“Jokeiro!” Alex yelled, attempting to wrap his mentor in a tight hug. Alas, he failed. He couldn’t embrace the projection.
Jokeiro laughed. “That’s why I like you, earthlings! You are impulsive and truthful in your emotions. We have no time to grieve, Alex. Demons, for some reason calling themselves the Superior, are at your door. Do not fear while talking to them. Remember your great ancestors who gained fame as fearless berserkers terrifying the whole of space.”
Jokeiro’s projection was replaced by a hologram of a trio of aliens sitting on a strange piece of furniture resembling a throne built for three. Two of the guests were humanoid – the Homo-3 and Homo-4. The third, judging by the message from the System, belonged to the Cretz-4 race and looked like a giant flying fox. He had a narrow, crocodile-like predatory muzzle. He was scrawny, black, sparsely furred, with large frog-like eyes. Shvish Death Wings sat with dignity and pride, wrapped in his wings like a cloak, and had a level of over 4000.
The looks on their faces were cool and unfazed, but a glimmer of surprise showed through their cold, squeamish expressions.
All were silent for many moments. Finally, the Homo-3, forgoing introductions, spoke with disdain and reluctance. His speech was reminiscent of the verbal stream of consciousness reeked with the bloody rancor of intolerant malice.
“You rotter, how dare you destroy the Reaper and capture the Commonwealth ships? Forty-three thousand specialists — my subjects — have died because of you. The financial losses of many of the Supreme Worlds cannot be counted because of their immensity. How could mere slaves achieve this? How will you pay damages to us? On your knees, nobodies! Right now!”
The Homo-6 jumped up, shaking his little hands.
At these words, Alex lost control. He felt burning hatred for the Homo-3 and his involvement in the destruction of billions of earthlings. The rage that welled within his chest threatened to tear him to pieces.
Jumping to the hologram, Alex hit the Homo-3 with all his might, transformed into a seething cauldron of fury and a thirst for revenge.
And then, the impossible happened.
The Homo-3, the head of the Mind Catchers clan, was torn to pieces like a ripe watermelon. The triple throne, splattered with blood and chunks of flesh, collapsed. The two, who remained, howling with fear and pain, crawled aside like slippery leeches.
Composing himself, Alex spoke as if he were driving nails into the enemy’s coffins. “Know now, high-born bastards, you brought sorrow to our world! We will come for you and burn your life to ashes!” Then he broke the connection.
After a few seconds of stony silence, Jokeiro’s voice sounded inside his head. You must see this!
Mentor Jokeiro brought the System message to the public.
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Attention! Attention! Attention!
An event of the highest importance has transpired!
By the popular demand of several Supreme civilizations, a long-distance connection has occurred between the capital planet Eklis, the Homo-3, and the planet Earth, the Homo-54. During the conversation, Alex Phoenix, head of the Ice Vigor clan, in response to repeated insults and humiliations, killed Ebris Veli Vao, the head of the Mind Catchers clan, with a strike of unknown power. The ambassadors of the Homo-4 and Krets-4 civilizations, both present in the communication session, suffered badly but survived. The recording of the incredible incident is attached.
Supreme Network Administrator Jokeiro the Bright
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Chapter 5. Hello, Incredible New World
The nightmare had never been black and white. It usually involved a very complex variety of sensations.
Here and now, after his legendary strike across time and space, Alex lingered between life and death. His body shook. He felt faint. The thrumming in his ears reminded him of Marilyn Manson’s anniversary concert.
With a prodigious effort, Alex managed to stay on his feet. After a moment, he felt a sobering pain.
Greetings, my dear friend pain. Been a long time. Bizarrely, Alex found comfort in the familiar feeling.
He finally came to his senses, surprised by the abnormally low indicators of his characteristics. His Health was in the red sector at one percent, and Mana at stunning negative 36 thousand points.
Huh? What the heck?
After an hour dealing with this brain-crushing incomprehensibility, he approached the study of his stats more carefully. The answer turned out to be self-evident.
A small, glowing red box, right next to the Mana indicator, red, ‘1 dose of Intellectum has been administered’. That saved Alex from respawning.
The people in the wardroom would not avert their gazes from Alex. None dared approach a person who destroyed the Supreme Homo with a single punch despite being an incredible distance away from his opponent.
“Captain Phoenix, your order to land at the given coordinates has been carried out,” came Iss’s voice.
He nodded. “We all need some air and to get wet. This is useful both for our health and level-ups.” With that, he gave the order to open the ramp.
The people froze at the exit, clearly reluctant to leave the spaceship. Doubt and insecurity seemed to seize their hands, squeeze their ankles, paralyze their will.
Like cautious animals, the group led by Alex flared their nostrils, sniffing at the unfamiliar yet alluring smells of the new world, before rushing headlong into this lilac-haze dope.
Alex closed his eyes, pushing his scanning abilities to the fullest. He repeated the scan two more times. All three attempts yielded the same result – no monster generators. It was as if they had never been there.
He addressed his men, “Don’t worry, everything’s fine here. I detect no monsters within ten miles, but don’t get complacent.”
It’s all very suspicious. Where are all the Devourers, Chasers, Knackers, and others? Where?
Like a predator, Alex approached the end of the lowered ramp. From the sight that opened before his eyes, his
