"You intentionally pushed me to defend Ability Users during the Earth Task Force meeting, didn't you? You just wanted to escalate the conflict between us and the human leadership." Xu Yun Cheng stared at the young man in shock. He realized that he had orchestrated everything from the very beginning!

"Originally, if things had gone according to my plan, and the Main System and Huo Li had been more decisive, they would have overthrown the Interstellar Federation while eliminating the Parasites. Then, I wouldn’t have to fake my death," the black-haired youth said. "Otherwise, how do you think those self-important fools in the Federation managed to discover that battlefield on the desolate planet?"

"What a clever way to kill with a borrowed knife," Xu Yun Cheng sneered, clapping his hands in mock applause. "I never thought an Alien could be even more calculating than a human."

"If I truly wanted to destroy the Interstellar Federation, would I need to borrow anyone else’s knife?" the black-haired youth retorted. "With my psychic abilities and Black Thread, I could wipe out the entire Federation in less than an hour."

"You spent months plotting the Federation’s downfall, and now you’re claiming that wasn’t your true intention?" Xu Yun Cheng couldn’t believe the sheer hypocrisy—this Alien was no different from humans.

"I never intended to destroy the Federation myself," the black-haired youth replied. "I wanted Huo Li and the Main System to be the ones to do it."

Xu Yun Cheng laughed in anger. "And how is that any different?"

"Xu Yun Cheng, you’ve resented the Interstellar Federation and the power ordinary humans hold for thousands of years, haven’t you?" the black-haired youth asked. "So much so that a few months ago, you sided with the Parasites, hoping to use their strength to wipe out human civilization and renew the entire galaxy."

"Those fools—so obsessed with power struggles and baseless suspicion—were never fit to rule the galaxy in the first place," Xu Yun Cheng said coldly. "Even as your prisoner, I stand by my belief."

"Then why didn’t you take action?" the black-haired youth retorted. "Every Ability User, whether openly or in secret, complains about the incompetence and injustice of human leadership. Yet, before you joined the Salvation Alliance and came under the Main System’s restrictions, what did you, so-called wise and powerful Ability Users, actually do? You either lived cautiously within human society, afraid to make a move, or you used your abilities for petty crimes and illegal dealings in the shadows."

"For thousands of years, generation after generation of Ability Users were born and died, yet not a single one has risen to fight back. Even you—a nearly godlike powerhouse with both time and space abilities—only dared to act when the Enhanced Parasites invaded. Instead of standing up for yourselves, you chose to collude with an alien species, placing all your hopes on those sea-cucumber-like creatures that couldn’t even establish a civilization of their own.

"You pinned your dreams on some so-called superior race that you imagined would favor Ability Users, hoping they would wipe out 99% of humanity. Only then, after the parasites had picked the galaxy clean, did you dare think about ruling whatever few planets they left behind?"

Xu Yun Cheng was speechless. He had no retort for Xiao Yi’s words.

The black-haired youth continued, "If we classify all intelligent life in the known universe into four groups—ordinary humans, Ability Users, Enhanced Parasites, and the Zerg—then your kind, the Ability Users, are by far the strongest. So why didn’t you rise up and overthrow the Interstellar Federation yourselves? If you want a world of freedom and equality, build it yourself!"

Xu Yun Cheng, who endured the youth’s mocking, finally snapped. "If it weren’t for the Main System and Huo Li suppressing us like saints from above, I—!"

"And if they weren’t there, would you really have the guts?" the black-haired youth cut him off, leaving Xu Yun Cheng’s face dark with rage. But the youth’s following words softened, his tone turning unexpectedly somber. "The world has grown this twisted, and the Main System and Huo Li bear a large part of the blame. That’s why I had no choice but to use my own death to shatter their excessive sense of morality."

"You're an alien, and yet you're so concerned about mankind's social conflicts?"Xu Yun Cheng sneered. "Even among Ability Users, you’re a public enemy. Aside from those two overly compassionate saints, the Main System and Huo Li, who else would ever accept you?"

The black-haired youth smiled faintly. "That’s why the last Alien in this world is dead. But you… You conspired with the programmers to slaughter 600 Ability Users who didn’t deserve to die. You betrayed all of humanity, siding with the Parasites in their attempt to exterminate 99% of the population. Your crimes are beyond forgiveness in both the Salvation Alliance and human society."

Xu Yun Cheng let out a derisive laugh. "Then go ahead and kill me. But as the mastermind behind the war between Ability Users and the Interstellar Federation, what right do you have to stand on any moral high ground?"

Black-haired youth: "Your crimes against humanity and Ability Users should be dealt with by them—I’m not a vigilante. I’ve repaid my debt to Xiao Mao, and from now on, whether you escape their pursuit or not is no longer my concern, so do as you will."

