Intentionally Provoking

After collecting the cartridges from the armory and arranging to treat the supply officer to a meal on his next day off back at Titan Bastion, Zane bid the greasy middle-aged man farewell and began navigating the corridors of the base's interior buildings.

Suddenly, Zane halted.

He spotted Xun standing by a window, gazing out at the dimly-lit base. The passing headlights of a car illuminated her face, revealing her beauty in a fleeting moment, like an epiphyllum in the dark night.

Remembering the abrupt stop of the train the day before and their ensuing embrace, Zane felt somewhat embarrassed.

Maybe he ought to apologize... Zane thought.

Unexpectedly, another figure appeared beside the girl. It was a tall young man who towered a full head above Zane. The newcomer's broad shoulders and solid build resembled that of a bull, his physique brimming with power.

His chiseled nose gave him a cool and somewhat haughty appearance. He was smiling, but his eyes betrayed a hint of arrogance.

He, too, wore the Nightwalkers' black coat uniform, the Second Lieutenant's insignia on his shoulder suggesting he might be an Ascendant as well.

At the moment, the young man's hand rested on the polyester window beside Xun, speaking to her as if they were acquainted.

Zane reluctantly let go of the idea of apologizing.

Just as he turned to leave, he heard Xun cry out. Turning back, he saw that she was trying to leave but was caught by the young man.

Whatever the young man said, Xun suddenly slapped him across the face. The young man appeared stunned by her audacity, his smile fading as he raised his hand.

Without a moment's thought, silver-gray strands of Zane's hair began to flicker with light.

His eyes sparkled as his vision blurred and then sharpened, revealing the young man's face, a mix of haughtiness and anger, just inches away.

Surprise flashed in the young man's eyes before his hand came down, only to be caught mid-air by Zane, mere inches from Xun.

Passersby in the base stopped to watch the unfolding scene.

The young man shifted his glare to Zane, demanding coldly, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing much, just preventing you from being rough with a girl," Zane replied calmly.

"Are you blind? Didn't you see she hit me first? A mere commoner, I wanted to bed her, which would be an honor for her. She should be grateful, not only did she refuse, but she also dared to hit me!"

Zane's grip didn't waver as he responded, "If that's the case, I think she was right to hit you. Someone as presumptuous as you sometimes needs to be taught a lesson."

Both Xun and the young man stared at Zane in surprise. The young man's eyes began to smolder with anger, while Xun's expression grew complex.

"Have you gone mad? You're actually defending a commoner? Have you forgotten we have the right to consorts? This is allowed by the Bastion! Are you defying the Bastion's laws?"

Zane laughed and let go of the young man.

The young man sneered, "Thought you wouldn't dare."

He reached for Xun.

Snap!

Zane slapped his hand away.

The young man, taken aback, began to glow with a soft light, and a symbol resembling a magical array shone on his forehead, flickering with symbols.

It was the emblem of the Heart of Elements, and the number "2" in the center indicated he was a Level 2 Ascendant.

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you!"

Zane stepped in front of Xun, "You just said it yourself, we have the right to consorts. Unfortunately, I'm interested in her too. What do you suggest we do?"

First shocked, then understanding, Xun seemed relieved.

The young man, however, was taken aback for a moment and then lifted his hand, saying, "You're asking for it!"

A pale light began to coalesce in his hand, forming into a spear.

Clang!

Before the spear could be thrust, a pitch-black combat knife was already placed against the young man's throat.

His eyes narrowed in recognition of the high-vibration particle combat knife. Not even tank armor could withstand a cut from it, let alone human flesh.

Zane, his hand steady as a rock, holding the knife, said, "The power of the Heart of Elements is immense, but you have a weakness. To put it simply, you're fragile."

Sweat beaded on the young man's forehead, "What do you want?"

Zane's eyes fell to the spear in his hand, "Withdraw your power. I don't want to escalate things. As for the girl, she's mine now. I presume you have no objections?"

With the cold blade still at his throat, the young man had no choice but to relent.

The light spear dissipated, and the young man grunted, "There, happy now?"

Sheathing his knife, Zane took Xun's hand and quickly exited the scene.

In front of the base's cafeteria, Zane released Xun's hand, awkwardly saying, "About just now... I only said that to intervene. Please don't take it to heart."

To his surprise, Xun replied, "I know, and thank you for helping me out."

"It's nothing. I'm sorry about what happened on the train yesterday."

Xun smiled, "It's fine."

"I..."

"Xun, where are you? Come back and help."

Rosan's voice came through the communicator on Xun's waist. She stuck out her tongue in response, "I'll be right there."

Then, bowing slightly to Zane, "Thanks again."

With those words, she moved away with nimble steps, disappearing quickly into the crowd.

Three hours flew by, and Zane arrived at the base's main gate for assembly as ordered.

From afar, he could see the members of the Raven Squad, and other teams gathered nearby.

Han Shu had mentioned this was a joint operation involving several squads, so Zane wasn't surprised.

But as he drew closer, his heart skipped a beat. The young man from earlier who had tried to claim Xun was among them.

The young man, too, noticed Zane and raised a meaningful smile.

Later, Zane learned from Old Xu that the young man was named Zhou Wang, a firepower specialist from the Grey Pigeon Squad!

After a headcount and equipment check, Han Shu loudly ordered, "Move out!"

Sitting in a Falcon high-speed strike vehicle, Zane watched the base's gates gradually open, feeling a rush of excitement.

He was about to embark on his first official operation as an Ascendant.

The Falcon, like the light combat vehicles used by the Harvesters, boasted superior performance, with its composite armor shell providing remarkable precision. Its propulsion tail nozzle used gas for variable speed, and the solid fuel cell storage solved the endurance issues. The equipped Star Essence energy cannon gave it the capability to intercept a large number of dark denizens.

So sitting in such a vehicle, Zane felt quite secure, even looking forward to encountering something along the way to witness the power of that energy cannon.

Alas, the journey was uneventful.

Three days later, the interstellar wasteland city known as "Metropolis," which Zane had once explored as a Harvester, loomed before the recovery team!