Captain Ken watched this scene unfold, yet it didn't take him by surprise.
The name Bai Ming had left its mark on the Xianzhou Luofu, and Baiheng had once mentioned this very matter in connection with the titles of the three creators of the Ultramen.
So, after confirming with the other two mothers, many people in the Land of Light were aware that Bai Ming had ties to the Xianzhou Luofu.
He had thought Mother would conceal her identity, so he'd been paying close attention just now.
Never expected Mother wouldn't seem to mind at all.
Well, then he wouldn't worry about it either.
"Madam Hertatomb, I won't disturb your reunion. If you need anything, feel free to call on me anytime."
With that, Captain Ken turned and left.
'Hertatomb' watched Baiheng's swaying tail and found it somewhat amusing.
Right now, she really did resemble her old self from a few centuries back.
But if memory served, hadn't Baiheng attempted the Dragon Transformation Art? Why did she still look like a Foxian?
"Stop staring. It's me, Bai Ming."
"Wha— Really?! How did you end up like this now?"
"Have you forgotten? Back on the Luofu, I was borrowing Acheron's appearance too, wasn't I?"
Baiheng was taken aback for a moment, then awkwardly scratched her head.
Ever since leaving the Luofu, she hadn't been fond of discussing the reckless things she'd done in the past.
Her memories of it really had grown faint.
"A while ago, I met with Jingliu. Don't worry, I helped suppress her Mara. But she probably won't leave the Stellaron Hunters."
"The Mara's already suppressed? That's good then. As for the Stellaron Hunters… sigh, I've gotten used to it."
Hearing this, Baiheng let out a relieved sigh, but her smile was tinged with bitterness.
Her relationship with Jingliu couldn't be called bad—in fact, they both still cared for each other.
But what happened back then was like a knot, and even after centuries, neither could fully let it go.
It was hard to say whether Baiheng had anything to do with Jingliu refusing to join the Galaxy Rangers.
"Ah, enough of this gloomy talk. Knowing Jingliu is doing fine puts my mind at ease. Working under that Destiny's Slave is probably much safer than being a Galaxy Ranger anyway."
Baiheng rubbed her cheeks, as if brushing away those emotions.
"We can save the casual chat for after the battle. Right now, let's talk about Celenova."
"Alright."
'Hertatomb' was actually quite curious about how Baiheng had avoided falling to Mara over all these centuries.
But with her longevity now, would she eventually succumb to Mara, or would she be reborn from an egg like the Vidyadhara?
'Hertatomb' glanced at Baiheng's scarf collar, where she could just make out the faint glint of fine scales beneath her jawline.
Just what species was Baiheng now anyway?
"Roughly how large is Celenova's fleet? Can we confirm she's here personally?"
"Almost the entire main fleet has been deployed. As for her personally, we're still confirming, but based on the current situation, it's highly likely."
Baiheng quickly shifted into work mode.
She clearly had a lot of experience in this.
"As for the other Lord Ravagers, according to current intelligence, the most active ones—Asat Pramad and Zephyro—have shown no movement. I doubt a second Lord Ravager will join the battle."
Theoretically, Lord Ravagers rarely operated together.
So if no signs of others were detected, it was safe to assume no other Ravagers would get involved.
"When the time comes, leave Celenova and her fleet to me. The Rangers didn't send many people this time, right? Best not to intervene."
It was similar to the situation with the Land of Light.
The Galaxy Rangers were also an organization stretched thin across the universe, perpetually short-handed.
If Amphoreus officially went to war, they would surely regroup.
But given the current circumstances, mobilizing a large force to garrison here was clearly impossible.
"…"
Baiheng actually wanted to argue, but her instincts had been screaming warnings ever since they met.
The presence before her posed a tremendous threat.
To be honest, if Captain Ken hadn't brought her in, she would have instinctively attacked already.
So Baiheng cautiously leaned close to 'Hertatomb's' ear and whispered,
"Um, Bai Ming… can I ask what identity you're using this time? Why do I feel creeped out just standing next to you?"
It wasn't the same feeling Madam Acheron gave back then.
Nihility brought a subtle sense of emptiness.
This time, it was a very straightforward, instinctual alarm—a primal warning.
