Maybe because the soap was closest to Dan Heng, the blast's wave smacked him flying.
When Stelle and March 7th came to, he was gone.
"March... glug glug glug~" Stelle tried quipping, but seawater flooded her mouth, nearly choking her.
Regret hit hard. Shouldn't have gone for thrilling water antics—total surprise capsize!
"Don't panic, wait for me glug glug glug~" March 7th wanted to freeze the sea with her ice spear... but underwater, drawing a weapon was iffy.
Drowning, Stelle couldn't grab her necklace... Draining the ocean? Unrealistic.
She'd just thought about sucking in a Lord Ravager.
Watching the starskiff fade, Stelle's vision darkened...
...
"He's here."
Unlike March 7th and Stelle, Dan Heng washed up safe—right where three Stellaron Hunters stood.
Waves too rough; Adrian's disguise rinsed off, revealing HIS true form.
"Mm~ Perfect timing."
"...Those emotions are surfacing. Kafka, I feel it. That feeling again! This..." The Hunter called [Blade] clutched his forehead.
Kafka murmured, "Release it, then. [Mara-struck]..."
Silver Wolf stayed silent. If memory served, back in the Iron Guard restricted zone, Dan Heng pulled an [eternity]-upgraded spear on her face... then tried it on Emanator Blake.
No comment from her. Recalling her punklord hacker legend, Herta and Screwllum from the [Genius Society] weren't her nemeses—but childhood-touched [eternity] was.
Thanks to [eternity]'s concept, even joining Stellaron Hunters hadn't yielded a crack. Eternal inescapable grip.
Dan Heng wielded an [eternity]-linked Cloudhacker—hands off. Might double as a flare; fire in crisis, summon Blake.
"You came..." Blade's eyes locked on Dan Heng from arrival, never wavering.
"Time to pay the price! It's time!! Think changing your face lets you escape?! Escape..."
Comrades' fate unknown, Dan Heng just wanted out. "I've told you and that woman countless times... I'm [Dan Heng]."
"No ties to your past." He stressed again.
"Hahahahaha! Dan Heng... Think a new face, new name erases old sins? You... you haven't even tasted [death]."
"I'll make you feel that pain, [Dan Heng]. Know [death]'s agony!"
Dan Heng frowned, assessing.
Stellaron Hunters were few—three here? Luofu their base?
Needed to regroup with March 7th fast, but stuck.
Unless...
"Ah, no can do."
A youthful voice from behind: the Cloud Knights' youngest sword champion—Yanqing!
"No killing today, wanted criminal. You're coming with me."
Back in the Shackling Prison, the General warned him: watch this Hunter.
Didn't expect all three Luofu infiltrators gathered—saved Yanqing the hunt.
"Jing Yuan's lapdog kid... Didn't he teach you to read the room..." Blade's tone iced.
"Tch, this guy again..." Silver Wolf grumbled. Xianzhou vigor—since landing on Luofu, Yanqing tailed her relentlessly.
Only paused chasing after spotting a white-haired eyepatch woman.
"Hey, back off. Swords have no eyes... Huh?"
Yanqing turned, puzzled by Dan Heng's face. "You look familiar..."
Urgency overrode. "Three of them... Tough..."
In that distraction, Blade flashed behind Dan Heng, sword thrusting vital.
"Stop hiding—show your true form!" Dan Heng couldn't react; Blade's wild swings overwhelmed.
"Vile cur!"
Yanqing joined, blocking the fatal blow for Dan Heng. Sneak attacks from a Stellaron Hunter?!
"Ah... They're at it."
Silver Wolf donned shades, sharing Punklorde twist-bubble gum with Kafka.
"Intense fight needs commentary." She smacked. Seen this scene countless times.
"Hehe~" Kafka spectated. She sensed neither foe to Blade held back fully—obvious reserves.
Blade parried, deflecting flying swords, using them to cancel recoil, hurling his ancient blade.
Yanqing sidestepped; Dan Heng wasn't so lucky.
After Stelle, he was the second Nameless pierced chest-deep—and worse than Cocona's time.
Surprisingly, no pain... Purple light circled his chest; hidden power stirred wildly.
"You!" Yanqing fumed at wounded Dan Heng.
"Kid, introductions..." Goal met, Blade spread arms, smirking, strolling to Yanqing.
"Behind you: perpetrator of heinous crimes... banished from Xianzhou, chaos-stirrer... eternally exiled sinner."
"Vidyadhara Dragon Lord—[Imbibitor Lunae]."
...
[Wake up~ Wake up~]
Stellaron Core voice echoed in her mind-sea. Stelle vaguely saw the muscly trash-can monster again.
She jolted awake, staring at unfamiliar surroundings.
"You're awake? Surgery successful—you're now a certified Stellaron Core."
Adrian sipped milk tea, watching with March 7th.
"Wow~ Finally up. I almost gave you mouth-to-mouth." March 7th fussed.
Hearing that, Stelle's eyes rolled; she flopped back.
March 7th: ?
"Clearly, she was looking forward to Miss March's CPR." Adrian watched the show.
"Damn, seen through!" Stelle grumbled. Had to be an Aeon—reading her mind anytime.
"Possible your eager face gave it away?"
March 7th hauled Stelle up, briefing. "Lucky us—waves dumped us here, right with Uncle Yang. But... Teacher Dan Heng wasn't so fortunate."