The universe had briefly quieted down, and the frenzied vortex was put on pause.
Ryann Kaios was suspended in the center of his mecha by a massive crystal bone that extended from his body, surrounded by the wreckage of hundreds of starships and floating corpses.
At this moment, he stopped moving. He was just panting slightly, fresh blood constantly flowing from the corners of his mouth. His emerald eyes blankly fell on Jiang Jianming, who was across from him, not knowing how much he was actually conscious.
At least for now, Jiang Jianming had temporarily calmed the mad crown prince. He sighed lightly.
Slowly turning his pale face, his gaze fell on the Bishop of Chaos a few steps away, and he unexpectedly raised an eyebrow.
“Your Excellency Laurent? Are…you afraid?”
Laurent’s face was ashen, his gaze fixed on the crystal bone wheel in the distance that shone like the sun. A drop of cold sweat was sliding down his neck, disappearing into his collar.
Jiang Jianming said, “Because you’ve witnessed human anger, you’ve developed human fear?”
After a long time, Laurent finally turned his gaze back to Jiang Jianming and hoarsely said, “…Yes, I’m afraid.”
“This is also human, one of the original sins that our race has given us and we can’t escape.”
He took a step forward, “But when the end comes, all of this will disappear.”
Jiang Jianming lowered his eyes, the corners of his eyes seemed to carry some cold disdain, he said, “No.”
He coughed lowly twice, and continued with difficulty, “You don’t understand humans.”
Laurent’s expression darkened, “What?”
The situation seemed to be getting more and more out of control, every step was deviating from the original plan.
Especially at this moment, the Bishop of Chaos couldn’t understand why the disabled human prisoner in front of him, who could barely stand, suddenly started discussing the topic of humans with him.
Perhaps, this was Jiang Jianming’s response to his “Paradise Theory”. To be honest, if it were a different time and place, he would definitely listen happily. He loved this kind of conversation, it was as refreshing as the ancient people discussing the Dao.
But it shouldn’t be like this now, it shouldn’t. Laurent looked across with apprehension, his heart contracting uneasily—
When he saw the vast universe behind Jiang Jianming, and the calm, lake-like black eyes of this young man who was weak and seriously injured.
Those eyes…
Those were not the eyes of a captive, not the eyes of a prey in a net.
Did they miscalculate?
Did Jiang Jianming have a backup plan?
If not, how could he still be so calm at this moment!
“Gehard Laurent, the Bishop of Chaos of the Crystal Cult.”
Jiang Jianming spoke slowly, the reddish-gold color outside the porthole faintly reflected at the roots of a few of his eyelashes, “I want to kill you.”
Laurent’s pupils suddenly contracted, and he felt a chill down his spine. In an instant, the dark blue crystal bone formed like a knife.
But the half-human, half-crystal creature in the vacuum of space across from him also suddenly raised his head at this moment!
Ryann’s eyes stared crazily at the Bishop of Chaos, and he let out a hoarse panting sound from his throat.
It seemed that as long as the other side dared to touch Jiang Jianming, he would burn everything around him, even if it meant perishing together.
“—What are you doing? Don’t make a fuss!”
Instead, it was Jiang Jianming who turned his head back first and scolded, his expression indifferent. “Stay quiet, I still have something to say to His Excellency Laurent.”
“…”
Ryann drooped his eyes weakly and shrank back into the wreckage of the Slash Comet mecha. The initially hot and sharp crystal bones gathered and returned to calm.
At this time, his sanity was not very normal, but he knew to obey, completely looking like he had been tamed by Jiang Jianming.
The pale-faced black-haired officer looked at His Highness again, and then his clear gaze fell back on Bishop Laurent in front of him.
“Laurent… you harmed Star City, used children, and killed people… I hate you and the Crystal Cult behind you, I wish you were dead.”
He coughed urgently again, and said softly, “…But I also want my Highness to be omnipotent, to return triumphantly.”
“This is human.”
“…..”
Laurent’s teeth were trembling minutely, his gaze vicious.
“Personal feelings give rise to love and hate, personal desires give rise to cravings, this is the cornerstone of human civilization.”
—Take action!
This thought pierced through the bishop’s mind like a flying arrow.
