Chapter 39: The Heart-wrenching Tale of the Star Eclipses
Night Star decided to strengthen the 【Unwavering in Age】 according to the Wish Princess’s suggestion.
Wishing too directly and significantly on someone of the ilk of the First Generation Star Eclipses would be like asking the ocean for a cup of water—it just wouldn’t scale well.
Even paying with B-rank mental energy might be pushing it; it’d be tough to manage.
But by forcing a trade, there wouldn’t be such a heavy price tag—though there would still be some.
Whatever the cost, the Wish Princess could easily fill in the gaps using the gargantuan mental energy gained from previous wishes.
Consider the cost of fulfilling Book Yao’s wish—enough mental energy to shake mountains.
A few hundred years’ worth of mental prowess, far exceeding A-class ratings on the regular scale.
Though right now, this immense reservoir of energy was held by the Wish Princess, not at Night Star’s disposal.
Otherwise, she’d be a free-for-all risk.
Also, the mental energy spent here would only come from Night Starlan herself, while Book Yao’s reserves would serve other purposes inside her—not just for the use of those abilities.
Even with their usage having their own costs, acquiring that vast mental energy wouldn’t be much of an issue.
“Mmm…【Unwavering in Age】 seems way more powerful than before. It might even be stronger than its original version. Surely I can overpower Silo with it, right?”
Night Star mumbled, peering down at Lolita Shana.
Now, Night Star saw plenty of bargaining chips on her.
They all seemed tied to her unique abilities.
Sure, the First Generation Star Eclipses had a collective name to describe their powers, but under the surface, quite a bit more was at play.
“Territory Expansion, Catalytic Seed, All Being Assimilation, Nation’s Royal Power, National Domination… Hmm, there sure are plenty.”
“Guuu…”
Every time Lolita mentioned one of those terms, her body would quiver.
Was her impending detachment palpable?
Night Star rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
“Hmm… What could I offer for a deal now?”
The 【Unwavering in Age】 wasn’t about theft—trading items was key.
And Night Star decided what counted as valuable.
After feeling her pocket, she noted a hodgepodge of items.
“Mmm… Lollipops, candy wrappers, Guqiu’s feather, tissues, Aypar’s ghost-themed underwear… Ah, what in the cosmos are these oddities?”
Odd though they were, any of them could suffice as trading chips.
Thus, she placed some random items before Lolita.
“These shall be your barter currency!”
Lolita stared wide-eyed.
“What do these even do!?”
“I haven’t a clue!”
She retorted unapologetically.
What was the use asking permission from the seller if it was a forcible sale anyway?
Night Star grinned like a shrewd merchant.
“Well, then I won’t hold back!”
“Guuu… Wait for me!”
Night Star ignored Lolita’s objections, inspecting her supposed “wares.”
With 【Unwavering in Age】’s power, the value and specifics of those items were clear—including which could be exploited.
“Mmm… Expanding territory doesn’t make sense. Why have huge lands when you’re just going to let them lay about? Same with using Catalytic Seeds for such purposes. Making people into Star Eclipses is overdoing it….”
Until lastly,
Night Star stripped all these dangerous abilities from Lolita, leaving her with merely “Nation’s Royal Power.”
Within her territory, that title could grant the power to fend off unknown threats.
“Uh-huh ~ This should suffice!”
Lolita’s threat level was now minimal.
Slightly above normal for an Ultra Star Eclipse, but confined to the Star Eclipse Nation.
Even so, without her other powers, it remained far from her full potential.
No doubt, the entirety of the First Generation Star Eclipses would be terrifying.
Under other circumstances,
An Ultra Star Eclipse could have made mincemeat out of her.
Forced inside the Star Eclipse country, Lolita was resigned to her new role.
She supposed ruling suited her fixation on becoming sovereign.
Even a defunct king is a king!
Night Star stepped back, allowing Lolita to sit up, tearful and indignant.
“Guu…”
Since becoming a First Generation Star Eclipse, she hadn’t experienced such degradation.
Not even Origins could humble her quite like this.
Why did humans have to be such peculiar beings?
To have those matching Origins align themselves with humanity baffled her!
Who would have thought the honor she once carried as a First Generation Star Eclipse ended in ruin at human hands—just like the Ballad Conductors before her.
Add her plight, and soon all First Generation Star Eclipses would be history!
Though she felt safe from immediate annihilation, the stripping of her powers left no hope of redemption.
Resigned to life as a molder in her remaining kingdom.
Sob sob sob!
Such a tragic tale of Star Eclipses…
If the Ballad Conductor were present, he’d surely relish the sorrow.
Tragedies were his bread and butter!
“Night Lan! You just wait! Once Lord Kuro appears, he’ll deal with you!”
Lolita wailed mournfully.
“My name is Night Star,” she corrected.
“So what?!”
Kuro, being a Star Eclipse and Origin, undoubtedly backed the Star Eclipses.
A Kuro showing up would ensure this Night Star would face the same humiliation.
The other unmanifested First Generation Star Eclipses offered little solace.
Little did Lolita know:
The last hope, Origin Star Eclipse form of Kuro, was presently a glowing orb in the Rising Sun Theater, arguably worse off than her.
Night Star pondered a bit more.
“You said Kuro can’t help you regain stature, he’s right in my clutches.”
“Really!?!”
“Mmm, yes indeed!”
“Then show me!”
Lolita’s eyes lit, instantly changing her mindset.
Dignity could wait—
Finding the Origin of the Stars was priority!
Had it not been for each First Generation Star Eclipse’s obsession with locating the Origin first,
She’d never relent to Night Star!
Sacred sovereignty, unbreakable!
However, standing before the Origin’s location made a mockery of such sanctity.
“Hang on,” another voice echoed.
Mo Rabbit approached, her expression filled with a mischievous smile.
“Performer, sometimes the ‘Night Pearl’ of the theater can serve as a critical bargaining chip. Don’t you think controlling Lolita nearby, dangling her Obsession, would make her more obedient? Giving in so swiftly might lose a unique and rare First Generation Star Eclipse Lolita to you.”
“Huh?”
Lolita’s eyes widened incredulously, staring at Mo Rabbit, disbelief in her heart—
Could this demon be the very entity she casually vanquished earlier?
Hadn’t she squeezed the life right out of it?
This was beyond bizarre!
