"Heh heh heh, you blocked the bridge and thought you could still retreat? You really wanted to have your cake and eat it too, huh."
Having successfully thwarted her, Leon felt invigorated.
He fluidly wove a thin cord from Imaginary energy and hung the shard from Vanquisher like a tassel.
Although he didn't know what this shard was specifically for, it was best to keep it for now.
Leon slung Vanquisher over his shoulder again and lowered his gaze.
He saw a girl with a stunned expression, a streak of bright red on her pale lips.
Leon actually recognized this person.
As the saying goes, supports are forever, but DPS are temporary.
This was especially true for a meta-player like him.
This led him to subconsciously forget most of the characters who had been 'retired,' since it had been so long since they'd seen any action.
Yukong and Fu Xuan were both like that.
If not for this transmigration-induced reunion, he, who had quit the game long ago, would have probably buried their images deep within his memory.
But the little bird in front of him was different.
He remembered quitting the game in version 2.3. Back then, the 'Robin-Mei-Shi' meta was all the rage in the community, dominating every game mode with its overpowered mechanics.
As the last character he'd pulled before quitting, his memory of her was particularly vivid.
"Yo, you okay, little bird?"
Leon shook his head, pushing aside his old thoughts, and raised a hand in greeting.
As he spoke, the wind supporting his feet slowly dissipated, and he landed gently and unhurriedly on the ground.
"I'm…"
Robin began to speak instinctively, her gaze fixed on him, somewhat dazed.
The Family wasn't some minor faction.
They'd naturally heard of the great Xianzhou Alliance and had also heard of the seven Arbiter-Generals.
But they never knew that The Hunt had an eighth Emanator.
Probably not a single faction knew until Leon made his official appearance today.
"Are you one of the Xianzhou's Arbiter-Generals?"
Robin hesitated for a moment before speaking with difficulty, her voice filled with confusion.
If he really was one of the Xianzhou's Arbiter-Generals, then the Xianzhou had hidden him far too well.
To think they'd keep an Emanator as a hidden trump card.
Instead of an open deterrent.
Hiding their strength for so long... it's hard not to wonder if the Xianzhou Alliance was saving this 'big gift' as a special surprise for a particular faction.
"No, I'm a Galaxy Ranger, the Miracle Man."
Although the Xianzhou Alliance told Leon to use their name, he couldn't just sell out his master if he got into trouble.
As the saying goes, when you're out in the world, you make your own identity.
So what if he was part of the Xianzhou Alliance?
If he says he's a Galaxy Ranger, then he's a Galaxy Ranger.
What, is someone going to call me out on it?
"Galaxy Rangers?"
Robin murmured.
She knew of this faction, a small group of people who also walked the Path of The Hunt alongside the Xianzhou Alliance.
Though not as prominent or prestigious as the Xianzhou Alliance, their reputation throughout the universe was still considerable.
Their accomplishments included, but were not limited to:
Assassinating a Lord Ravager,
Thwarting the thirteen legions of Gaius the 'Usurper,' successor to the will of Rupert the Emperor,
And destroying the atavistic experiments of Genius Society Member #64, 'Dr. Primitive'.
Unfortunately, after this, the Galaxy Rangers gradually faded from the galactic view.
Legend says they made a bitter enemy of Dr. Primitive and thus suffered a tragic fate.
To think they would re-emerge today.
"Hello, Mr. Miracle Man."
Robin wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and composed herself.
"I am Robin, a songstress of The Family."
She introduced herself, her gentle and melodious voice still carrying a hint of residual hoarseness.
"Songstress? Oh, so you're a songstress."
Leon nodded. With that, the two were now acquainted.
"Uh, if I'm not mistaken, I suppose I am a songstress?"
Robin didn't understand what he meant and asked uncertainly.
She was indeed a singer, and she was female, so there didn't seem to be anything wrong with that title?
But she felt that something was off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Never mind.
Robin decided to stop trying to figure out the hidden meaning behind this strange form of address.
Her savior could call her whatever he wanted; it didn't matter.
"I have long heard of the heroic deeds of the Galaxy Rangers that circulate throughout the universe."
"It is said that whenever they encounter injustice, they will step in to help without hesitation."
Robin continued, her curious gaze sizing him up.
The Galaxy Rangers had been silent for many years with no news,
To think that their re-emergence today would be with a royal flush.
If Leon's identity was genuine, it would resolve the doubts in her heart.
After all, if he were an Arbiter-General of the Xianzhou, there would be an unavoidable question.
What was his purpose for intervening this time?
Just to eliminate the avatar of a Lord Ravager?
There was simply no profit in it.
Robin didn't think the Xianzhou Alliance would waste their efforts for nothing.
If they were going to reveal him so casually, what was the point of hiding him for so long?
But if he was a Galaxy Ranger, then everything made sense.
They do it because they want to.
This group of heroes did indeed like to act alone, and those five words were enough to summarize their entire operational logic.
Both points clearly matched Leon perfectly.
"Seeing you today, I can say your reputation is well-deserved."
Robin's tone was grateful as she thanked him from the bottom of her heart.
She believed that after today, the power balance in the universe would once again be reshuffled.
An Emanator.
This was enough to give the Galaxy Rangers a real seat at the table.
The vast universe has never lacked for powerful individuals,
But only those with an Emanator at the helm can truly attract the attention of the major factions.
The Xianzhou Alliance, the Interastral Peace Corporation, The Family...
Excluding factions like the Garden of Recollection and the Antimatter Legion, which are obviously not places for normal people.
These three were basically the most famous and the ones that immediately came to mind.
These top-tier factions all had one thing in common: they possessed two or more Emanator-level combatants.
The Galaxy Rangers' achievement of slaying a Lord Ravager was indeed dazzling.
But the heavy casualties and the difficulty of repeating the feat meant it was largely discounted.
Without that solid track record, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were on the same level as the Annihilation Gang.
But having an Emanator was different.
This would basically elevate the Galaxy Rangers' status by a whole tier.
They would become a faction worthy of attention from even the Corporation and The Family.
"Yep, yep, we Galaxy Rangers are just that kind of impulsive group."
Leon chuckled and nodded in agreement.
Looking at it that way, the Galaxy Rangers were basically the Freljord in the truest sense.
They're all people who follow their hearts.
"I really don't know how I can possibly thank you."
Robin placed her slender fingers lightly on her chest, her expression quite serious as she spoke.
"You know I'm a Galaxy Ranger, yet you still insist on talking about repayment?"
Leon's words held a deeper meaning. "Hachi-bird, you're an interesting one, you know."
He was clearly telling her to drop the subject of repayment.
Sigh, a true Galaxy Ranger can't stand to hear such vulgar words.
In short.
I do good deeds without seeking recognition. Just call me your friendly neighborhood Galaxy Ranger!
______
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