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

Chapter 478 A Trial of Adventure!
“No,” Rowan reassured him, “This is a neutral zone; they wouldn’t dare cause trouble. Besides, we’re already under the protection of Virtual Universe Corporation.”

"I hope so," Zhang Wei sighed.

Just then, the door to the lounge suddenly opened, and Manager Li strode in, his face grave.

"This is bad," said Supervisor Li, "The army from Alpha X-17 is here."

"What?!" Luo Wen and Zhang Wei stood up simultaneously. "How dare they? This is a neutral zone!"

“They can’t care about anything else now,” Supervisor Li said. “The radar at the transit station just detected five Alpha warships approaching. Furthermore, they’ve sent a message demanding we hand over two 'terrorists'—that is, you.”

"Are they crazy?" Zhang Wei asked, her face pale. "Using force in a neutral zone would trigger a diplomatic incident!"

“Clearly, they value preserving the secrets of the ‘Divine Punishment’ project more than diplomatic relations,” Director Li said. “And they probably think they can finish this quickly and take you away before other powers can react.”

"What about the defenses of the transit station?" Rowan asked.

“It’s already started,” Supervisor Li said, “but the problem is that the transit station’s defenses are mainly aimed at small groups of pirates and smugglers, not at regular troops. Moreover, according to our intelligence, Alpha has sent not only ordinary soldiers this time, but also three high-level martial artists.”

"What level?" Rowan pressed.

“Two eighth-tier stellar-level warriors and one ninth-tier stellar-level warrior,” Manager Li said, his expression growing even more grave. “The ninth-tier warrior leading them is named Carl Stone, an ace soldier of the Alpha X-17 military, nicknamed ‘Iron Fist,’ and he is extremely powerful.”

Luo Wen's heart sank. The ninth rank of the Stellar level was already the pinnacle of the Stellar level; the next step was the Cosmic level. With his current seventh-rank Stellar level strength, his chances of winning in a one-on-one fight were slim.

"Does Virtual Universe Company have any powerful figures who can provide support?" Rowan asked.

“I’ve already sent out an emergency distress signal,” Supervisor Li said, “but the nearest support will take at least half an hour to arrive. Alpha’s warships, on the other hand, will arrive in ten minutes.”

"In other words, we have to hold on for these ten minutes on our own," Rowan understood.

"I'm sorry," Supervisor Li said guiltily, "it was our failure to protect you properly, which put you in danger."

“It’s not your fault,” Rowan shook his head. “This was our own choice. Since we chose to reveal the truth, we had to bear the corresponding risks.”

He turned to Zhang Wei: "You go with Supervisor Li to the safe area first. I'll stay behind and buy some time."

“No,” Zhang Wei shook her head firmly, “I can’t let you face the danger alone.”

"You won't be of any help staying behind," Rowan said bluntly. "You're a fifth-tier Stellar-level opponent; against eighth and ninth-tier opponents, you'll only be a burden. Besides, if we're all captured, who will ensure the evidence gets out?"

Zhang Wei fell silent. She knew Luo Wen was right.

“Listen to me,” Rowan gripped her shoulders, “your life is more important than anything else. Only if you live can you testify against the Alpha government for its crimes.”

“But you…” Zhang Wei’s eyes welled up with tears.

"I'll be fine," Rowan smiled. "Don't forget, I have a King-level Immortal as my teacher. Dealing with a few Stellar-level beings is no problem for me."

He wasn't entirely confident when he said that. The difference between a ninth-tier and a seventh-tier stellar-level being is enormous. But he had to appear confident, otherwise Zhang Wei would worry even more.

“Let’s go,” Manager Li said to Zhang Wei. “Trust your friend.”

Zhang Wei finally nodded, gave Luo Wen a deep look, and followed Supervisor Li out of the lounge.

Rowan stood alone in the lounge, taking a deep breath.

"It seems the training my teacher arranged for me will end in a tough battle," he muttered to himself. "Well, that'll be good; it'll be a good opportunity to test what I've learned on Blood Luo Star."

He left the lounge and went to the observation deck of the transit station. Through the huge transparent portholes, he could see five black warships approaching.

These warships have an aggressive design and are covered with weapon turrets. Although they are not as powerful as the main warships of the Virtual Universe Company, they are more than capable of dealing with a transit station.