He couldn’t worry about the crown prince anymore, he had to take action to control Jiang Jianming, knock him out, even if he accidentally killed him on the spot, it would be better than an unknown development.
He had a premonition that if he didn’t take action now, an irreparable tragedy would happen.
Jiang Jianming was still standing there, the blue cold light shining deep in his pupils, for some reason, his expression contained some faint sadness.
Under the shirt on his chest stained with a large amount of blood, a point of heat suddenly lit up.
“If personal feelings and desires disappear, your compassion for your compatriots, your hatred for injustice, your longing for paradise…everything you believe in, will also lose its meaning.”
In an instant, Laurent growled with a gloomy look in his eyes. The blue crystal bone expanded, stirring up a turbulent flow of aggressive crystal particles, like a deadly net stabbing towards the disabled human in front of him!
He was only a few steps away from Jiang Jianming.
No one could stop this strike.
Almost simultaneously, the members of the Crystal Cult on all sides drew their crystal bones and pulled out their new crystal guns, aiming at the frail human on the bridge who was on the verge of collapse.
No one could prevent the bloody scene that was about to unfold.
In the distance, Ryann’s eyes were once again flashing with madness, but just as he was on the verge of losing control, he suddenly stopped!
“Crystal particles have no emotions or individual differences…It’s precisely because you are human that you betray humans…Have you ever thought about this paradox.”
Jiang Jianming spoke lightly, he extended his right hand, under the thin white skin, one could see the slender wrist bone and blue blood vessels, it was a soft and weak arm.
He used such an arm to block the sharp crystal bone, as if he was not afraid of his flesh and blood being torn apart.
In an instant, the light on the chest of the pale young man became even brighter, it was a dazzling golden red color, and it emitted a terrifying pressure, it was exactly the same as the crystal bone of the crown prince!
Tiny crystals quickly climbed up his arm, as if a dragon that had been dormant for too long had unlocked its shackles, revealing its invincible fangs—
“Wha…”
“Impossible, crystal…!?”
At this moment, all the people who were anxiously watching here—
Whether it was the members of the Crystal Cult around, or the imperial fleet trying to come to support from a distance—all of them, everyone’s faces showed a look of horror.
“Crystal, crystal…”
Their throats were rolling, their tongues were dry, they couldn’t pronounce that word no matter what.
Crystal bone!!
A crystal bone appeared on the arm of the disabled human.
How is this possible?
Laurent’s pupils suddenly contracted, “Crystal bone weapon!?”
As if suddenly understanding something, a look of disbelief appeared on the face of the Bishop of Chaos, followed by a look of despair.
The golden red light fell into his eyes, and Ryann finally woke up, he looked at the crystal bone extending around his body with half belief and half doubt, and murmured lowly, “Mine…?”
He suddenly remembered the thought that had been like a knife twisting in his heart before Jiang Jianming left: if he could take off the crystal bone and give it to him, he would be willing to suffer a thousand cuts…
Time seemed to be twisted and slowed down, only Jiang Jianming was quiet, that touch of golden red color finally condensed on the back of his hand, forming a slender dagger.
He didn’t use it to do anything earth-shattering. He was already very weak, and the last bit of strength he squeezed out was only enough to gently hand it out.
Gently, silently.
But it was too sharp.
That was the most indestructible power in the world.
The golden red thin blade cut open the dark blue crystal bone, almost without encountering any resistance, it was like a nimble knife cutting a large piece of tofu.
Laurent’s eyes were about to split, he screamed out in a harsh voice, the muscles on his face twitching. The shattered crystal bone danced in mid-air, the blue fragments one by one reflected Jiang Jianming’s indifferent eyebrows, he took a step forward, pushing the weapon deeper.
The strange blue crystal bone, which had become grotesquely large due to the absorption of real crystal ore, was cracked open by the golden red light, and it broke apart weakly.
The shattered crystals rained down like a downpour, Jiang Jianming’s body passed through this sharp rain curtain, that proud blade went straight forward, forward—
Personal feelings give rise to love and hate, personal desires give rise to cravings.
Once upon a time, someone loved him deeply, indulged in personal feelings and desires for him, and committed an unforgivable taboo.
