Chapter 27: A New Journey

Kyle, Alicia, and the mysterious person made their way out of the ruined remains of the ancient site. The ruins, after the intense battle and Rain's crazy energy impact, were gradually engulfed by billowing smoke and dust. The three of them navigated through the rugged terrain of the planet. The ground beneath their feet was riddled with cracks due to the aftermath of the battle, and a pungent smell of gunpowder hung thick in the air. Kyle's steps were a bit heavy. Although his stardust armor had been put away, the exhaustion left by the battle was deeply ingrained in both his body and mind.

"We're safe for now," Alicia gasped, stopping in her tracks. She warily scanned her surroundings. Only after confirming that there were no pursuers did she relax her tense nerves slightly. Her cheeks were flushed from the strenuous exercise, and the strands of hair on her forehead were damp with sweat, sticking to her face. The energy gun in her hand was slightly warm from the long-term use, and the indicator light on the gun body was flickering, showing that the battery was almost depleted.

The mysterious person stood aside, his eyes deep and profound as he silently observed the surrounding environment. His figure blended into the grayish tones of the planet, as if he had become one with this strange land. Despite having just gone through a fierce battle, his breathing remained steady and his breath was long, as if everything was under his control.

Kyle slowly sat down and leaned against a huge rock. The surface of the rock was rough and carried a trace of coolness. He closed his eyes, and involuntarily, the thrilling battle with Rain flashed through his mind. Rain's crazy eyes, powerful attacks, and the mysterious stardust power he had awakened in a desperate situation all emerged in his mind one by one. "What exactly is that power?" Kyle murmured to himself, and his voice sounded particularly clear in the silent environment. He knew that the suddenly erupted power was by no means accidental and must be closely related to the mysterious symbols he had deciphered in the ruins and his continuous exploration of the stardust power.

Alicia walked up to Kyle and gently crouched down, looking at him with concern. "Kyle, how are you? Are the injuries on your body okay?" There was a lot of worry in her eyes, and she reached out her hand, wanting to check Kyle's wounds. Kyle opened his eyes and forced a smile, saying, "I'm fine. I'm just thinking about something." His gaze turned towards the distance, in the direction of the ruins, which was now obscured by thick smoke and dust, as if a mysterious historical monument had been buried by time once again.

The mysterious person also came over. His steps were light and steady, making no sound at all. He stood in front of Kyle and Alicia, tilted his head slightly, and looked up at the sky. At this moment, the sky of the planet was a strange dark red, as if stained with blood. The thick clouds were rolling and surging in the sky, heralding an impending storm. "This battle is just the beginning," the mysterious person said slowly, his voice deep and powerful, as if coming from a distant place, carrying an unquestionable majesty. "Rain won't give up easily. He will definitely come back. And we must be prepared."

Kyle nodded. He stood up, took a deep breath, and felt the energy fluctuations that pervaded the surroundings. He could sense that the energy field of this planet had become even more disordered after the battle, as if telling the story of what had just happened. "I know. My understanding of the stardust power is still far from enough," Kyle's eyes revealed a determined resolve. "This battle has taught me that the stardust power holds countless secrets. I must find the answers to protect myself, protect everyone, and safeguard the peace of the universe."

Alicia looked at Kyle, her eyes full of admiration and trust. "We'll always be with you, Kyle. No matter what difficulties we encounter, we'll face them together." Her voice was firm and warm, like the warm sun in spring, dispelling the slight gloom in Kyle's heart.

The mysterious person nodded slightly, and a glimmer of approval flashed in his eyes. "That's right, Kyle. The courage and perseverance you showed in the battle give me hope. We'll walk the road ahead together." Although his words were few, each word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight, injecting strong confidence into Kyle.

Kyle closed his eyes again, concentrated his mind, and tried to establish a deeper connection with the stardust power in his body. He could feel that the stardust power was like a sleeping dragon slowly awakening in his body, and each pulse echoed with his heartbeat. As his perception delved deeper, those mysterious symbols he had seen in the ruins once again emerged in his mind. They glowed faintly, as if telling him the mysteries of the stardust power.

In his meditation, Kyle seemed to be in a vast cosmic space, with countless stars twinkling and rotating around him. He saw how the stardust power had condensed and collided at the beginning of the universe's birth, forming galaxies and planets; he saw how ancient civilizations had used the stardust power to create brilliant technologies and splendid cultures; he also saw the great disasters caused by the abuse of the stardust power, which had devoured countless lives and planets. These images played rapidly in his mind like a movie, deepening his understanding of the stardust power.