"Attention all transit station personnel," the loudspeaker announced, "Alpha X-17 forces are about to make a forced landing. Non-combat personnel, proceed to the refuge area immediately. Security personnel, take your positions and prepare to engage the enemy."

The entire transit point was on high alert. Ordinary businessmen, tourists, and staff evacuated to the refuge areas. The transit point's security forces began to assemble; although small in number, they were all well-trained soldiers.

But Rowan knew that these security personnel couldn't stop those three advanced martial artists.

Five warships anchored outside the transit point, refraining from immediate attack. A communication request was sent to the transit point's command center.

“This is Carl Stone, commander of the Alpha X-17 Special Operations Team,” a deep voice boomed through the loudspeakers throughout the transit station. “We are pursuing two terrorists, known to be hiding within the transit station. We request the cooperation of the transit station management to hand them over.”

“This is the Orbital Transfer Station Administration,” the stationmaster responded. “This is a neutral zone, protected by the Universal Convention. No force is permitted to use force here. Please leave immediately, or we will lodge a protest with the Universal Arbitration Council.”

“I’ll say it again,” Karl’s voice turned icy, “hand over those two men. Otherwise, we will conduct a forced search.”

"This is an act of aggression!" the stationmaster shouted angrily.

“This is an ultimatum,” Karl said. “If you don’t hand over the people within five minutes, we will force our way in.”

Communication was interrupted.

Rowan knew that a battle was inevitable.

He arrived at the main docking area of ​​the transit station, the most likely landing point. Sure enough, the transit station's security captain had also set up a defensive line there.

"Who are you?" the security captain asked, puzzled, when he saw Rowan.

“I work for Virtual Universe,” Rowan said. “The Alpha team is after me. I want to help.”

"You?" The security captain sized up Rowan. "You look very young. How capable are you?"

“Seventh-tier Stellar level,” Rowan said truthfully.

The security captain's eyes lit up: "Seventh rank? That's great! The strongest we have here is only a sixth-rank stellar-level expert. With your help, our chances of winning will be much higher."

“But the opponent has a ninth-tier stellar-level weapon,” Rowan reminded him.

“I know,” the security captain said gravely, “so our strategy is to stall for time and wait for reinforcements. If we can hold out for half an hour, reinforcements from Virtual Universe Company will arrive.”

“Understood,” Rowan nodded.

Five minutes passed quickly.

Alpha's warships began to move. Two of them moved toward the docking area of ​​the transfer station, preparing to force a docking.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!" the security captain ordered.

With a loud bang, the warship's docking bay forced its way through the protective door of the transfer station. Immediately afterwards, dozens of fully armed Alpha soldiers rushed out.

“Fire!”

Security personnel at the transit station immediately opened fire. Energy beams and bullets clashed in the air as both sides engaged in a fierce firefight.

But the Alpha soldiers were clearly better equipped and outnumbered. The transit station's defenses quickly began to retreat.

Just then, three powerful auras appeared. Three warriors emerged from the warship—two burly men and a muscular man who appeared even taller.

The burly man was at least two and a half meters tall, with bulging muscles and arms as thick as two iron pillars. He was Carl Stone, a ninth-level stellar-class martial artist, nicknamed "Iron Fist".

"Is this all the resistance you've got?" Karl sneered. "Truly disappointing."

He unleashed a punch, the terrifying force creating a shockwave that destroyed all the cover in front of him. Several security personnel were blasted away, coughing up blood.

"A ninth-tier stellar level is indeed powerful," Luo Wen thought with a chill.

But he did not back down; instead, he stepped forward.

"Your target is me," Rowan declared loudly. "Spare these innocent people."

Karl looked at Rowan, a hint of surprise in his eyes: "Oh? There's another seventh-tier stellar-level being? Interesting."

“However,” Karl’s lips curled into a cruel smile, “a seventh-tier being nothing but an ant before a ninth-tier. Kid, you think you can stop me?”

"Why don't we try and see?" Rowan gripped the silver longsword in his hand.

“I admire your courage,” Karl cracked his neck, “but admiration aside, you still have to kill.”

He suddenly disappeared.

"So fast!" Rowan was startled, but his training on Blood Luo Star had not been in vain. His wind-elemental perception instantly activated, capturing Karl's movement trajectory.

"On the left!"

Luo Wen unleashed a sword strike, sending wind blades whistling through the air.

With a clang, Karl appeared on the left, taking the sword strike head-on with his fist. The sound of metal clashing was deafening, and sparks flew everywhere.