That was about four years ago. That year, Crown Prince Ryann, on the Omega Alien Star, proposed to a nameless military academy student.
After he nodded, the Little Highness kissed him with surprise and devotion, and put that ring on his ring finger.
The ring was very delicate, the same golden red color as the Little Highness’s crystal bone.
The texture of the thin ring was similar to crystal, there were no luxurious diamonds to decorate it, but just that color was beautiful enough to be incomparable.
Ryann was obviously a bit nervous, because the style of this engagement ring was too “unorthodox”.
But Jiang Jianming loved it very much, he didn’t think much about it, he just thought it was a good craft that His Highness had found, and he could make the “crystal bone ring” so realistic.
They stayed on the Omega Alien Planet for a few more days, decorating this time as sweetly as possible.
It wasn’t until tomorrow when they were about to set off to return to the empire, that Ryann casually asked him, “You’re going to be the future crown princess of the empire, are…you afraid?”
“What?” Jiang Jianming looked at him in surprise and laughed softly, “What do I have to be afraid of?”
He pretended to be confused on the surface, but he actually knew in his heart.
His race, his background, his helplessness, and even his character and persistence… to walk this path with Ryann, it was too dangerous and would be very tiring.
During these nights, Jiang Jianming held the ring on his ring finger and thought about everything.
After returning, it would be an underground love again. He actually didn’t mind being underground for a lifetime, but paper couldn’t hold fire.
What if it was exposed?
What if the nobles made things difficult, how not to lose face for His Highness; what if the public scolded him, what would those rumors say about him; what if he was kidnapped, he couldn’t become His Highness’s weakness, he should carry a blade with him in the future, if it really doesn’t work, he could still commit suicide, right?
Jiang Jianming even thought that if time and reality wore down the youthful affection, and His Highness still had to marry a noble new human as his wife on the surface in the future, then how should he deal with himself?
He never thought about going public, never thought about a wedding. He never thought about standing side by side with Ryann as the empress, being surrounded by the people.
He didn’t realize where he was wrong, and he didn’t feel bitter, but he thought it was very good and sweet now, and wanted to maintain it for a long time.
But what Jiang Jianming didn’t expect was that his Little Highness had also thought about it for him.
For Ryann, the person he admired was like a stunning but fragile porcelain, he was careful to hold it and was afraid of knocking it. How could he recklessly drag Jiang Jianming into such a dangerous stream?
At least, at least, he should be able to give him the most basic little bit of protection.
For the extremely proud and arrogant crown prince, there was no power in the world that was stronger than himself. On the most important things, he believed in himself and only himself.
Why did he choose to confess and propose on the Omega Alien Star? Not only because the scenery of the alien star was beautiful, but also because the headquarters of the Black Shark Base was here.
There, he endured the excruciating pain of skinning and bone cutting, and extracted high-purity crystal particles from the new crystal human’s body, and made the forbidden crystal bone weapon.
In the future, my authority and glory will be shared with you.
Not only that, my innate power will also be shared with you.
Not in the future, but today.
So… please believe me.
I will take you to a brighter future.
The destiny that ordinary people believed was inviolable, was just shattered by Ryann, and what was melted out in the pain was a ring.
He infused one-tenth of his crystal particles into it. One-tenth of the Super S-level crystal bone, living in the Imperial Star City, was enough for any extreme situation.
But problems followed.
There was a reason why crystal bone weapons were strictly prohibited.
First, the process of refining crystal particles was very cruel, it was equivalent to refining a part of a human into a tool.
Let’s not talk about the dead, extracting crystal particles from a living person, that’s no different from Ling Chi. It’s the same as organ trafficking, human experimentation, and so on, the ethical issue was insurmountable.
Second, there was still class inequality in today’s human society. Many disabled human nobles, and nobles like Ryann who loved a disabled human, have a demand for this.
Ryann has the courage to extract crystal particles from his own body, but what about others?
The evil of human nature was endless, once this door was opened, a black industry chain was formed, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Ryann knew that Jiang Jianming would definitely not accept it with his temperament, so he dragged it until the day before returning to the empire before he dared to tell him the truth.
