Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'

The Rose Army, active since the era of the Frost Plated Republic, has been the largest and most influential Resistance Army force in the Outer World, at one point even nearing success.

Historically, those who have resisted the Four Nations have seldom met a good end.

They were either ruthlessly torn apart by the state machinery, or after a brief success, quickly became corrupt and turned into the bureaucrats they had once fought and despised.

Li Aozi didn't agree with the saying that dragon slayers would eventually become dragons. He firmly believed in the notion that everything was predetermined, that the outcome of what someone did was already destined.

The Rose Army's achievements were, in fact, due to the unswerving struggle of three generations of leaders.

Even though the warriors of the Rose Army were great and valiant, if the leadership forgot their original intentions, the enormous task of opposing the Four Nations could not continue.

Although changes occurred within the Rose Army later, it proved one thing: eradicating the Four Nations with absolute violence and then blooming anew on its ruins—this approach was undoubtedly correct.

Jane Neriya, an Ersha Infected Individual who appeared young, spoke fluent, elegant words, a veritable ambassador for the spread of civilization.

In reality, she was a Resistance Army warrior trained from childhood at the Rose Army base, with formidable combat prowess.

"Comrade? Really?"

The girl who called herself Nomi shrugged, her purple monocular eye revealing a hint of contempt:

"You didn't contact me for two years, and now that a fight has broken out, you come looking for me. Why do I get the feeling that you're deliberately using me as a pawn?"

"I won't deny it, that need does exist."

Li Aozi calmly recounted:

"Discovering a comrade from the Rose Army here was indeed a surprise, but the priority for now is to preserve life."

"You're quite straightforward."

The girl lay on her back on the ground, yawned, and said casually:

"Haah... Just a few words aren't enough to convince me. Even if you really are from the Rose Army, you've been cooperating with the Mingji Humanity's wretched doctor for experiments these past few days—you're no good either—but you are a man of the times. Speak, what do you want?"

"I want you, Neriya."

Bang!

Neriya punched the bulletproof glass, flipping the bird at Li Aozi, cursing loudly:

"Don't be (expletive) nauseating! Damn it, do you think I'm some naive little girl? Disgusting!"

Li Aozi was unfazed by this. Although what he said might sound somewhat glib, with his high "Charm" attribute, even if he threw away a used lipstick, men would fight over it.

Come to think of it, there were too many females in Frost Plating, making it a hassle to find a reliable male teammate.

It wasn't out of misogyny; Li Aozi's upcoming journey would be a long one. Men had sturdier bodies and could endure physical labor without complaint when treated like animals.

On the other hand, as a "Meteor Fall Master," operating a power base would be a waste of energy. Li Aozi's plan was to recruit only a small number of teammates, forming an elite group. Men were more suitable for the team accordingly.

Moreover, according to official data, due to culture, economy, war, and politics, the proportion of males among Transcendents was overwhelmingly higher than that of females. Recruiting several male Transcendents into the team would not attract undue attention.

Li Aozi remained silent, quietly watching the other party, waiting for a response.

"—Tch!"

The girl, arms crossed and displeased, said:

"If you need a drudge, just say so. Making it out to be like human trafficking—alright then, it's settled. You get me out of here, and I'll be your enforcer."

"Not as an enforcer, but to ensure my personal safety," Li Aozi replied. "Think of it as being my Security Guard."

"Nice try, you think I'll do unpaid labor for you? Pfft! Let's get one thing straight: once we reach the Rose Army base, we go our separate ways!"

"Agreed."

Li Aozi, not one for idle chatter, pressed his hand against the door lock, reversed gravity, and the gate unsealed.

The next moment, the door was blasted open, and the petite figure, quick as a lioness, escaped in an instant, darting past underneath Li Aozi. As she fled, she turned around with a smug grin, pulling down her eyelid in mockery:

"Lalala—did you really think I'd obediently listen to a stranger? Sister's outta here, so long!"

No sooner had her words fallen when she turned to run and found the surroundings a bit off.

The more she ran forward, the further her feet seemed to be from the ground. After a few steps, her body suddenly lost its center of gravity and crashed onto the ceiling.

Thud!

"Ouch!"

Rubbing her face, her mask flung off, she grumbled as she got up:

"That hurt like hell—damn, what's going on? How in the hell did I end up on the ceiling?"

Realization dawned upon Neriya as she discovered her feet on the scorching light bulbs; she quickly drew back her bare soles and looked up to see Li Aozi, arms crossed, "standing upside-down," looking back at her.

"Am I that frightening that you're so eager to get away from me?"

Li Aozi said coolly:

"Go ahead and run, why don't you?"

