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

Chapter 301 Before the Mysterious Stone Box
“Incredible,” Rowan murmured. “They’re so fast the surveillance systems can barely keep up.”

After a brief but intense exchange, Shadow found an opening and precisely pierced the pirate's throat with his short blade. Once the pirate fell, Shadow quickly surveyed the surroundings to ensure no enemy was missed, then walked straight to the mysterious stone box, as if to confirm it was undamaged.

“See?” Hong pointed to the screen, “His first priority was checking the stone box, not rescuing the wounded crew or continuing to support other areas. That box was clearly more important to him than anything else.”

Just then, another screen showed a second wave of pirates rushing into the ship from another entrance. These pirates were better equipped and more numerous, numbering at least a dozen. They quickly subdued the defending crew and advanced towards the command center.

“This is bad,” Rowan frowned. “These pirates are after the ship. If they succeed in taking control of the command center, we’ll all be in danger.”

Thor cracked his knuckles, and faint crackles of electricity began to appear on his body. "Shouldn't we make our move?"

Luo Wen glanced at Hong, who nodded. "Logically, we should assist in the defense. But to be honest, seeing Ying's performance just now, I'm a little annoyed. He clearly has such great strength, yet he kept bossing us around and questioning our motives."

Thor sneered, "Exactly! Why should we help him? Let him solve his own problems."

Rowan hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Alright, let's hold our positions and see just how capable this mysterious captain really is. However, if the situation truly becomes critical enough to threaten the crew's lives, we'll still have to intervene."

The three agreed to the decision and continued to observe the development of the battle. The pirates were advancing rapidly, having already broken through several lines of defense and were only two areas away from the command center. Although the ship's defenders fought bravely, they were clearly no match for these experienced pirates.

"Where is the shadow?" Rowan asked anxiously, scanning the various surveillance screens.

Soon, they spotted Ying in one of the images. He had left the cargo hold area and was moving across the corridor at an astonishing speed, heading in the direction from which the pirates were coming. He was wielding two energy blades, and the combat armor on his back was glowing faintly, seemingly having activated some kind of enhancement mode.

When Shadow encountered the first group of pirates, he unleashed a one-sided massacre. His movements were faster and more precise than before, each strike aimed straight for vital points. Despite their superior numbers, the pirates appeared utterly vulnerable before Shadow. In just a few minutes, Shadow had felled nearly ten pirates, suffering almost no harm himself.

“This is impossible,” Thor exclaimed in shock. “That kind of strength is definitely at the cosmic level, possibly even a top-tier interstellar level expert. How could he just be an ordinary escort captain?”

Hong's expression grew even more serious: "There are definitely things we don't know about this mission. Shadow's identity, the origin of that stone box, and even this so-called pirate attack could all be part of a larger plan."

Just as Rowan was about to respond, he suddenly felt that mysterious voice ring out in his mind again:

"Rowan. He's not as dangerous as he seems."

Rowan looked up sharply and saw on the main screen that Shadow, with incredible speed and power, cleaved through a pirate's energy shield with a single strike, then pierced through the pirate's chest with another blow. This scene shocked everyone, because energy shields usually required several attacks to break, yet Shadow had done it in a single strike.

"Did you see that?" Rowan exclaimed. "That power and speed...it's at least interstellar level!"

Thor and Hong both nodded, their eyes filled with shock and a hint of admiration. Despite their dissatisfaction with Shadow's attitude and behavior, they had to admit that his combat abilities were truly breathtaking.

With Shadow's intervention, the situation quickly turned around. The pirates began to retreat, fleeing back to their ships. In less than twenty minutes, the intruders were eliminated, and the ships returned to calm, leaving only a mess and a few wounded crew members.

When Shadow returned to the command center, his combat armor was covered in blood and burn marks from energy weapons, but he appeared completely unharmed. He coldly surveyed the area, his gaze lingering briefly on Rowan and the other two before heading towards the command console.

“Report the extent of the damage,” he ordered the communications officer.

