Bare... bare-handedly grabbing a spaceship?
Stelle opened her mouth, but she couldn't utter a single word. She could actually imagine that scene—it was said that Captain XX 3 paid homage to this exact moment.
No, speaking of Clara's strength, it wouldn't be that difficult for her.
In this leaderboard, Stelle spotted quite a few familiar figures: Numby, Robin, Herta (Stelle really couldn't imagine why Herta would participate)... In short, the immortals were as numerous as strands of flax, and it was impossible to fathom just how chaotic the scene would be when the time came.
It was truly something to look forward to.
...
While Stelle and the others were still gathered around the leaderboard, in an unknown and secretive corner, a pair of ruthless eyes had already quietly locked onto them.
The owner of those eyes was none other than Mok Tok, who had just made an appearance moments ago.
After being subdued by Yunli, Mok Tok took advantage of the Cloud Knight guarding him being momentarily inattentive and secretly broke free from his restraints. He proceeded cautiously, lurking and advancing step by step, until he finally located Stelle and the group.
As for why Mok Tok was seeking out Stelle and the others, that story had to start from a while back:
The following is Mok Tok's personal account:
My name is Mok Tok, and I have been reborn.
In my previous life, after going through untold hardships, I finally rescued Lord Hoolay from the Shackling Prison. We were on the verge of escaping the Xianzhou and reviving the Borisin clan, only for that detestable Divine Foresight General to scheme against us. We were cornered at the Jade Abacus Gate by General Huaiyan, and pursued relentlessly by the Sky-Shatter General and her lackeys.
Even with Lord Hoolay and me exerting our utmost efforts, we still couldn't prevail in the end. I died under that gray-furred one's baseball bat, and Lord Hoolay tore out his own heart and perished.
Yet perhaps the Aeons took pity on me, seeing how wretched the Borisin clan had become, and granted me another chance.
When I awoke once more, I discovered that I had returned to a time before the Rite of the Hunt had even begun—and moreover, this world differed vastly from the one I knew!
In this world, we Borisin had been reduced to the status of mere livestock. Those vile Xianzhou natives treated us as pets to be raised, as beasts to be slaughtered at will! This was utterly upside down and inside out!
All of this should rightfully belong to the Borisin!
But the Xianzhou side had never played fair from start to finish—they lacked any sense of martial honor. That Demon Bow had bestowed upon the Xianzhou seven Emanators of the same caliber, while my Borisin clan, over millions of years, had never produced even a single one who could reach that level... Only Lord Hoolay held the hope of drawing the gaze of Yaoshi in the future and achieving great things.
Thus, reborn in this life, I am determined to break through the obstructions of those three Generals and lead Lord Hoolay back to the tribe!
The Borisin shall never be enslaved!!!
...
Mok Tok's thoughts returned to the present. His icy gaze fixed deadly on the Astral Express crew, and a cold laugh escaped from the depths of his heart.
In the previous life, it was precisely because of these Star Dome Train interlopers' interference that they had failed to escape. This time, he would strike first and seize the initiative, finding a breakthrough from this group!
Didn't you lot value camaraderie above all? Didn't you treat friends like family?
Mok Tok stared at March 7th and let out a cold laugh. From his experiences in the previous life, this pink-haired girl should be the weakest among them. As long as he brought people to capture her, the Star Dome Train—and even the Xianzhou side—would be forced to hesitate.
Along the way, Mok Tok had already confirmed that the one named Lingsha from the Alchemy Commission wasn't with them, and the Yunli who had subdued him in one move was absent as well.
Among this group, only that yellow-haired Cloud Knight vanguard, the Longscion of the Zhuming, and that gray-fur were troublesome to deal with... But... you can't all stick together forever, can you?
With this thought, Mok Tok sneered. As someone reborn, he had naturally arranged everything in advance.
His subordinates were lurking in multiple locations across the Luofu: pet shops, alleyways, sewers, barbecue stalls... His minions were everywhere. All that was missing now was a trigger.
And that trigger would be created by him personally.
"Ah woo."
Mok Tok swallowed a blue pill. In the previous life, this was the special drug he used to disguise himself as a foxian—essentially achieving a foxian-like appearance through bodily contraction. But this time, he had no intention of disguising as a foxian.
"Awoo awoo awoo—meow woo—!"
In the darkness, Mok Tok's form contracted, contracted again, and contracted once more, transforming into a small Borisin.
He intended to approach this group in this pet form.
Pet Borisin were ubiquitous on the Luofu now; even if he strolled right up to them brazenly, they surely wouldn't suspect a thing.
With this in mind, Mok Tok emerged from behind his cover and sauntered boldly to Stelle's feet, letting out a "ha."
"Ah!! It's a Borisin!"
Stelle was startled by Mok Tok's sudden leap, and almost instinctively kicked him flying.
Stelle's perception of Borisin was still stuck on their original savage, wolf-like image, so her first reaction was to attack.
Mok Tok's body slammed heavily into the wall and slowly slid down.
Cough cough... Weren't they supposed to treat Borisin like pets? What was this situation?!
Why would this damned gray-fur still instinctively lash out?!
"What's wrong, Stelle?"
March 7th asked curiously from the side. "Aren't Borisin super common? No need to make such a big fuss, right? Where'd you kick it to?"
Hearing March 7th's voice, Mok Tok's heart immediately leaped with joy: No problem—even if this damned gray-fur was abnormal, from his memories, this pink-fur should be a soft-hearted sort. Seeing him in such a pitiful state, she would surely...
"Stelle, if you're really scared of this thing, I'll just handle it for you. It's just a stray Borisin anyway—though the corpse might be tricky to dispose of, it'd affect the city aesthetics..."
Dan Heng: "No worries, March. We can send it to a barbecue shop; the chefs there should know what to do with it."
Mok Tok: ?
This dialogue didn't feel right. Weren't these the Borisin's lines?
Stelle shrank back her neck: "March, don't be so quick to kill every time—it really hurts your image, you know?"
March 7th: "Oh, my bad."
That scared him half to death! Mok Tok quietly breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly feeling that this damned gray-fur didn't seem so detestable after all...
"Hm?"
As if sensing something, Mok Tok doubtfully lifted his head. Standing before him was a youth with wings at the back of his head—someone who had never appeared in his memories—looking down at him disdainfully. He said, "If you ask me, to maximize the use of Borisin, we should have them serve as labor machines when they're young, and once they're old, turn them into snacks for the newborns..."
"Ha!!"
Mok Tok flew into a rage, hissing at Sunday: What the hell are you? I never even saw you in my previous life, which means you're definitely not anyone important. And you dare to speak ill of me?!
If it weren't for all these people around, I'd rip you apart alive right now!
"Hissing at me is one thing, but you even dared to sneak attack Miss Stelle just now?" Sunday raised his foot: "Watch me flatten you!"
Mok Tok retreated repeatedly, hissing as he fled.
—"Hey! Wait a minute!"
Just as Sunday was about to stomp Mok Tok flat, a voice suddenly rang out from the side. In the next second, Mok Tok felt himself gripped tightly in a small, forceful hand, struggling to breathe.
The newcomer had long pale purple hair and dragon horns on her head, her face full of innocence and foolishness...
"Bailu?"
Stelle asked in surprise: "What are you doing here?"