Extra 6 : Weakness

“Wait for me to come back.”

Su Ming sent Wan Tong back to school, leaving behind only this sentence before departing.

Wan Tong knew his mission.

The last three Lala planet people had been placed on the abandoned Anda planet by Chang Zhi. However, no one expected that they had the technology to replicate life. In the blink of an eye, tens of thousands of Lala people had taken over the planet and even captured Chang Zhi and his team as hostages.

This incident made the news. Initially, a small portion of the Empire still supported Chang Zhi’s peaceful diplomatic policy. But once word spread that he had been taken hostage by aliens, people realized the crisis at hand. No race would willingly remain subjugated forever. The dangers of alien civilizations were undeniable—such as this life replication technology, which not only defied humanitarian principles but also completely disrupted the natural progression of human reproduction and survival.

Thus, the Emperor, who had been wavering, finally issued the order to eliminate the Lala aliens completely to prevent the disaster they might bring.

Wan Tong had just absorbed the memories from the awakening system, and her mental strength was still fragile. Su Ming would never take her along.

After Su Ming left, things became lively around Wan Tong.

The Assessment Bureau officially released her ability level online, along with her compatibility index with Su Ming. She became a sought-after figure. However, with the ‘tag’ Su Ming already on her, even those who coveted her didn’t dare to act openly.

The most shocking revelation came when the Assessment Bureau published a set of data: More than a thousand Sentinels had a compatibility rate of over 90% with Wan Tong.

Suddenly, Sentinels began flocking around her.

Online, people joked that these guys must have a death wish, flirting with the General’s girl while he was away at war!

Wan Tong even encountered Enoch, who had escaped from prison. She remembered him, he was Damon, the last Raider she met.

In the last world, he had told her his name. But after waking up, she had sealed those memories away, so she didn’t recall him until now.

However, Wan Tong had never liked Damon, and she felt nothing for this Enoch either.

So, she launched a mental attack on him and sent him straight back to prison.

That night, Su Ming unexpectedly contacted her via video call and stiffly praised her.

Looking at the serious face on the projection, Wan Tong suddenly missed him even more.

So, once her Guide abilities stabilized, she disappeared from school.

Since she hadn’t given prior notice, Principal Bai assumed she had been kidnapped again and urgently organized a search. The incident made the news, triggering a wave of online justice warriors determined to ‘rescue Wan Tong.’

By the time Wan Tong found out about this, she was already on Anda planet.

Piloting a civilian transport ship, she searched for a place to land. She had requisitioned the ship under the General’s name.

Behind her stood several trembling crew members, including the captain himself.

They hadn’t dared to travel to Anda on their own, so Wan Tong simply took control of the ship herself.

At that moment, a signal appeared on the ship’s control screen.

She followed the coordinates and landed.

Sure enough, this was Su Ming’s temporary command base.

She opened the hatch, and there he was, waiting for her on the open ground ahead. Behind him stood An Xi and dozens of Sentinels, all of whom were forced to lower their heads under the oppressive aura of Su Ming’s Dark Sentinel energy.

The General was furious.

The girl was in trouble.

That was the thought on everyone’s mind.

Including the trembling crew members behind Wan Tong, who, lacking the Sentinels’ mental shields, had already collapsed to the ground.

Wan Tong carefully descended the steps, observing Su Ming’s expression. His dark eyes could truly kill.

She had acted on her own this time, she was at fault.

Stopping two steps short of the ground, she spread her arms toward the cold-faced man standing a few steps away and said, “General, hug me.”

The sixteen-year-old girl had just come of age, stunningly beautiful yet delicate and fragile. When she acted spoiled, it could melt a person’s heart.

Everyone present could feel a wave of soothing energy dispelling the aura of the Dark Sentinel, easing the oppressive tension.

But the General was always ruthlessly strict. Countless charming women had thrown themselves at him, only to be coldly dismissed. Surely, this girl’s act wouldn’t work on him either, right?

Only An Xi knew the truth.

If Shi Ming came out now, he’d probably be circling the girl like a happy puppy, wagging his tail…

After a few seconds of silence, the cold-faced General reached out and pulled the girl from the steps into his arms.

As the crowd stared in shock, the General didn’t stop there, he simply carried her away.

An Xi casually waved his hand to dismiss everyone.

—Tch. What’s so surprising? The General’s just dating.

---

This moment was captured by a war reporter and uploaded to the star network.

As expected, it caused an uproar.

A sixteen-year-old Guide running off alone to the battlefield was shocking enough. But she dared to act spoiled with the General, and he actually fell for it?!

The General’s image was ruined.

However, a flood of women who had mentally inserted themselves into Wan Tong’s place went crazy.

The General being like this was even more attractive!

At this moment, in the lounge next to the command room, Wan Tong was held tightly in the man’s arms. She hadn’t yet recovered from the shock, her breathing still a little unsteady.

Su Ming had kissed her.

“General, I was wrong…” She didn’t dare to lift her head. After a brief hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him as well.

Just moments ago, she had worried whether acting coy would work, but now she was very sure, it worked like a charm.

Su Ming’s throat tightened. He didn’t speak but instead lowered his head again, pressing another forceful kiss on her lips.

“…”

Until An Xi knocked on the door, bearing pressure.

“General, the number of Lala planet people is still increasing. It’s difficult to locate their mobile base.”

“Understood,” Su Ming responded in a deep voice, but his smoldering black eyes remained locked onto Wan Tong’s face.

Wan Tong couldn’t take it anymore and buried her face in his chest.

She had never seen the general look so… seductive. It made her too afraid to meet his gaze—

Afraid that in the next second, he might devour her whole.

“I have to go. Wait for me here.” Su Ming lowered his voice beside her ear, then emphasized once more, “Don’t run around.”

Wan Tong stayed silent.

“Wan Tong.” He called her name with weight.

“General, I can help eliminate the Lala planet people’s illusions. I can even read their thoughts and locate their mobile base. They’re very lenient toward women…” Wan Tong’s voice grew softer, but she still persisted in fighting for a chance. “General, I want to go with you…”

She didn’t know which words had swayed Su Ming, but after two seconds of silence, he took her hand and led her out.

---

With Wan Tong’s participation, the stalemate with the Lala planet people was quickly broken, and they successfully located the core of their replication system.

The battle suddenly became much easier, and as a result, Wan Tong’s status skyrocketed.

For the Sentinels, their daily routine was chopping down identical-looking alien enemies, and occasionally glancing over at the general and the girl beside him.

Were they whispering? Walking hand in hand?

The war reporters had initially been seriously covering the battle. But once the army proved unstoppable, the news became repetitive, and viewership plummeted. In response, the reporters changed tactics, shifting to tracking the General’s love life.

This skyrocketed the news website’s traffic to a record high in decades.

The nation became obsessed with the cold-faced general and his soft, adorable companion. Some even wanted to organize a pilgrimage to Anda planet just to witness them in person. This caused concern at the government level. After all, Anda planet was still a battlefield, so they had no choice but to ask Su Ming to intervene.

Su Ming couldn’t care less about such things. The war reporter, trembling, approached Wan Tong and requested a live interview.

Wan Tong agreed, and the excited reporter immediately started a livestream.

“The battlefield is dangerous. Everyone should stay home and wait. Peace will be restored soon,” Wan Tong said formally.

Chang Zhi and the other hostages had already been rescued. Now, as long as they eliminated the remaining hidden aliens, the turmoil here would be over.

Viewers flooded the screen with bullet comments. Wan Tong scanned through them quickly, and one was pinned at the top—

[If one of the thousand Sentinels with over 90% compatibility with you confesses, would you be tempted? After all, such compatibility influences both parties!]

Wan Tong thought about it. She had met many Sentinels with high compatibility, but they had never truly affected her.

Just as she was about to respond, the bullet comments exploded with [AHHH GENERAL!!!]

Wan Tong turned her head and, sure enough, Su Ming had entered.

The war reporter’s hands trembled, nearly dropping the streaming device. Su Ming, facing the camera directly, spoke in a cold, mechanical tone : “If they want to confess, let them come find me.”

For a moment, the comments went blank. Then, the screen was flooded with [AHHH GENERAL!!!] again.

The stream ended immediately.

The war reporter dared not breathe and fled at lightning speed.

Wan Tong looked at Su Ming’s face and softly explained, “I have no feelings for them.”

“I know.” Su Ming stepped in front of her, his thumb pressing against her slightly pursed lips. His voice carried an air of arrogance and certainty.

Wan Tong chuckled lightly, reached out to embrace him, and instinctively used her mental power to soothe his mind.

At some point, the barrier had disappeared, she could now roam freely in his mental domain.

It was a fascinating feeling.

She knew that he trusted her completely; otherwise, he wouldn’t have so unreservedly let down his defenses.

“Tongtong…” His voice suddenly turned hoarse. “Restrain yourself.”

Wan Tong : “…”

Embarrassed, she retracted her mental tendrils.

Dark Sentinels were far more sensitive than she had imagined, both physically and mentally.

---

Not long after this livestream, the battle on Anda planet ended. Su Ming returned to the capital planet with Wan Tong. The entire nation celebrated—

Well, except for the high-compatibility Sentinels who had once hovered around Wan Tong…

Su Ming didn’t even wait for Wan Tong to grow a little older before submitting the bonding application.

As if in celebration of Su Ming’s union, the interstellar defense line remained peaceful for years.

When Wan Tong’s bonding heat flared up again, Su Ming didn’t give her suppressant shots, he took matters into his own hands.

But he soon regretted it.

The girl in the throes of feverish desire was surprisingly mischievous. She teased him with her mental tendrils, like a little devil.

In a battle of equals, they pushed and seduced each other, each trying to break the other, to hear the other’s voice, to assert dominance…

But once it was over, Wan Tong lay weakly in his arms, her eyes glinting with cunning yet innocence. She pointed at the faint bite mark on his bleeding lip and asked, “Oh? General, what’s with this tooth mark?”

Su Ming narrowed his eyes slightly, his blade once again drawn. He bit her earlobe and whispered hoarsely, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Wan Tong : “…”

Last night was the first time she had seen Su Ming so unraveled—

So sensitive and vulnerable, panting softly against her ear, making her heart tremble.

Perhaps this was what they called a gap moe.

Wan Tong gently wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice sweet and spoiled, “General, I’m still sore…”

Su Ming’s body stiffened instantly, and he surrendered on the spot.

In a place where he couldn’t see, the girl smiled silently.

The General… was doomed.

Su Ming turned slightly, kissing the soft pink of her ear, the corners of his lips lifting ever so slightly.

What could he do?

She was his weakness, after all.

---

rokumi’s note : It’s over!

My only regret was that Shishi seems to have completely disappeared. I really hoped it might appear in the real world as an AI pet robot or something.

---

Extra 6 : Weakness

The long night had passed.

As Wan Tong’s consciousness gradually returned, her memory was still stuck in that dimly lit room, the scene where Li Shen calmly shot her.

At this moment, all the memories within the awakening system finally became clear to her.

In his last moment, Li Shen had already been taken over by the General’s consciousness.

Yet that gunshot, the instant pain spreading through her brain, still left a deep impact on her.

She lifted her gaze, her thick lashes trembling slightly. A white ceiling loomed above, and the air carried a sense of tranquility and peace.

Slowly, she sat up and saw a figure standing not far away.

Su Ming stood there, head slightly lowered as he looked at her, his expression as cold and noble as ever. Beside him, the silver giant lion stood calmly, exuding an aura of quiet dominance.

A flood of images flashed through Wan Tong’s mind, stirring an impulse to rush over, embrace him, and kiss him. But remembering that he was the General, she restrained herself.

This conflicting turmoil left her sitting there in a daze.

“You’re awake?” Su Ming’s indifferent voice drifted over, devoid of any emotion.

Wan Tong bit her lip and stole a cautious glance at him. “Yes, General…”

She lowered her eyes, only to find the bed in complete disarray.

The metallic bed frame bore several deep dents, as if someone had crushed it with their bare hands. The sheets were torn into pieces, and Bai Bai lay curled beside her, looking somewhat unsteady. Her pink nightdress was wrinkled and crumpled, as if it had been carelessly handled.

She vaguely remembered… she hadn’t been wearing this nightdress before.

Then, fragments of scattered memories from the past two days slowly resurfaced. Had she… gone into heat?

“General…” She knelt on the bed obediently, her voice laced with unease.

Had she caused trouble for him?

Su Ming sensed her nervousness and… a hint of apprehension. His expression darkened even further, his ink-black eyes locking onto the girl with an overwhelming pressure.

As expected, now that she was awake, she was distancing herself from him.

Everything from the past two days had been a result of her chaotic memories.

“Wan Tong.” Su Ming called her name softly. He took a step forward, his long legs carrying him to the bedside, looking down at her from above.

Wan Tong instinctively stood up, her bare feet pressing against the messy bed. Even standing on the bed, she still had to slightly tilt her head to meet his gaze. Compared to him, she seemed far too small and fragile.

“Are you willing to bond with me?” Su Ming asked, his tone as casual as if he were inquiring about the weather.

Behind him, Shi Ming paced restlessly before finally losing patience and stepping forward to gently carry the shivering Bai Bai away.

Wan Tong could feel the weight of Su Ming’s presence. Though phrased as a question, he hadn’t actually left her much choice.

“Is it because of our compatibility?” she asked softly.

“No.” Su Ming’s gaze remained fixed on her, his crimson lips parting again. “I can tell you this. Starting now, and for the future, I will not tolerate a world where you are not by my side.”

Deep within his soul, her name and image had long since been engraved. Some memories might be blurred illusions, but the emotions were real.

During his five years of unconsciousness, he had experienced a warmth he had never known before, all from her.

The girl who had secretly grown up under his watch had captured his heart, once as cold and mechanical as steel.

Su Ming’s words sent a shiver through Wan Tong’s heart. She stared at him in a daze, while Bai Bai mewled softly in submission.