"Uh… ha ha ha, oh, you're joking... With your proper appearance, graceful demeanor, still as an orchid, lively as a virgin, overshadowing the flowers, casually elegant, such a sweet little beauty, how could I find you frightening?"

Neriya fawned with an embarrassed smile, slowly approaching Li Aozi, and suddenly threw a punch:

"I'm going to kill you, you fucking (Civilization Frost Plated)!"

Li Aozi was unmoved, his eyes shining with a golden circle as gravity was once again diverted. Neriya's ferocious punch never made it, as she seemed to be sucked away toward the end of the corridor, plummeting in front of Li Aozi and slamming heavily onto the door.

"Ouch— that hurts like hell!"

The door deformed from the impact, and Neriya coughed nonstop, rubbing her spine as she struggled to stand up from the door.

Li Aozi approached her unhurriedly, and as Neriya went to punch him again, Li Aozi unceremoniously kicked the door lock, stopping her motion:

"Just now, you were fifteen meters away from this door. To put that into perspective, it's equivalent to the height of a five-story building. It's a miracle you didn't break any bones."

Even though he had lost the "Security Guard" skill, his high 20-point "Charm" attribute ensured his words carried significant influence:

"And this door is 120 meters from the end of the next passage. Do you want to experience the feeling of falling from the top of a skyscraper? Just so you know, falling from this height, even if you landed in water, it would be no different from hitting steel."

"I didn't go to school much, but I vaguely remember, h= (1/2)gt², meaning: height H is equal to half the gravitational acceleration G times the square of time T."

"With an initial velocity of zero and g at 9.8 per second squared, neglecting air resistance, you can estimate that the time it would take for you to fall and hit the ground is less than 5 seconds."

Li Aozi lightly dodged her two attacks, walking along the walls and ceiling as if on flat ground. After circling around, he extended his hand, showing five fingers:

"5 seconds. That's how short the time is."

"For a cute and adorable girl like you, you'd be smashed into a lump of mush."

"You terrorist! A scoundrel of culture! A beast in human clothing! I curse your code! You, this dumb (Civic Frost Plated) (purifying society), I must definitely (harmonize society) first! Do you hear me!"

Neriya gnashed her teeth, her petite body trembling slightly. The thick door underneath no longer seemed safe as each deformity whined, as if calling from the depths of hell.

Unable to hit or touch him, her fate was completely controlled by him.

What the hell is this guy's ability?

Even if the dog doctors always said he was a Level 5 Infected, shouldn't be this mysterious, right?

Gurgle...

A hint of red and black appeared in her pale purple eye:

"Sooner or later, I'll kill you!"

"Is that so."

Li Aozi pretended to kick open the door lock:

"Well, I'm going to open the door now."

"—Fuck!"

Neriya hurriedly shut her eyes, screaming at the top of her lungs:

"Mommy! Someone's being murdered! Is there a public execution of a beautiful girl happening? Is there no justice? No law? No legal system?! Boo hoo hoo, I haven't had so many things to eat yet, chocolate pudding, red bean bread, mango juice, apple pie, crispy chicken, cupcake, beef meat pie, cheese pizza, supreme steak, frosted milkshake—ahhh I don't want to die!"

She cried and wailed for a while, but the expected dismemberment and mushy demise did not occur.

"Eh?"

Suddenly realizing something, she quietly opened a slit in her eye and leaped up with joy:

"I'm still alive? Yay!"

"Mmm, congratulations." Li Aozi's voice drifted over, "That crying and shouting of yours, it was quite loud, incredibly so. Although you haven't died in a biological sense, I recommend you take a look around."

"Eh?"

Neriya suddenly realized something and stiffly turned her head.

What met her gaze were several medics and Infected that had appeared at some point, who might have been hiding from bandit attacks but were now attracted by Neriya's loud commotion, staring inexplicably at the girl sitting on the ground.

Neriya's exposed skin visibly turned red and hot as she hurriedly covered her bandaged face.

She had disliked the bandages for being too tight and unbreathable, but now she wished she could have the doctor wrap her up with a few hundred more layers, or better yet, find a building to jump off!

"Don't worry, although you're socially dead, you seem to be in good shape otherwise."

Li Aozi patted her shoulder and whispered in her ear:

"Come with me. At least I won't hurt you. There are quite a few people who died in the battle of the Mingji Humanity, maybe it's a good opportunity."

"Don't talk to me, just get me out of here!"

Neriya clutched her head, pleading eagerly:

"Quick, say I was hit by you with an iron rod!"

"So you agree to join forces with me? Comrade."

"I agree! Just take me away, you—uh, what's your name?"

"Li Aozi." He picked up Neriya by the scruff of her neck like a kitten and said casually: "Then, how should I address you?"

"Nomi! If you dare say the words Neriya again, I'll bite your head off!"