Super God Academy: Kabuto

The Celestial Court of Merlo, Keisha's private council chamber. Compared to the grandeur and solemnity of the central royal court, this place is much more tranquil. Flowing silver lines outline a simple interior space full of sacred geometric beauty. Keisha has shed her symbolically significant and solemn royal robes, donning a more practical pale yellow fitted battle dress, but the majesty befitting the Queen of Gods has become an integral part of her being, needing no external adornment.

Angel Yan and Zhi Xin stood solemnly before her.

Keisha's gaze first fell on Yan, her silver eyes flashing with calm strategic consideration: "Yan, although the battle in Fraser has temporarily ended, the faith foundation and strategic location of Annie Eld's kingdom remain crucial. With Hua Ye defeated, I need you to lead an elite Skyblade combat squad back to Fraser to assist Annie Eld in consolidating her power, eliminating the remaining threats, and establishing permanent outposts and a primary defense network in the North."

Her instructions were clear and specific, focusing not only on immediate stability but also on long-term defense. Yan immediately understood and nodded solemnly: "Understood, Your Majesty. I will ensure that Fraser becomes a reliable ally and a sturdy outpost."

Keisha nodded slightly, then turned to Zhixin, her tone carrying a hint of entrustment: "Zhixin, your task is even more arduous. Earth, as one of the regions in the known universe with the most concentrated 'variables' and possibly the Void's primary 'focus,' is of paramount importance. Zhao Xin's growth and your cooperation have proven their value. I need you to return to Earth as an envoy of the Angelic Civilization and a senior technical advisor, to fully assist the Super Soldier Corps and the Chinese military. Use your knowledge to help Earth accelerate the construction of a planetary-level defense system, especially in the detection and isolation technology against Void energy. At the same time, you are also a bridge connecting the forces of the Angels, Earth, and even Lin Yu's side."

She paused, then added, "Remember, protection and guidance go hand in hand. The potential of Earth's civilization needs time to grow, but in the face of storms, we must also ensure that this spark does not easily go out."

Zhi Xin straightened her back, her eyes as firm as stars: "Yes, Your Majesty. I will not fail in my mission."

Finally, Keisha's gaze seemed to pierce through the crystal walls of the council hall, looking towards the vast starry sea, her voice becoming deep and powerful: "As for me, I will be stationed in Heavenly City, fully activating the final contingency plan for the 'Holy Expedition.' All Skyblade warships scattered throughout the known universe are being recalled, and the two major combat sequences, Skybase and Apocalypse, are entering maximum combat readiness. We will construct the first strategic defense line facing Emerald Star, with the Heavenly Court of Merlo as its core. The first wave of the void's 'tide'... we will be the first to measure its depth."

The determination and weight in his words stirred both Yan and Zhixin's emotions, filling them with awe and awe. Their king, even after "retiring behind the scenes" for millennia, would, upon his return, remain the supreme commander who dared to confront any abyss and draw the battle lines for civilization.

"Go, carry out your mission." Keisha withdrew her gaze and waved gently to the two of them. "Time waits for no one."

Yan and Zhixin placed their right hands on their chests, bowed deeply, and turned to leave. Silence returned to the council chamber, leaving only Keisha standing alone. She slowly walked to the observatory, outside which lay the eternal artificial starry sky of the Merlo Heavenly Court and its towering, suspended fortresses. A war spanning two universes was about to begin, and she, once again, would stand at the forefront, sword in hand, for her civilization.

Guided by several young angel warriors, the Super Soldier Squad was walking on a transparent corridor that seemed to be constructed of starlight and crystal. The corridor was suspended above a sea of ​​clouds, with a dreamlike and magnificent cityscape below. In the distance, the majestic palace complex shone brightly in the soft light of the sky, exuding a sense of advancement and holiness that surpassed the imagination of mortals.

"Wow... this is too... science fiction? No, it's fantasy? No, it's divine fantasy!" Zhao Xin's eyes widened as he looked around in amazement, prompting a short-haired angelic lady leading the way to chuckle softly.

Liu Chuang, however, was more focused on the massive celestial structures that were vaguely visible and gleamed with a cold, metallic luster: "Those behemoths... those must be the berths for the Skyblade warships, right? They look impressive! Much more imposing than our Mangdang Mountain!"

Ge Xiaolun walked slightly ahead, his gaze lingering on the intricate yet harmonious architectural lines and flowing energy patterns, attempting to comprehend the technology and concepts they embodied. Qi Lin followed beside him; though still somewhat weak, she was in good spirits, quietly discussing with him the defensive possibilities of certain structures.

