Chapter 11: Crushing

Chapter 11: Crushing

“Tendou… do you think Chen Xing can pass the trial?”

Outside the arena, Caroline’s gaze was fixed on the colossal Terravaran, its aura far more menacing than before.

She couldn’t help but worry about Chen Xing’s upcoming test.

If not for Tendou’s earlier “provocation”, then even with the enormous gap between Chen Xing and the beast, the Terravaran might have gone easy on them. In that case, Chen Xing’s team could’ve had a real shot at scoring decently.

But now?

That single strike from Tendou had shattered every bit of hope.

Looking at the Terravaran as it got serious, Caroline knew exactly what kind of nightmare trial Chen Xing and her team were walking into.

And since Chen Xing chose to go after their team… things were only going to be worse.

Tendou adjusted his sunglasses at her question. “Who can say? But…”

He turned his head slightly, eyes shifting toward the two who still hadn’t stepped onto the stage—No.036, Chen Kong, and No.005, Yagami Rin.

“…as long as Xing’s teammates play their part, the outcome might just surprise everyone.”

“Oh?”

Caroline gave Tendou a startled look. 

She hadn’t expected him to say that.

After all, she herself had just faced the Terravaran. She knew exactly how terrifying it was.

Yet Tendou was suggesting Chen Xing’s team could still pull off something remarkable.

The only possible variable… could only be that “ordinary guy,” Chen Kong.

Because Caroline knew Tendou wasn’t the type to spout empty words. If he said Chen Kong was special, then there had to be a reason.

And she was right.

In the original story, this very Terravaran was the stepping stone prepared for Chen Kong’s first moment of glory.

The only difference was timing—back then, Chen Kong’s team had gone first, not second.

Though the circumstances had shifted, Tendou didn’t believe the end result would change much.

After all, Chen Kong’s teammates were still Chen Xing and Yagami Rin.

In the original tale, they too had been completely crushed at first, unable to land a single meaningful blow.

But in the final moment, Chen Kong had awakened. With the power of his “Void Star” and "Void Mark”, he temporarily nullified the Terravaran’s starfield barrier.

That brief window allowed Chen Xing to land an attack.

It was the miracle that marked Chen Kong’s very first spotlight.

This time, Tendou had stolen the thunder, yes.

But given Chen Kong’s unique bloodline and his monstrous Void Star core, Tendou was certain they still had a good chance of replaying that scene.

The only problem was—after Tendou’s dazzling display, any miracle from Chen Kong’s team would inevitably feel like a mere imitation.

While Tendou and Caroline were talking, Chen Kong and Rin finally stepped onto the stage.

Neither of them wanted to face a furious Terravaran, not now.

But Chen Xing’s earlier words had shifted something inside them.

As she said—children of the stars could not forever hide behind others.

Besides… Tendou had already proved it.

Even a level two Terravaran could bleed.

“...Sis.”

Chen Kong came up behind Chen Xing, clutching a training-grade star energy pistol nervously in both hands.

Watching the star energy pistol in Chen Kong’s trembling hands, many of the spectators outside the arena—and even several dignitaries in the VIP lounge—couldn’t help but sneer in disdain.

Ever since the dawn of the Star Origin Era, aside from a few special firearms empowered by the Machina Type, traditional guns had completely lost their dominance.

At best, they could handle weak first-order Starbearers or low-grade Starbeasts. Against stronger first-order opponents—or heaven forbid, anything above second-order—they were little more than toys.

Among Starbearers, there was an unspoken rule: anyone relying on a gun—unless they were a Machina Type Starbearer—was basically branding themselves as weak.

That was why, out of all thirty-six Children of the Stars, Chen Kong alone had chosen a gun as his weapon.

Even Caroline, who was Machina Type, hadn’t done so.

Not because she couldn’t. But because she refused to depend too early on “external crutches.”

So yes, many looked down on Chen Kong for carrying a pistol.

But his sister, Chen Xing, was oddly satisfied.

“At least you know you’re useless,” she said flatly. “And you didn’t throw your life away barehanded just for the sake of pride.”

Chen Kong scratched his head awkwardly, unable to find a reply.

Beside him, Rin—dressed in her sleek ninja garb—showed no particular prejudice against his choice either.

As someone who’s a pragmatist to the core, she didn’t care about being strong or weak. If the rules hadn’t restricted them to one main weapon, she’d gladly haul a rocket launcher onto the stage if it got the job done.

“So?” Tachibana walked up with a smile. “You three ready?”

Chen Xing gave a calm nod.

“Good. Then… best of luck.”

With that, Tachibana stepped back.

“The second trial—begin!”

“ROAAR!!”

The Terravaran’s bellow shook the arena barrier, the air itself trembling from the sheer force.

Its amber slit-pupils locked onto the three newcomers, nostrils spewing sulfurous white smoke. The metallic scales on its back-fin rattled like blades striking steel.

Tendou’s earlier strike had completely ignited its fury.

Now Chen Xing’s team was the perfect target for its wrath.

“They’re screwed… someone’s going to die in there…”

One of the Children of the Stars muttered under his breath as dread settled over the spectators.

The Terravaran thundered forward. In a blur of motion, its massive claw came crashing down on Chen Xing.

BOOM!

Sparks of metal clashed against her bloodflame blade as she barely caught the strike.

But the sheer force blasted her backward, stumbling six, seven steps before she could steady herself. Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth; the flesh between her thumb and forefinger split open, raw from the impact.

‘So heavy… Is this the true power of a level two Starbeast going all out?!’

The weight of it made her chest sink. Could they really hope to defeat such a monster?

Had Tendou’s earlier success only been because the Terravaran underestimated him?

“Shadow Bind—Dark Thorns!”

Rin’s black hair lifted as if caught in an unseen gale. Dozens of shadows erupted from the ground, twining around the beast’s limbs to stall it, if only for a moment.

But a single heartbeat later—

CRACK!

Every chain shattered at once.

Rin coughed blood, staggering back. “No good, Xing! In this state—I can’t restrain it!”

Clenching her teeth, Chen Xing forced down the surge of blood within her chest and charged again.

And Chen Kong?

At this moment, forget lending a hand—he couldn’t even follow their movements with his eyes. All he could do was stand frozen, gun clutched tight, utterly useless.

Outside the arena, the spectators fell into heavy silence as they watched the three being utterly crushed.

So this was the truth—

Not everyone could be Masamune Tendou.

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