Jiang Jianming almost fainted from anger on the spot.
He knew that the crown prince was unruly, but he didn’t expect that this person could deviate from the doctrine to this extent!
That was a crystal bone weapon, an ethical bottom line that should not be touched, it was absolutely not comparable to the high-level firearms and military mechas that His Highness had given him before, the nature was completely different.
What do you mean it was made with your own crystal particles? No one will listen to you. Once it is known to the outside world, it is still the crown prince of the empire trampling on the laws of the empire, and daring to commit taboos for a little lover.
Jiang Jianming was always rational, but this time he was so angry that he was dizzy and couldn’t speak.
He swung his arm and gave him a slap.
That slap directly knocked the esteemed young crown prince to the ground.
Jiang Jianming was really angry, panting with a fierce look on his face, exerting twelve percent of his strength in his hit, his fingertips trembling as he withdrew his hand.
Ryann got up in a hurry, not caring about his swollen cheek, he grabbed Jiang Jianming’s right hand to check, fearing that the instinctive defense of the crystal bone had hurt him.
Jiang Jianming didn’t buy it, he coldly pulled his hand back.
Then he mercilessly kicked Ryann in the side with a whip leg, knocking him to the ground again.
Although he was a disabled human, he was a bona fide military academy graduate, and his strength was real.
The crown prince just grunted, didn’t dare to use the crystal bone to block, didn’t dare to fight back, knowing he was in the wrong, he just took it without raising his head.
Seeing Ryann like this, Jiang Jianming couldn’t hit him anymore.
After all, the Little Highness had extracted crystal particles from his body for him, how could he not be distressed?
But this matter…it really can’t be done, no matter from which angle, he can’t accept it.
Jiang Jianming closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and took off the ring that he had cherished so much yesterday from his ring finger.
“I can’t take His Highness’s things.” He threw the ring on the ground, his voice cold, “Take your precious ring and get lost.”
Ryann panicked all of a sudden, his lips bloodless. “Jiang!”
Jiang Jianming turned around and walked away.
This was a Far Star alien star, Jiang Jianming, a disabled human, just went out like this in a daze, how could Ryann dare to get lost?
He was afraid that Jiang Jianming would have an accident, he didn’t dare to leave; he was also afraid of provoking him again, he didn’t dare to approach.
So he just followed at a distance, looking like a puppy that had been abandoned by its owner, anxious and eager.
Jiang Jianming knew he was following, and stubbornly walked in the rugged forest of the alien star for almost half a day.
When the sunset filled the sky, he was too tired to walk, he stopped stumblingly, leaning on a tree trunk and panting.
Ryann couldn’t stand it, he stepped forward and forcefully made Jiang Jianming sit down to rest, first giving him an injection of a tranquilizer with a pale face, then taking off his coat to wrap him up.
Jiang Jianming’s eyebrows were cold, he lightly slapped this person’s paw away, only then did he belatedly realize that it had gotten colder around him.
He leaned against the tree trunk, his gaze somewhat vacant as he looked towards the horizon, his heart was mixed with all kinds of flavors, especially the complicated and unspeakable bitterness.
After a long time, the military academy student lowered his head tiredly, the breeze blew through his black broken hair, he sighed, and said hoarsely, “Your Highness, don’t be foolish in the future.”
“As the crown prince of the empire, what you should do is to build the empire into a land where disabled humans can live in peace without crystal bones, not to break your own crystal bones and give them to someone.”
Ryann: “…I’m sorry.”
Jiang Jianming pursed his lips and turned his head away, the sky around him gradually darkened, and the stars twinkled.
He secretly gritted his teeth, in the end, he was still soft-hearted, and said again, “I won’t leave tomorrow, you go back to the base and refine the crystal particles back, don’t mess around in the future, this time I…will pretend it never happened.”
Ryann was silent for a moment, despite Jiang Jianming’s resistance, he still put that coat on him.
Then he said solemnly, “You’re right, it’s my mistake. You can scold me, hit me, anything.”
“But… the ring, you must keep it.”
Jiang Jianming laughed in anger, “Ordering me?”
Ryann raised his head, his emerald eyes were extremely serious, “Begging you.”
