The meteor shattered under the violent impact, disintegrating into countless blazing shooting stars, cascading like a majestic waterfall, bringing the starry river crashing down to the mortal world.
“Wow—” The exhausted illiterate kitten leaned against the robot’s foot, letting out a sigh limited by his vocabulary. “So pretty.”
Silver Wing gazed at the dome overhead, its program stalling for a long time. This was the first meteor shower it had ever seen since its creation.
Xun blinked, shifting his gaze back to the kitten. Through the reflection in the kitten’s eyes, he perceived what was meant by beauty.
You’re watching the scenery; the little dog is watching you.
“Pretty.” Xun nuzzled against the kitten.
The starry sky blazed brilliantly as the mech stood silently. Even the xenoids gathered over, not understanding how to appreciate the so-called scenery but delighted to stay with the kitten. Tall and short figures lined up in a row. Li Ao pointed at a shooting star with a long tail, his cat paw following its trajectory as it streaked downward.
It kept moving until it reached the lowest point, and the expression on Li Ao’s face froze.
“Machine…” He fluffed up in stunned shock. “What is that?”
Silver Wing abruptly kicked up its foot, sending the two little ones airborne, then scooped them up with a massive hand and tossed them to Mantis Monster No. 1 behind it. “Take them—” It wanted to say leave, but remembered this stubborn kitten definitely wouldn’t go. “To a safe place.”
Xun instantly leaped away, only to be smacked back to the kitten’s side by Silver Wing. “The young ones should stay together obediently.”
Young one… Xun blinked, a bit dazed. Does that include me?
The little monster seemed to have a brain, but Silver Wing had already extracted much information from it. It knew he had been born in the Abyss long ago, yet had never contacted the outside world, ignorant of worldly affairs, merely enduring endless lonely and painful devouring. His new life had begun only after meeting the kitten—so how could he not count as a young one?
The planet’s energy had been depleted to its limit, unable to maintain control over itself any longer. It allowed those xenoid variants once trapped at the base of the cliff to break free one after another and escape.
These xenoid variants were fully matured, enveloped in energy fields that rendered energy weapons useless against them.
Silver Wing drew the lightsaber from its back, its body sinking slightly as its legs bent to store power. Like a gale, it suddenly launched upward, charging toward the enemies.
“Xun…” The kitten stood atop Mantis Monster No. 1’s head, his expression somewhat sad. “That’s Mantis Monster No. 5.” Not just it—the original members of the kitten’s soccer team, except for No. 1 and No. 2, had all turned into xenoid variants.
“No. 1 has long legs, No. 2 has a big head, No. 3’s belly is a bit fatter…” To Xun, these low-level xenoids looked no different, but in the kitten’s eyes, he could spot distinctions in each.
“I can’t save them anymore.” Instinct told him that xenoid variants fully corrupted could not be saved by anyone.
“Li Ao.” Xun hugged him and patted his back. “You’ve already done great. They’re the dumb ones who turned bad.”
There were too many xenoid variants—not just the mantis monsters, but many breeds Li Ao had never seen before.
Silver Wing moved extremely fast; the kitten could only see the afterimages of the lightsaber carving brilliant trails through the xenoid variants. Yet even with limbs severed, they could still act. As long as their vital spot wasn’t pierced, they were immortal.
“Machine!” Li Ao shouted reminders. “The one on the left—hit its belly. The one on the right—hit its skinnier arm.”
In the instant he was calling out weak points to the robot, Mantis Monster No. 1 tossed him to Mantis Monster No. 2. No. 1 opened its mouthparts, emitting a shrill cry as it charged at the xenoid variants behind.
But the kitten didn’t stay on No. 2 for long either. Xenoid variants surged in from all sides like zombies, surrounding them completely. No. 2 flung the kitten to Xun before turning to join the battlefield.
The gravely injured Zolax moved sluggishly and had already been climbed by two xenoid variants, who tore off a large chunk of its flesh.
“Xun, go help them.” The kitten nuzzled the little monster. “I’ll hide by myself.”
Xun was worried. After expending so much energy this time, the kitten hadn’t passed out yet—this was very wrong.
“Li Ao—” He wanted to send him back to base, but remembered his previous promise. His scarlet eyes unwillingly closed, and he fiercely nuzzled back against the kitten’s cheek gland. “Wait for me.”
With his companions all fighting, Li Ao climbed while calling out positions for them. Silver Wing, Xun, and the xenoids coordinated tacitly around the kitten, slaying the xenoid variants. But there were too many; inevitably, some broke through the lines and rushed toward the kitten.
