In the real world, Station 13.
The moment Chen Kong's repeatedly successful 'Presence Erasure' was shattered by Liu Ma's single punch.
The entire dimensional live stream exploded, with bullet comments swiping across the screen like an avalanche.
'One punch broke through?! Is Chen Kong's Empty Rune made of paper?!'
'It's over, others are cool for three episodes, Chen Kong is cool for half an episode! Most tragic male lead, confirmed T_T'
'Horns + Muscles = Minotaur, confirmed!'
'Danger! Bull! Run!'
As the dimensional audience discussed the new character's appearance.
On screen, Liu Ma looked at Chen Kong, who had been forced out by his single punch.
He immediately struck a triumphant bodybuilding pose, patted his granite-like biceps, and grinned.
He was clearly very satisfied with his powerfully forged body.
After showing off, Liu Ma deliberately drew out his words, saying, "Kong... Do you know the biggest weakness of your Empty Rune?"
"Nonsense..."
Chen Kong rubbed his shoulder, which was a little numb from the punch's wind, and retorted grumpily, "It's my Star Core, how could I not know?"
"Right..."
Liu Ma suddenly ripped off his tie, took off his crisp suit, and tossed it aside.
Revealing his muscular physique, encased in a white shirt, beneath the suit.
Then, Liu Ma unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves.
Instantly, a scarred, thick, bronze-colored arm.
Appeared before everyone's eyes.
Having done all this, Liu Ma looked at Chen Kong and smiled, "...Kong, your Empty Rune is indeed very deceptive to people who haven't encountered you before."
"Because they are more easily affected by your Empty Rune, thus overlooking your existence."
"But conversely, your Empty Rune's effect is greatly reduced for 'old friends' who are familiar with you."
"You thought eliminating 99% of your presence was enough? Too bad... I heard your heart beating faster, you know."
Saying that, Liu Ma beckoned to Chen Kong.
"Come on, let me see your real progress."
"Because I don't believe you've been treading water for six years."
"If you want to play dumb to catch a tiger, at least make it look convincing."
"As you are now, you don't look like a pig at all; you're clearly a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"After all, your Star Source · Dreamweaver hasn't been used yet."
"You don't think I wouldn't have noticed that, do you?"
Hearing Liu Ma mention his Star Source.
Chen Kong simply asked curiously, "Since you already know what my Star Source is, then for fairness, you should also tell me the effect of yours."
Unlike the twelve victors who passed the final assessment at the base.
The twenty-four losers like Liu Ma gradually acquired suitable Star Sources after leaving the base.
Most of them were either sent out of the base shortly after the final assessment ended.
Or they left the base while Chen Kong and Tendo were on their mission to Deep Blue City.
Therefore, Chen Kong had no idea what the Star Sources of anyone else, besides the twelve victors, were.
This included Liu Ma's Star Source.
"Kong, do you think I'd tell you?"
"Right."
Chen Kong nodded, then imitated Liu Ma's earlier action, unbuttoned his cuffs, and rolled them up.
However, unlike Liu Ma's exaggerated physique.
The current Chen Kong, only 1.8 meters tall, was not only far shorter than Liu Ma.
Even his muscle mass was far less than his.
Therefore, in terms of sheer presence.
Chen Kong at this moment was undoubtedly much weaker than Liu Ma.
But for some reason, Liu Ma, who had been relaxed moments ago, slowly grew serious.
He seemed to sense a dangerous aura from Chen Kong.
He stared at Chen Kong, two plumes of white smoke exhaling from his nostrils.
"Kong, I didn't expect your Empty Rune to have reached the point where it can even locally erase your own star energy fluctuations?"
"A second-level Dreamweaver, yet you deliberately only show a first-level aura. You've been hiding pretty well, kid."
Indeed, Liu Ma, sensing Chen Kong's star energy fluctuations at this moment.
Understood what this sly Chen Kong had been hiding all along.
If he and Chen Kong weren't old friends.
But unfamiliar enemies.
Just this level of concealment alone would be enough to severely ambush those guys.
Although Liu Ma wasn't sure when Chen Kong mastered 'local presence erasure.'
He likely relied on this trick to ambush quite a few people.
And if it were just an ordinary second-level Star Envoy.
Liu Ma wouldn't have felt too much.
But he could feel that Chen Kong's current awakening was not ordinary.
It was the perfect awakening that Liu Ma had been pursuing, just a step away from completion.
Because just as specific body parts of the Children of the Stars would show corresponding exclusive 'Star Scars' when their Star Cores awakened.
The perfect awakening of a Star Source would also exhibit some unique characteristics.
And this characteristic was that their star energy would become pure.
So pure that even if this star energy had not been transformed into a specific technique.
It would still be observed by outsiders.
Looking at the pure, white mist-like star energy around Chen Kong at this moment.
Liu Ma said with a complex tone, "Kong, although I thought you weren't as simple as I initially perceived, it seems now... I still underestimated you."
"No wonder at the base, even that arrogant Tendo was..."
"You're wrong."
Chen Kong earnestly retorted, "Brother Tendo never cared about these things."
"Because in his eyes, whether it's you or me, or a genius like my sister."
"To him... we're just toys for his amusement."
"He neither looked down on anyone nor looked up to anyone, because in his eyes, besides himself... he saw no one else."
"Of course, all of this is based on the premise that you and I consider ourselves challengers."
"If we were just friends, then Brother Tendo... is far gentler than you imagine."
Chen Kong's words were like a basin of ice water poured over Liu Ma's head, suddenly opening the floodgates of his memories.
The young man in his memories who always wore a faint smile never seemed to get angry at challengers.
Only occasionally would he be serious.
Because at the base, it wasn't as if no one provoked Tendo.
Among them, Chen Xing, the NO.2, provoked him the most.
But most of the time, Tendo only showed a troubled expression.
Very rarely would he seriously "play" with Chen Xing.
But angry?
Liu Ma realized he seemed to have never, truly never, seen him angry.
Because no matter what he encountered, Tendo always smiled.
As if those things that seemed incredibly difficult to them, requiring all their strength to accomplish.
For Tendo, were just things he could do effortlessly.
Without needing to put much thought into them.
Thinking of this, Liu Ma couldn't help but sigh, "Although many people call us monsters, only we truly understand."
"What a real monster should be like."
"Speaking of which... they still refuse to revoke Tendo's arrest warrant."
"Of course they won't."
A faint white mist appeared on Chen Kong's left hand.
And after this white mist condensed, it gradually transformed into a silver-white sword.
A thin, second-hand sword, just like Vivian's.
Chen Kong held this sword and looked at Liu Ma seriously: "...Because they know very well that a true monster—will never be tamed."
"Indeed."
After a brief silence between the two.
Chen Kong, who had already adapted to his 'perfect star energy,' spoke calmly.
"Alright, Liu Ma, our precious time for reminiscing is over. Next, I'm going to get serious."
Hearing this, a black 'Star Scar' resembling a knife scar on Liu Ma's forehead lit up with a starlike glimmer.
The next second, his horns slowly deepened in color.
His skin also gradually changed from its initial bronze to a golden hue.
As if he had put on a layer of golden armor.
Having done all this, Liu Ma said with a serious expression, "Come on, let me see what kind of monster a perfect Dreamweaver... truly is."
"You'll see."
As his words fell, the thin, second-hand sword in Chen Kong's hand began to emit an eerie 'blood flame.'