Chapter 11: Aha, I Have Endured You for Too Long
The words had barely left March 7th's lips when the air itself seemed to shriek. A spiral arrow, wreathed in dark, crackling energy, tore through the corridor, aimed dead center at her face.
A flash of teal and black blurred past her. Dan Heng moved with terrifying precision, his spear thrusting forward to intercept the lethal projectile.
Clang—Sizzle!
Metal shrieked against energy. A blinding shower of sparks erupted in the dim corridor as the lead ground violently against the spinning arrow. The sheer kinetic force of Dan Heng's parry forced the projectile off its deadly trajectory. It careened past March's shoulder and slammed into the metallic floor plating.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rocked the corridor. Plumes of acrid dust and shattered metal rained down, leaving a jagged, scorched crater in the deck.
Before the dust could even settle, a massive shadow blotted out the overhead lights. A towering figure plummeted from the upper gantry, its hooves striking the deck with a heavy, metallic thud that vibrated through everyone's boots. It was a Void Ranger: Trampler. The centaur-like monstrosity reared up, drawing back the string of a massive, glowing longbow.
Leon let out a low, amused chuckle, casually brushing a speck of dust from his shoulder. "Little March, did you get your mouth blessed by an Aeon of bad luck? We had a perfectly quiet stroll right up until you opened it. The moment you mention enemies, this big guy drops in to say hello."
March 7th stomped her boot against the deck, her cheeks puffing out in sheer indignation. "Hey! You're blaming me for this too? They obviously planned an ambush, okay!"
The Trampler let out a guttural, mechanical roar, clearly unamused by the casual banter happening in its presence. The space around the massive creature began to warp and distort. Rifts tore open in the air, and in the blink of an eye, a swarm of lesser Void Rangers poured out from the void, completely surrounding the group.
"Hey! Calling for backup when you can't win? Are you trying to play dirty?!" March 7th shouted, her voice pitching up in exasperation.
Leon watched her fluster, the corners of his mouth curving into a distinct, handsome smirk. She was just too cute when she was angry. Despite her vocal complaints, March's hands were completely steady. She drew her bow in a fluid motion, a frost arrow materializing on the string. Her eyes darted around the overwhelming number of targets, briefly hesitating on which ugly face to shoot first.
The others shifted their stances, weapons drawn, the tension thick in the air.
Just then, a sharp, mechanical whistling sound cut through the heavy atmosphere.
A spinning, drone-like weapon shaped like a circular saw blade tore into the corridor. The high-speed rotating blades whirred with lethal intent, acting like the scythe of the Grim Reaper. It carved a bloody path straight through the encroaching horde, instantly shredding the nearest Void Rangers into dissipating particles of dark energy.
"Hahaha! Perfect timing!" March 7th's eyes sparkled with immediate recognition, her previous panic vanishing entirely. She knew that buzzsaw anywhere. Himeko had arrived to back them up!
"Go." Dan Heng's voice was calm and authoritative. He stepped backward, sweeping his spear in a wide arc to keep the remaining monsters at bay, covering their retreat.
Taking advantage of the bloody opening the drone had created, the group broke through the encirclement, sprinting down the corridor toward the heavy blast doors ahead.
The moment Stelle and Caelus shoved the heavy doors open, a gentle, composed female voice drifted through the air, carrying a warmth that instantly cut through the adrenaline of battle.
"Every time, it's so thrilling..."
Himeko slowly turned around from the control console. "But, it's good to have you back."
Her gaze was soft, sweeping over the group as they spilled into the safe zone. Leon stopped in his tracks, his eyes fixing on the navigator of the Astral Express, a genuine smile breaking across his face.
She was a vision of absolute elegance. Her slender, pale hands were gently folded in front of her. The luxurious, crimson and white long dress she wore perfectly accentuated her graceful bearing. The front hem of the skirt traced a sleek, sophisticated curve, while the dark cloak and multi-layered design at her back gave her an air of solemn authority. Despite the complex complexity of her attire, she carried it with effortless poise, making her an exceptionally captivating presence.
"My lady, it is an absolute pleasure to meet you..."
With a flick of his wrist, Leon produced a vibrant red rose from absolutely nowhere. He clamped the stem lightly between his teeth, fully committing to his impromptu cosplay as a Knight of Beauty. Stepping forward, he placed his right hand over his heart and swept into a deep, flawlessly executed knightly bow.
"Ah! Amidst this vast, endless sea of stars, to think there exists such a brilliant celestial body!" Leon declared, his voice dripping with theatrical passion. "Your very existence is the most beautiful hymn to Idrila, the Aeon of Beauty!"
He rose slightly, looking up at her through his lashes. "Please forgive my sudden loss of composure. My eyes have simply been captured by your radiant brilliance. This is no mundane beauty, but a priceless treasure carved together by wisdom, courage, and the gentle hands of time."
He took the rose from his mouth, offering it forward. "Your elegance is enough to breathe vibrant color into this cold, mechanical universe. To be able to cross paths with you today must surely be a direct blessing from the Aeon of Beauty to my devout, wandering soul."
His gaze was intensely focused and fervent, yet entirely devoid of any sleazy undertones. He played the part perfectly, projecting only the purest, most dramatic reverence for Beauty.
