three exchanged glances and finally told him about the interstellar escort mission.

"I see." Luo Feng paused for a moment. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

“What are you saying?” Hong patted him on the shoulder. “We’re a team.”

“Once you’ve recovered, we’ll go together,” Thor laughed. “It’ll be a good training opportunity.”

The next day.

The final day of the fifth round of competition.

Luo Wen's opponent is Gu Su Jin of the Silver Blue Empire.

"Gu Sujin, from a collateral branch of the Silver Blue Empire's royal family, is said to have displayed astonishing talent in the laws of darkness from a young age." Luo Feng flipped through his opponent's information. Although he was still in the recovery period, he insisted on coming to help Luo Wen.

"Her weapon is a long staff?" Thor was somewhat surprised. "Dark magic practitioners rarely use this kind of weapon."

“That’s what makes her special,” Hong said, pointing to the combat footage in the holographic projection. “Look, her staff can change shape at will, sometimes as flexible as a whip, sometimes as hard as iron.”

In the scene, Gu Su Jin is dressed in a dark blue battle robe and wields a long, jet-black staff. Her movements are light and graceful, each strike carrying an eerie beauty. Most strikingly, her shadow seems to possess a life of its own, changing with her every movement.

“Shadow manipulation.” Rowan narrowed his eyes. “This is an advanced application of the Law of Darkness, capable of granting shadows the ability to attack in physical form.”

“That’s not all,” Luo Feng added. “Look at her footwork; every step lands on a specific spot in her opponent’s shadow. This is the ‘Shadow Step’ technique from the Laws of Darkness, which allows you to lock onto your opponent’s position using their shadow.”

The next day, the Star Arena was once again bustling with excitement. This was the final match of the fifth round, a showdown that everyone had been eagerly anticipating.

"Round 5, Match 10: Black Dragon Mountain Empire, Luo Wen vs. Silver Blue Empire, Gu Su Jin!"

Rowan slowly walked onto the battlefield, the Starburst Blade trembling slightly in his hand, the flame patterns on its blade radiating intense light. After the previous rounds of battle, his understanding of the Law of Fire had deepened considerably.

Across from her, Gu Sujin approached gracefully. She possessed a delicate face, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes. Her long, dark blue hair fluttered in the wind, and the seemingly ordinary black staff in her hand exuded a profound aura of shadow.

"I've heard your fire magic is very strong," Gu Su Jin's voice was cold and clear. "Perfect, I want to see if flames can dispel the darkness."

Rowan smiled slightly: "Then let's give it a try."

"start!"

As soon as the referee finished speaking, Gu Sujin's figure suddenly became blurry. No, to be precise, her shadow began to split, turning into dozens of black shadows that pounced on Luo Wen.

"Shadow Clone!"

Rowan was prepared. His Starburst Blade swept across, instantly raising a wall of flames. The dark figure touched the flames, hissing, but did not immediately dissipate. Instead, it moved like a living thing, bypassing the wall of fire and continuing to approach.

"Interesting." A hint of excitement flashed in Luo Wen's eyes. In a flash, he transformed into a streak of fire and rushed towards Gu Su Jin's true form.

Gu Sujin remained calm and unhurried, lightly tapping the ground with her long staff. In an instant, the shadow beneath her feet suddenly expanded, forming a dark domain.

"Dark Realm - Eternal Night!"

The entire battlefield was instantly shrouded in darkness, so dark that even sunlight could not penetrate it. In this darkness, Rowan felt his senses were greatly weakened.

"In my domain, light will have nowhere to hide." Gu Sujin's voice came from all directions.

Rowan closed his eyes, and the Law of Fire within his body began to circulate. A faint layer of firelight appeared on the surface of his body; although it was not enough to illuminate the entire area, it was enough to make out a range of several meters around him.

Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from behind. Luo Wen instinctively dodged to the side, and a long black staff grazed his shoulder.