His tone was as detached as if he were issuing an order, yet his words struck her heartstrings like an intimate confession.

She couldn’t quite describe how it made her feel.

“…Alright.” Wan Tong nodded solemnly.

Su Ming’s lips pressed into a thin line, his dark gaze still locked onto her.

“…” Wan Tong fidgeted, her hands curling behind her back in nervous anticipation.

She had agreed, so why was he still looking at her like that…?

Just then, Su Ming’s lips curved slightly, and in a low voice, he murmured, “At a time like this, you should be hugging me.”

Wan Tong froze, staring blankly at him.

In the end, it was Su Ming who leaned forward, his arms wrapping around her and pulling her tightly into his embrace.

*Roar…*

*Meow~*

Shi Ming lay lazily on the floor, holding Bai Bai against his chest, stroking her fur in a soothing motion.

Su Ming’s presence had an inexplicable ability to calm her heart. Wan Tong inhaled his scent lightly, her nose brushing against him.

Even through his rigid military uniform, Su Ming could still feel the soft touch. His entire body tensed as he lowered his lips to her ear, his voice husky. “Don’t rub against me.”

Wan Tong stiffened in embarrassment. How could she have forgotten, Sentinels were highly sensitive…

---

Wan Tong stayed at the General’s estate, but not in Su Ming’s private villa.

When she returned to her own room, she finally realized she had spent the past two days in a hazy stupor.

Standing in the bathroom, she slipped off her pink nightdress, only to be horrified by what she saw.

Her body was covered in faint fingerprints and… marks that looked like they had been sucked into her skin.

Certain memories surfaced on their own.

In the system’s simulations, Su Ming had occasionally acted possessively, leaving similar marks on her.

But now, she couldn’t imagine the real-life Su Ming displaying such an expression…

Wen Tong hurriedly put on her clothes in a near panic, then blankly returned to the bed.

The stark contrast of Su Ming’s demeanor made her heart race uncontrollably.

“Bai Bai?” she called softly.

There was no response, but her face flushed as she burrowed under the covers.

Bai Bai was with the General.

The moment she suddenly thought of Su Ming earlier, Bai Bai had run over there, and she could even sense what was happening on that side…

Su Ming was reviewing an urgent report while An Xi stood beside him, speaking. “Chang Zhi, that foolish guy, probably won’t be able to escape now. The Lala planet people’s system has cloned tens of thousands of troops in a short time. Or rather, they aren’t just clones, they’re complete copies. And now, Anda Planet has been occupied. Fortunately, its depleted resources have stunted their development…”

As An Xi spoke, his voice gradually slowed. He glanced up at Su Ming.

At some point, Su Ming’s gaze had shifted to Shi Ming.

Or rather, he was looking at the fluffy little white cat.

The small white cat was sprawled on Shi Ming’s belly, playfully rolling around as if acting coquettishly.

As far as Xu Ming knew, Wan Tong had already returned to her room, so why was her quantum beast still here? As expected of an SSS-ranked Guide, her quantum beast might look delicate and frail, but its combat power must be formidable. Otherwise, there was no way it could still remain so far from its master…

Shi Ming, gentle and doting. Bai Bai, adorable and lively. Watching the way these two quantum beasts interacted, An Xi struggled to maintain his composure.

Shi Ming had changed. No, the General had changed. That poker-faced man’s heart had clearly already flown to the girl’s side.

He used to find it impossible to imagine the General in love, but now, looking at Shi Ming, he had a perfectly clear image in his mind.

“Have the troops ready. We set out in an hour,” Su Ming ordered, his voice cold and emotionless.

But!!

An Xi saw Shi Ming lowering his head… and grooming Bai Bai.

Grooming!!

Was this something a mighty lion should be doing?! It should be terrifying enemies on the battlefield, crushing them under its paws!

His entire perception of the lion was crumbling!

An Xi screamed internally but outwardly remained expressionless. He nodded and barked, “Yes, General!”

*Meow~* Bai Bai was so startled that it tumbled off Shi Ming’s belly.

Fortunately, Shi Ming caught it with a swift paw.

Shi Ming even shot a fleeting glance over, and An Xi swallowed hard. Across from him, Su Ming also cast a deep, unreadable look his way.

“G-Gener… General, I’ll take my leave now,” An Xi stammered, then turned and bolted.

His mind was in shambles, screaming for the hundred and first time—

—Aaaahhh, this was not the General I knew!

---

Extra 6 : Weakness

When Su Ming heard that familiar call, his heart trembled violently, as if a switch had been flipped in his mind, triggering a flood of memories.

He was Shen Bu. She was Su Wantong. Every morning afterward, he would prepare breakfast for her. When she woke up, she liked to hug him and nuzzle against him, speaking to him in a soft, sleepy voice…

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. By the time everyone processed what was happening, Su Ming had already lifted the girl into his arms and carried her inside.

An Xi, still in shock himself, had to maintain a calm facade. He closed the door and sent everyone else away.

Inside the room, Su Ming gently placed Wan Tong back on the bed.

She still seemed to be in a daze, her arms draped around his neck. Then, as if on instinct, she closed her eyes again.

Still following her subconscious, she pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his lips. “A’Bu, Jiejie is sleepy… Let me sleep a little longer…”

Su Ming froze as if turned to stone, his pupils contracting.

But soon, he stepped back, standing stiffly by the bed, his dark eyes fixed on the girl lying there.

The silver lion leapt down from the air, pouncing onto the girl. But the moment its paws landed on her, they became impossibly gentle.

A deep, uncontrollable roar filled the room.

Even those who hadn’t gone far felt the tremor in the air. Some of the weaker sentinels and guides collapsed to their knees, their legs giving out.

—Wuwuwu, that sound was terrifying! Was the General eating someone?!

Inside, just before the single bed could collapse under the weight, Shi Ming jumped down. Yet he remained by the bedside, exhaling gently against Wan Tong’s face.

Before the lion could do anything more unpredictable, Su Ming forced him back. But his own mind was now even more strained.

In her dreams, Wan Tong had heard the lion’s roar, so she no longer tried to untangle her chaotic mental sea.

A short while later, she slowly opened her eyes, dizzy as she pushed herself upright.

Su Ming was right there. He sat at the edge of the bed, head slightly lowered, lost in thought.

Her gaze traced over his military uniform, then followed the sharp lines of his profile. A small smile lifted her lips, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, slowly shifting to straddle his lap. Resting her head on his shoulder, she murmured softly, “Huo Yiming, you guys even got new uniforms?”

Su Ming’s hands hovered stiffly behind her before finally settling on her slender waist.

A low hum rumbled from his throat. “Mm.”

Her memories were jumbled.

Blair had once said she was incredibly smart, capable of sealing away overwhelming memories. But now, as her Guide abilities grew stronger, those memories were resurfacing.

And her current behavior…

It was all just the influence of those memories.

Su Ming should stop her. He should wake her from this haze.

But damn it, he was addicted to this intimacy.

He even found himself saying, “The new home is ready. I’ll take you there.”

“Okay~ But I want to sleep a little longer first…” The girl responded sweetly, then deliberately nipped his neck with her sharp teeth.

“Mm…” Su Ming’s arms tightened around her, his entire body trembling slightly.

“But why are you so sensitive now?” The girl chuckled softly, her face buried against his shoulder.

Su Ming felt his entire body tense, heat rushing toward a single point. He shifted slightly, pressing her back into the bed, his restraint hanging by a thread. Blood-red streaks appeared in his dark eyes.

---

At that moment, the entire interstellar web exploded, as if someone had dropped a bomb.

[What is the relationship between General Su Ming and Wan Tong?!]

It was as if a long-sealed box had been thrown open, and information about Wan Tong began to leak out bit by bit.

For instance, her parents had died in battle. She had been taken in by the General and raised in his residence. She had awakened as an SSS-ranked Guide. She had volunteered to help the General recover. Their compatibility rate was an astounding 99%—the kind of resonance where Sentinels and Guides were drawn together in complete emotional synchronization.

[No wonder Wan Tong had so many privileges at school. She wasn’t just powerful in her own right. More importantly, she was ‘his’.]

Rumors spread from the Sentinel-Guide academy. Ever since the General had entered Wan Tong’s dormitory, he hadn’t come out for an entire day and night. His subordinates stood guard outside, and every now and then, a lion’s roar echoed from within.

No one knew if the General was eating someone ‘literally’ or eating someone ‘in that way’. But judging from the widely circulated image of the two embracing, the nation was leaning toward the latter…

Some even speculated that unusual Guide energy fluctuations had been detected around the dorm, signs of a guide entering their heat cycle!

The entire interstellar net was in an uproar. If that were the case, the General wouldn’t be leaving that room for at least three to five days…

Women across the empire wailed in despair.

The General, who had remained celibate for thirty years, who seemed to look down on all weakness, who never showed interest in romance.

Back then, everyone had urged him to find a partner, desperate to throw themselves at his feet, yet he never spared them a glance.

And now, he actually cared about someone?!

They couldn’t even picture the cold, untouchable General with a girl, let alone a half-grown one!

Though, based on strength and compatibility, they were indeed a perfect match…

And then, the very next evening, Su Ming finally emerged.

He carried the girl in his arms, stepping directly into the hovercar and leaving.

The girl nestled quietly against him, her face obscured.

No one could tell if she was awake.

However, everyone present could sense the restless psychic energy emanating from her, making their heads feel heavy.

That petite body concealed an SSS-ranked guide power. It was almost unbelievable to think about.

---

Su Ming had just returned home with Wan Tong when An Xi reported a long list of visitors.

“Not seeing them,” Su Ming coldly threw out the words without looking back, carrying the girl straight into the bedroom.

An Xi was stunned but nodded. Through the slightly ajar door, he saw his general carefully place the girl on the bed, then stride back toward him.

“Prepare some food, like yesterday’s,” Su Ming said, his voice slightly lowered, as if afraid of disturbing the person inside. His usually cold and detached gaze rippled with an unfamiliar softness.

“…Yes, General,” An Xi responded, almost losing his ability to think.

Was this really the General he knew?

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed a pair of delicate, fair hands suddenly wrap around Su Ming’s waist.

The girl hugged him from behind, her soft, sleepy voice murmuring, “A’Xun, where are you going? You don’t have work today, do you?”

Su Ming lowered his gaze, his large hand gently covering her small one. As he turned around, he nudged the door shut with his foot.

An Xi stared at the tightly closed door, unable to process what he had just heard.

A… A’Xun?

That name sounded familiar. He had seen it before, in the information Blair had prepared. So… had the girl unlocked her sealed memories from the awakening system?

Wasn’t the general always clear about distinguishing reality from illusion? But now, he was clearly being affected by Wan Tong. Was it because of those memories?

An Xi’s expression grew serious at the thought. But then he remembered the compatibility issue between the two and realized he might be overthinking.

Just like the online discussions had suggested, rejecting a bond with this level of compatibility would be a waste.

After all, the strongest individuals in history, including Su Ming and Wan Tong, were born to parents with over 98% compatibility.

Scientists had already proven that high-compatibility Sentinels and Guides not only benefited from their union but also produced highly talented offspring. That was why the government actively encouraged Sentinel-Guide pairings based on compatibility.

In some cases, the government would even intervene. With a guide as powerful as Wan Tong, she would likely be required to undergo further testing to determine the highest-compatible sentinel for her.

---

Inside the room, Su Ming looked down at the crown of the girl’s head and gently stroked the back of her head, his voice unconsciously softening. “You’re not wearing shoes. Go back and lie down.”

But he had never spoken in such a tone before, so his voice, now gentler, carried a slight rasp, and his expression was somewhat stiff.

She had been in this dazed state since yesterday, waking and sleeping erratically, clinging to him and refusing to let go. It was driving him to the brink of a mental breakdown.

He had never expected that, in front of her, his self-control would be reduced to less than half of what it usually was.

“You hold me,” the girl murmured, unwilling to move.

Su Ming placed his palm against her lower back, bent down, and lifted her into his arms. As he reached the bed, she pulled him down with her, clinging to him like a koala.

He adjusted his position slightly, leaning against the headboard, his arm resting around her waist.

The girl lay on top of him, then suddenly lifted her head, her bright eyes reflecting the cold, sharp lines of his face.

Su Ming suddenly wondered, was his expression too cold? Too intimidating? He pressed his lips together slightly and attempted a small smile.

His facial muscles felt tense, but his effort made the girl giggle.

She pressed her hands against his shoulders and lifted herself slightly.

Then, his Adam’s apple was kissed.

Her tiny teeth nibbled gently, not painful, just… ticklish.

Su Ming remained still, but his hand tightened around her waist. His other hand, propped against the bed, clenched so tightly that the bedsheet tore beneath his grip. Meanwhile, his quantum beast paced restlessly beside the bed, letting out low growls.

Her body temperature was rising, and he could even detect a faintly sweet scent in the air, one that awakened a deep, primal urge to devour her whole.

---

An Xi personally delivered dinner. From a distance, he could already sense the overwhelming presence of the General’s aura. But as he neared the door, he felt another presence, one even more maddening.

A possibility struck him, just as the door opened.

An Xi clenched the tray tightly, trying to suppress the surge in his own blood. “General, I’ll have the others withdraw immediately!”

The girl was experiencing bonding heat. Even though An Xi prided himself on his strong self-control, he was struggling now, let alone the other soldiers stationed outside.

But Su Ming took the tray and calmly ordered, “Bring the suppressant.”

His voice paused for a moment before he looked directly at An Xi. “Go rest. Have a Guide bring it.”

“Yes, General,” An Xi answered hastily, lowering his head in embarrassment before leaving in long strides.

Usually, when an ordinary Guide experienced bonding heat, they would either pair with their bonded sentinel or isolate themselves with medication. Never before had someone’s presence alone altered the surrounding air with such intoxicating allure.

What shocked An Xi even more were the bite marks on the general’s neck…

Even though Su Ming hadn’t explicitly ordered the guards to leave, An Xi still dismissed them all.

