Chapter 119: The Silent Guardian
Lian moved with extreme caution toward the captain’s chair in the center of the control room. His footsteps were nearly silent on the metallic floor, each one placed deliberately to avoid making any noise. His breathing was shallow, almost held entirely, as if even the slightest sound could awaken something deadly. The glowing crystal orb in his hand cast a soft, white light that pushed back the heavy darkness, illuminating the path ahead in a narrow cone. Shadows danced on the walls and consoles around him, making the already tense atmosphere feel even more oppressive. His black blade was held ready in his other hand, though he hoped he wouldn’t need it.
The figure in the chair became clearer as he approached. It was a man — or what remained of one. He sat upright in the large command seat, hands resting on the armrests as if he had died while still in control. His head was bowed forward, chin resting on his chest. His body was covered in old, dried wounds: deep gashes across his torso, burns on his arms and shoulders, and a large, ancient blade still embedded deeply in his chest, right through the heart. The man’s skin was pale and leathery, preserved in an unnatural state — not decayed like a normal corpse, but not fully alive either. His clothes were tattered remnants of what must have once been a high-ranking uniform, dark with old bloodstains. Strands of long, graying hair fell over his face, obscuring his features. There was an aura of quiet dignity and immense power that still lingered around him, even in death.
Lian’s heart pounded as he got closer. He raised the glowing orb higher, the light falling directly on the figure. No movement. No breathing. No reaction. The man was unmistakably dead.
Lian let out a deep sigh of relief, the tension draining from his shoulders. His guard dropped noticeably. He lowered his black blade and stored it back into his ring with a small flick of his wrist.
Elara, who had been watching everything from the doorway with her thunder blade drawn, also relaxed. She saw Lian’s action and mirrored it, putting her own weapon away. The room felt slightly less oppressive now.
“Come see this,” Lian called softly.
Elara walked over to him, her steps careful on the debris-strewn floor. She stopped beside him and looked at the dead man in the chair. Her blue cyber eyes widened slightly as she took in the details — the preserved body, the blade still lodged in his chest, the faint but lingering aura of power that refused to fade even after death.
She moved closer, reaching out instinctively to touch the man’s shoulder, wanting to examine him better.
Lian’s hand shot out quickly, grabbing her wrist and stopping her.
“Don’t touch it,” he said sharply.
Elara looked at him, confused. “Why?”
Lian’s expression was serious. “I don’t know how long this man has been dead, or what he went through, but look at his body. He hasn’t decayed. His skin, his muscles — they still look like he could be alive. There’s something protecting him. A quiet aura, very faint, but it’s there. Maybe he was Nebula Dominion Realm or higher. If I didn’t stop you, you might have died instantly from whatever is guarding him.”
Elara studied the man more carefully — the lack of rot, the preserved state of his wounds, the subtle energy that seemed to cling to his form. She stepped back a little, understanding the danger.
“You’re right,” she said quietly.
Lian released her hand. He then stood in front of the dead man and bowed his head respectfully. He remembered what his uncle Harlan had taught him long ago — to pay respect to the dead, to honor the lives they had lived and the battles they had fought, no matter who they were. It was a small gesture, but one that carried weight in his heart.
He bowed three times, slow and deliberate.
Then he straightened up.
“May I give you a proper burial,” he said softly to the dead man, “so your soul may rest in peace.”
Elara watched this in surprise. All the time she had spent with Lian, he had shown almost no sympathy to anyone. He had walked past countless injured and dead people after the fight, looting their rings and valuables without hesitation. Yet here he was, paying respects to a stranger he didn’t even know. What a strange person, she thought to herself.
As Lian finished speaking, the bracelet on the dead man’s remaining wrist suddenly floated up on its own. It moved smoothly through the air and landed gently in Lian’s open palm.
Lian looked down at it, surprised. The bracelet was simple but elegant — dark metal with faint glowing runes. He slipped it onto his wrist without hesitation.
Power Scale / Cultivation Realms (Quick Reminder)
Foundation Realm (Layers 1–9): Body forging, no external Qi.
Circuit Awakening Realm (Early–Peak): First Qi loop, internal bursts.
Core Condensation Realm (Early–Peak): External Qi release, short flight.
Stellar Circuit Realm (1–9 Stars): True flight, Qi armor, energy projection.
Nebula Dominion Realm and higher: Domain control, galaxy-level power, etc
Power Scale Reminder
Lian Yu: Stellar Circuit Star 1.
Elara Voss: Core Condensation Middle
Keep it as reminders