"Not bad." Gu Sujin's figure loomed in the darkness. "But how long can you hide?"

Her staff suddenly became supple, coiling around Rowan like a black snake. At the same time, countless shadows surged in from all directions, attempting to restrict his movements.

"The Law of Fire - Fiery Dragon Break!"

Rowan ceased his passive defense, and his Starburst Blade erupted with dazzling flames. A massive fire dragon roared from the blade, tearing through the darkness and burning away the shadows in its wake.

Gu Sujin's expression changed slightly. She retracted her long staff and drew a circle in front of her. Darkness condensed into a shield, blocking the fire dragon's impact.

"The Law of Darkness - Devour!"

The black shield suddenly transformed into a massive vortex, beginning to absorb the fire dragon's energy. The blazing flames were instantly devoured upon contact with the vortex.

"It can devour energy?" Rowan frowned; this ability was indeed troublesome.

“Not only that,” Gu Su Jin sneered, “the absorbed energy can also be used by me.”

With a swing of her staff, the flame energy that had just been absorbed was released in reverse, transforming into black flames that shot towards Rowan.

Luo Wen's pupils contracted; this flame, corrupted by the laws of darkness, was even more powerful and corrosive. He quickly used his movement technique to dodge while simultaneously considering a countermeasure.

"It seems ordinary fire attacks are ineffective against her," Rowan thought to himself. "I must use a higher level of power." He took a deep breath, and the fire law within his body began to undergo a qualitative change. The originally crimson flames gradually turned golden, radiating a sacred aura.

"The Law of Fire, Fourth Ultimate Technique: Heavenly Fire!"

Golden flames erupted from his body, instantly illuminating the entire dark realm. This flame was unlike ordinary fire; it contained the power to purify everything.

Gu Sujin's expression changed drastically: "Heavenly Fire? You actually comprehended Heavenly Fire?"

Heavenly Fire is a higher form of the Law of Fire, said to be comprehended only by those with a profound understanding of the origin of fire. It is not only incredibly hot, but more importantly, it possesses the ability to subdue all evil forces.

Where the golden flames passed, the darkness melted away like ice and snow. Gu Sujin's Dark Domain began to collapse, and those shadows also turned into nothingness before the heavenly fire.

"It's time to end this." Rowan raised the Starburst Sky-Splitter Blade, its blade completely enveloped in golden flames. "Heavenly Fire - Judgment!"

A massive golden blade of light slashed out, carrying the power to judge everything. Gu Su Jin tried to use her Devouring Power to resist, but found that the Heavenly Fire could not be devoured at all.

In a critical moment, she gritted her teeth and unleashed her most powerful secret weapon.

"The Law of Darkness, Fifth Profound Technique: Nothingness!"

Her body suddenly became transparent, as if she had merged into the void. The golden blade of light passed through her body, but caused no harm.

"Etherealization?" Rowan was surprised; this was the first time he had ever seen such an ability.

"In a state of nothingness, I am immune to all physical and energy attacks," Gu Su Jin's voice wavered. "Your heavenly fire, though powerful, cannot harm me."

She raised her long staff, and the power of shadow gathered at its tip.

"The Law of Darkness - Spear of Annihilation!"

A jet-black spear took shape, radiating an aura of annihilation. This was her strongest attack, capable of instantly obliterating its target.

Rowan felt an unprecedented threat, but he did not back down.

"In that case, let's see whose ultimate technique is stronger!"

He concentrated all the power of heavenly fire onto the Starburst Blade, making the golden flames even purer.

"The Law of Fire - Ultimate Technique - Burning Heaven and Destroying Earth!"

Golden flames shot into the sky, forming a giant fire phoenix. The phoenix spread its wings, uttered a clear cry, and pounced on Gu Sujin with an aura of incineration.