Dan Heng stood off to the side, his face a mask of utter deadpan exhaustion. 'Do you honestly think anyone believes you?'Arlan blinked rapidly, clutching his injured arm.'He is a Knight of Beauty? He really does not look like one...'
"Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing? Have you been possessed by an alien ghost?!" March 7th stared at Leon, her eyes wide with suspicion and disbelief. She waved her hands in front of his face, genuinely wondering if his brain had short-circuited. Was this overly poetic romantic really the same thick-skinned, unreliable Leon who had been teasing her five minutes ago?
Dan Heng remained entirely expressionless. Having mentally categorized Leon as a Masked Fool the moment they met, he was completely immune to whatever outrageous performance the man decided to put on next.
Stelle's golden eyes widened. She quietly clapped her hands together, a look of deep realization dawning on her face. 'Ooh... so Dad wants to court this pretty older sister!'
Beside her, Caelus silently whipped out a small, battered notebook and a pen. With absolute seriousness, he began to scribble down notes: Pursuit Insights, Rule One. First, pretend to be a Knight of Beauty. Rule Two. Say a bunch of things that sound extremely impressive and poetic...
Faced with this sudden, overwhelmingly theatrical yet oddly sincere barrage of praise, Himeko blinked in mild surprise. Then, she let out a soft, melodic laugh that echoed pleasantly in the room.
"What an interesting knight," she mused, looking at Leon with an amused smile. "Thank you for your generous praise. If we were currently resting on the Express, I think I would invite you to sit down for a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Unfortunately, given our current predicament, the timing isn't quite right."
"Hey, hey, Himeko! Don't be fooled by his smooth talking!" March 7th hurriedly shoved her way between them, waving her arms frantically. "Don't look at him acting all proper and gentlemanly now! He wasn't like this at all a few minutes ago! Before this, he... he was..." She gestured wildly in the air, struggling to find the words to accurately describe Leon's previous infuriating antics.
Himeko tilted her head, her amber eyes gleaming with curiosity. "So, does this charming gentleman have anything to say in his defense?" she asked, clearly wanting to see how Leon would handle the accusation.
"That entirely depends on whether the lovely Miss Himeko is willing to believe me, or our excitable Miss March 7th," Leon replied. He remained completely calm and unhurried, his posture relaxed as he countered with perfect poise. "Do I truly look like the kind of person who would cause trouble?"
"I, of course, believe Little March." Himeko's warm smile remained fixed on her lips, but her gaze sharpened, taking on a distinctly scrutinizing edge. "Your extravagant words and unpredictable actions remind me quite a bit of the Masked Fools. I cannot help but wonder... for what specific purpose have you come to the Herta Space Station?"
"Huh? Masked Fool? You mean that chaotic group of fun-seekers who follow the Path of Elation?!"
March 7th gasped, the realization finally hitting her like a physical blow. She replayed Leon's behavior in her head. The teasing, the lack of fear, the dramatic mood swings, the absolute refusal to take anything seriously... it all screamed Elation!
"Dan Heng!" She spun around, glaring at the silent archivist with puffed-up cheeks. "Did you figure this out ages ago?! Why didn't you warn me!"
Dan Heng simply closed his eyes and let out a quiet sigh. His absolute silence was all the confirmation she needed.
"Actually, I'm really not a Masked Fool," Leon said, spreading his hands in a gesture of helpless innocence. "Though, I suppose it is true that I'm not a Knight of Beauty either."
Clatter.
Right on cue, the wooden mask with the exaggerated, mocking smile slipped out of Leon's pocket and hit the metal floorboards, bouncing cheerfully near his boots.
Leon stared down at the mask. The mask smiled up at him.
A heavy, suffocating silence descended upon the room.
Dan Heng stared at the mask.
Himeko stared at the mask.
"And you still have the nerve to say you're not a Masked Fool?!" March 7th shrieked, pointing an accusing finger right at Leon's nose.
Arlan stood in the corner, his eyelids twitching violently. He was genuinely struggling to process the sheer absurdity of the situation. How could these people maintain such casual, comedic banter while a legion of antimatter monsters was literally right outside the door?
A vein throbbed visibly on Leon's forehead. He bent down, snatched the grinning mask off the floor, and marched toward the blast doors.
"Aha! I have endured you for far too long!" Leon roared at the ceiling, winding his arm back before hurling the mask down the corridor with all his might. "You're doing this on purpose! Time and time again, you absolute troll!"
A faint, echoing sound that suspiciously resembled a laugh—Aha, Aha...—seemed to ripple through the air.
The wooden mask reached the apex of its flight, paused mid-air, and then sharply boomeranged backward. It drew a perfect, mocking arc through the room, spun rapidly, and dove right back into Leon's coat pocket with a smug little thwip.
"Amazing!" Stelle clapped her hands loudly, her face glowing with genuine, starry-eyed admiration. "Brother, you're just too strong!"
In the background, Caelus flipped to a fresh page in his notebook. With the utmost solemnity, he jotted down a new entry. New Discovery: If you throw a Masked Fool's mask away, it functions as a boomerang and will automatically return to the owner's pocket.
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