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"This really is quite nice. Nanook, oh Nanook—this key-robot look actually suits you rather well."
THEY circled the mosaic-like toy body twice, as if what stood before THEM was not a long-acquainted peer, but a museum's prized exhibit.
Like an apprentice gazing at a world-famous painting, THEY clicked their tongue in amazement while observing.
"Oh my, just look at these muscle lines—truly heaven-given, perfectly natural."
"And this Destruction flame spraying from the wound—this should be the very source of Destruction, right?"
"Hehe, I'll pry off a piece and take it back as a souvenir."
Aha showed not the slightest restraint, reaching straight toward the scar and forcibly breaking off a chunk of bright yellow "flame."
Even though it had already taken on a mosaic-like form and was detached from its body, the flame continued to surge ceaselessly.
If the one holding it were not an Aeon but a mortal, they would already be engulfed by this blocky flame and reduced to ashes before long.
Though subjected to magical trickery, the Aeon of Destruction was still an Aeon—THEIR power had not weakened in the slightest.
And coincidentally, that was exactly what Aha wanted.
"Hehehe, with this, things become much more convenient."
Sealing the flame between two masks, THEY sighed regretfully, gazing at Nanook's torso with eyes full of reluctance.
"What a pity. There were still so many tricks left unused. Next time THEY'RE on guard, it won't be this easy."
At the edge of THEIR perception, five blazing objects smashed through all obstacles, pulverizing celestial bodies along the way as they rushed back at top speed.
Across ten thousand stars, for an Aeon, was no more than the snap of a finger.
Seizing the final window of time, Aha shaped the power of Elation into pigment in THEIR palm, filling Nanook's wound, then carving another slash across the opposite shoulder, overlapping the original into a cross.
"Mmm~ symmetry really does look better."
"No need to thank me. This is simply what I should do."
At the moment of THEIR smug satisfaction, Nanook's head and limbs had already traversed space and arrived directly behind Aha.
The toy-like head bore only a fixed "smile," but the crimson glow in the eyes was enough to show that THEY were furious beyond measure.
"Elation—you will pay the price!"
With THEIR furious roar, the entire star system boiled like an awakened raging dragon.
Dark-yellow power erupted from countless dead stars. The black-gray surfaces peeled away like dust brushed from ping-pong balls, revealing their true forms.
This was another state of planets after being completely devoured by Stellarons, and now they provided Nanook with an endless supply of power.
At Nanook's command, overwhelming flames surged from all directions, forming a cage that locked Aha inside.
Trapped by Nanook's divine fire, one clump of Aha's masks was scorched. Left with no choice, THEY immediately discarded it.
Surveying the fireballs imprisoning THEM, Aha scratched THEIR head. "Seems I underestimated you a bit."
Nanook, having already completed THEIR bodily reconstruction, had no intention of exchanging pleasantries.
Without a word, THEY slammed THEIR palms together with a thunderous clap.
"Annihilate!"
Flames from tens of thousands of planets detonated in an instant.
The surrounding dead stars were drained of power, dimming once more into silence.
At the place where Aha had been, only an immense quantity of ash remained.
Yet Nanook felt no relief whatsoever.
"Hmph. A boring fellow."
THEY returned to THEIR throne and sank back into stillness like a dead star.
Only a single mask, not yet burned to nothing, remained, noisily mocking.
"Hahahaha, missed me! Hahahaha, you missed me!"
The next moment, that mask too turned into flying ash.
The entire star system fell into complete silence.
At an unknown distance away, Aha emerged from rippling, water-like space.
"Woohoohoo~~ that guy really has quite the temper, huh? Actually pulling out THEIR trump card."
THEY clumsily extinguished the flames on THEIR body and then glanced around at the surroundings.
After confirming THEY hadn't come to the wrong place, the previous events were instantly tossed aside.
Aha grinned widely. "Hahaha, you little Abundance wolf pups—an opportunity from the Aeon of Destruction has arrived!"
…
The Ten-Lords Commission.
Bang, bang, bang.
A judge clad in white raised a hand and knocked on the door.
"Huohuo, are you inside?"
"Ah, Lady Xueyi? I'll be right there."
Huohuo answered and quickly opened the door, letting Xueyi in.
"I came here for… why is it so dark in here? If I recall correctly, you should be the one who dislikes living in such an environment the most."
Xueyi looked at the room where everything from door to windows—even the indicator lights of the holographic computer—had been tightly covered, utterly baffled.
In broad daylight, it was gloomier than The Shackling Prison.
She reached out and pressed the light switch, yet there was still not a trace of brightness.
Looking up carefully at the ceiling, she saw that the lamp was wrapped in black plastic sheets—more than one layer, at that.
What kind of behavior was this? She'd never heard of Foxians fearing sunlight. They weren't vampires.
And even if they were afraid, it wouldn't suddenly start today.
Fortunately, the person in question was right here.
She directly asked Huohuo: "What is this about?"
"Well, um…"
The question genuinely stumped Huohuo.
Should I really tell Lady Xueyi the truth—that Tail has 'Fool' written on his face and is too embarrassed to be seen, so I panicked and blocked all the light sources?
Wouldn't that just make all this pointless, since someone would still find out?
"He—he actually… it's a secret technique of the Heliobi!"
"A secret technique of the Heliobi?" Xueyi frowned slightly. "Did Tail ask you to do this?"
Thinking quickly, Huohuo replied vaguely: "Mm-hm. Yes, Tail. He said he suddenly awakened a secret art and needs to go into closed-door cultivation for forty-nine days, unable to see even a trace of light."
Finally coming up with a passable excuse, she immediately let out a sigh of relief after saying it.
Phew~ This should get me through it, right?
"I see."
Xueyi nodded thoughtfully.
But then she added: "However, shouldn't Heliobus cultivate by absorbing large amounts of light? They are, after all, the essence of star fire."
Huohuo, struck squarely at her blind spot, immediately grew awkward.
"Ah—th-this…"
It's over. Why is Lady Xueyi so sharp…
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