The Spear of Annihilation clashed with the Phoenix of Fire, two completely different forces battling in the air. Darkness and light, destruction and rebirth formed a stark contrast.

boom!
The massive explosion shook the entire area, even cracking the protective shield. When the dust settled, Gu Sujin was seen kneeling on the ground, his long staff broken in two, his battle robe tattered.

Rowan was also in bad shape; he knelt on one knee, panting heavily. Using the ultimate technique had taken a heavy toll on him.

“I concede,” Gu Sujin said with difficulty. “Your Heavenly Fire does indeed counter my Dark Laws.”

"Thank you for the concession." Rowan slowly stood up and bowed to his opponent.

"The victor is Rowan of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire!"

The crowd cheered; the battle between fire and darkness was spectacular and a feast for the eyes.

As Rowan stepped off the battlefield, he was immediately surrounded by his teammates.

"Heavenly Fire? When did you comprehend it?" Thor asked in surprise.

"Just now, during the battle," Luo Wen laughed, "I was forced to unleash my potential in the face of Gu Su Jin's devouring power."

"As expected of you," Hong praised. "Breaking through in battle—that's what makes a true genius."

"But it's also been very taxing," Rowan said with a wry smile. "I feel like my whole body is about to fall apart."

"Go back and rest first," Luo Feng said. "The interstellar escort mission starts tomorrow."

With Rowan's victory, the fifth round of the competition officially ended. All four members of the Earth team advanced to the semifinals, making history.

That evening, the four men gathered to discuss the escort mission for the next day.

“Based on the information Brolin provided,” Hong unfolded the star map, “we need to cross three dangerous areas: a meteor belt, a geomagnetic storm zone, and a pirate lair.”

"That sounds exciting!" Thor was eager to try it out.

"Don't be careless," Luo Feng warned. "The dangers in the Chaotic Star Domain come not only from the natural environment, but even more so from human factors."

“That’s right.” Rowan nodded. “That’s where the most ruthless pirates in the universe gather; they’ll do anything for profit.”

The four discussed until late at night and finally came up with a detailed plan.

The next morning, they arrived at the designated location as agreed. The transport ship was ready, and Brolin's butler was conducting final checks.

“Everything is ready,” the butler said. “Good luck.”

The spaceship slowly ascended, leaving Star City. Rowan stood by the observation window, watching the arena gradually recede into the distance, a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of mixed emotions, often including nostalgia or reflection) welling up inside him.

“I never imagined that interstellar travel would be done this way,” he said softly.

"Yeah, I thought I was going to gain experience, but I ended up as a bodyguard," Thor teased from the side.

As they were talking, the door inside the spaceship suddenly opened, and a middle-aged man in a black uniform walked in.

"Welcome aboard, everyone." The man bowed slightly. "I am the leader of this mission, codenamed 'Shadow.' We will be spending the next ten days together."

"Hello." Hong nodded politely. "Are there any other people on board?"

Ying smiled slightly: "Of course, such an important mission couldn't be accomplished by just a few of you. Come with me, I'll introduce you to the other team members."

The four followed the shadow through the corridor to a spacious lounge. Five people were already waiting inside.

"Let me introduce you all." Ying pointed to a burly, bald man. "This is 'Iron Wall,' the defense expert."

Tie Bi nodded, his muscles as if forged from steel, radiating a powerful aura.

“This is ‘Ghost,’ the stealth expert.” Shadow pointed to a thin woman.

The ghost smiled slightly, and its figure suddenly became blurry, as if it might disappear into thin air at any moment.

"'Wind Blade,' a melee expert." A young man wielding dual swords.

“'Thunder,' long-range firepower.” A burly man carrying a huge energy cannon.

"There are also 'doctors,' responsible for medical care and logistics. The last one is a middle-aged man wearing glasses."

Luo Wen and the others were secretly alarmed. Although these people had not revealed their strength, judging from their aura, each of them was extraordinary.

“It seems this mission is really important,” Hong said to Rowan in a low voice.

"Yes, they sent out so many experts." Rowan nodded.

(End of this chapter)