As a Dark Sentinel, the general had an unparalleled level of self-discipline. Even now, he had rationally requested a suppressant. But for the others, the sweetness of a Guide’s pheromones in the air could dangerously cloud their judgment.

And yet, at that moment, the very same general whom An Xi had always believed to be invincible… had already given in.

Inside the room, Su Ming had abandoned all resistance, pressing down against the girl, indulging in the overwhelming sweetness that shattered his sanity.

Only when a Guide finally arrived with the suppressant did he forcibly rein in his near-breaking self-control.

After the injection, the girl fell into a deep sleep, but the lingering sweetness in the air still clung to Su Ming.

He had overestimated himself.

He thought he didn’t need emotions to bind him. But now, he realized he had long since fallen, unable to escape.

But she was different. She was much younger than him, had yet to experience the complexities of the outside world, and still had the freedom to grow and choose.

Her feelings for him were mostly respect and admiration. Over the past two days, she had been confused by her memories. Her reliance and affection for him were only temporary.

He would not, and could not, take her in this state.

He would wait, for her answer when she was fully awake.

Su Ming found it laughable that he had been pushed to this extent by a young girl.

Yet, deep down, he embraced it willingly.

And he knew—no matter what her answer was, even if she rejected him… he would ignore it and keep her by his side.

---

Extra 5 : Snuggling Him

Third-Grade Physical Training Class.

Wan Tong wanted to strengthen her delicate body, so she arrived at the training hall.

The instructor for the class, Chen Chen, was an S-rank Guide in her fifties. Her expression was stern, as she had served on the battlefield before settling down and becoming a teacher. Now, she taught multiple courses at the school and was highly respected.

After all, in this era, S-rank Guides were rare. Even though she was already bonded with a Sentinel, she could still help stabilize other Sentinels’ emotions. The young Sentinels in the school frequently had outbursts, and most of them were suppressed collectively by her.

Wan Tong thought she would be treated harshly like last time, but unexpectedly, the older girls in the class were composed and even looked after her a bit.

Of course, Guides were naturally meticulous. Having spent nearly three years in this school, they were already independent and capable individuals. If the school suddenly assigned someone to their class, that person either had strong backing or was more powerful than them.

Now that they saw her, a seemingly delicate girl with no visible Guide aura, both assumptions held.

First, even Teacher Chen Chen couldn’t completely suppress the girl’s Guide energy. Second, the confidence and self-assurance in the girl’s eyes weren’t something an ordinary household could cultivate. Guides were always sensitive to such things.

By the end of the lesson, Wan Tong was drenched in sweat, her entire body aching.

Since her dormitory was in a different building from the others, she walked back alone. Unexpectedly, she ran into a group of first-year students who had also just finished physical training.

Among them was a familiar face—Chang Qi.

Wan Tong had no desire for trouble, but Chang Qi deliberately blocked her path. The others, however, weren’t as bold as her. Unlike Chang Qi, who strutted like a rooster, they didn’t dare get too close to Wan Tong.

“I’m really curious. Who exactly are you? Aren’t your privileges a bit excessive?” Chang Qi crossed her arms, her tone laced with sarcasm.

“If you’re unhappy about it, you can apply to the principal,” Wan Tong replied, still sweaty and in no mood for nonsense. “But I doubt your request would be approved. After all, with your abilities, you’d be better off focusing on first-year coursework.”

It wasn’t uncommon for Sentinels and Guides to skip grades based on their abilities. Take Su Ming, for example. He had only stayed three days before moving up. Some people didn’t like it, but they didn’t dare say a word.

Hearing Wan Tong’s response, Chang Qi was predictably furious. “Are you flaunting your special privileges?”

“Privileges?” Wan Tong mused. “I suppose you could call it that. The strong enjoy privileges, is that wrong?”

In the Kroll Empire, apart from Sentinels and Guides, there was a large population of ordinary people. They had to work even harder to reach the same heights. Among Sentinels and Guides, the strongest were the true rulers of this era.

“Chang Qi and General Su Ming are destined to bond in the future. Gaining privileges will be easy for her,” a Guide behind Chang Qi chimed in.

Hearing this, Chang Qi’s confidence instantly soared. Her head lifted so high it almost touched Wan Tong’s face. She felt grateful to the one who leaked the information. It had elevated her status in school and given her the perfect excuse to put Wan Tong in her place.

“Then speak to me again after you’ve bonded with the General,” Wan Tong replied coolly, attempting to step past her.

Chang Qi, however, grabbed her. “What makes you so arrogant?!”

A white blur flashed before Chang Qi’s eyes, and she let out a cry of pain, clutching her face.

Seeing blood on her palm and feeling the sharp sting on her face, she panicked and screamed, “Ahhh! My face!”

The others behind her also flinched. Most Guides were physically weak.

Wan Tong caught Bai Bai in her arms, sweeping a sharp gaze over the group. The invisible mental tendrils she released made them instinctively step back in fear.

Bai Bai had already calmed down, curling up obediently in her arms. But its deep, steady eyes mirrored its master’s silent intimidation.

Under everyone’s stunned gazes, Wan Tong carried her quantum beast and left.

---

Back in her dormitory, Wan Tong took a shower, only to discover that her encounter with Chang Qi had made it onto the school forum, sparking heated discussion.

The video was clear but only showed the latter part, the moment Bai Bai attacked.

The entire forum condemned Wan Tong for bullying her classmates.

Even neutral onlookers sided with Chang Qi, given her supposed compatibility with Su Ming.

As a result, the school saw a surge in Sentinel outbursts, waves of unexplainable anger and resentment filled the campus.

For days, Wan Tong felt the students’ hostility even without leaving her room.

Some even came to harass her, only to flee in fear when confronted.

This only made her infamous reputation spread further.

Yet, rather than reprimanding her, the school leadership, despite the students’ complaints, instead reassured her.

She had to admit, these privileges were quite useful.

There was no need for her to suffer unjustly.

---

[General Su Ming Returns in Glory!]

Online media outlets reported Su Ming’s return to the Kroll Empire in real-time, broadcasting his journey toward the Sentinel-Guide Academy.

Even though his convoy bore the military emblem and kept a low profile, it still attracted massive crowds.

At the academy, Principal Bai gathered the staff and students to await his arrival.

“Stand up straight!”

“Chang Qi, you take the lead! The General is definitely here for you!”

“I’m so excited! Is he really coming?”

The commotion died instantly when the military hovercar landed on the school grounds.

Su Ming stepped out, still dressed in his black military uniform. His face was strikingly handsome yet cold, and a single glance from him made everyone instinctively hold their breath.

Chang Qi, pushed to the front by the students, stood there blushing shyly.

Chang Qi was pushed to the front by the students, her face flushed with shyness.

“G-General…” Her voice trembled as she looked at the tall man approaching.

This was the great hero every woman dreamed of. Despite her family’s repeated warnings, she couldn’t help but fall for him. Especially now, as he strode toward her with his steady, commanding presence, she felt an overwhelming urge to offer him her heart and soul.

However, Su Ming seemed as if he hadn’t heard her at all. He didn’t even pause.

He walked right past her and stopped in front of Principal Bai.

The tense atmosphere shifted slightly, and a low murmur spread among the crowd. For a few seconds, even the bullet comments on the national livestream went silent—before exploding across the screen!

[General Su Ming wasn’t here for Chang Qi!!]

[LOL, nothing to do with Chang Qi at all!!]

[I’m laughing to death! Chang Qi’s expression is priceless!]

[What’s she worth, anyway? Of course, she doesn’t deserve to be in the General’s sight!]

On screen, Principal Bai nervously shook hands with Su Ming. “General Su, you—”

Though he had a vague guess about Su Ming’s purpose, he still couldn’t help but stammer. His mind was completely blank.

After seventeen years, Su Ming had returned to the school, for that girl.

“Where is she?” Su Ming asked directly.

Truthfully, this visit was a whim. Now that the warfront had stabilized, he found himself feeling strangely empty. So, he returned.

On the way, An Xi told him that Wan Tong was being bullied, isolated and helpless at school.

How could someone from the general’s estate be bullied?

She looked like a strong-willed girl, how could she have been pushed around by these arrogant little brats? What kind of nonsense was this?

Sensing the dissatisfaction in Su Ming’s tone, Principal Bai hesitated for a moment. But they had been taking good care of Wan Tong. They even moved her to a safer dorm, practically treating her like a VIP.

So, Principal Bai quickly led the way. “She should be in the dormitory.”

The summons had been rather rushed, so he was certain the girl had no idea Su Ming had arrived.

The crowd surged forward, leaving behind a pale-faced Chang Qi. She stood frozen until someone tried to support her, but she shoved them away and ran off.

The two guides who had tried to help exchanged glances but didn’t chase after her. Instead, they excitedly followed the crowd. This was General Su Ming, after all!

---

Inside the dormitory, dim lighting cast a soft glow. A girl lay curled up on the single bed, looking even more petite in the quiet space.

The surroundings fell into silence before growing noisy again, as if a large crowd was approaching. The commotion stirred Wan Tong from her sleep.

She pressed a hand to her head, feeling disoriented as she got up. Barefoot, she stepped onto the cool, smooth floor.

The noise was already at her door. She reached out and pulled it open.

Backlit by the hallway light, a tall figure stood there. Wan Tong squinted her drowsy eyes and vaguely made out a familiar face.

She lived in the faculty residence, a comfortable private room on the first floor. Now, the entrance was packed with people who had followed Su Ming, all keeping a respectful three-meter distance.

Everyone was dying of curiosity, who had the general come for?

The moment Wan Tong appeared, gasps erupted.

“It’s her…”

Su Ming’s voice was low and serious as he locked eyes with the girl. His tone was purely procedural.

“Who bullied you?”

The crowd : ???

Was General Su Ming misinformed? Wasn’t it Wan Tong who had bullied others?!

Before they could react, the next scene sent shockwaves through the audience.

The girl, dressed in a simple white nightgown, suddenly reached out—

And hugged him!

WTF! That was the collective reaction of everyone watching.

Su Ming stiffened. The girl wrapped her arms around his waist, nuzzling her little face against his chest, her soft hair getting slightly tousled.

Her sleepy voice murmured, “Why is it so noisy… A’Bu…”

---

Extra 5 : Snuggling Him

As soon as she exited the spaceship from Lala planet, Wan Tong realized that three days had passed outside.

Because the spaceship was equipped with a time dilation device, time inside moved much slower. One hour equaled a full day outside.

Over the past few days, to ease the Sentinels’ accumulated negative emotions, Su Ming even had the rear support guides brought over to provide mental counseling for them. While the Guides had yet to recover from their exhaustion, the sentinels fresh from battle were already on the brink of eruption.

Feeling somewhat guilty, Wan Tong took it upon herself to help every Sentinel with their mental state. In the end, she overworked herself and collapsed.

Su Ming picked up the unconscious girl and left amidst a sea of surprised gazes.

“Isn’t that Guide just barely an adult? Why is her guiding power so strong?”

“Shh, just pretend you didn’t see anything. She’s the General’s person.”

“What? The General has found a high-compatibility guide?”

“Not sure about the compatibility, but that guide is definitely special. The General has been more terrifying these past few days than he was five years ago, all just to take down this damn spaceship…”

…

Although Wan Tong was unconscious, her consciousness still drifted, picking up a jumble of useless information, making her frown slightly.

“Don’t think about it. Just sleep well.”

A deep, mellow voice lightly tapped against her eardrum. It felt familiar, and a sense of security wrapped around her.

When Wan Tong woke up again, she was already in a room.

Su Ming sat at a metallic desk. Without turning around, he spoke. “You’re awake.”

“Mm.” Wan Tong quickly sat up.

“General, I have something to report.” She sat across from Su Ming and relayed the intelligence she had gathered from the Lala people.

Her delicate, youthful face was serious as she concluded, “General, I don’t think the Lala people’s motives are simple. They have destructive capabilities, a strong tendency for occupation and plundering, and their spaceship’s ecosystem is well-preserved. If they were to settle on a planet and reproduce… I believe it would be a disaster. After all, they destroyed their own home planet with their own hands.”

It was the first time in five years that Wan Tong had appeared in the fleet, and it was on Su Ming’s exclusive warship. She was nervous and eager to perform well, hoping to impress him. Maybe then, she’d have a chance to follow him onto the battlefield in the future.

Her bright, expectant eyes, filled with nervous energy, were completely captured in Su Ming’s gaze.

She might not realize it, but sitting this close to him, he could even feel a sense of sincerity and a faint trace of trust and submission emanating from her.

Blair had told him. She had volunteered to test their compatibility, eagerly entering the awakening system before her guiding power had even stabilized.

Her desire to save him had been urgent.

Su Ming pushed a cup of warm water in front of her before finally speaking. “I understand. I’ll have An Xi take you back to school.”

“…” Wan Tong took a sip of water, bit her lip, then softly asked, “Can’t I stay a little longer?”

“It’s not appropriate,” Su Ming refused coldly.

Shi Ming, who was lying at his legs, tilted its head at him, then reached out a paw and gently pressed it against Bai Bai’s fluffy head.

“But—”

“No buts.”

“…”

Meeting his indifferent expression, Wan Tong lowered her head. “Okay…”

Su Ming frowned slightly but continued laying out his plan. “A meal will be delivered soon. Rest for half an hour. An Xi will come to take you away.”

With that, without giving Wan Tong a chance to argue, he got up and walked out with firm steps.

Shi Ming lazily remained on the ground, not following him.

At the doorway, Su Ming cast a look back. Only then did Shi Ming reluctantly get up and leave.

The little white creature trotted after him, letting out a soft whimper.

Shi Ming turned its head back several times, but Su Ming’s figure had already disappeared.

Wan Tong slumped onto the table, looking slightly dejected.

Just moments ago, he had held her so tightly, yet now he was in such a hurry to send her away.

