[Ding—Commission task: It seems Asta is troubled by the impending consecutive attacks from the Antimatter Legion on the space station. Please go talk to her.]
It had the distinct flavor of an early online game assigning tasks to a tool-like player.
Just as Caelus was about to remind the system to update its mission module text, the detailed task description popped up.
[Task Content: Assist the Space Station Defense Department personnel in repelling the Antimatter Legion, protect the space station's assets, and save the most valuable resource of the space station—the researchers.]
[Task Reward: Comprehensive evaluation based on results achieved, number of researchers saved, and Asta's gratitude. Maximum reward: 648 Crystals.]
Ho—how much!?
Caelus's eyes widened abruptly.
648 Crystals!!!
Has the system gone mad?
[Well, this reward amount is partly compensation for the damaged newbie benefits and partly related to Asta.]
Hearing the system's explanation, Caelus gasped sharply.
Is—is this the power of a universe-level rich lady?
Even the system rewards are affected—so generous!?
Exactly!
I am the tool!
Please, rich lady, use me as you wish!
Restoring the glory of Herta Space Station is our duty!
Hesitating for even a second would be disrespectful to the rich lady and the reward. Caelus's mind-formed hand fiercely stabbed the "Accept Task" button in his thoughts.
Time is lives, and lives are Crystals!
[Seele, we're about to fight. Give me back control of the body for now.]
Caelus-Seele turned off auto-combat and regained control of the body.
[O-okay.] Seele replied obediently.
According to the system's mechanism, once auto-combat is deactivated, the "substitute AI's" consciousness doesn't leave immediately but switches to the background of the body.
It will only be sent back to its original body after a certain period.
This is to prevent the host from frequently switching between manual control and auto-combat, which would require the system to remap consciousness each time, wasting energy and computational power.
Keeping White Seele's consciousness here for an extended period is simple—just toggle auto-combat on and off at fixed intervals.
As for Black Seele, there's no workaround. Currently, Caelus-Seele's power isn't enough to support her frequently impacting the Stigmata to activate the "ultimate move" of Phantom Sea Butterfly.
After slightly modifying the auto-combat settings, Caelus-Seele explained the ability mechanics to both Seeles.
Only after Caelus-Seele promised to "call her over periodically" did Black Seele reluctantly and worriedly allow the system to cut off her consciousness mapping.
"Little bro, what's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
Her pale, slender hand was gripped by Caelus. Stelle allowed herself to be pulled along without resistance or embarrassment, merely looking at him with slight confusion.
The task module is one of the core modules. The only module Stelle could see and use was the system shop, so she couldn't understand what madness had struck Caelus.
"Of course, to save people and smash those Antimatter Legion scum!"
"Look at your bat, listen to its heart. Do you get it now?"
Blinking her golden eyes, Stelle looked down at the bat in her right hand.
The sensation of using this bat to shatter the skulls of Antimatter Legion soldiers along the way had been incredibly satisfying, making her somewhat addicted.
It's just a pity that the Stampeder isn't suitable for her current condition, but the Voidrangers...
"I get it!"
She didn't know who she was, she didn't know where she was, but she knew she was going on a rampage!
"Excellent!"
Seeing Stelle's enlightened expression, Caelus nodded in satisfaction.
Because he and Stelle were the same person in a higher dimension, the people Stelle saved and the Voidrangers she killed were all credited to his mission accomplishments by the system.
As for Seele, she was essentially 100% Caelus himself, so there was no need to elaborate further.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
A hurried shout came from behind—it was March 7th, rushing over at full speed.
She suspected Caelus was having another episode!
But if his "illness" was an urgent desire to save people, there was no need to stop him.
Surprisingly, Caelus, who had been ignoring everyone around him earlier, came to an immediate halt upon hearing her call.
This caused March 7th to fail to brake in time, and with a cute "Eek!" she crashed into Caelus's back.
The soft, springy sensation made Caelus's mind waver for a moment—but only for a moment. He could feel Stelle's touch just by pressing his own chest.
"March, I know the situation is urgent, but don't panic just yet."
Her ample chest visibly deformed from the impact, and March 7th's cheeks flushed slightly.
Seeing Caelus's calm expression, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, suppressing her embarrassment as she retorted
"You're the one who's panicking!"
