When Argenti opened the box in his hands and Fallen Star was fully revealed before Nero, the boy's eyes immediately widened, as if sharp light were flickering in his gray pupils.
At just a single glance, Nero took a liking to this sword.
Although compared to traditional longsword-type weapons, this sword was far too huge and cumbersome, rather than a weapon, it looked more like some kind of sculpture or decorative display item,
Nero really liked it, because there was one thing you could be sure of with just one look, this sword's form was undoubtedly extremely suitable for jump slashes.
And besides jump slashes, it would also be much more comfortable when flying on a sword. Not only could you stand on it while flying, you could even lie down on it. When not in use, you could just stick it into the ground and lean against it.
'Nice!'
'Really nice!'
Argenti noticed the change in Nero's expression, so the smile on the knight's face deepened. After that, he told Nero the story of this sword.
"So that's how it is… Sounds like… a Stellaron. Just in time, we're also searching for a Stellaron on this planet."
Nero narrowed his eyes slightly, wearing an expression that said, "Yeah, I totally get it."
In truth, he didn't really understand it that well. He just felt the story was very similar to what was happening on Jarilo, so he made that guess.
Argenti, however, nodded.
It seemed he also agreed with Nero's viewpoint.
After learning that this sealed weapon might be a Stellaron, Martin's expression grew even more uneasy, and he said with lingering fear, "Stellarons are really dangerous things… How about… we just leave it here? Stop carrying it around!"
Martin's suggestion was immediately refuted by Argenti.
The Knight of Pure Beauty shook his head. His handsome face was filled with resolve as he said in a righteous tone, "No, my friend. Before there is a way to deal with it, I cannot irresponsibly abandon it on land that is already suffering and let the people here be struck by disaster for no reason."
At this point, Argenti paused, then looked at Nero.
"Ah, just now you said that you and your companions are searching for Stellarons. May I ask, do you have a way to deal with this thing?"
"Completely getting rid of it isn't very likely, after all, even a genius like Herta can't do that," Nero said. "But because Stellarons and the series of effects they cause can clog the star rail and block the Astral Express, the train does have corresponding countermeasures."
Nero thought for a moment, then said to Argenti, "Everyone looks pretty used to it already, so they've probably long gotten accustomed to dealing with this kind of thing."
"Maybe they're very experienced. As for me, I also have some methods, though sometimes they're a bit troublesome. When I was at the space station, I used Aha's power to suppress one…"
"A-Aha's power? Huh? Do you… do you know what you're saying?"
Hearing Nero's explanation, Martin fell into shock once again.
When he was young, he had been awed by the Company.
And after becoming a Company employee and pursuing the Amber Lord, he had long since grown calm and steady over the years.
The Interastral Peace Corporation was unimaginably vast, its influence spread across the cosmos. He had thought there were very few things left that could truly shock him.
But…
Today, on this very day, on this planet that people had long believed might have already been destroyed by the Legion's attacks…
In an extremely short span of time, he had already been shocked three times, and all three times were because of the same person.
Who exactly was this white-haired boy in front of him?
His "beauty" was extraordinary, so much so that even the Knight of Pure Beauty praised and revered him. He could single-handedly connect the Astral Express, the Xianzhou, and Herta Space Station. And now, he was even saying that he had used the power of an Aeon.
Who was he?
An Emanator?
Or something else entirely?
Looking at Martin's slightly frantic yet utterly stunned expression, Nero blinked a couple of times and said seriously and sincerely, "Yeah, I know! Aha gave it to me voluntarily. Hehe, we're good friends!"
"Ah!!?"
Martin stared wide-eyed, his gaze blank, letting out the most unbelievable sound he had made since the day he was born.
At this moment, he couldn't even get a full sentence out, only stammering as he looked at the boy before him.
What the other party was saying was far too overwhelming for a mortal.
Martin really wanted to tell the boy that some things shouldn't be said so casually, that those Aeons might already notice you the moment you mention their names.