The kitten couldn’t outrun them. He watched wide-eyed as a xenoid variant’s twisted form flashed before him. Xun’s pupils contracted sharply; his tentacles withdrew from the xenoid variant as he turned to rush toward Li Ao. In that single breath, Li Ao realized everything had paused. Time had stagnated.
The golden Sun God Sword descended from the heavens, pinning the xenoid variant’s tail firmly to the ground. In an instant, time flowed again.
Snow-white wings blocked the sunlight overhead. Li Ao stared dumbly as the man landed before him and kicked the struggling, roaring xenoid variant away.
“Legs too short, runs too slow—but courage commendable.” The man’s voice was crisp like clear liquor, faint. His golden long hair fluttered in the air as he turned sideways, lowering his gaze to the young one looking up at him. “Little one, watch closely. Spiritual Power isn’t used as recklessly as you did.”
He didn’t even turn around, merely raising his right hand with palm facing the onrushing xenoid variant. Amid the flow of time, everything paused again. It all happened incredibly fast—one second, or less than one—but in that fleeting breath, the golden Sun God Sword had already pierced the xenoid variant’s heart.
Countless soldiers descended from the warships, swords flashing amid the chaos. By the time the kitten came back to his senses, the ground was littered with corpses.
“Cow Monster! Don’t—” Amid the confusion of xenoid variants and humans, a soldier raised his sword to strike Zolax, who also raised its horns against him.
Isiris’s golden eyes swept lightly, and both sides froze in place. When they breathed again, they had halted their mutual attack.
“Delphians.” The Sun God Sword pointed skyward. “Clean the battlefield.”
Xun leaped back to the kitten’s side, his scarlet beast eyes fixed tightly on Isiris.
The man twirled his sword, the silver-white blade aimed at the pitch-black little monster. “What kind of xenoid are you?”
From the time he could fight until now, countless xenoid variants had died under his sword. With one glance, he could identify them. “What is your purpose in staying by his side?”
Xun’s pupils shrank to pinpricks. No human had ever given him such a profound sense of threat. In his Great Old One form, he could battle him, but freshly reborn now, he couldn’t win.
“His name is Xun.” The kitten raised his paw to press against the blade, carefully pushing the sword away to protect his companion. “He’s Li Ao’s little dog.”
Isiris raised a brow, seeing the kitten hugging the little monster and patting the dust off him like brushing off ashes. And the little monster stayed obediently, allowing the actions.
The Sun God Sword sheathed. He turned to face the mech that had somehow arrived behind them.
Silver Wing bent down to scoop the two little ones into its palm. As it straightened, though it looked down at the golden-haired man, it inexplicably felt as if looking up at him.
“The kitten has grown wings.” The mech said: “You promised me a debt. Does it still count?”
“Naturally.” The snow-white wings gradually vanished from the golden-haired emperor’s back. “I, Isiris, keep my word.”
“Machine?” Li Ao struggled to stand, unsure what it intended.
Silver Wing said: “I want to join Delphi and become a citizen of Delphi.”
“Sun!” The brown-haired strategist spoke to stop it. “This is an Alpha Machine.”
“Caleb.” But Isiris said: “Do you take me for a fool?” The emperor glanced faintly at him. “Or an illiterate cat?”
The inexplicably mentioned kitten had no idea he’d been called out, blinking in confusion with his stray hair sticking up wildly.
Isiris addressed the mech again: “Kneel, and pledge your loyalty to your monarch.”
The silver-white mech glanced at the kitten in its palm, then unhesitatingly dropped to one knee.
Isiris drew his sword, lightly touching it from the mech’s left shoulder to the right, performing a simple investiture ceremony. “In the name of Delphi’s Monarch, I grant you the honors of Delphi. From this day forth, you are no longer alone; Delphi shall be your shield, and you shall serve as Delphi’s blade, offering your loyalty to the empire.”
This was no mere naturalization—it was a grave responsibility. An Alpha Machine reemerging into the world was self-evident in its oppressive and threatening presence to humans who had endured the Machine Revolution.
Isiris knew full well that accepting it meant Delphi might stand against humanity.
The atmosphere was solemn as the kitten suddenly stood. “He’s Li Ao’s friend. Don’t hurt it.”
Too nervous—his buckteeth made his speech slur again.
Isiris chuckled lightly. “It is now under the protection of the wings.” The man extended both hands to the kitten. “Come down; I’ll catch you.”