Xu Yun Cheng wasn’t surprised in the slightest that the youth didn’t kill him. Before turning to leave, he said, "Since you never intended to kill me, I might as well tell you—after I reversed Xiao Mao’s time, time itself became frozen for her. Even if I die, it won’t affect her in the slightest."

The black-haired youth’s expression changed. "Wait!"

Xu Yun Cheng halted, albeit reluctantly. Perhaps he still feared that the Black Thread inside his body was under the Alien’s control, so he didn’t dare defy the youth’s words directly.

"You’re going back on your word now?" Xu Yun Cheng eyed Xiao Yi warily.

"No," the black-haired youth replied. "I just need five minutes of your time. Come here!"

Five minutes later, Xu Yun Cheng fled toward the edge of the universe while the youth disappeared into thin air.

.

Outside the experimental planet, aboard a starship—

Every crew member stood frozen, their expressions blank. In eerie unison, they raised their right hands, pressing the muzzles of their guns against their temples.

Inside the command room, Huo Li trembled uncontrollably. With a violent motion, he flung the headless body of the commander aside, letting it crash noisily into a pile of overturned chairs and tables.

"Huo Li! Calm down!" the Main System’s voice rang in his mind.

But Huo Li had long since discarded the self-restraint and composure he had upheld for two thousand years. His eyes burned with cold, murderous intent and bottomless regret.

"Just a few hours ago, Xiao Yi promised me… If I destroyed the Interstellar Federation, he would stay with me. And I—" He struggled to keep his voice steady, forcing himself not to choke on his words.

"He must have foreseen this outcome from the very beginning! He kept everything hidden from us, making sure all the threats would be concentrated on him alone…"

"Huo Li, the moment Xiao Yi arrived at the experimental planet, I saw everything through 2d14!" the Main System explained urgently, its usually gentle tone stripped of its softness.

"But to prevent the Federation from noticing it, I maintained absolute secrecy! I have no idea how they obtained the intel—until the Federation’s fleet appeared, I never anticipated that Xiao Yi would die…"

"And yet, even after the fleet that was fully loaded with nuclear warheads arrived, you still kept it from me," Huo Li stated calmly. "I don’t care whether you were trying to protect me by stalling for time and teleporting me onto the warship or whether you had your own greater plan to consider. In the end, Xiao Yi is dead."

The Main System hesitated before responding, "At that time, the entire experimental planet was covered by a teleportation blockage device. Even if I had broken through the barrier at the last moment and sent you inside, I still wouldn’t have been able to save—"

"Fight the Interstellar Federation with me," Huo Li interrupted the Main System for the first time in more than 2,000 years since joining the Salvation Alliance. "Or I’ll fight both of you at the same time. Don’t forget—I'm still controlling the Black Thread army on the G Planet. And even if I don’t seek revenge, the Federation will come after you anyway, using the excuse that you 'colluded with an Alien and developed an anti-human military force on a wasteland planet.'"

"My sole purpose for existence is to protect humanity," the Main System said. "I will never attack a human government. So, I’m sorry, Huo Li…"

Just as Huo Li’s heart sank to rock bottom, the Main System continued:

"But my hardware system has malfunctioned. I am unable to communicate with or control any subsystem for the time being…"

A burst of static noise crackled through the speakers—half-hearted, almost perfunctory—before the Main System fell completely silent.

"099, do you currently have the authority to establish a teleportation array?" Huo Li asked, testing the truth of the Main System’s claim.

System 099 replied immediately, "Host, I now possess full administrative privileges. Additionally, the real-time monitoring and data transmission channels have been completely shut down…"

"Immediately establish a teleportation array to the Federation’s headquarters." Huo Li commanded.

System 099: "Yes, Host."

As the golden-orange glow of the teleportation array gradually intensified, Huo Li murmured almost pleadingly, 'Xiao Yi, you promised me… You said you'd stay with me if I destroyed the Interstellar Federation. Will you keep your word this time…?'

Despair filled Huo Li’s gaze as he stared out the warship’s window at the planet that had been reduced to dust. The regret in his eyes, along with the faint, delusional hope that lingered, finally hardened into a searing hatred—an unrelenting thirst for vengeance.

.

Far away, in a place dozens of small galaxies away, a black-haired youth silently observed everything through the eyes of a Black Thread-infected warship soldier. After a long pause, he whispered softly in response:

"Alright. I promise."

Then, he lifted his gaze toward the largest commercial district of the bustling technological planet. Towering above its entrance, bold letters gleamed on the skyscraper’s facade:

Weyland Technology Corporation.

His expression darkened momentarily before he lowered his head, concealing all emotions beneath a composed exterior. Like an ordinary corporate employee, he calmly stepped through the company’s front doors.