Even if the Aeons didn't intend to pay attention to you, you might still bring disaster upon yourself by accident.
But… this child's eyes and tone were far too sincere.
It didn't seem fake at all.
He spoke as if he could chat with the Aeon of Elation anytime he wanted.
Argenti lowered his gaze slightly, lost in thought.
"To be friends with other Aeons, and even be able to use their power… this one truly is…"
Nero shrugged, not paying much attention to Martin's reaction, and instead smiled as he said, "So, how about it? Want to hand this thing over to me? That way you should be able to rest easy too. At the very least, there'll be a lot less you need to handle here."
Argenti looked at the boy's delicate face. After only a moment of thought, he said, "Of course. However… please forgive my rudeness. Before handing it over to you, may I ask that you first engage in a duel between knights with me?"
"I naturally trust your character, but the thing in this box is simply too dangerous. I must confirm through this method that your current strength is sufficient to suppress this seed of calamity."
"Are you sure?" Nero asked.
"Yes, I am sure," Argenti said. "So please, go all out! I will personally use my body to..."
Before Argenti could finish his sentence, Nero had already made his move.
After all, the kid was quite decisive.
A massive shadow covered Argenti's vision. He saw Nero leap high into the air, the blade of the pitch-black greatsword in his hands coming down with a force like it could split mountains and part seas.
When had Fallen Star ended up in his hands?
Argenti no longer had time to think about that. His battle-hardened body had already reacted instinctively. The crimson spear was raised horizontally above his head to block the ferocious jump slash.
Clang!
The blade and the spear collided, releasing a heavy, dull sound.
Shockwaves howled outward, blocking the biting cold wind and pushing snow and ice in all directions.
Martin felt as if someone had shoved him hard in that instant. Unable to control himself, he staggered backward more than ten steps and then plopped straight down into a snowdrift.
Right now, he was completely dumbfounded.
They say people start fighting at the drop of a hat, but hadn't Argenti and Nero been chatting just fine?
'Why did things escalate so suddenly?!'
At this moment, Argenti was kneeling on one knee, feeling the weight transmitted through the blade. Both of his forearms were actually tingling slightly…
Even so, he had to offer praise.
However, the battle clearly shouldn't end here.
A moment later…
Just as Nero once again lifted the heavy sword, preparing to jump forward for another slash, Argenti, surrounded by dozens of Wind swords, swung his spear in a wide sweep, instantly breaking all the flying swords in the sword formation.
After that, the Knight of Pure Beauty declared with righteous confidence, "Enough. This is as far as it goes… I concede."
With that, Nero had no choice but to stop mid-combo and sit down smoothly on Fallen Star.
To be honest, fighting Argenti was pretty tiring. As far as Nero himself was concerned, he had already gone all out without using killing moves.
Argenti put away his spear, walked over, and said, "From our bout just now, I have already understood that your current strength is fully sufficient to suppress this seed of calamity. With that, I am at ease."
The Knight of Pure Beauty looked quite relaxed at the moment, but inwardly, Argenti was far less calm than he appeared.
During the fight just now, he could feel it, Nero's strength was abnormally great, and the longer they fought, the stronger the boy became, with his techniques growing more and more refined.
By the end, sword formations, jump slashes, and all kinds of strange and bizarre moves were coming at him all at once, making it hard to keep up.
Sometimes he had just deflected a jump slash on one side when the sword formation had already surrounded him from the other. Before he could break the formation, Nero would use "Two Sleeves of Clear Wind" to close the distance again.
Only then did Martin cautiously peek out from behind a rock not far away.
After Nero and Argenti started fighting, he had quietly hidden himself there.
The unlucky corporate wage slave glanced at the two people who seemed completely uninjured, whose hairstyles weren't even messed up, then looked at the mottled marks on the ground, including but not limited to chaotic snow trails, cracked earth, shattered rocks, and so on.
Judging by how things looked now, the two of them should be done fighting.
With that thought, Martin carefully climbed out from behind the rock and limped his way back to the two of them.