“Not bad reaction speed,” Calzan said, “but too weak.”

He threw a punch at Rowan. Rowan quickly parried with his sword, but the immense force still sent him staggering back more than ten steps.

"Such immense power," Rowan felt his arm go numb. "The power of a ninth-tier stellar level being at least three times mine."

“Kid, you’re not bad,” Karl said slowly as he approached. “Unfortunately, you’ve run into me. Technique is useless against absolute power.”

"Is that so?" Rowan sneered. "That's not necessarily true."

He recalled the teachings of the Blood King—that the true understanding of the essence of the law is not about pursuing violence, but about utilizing the laws themselves.

"Storm Law - Thousand Blades of Splendor!"

Rowan unleashed the full power of the laws. But this time, he didn't pursue mere destructive force; instead, he sought precision and change.

Countless tiny wind blades attacked Karl from all directions. Each of these wind blades was not particularly powerful, but their sheer number, their cunning angles, and their coordinated attacks formed a complete attack network.

Karl parried with a punch, shattering dozens of wind blades. But more wind blades came from other angles, impossible to defend against.

Several wind blades finally broke through his defenses, leaving shallow wounds on his arms and shoulders.

"Hmm?" A hint of surprise flashed in Karl's eyes. "You actually managed to hurt me? Looks like I underestimated you."

His aura suddenly surged, and golden power of law appeared on his body.

"The Law of Metal—Indestructible!"

Karl's skin turned gold, as if cast from metal. The wind blades struck his body, clanging and jingling, but could no longer cause any harm.

"Kid, now I'll show you what real power is," Karl said, taking a step that left a crater in the ground.

He charged at Rowan with astonishing speed. Each punch carried terrifying power, shattering the air and creating sonic booms.

Rowan dared not take the blows head-on and could only dodge continuously. His movements were very agile, utilizing the advantages of the wind element to weave through Karl's fist shadows.

But Carl's attacks were too dense, and Rowan's room to dodge was getting smaller and smaller.

"The essence of wind—riding the wind!"

Rowan unleashed the techniques he had learned on Blood Luo Star. He no longer saw himself as an independent entity, but rather merged into the surrounding air currents. As Karl's fist struck, Rowan drifted away like a leaf, carried by the airflow created by the punch.

"This is..." Karl exclaimed in surprise again, "Your understanding of the wind elemental laws is already approaching the eighth level? Impossible, you're clearly only at the seventh level!"

“Understanding the laws has nothing to do with one’s level of attainment,” Rowan said. “That’s what my teacher taught me.”

“Your teacher must be a master,” Karl said seriously, “but unfortunately, you must die here today.”

He clasped his fists together, and terrifying golden energy condensed in his palms.

"Metal Element Law - Mountain Collapse Strike!"

A thick golden beam of light shot out from Karl's hand, aimed directly at Rowan. The power of this attack was enough to destroy a small mountain.

Rowan's expression changed drastically. The power of that attack was too great; he couldn't withstand it head-on.

However, if they dodge, the transit station structure behind them will be destroyed, and many people will lose their lives.

“Damn it,” Rowan gritted his teeth, “we have no choice but to take the risk.”

He recalled the Law Fusion he had used during the Kara Battle. Although he was alone now and unable to coordinate with Hong and Lei Shen, he could try to resonate his wind-elemental laws to create an even greater power.

"Storm Law - Ultimate Resonance!"

Rowan mobilized all the power of the laws within his body, causing them to vibrate at a specific frequency. Countless wind blades swirled around him, colliding and resonating with each other.

Finally, a massive storm vortex formed in front of Rowan.

The golden beam of light slammed into the vortex. The two forces collided violently, and the resulting energy fluctuations caused the entire docking area to tremble.

After a three-second standoff, the vortex finally gave way and began to collapse.

But those three seconds were enough. Rowan used the force of the explosion to roll backward, dodging the remaining attacks.

"Cough cough..." Luo Wen knelt on one knee, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. The fight just now had caused him internal injuries.

“Interesting,” Karl said, walking over. “You’re the first seventh-tier stellar-level being I’ve ever seen withstand my Mountain-Shattering Strike. But you should be at your limit by now, right?”

Indeed, Rowan felt that most of the power of the laws within his body had been consumed. Karl, on the other hand, seemed to be handling it with ease.

(End of this chapter)