The Villain Is Too Popular

'Doctor, come take a look at this child.'

'Hmm? Innate Star Energy at max level, Yun Meng, where did you find this child?'

'Just picked him up on the road.'

'…'

'Tendo, after a few days of observation, we unanimously agree that this Stellaris Project is too risky for you.'

'Given the talent you've displayed so far, even without the so-called First Star Core, you could still become a powerful individual admired by countless people. Do you still want to participate in this Stellaris Project with a death rate exceeding 90%?'

'Can it make me stronger?'

'…Yes, but first, you have to survive.'

'Alright, then I'll participate.'

'Why?'

'Doctor, if I die in this project, it means I'm not the strong person you mentioned, admired by countless people. But if I am that strong person, then I won't die in this project.'

'So, I will participate in this project, and if the surgery fails, it has nothing to do with anyone else; it's just because… I'm too weak.'

'Understood.'

'Tendo, have you decided which Star Core to choose? As the first test subject in the Stellaris Project, I'll make an exception and grant you the right to choose your own Star Core.'

'I'll choose [Eyes].'

'Can you tell me why?'

'Because I want to stand at the highest position, see the farthest, and then… understand the true nature of this world.'

'Good.'

Watching the young Tendo in the footage, clearly aware of the immense dangers of the Stellaris Project, yet still choosing to participate without hesitation, along with his declaration, 'If I am strong, then I won't die in the surgery'—the dimensional viewers' impression of Tendo as the 'anime battle power ceiling' deepened even further!

He wasn't just strong-willed; he was born strong!

'So, even knowing the danger, he's still full of confidence? Hakitian, you truly are a terrifying guy…'

'Stand at the highest position, see the farthest… Hakitian, what exactly are you trying to do!!! Leave some cool lines for others, you've said them all!'

'Bro, was he this cool even as a kid?'

'Lord Tendo, I am your dog!'

Amidst the excited and teasing remarks of the dimensional viewers, Tendo's flashback reached the point one month after his Star Core surgery.

At this time, Tendo sat quietly on the hospital bed, his eyes bandaged. Today was the day he would remove his bandages and see the results of the surgery.

'Doctor…'

Seeing the Doctor arrive, the medical staff surrounding Tendo quickly made way.

'How's the situation?'

'Doctor, based on our observations, little Tendo has completely adapted to the Eclipse Heavenly Eye. We can remove the bandages now.'

'Good.'

As the Doctor personally unbound the bandages from Tendo's eyes, the anime's camera began to focus on Tendo.

Unlike his considerably taller stature in Stellaris Prequel: Embers, Tendo at this moment appeared more youthful, his face still holding a hint of baby fat. He lacked handsomeness but made up for it in cuteness.

Tendo's eyes were still closed, but as the camera zoomed in, his eyes slowly opened. In an instant, the entire ward grew dim. Only that pair of azure, special eyes dominated the entire screen.

Concurrently, the Doctor's voice-over resonated:

'Tendo, how do you feel?'

'I feel great, because… I can finally see the truest side of this world.'

As Tendo's voice faded, the anime's view instantly switched to Tendo's perspective. Soon, a colorful world, filled with flowing star energy trajectories, dramatically appeared before the dimensional viewers. This was the 'real world' he spoke of.

At this point, the entire flashback segment ended, and the screen fell into brief darkness. Simultaneously, the Doctor's voice-over, accompanied by a special text, emerged in the center of the screen:

[Arrogance requires capital, and Tendo was born with it.]

When the anime screen reappeared, the camera had switched to Fushan's first-person perspective. Looking at the expressionless Tendo on the screen, and the 'Dark Azure' continuously gathering at his fingertips, the dimensional viewers not only genuinely felt Fushan's inner fear but also sensed the tangible, powerful pressure emanating from Tendo.

He would die, absolutely!

Fushan stared at the 'Dark Azure' condensing at Tendo's fingertips, feeling as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart, ready to stop beating at any moment. In this moment of life and death, Fushan felt as if time around him had slowed down.

Large beads of sweat formed on Fushan's forehead, slowly dripping down his cheeks. The camera focused on a single drop of sweat, following it as it fell onto the hot ground, instantly vaporizing.