She simply wanted to stay and observe the spaceship a little longer…

When she looked up again, she saw Shi Ming and Bai Bai still lingering at the doorway. Shi Ming looked as though it was comforting Bai Bai.

In that instant, Wan Tong’s frustration lessened slightly.

Wasn’t it said that quantum beasts were a reflection of their owner’s inner emotions?

Did this mean… the General actually wanted to comfort her too?

She ran over and hugged the white lion tightly, rubbing against it. “Shi Ming, Shi Ming, can you act cute with your master? Ask him not to send me away. I don’t eat much, and I won’t cause trouble…”

*Roar…* Shi Ming let out a low growl, its golden-green eyes staring at her before suddenly licking her cheek.

“Does that mean you agree?”

*Roar…*

In the corridor, Su Ming suddenly halted, pressing his palm against the wall, barely maintaining his composure.

Even so, he could feel his ears heating up.

As a Dark Sentinel, his heightened senses sometimes linked him to Shi Ming—like right now.

His sharp hearing even picked up the soft voice from behind.

How could she… snuggle him?

“General, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?”

Ahead, An Xi approached with a Sentinel in tow.

Su Ming straightened his stiff back, pressed his thin lips together, and shook his head before continuing forward.

An Xi and the Sentinel exchanged glances as they watched his retreating figure.

Could that girl have offended the general?

“Hurry and take it in. Don’t let her go hungry,” An Xi instructed the Sentinel carrying the food.

At that moment, Shi Ming also emerged from the room and lazily followed in Su Ming’s direction.

An Xi looked at Shi Ming and felt it was acting unusually sluggish, even a little intoxicated?

If the General was in a good mood, then why was his expression so dark?

Besides, Shi Ming had always been an aloof and imposing presence, warning off strangers with its mere demeanor. But now, with its current dazed and blissful look, this was a first…

An Xi found himself completely unable to understand the situation.

---

Wan Tong was sure that Shi Ming had not conveyed her message because, in the end, she was still sent away.

On the way back, she heard from An Xi that Chang Zhi had wanted to take over the spaceship, but Su Ming had directly thrown his people—and the three Lala star residents—back onto the Chang family’s starship.

The spaceship could only be guarded by the military and, if necessary, destroyed.

Wan Tong felt a little regretful upon hearing this, but she also found it reasonable.

Having grown up influenced by her father, she had always been fascinated by interstellar civilizations but was even more cautious about them.

When she returned to school, Principal Bai personally came to pick her up and even had a long chat with An Xi.

Afterward, Wan Tong noticed that Principal Bai’s attitude toward her had become significantly more friendly.

The Sentinel-Guide Management Academy’s forum was the Empire’s largest and most active online community. Since Wan Tong had publicly challenged Chang Qi in class a few days ago and utterly crushed her, discussions about her had only intensified.

As soon as she reappeared at school, people immediately snapped photos and uploaded them to the forum.

#Principal Bai personally picks her up, just how powerful is Wan Tong’s background?#

The title alone was provocative, and the post elaborated on Chang Qi’s humiliating defeat, clearly meant to stir controversy!

Someone provided a rundown of Chang Qi’s family background. Her father, Chang Zhi, was an SS-rank Minister of Foreign Affairs, while her mother was an A-rank Guide. After awakening, Chang Qi herself was also classified as an A-rank, which was considered exceptional among the standard rank Guides, allowing her to walk around school with an air of dominance.

Meanwhile, Wan Tong had appeared out of nowhere with an unknown background. Some speculated she was an orphan, while others believed she was the heir of a hidden aristocratic family. Judging by how she had crushed Chang Qi, her strength was likely S-rank or higher.

With an impeccable appearance and overwhelming power, a little privilege seemed justified.

Now, after disappearing for three days, she returned to school with the principal personally welcoming her. It was clear her identity wasn’t simple.

However, the post—and many others about Wan Tong—quickly vanished, all removed under the justification of ‘inappropriate wording.’

---

On the main battleship of the Imperial Defense Fleet, the moment An Xi returned, he reported Wan Tong’s situation to Su Ming, casually mentioning what had happened at school.

Su Ming had been reviewing the investigation report on the Lala planet residents when he heard An Xi’s words. He glanced over, his dark eyes deep with an unmistakable discontent. “You’re saying she was bullied by her classmates?”

“…Huh?” An Xi was momentarily stunned. Was that what he had said? Hadn’t he just described how Wan Tong had completely overwhelmed Chang Qi?

However, knowing Su Ming’s temperament well, An Xi quickly straightened up and nodded seriously, “Yes, precisely. Chang Zhi’s precious daughter, thinking herself the star of the first-years, led others to isolate Wan Tong and even tried to make things difficult for her in class…”

In reality, Wan Tong simply disliked socializing and rarely interacted with her classmates.

Upon hearing this, the gloom on Su Ming’s face deepened, and the ominous aura of a Dark Sentinel emanated from him, so oppressive that An Xi almost went weak in the knees.

Hurriedly, he added, “General, I’ve already spoken with Principal Bai. He will ensure her safety.”

Instinctively, he even stopped referring to Wan Tong by name.

Then, An Xi witnessed something utterly unexpected: Su Ming logged into the Sentinel-Guide Academy’s forum.

Every Sentinel and Guide who had attended the school had an account, but as far as An Xi knew, Su Ming hadn’t accessed the forum since he entered the academy at thirteen.

The school assigned forum privileges based on status, and Su Ming, as the Grand General of the Kroll Empire and one of only two existing Dark Sentinels—the other being the retired former Grand General over a century old—naturally held the highest level of access.

Back when Su Ming was in a coma, the retired General had been so busy that he had no time for anything else. The moment Su Ming woke up, all his responsibilities were dumped back on Su Ming, allowing the elder General to embark on an interstellar vacation.

Given Su Ming’s towering prestige as the Empire’s greatest hero, the academy had granted him top-tier forum privileges.

The moment An Xi received a notification that Su Ming had logged into the academy’s forum, he froze in disbelief.

By the time he attempted to check out the commotion, he found that he couldn’t get in.

To prevent crashes, the forum had a traffic limit.

Yet, in all its centuries of existence, the forum had never once reached its capacity, until now.

---

Although Wan Tong never logged into the forum, she received an automatic notification:

Su Ming is online!

Her hand trembled, and she accidentally entered the forum, only to see posts updating frantically.

[Damn, good thing my hand slipped! I got into the forum first!]

[Am I seeing things? General Su Ming is online! The traffic surge even caused access restrictions!]

;Everyone who accidentally clicked in, reply here! Don’t start new threads—it’ll affect General Su’s browsing!]

[Ahhh! I’m gonna cry! Is it really true that the General has woken up? Why isn’t there a livestream to show us? It’s been five years! Wuwuwu!]

[The news says the General went straight to the interstellar defense line after waking up. Recently, they even intercepted an alien ship that broke in. The General works too hard! I’m an A-rank Guide! Straight A’s in all subjects! Marry me, General!]

[No more talking! A-rank Guide here! General, look at me! I’ve posted all my details in this thread!]

[Breaking news! The General recently took a compatibility test—Chang Qi’s compatibility with the General is 68%!!]

Wan Tong’s eyes lingered on this post for a moment before she clicked in.

It contained a newly updated news screenshot, supposedly leaked by a Sentinel working at the Assessment Bureau.

In just a short time, the thread exploded in popularity.

But a few minutes later, it was deleted.

[Notice : Deleted by Su Ming.]

Immediately after, Su Ming went offline.

The forum’s traffic restriction lasted for most of the day, and everyone was speculating. Why did Su Ming suddenly visit the forum? Why delete the post about their compatibility with Chang Qi?

One thing was certain: Chang Qi was now famous.

If the news was true, with such a high compatibility score, there should be no issue with them bonding in the future.

After all, as long as a Sentinel-Guide pair had at least 30% compatibility, they could apply for bonding.

In an instant, Chang Qi became the object of envy and admiration. She had already been strutting around campus with an air of superiority, but now she was treated like royalty wherever she went.

Wan Tong stayed in her dorm for several days, allowing her Guide abilities to fully recover. She even tried touching the sealed-off area in her mental domain. Something about it felt important to her.

But for now, she only probed cautiously.

Besides, she was getting bored. First-year courses weren’t challenging enough for her, so she wanted to apply for third-year classes instead.

When Principal Bai heard about this, he sighed. In truth, even third-year courses weren’t suitable for her. The difference between high-ranking Guides was like an entire world apart. The highest-ranked Guide in the school had only advanced from A-rank to S-rank, and then hit a dead end.

Throughout history, only two SSS-ranked Guides had ever appeared, but written records about them were scarce, making further research impossible.

He could already foresee that once Wan Tong’s true rank could no longer be concealed, the uproar would be unimaginable. Fortunately, she was under Su Ming’s protection, so Principal Bai didn’t dwell on it too much. He simply decided to grant her every request.

---

Extra 4 : Embrace

At the critical moment, Wan Tong was still obedient. Almost the instant Su Ming’s voice rang out, she shrank back into the escape pod.

But just as the hatch was about to close, she saw wisps of green light suddenly enveloping the pod. Then, she felt the escape pod violently tremble a few times. The alarm in her ears signaled one thing: the escape pod was damaged.

Wan Tong heard the screeching and crackling of the hatch, accompanied by the sizzle of sparks, as if some immense force was prying it open.

Her heartbeat almost stopped, but she still remembered to extend her mental tendrils, carefully probing outward.

The figure she had seen earlier was indeed not from the Kroll Empire. By focusing her mental perception, she pierced through the illusion and truly sensed… them?

These extraterrestrials possessed highly developed mental domains, yet their physical structures were utterly bizarre.

Perhaps, to them, her body structure was just as strange.

In just a few seconds, the hatch of the escape pod was flung away.

Several oddly shaped extraterrestrials appeared before her. They were communicating amongst themselves, but when addressing her, they spoke in the language of the Kroll Empire.

It seemed they had already replicated their language.

“Hello, female,” one of them extended a limb—was it a hand or a leg?—toward Wan Tong. The ten or so mouths on its head opened and closed in unison, its voice sounding like a human deliberately distorting their tone.

Wan Tong : “……”

Another alien beside it corrected, “Hello, woman.”

Wan Tong didn’t sense any hostility from them.

They seemed to approach her with a research-oriented mindset.

Would she become their test subject?

---

“General, there’s no movement in any of the channels.” An Xi lowered his voice.

The terminal of Escape Channel 1 was directly linked to the general’s starship. The other three sentinels had not transferred over but had gone to different channels. Currently, they had been captured and were being held under watch.

Earlier, the signal light here had flickered on briefly before dimming again, suggesting that something had gone wrong with the escape pod.

Whether it was destroyed by the extraterrestrials or not, Wan Tong’s situation was looking grim.

In the distance, the silver, circular spacecraft remained, but the black hole it had emerged from was slowly shrinking, as if about to disappear.

“That’s an interstellar migration ship.” Su Ming’s thin lips parted as his icy gaze locked onto the observation platform.

An Xi was slightly shocked. “So all those previous harassment actions… were just the aliens scouting the area?”

After so many operations, this spacecraft had finally arrived. Perhaps they had already assessed the civilization level here. They might have even replicated their language and culture.

Now that the circular spaceship had appeared, and the black hole was vanishing, the aliens’ home planet might be gone. Their new target seemed to be the Kroll Empire.

“Prepare the reconnaissance ships,” Su Ming ordered as he stepped away from the control panel.

An Xi wanted to dissuade him but ultimately refrained from speaking at this critical moment, fearing he might anger the general.

No one could question the General’s decisions.

---

Meanwhile, Wan Tong had made some discoveries of her own.

These aliens had no concept of Sentinels or Guides. Their brains were highly developed, but they lacked mental power. She spent some effort breaking into their mental network and extracted the information she needed.

They came from a planet more advanced than the Kroll Empire, called Lala Planet. However, under the strain of rapid development, Lala Planet had reached its breaking point and was on the verge of destruction. The planet’s leaders dispatched numerous fleets to explore the galaxy in search of a new habitable world. One such fleet discovered the galaxy of the Kroll Empire.

After observing for a while, the Lala people decided to migrate here. Through a rigorous selection process, the thousand most genetically superior Lala people boarded an escape vessel and traveled via folded space to this location. Not long ago, they had personally witnessed the explosion of their home planet.

The ones before her, only a dozen or so, were merely ordinary guards. They held no significant information.

Now that the starship was damaged, they posed no immediate harm to her. Lala society placed great importance on protecting females, even those from alien species.

Wan Tong attempted to attack their mental network but discovered that they were immune to her assault. She had no choice but to withdraw her external mental tendrils. The grotesque creatures before her immediately shifted, transforming into the appearance of Kroll Empire soldiers. Only then did the nauseating feeling in her chest subside.

They were inherently capable of inducing hallucinations. Since they weren’t willing to reveal their true forms to her, it likely meant they wanted to lower her defenses and extract more information about the Kroll Empire.

Wan Tong was taken to a place resembling a laboratory.

Her suspicions were confirmed when she was fitted with a helmet. Almost instantly, she felt a force probing her mental barriers, attempting to infiltrate her mind.

Fortunately, she possessed an SSS-ranked Guide ability. To avoid arousing suspicion, she completely sealed off her mental domain, then deliberately opened a single passage, one that led to the darkest corner of her mind.

That corner contained all the memories she had sealed away after emerging from the awakening system, data she had yet to fully process.

She had consulted Blair about it, and he had told her that all those memories were simply experiences from within the awakening system, without much real significance. Given her current capabilities, keeping them sealed was actually beneficial, reducing her mental burden. So, she had never bothered to touch them.

Now, by presenting those to the aliens, she ensured that whatever information they obtained would be completely fragmented.

Before long, Wan Tong was released unharmed into a private chamber, where she was provided with ample food and drink.

Extending her mental perception, she confirmed that the Lala people’s internal ranks were already in chaos.

She extended her mental powers outward and discovered that the Lala aliens were indeed in chaos.