"Three crew members sustained minor injuries, and one sustained serious injuries; both have been transported to the medical bay for treatment. The ship sustained multiple breaches in its hull, but its core systems remained unaffected. The pirates have either evacuated or been eliminated."

Ying nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Rowan and the other two: "You did a good job, obeyed orders, and protected the command center."

Thor was about to make a sarcastic remark when Hong quietly stopped him. Hong stepped forward, his tone calm: "Captain Shadow, your combat abilities are impressive. It seems we underestimated you."

Shadow's expression remained unchanged: "This is just the result of basic training. By the way, the cargo hold area needs to be re-inspected and reorganized. Rowan, you and Thor will take charge of this task."

Rowan frowned slightly, but ultimately nodded: "Okay, we'll go now."

As Rowan and Thor left the command center, Thor muttered to himself, "He's still giving us orders. And why the cargo hold of all places? Isn't that where the stone crates are? Is he doing this on purpose?"

Rowan pondered for a moment: "Perhaps that's precisely why we should go and take a look. It's a good opportunity to learn more about that mysterious stone box."

Thor understood Rowan's meaning and stopped complaining. The two arrived at the cargo hold area and found that most of the traces had been cleared away, leaving only marks from energy weapons hitting the walls and equipment. The mysterious stone box remained untouched, seemingly untouched by the pirates.

“Or… the pirates aren’t qualified to approach it,” Rowan said slowly, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

Thor frowned: "What do you mean?"

“Have you considered this,” Rowan leaned closer to Thor, lowering his voice, “Shadow’s strength is so great, far surpassing that of ordinary镖师 (bodyguards/escorts). And his intense focus on this stone box, almost to the point of obsession, suggests that if the contents of this box are extremely valuable or dangerous, requiring immense strength to approach and control, then this pirate attack might just be a probe or a smokescreen.”

Thor's eyes widened: "You mean, these pirates aren't after ordinary goods at all, but specifically after this stone chest?"

“Very likely,” Rowan nodded. “And think about it, although the pirates stormed into the cargo hold, not a single one of them could get close to this stone box. What does that mean?”

Thor suddenly realized: "This means they probably don't have the strength to get close to it at all! This stone box might have some kind of special protective mechanism, allowing only those with sufficient power to access it."

“That’s right,” Rowan agreed. “That also explains why Shadow was able to guard it so easily. It’s not because he’s particularly skilled, but because those pirates simply weren’t qualified to approach the stone box.”

Just then, Hong appeared silently at the cargo hold entrance: "What are you two whispering about here?" Rowan and Thor were startled and quickly turned around. Hong leaned against the door frame, his signature calm smile on his face.

Thor lowered his voice: "Hong, we've discovered something strange. This pirate attack might not be as simple as it seems."

Hong entered the cargo hold and closed the door behind him. "I just checked the ship's security records and found something interesting. The markings on these so-called 'pirates' ships are very similar to those of certain secret units of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's border patrol."

Rowan and Thor exchanged a surprised glance.

“You mean,” Rowan asked in surprise, “that these pirates are actually from the Empire?”

Hong shook his head: "They might not be regular troops; they could be mercenaries hired by some secret department. But one thing is certain: this attack was no accident, but a meticulously planned operation, and the target is very likely this stone box."

Thor clenched his fist: "So, we've been caught up in some kind of conspiracy? Was the Third Prince's decision to involve us in this escort mission also part of this conspiracy?"

Hong pondered for a moment: "It's hard to say. The Third Prince might know, or he might just be being used. After all, he knows we need a special medicine to treat Luo Feng's injuries, which is the main reason we accepted this mission."

Rowan walked to the stone box and examined the mysterious patterns again. "Regardless, this stone box definitely holds a major secret. We need more information. Hong, can you find out where we're headed?"

Hong nodded: "According to the navigation log, our destination is a planet called 'Brant' in the Ali system. It's a primitive civilization, with a technological level roughly equivalent to Earth's Middle Ages."