His own legs trembled, yet he dared defend his friend. This bravery greatly impressed Isiris. “Little lion cat—worthy of your name, Leo.”
The kitten didn’t quite understand, but this person was so handsome and praising him. Blushing shyly, the kitten wiggled his butt and leaped into his arms.
“Prepare for gene scanning.” Isiris carried the kitten aboard the Mandjet. Silver Wing followed, carrying the little monster. The xenoids were not permitted to board and watched the kitten longingly from the ground.
“Tsk—when you live long enough, you see everything.” A soldier restrained his reflexive urge to stab the Xenoid. “To think there’d come a day when I’d let a Xenoid stand alive right in front of me.”
Li Ao hugged Isiris’s forearm with both arms, his legs dangling in the air as his round blue eyes curiously took in his surroundings.
This warship was enormous. The worldly-naive short-legged cat could hardly take it all in.
“Conduct a thorough examination.” Isiris handed the cat to the medical soldier. Seeing how unafraid he was, he bent a finger and knocked on the little cat’s head. “Ignorance is bliss.”
Li Ao truly wasn’t afraid. He was extremely sensitive to goodwill and malice alike. From Isiris, he sensed no malice at all—instead, there was an inexplicable sense of closeness.
[Please stand properly. Don’t move around.]
Hearing the voice tell him to stand, the little cat straightened up on his hind legs.
“…” Among the medical soldiers, a younger female soldier turned away, covering her mouth as she laughed.
Too cute! He clearly had four legs—why stand on two?
Even the older head medic smiled faintly. Though the test results weren’t out yet, they’d already decided this was Regalis’s cub. After all, besides Regalis, who else could produce a cub with dual wings?
But when the results came in, they all held their breath in unison.
“This is…” Several medical soldiers double- and triple-checked the results. “How is this possible?”
The head medic snatched up the report and burst into the conference room in a flurry.
Isiris was conferring with Silver Wing about the situation. Seeing the medic so agitated left him puzzled. “What is it?”
“The sun!” The head medic’s heart pounded wildly, nearly bursting. “The little cat isn’t Highness Zane’s child!”
“What?” Isiris frowned, about to insist it had to be Regalis’s cub, when the medic continued: “He’s your child!”
The conference room fell deathly silent, then erupted in uproar. “You’re joking—what do you mean His Majesty’s?”
Isiris was known across the entire empire for his aloof abstinence; everyone had long accepted there’d never be a little sun born. And now? He was saying that cat was Isiris’s cub?
“Your Majesty!” The brown-haired strategist Caleb dramatically wiped at his eye corner. “When! When did you give birth to such an adorable little cub?”
What Caleb had once seen as puny short legs and a dumb head were now pure cuteness.
“Oh, my poor little sun.” Caleb clutched his chest theatrically. “My little sun must not have eaten enough to be this tiny.”
Shen Que’s purple eyes widened. “Confirmed? It’s His Majesty’s cub, not Highness Zane’s?”
“No mistake.” The head medic nodded. “We’ve verified it countless times. The little cat’s genes come from His Majesty.”
Isiris turned his gaze to the mech, saying coolly, “Explain.”
He’d never been with anyone—how could he have a cub?
Machines didn’t lie, but Silver Wing had no explanation. That experimental egg couldn’t possibly hatch a cat, let alone the cat of Delphi’s emperor.
Getting no reply, Isiris rose and strode toward the medical bay.
Li Ao was undergoing more checks. Hearing the announcement of his weight at 26kg, he proudly flicked his tail. “Not skinny! Grandma will praise Li Ao for being awesome!”
The medical soldiers were utterly charmed, one preparing to lovingly lift him from the inspection pod with a doting expression.
A sturdy arm reached from behind. The soldier froze for a moment, then spotted the golden long hair and realized who it was.
“Your Majesty!” She dropped to a squat, heart racing as she saluted the Monarch.
Isiris lifted the cat out, holding him under the light for a close inspection.
“Meow?” Li Ao mewed weakly, his bucktoothed gap from missing canines making his speech unclear. “Put me down, dummy.”
He was put down—but sprawled on the man’s lap. Isiris pinched his ears while listening to the report.
“Little Highness’s vitals are all normal…” The doctor scratched his head, seeming amused. “Except… leg length, which doesn’t meet standard.”
Shen Que entered with a plate of candies, smiling faintly at the words. “Highness, are you hungry?”