They were disguising themselves as Kroll people, so from time to time, they spoke in a language she could understand.

“They can resurrect— their revival methods are far more advanced than ours!”

“That female has come back to life over a dozen times!”

“The immigration plan must change!”

“The Kroll Empire is not to be underestimated!”

“They have many planets— we just need to seize one!”

…

Wan Tong : “…”

She suddenly became curious about what she had experienced in the awakening system that had frightened these arrogant Lala aliens so badly.

But she would have to wait until she grew stronger, strong enough to withstand those memories.

---

Wan Tong could no longer perceive the passage of time. It seemed as if time was expanding inside this spaceship. She felt it moving painfully slowly.

Of course, it could also just be her illusion.

Under such conditions, a restless frustration gradually built up within her.

Then, she felt the entire spaceship tremble slightly. Immediately after, all the Lala aliens seemed to gather together, leaving no one to guard her.

Someone had invaded the ship.

The ship’s metallic structure was unfamiliar to Wan Tong, but now it had been breached. There were only a thousand Lala aliens aboard, and after being misled by Wan Tong’s memories, they were already in a state of panic.

This gave the invaders an even greater advantage.

Wan Tong stepped out of her room. The spaceship was massive, almost the entire civilization of the Lala planet was preserved here. They had even built a complete ecological system within it. Through the glass barriers, Wan Tong could see plants and creatures that did not exist in Kroll Empire.

She wandered through the ship for an unknown length of time before finally arriving at the scene of the battle between the Lala aliens and the intruders.

The ones who had broken in were Su Ming’s people.

Wan Tong was slightly surprised. Given that this was an unknown alien vessel, Su Ming should never have launched such a reckless attack.

She had studied the battle strategies circulating online, every one of his operations was executed with absolute precision, striking down the enemy in one decisive move, leaving no room for error. He was never impulsive.

The Lala aliens were not strong in direct combat, but they had dangerous close-range mind tricks. However, Su Ming’s forces were prepared. His soldiers wore red ribbons to distinguish themselves from the disguised Lala aliens.

Additionally, sentinels possessed powerful combat abilities and heightened senses, making it easy for them to detect whether they were facing an illusion.

By the time Wan Tong arrived, most of the Lala aliens had already been ambushed, with only a few still resisting.

An Xi had originally planned to blast them all away, but before he could, more people entered through the hatch. Among them, a middle-aged man: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chang Zhi.

“General Su Ming! How can you be so ruthless? These are an alien civilization! How could you bear to destroy them?!” Chang Zhi accused angrily, standing in staunch defense of the three grotesque aliens that had revealed their true forms.

This was not the first time Chang Zhi had done something like this.

The entire star system now belonged to the Kroll Empire, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs had become a largely ceremonial role. To maintain his relevance, Chang Zhi repeatedly intervened to ‘protect’ newly discovered alien species, claiming it was for the sake of research and understanding interstellar civilizations.

Su Ming usually had no patience for such matters, but this time, he couldn’t be bothered to argue.

Upon receiving his orders, An Xi simply tossed the captured alien to Chang Zhi’s men.

Green slime covered the floor—presumably the alien’s blood—but Su Ming’s uniform remained pristine, untouched by any filth. Even the space at his feet was spotless, unlike the surrounding battlefield littered with alien remains.

It was as if all corruption instinctively avoided him.

He was clearly cold and indifferent, yet there was an untouchable clarity about him, like a moonlit breeze that made people want to reach out.

Wan Tong had seen his figure countless times on the battlefield, always striding forward with unwavering confidence.

But this was the first time he walked toward her like that.

She stood frozen in place as he approached, stopping just a few steps away.

She was in a narrow, low corridor, darkness looming behind her. But she herself was radiant, standing out at a glance.

And at some point, Shi Ming had appeared beside her.

“Come out,” Su Ming said, his gaze lowered slightly, his voice as calm as ever.

“General…” Wan Tong obeyed, stepping toward him.

She had barely taken two steps when his arm reached out and pulled her in.

Unprepared, she stumbled into his firm, solid chest.

The arm around her waist tightened, pressing her closer to him.

Wan Tong’s heartbeat quickened, but her mind filled with confusion. What’s going on?

She wanted to look up, but a large hand pressed gently against the back of her head.

Su Ming bent slightly, his head lowering to the side of her neck.

Even through her soft hair, she could feel his warm breath against her skin, his sharp nose lightly grazing her.

Was it because of their high sentinel-guide compatibility? The trembling sensation in her heart intensified the moment he embraced her.

But she dared not move.

She sensed the subtle ripples in his mental sea, assuming he needed post-battle soothing, so she instinctively extended her mental threads toward him.

Bai Bai appeared at her feet, but before it could react, Shi Ming had already grabbed it.

*Meow~*

Bai Bai, too, dared not move.

A few meters away, An Xi swallowed hard.

No one dared move.

Days without rest. Sleepless nights developing weapons to breach the ship. Through it all, their General had remained composed.

But now, for the first time, in front of this young guide, his suppressed emotions had finally begun to show.

---

Extra 3 : Alien

“General, bad news! The situation has changed!”

Su Ming had barely left the command room when he heard An Xi’s tense voice.

He turned back to the observation window. In the distance, near the massive black hole, an energy fluctuation was occurring. A small, pitch-black vortex was gradually opening.

“It looks like someone activated a teleportation portal,” An Xi said.

The Kroll Empire possessed many pieces of advanced technology. This type of teleportation device functioned somewhat like a temporary black hole, and its usage depended entirely on its energy reserves.

Sure enough, a faint silver glow flickered around the small vortex, and soon, a starship emerged from it.

The model of this starship was unlike the enemy ships they had repelled earlier. Instead, it resembled those used by the Kroll Empire’s military. Though it had been modified, with its internal connection pathways deliberately severed.

But who would dare modify a military starship?

“Chang Zhi had a starship hijacked recently?” Su Ming stared in that direction, his voice remaining calm and deep.

“Yes. General, do you suspect that’s the one?” At the mention of Chang Zhi, An Xi’s expression darkened with anger.

Chang Zhi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was an aging politician who constantly schemed for his own gain. He advocated for alliances with extraterrestrial civilizations and sought diplomacy with alien species. However, most people opposed this, as the clash of civilizations often led to catastrophic consequences.

Every time Su Ming led an attack against an enemy star, Chang Zhi accused him of trampling on alien civilizations. He even proposed peaceful negotiations, brainwashing many into his ideology.

Because of their opposing stances, Chang Zhi frequently targeted Su Ming, calling him a ruthless butcher who had annihilated countless extraterrestrial beings.

Back when Su Ming was still in the awakening system, Chang Zhi had even assembled a group of scientists at another space station to develop a Raider System, one that contracted the souls of deceased sentinels and guides, infiltrating the awakening system in an attempt to destroy Su Ming’s mental sea and keep him permanently unconscious.

“Do we know who hijacked it?” Su Ming asked. He had come straight to the battlefield upon waking and had yet to fully catch up on domestic affairs.

“Not sure. It seems to be one of their experimental subjects.”

But why had that starship suddenly appeared here?

From a distance, the ship was still spinning, seemingly out of control, and drifting toward the enemy’s black hole.

“General, we can’t let that starship cross over.” They had no idea what lay beyond that black hole. If this modified starship were captured, it could become a research subject for the enemy, which would be extremely detrimental to their future battles.

“Destroy it,” Su Ming ordered expressionlessly.

“Yes, sir!”

---

“Damn it! Get the hell down from there!”

A blond young man cursed at Wan Tong, who stood on the control panel. His head was still buzzing, and two other young men beside him had already collapsed, unable to withstand the pressure.

Enoch’s expression was dark as he approached her. “Wan Tong, stop this. That’s a teleportation device!”

Inside the Raider System, he had already sensed that her guiding power was extraordinary, but he hadn’t expected her to be just as powerful in reality.

He was an SS-ranked Sentinel, but since his mental state had only recently recovered, he was struggling to resist her attacks.

Wan Tong stood atop the control panel, looking indifferent. Her father had once been a captain under Su Ming’s command, and she had been trained in starship operations since childhood. She could always absorb knowledge faster than others.

She had scared them enough for now. Looking at Enoch, she said, “Send me back to school.”

She wanted to fight on the interstellar battlefield, but for now, it was best to return and hone her skills first.

“Fine, we’ll send you,” Enoch said, enunciating each word clearly.

But as he moved closer, Wan Tong instinctively sensed his hostility.

He struck swiftly, grabbing her shoulder and locking her in front of him, his arm tightening around her delicate neck. “Don’t move, kid, or I’ll kill you.”

Wan Tong’s guiding power was formidable, but her physical strength was weak.

Panicking, she unleashed a burst of energy. The control panel beside her sparked violently, accompanied by a stream of curses from the blond youth.

Enoch immediately let go of Wan Tong to regain control of the starship.

But the observation window had already plunged into darkness. Wan Tong felt the air around her twisting and warping. After just a few seconds of discomfort, a familiar sight appeared through the window, an entire fleet of military starships.

“Shit, it’s them!”

“Energy depleted. The teleportation gate is useless now.”

“Control panel is damaged!”

Enoch and the blond youth sounded frantic, while the temporary black hole slowly faded.

Wan Tong stood there in a daze, her heart pounding as she gazed at the grand and awe-inspiring fleet.

Five years ago, she had witnessed the most brutal battlefield. Low-intelligence, bloodthirsty alien invaders had torn her parents to pieces before her eyes.

She had been saved by Su Ming, and ever since, she had dreamed of returning to the battlefield as a soldier.

But the chances were slim. In the past, Sentinels and Guides fought together, but their already rare numbers had suffered heavy losses. Now, Guides were forbidden from the frontlines, strictly protected in the rear. At the first sign of danger, the entire team would retreat.

The starship spun, and the scene through the observation window shifted, revealing a massive black hole pulsing with faint silver light.

Wan Tong knew what it was. Five years ago, the bloodthirsty creatures had emerged from countless black holes just like this, shattering the Kroll Empire’s defenses.

But this black hole was larger than any she had seen before. Whatever alien force lay beyond must be incredibly powerful.

“Damn it, the black hole has a pull force!” Enoch stared at the observation window, his fist slamming against the sparking control panel.

The controls were damaged!

The blond youth, both terrified and enraged, lunged at Wan Tong. But Enoch stopped him. “Wait. Let’s see what happens first.”

“You have a plan? Falling into the army’s hands means death, and the other end might be even worse.” The blond youth was well aware of their predicament.

“We won’t die, with her here.” Enoch looked toward Wan Tong. “See that? The starship at the very front, that’s Su Ming.”

He was gambling that Su Ming wouldn’t let Wan Tong die.

But the problem now was that he had modified the starship, severing its fast connection channel with the military. If he wanted to contact them now, he had to send a new connection request.

“*Beep beep beep*, system detected an explosive attack. Please evacuate immediately. 10, 9…”

The command room flashed red.

Enoch’s face darkened as he continued trying to repair the console. “Damn it, of course it’s Su Ming.” He wasn’t even giving them a chance to struggle.

Hearing the countdown, Wan Tong quickly crouched down and felt around under the console. Her father had told her before that all military starships had a hidden operating system. As long as she entered the internal password, she could regain control of the starship.

Soon, a palm-sized interface appeared on the console.

It required an internal password.

Wan Tong’s hands trembled as she entered the password her father had once used.

---

“General, they dodged the attack.”

“General, someone activated the internal operating system… It’s… Wan Xiao!”

An Xi leaned closer to the console and reported in a low voice.

Wan Xiao had once been a captain under the General’s command, but he died five years ago. He was Wan Tong’s father.

Hearing Wan Xiao’s name, Su Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward the observation window. Sure enough, that starship had evaded their attack and was now drifting toward a black hole.

“Could it be Wan Tong on that ship?” An Xi speculated, glancing at Su Ming’s expression.

It was possible. Wan Xiao had risen to the rank of major and sometimes took his family along on patrols. Even though Wan Tong had been young, she might have remembered the password.

“Cease fire. Establish a communication channel. Send a docking signal.”

Su Ming’s voice remained as cold and deep as ever, but An Xi detected a hint of urgency.

On the other side, everyone let out a breath of relief.

Wan Tong deactivated the starship’s autonomous signal jamming, and almost immediately, they received a communication request and a docking signal.

She was about to accept when Enoch stopped her. “We can’t go over.”

Wan Tong glanced at the young man. Right, they were fugitives.

“You guys… can discuss whether to connect later. Right now, let’s think about how to survive this first.” The blond youth stared tensely at the observation window.

Wan Tong and Enoch followed his gaze, and froze.

A massive, semicircular structure emerged from the black hole. Silver metal glowed with a faint blue light.

It was a spacecraft, dozens of times larger than an imperial starship. In its presence, even the distant military fleet seemed minuscule.

Enoch kicked the two unconscious crew members awake and gathered everyone in front of the controls.

Wan Tong tried to steer the starship away from the spacecraft, but it was useless.

Their ship was caught in its pull.

Through the observation window, Su Ming and An Xi were equally stunned.

There was no doubt. If that ship made even the slightest move, the starship below would be reduced to fragments, scattered across the silent void.

Su Ming felt the blood in his veins reverse flow. For a moment, his mind went blank. The thought that she might be on that ship made his chest feel like it was being pounded.

He straightened his back, took a step forward, and ordered the fleet to surround the alien spacecraft and open fire.

But the massive ship remained completely unaffected.

From the observation window, a small aperture opened on the alien vessel, emitting a blue beam that enveloped the starship. In the blink of an eye, the ship was drawn inside.

At that moment, the starship’s signal vanished.

Su Ming braced his hands on the console, staring at the fading blue light. He suppressed the emotions churning in his eyes and hoarsely ordered a retreat.

“General…” An Xi noticed Su Ming’s unusual state. “The one who used the password might not be Wan Tong.”