"An underdeveloped civilization planet?" Thor exclaimed in surprise. "Why send something like that to a place like that? What could possibly be there worth such a fuss?"

"Perhaps it's precisely because it's underdeveloped that it became an ideal place to hide secrets," Rowan speculated. "After all, who would imagine that a cosmic-level secret could be hidden on a planet that doesn't even have interstellar travel capabilities?"

Hong suddenly looked up, glancing warily towards the door: "Someone's coming. We'd better stop talking."

The three quickly dispersed, pretending to tidy up the cargo hold. Sure enough, a moment later, Ying pushed open the door and walked in. He had changed out of his blood-stained combat armor and was wearing a clean black uniform, but his aura was still cold and imposing.

"How's the packing going?" Shadow asked indifferently, his gaze sweeping across the cargo hold.

“It’s basically finished,” Rowan replied. “The damage caused by the pirates wasn’t significant; mainly some shelves and ordinary goods were damaged by the energy weapons.”

Ying nodded and walked towards the mysterious stone box. He slowly walked around the box, carefully examining every detail to ensure there was no damage whatsoever.

"Captain Shadow," Hong asked casually, "our destination is Brant planet in the Ali system, right?"

Ying turned her head slightly, her sharp gaze fixed on Hong: "How did you know? This information should be kept confidential."

Hong shrugged: "I just glanced at the navigation log. As a member of the escort team, knowing the destination shouldn't be too much to ask, right?"

Shadow's eyes grew even colder: "Your mission is to protect the cargo, not to gather intelligence. If this happens again, you will face the consequences."

Thor couldn't help but retort, "Hey, we're hired bodyguards, not your subordinates. According to the contract, we have the right to know basic mission information."

Ying sneered, "Contract? Your contract is with the Third Prince, but I represent a higher authority. On this spaceship, I'm the one in charge."

Rowan asked curiously, "A higher authority? Who exactly are you, Shadow? You're clearly not an ordinary escort captain."

Shadow didn't answer, only coldly saying, "Prepare your equipment. We'll arrive at our destination in 12 hours. The three of you will come with me to escort the cargo off the ship. Remember, don't ask questions, don't look around, just complete your mission."

After saying that, he turned and left the cargo hold, leaving the three of them looking at each other in bewilderment.

“'Another, higher authority'?” Thor mimicked Shadow’s tone. “Who does he think he is? A secret agent of the cosmic empire?”

Hong seemed thoughtful: "Perhaps it really is. The Black Dragon Mountain Empire has many factions, and some secret organizations aren't even fully understood by members of the royal family. I suspect Ying might come from a special department, specifically responsible for handling shady missions."

Rowan stared at the stone box, his brow furrowed. "Whoever he is, we need to remain vigilant. This mission is clearly far more complex than we anticipated."

The three decided to take turns resting for the remainder of the voyage, ensuring at least one of them remained awake. They all sensed that even greater challenges might lie ahead upon reaching their destination.

The next twelve hours passed unusually peacefully. The spaceship completed repairs to the damage caused by the pirate attack and continued its journey towards the Ali system. Rowan, Thor, and Hong took turns resting to ensure they were in peak condition upon arrival at their destination.

Finally, the spacecraft's public address system announced: "We are about to enter the Ali system and are expected to arrive at the orbit of Planet Brant in 30 minutes. All personnel, prepare for landing."

Rowan, Thor, and Hong gathered outside the cargo hold, awaiting Shadow's instructions. Shadow appeared quickly, still wearing his black uniform, but this time carrying a small backpack, and the energy weapon at his waist had been replaced with a more sophisticated model.

"Are you ready?" Shadow asked briefly.

The three nodded. They were all fully equipped with their combat gear and carried sufficient weapons and supplies. Although they didn't know what they would face, experience told them that it was always good to be prepared for the worst.

Shadow opened the cargo hold door and walked to the mysterious stone box. He pressed a device on his wrist, and the metal chains around the box slowly loosened, revealing more patterns. Those patterns appeared even more mysterious and unpredictable in the dim light.

(End of this chapter)