"Running so fast... It's good to save people, but do you even know where the Legion will attack next?"
Halfway through her sentence, realizing she shouldn't scold good intentions, her tone softened and grew gentler.
"No, that's why I stopped to wait for you."
Caelus replied matter-of-factly, glancing at Dan Heng, who had quietly followed.
"All-knowing Teacher Dan Heng, lead us into the battle map!"
Both Stelle and Seele turned their gazes to Dan Heng at these words. Under the weight of two excited pairs of eyes and one misguided stare, Dan Heng remained expressionless but sighed inwardly.
However, his opinion of Caelus had improved significantly. Someone who would go to such lengths, even in a state of delirium, to save others was proof enough of his inherently... kind nature.
"Follow me."
Led by Dan Heng, the group used the keycard given by Asta earlier to take the elevator to the Base Zone.
The area where Stelle and Caelus had awakened was the Containment Zone, which lay on the opposite side of the Master Control Zone from the Base Zone.
"Help! I don't want to die yet!"
Upon hearing the cry for help, Dan Heng immediately drew his Cloud Piercer spear and grew alert. "Prepare for batt—?"
Before he could finish, a figure darted out from behind him, as swift as an ordinary person spotting a fleeting weasel.
"Hold on! Hold on! I'm coming!"
Gripping his yo-yo tightly, Caelus shouted as he charged toward the source of the voice.
On the way, he had already taken the badge from Seele and equipped it on himself.
For elite enemies, it was best to concentrate equipment on the main DPS, but for rescue missions like this, reinforcing the weakest link would be more efficient.
What stunned Dan Heng wasn't just Caelus's speed but his reaction.
His golden eyes blazed with fury, filled with hatred and urgency, as if the person crying for help wasn't a stranger he'd never met but a beloved family member he saw every day.
He seemed to harbor an intense loathing for the enemies who dared harm them, as if he wished to tear them apart limb from limb.
Though he had mental issues, he was undoubtedly a good person.
At that moment, Dan Heng reached this conclusion.
Close on Caelus's heels was Seele, the Honkai energy deep within her surging rapidly. Her black British-style loafers stamped firmly on the ground, and she moved even faster than Caelus.
"And me!"
Stelle charged at the Voidranger in sight with a baseball bat, taking a large stride with her right leg pulled back, then swung the bat directly at it!
Before the Voidranger could even process what was happening, it felt its body flung uncontrollably, tumbling backward through the air.
Stelle's hands were itching for a fight right now, craving action!
Watching these reckless fighters, Dan Heng opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Remember, acting on impulse is unwise—calm and caution are the best policies, but saving people comes first.
His spear, Cloud-piercer, sliced through the air with a sharp, piercing whistle.
"Hey, I'm here to back you up!"
March 7th drew her composite longbow, firing Six-Phase Ice arrows that either froze and hindered the Voidrangers' movements or expanded into solid ice shields to block attacks for her companions.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
A female researcher, having narrowly escaped death, struggled to her feet on trembling legs, clutching Caelus's arm gratefully.
"You're welcome. Are you hurt?"
A gentle, refined voice reached her ears. As the researcher looked up, she froze in place, all fear instantly vanishing from her heart.
Starlight streamed through the glass porthole, seeming to shatter against the gray-haired young man, adding a delicate, ethereal charm to his inherently subdued aura and flawless appearance.
In an instant, the researcher had already decided how to repay his kindness.
—"Sir, your great kindness is beyond my ability to repay. I can only offer myself in marriage!"
But Caelus didn't wait for her to speak.
After confirming that the mission target was not in mortal danger, and under the gaze that felt as if it were glued to him, he quickly moved on to the next injured researcher.
A full-service package of care and bandaging.
At the same time, he provided the wounded researchers with perfect emotional support.
"…"
Watching that gray-haired figure, who had seemingly transformed into a Knight of Beauty, March 7th stared in disbelief as if she'd seen a ghost.
If she hadn't witnessed Caelus's unscrupulous, twisted demeanor during his brawls with Stelle, she might have been completely fooled by this sunny, warm-hearted act.
Seriously, is he having a psychotic episode?
March 7th's gaze toward the female researcher gradually filled with pity. Hesitating, she wondered whether she should shatter the woman's illusions.