Su Ming remained silent, feeling as if something was tearing at his heart. He had no choice but to retreat. He couldn’t risk the entire fleet.

The fleet withdrew to the defensive perimeter, forming a semicircle around the enormous spacecraft while sending out communication signals.

For the first time, Su Ming attempted to make contact with an alien vessel. In the past, he would have simply attacked.

But there was no response from the ship. Maybe it couldn’t decipher their signals, or maybe it had come with hostile intent.

Just then, Su Ming’s personal terminal lit up.

His previously cold and silent gaze suddenly flickered with light. He accepted the call and activated the holographic projection.

A young girl in a pure white dress appeared before him.

Su Ming’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, but his lips remained tightly pressed together. For a fleeting moment, a memory surfaced—of another world, where she once played in the palm of his hand.

“General, can you hear me?” Wan Tong was adjusting the terminal on her end.

She really was on that ship.

Behind her, several figures were scrambling around the control panel.

Suppressing the pounding in his chest, Su Ming coldly instructed, “Activate safe mode. There’s an escape pod beneath the bridge.”

“But, General… I think we’re already inside the ship.”

Strangely, even though the starship’s signal was blocked, their personal terminals still worked.

It was as if the enemy had studied their starships thoroughly, building this vessel specifically to capture them, but had failed to account for their personal communication devices, allowing them to still make contact.

The young girl’s voice was still soft, seemingly a little nervous, and her eyes showed a hint of panic.

“General, we could take this opportunity to probe the enemy,” An Xi suggested.

But Su Ming acted as if he hadn’t heard. “The escape pod has a teleportation function. Select Channel 1.”

His indisputable tone made Wan Tong pause for a moment.

Behind them, Enoch and the others had already located the escape pods.

Six escape pods were lined up in a row.

“Damn, how much more about this starship do we not know?” someone muttered.

“Wan Tong, the hatch has been breached. They’re getting closer. We need to leave immediately.” Enoch stepped up beside Wan Tong, glancing at Su Ming’s projection before furrowing his brows.

Seeing Wan Tong still standing motionless, he grabbed her hand. “To be able to breach the hatch this quickly, these aliens are extremely dangerous.”

Wan Tong’s heart pounded wildly, filled with both fear and anticipation. She looked toward Su Ming. “General, I think—”

But before she could finish, Su Ming’s voice came coldly through the terminal once more. “Wan Tong, I order you. Get into the escape pod immediately.”

He was only worried that the spaceship might interfere with the pod’s teleportation system.

Wan Tong pressed her lips together, then obediently lay down inside the escape pod. Hearing the beeping sounds from the other pods nearby, she bit her lip, hesitated for a second, and then opened the escape pod.

*Bang!* The command room’s hatch was forced open.

Wan Tong turned her head and saw over a dozen figures standing at the entrance. They were wearing the uniforms of the Kroll military.

But why would military personnel be here? Had Su Ming’s fleet taken control of the spaceship? That was impossible…

“General, have you taken over the spaceship?” she asked quickly.

She glanced down at her personal terminal—it was still connected. But just as she was about to reactivate the projection, she heard Su Ming’s voice from the other end, hoarse and urgent, “Danger! Shut down the escape pod immediately!”

Meanwhile, in the starship’s command room, Su Ming’s pupils trembled slightly as he stared at the figures appearing in the projection.

They weren’t human.

Their entire bodies were green and hairless. Their oversized heads were covered with countless eyes, all glowing green. Three gaping, blood-red mouths were filled with sharp black teeth. Instead of legs, they had six trunk-like appendages planted firmly on the floor—legs, if they could even be called that.

Even Su Ming, who had seen countless alien creatures, found them utterly repulsive.

Yet, in Wan Tong’s voice, there wasn’t the slightest trace of fear.

That meant, she was likely seeing an illusion!

---

Extra 2 : Kidnapping

First-year students spend most of their time learning to control their powers, trying to condense their mental strength into quantum beasts.

Two months into the school year, nearly half of the Sentinels had successfully formed their quantum beasts. However, Guides of the same rank were generally weaker; only about ten had managed to form theirs, and even then, they were unstable.

Chang Qi was one of the first Guides to condense a quantum beast. It was this achievement that made her feel superior to others.

A soft, warm spiritual aura radiated from Wan Tong, enveloping the classroom and putting the Sentinels in the back rows at ease. The lazily sprawled-out quantum beasts were proof of this.

One little wolf even trotted up to Wan Tong’s leg and nuzzled her.

*Awoo~*

“Lang Qi… Have some dignity!” A flustered boy quickly rushed over, dragging the little wolf away.

For a moment, the classroom fell into an eerie silence before bursting into laughter.

“He’s cute.” Wan Tong smiled. She had only lightly released a few strands of her mental energy, not expecting it to make so many Sentinels lower their guard around her.

The boy’s hand trembled, and the little wolf immediately broke free, dashing back to Wan Tong’s leg and howling again.

Laughter erupted once more. The boy had no choice but to retrieve his quantum beast, his face flushed red as he hurried back to his seat.

As soon as he sat down, his friends shot him teasing looks.

“Wow, didn’t expect you to be such a simp…”

“Didn’t you say she’s just a little girl and that you’d never like her? Then why does Lang Qi look so smitten?”

The boy, now thoroughly embarrassed, shouted back, “You said the same thing, damn it! And your quantum beast looked just as lovestruck!”

“…It was just dozing off!”

…

The commotion around Wan Tong made the Guides in the front rows look on with admiration.

Even in that brief moment, they could feel her immense power, greater than Chang Qi’s.

In the world of Sentinels and Guides, strength was everything. And at that moment, Wan Tong’s position shifted.

Chang Qi’s face turned pale. A deep, instinctual pressure weighed on her, a threat unlike any she had ever felt before.

Almost reflexively, she launched a mental attack on Wan Tong.

Among the first-year guides, she had always been unmatched. The only one capable of using her spiritual power offensively. But to her utter shock, her attack slammed into an impenetrable barrier.

That barrier didn’t just block her attack, it sent it rebounding right back at her.

“Ah!” Chang Qi let out a pained cry, collapsing to the ground while clutching her head.

The girl beside her hurriedly supported her. “Chang Qi, are you okay?”

The other guides, startled, didn’t dare approach. Many of the sentinels in the back row were Chang Qi’s supporters, and in their anger, they rushed toward Wan Tong.

But the next moment, they all froze in place.

An invisible force pressed down on them, as if crushing their heads. Their minds went blank, and even breathing became difficult.

It was terrifying.

They had always thought of Guides as mental support, a source of comfort rather than a true force to be reckoned with. But for the first time, they realized just how terrifying a powerful Guide could be.

Their teacher had warned them, strong Guides could be just as destructive as Dark sentinels.

Now, they believed it.

In the eerie silence, Wan Tong slowly crouched down, tilting her head as she looked at Chang Qi. The quiet cat on her shoulder mimicked her movement.

“This is backlash. Because I’m much stronger than you.”

Her voice was soft and sweet, but devoid of emotion.

Before she turned eleven, she was her parents’ beloved treasure. After eleven, she was the little princess of the General’s estate. She had never been taught to be humble or to endure grievances.

She had restrained her power before simply to avoid unnecessary attention and trouble.

Chang Qi bit her lip, unwilling to accept defeat. Her spiritual energy still surged restlessly, but after a moment, an invisible force pressed down on her, forcing her to lower her head.

At that moment, the Guide professor on the podium coughed lightly and said, “Students should get along with each other, Chang Qi, go back to your seat. Wan Tong, you—”

“I’ll go reflect on my actions.” Wan Tong interrupted, standing up and looking toward the professor.

The teacher, holding back a smile at her serious little face, nodded. “Go on. No need to attend today’s class.”

Truthfully, the scene just now had been rather satisfying to watch. These students all came from powerful backgrounds and were used to being arrogant. But today, they had been completely subdued.

Still, such an immense level of spiritual power, if not properly controlled, could be dangerous.

As Wan Tong quietly left the classroom, the silence finally broke.

“Shit… so cute.”

“I finally understand why she has so many privileges. Hey, does anyone know her background?”

“Even Chang Qi got crushed…”

“I saw a news report once. An S-ranked Guide concealed her rank and locked up three sentinels in a basement. Nearly drove them insane… in bed…”

“Damn, don’t be so creepy! But seriously, what’s Wan Tong’s rank? To overpower an A-rank like Chang Qi… she has to be at least S-rank, right?”

“S-rank?! No way! I need to tell my dad about this!”

…

The instructor glanced at the restless quantum beasts among the sentinels and found the whole thing amusing. These students had yet to undergo rigorous training, making them highly sensitive and lacking self-control. If Wan Tong had been just a little bit more malicious, she could have played them all like puppets.

---

As Wan Tong left the classroom, her personal terminal beeped.

The principal was looking for her.

She had met the white-bearded old principal before. He was a retired Sentinel, injured in battle, but a kind man.

Inside the principal’s office, three young men in black military uniforms stood waiting.

They were tall, their expressions cold and stern, and a suffocating aura of bloodshed hung around them.

Wan Tong frowned.

Are these three soldiers, whose hands have been stained with blood for years, returning from the interstellar battlefield? Are they under the general’s command?

“The higher-ups sent us to escort you to the assessment bureau,” said the blond young man in the middle.

“Why?”

“A re-assessment of your ability level, plus an additional test.”

Wan Tong looked at the old principal, her gaze seeking confirmation.

The old principal nodded. “Go ahead, I did receive the notice. It’s just a simple test, nothing to be afraid of.”

After thinking for a moment, Wan Tong followed the soldiers.

She didn’t overthink things when she got into the hovercar. She had been improving every day, growing more proficient in controlling her psychic power. She monitored the three soldiers but noticed nothing unusual.

It wasn’t until the hovercar landed on an ordinary starship and the cabin doors sealed shut that she realized she had been tricked.

She attempted to wrap her psychic power around the entire ship but found that many areas were shielded. Then, a man approached her.

As she stepped out of the car, the surrounding lights flickered on. The three soldiers had already stepped aside, standing there casually.

On the other side, a metal gate slid open, and a tall young man stepped out.

Wan Tong rarely left the general’s estate, but she had seen enough news online. The man was undeniably handsome, but his features carried a seductive and unruly air. His intense gaze made her uncomfortable.

“Wan… Tong?” His voice carried an almost languid allure.

“Who are you?”

“Enoch Moore,” the man answered honestly, his peach-blossom eyes fixed on her, scrutinizing her without blinking.

“Never heard of you.” Wan Tong’s voice was calm, her expression unchanged.

Enoch’s thin lips tightened, and he let out a faint scoff.

Wan Tong grew curious. She blinked her beautiful eyes and asked, “Why did you kidnap me?”

Enoch didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “I was injured and in a coma some time ago. When I woke up, I kidnapped a few scientists. Guess what I learned from them?”

Wan Tong waited for him to continue.

“The news of Su Ming’s awakening hasn’t been announced yet, but I know he went to the front lines.”

His words were disjointed, and Wan Tong looked a little puzzled. “Can you speak properly?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the three young men standing nearby couldn’t help but chime in.

“Girl, watch your tone.”

“Enoch, you’ve confused me too.”

“Girl, you haven’t heard of Enoch, but surely you’ve heard of ‘War Domain’?”

Their voices carried both arrogance and bloodlust. They didn’t sound like subordinates to Enoch but rather his comrades.

As for ‘War Domain’… Wan Tong did have some recollection. It was an interstellar crime syndicate that Su Ming had wiped out five years ago. But according to what she had heard, ‘War Domain’ had been completely annihilated.

“Then why aren’t you all dead?” Her tone was innocent. There was no deliberate mockery, but it still struck a nerve.

The four men’s expressions darkened instantly before they erupted in rage.

“Shit, do you want to die right now?!”

Wan Tong had withdrawn all her externalized psychic power, making her appear like an ordinary person. They didn’t take her seriously at all, even though they had heard rumors that she might be SSS-ranked.

“Go ahead, try me,” Wan Tong tilted her head, glancing at the three young men stepping toward her. Out of nowhere, a cat suddenly appeared and landed with a soft *duang* on her shoulder.

But before the men could do anything, Enoch lazily raised his hand to stop them, his gaze sweeping over Wan Tong as he said, “You… lost your memories?”

Wan Tong froze for a moment. She lowered her eyes, thinking back over her sixteen years of life, but found no blank spots.

She shook her head. “No.”

Enoch studied her serious expression and suddenly chuckled, his smile growing even more devilish.

He didn’t look like a good person at all.

“You’ve definitely forgotten,” Inoch said with certainty. Then he turned to the three young men. “If you’re idle, hurry up and relocate. Su Ming will come looking.”

“Su Ming is at the interstellar front lines. How would he have time to come here, let alone for a little girl?” The blond young man shot a disdainful glance at Wan Tong.

“You never know,” Enoch said, his tone unreadable.

Wan Tong frowned deeply, feeling uncharacteristically annoyed. Her pitch-black, crystal-clear eyes locked onto the blond young man as she enunciated, “I’m an adult.”

She had awakened her powers early, and when she applied to join the battlefield, she was rejected with the excuse that she was too young.

The four men were momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.

A scar-faced man let his gaze roam over her in an unabashedly insolent manner. “An adult, huh? Then it’s time to enjoy adult pleasures.”

But before he could finish his sentence, he was struck in the abdomen. Clutching his stomach, he cursed, “Enoch, are you insane?!”

“Don’t taint the kid with your filthy thoughts,” Enoch said.

---

In the Dale Galaxy, the Kroll Empire’s defensive line had shifted formations once more. Across the vast interstellar void, seven fleet formations stood in perfect order, like slumbering behemoths awaiting the call to strike.

At the heart of the First Fleet’s flagship, Su Ming stood on the bridge, his dark eyes locked onto the observation window ahead.

Beyond the front lines lay a massive black hole, swirling like a vortex in the abyss. The unidentified fleet they had just repelled had vanished into its depths.

