This villain is too popular.

Chapter 111 Stars NO.35 · Liu Ma
"H-How could this happen?"

Inside an abandoned factory during a torrential downpour.

Jax lay on his back in the muddy sludge of metal fragments and rainwater, his lower body still attached to the severed head of the giant mechanical rat, his face filled with disbelief.

In his constricted pupils, a silver-armored girl standing in the rain was clearly reflected—Vivian.

The Gear Church's latest combat mech, Silver Glow II, gleamed with a cold, mechanical luster in the acid rain, perfectly complementing Vivian's slender figure.

It was as if it was telling Jacks about the power of this mech.

However, what made Jacks even more uneasy was this.

Actually, it was the longsword in Vivian's hand that was constantly making a 'tick-tock' sound like a clock.

Looking at the longsword, Jacks, whose life hung by a thread, said weakly, "Is this the true power of the Black Iron Clock?"

"It seems that William did indeed give me a chance to turn over a new leaf, just as he said, but I didn't seize it."

Upon hearing this, Vivian calmly replied, "My father didn't unlock those two abilities back then because he devoted all his abilities to the 'Clockwork Greatsword' called 'Guardian'."

"Is this so"

"Ah."

[Black Iron Clock - Minute Hand Sword]

[Effect: Increases the user's time flow rate by 200%]

[Note: Compared to the 'time reversal' of the hour hand greatsword and the 'ultimate cutting' of the second hand rapier, this is a killing art born purely for combat.]

Unlike the 'Time Hand Heavy Sword' which reverses time, this one focuses on protection.

And the 'Second Hand Rapier', which greatly enhances cutting ability and focuses on offense.

The 'minute hand longsword' is a balanced expression of the combination of the two.

This amplification effect can affect not only Vivian's body.

It can also be applied to the 'mechanical armor' she wears.

Although Vivian does not possess the massive 'computing power' of a typical AI Star Envoy, she lacks the AI ​​Star Source.

This will maximize the potential of this intelligent mechanical equipment.

However, different Star Source effects, when paired with specific AI equipment.

It can also produce a wonderful effect of '1+1>2' at certain times.

Vivian's 'Minute Hand Longsword' and 'Gear Mechanical Armor' are like this.

The same principle applied to Tiandao's original 'vector control' and 'portable intelligent mechanical hub'.

The Gear Church is a 'mechanical cult'.

But this does not mean that all believers in this church are omnics.

And as a non-mechanical Star Envoy.

Vivian was able to become a Silver Knight of the Gear Church, a position originally reserved for Level 2 Star Envoys, despite being a Level 1 Star Envoy.

There are reasons for this, of course.

And the reason for this is her powerful combat talent.

In the world of Star Envoys, rank has never represented everything.

Because there are always some geniuses who can break through the numerical gap.

Use its own powerful 'mechanisms' to defeat enemies that were originally difficult to defeat.

Vivian is such a genius who can break the mold.

“My father gave you a chance back then, but I won’t give you another one.”

Boom!

Amidst the thunder and torrential rain.

A silver figure transformed into a flash of light tearing through the rain, drawing a perfect time trajectory with the minute hand sword in its hand.

With a single sword stroke, Jacks' head was severed.

In the real world, there are 13 stations.

"Wow! This new character is so cool!"

'One sword with three different time forms and functions—I'm blown away by this concept!'

'I knew she was no ordinary person! Turns out she's the daughter of that righteous uncle from last season!'

"Wasn't Vivian's identity quite obvious? When she first appeared, the production team gave her that children's watch a close-up."

'A non-mechanical user who can make mechanical armor so versatile—that's true technical skill!'

'So, even Star Envoys who aren't from the AI-based Star Source can join the Gear Church, whose main body is composed of AI Star Envoys? That's quite enlightening.'

Just as the audience was marveling at Vivian's dazzling debut performance.

The anime series then shifted its focus to the underground battlefield of an abandoned factory.

What surprised the audience was...

At this moment, Chen Kong encountered an enemy who turned out to be an old 'acquaintance', Liu Ma, ranked No. 35 among the stars.

She was one of the twenty-four "failures" who were sent out of the base early by the doctoral students because they failed the assessment.

Name: Liu Ma

[Ranking of Stars: NO.35]

[Star Core: Golden Demon Bull]

【Star Source: Netherworld Warhorse】

Chen Kong stared at the burly man emerging from the shadows of the passage, his lips twitching: "Wait, why is everyone dressed in suits these days, looking all respectable?"

"Liu Ma, is this the kind of clothing you should be wearing?!"

Hearing Chen Kong's words, which were half teasing and half sarcastic.

The 2.2-meter-tall man loosened the tie that was tightly wrapped around his neck.

He then wiped the shiny bull horns on his forehead with a handkerchief, snorted, and said, "Hmph, what do you mean this is the kind of clothes I should wear? I'm out here helping the company with business. If I don't dress well, what will I do if I embarrass the company?"

"But with your figure, don't you feel uncomfortable wearing these clothes?"

Faced with Chen Kong's words, Liu Ma remained silent for a moment, then couldn't help but sigh.

"There's no other way; working people don't have that many choices."

"Kong, if you have any complaints about my clothes, you can go back and tell our boss. I'm not going to say anything because she'll dock my pay."

At this point, Liu Ma suddenly changed the subject.

"Don't just criticize me, what's with your own bartender uniform?"

"I'm thinking that with your face and figure, you're not cut out to be a gigolo and lure rich women into impulsive spending at bars."

"Could it be that the people in this Rusty Iron Hell all have rather unusual tastes and enjoy doing the bizarre?"

"."

Silence, utter silence.

Chen Kong never expected that after so many years, he would finally meet a former 'comrade'.

This guy started with personal attacks right away, completely unpredictable.