How could a gluttonous cat not be hungry? He gulped, craning his head toward the mech opposite. “Machine, can Li Ao eat them?”
In an instant, dozens of gazes shot toward Silver Wing.
“…” The robot relented somewhat. “Only two.”
“Too many and he’ll lose teeth.”
The little cat perked up at the first half, reaching for the candies happily—then hesitated at the second half, withdrawing his paw to cover his mouth. “Then… no thanks.”
Instantly, dozens of death stares.
“…” The mech said expressionlessly, “Two is fine.”
Still hesitating, the little cat watched as slender fingers peeled a chocolate and held it to his mouth.
“Just two.” Isiris tapped his pink nose. “Let it melt in your mouth—don’t bite. Your teeth won’t fall out.”
Li Ao’s watery eyes darted between the man and the candy before he chomped it down with an “ah-woo.” His little mouth worked it around, then he mumbled, paw outstretched. “Want one more.”
A flicker of amusement in Shen Que’s violet eyes as he picked one up and placed it in the little paw.
Having gotten it, Li Ao clambered up and offered it toward the little monster. “Xun too.”
Isiris scooped up his chubby cat body, grabbed the paw, and told Shen Que, “Give him the whole plate.”
⊙.⊙!
A lightbulb went off in the cat’s head—Xun had a whole plate! Then… meow could sneakily eat lots. After all, in the little cat’s mind, Xun’s stuff was his own.
Wanting to sneak eats but scared of losing teeth, the little cat guiltily glanced at the golden-haired man.
Well-versed in cat nature, Silver Wing’s program tightened instantly. This bratty kitten— one butt wiggle and it knew what he was up to!
“Li Ao—”
Before it finished, the little cat piped up in sync: “Li Ao’s gonna tell you a secret…” No logic to it—he just figured since the guy gave him candy, he could trade a secret, same as with the robot before.
Silver Wing itched to charge and smack that cat butt, but smirking strategist Caleb blocked it.
Oblivious that his rear was doomed, Li Ao mysteriously climbed to Isiris’s shoulder, whispering in the man’s ear: “Li Ao turned into a little cat after dying as a human, oh.”
“…Is that so.” Isiris glanced coolly at the robot. “How shocking.”
“Super shocking.” The little cat crawled back into the man’s arms, chocolate melting sweetly in his mouth. Leaning against the man’s nicely-toned abs, he happily dangled his paws. “Dong Xixi is like that too.”
“Who’s Dong Xixi?”
Mouth full, the little cat drooled as he spoke. Isiris took a handkerchief from Shen Que and dabbed his mouth, gaze on the robot.
Silver Wing felt deeply weary. “Dong Xixi is a short-legged cat from an animation, with experiences very similar to Li Ao’s.”
The mech scanned the room. Isiris’s voice was calm. “No issue. Speak freely.”
Delphi had no traitors—nothing to hide from the people.
Silver Wing thus recounted everything it knew.
“Your Majesty.” A staffer pulled up data. “In the stars, no such animation exists.”
Rebirth… impossible. Forbidden by the laws. Humanity’s greatness lay in life’s finitude.
Humans achieved the impossible in limited spans, rivaling monsters with flesh and blood. Laws balanced this, denying infinite life.
“This defies explanation.”
Did Silver Wing not know? It had puzzled alone long before these people. Suddenly afraid, it worried they’d harm the little cat.
“Science can’t explain it,” Isiris said. “Then leave it to fate.” He stroked the little cat’s fluffy head. “Destined—he is my child.”
The crowd fell abruptly silent, then someone murmured: “Aliya’s third prophecy.”
Aliya Regalis, history’s mightiest Valkyrie, wielder of the Moon God Sword, conqueror of the stars. Her prestige nearly unified humanity. Delphi’s singular royal light.
As her energy waned, heaven’s guidance prompted three prophecies for Delphi:
One: Machines would gain self-awareness.
Two: Cosmic balance would break.
The first, proven by the Machine Wars.
The second, once thought a Machine Wars byproduct—Alpha machines disrupting society. Now, perhaps the Xenoid Variants’ emergence.
The third: Laws would grant Regalis a cub beyond reason, leading Delphi to true glory.
“Fate’s chosen one.”
The crowd’s gazes burned fervent. They rose, kneeling on one knee, pledging loyalty to the golden-haired emperor and the little cat in his arms.
Isiris lowered his gaze, suddenly sensing something off. “Little one?” He lifted the little cat’s floppy head, finding him long since asleep.