When Kyle woke up from his meditation, his eyes were filled with a brilliance that seemed to contain the wisdom of the entire universe. "I understand. The stardust power is not just a powerful energy but also a responsibility," Kyle said seriously, looking at Alicia and the mysterious person. "We must use it carefully to ensure that it won't be exploited by evil forces."

Alicia and the mysterious person exchanged a look and nodded. They knew that Kyle had grown a lot after this battle.

"So, what should we do next?" Alicia asked, her eyes full of anticipation.

Kyle pondered for a moment and said, "I found some clues in those mysterious symbols in the ruins. These clues point to a distant galaxy, where there may be more secrets about the stardust power. I think we should go there." His voice was firm and forceful, as if he could already see the new journey beckoning to them.

The mysterious person frowned slightly. After thinking for a while, he said, "I've heard of that galaxy. It's said to be full of dangers and unknowns. But for the secrets of the stardust power, we must take the risk." There was a hint of worry in his eyes, but more of it was a longing for the unknown and the determination to explore.

Alicia clenched her fists and said, "Okay, no matter how dangerous it is, we'll go together." There was a brave light in her eyes, as if she was already prepared to face all the challenges.

Kyle nodded, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He knew that with Alicia and the mysterious person by his side, no matter what awaited them ahead, they had the confidence to face it.

During the subsequent preparations, Kyle became increasingly curious about the mysterious person's background. One day, during a break, Kyle looked at the mysterious person. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "All this time, I still don't know your background. Could you tell us about it?"

The mysterious person was slightly taken aback. Then his gaze became distant as he fell into memories. "I come from an ancient race that has long since vanished into the annals of history. Our race once had an extremely close connection with the stardust power and knew many of the stardust's mysteries. But a sudden disaster destroyed our civilization, and only a few of our people survived. As one of the few survivors, I bear the heavy responsibility of passing on our race's knowledge and mission. I've been wandering throughout the universe, searching for clues related to the stardust power, trying to unravel the mystery behind that disaster, and also hoping that one day I can revive our race."

Alicia listened intently, her eyes full of sympathy and admiration. "That must have been very difficult. You've carried so much on your own."

The mysterious person gently shook his head. "This is my destiny. Over the long years, I've witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations, and I've come to understand even more the importance of the stardust power. When I sensed that you were pursuing the secrets of the stardust power, I decided to join you, hoping that we could explore the truth together and avoid repeating the fate of my race."

A sense of respect welled up in Kyle's heart. He said, "With you joining us, it's as if we've gained a powerful force. I believe we will definitely uncover the secrets of the stardust power."

The three of them began to prepare for the new journey. They searched for available resources on this planet and repaired their damaged equipment. Kyle used the stardust power to upgrade his weapon, enabling it to better unleash the power of the stardust. Alicia carefully checked every part of her energy gun to ensure it could function properly at a critical moment. The mysterious person, with his rich experience, silently observed the surrounding environment, looking for potential dangers and opportunities, and occasionally giving Kyle and Alicia some professional advice.

While preparing the weapons, Alicia looked curiously at the stardust weapon in Kyle's hand that was emitting a faint light and asked, "Kyle, how did you manage to integrate the stardust power into the weapon and make it even more powerful?"

Kyle focused on his operation and explained, "In the ruins, I made a new breakthrough in my understanding of the stardust power. I discovered that the stardust power is like a living energy. When I feel it with my heart and guide it, I can make it resonate with the weapon, allowing the weapon to carry more power."

The mysterious person nodded slightly and added, "Kyle, you have a high talent for perceiving the stardust power. The stardust power itself contains endless variations. Since you've discovered this method of integration, you will surely be able to unleash its greater potential in the future."

Kyle looked up, his eyes full of determination. "I will keep exploring, make the stardust power work for us, and fight against those who try to use it for evil purposes."

After several days of preparation, the three of them finally set off on their journey to that distant galaxy. They were aboard a modified spaceship, shuttling through the vast universe. The engine of the spaceship emitted a blue light, illuminating the dark cosmic space around them. Kyle sat in the cockpit, tightly gripping the joystick with both hands, his eyes fixed firmly on the front. Alicia and the mysterious person sat behind him, silently cheering him on.