“General, we’ve sent multiple messages, but they haven’t responded at all. We have no idea which galaxy they come from,” An Xi reported from behind him.

Based on the power of that starship, the other side was undoubtedly from a high-level civilization as well. However, their method of attack was far more aggressive.

“How long has this black hole been open?” Su Ming asked.

“According to the current data, nearly six months,” came the reply.

Opening a black hole required immense energy. The fact that the enemy had created such a massive one, large enough to allow an entire squad to pass through, meant that the energy consumption must have been astronomical.

It was clear that the waters on the other side ran deep.

When high-level civilizations clashed, one side was often doomed to be annihilated. Before General Su woke up, they had only dared to hold their ground here, building new defensive lines.

At that moment, An Xi’s personal terminal lit up.

Seeing that the call was from the Sentinel-Guide Management Academy, he immediately projected it. A white-bearded old principal appeared before the two of them.

Su Ming turned his gaze slightly toward the projection.

“Ge, General Su!” The old principal exclaimed in shock, hurriedly rising from his seat.

He had only known that the girl was sent by the military and that her records were classified. But he hadn’t expected her to be directly connected to Su Ming.

Su Ming gave a small nod, while An Xi spoke up, “Principal Bai, did something happen to Wan Tong?”

Principal Bai quickly responded, “Yes. I initially received a message from the Assessment Bureau saying they needed to take Wan Tong for a re-assessment. So when someone came to pick her up, I let her leave with them. But now… the Assessment Bureau personnel just arrived at the school. They said they were attacked en route, and Wan Tong… she’s missing.”

An Xi turned to Su Ming upon hearing this. “General…”

“Is there surveillance footage?” Su Ming asked expressionlessly.

Principal Bai immediately sent over a video clip. An Xi enlarged the faces of three young men in military uniforms and quickly identified them. “They’re from the War Domain. A few of them managed to escape last time.”

“I’ll send someone to search. Keep this quiet at the school,” Su Ming said in a low voice.

Hearing this, Principal Bai breathed a sigh of relief. Since the General had spoken, the matter was as good as resolved.

Once the call ended, An Xi immediately said, “General, I’ll have my men track them down.”

But Su Ming raised a hand to stop him. “I’ll go myself.”

An Xi froze, glancing at the massive black hole outside the observation window. “But this situation here—”

“They lost two squads and fourteen starships this time. They won’t be making another move anytime soon. You stay here and keep watch.”

With that, Su Ming turned and walked out, his expression even more serious and grim than when he was commanding the battle earlier.

An Xi rubbed the back of his head, sensing that something about the general had changed.

Back when Blair had placed the young Guide into the Awakening System, he had joked that maybe the General would finally find a partner. After all, they had spent an immeasurable amount of time together in the system, and their Sentinel-Guide compatibility was an astounding 99%. They were bound to influence each other.

So… the general actually cared about that girl?

Still, it was hard for An Xi to imagine the stone-faced general in a romantic relationship with a soft, delicate girl.

Would he know how to comfort someone? Show affection? Take care of the other person?

---

Extra 1: Awakening

The frail body looked so small on the metal platform.

Su Ming no longer had much of an impression of the child he had picked up. Back then, she had been covered in blood, her bright eyes shining as he carried her home. He had not seen her since.

Even now, she had only just come of age. Her Guide abilities had just awakened, and at such a high level. Without anyone to teach her, things could easily go wrong.

“Where is the Guide instructor?”

As Su Ming spoke, An Xi pressed against his pounding temples and gestured for a middle-aged Guide behind him to step forward.

However, the Guide hesitated. “General, I can’t get close to her right now. Her Guide power is flooding the entire room…” If she went in, she was certain that within minutes, her own Guide power would be shattered, leaving her a cripple.

Su Ming also noticed that the people behind him, whether ordinary soldiers or Sentinels, were all showing signs of pain. Yet, he himself was completely unaffected.

Not just because he was a Dark Sentinel, but also because, even in her state of disorientation, the girl’s aggressive Guide power instinctively avoided him.

“You all can leave.”

Su Ming’s thin lips parted as he spoke, stepping forward and shutting the door behind him.

The moment the shielding door closed, the oppressive Guide power from within was cut off, and those outside let out a breath of relief.

Su Ming approached the metal platform, lowering his gaze to lock onto the frail girl before him.

Memories stored within the awakening system wrapped around his cold heart, as if they were on the verge of melting it. But he was a Dark Sentinel, a great General of the Kroll Empire. He had no need for such sentimental thoughts, nor for emotions that could erode his will.

Until he was thirteen, he had been nothing but an orphaned beggar on a wasteland planet, bullied by all. He had eaten fruit pits fished from sewers and half a bloodstained bun scavenged from the streets. To survive, he had scurried like a rat, hiding from danger. Then, at thirteen, he awakened early, becoming a Dark Sentinel.

He had climbed to his current position on his own strength, witnessing the cold indifference of the world. He knew better than anyone that all emotions were built on a foundation of material security.

A deep, resonant roar echoed beside him.

Su Ming turned his gaze and spoke calmly. “Shi Ming, long time no see.”

Shi Ming was his quantum beast. Every Sentinel, upon awakening, would form a spirit entity that ordinary people could not perceive.

Shi Ming resembled a lion, but its fur was pure silver, its form exuding both mechanical precision and a futuristic aura. Even outside of battle, it carried an undeniable majesty.

A soft *meow~* suddenly came from the metal platform.

Both Su Ming and Shi Ming looked over. A small, snow-white kitten had appeared beside the girl. Calling it a kitten wasn’t quite right. It was weak, barely clinging to life, its fluffy fur making it look like a tiny, round ball.

With a low growl, Shi Ming leaped up, placing its forepaws on the platform and clamping its jaws around the kitten.

Su Ming’s hand clenched slightly at his side, but he made no move to stop it.

As Shi Ming carried the kitten away, the girl curled up slightly, her breath hitching in pain. Soft whimpers escaped her lips.

Su Ming bent down, reaching out to grasp her cold hand. In a low voice, he said, “It’s time to wake up.”

He knew she could hear him. The tendrils of Guide power spreading through the room were all unconscious attempts to probe the outside world.

Sure enough, after a violent tremor of her butterfly-wing lashes, her eyes slowly opened, revealing a brilliance that made Su Ming instinctively avert his gaze.

A surge of emotion rippled through his chest. If he didn’t suppress it, he feared he might pull her into his arms.

But the way she looked at him was unfamiliar.

She sat up slowly, her delicate face pale. Upon seeing him, she slid off the platform and hoarsely addressed him, “General.”

Su Ming stared at the whorl of hair atop her head for a long moment before finally speaking. “Since you’re awake, retract your Guide power.”

Wan Tong had lived in Su Ming’s general’s estate for five years, yet she remained unfamiliar with him. If not for her recent awakening as an SSS-class Guide, if not for their high compatibility, she would never have been brought here to awaken him.

Hearing his words, Wan Tong hesitated. She had only learned the basics of Guide power, she had no idea how to retract it.

Seeing her lowered head, Su Ming quickly understood.

“Control it the way you control your mental power.”

“Mental power?”

“In the apocalypse—” Su Ming started to explain, then frowned and cut himself off.

Wan Tong looked up, confused. “Apocalypse?”

The man before her was strikingly handsome, but his expression was cold as frost. His deep black eyes studied her for two seconds before shifting away. Without another word, he turned and left, tossing a single sentence over his shoulder:

“Don’t think about anything. The instructor will come in.”

“Yes, General.”

Her respectful and polite tone was just as sweet and gentle as he remembered, but he could detect no emotion in it.

A soft *meow!* sounded again.

Shi Ming glanced at the trembling kitten, flicked his tail, and followed Su Ming out the door.

Wan Tong sat back on the metal platform. The chubby, snowball-like kitten leaped onto her lap, curling up comfortably in her arms.

“Bai Bai, you’ve gotten even fatter.”

*Meow~* Master’s Guide power has gotten even stronger~

Wan Tong chuckled softly. Her temples throbbed. It felt as though she had struggled in endless darkness for ages. She had heard someone calling her name. So to escape that darkness, she had sealed off part of her own mind.

Whatever had happened inside the awakening system, she couldn’t remember. But judging from the General’s demeanor earlier, she had a feeling she might have offended him in there.

---

From that day on, Wan Tong never saw Su Ming again. She was sent to the Sentinel-Guide Administration School on the Kroll Empire’s home planet.

Since she was the first SSS-ranked Guide in the Kroll Empire and had just come of age, all of her information was kept confidential by the Empire. Of course, this might also have been a result of Su Ming’s influence.

However, what troubled the school’s teachers was that they were used to teaching Guides how to advance, assist Sentinels in emotional regulation, and support them in battle. But Wan Tong’s Guide power surpassed all the teachers and professors, and she possessed an extremely strong offensive capability. The usual teaching methods simply did not apply to her.

Wan Tong lived alone in a separate dormitory and rarely went out. The teachers even allowed her to skip some unnecessary classes.

With such special treatment, it wasn’t long before Wan Tong became a thorn in the side of some students at the school.

Although the living quarters for Sentinels and Guides were in separate areas, the academic buildings were shared. Moreover, the foundational Sentinel-Guide theory classes were held in large lecture halls where students from both groups attended together.

The lecture hall had 500 seats, nearly enough to accommodate an entire grade. Wan Tong arrived just in time for class, having spent some time looking for the classroom.

The teachers had already been informed about her and naturally recognized her.

The theory class was taught by a middle-aged female Guide. Upon seeing Wan Tong, she even specifically pointed out a seat for her to avoid any further delay. Her face remained warm with a constant smile.

“Thank you, Professor.” Wan Tong nodded politely and walked toward the second-row seat.

In just those few seconds, the once noisy classroom suddenly became so silent that Wan Tong could hear everyone’s heartbeat.

She frowned slightly, her expression cooling as all emotion faded from her face, leaving only an icy detachment.

The school term had already been in session for two months. By now, most students within the same grade had already bonded with one another. Wan Tong, however, had suddenly transferred in, lived alone, and was treated with clear bias by the faculty. It was only natural that many students viewed her as a privileged figure.

Most of these Sentinels and Guides came from distinguished backgrounds with elite bloodlines. Seeing her being given such special treatment naturally stirred resentment.

Wan Tong sensed the underlying hostility in the air but chose to ignore it.

However, some people simply couldn’t resist making their hostility overt.

The empty seat was next to the wall, with two girls sitting on the outer side. Wan Tong had assumed they would move aside to let her through, but they remained motionless.

“Excuse me, could you let me through? Thank you,” Wan Tong said.

“This seat is taken,” the girl with long, wavy curls said in a sweet but insincere voice.

The girl beside her even placed a small handbag onto the empty seat, chiming in, “Yeah, we’ve got stuff here.”

Her deliberate action triggered a wave of laughter from the surrounding students.

Having grown up in the General’s Manor, Wan Tong had always been treated like a young lady of the house. Though quiet and reserved in nature, she carried an innate pride.

“I want to sit here,” she stated, enunciating each word clearly.

Although everyone present had awakened their abilities after coming of age, the exact age of awakening varied. Some awakened at seventeen or eighteen, and some even later.

Nationwide, Su Ming was the only one to have awakened early. Someone like Wan Tong, who awakened at sixteen, was already considered early.

Thus, although they were all in the same grade, Wan Tong still looked a little younger. Beautiful, quiet, and seemingly easy to bully.

“Heh, and I refuse to let you sit,” the long-haired girl stood up, now facing Wan Tong directly.

This girl was named Chang Qi. Her parents were highly influential, though Wan Tong didn’t know the specifics. Chang Qi herself was an A-ranked Guide, well-regarded in the school with a large following of both Guides and Sentinels.

Even though they were only first-years, Chang Qi had already learned most of the advanced Guide techniques from her mother and was a top student in the school.

“Chang Qi, why are you treating your classmate like this?” the Guide professor finally spoke up.

“Professor, you’re obviously favoring her. It’s not like there aren’t other open seats. We don’t even know her, so why does she have to sit here?” Another Guide from the same row chimed in.

“There’s an open seat here, come sit!” A group of young Sentinels in the back whistled playfully.

Although Sentinels and Guides attended classes together, the seating was typically arranged with Guides sitting in the front and Sentinels in the back, creating a distinct separation.

Hearing the commotion from the Sentinel section, Wan Tong glanced over indifferently.

In an instant, the Sentinels fell silent.

Wan Tong was undeniably beautiful. She carried a unique aura that naturally drew people’s attention, yet she always ignored their stares. This only made the young and restless Sentinels even more eager to tease her.

That single glance of hers was lazy, almost like a kitten basking in the sun.

And then, seemingly out of nowhere, a small, fluffy white cat appeared on her shoulder. It was palm-sized, with deep, sapphire-blue eyes that looked almost identical to its owner’s.

“A quantum beast… She can already manifest her quantum beast!”

“Holy crap, that’s adorable.”

“Come back, Lang Qi!”

“Damn it, I can’t control my quantum beast!”

“Shut up, you just can’t control yourself!”

…

The back of the classroom instantly erupted into chaos again.

---

The night shrouded the sanatorium, its inky darkness swallowing the lights along the road.

When Wan Tong entered another building, the surroundings brightened slightly.

She walked up to a room where only Wu Li was dozing against the wall. Seeing her, he quickly smiled and greeted her.

“Why are you still in here this late?” Wan Tong asked.

This was Cen Lingyu’s room, where his psychologist usually conducted therapy sessions.

“I don’t know. Brother Shen is inside too.”

“Huh?”

Wan Tong hesitated. “Can I go in?”

“I think it’s better to wait. You might interrupt the doctor.”

Wan Tong nodded in agreement. “Then let him know I went back first.”

“Got it.” Wu Li responded, secretly relieved.

Inside the room, the atmosphere was eerie. Cen Lingyu pressed his hands to his head, staring in disbelief at the screen on the wall.

“Impossible. I don’t remember any of this. I would never hurt my mother.”