"Well, it's hard to explain in detail, but your senses are right. I'm carrying a very potent infectious virus—a genuinely dangerous presence. That's also why I don't want you all joining the fight. I'm afraid of causing collateral damage."
"Can you describe roughly what kind of infection it is?"
"A virus that can overwhelm both organic and inorganic life. It's at the level of an Emanator—don't even think about suppressing it through ordinary means. I'll provide you with a protective equation later, but even so, don't charge into the fray."
"…"
Why did Lady Bai Ming always have to operate under such dangerous identities?
Was this some eccentric quirk unique to the powerful?
Baiheng was both astounded and bewildered.
But she respected Lady Bai Ming's little peculiarities.
"I understand. I'll convey your intentions. However, if I judge that support is needed, the Galaxy Rangers will still mobilize."
"Alright, alright, it's not like I can order you around anyway."
'Hertatomb' smiled and nodded, not refusing Baiheng's good intentions.
--+--
Celenova seemed extremely impatient.
She arrived in the Amphoreus star system in just two days—two system days ahead of schedule.
This marching speed was even the fastest in centuries.
And once her target was confirmed as Amphoreus, many breathed a sigh of relief.
Compared to the other Lord Ravagers, Celenova was indeed relatively 'temperate.'
Meanwhile, 'Hertatomb'—who had been enjoying tokusatsu dramas and the games of geniuses on Amphoreus—naturally set out as soon as the news arrived.
The massive skeletal cross, no longer concealing its size, emerged from the Land of Light's fleet.
Carrying that overwhelming sense of dissonance, like a Herald of Destruction, it traversed the star system and came before the Destruction army.
Boom—!
Flames spread through the dark, icy cosmos.
From the rear of her legion, Celenova watched the abruptly appearing entity.
The dense aura of Destruction was unmistakably that of a Lord Ravager—perhaps even more concentrated than one.
It was even more similar now.
That other Celenova back then also possessed Destruction energy far surpassing Zulo's, with combat feats exceeding her own.
It really was that person!
"Is it you? It must be you! The other Celenova! I'll have my legion tear open your chest and personally expose your true form to all!"
Celenova's voice, carried on tides of Imaginary energy, echoed from the distant beyond.
Upon hearing this, 'Hertatomb' quietly mused to herself.
So much resentment, huh.
Well then—
"Let's say hello."
Across light-years of space, the moment the skeletal cross—vast as a celestial body—appeared, countless expressionless puppets descended into the neatly aligned legion.
There were many puppets, and their strength wasn't low.
But against Celenova's army, they clearly stood no chance.
In just a few exchanges, the puppets were reduced to cosmic dust.
Yet…the equation of Destruction, quietly dispersed upon the puppets' shattering, began to spread through the legion.
Just then, an angry shout erupted from within the army:
"How arrogant!!"
Almost simultaneously, the entire legion erupted with power.
An invisible tide of Imaginary energy instantly and mercilessly obliterated every infected Voidranger and starship.
The residual force transformed into a tidal wave, shattering planets and extinguishing stars, sweeping across light-years toward 'Hertatomb.'
Boom—!!!
A silent collision erupted in the quiet void.
'Hertatomb's' counterattack dispersed the malice from Celenova and, carrying a terrifying equation of Destruction, even infected the already-dead star and its orbiting planets.
A dark tide engulfed the celestial bodies, turning them into the most primitive and pure celestial dirty bombs.
Propelled by Imaginary energy, they hurtled toward the Legion of Destruction!
'Hertatomb's' threads manipulated the dark, shattered star matter.
Phase Flames, wide as a galaxy, devoured the stellar mass, and in an instant, hurled it into the midst of the legion. After a moment of utter silence, all matter was ignited once more.
The star blazed with fierce flame again.
But this time, it was no longer a stable, long-lasting burn—it was a brief, magnificent flare.
The inferno bloomed like a crimson lotus in the cosmos.
If anyone were observing the Amphoreus star system, they would have seen a distinct crimson lotus unfurling along the spiral arm.
The exaggerated energy tides nearly tore the clearly visible spiral arm apart completely.
Even though 'Hertatomb' deliberately restrained the pure energy impact, the scattered radiation still forced fleets near Amphoreus to focus entirely on resisting the terrifying shockwave from across the star system.
--+--