His Match Is an Interstellar Monster

Chapter 17: Reunion

Zhiyang Star.

The season was the height of summer, and the sun in the sky was like a burning iron ball, its scorching rays almost setting alight every speck of dust in the air.

For some time after this, Xiao Sa stayed within Broken Peak's base, hardly venturing out.

The sun's rays outside were far too strong. Even when he wrapped himself tightly in a black cloak, his skin could still feel a slight prickling sensation.

Xiao Sa wasn't idle, though. In addition to learning the language and knowledge of the empire from Haino, he spent time meditating every day and occasionally helped Broken Peak or others with simple mental organization.

For the rest of the time, he was in the arena.

A victory in the beginner zone earned 10 points; stopping mid-match awarded no points, and losing didn't deduct any. Only after reaching 100 points could one sign up for the Heavenly Ladder Arena's audition, and after winning another 10 consecutive matches, the ranking matches would unlock.

Xiao Sa faced a few opponents in the beginner zone. To his surprise, when they saw his ID and his black knight avatar, they either forfeited or logged off.

This made Xiao Sa's subsequent battles uninteresting, and it took him a long time to accumulate 100 points and escape the beginner category.

In the base leader's bedroom, Xiao Sa was doing a final mental organization for Broken Peak.

Reclining in the therapy chair, after this period of treatment and recovery, the once fully beastified legs had shed most of their ugly scales, the webbed feet had cracked and dried, and the sharp claws had gradually returned to a semi-human shape.

Except for not being able to walk freely, standing upright for a short while was no longer a problem.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Xiao Sa nodded at him: "As long as you don't continue to overuse your mental strength for an extended period, there should be no more danger to your life."

"Thank you, sir."

Broken Peak patted his knees with emotion. A small octopus appeared on his shoulder, much larger than the octopus hatchling Xiao Sa had first seen.

It extended two long tentacles to wave hello, but Xiao Sa averted his gaze—bare, slimy, and furless, he didn't like it.

Xiao Sa placed several newly made diluted inhibitors on the table and said lightly, "I intend to leave here and head to Central Star."

Broken Peak had expected this and nodded: "I've already arranged for the ticket and cabin. The earliest flight is tomorrow. Given that my legs can't move for now, have Deken escort you to the spaceport."

"Should you ever need my assistance in the future, do not hesitate to ask."

Xiao Sa, without any pleasantries, nodded directly. "Yes, I do need your help with something."

Broken Peak perked up. Whether as an imperial soldier in the past or the space pirate he was now, he never liked being indebted to anyone, especially when it came to a life-saving favor. However, Xiao Sa’s previous request was so minor.

He sat up straighter and gestured. "Please, go ahead."

Xiao Sa paused, then spoke slowly, "I got separated from my clan. They might be stranded on another planet, and I can't search for them alone. As space pirates, you must travel the universe frequently... So, I would like to ask for your help in finding any information about my clansmen."

Broken Peak agreed without hesitation. "No problem, how can we identify your clansmen?"

Xiao Sa replied without hesitation, seriously, "They look just as good-looking as I do."

Broken Peak: "..."

He cleared his throat and rephrased, "I mean, do you have an image or any other distinguishing features?"

Xiao Sa first shook his head, then remembered something. "No images, but... their mental power levels are quite high, and none of them have a mental entity."

Broken Peak was taken aback and frowned slightly. A hereditary mental condition—this was indeed rare, but how could their mental power levels be high?

"I understand. I’ll have my people keep an eye out. If we find any leads, I’ll inform you immediately."

The following day.

Deken personally piloted the aircraft to take Xiao Sa to the spaceport.

The afternoon sun was still blazing. Despite the heat, Xiao Sa wore a black long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses, and a mask, with a black hooded cloak over everything.

The aircraft flew low over the steel ruins on the outskirts of the city. Beyond the window lay a vast desert, where distorted steam rose in the intense heat.

"Alpha, we’ll need to switch to ground driving soon," Deken’s loud voice boomed like a gong.