Liu Ma was clearly a cunning man with a seemingly simple exterior. He didn't give Chen Kong a moment to catch his breath and immediately continued to deliver the finishing blow.

"Also, Kong, I feel like you haven't made any progress in the past few years."

"Not only is your Star Source still stuck at level one, but you haven't even awakened your Star Core. What have you been doing for the past six years?"

"A star core... can awaken?"

Chen Kong was stunned for a moment, clearly unaware of this matter at all.

Upon seeing this, Liu Ma fell silent.

He covered his forehead speechlessly: "You've managed to survive this long, it's all thanks to good luck."

"During the final assessment, it was only because your sister and Yagami Rin were there that someone like you managed to pass the final assessment by sheer luck."

"You don't even know about Star Core Awakening? You're really embarrassing us, the Children of the Stars."

Faced with Liu Ma's sarcasm.

Chen Kong immediately retorted, "What do you mean I'm just lucky? I'm always last in the assessments, and you're always second to last. What's the difference between us?"

"fart!"

Liu Ma exhaled two puffs of white breath from his snotty nose, stared wide-eyed at Chen Kong, and said, "What do you mean there's no difference between us? There's a huge difference!"

"I just didn't work hard enough back then, which is why I was second to last every year."

"But I'm different now. I've not only completed my Star Core Awakening, but I'm also a key talent being groomed by the new company, clearly with a bright future ahead of me!"

"How am I any different from you, a guy who sells his body!"

"I did not sell my body!"

"Yes, yes, you want to sell but no one will buy."

"..."

It's hard, the fist is hard.

Faced with Liu Ma's repeated psychological attacks.

Chen Kong felt a tightness in his chest.

Seeing his impotent rage, Liu Ma couldn't help but laugh.

His laughter infected Chen Kong, and after exchanging a glance, the two burst into laughter together.

After laughing, the two of them fell silent together, just like everyone else.

After a moment, Chen Kong spoke first.

"By the way, how is everyone doing these days? Do you have any news?"

After thinking for a moment, Liu Ma said, "Jing Liuli is now backed by the Shuangyin family and is a household name in the New Federation. His appearance fee for a single concert starts at tens of millions, not to mention all kinds of endorsements and advertisements. He's making so much money that his hands cramp up."

"As for your sister, she's currently in the Lieyang family, and those guys treat her like a treasure, practically worshipping her as an ancestor."

"As for Caroline, I heard that she seems to have become the apprentice of the president of the Star Envoy Association. I don't know the specifics, because I received that news several years ago."

"Although none of the big guys are at the base anymore, they're all doing quite well."

Upon hearing this, Chen Kong couldn't help but sigh, "Yes, back in the base, although the place was small, the rain was heavy."

"This made me think that the rain in the outside world should be even heavier than at the base, but after coming out, I suddenly realized..."

Before Chen Kong could finish speaking, Liu Ma interrupted, "You found out that the sky outside is clear and there's no rain at all, right?"

"Ah."

At this point, Chen Kong suddenly changed the subject: "By the way, you should also know about Brother Tiandao's situation, right?"

"After all, if I know something, there's no reason why you wouldn't know it."

Liu Ma nodded, then easily slapped away a boulder that suddenly fell from above his head.

"Of course, after all, what Tiandao did back then terrified the association, to the point that even Benjamin sent back some of his combat videos."

"But they still relentlessly searched the area where our base sank, trying to find Tiandao's body."

"But what was the result?"

Liu Ma spread his hands and said with a smile, "They didn't find anything."

"So, do you think Brother Tiandao is alive or dead now?"

Faced with this question, Liu Ma looked at Chen Kong meaningfully and said, "Don't you already have the answer to this question?"

"Too."

Chen Kong looked at Liu Ma and said in a complicated tone, "Reason tells me that, given Brother Tiandao's situation back then, he was definitely beyond dead."

"After all, his injuries were so severe that he couldn't even perform a 'quantum leap,' so it was impossible for him to leave the base before it exploded."

But my intuition tells me...

Before Chen Kong could finish speaking, Liu Ma said decisively, "My intuition is that such a monster could not possibly be dead."

"Yes."

The two exchanged a smile, then both sighed.

After all, don't be fooled by their sarcastic and confrontational remarks.

But in reality, there was still a feeling of meeting an old friend in a foreign land between the two.

The silence between the two did not last long before it was broken by a violent tremor from above.

Looking at the constantly shaking ceiling and the intense battles taking place one after another above it.

Liu Ma waved the gold-embossed "Mechanical Bible" in his hand and said, "Kong, beat me, and this thing is yours."

"After all, the boss just asked me to run an errand and deliver a 'package' to someone."

"But when I arrived, I found that one item on the delivery list was inexplicably missing."

"Since my performance bonus is already going to be deducted anyway, I might as well be willful this once and take a gamble with you."

"After all, judging from your appearance, you must have come for this too, right?"

Chen Kong nodded, indicating that he must have come for this very thing.

Without Vivian saying it explicitly.

Who knows that his real target this time is actually that green-haired little girl sitting on the factory roof right now, eating potato chips.

"Liu Ma, be careful. After all, you're not the only one who has made progress in the past few years."

After saying that, Chen Kong's figure suddenly disappeared in front of Liu Ma.

Liu Ma not only didn't care, but even laughed and said, "Are you still playing your 'make your presence disappear' game?"

"Emptiness, that's it."

Liu Ma suddenly raised his hand and threw a punch to the side.

"You mean improvement?"

And in that position.

Chen Kong, who had previously disappeared from public view, was forced to reveal himself and hide by Liu Ma.

In just one exchange, Chen Kong's star core ability was broken, and he was already at a disadvantage.

PS: That's all for today's update. I'm working overtime at the company. Fat Tiger has worn me out.

(End of this chapter)