“But you did.” Li Shen leaned against a nearby table, his figure half-hidden in the dim light.

“No, that wasn’t me,” Cen Lingyu said firmly.

“Before you woke up, did you hear any strange voices in your head?”

At those words, Cen Lingyu looked up at Li Shen, and a deep hatred flickered in his eyes.

“My mind was telling me… to kill you. And Tongtong.”

By now, he had accepted that his sister had come back to life, but he still wanted to kill her. It was a strange feeling, as if some monster was lurking inside him, whispering for him to act.

Li Shen’s words made him question whether his mind had been taken over by someone, whether some unknown force had implanted these murderous impulses.

But the psychologist couldn’t help him return to normal. The occasional flashes of killing intent made him restless.

“Sir, we can begin the test now,” a middle-aged man in a white uniform said, stepping behind Li Shen.

Li Shen nodded and looked at Cen Lingyu. “Come on. Let’s run a test.”

Cen Lingyu didn’t trust him, but after some thought, he restrained himself and followed the man to a silver operating table.

The equipment had only arrived that day. It could detect brainwaves and even observe whether neural connections had undergone any abnormalities.

This technology had been developed privately. Li Shen had invested in it on a whim, never expecting it to actually come in handy.

Meanwhile, Wan Tong had just left the building when the Shishi’s voice suddenly sounded in her mind.

[Tongtong, a Raider System has been detected. He… hasn’t left!]

“???” Wan Tong froze in shock.

[What’s going on?]

[Damon is still inside Cen Lingyu, but he has hidden himself. That’s why I couldn’t detect him before—I thought he was gone.]

[So now he’s… back? Inside my brother again?]

Wan Tong asked while rushing back into the building.

[Yes, Tongtong.]

“Wu Li, open the door!” Wan Tong ran toward him.

Wu Li was puzzled but blocked the entrance. “What happened?”

Before Wan Tong could reply, a muffled gunshot rang out from inside!

Without hesitation, Wu Li opened the door.

Inside, a middle-aged man in a white coat lay on the floor, motionless. Li Shen and Cen Lingyu were fighting, while an instrument beside them emitted a sharp beeping alarm.

“Wu Li, get her out of here!” Li Shen growled.

Cen Lingyu—no, Damon—caught sight of Wan Tong rushing in and curled his lips in mockery. He raised his gun toward her.

So, her system could indeed detect both him and the Raider System. He had hidden himself, but the moment he revealed himself, she noticed.

In that instant, Li Shen kicked Damon’s arm, sending the gun flying. It clattered to the floor as the two grappled.

“Li Shen, you suspect me, but don’t you also suspect your dear Tongtong?” Demon sneered viciously.

“I’ll tell you the truth. She’s not Cen Wantong. She’s just like me, an outsider. You were right all along. We both have systems. The world you live in, it’s just a game we created for fun…”

[Warning! Warning! The host is not allowed to reveal information about the system to the target! Warning—]

Ignoring the blaring alarm in his head, Damon took advantage of Li Shen’s distraction to throw him off and seize the gun. He aimed it at Li Shen’s chest—

“Wu Li!” Wan Tong screamed, watching Wu Li lunge toward Li Shen.

The scene was a shock to her. She shouted at the top of her lungs, trying to stop it. “No!”

At that moment, something inside her exploded outward, surging toward Demon.

Damon’s head throbbed with searing pain, his hand trembling. The bullet struck the ceiling instead, and he staggered backward.

“You’re… a Guide?” Damon stared at Wan Tong in disbelief.

A Guide? What was that?

Wan Tong had no time to process his words. She suddenly felt weak, as if all the strength had been drained from her. She could feel something changing inside her, starting from her brain, spreading through her body bit by bit.

She remembered that this world had always been normal, without any supernatural forces or strange powers. But why did she suddenly feel that her mental strength had surged to the extreme, so much so that it even carried an offensive power?

In the blink of an eye, Damon appeared in front of Wan Tong. The system in his mind blared incessantly:

[Host has violated protocol. Forced removal in progress. Host has violated protocol. Forced removal in progress…]

Even so, he stubbornly held himself up and leaned close to Wan Tong’s ear, whispering, “My name is not Damon. My name is… I will find you.”

The last sentence was squeezed out through gritted teeth, but Wan Tong heard it crystal clear. She had the distinct feeling that he knew a lot. If time could be rewound, she might have sat down and had a proper conversation with him.

But now, there was no chance. The Raider system had forcibly removed him.

Cen Lingyu’s body collapsed at Wan Tong’s feet. At that moment, Li Shen approached as well, a bloody wound on his arm still oozing.

[*Beep*…]

A sharp noise suddenly rang in Wan Tong’s mind, so piercing that she clutched her head in pain.

“Shishi? What’s wrong?” she called out.

Li Shen stopped in front of her, his rough palm gently cupping her ear as he bent down and asked in a hoarse voice, “Shishi… Who is that?”

Wan Tong froze. Had she just spoken out loud? Had he heard her?

She shook her head. “Why do you ask?”

[Corpse Collection System mission completed. System shutting down.]

[Shishi!]

Wan Tong’s eyes widened in shock. Was she hallucinating? The system was shutting down?

But Shishi never responded again. It was as if it had suddenly vanished.

She looked down at her own body, still intact. She hadn’t disappeared. Nothing had changed.

Li Shen withdrew his hand, his voice growing distant.

“Tongtong, will you leave?”

Wan Tong stood there, staring into his deep, silent eyes, unsure how to answer.

She had no clue where she was supposed to go.

The stabbing pain in her head intensified, and more and more voices flooded her ears. She pressed her hands over them, but it was useless. The overwhelming noise came from all directions.

Her body swayed before she collapsed, only to be caught by Li Shen.

Cen Lingyu was taken away, while Wu Li helped up the middle-aged man in white.

“Brother Shen, what do we do now?” Wu Li glanced at the unconscious Wan Tong in Li Shen’s arms, his expression complex. He didn’t understand what was happening, but he knew that Li Shen’s mood couldn’t be good.

Li Shen’s gaze shifted from Wan Tong’s pale face to the equipment nearby. In the end, he silently turned and walked out.

He didn’t need any tests to know the result. He had heard her voice inside his mind, like she had unintentionally invaded his brain and left traces of her presence.

Something in Li Shen’s mind was awakening.

---

In the most secluded building of the sanatorium, silence reigned. Not even the chirping of insects could be heard.

In a dimly lit room, two figures lay entwined on the bed.

Li Shen’s gaze was deep, cold sweat beading on his forehead as pain throbbed through his head.

Wan Tong had been asleep for a full day. A strange energy field surrounded her, as if her mind and consciousness blanketed the area around her, including him.

He saw many unfamiliar yet eerily familiar images, scenes that seemed to be her memories. Or perhaps, memories they had once shared…

He was Shen Bu. He was Gu Chenyue. He was Yu Cheng. He was Huo Yiming… He was also Li Shen.

But deep within his mind, another name was engraved.

---

Wan Tong woke up amidst excruciating pain, instinctively calling out for Shishi. But her mind remained silent.

It had said its mission was over.

Then what about her?

“Li Shen, my head hurts… It’s so noisy…” she murmured.

She vaguely remembered that she had something to do, but she couldn’t recall what it was.

It felt absurd, but she was sure, she had awakened some kind of psychic ability in this world.

She could clearly hear the sounds of insects a thousand meters away, the murmur of voices… The overwhelming noise made her head throb.

Li Shen supported her, letting her sit on his lap. “Don’t listen. Quiet your mind.”

His deep voice made her dazed for a moment. She looked up at his face, just inches away.

He pulled her into a tight embrace, as if enduring a pain of his own.

Wan Tong instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to comfort him. Invisible psychic threads drifted from her, surrounding Li Shen.

But in the next instant, those threads collided with an impenetrable barrier.

She cried out in pain and slumped against him, her breathing growing weaker.

Li Shen’s hand landed on her back, patting it lightly.

Wan Tong suddenly felt like something about him was different.

The calm and restraint he exuded, it felt as if they came from someone else.

Under his imposing presence, a deep-seated submission rose from within her.

She had never experienced anything like it before.

Slowly, she lifted her head.

The man’s half-lowered gaze was as dark as a cold abyss. His face, always expressionless, seemed carved from ice.

She felt his rough fingertips brushing against the back of her neck, just like always—gently, teasingly.

But the next moment, she heard a soft *click*.

A gun pressed against her throbbing temple.

He leaned down, exuding the natural dominance of a king, and spoke in a low voice, “Girl, your mission is complete.”

For some reason, upon hearing those words, Wan Tong—who had been tense ever since Shishi vanished—suddenly felt a wave of relief.

She looked at him, her lips slowly curling into a faint smile, as if she had finally been freed.

*Bang.* The gunshot rang out.

Wan Tong’s world plunged into eternal night.

---

In the real world, a space station in the Dale Galaxy.

A piercing alarm echoed through the vast laboratory, and soon, everyone gathered around a transparent hibernation capsule.

The capsule was connected to countless tubes and circuits, almost fused with the entire lab. Inside, bathed in a faint blue glow, lay a tall and imposing man.

General Su Ming of the Kroll Empire, an SSS-rankedDark Sentinel.

In the Kroll Empire, a small number of people awaken special abilities after the age of sixteen, becoming either Sentinels or Guides. These individuals are sent to specialized academies for training and classified into four standard ranks: A, B, C, D; as well as three elite ranks: S, SS, and SSS.

Sentinels possess enhanced senses and physical abilities, making them formidable warriors and a critical military force.

Guides, on the other hand, have strong mental powers. They pair with Sentinels, providing mental stabilization and battlefield support. The higher the compatibility between a Sentinel and a Guide, the stronger their synergy.

However, because Sentinels experience heightened perception, their minds are particularly fragile. Dark Sentinels, distinguished by their extreme self-control, are even more volatile. If they ever lose control, the resulting outburst could be catastrophic.

Su Ming was an extremely rare SSS-ranked Dark Sentinel. Five years ago, after returning victorious from battle, he failed to receive timely mental stabilization and suffered a violent breakdown. In the end, he became trapped within his own sensory world, unable to escape. His body remained intact, but his consciousness was lost in a mental void.

The empire mourned the loss of a legendary general. At the same time, they were deeply concerned. Enemy forces had begun harassing the interstellar borders, and without their cornerstone of leadership, the military was in disarray. The defensive line was on the verge of collapse. If Su Ming did not awaken soon, the Empire would face an era of turmoil.

To save him, the Blair Laboratory developed an awakening system, a neural interface designed to link with Su Ming’s mind. The system sought out the Guide with the highest compatibility and sent them into his consciousness in an attempt to pull him back from the void.

But the system was hacked.

The chosen Guide was only sixteen, a prodigy who had awakened an unprecedented SSS-level mental power upon reaching adulthood. However, she was too young and had only received rudimentary training in controlling her abilities. Lacking experience, she was consumed by the system.

Fortunately, Blair had implemented a self-rescue program, the Corpse Collecting System. It locked onto the Guide’s soul and pulled her back into the awakening system for a second attempt.

Inside the system, the young Guide struggled through countless trials but ultimately succeeded in completing her mission.

“Professor! The data is stabilizing!”

Someone shouted.

Inside the hibernation capsule, the man’s eyelids trembled. Then, slowly, his eyes opened.

“General Su! You’re finally awake!”

Deputy Officer An Xi’s eyes were red with emotion, his normally composed face filled with joy.

The transparent layer of the capsule slid open, releasing a billow of white mist. Su Ming sat up slowly.

His sharp gaze swept across the room, quickly recognizing one of the figures.

“Professor Blair.”

His voice was hoarse from years of silence.

The professor stepped forward, unable to conceal his excitement. “General, it’s me.”

The others, despite their own excitement, remained silent, waiting for Su Ming’s reaction.

He pressed a hand to his head, his complexion still pale.

An Xi turned to the attendants. “Call for a Guide, now.”

But even before the Guide arrived, Su Ming felt a searing pain in his mind, as too many foreign memories were tearing through his consciousness.

“General, you may experience flashes of the awakening process. The Guide can assist in stabilizing your mind,” Professor Blair explained.

No one dared approach him. The power of a Dark Sentinel was overwhelming. Even now, the reinforced bed he had just pushed himself up from bore the deep imprint of his hand.

“General, the Guides are here.”

Several Guides approached the capsule, their gentle mental threads reaching toward Su Ming.

The room was filled with noise, but Su Ming ignored them all. Instead, he stood up and walked out.

The crowd instinctively parted to let him pass.

An Xi followed cautiously. “General, what’s wrong?”

Su Ming moved as though drawn by an invisible force. Exiting the main hall, he pushed open another door.

The moment the sealed chamber door slid open, a pained whimper echoed from within.

The room was brightly lit, but bare, except for a single metal examination table.

Lying on it was a frail figure, the source of the anguished cries.

This chamber was constructed from special materials, designed to isolate external sounds and prevent mental outbursts from harming others.

But now, with the door open, An Xi’s head immediately throbbed in pain. The uncontrolled mental energy was suffocating, surging without rhythm or restraint. He turned to Su Ming, his face grim.

“General, she’s the Guide who entered your awakening system. Her consciousness hasn’t fully returned, and her mental power is still unstable. She’s an SSS-ranked…”

Su Ming’s eyes darkened.

He had never heard of a Guide with such a high ranking. Even the strongest military Guides had only ever reached S-rank. Yet this girl, barely an adult, had awakened at the highest rank?

Noticing his surprise, An Xi added, “General, have you forgotten? You brought her back from the battlefield years ago. Her parents were both high-ranking, but… they perished in the war.”

Su Ming’s pupils contracted.

His lips parted, and a name slipped out, one he knew all too well.

“Wan… Tong?”

Five years ago, when his consciousness fell into darkness, she was only eleven.

Now, five years later, that child had entered his mind, journeyed through fourteen worlds, and finally awakened him.

---