Xiao Sa rested his cheek with one hand, bored as he gazed at the monotonous scenery outside. He turned his head. "Why?"

Deken pulled the control lever to prepare for landing. "The area ahead isn’t under our jurisdiction. It’s a dangerous place with a mix of black market activities. The aircraft would be too noticeable and unsafe..."

Before he could finish, the aircraft’s radar started blaring. A moment later, a mini warhead struck the side wing, causing a violent jolt and a thick plume of smoke as it began to plummet!

"Damn bastards! Sir, put your head down!" Deken spat out the cigarette, using his mental abilities to operate the control panel and land the craft, while drawing his sidearm laser gun and firing fiercely out the window.

His skill in handling the situation indicated that he had plenty of experience with local skirmishes.

The aircraft skidded along the road for a long distance, kicking up a cloud of yellow sand. Not far away, various lightly armed off-road vehicles blocked their path.

Deken’s expression turned grim: "Something's not right. Usually, their attacks are just harassment, but this is clearly deliberate."

He instructed another squad leader to take the wheel, then turned to Xiao Sa with a stern warning: "Sir, stay in the vehicle. Lao Ba will find a way to get you out of here. The rest of us will get out and stall them!"

Without waiting for Xiao Sa’s response, Deken pulled out the pre-prepared gear from under his seat and quickly armed himself and a few subordinates.

By the time they exited the aircraft, Deken and his men were fully encased in dark grey powered exoskeletons, leading several armed jeeps in the opposite direction.

But soon, Deken's plan fell apart.

Unbeknownst to them, several dozen flying cars had arrived at the intersection, and from them emerged dozens of burly men. Each of them was equipped with exoskeleton devices and held various firearms.

These men were ruthless desperadoes, and at their feet were various combat mental entities—snakes, wolves, dogs, eagles... A dazzling array of mutated creatures, like a bizarre exhibition.

Lao Ba stared out the window in shock, saying, "The leader is from the Ross Guild. How do they have so many fully armed guys? It’s not just one gang! They really respect us!"

The exoskeleton could be considered a simplified version of battle armor. The steel exoskeleton covered the limbs and torso, significantly enhancing strength and protecting the body’s vital areas. A set of exoskeleton equipment was quite expensive, and not every member of the Broken Peak pirate group had one.

The Ross Guild? The local gang they beat up last time?

Xiao Sa silently observed the enemies before him, his eyes cold. There was no need to ask; these people were likely after him.

The leader of the Ross Guild, a tall and thin middle-aged man, stepped out of the car, flanked by his subordinates. Though he looked frail, he was very strong, casually tossing a man by the collar onto the ground.

"Is the mental healer who can produce high-concentration B-grade inhibitors in the car?"

The person was the auction house manager who had sold inhibitors to Xiao Sa. His face was bruised, and his arm was broken. He trembled as he pointed to Xiao Sa, "Y-Yes, and the people with him are from Broken Peak..."

The leader of the Ross Guild nodded, then walked to the rear window of the jeep, speaking respectfully to the person in charge inside.

Then, he raised a loudspeaker and shouted at Xiao Sa, "Mr. Alpha, the Ross Guild has no intention of being your enemy. Whatever Broken Peak offered you, we can double it. All you need to do is speak."

The aircraft carrying Xiao Sa remained silent, with no one responding.

The leader sneered coldly, "Broken Peak is seriously injured and might not last more than a few days. He won't be able to protect you for long. Since you've ended up on this lower star, you probably have nowhere to go. You should understand the principle that a person without power is innocent, but possessing a treasure invites disaster."

His assessment wasn't inaccurate. The reason most healers enjoyed high social status was largely because they were backed by the Royal Association or major noble families. While lone healers did exist, they were always coerced or enticed into serving some organization.

On a lower star where the law of the jungle prevailed, coercion far outweighed enticement, and it was much more blatant.

The leader licked his dry lips, his eyes fixed greedily on the opposing aircraft. His heart burned with desire.