The most excited of all was Momotaros. He practically had "Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden" written all over his face, sometimes pressing his face against the crystal corridor wall to try to see the structure below, and sometimes shouting at a certain glowing floating island in the distance.

"Hey! Decade! Look over there! Isn't there a wheel under that floating island? No, it's a light wheel? What's the principle behind that?!" Momotaros grabbed Tsukasa Kadoya's arm and pointed to a slowly rotating floating mountain in the distance.

Tsukasa Kadoya shook off his hand with a look of disgust: "Idiot Momo, can't you be quiet? This is a military stronghold, not an amusement park." Even so, he looked at this highly advanced alien civilization's creation with scrutiny and curiosity in his eyes.

The guiding angels maintained elegant smiles and politeness, patiently answering questions they could answer, and subtly glossing over questions involving military secrets or core technologies with a smile. They showed remarkable tolerance for Momotaros's liveliness (or rather, her noise), perhaps because they sensed no malice from this red Immortal and that she had a special relationship with Tsukasa Kadoya and Kirin.

After passing through the observation corridor, they arrived at a relatively open star garden. Here, many exotic plants from different star systems were planted, emitting a calm and gentle energy fluctuation. In the center was a clear spring that reflected the simulated starry sky, making it breathtakingly beautiful.

"This is one of the places where the warriors of Tiancheng meditate and relax," an angel explained. "During wartime, such tranquility is especially precious."

The group rested here for a while. Momotaros, unusually quiet, squatted by the spring, curiously watching the shimmering starfish swimming inside. Zhao Xin approached a lively-looking angel, trying to find out more "interesting" things about angel life (especially the female angels), but was stopped by a look from Zhi Xin, and awkwardly scratched his head and backed away.

Ge Xiaolun walked to the edge of the garden and leaned on the railing, gazing into the distance. From here, he could see a wider area of ​​the Heavenly Court of Merlo, its orderly and powerful landscape deeply impressing him with the weight and strength of a civilization that had endured for a hundred thousand years. He thought of the simplicity and hardship of Frazier, the conflicts and resilience of Earth, and Queen Keisha's effortless majesty and strategic planning.

"How are you feeling?" Angel Yan's voice came from beside her. She had finished giving the initial instructions and came over specifically to check on her.

Ge Xiaolun turned his head and saw that Yan had changed into a set of light silver-blue armor that was easier to move in. She had lost some of the majesty of a king and gained more of the dashing spirit of a warrior.

"It's very impressive," Ge Xiaolun answered honestly, "and... a bit stressful too. To fight alongside such a civilization, our Earth, our Super Soldier Company, needs to grow even faster."

Yan followed his gaze, her eyes revealing pride in her homeland mixed with a hint of complexity: "Tiancheng is the culmination of countless generations of angels' wisdom and faith. But even the strongest fortress needs warriors to defend it. And the strength of a warrior lies not only in weapons and armor." She looked at Ge Xiaolun, her gaze earnest, "Xiaolun, Queen Keisha's return does not mean your responsibilities have lessened. On the contrary, in the impending all-out war, every warrior with power and a righteous heart is crucial. Earth's defenses and the growth of the Super Soldier Corps are equally indispensable parts of this war."

Ge Xiaolun nodded emphatically: "I understand. We will protect Earth, and we will... become stronger as soon as possible, so that we can truly help, instead of just being protected." He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Are you going to Fraser again?"

"Yes, the Queen has given the order." Yan's gaze turned towards Fraser, where her unfinished responsibilities and new challenges lay. "That's the front line, and the key. Will you stay here, or return to Earth?"

"I'll probably go back to Earth first," Ge Xiaolun said. "They need me more there. Besides, with Zhixin back, I might be able to help with a lot of technical matters." He paused, his voice lowering, "You... be careful."

Yan's lips curved into a slight smile, her beautiful eyes shining brightly under the simulated starlight: "You too, kid. Don't be reckless, use your brain. We'll... meet again on the battlefield."

Without dwelling on personal feelings, under the shadow of war, the two young leaders, shouldering heavy responsibilities, transformed their concerns and encouragement into simple instructions. They both knew that the brief rest and visit were coming to an end, and everyone would go to their respective posts, to face that unknown and cruel test in different corners of the vast universe, all for a common goal.

In the Star Garden, a brief tranquility remained. Below, the vast war machine of the Merlo Heavenly Court operated efficiently under Keisha's will; in the distance, the rift in the Emerald Galaxy, like a scar on the universe, silently brewed the first wave of impact; in the deeper void, the seal of the Divine River Ruins emitted its final groans.