Drip—

As the sweat landed, emitting a crisp sound, Tendo's 'Dark Azure' bloomed at Fushan's eyes like a death-symbolizing spider lily.

"Get out of here!!!"

Just as Tendo's Dark Azure was about to pierce Fushan's head and thoroughly take his life, a roar suddenly came from the side. Subsequently, Claude's mechanical eye sparked intensely, its electronic nerves, operating under overload, forcefully broke through his fear of Tendo.

His body lunged at Fushan, saving him from Tendo's Dark Azure at the last second. However, while this push saved Fushan's life, Claude himself became the target of the Dark Azure.

Boom!

Fushan turned his head, only to see Claude, still mid-air, whose body, upon contact with the Dark Azure, began to disintegrate like a slow-motion film, scattering a large number of circuit boards and electronic parts in mid-air. In the blink of an eye, Claude's body was cut down by a full third, his upper and lower halves separated.

Thud!

As Claude's upper body heavily slammed to the ground, his severed abdomen revealed a multitude of broken circuits, emitting numerous blue electronic sparks. Although he was on the verge of death, seeing Fushan still dazed and slumped on the ground, he immediately used his last ounce of strength and shouted, "Go!!!"

And just as he finished speaking, Tendo, expressionless, stomped on his mechanical head, the sound crisp and bone-chilling.

Having done all this, Tendo looked up, his gaze cold, at the lucky Fushan. This single glance instantly jolted Fushan out of his stupor.

Without hesitation, Fushan scrambled awkwardly to his feet, running outside without looking back.

I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die! Faster, even faster!

Fushan looked at the supermarket entrance, which was so close, and only regretted not running faster. At this moment, his eyes no longer held their initial arrogance. All that remained was an endless desire for life. He wanted to live; he didn't want to die so simply here.

But before he could run out of the supermarket door, a playful voice came from behind him.

"Is it a bit too late to want to leave now?"

As the anime camera switched to Tendo, Tendo watched Fushan's comical and unsightly escape with a playful expression, casually raising his hand. The next second, the terrifying Dark Azure once again converged at his fingertips, ready to claim Fushan's lucky little life at any moment.

But just as Tendo was about to strike, a familiar voice suddenly came from his ear, stopping his next move.

"Alright, little Tendo, that's enough. We still have a use for that guy."

Tendo turned his head in surprise, seeing Yun Meng emerge from the fire. At the same time, Dust Void, gravely injured and unconscious, was being carried by Coral Knight beside her. In addition, Caroline, who hadn't shown up all afternoon, was also here now.

Seeing this, Tendo instantly realized what was happening. He immediately dispersed the Dark Azure at his fingertips, allowing Fushan outside to successfully escape.

A moment later, Tendo said, quite annoyed, "Oh, so you guys, Sister Yun, were watching the whole time?"

"You should have said something earlier, Sister Yun. If you had, I wouldn't have made a move."

Hearing Tendo's slightly resentful words, Yun Meng said with a playful smile, "How can you say that, little Tendo? If it weren't for you, little Void would have been gone."

"Heh."

Tendo sneered, then rested his hands behind his head. "Gone? What's gone? This is clearly a setup you guys orchestrated! Only Void and I were kept in the dark."

With that, Tendo kicked away Claude's mechanical remains on the ground as if to vent his frustration, then walked out of the supermarket without looking back.

"Boring. I'm leaving!"

Watching Tendo's departing back, Yun Meng suddenly tilted her head and said to the Coral Knight beside her, in a half-boasting, half-emotional tone, "How about that? Isn't little Tendo terrifying when he gets serious?"

Coral Knight looked seriously at Tendo's back and nodded heavily.

"He indeed has the capital for arrogance, because throughout the entire Star Envoy world, I have never seen or heard of anyone capable of what he does, not even the President, who is hailed as the strongest Star Envoy of this era."

Hearing this, Yun Meng also sighed, "Yes, little Tendo was born to change the world. I understood that the day I met him."

Looking at the proud Yun Meng, Coral Knight suddenly asked curiously, "Excuse me, how did you meet this child back then?"

"Oh, nothing special. I was just walking along the road and suddenly picked him up."

"…"