He was nothing like Broken Peak, who always wore his principles and morality on his sleeve. A healer capable of producing 90% concentration B-grade inhibitors represented enormous interests. It was like a money tree, enough to persuade other gangs to set aside their conflicts and join forces to snatch Xiao Sa from Broken Peak's hands.

As for Xiao Sa's own opinion, it didn't matter. What combat capability could a healer have besides healing talents? When pleased, they might grant him some superficial respect and keep him well-provided. When displeased, well, naturally, there were whips to make him comply.

"Bullshit! It's you who's going to die! Our boss is in perfect condition, and when he recovers, taking you out will be a piece of cake!" Deken interrupted impatiently, grabbing his weapon and opening fire.

These vultures trying to exploit their misfortune weren't worthy of comparison with his boss! Although they were also space pirates, they had a military background, only after money, not lives. They weren't on the same path as these murderous thugs.

The leader snorted coldly, "Take them out. The healer must be taken alive. Everyone else, kill them."

At his command, both sides erupted in gunfire, the booming sound of miniature cannons echoing all around. Bullets flew through the yellow sand, followed by various mental entities with bizarre skills, dazzling to the eye.

Although the Broken Peak pirate group consisted of well-trained elites with far better coordination than these gang killers and mercenaries, they were ultimately too few in number, only one-tenth of the enemy.

They soon found themselves overwhelmed.

Lao Ba gritted his teeth, "Sir, keep your head down. I'll take you out. The signal flare has been sent. Reinforcements from our base will arrive soon. Let's go... Sir???"

He turned around, only to find that Xiao Sa, who had been sitting in the back seat, was gone.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky.

Xiao Sa really didn't want to engage in a fight under the daylight, but there were always some fools who insisted on seeking death.

He glanced up at the sun, radiating heat and light, rubbed his right wrist, and pulled out a pair of black silk gloves from his pocket, ensuring his skin remained covered.

"Xiao Sa, we've detected other armed forces nearby, suspected to be the central district's security team. The signal source is in the back seat of the car next to the leader," Haino reminded in time.

A cold smile curled on Xiao Sa's lips. No wonder they were so confident. It was a case of collusion between officials and criminals.

Several enemies had already noticed him. Their heavy steel skeletons thudded on the sandy ground as they led their mental entities to surround him.

"Hey kid, our leader is taking a liking to you, don't be ungrateful. Otherwise, you'll be in for a tough time soon."

One, two, three… Xiao Sa counted roughly twenty people rushing towards him.

"This isn't an arena, being unarmed puts me at a disadvantage, but..." Xiao Sa stood still, his eyes reflecting the shadows of the approaching enemies in his sunglasses.

Finally, a fierce leopard with patterned spots lunged at him with lightning speed. He could clearly see the serrated edges of its sharp teeth.

"Hands up, don't move." The leopard's owner aimed a laser gun at Xiao Sa's forehead.

Xiao Sa sidestepped slightly, raised his hand, made a fist, and delivered a powerful blow to the leopard's side neck, then grabbed its tail, spinning it like a top and sending it crashing into its owner.

The next second, the gun fired, kicking up dust on the ground, but Xiao Sa's figure had already vanished from the spot.

The leopard's owner felt a momentary dizziness, and sharp pain shot through his arm as his steel skeleton was gripped as if by a vice, slowly bending backward at the joint.

A lazy, magnetic voice sounded behind his ear, "But it's fine, my enemies are my arsenal."

"You!" He only managed to utter a single sound before the excruciating pain caused his steel arm to snap off.

"Roar—" The leopard crashed heavily to the ground, only to have a high-top, strapped boot step on its head.

It tried to struggle, but suddenly, a strong, pungent scent of tequila rushed up its nose—filled with aggression, savagery, and arrogance. The leopard's eyes widened and its howl cut off abruptly.

Xiao Sa half-crouched, patted the leopard's head with one hand, and smiled mischievously, "Not bad, I could use a pair of leopard-print gloves."

Leopard: "?!!"

Xiao Sa grabbed the laser gun that had fallen, his foot still pressing on the now silent leopard.

"Haino, block that signal source for me, don't let any reinforcements from the other side come through, can you do that?"

"No problem!"

Amidst the swirling dust and sand, Xiao Sa's black cloak fluttered, his hood fell, revealing a sharp, deep brown short haircut and a pair of fierce, defiant eyes.

An invisible mental field spread out from beneath him. He put away the sunglasses that obstructed his vision, bit the edge of his glove, and pulled it down slightly. He looked up with cold, piercing eyes at the stunned enemies before him.

"Quick and clean, I have a flight to catch."

The leader of the Ross Guild never dreamed he would convince three neighboring gangs, assemble elite members, and even pull in the minister in charge of inhibitor distribution from Central City, only to end up being thrashed by the other side.

Who can explain why a mental healer could possess such formidable strength?

He was already considering retreat, but he had invested heavily in gathering so many people. If he failed to retrieve them, it would all be for nothing.

After felling two more mercenaries, Xiao Sa tossed aside the depleted weapon. Several bodies already lay scattered at his feet. The people in the distance, except for sporadic shots, no longer dared to approach him.

With Xiao Sa providing strong support, Deken and his subordinates felt their pressure ease considerably. They were deeply impressed by Xiao Sa, their admiration so profound that they even changed the way they addressed him: “Alpha, please hold on a little longer. Our reinforcements are almost here.”

“Hmm.” Xiao Sa’s face betrayed no sign of concern, but he was secretly anxious.

The sunlight was too intense—there were no buildings to provide shade.

Sweat began to bead on his palms, his heart rate gradually increasing, his mental energy draining like water, and he was nearly unable to sustain his mental field.

Hai Nuo warned him: “Xiao Sa, ten unknown combat airships are quickly approaching from the east. They’ll be here in three minutes, not from the signal source here.”

“Ten combat airships? The east?” Xiao Sa frowned. No matter how strong he was, without a mech, he couldn’t fly or stand up to combat airships head-on.

If not reinforcements from Broken Peak, could it be the enemy?

After taking down another enemy while under fire, Xiao Sa suddenly felt a gust of wind by his ear and instinctively rolled to the side, a wave of heat rushing past him.

It was a gold-threaded mouse with a self-destruct ability.

Though he dodged quickly, his cloak didn’t escape—it was burned into strips of rags.

“Tch, what a hassle.” Xiao Sa’s eyes darkened. Without the cloak, the burning sensation from the solar rays became even stronger.

His vision blurred, and he suddenly felt like a device running out of power, wobbling as he half-knelt on the ground.

The leader of the Ross Guild, who had almost given up hope, suddenly saw a glimmer of hope. “Quick, everyone, charge! That guy’s stamina is bottoming out. He’s about to fall!”

He knew there was no such thing as an invincible freak in this world, right?

Nothing was more encouraging than seeing hope at a desperate moment. The remaining elite members of the gathered gangs and mercenaries clenched their teeth and rushed forward. In an instant, the sounds of bullets and lasers filled the air. The mental entities that had been too intimidated to move earlier were now desperately attacking under their masters’ urging.

Under Deken’s cover, Xiao Sa focused on the black SUV at the edge of the battlefield. It seemed he had no other choice but to take a risk—

Just as he was about to make his final attempt, two rows of combat airships dove from the sky. Machine gun fire rained down in rapid bursts, landing near the Ross Guild’s armored cars, causing chaos and sending people sprawling.

Dozens of ground mechs leapt from the airships, trailing blue fire.

A three-meter-tall black-and-gold mech took the lead, rushing toward Xiao Sa in the center of the crowd. Its sleek form gleamed with a cold metallic sheen in the sunlight.

The black-and-gold mech landed heavily on the ground, kicking up dust and sand. Its massive mechanical legs lowered into a half-crouch, and a mechanical arm gently reached out to him.

A low, cold voice echoed from the cockpit: "Who dares to harm you?"

Xiao Sa: “...?”