Chapter 571: Vandermis Aventine

The moment the cosmic data flooded Xalvoria’s repairing cells, her golden eyes snapped open. The sudden influx of the Zephyros bloodline supercharged her decaying biology and flooded her limbs with ancient strength. With a forceful thrust, she grabbed Xavier’s shoulders and flipped him onto his back.

Straddling his waist, she let her crimson hair fall like a curtain over her collarbone. “I claim this session,” she declared, digging her nails into his chest.

‘She gets a little energy and thinks she owns the galaxy again,’ Xavier thought, entirely unbothered by her sudden display of dominance.

He gripped her hips and ignited his Golden Authority. The violent clash of his brilliant starlight against her oppressive void magic sent a massive shockwave echoing through the cramped room, shaking the entire dreadnought right down to its reinforced hull.

In one fluid motion, Xavier reversed their positions and pinned her wrists firmly against the mattress.

“My ship. My rules.”

Up on the command deck, Rin drew his twin swords with a sharp scrape of steel. Lyra instantly sparked demonic fire over her knuckles and scanned the perimeter for a hull breach.

“Are we under attack?” Rin asked, keeping his eyes locked on the main viewport.

Requiem checked the scrolling data on the tactical console and let out a mechanical sigh. “The energy spike originated directly from the captain’s quarters.”

Viola chuckled. “Those two are going to dismantle the ship before we even reach the bank.”

A few hours later, Xavier strolled back onto the bridge while casually adjusting the cuffs of his jacket. He dropped into the captain’s chair just as the blue tunnel of hyperspace collapsed into a vast field of stars.

A massive orbital ring constructed of gleaming chrome and glass dominated the space ahead. It was Vandermis Aventine.

Before Rin could angle them toward the docking lanes, dozens of corporate enforcement cruisers broke formation and established a barricade across their flight path. Targeting lasers painted the Strider’s exterior plating.

The main communications terminal chimed before flashing to life. A corporate enforcer in a pristine white uniform glared at them through the screen. “Unregistered vessel. We have detected Class-A Abyssal residue on your hull. Cut your engines and prepare for an immediate boarding inspection.”

Xavier leaned forward and tapped a few keys on the console, broadcasting his public streaming overlay directly to the enforcer’s feed.

“I think there is a misunderstanding,” Xavier said with a charming smile. “I am not here to start a war. I am just a guy looking to spend some serious credits on a vacation.”

The enforcer’s stern expression faltered as his scanners registered the galactic streaming ID. Vandermis Aventine thrived as the ultimate hub of everything, including the entertainment industry, and Xavier possessed an audience of billions. And detaining a celebrity of his magnitude without cause would be a public relations nightmare for the casino overlords.

“Mr. Xavier,” the enforcer corrected his posture, his tone shifting from hostile to accommodating. “It is an honor to have you visit our sector. However, even VIPs must pay the standard contamination toll to bypass customs.”

‘One Universal Space Chip equals three hundred dollars,’ Xavier calculated mentally. ‘Maybe I should adjust the currency already.’ He accessed the Unlimited Money System and authorized the conversion.

[ Currency Converted: $30,000,000 to 100,000 USC. Transaction Complete. ]

The enforcer received the toll and immediately signaled his fleet. The cruisers powered down their weapon systems, parting seamlessly to reveal a clear path leading down to the planet’s surface.

Rin took the yoke and guided the dreadnought through the atmosphere, eventually settling the heavy ship onto the polished concrete of a private underground VIP bay. The engines whined as they powered down, and the primary landing ramp lowered with a heavy clank.

Xavier led the crew down the incline, taking in the pristine white walls of the hangar. Before their boots even touched the ground floor, the bay’s maintenance doors slid open.

Floodlights snapped on, blindingly bright. Over forty heavily armed thugs flooded into the hangar, fanning out to surround the Strider. They wore mismatched armor painted with venomous green insignias and leveled kinetic rifles at the crew.

A towering alien with cybernetic jaw implants stepped to the front of the pack. He twirled a crackling vibro-blade between his fingers and spat a wad of synthetic tobacco onto the pristine floor.

“Welcome to the playground, superstar,” the alien sneered, resting the blade over his shoulder. “Fame gets you past the orbital gate, but the ground floor belongs to the Venom Syndicate. We collect a breathing tax from every high-roller who parks in our territory.”

‘We just landed and the garbage is already piling up,’ Xavier thought, stuffing his hands casually into his pockets.

Rin seamlessly drew his twin swords. Lyra sparked a ball of demonic fire over her knuckles, illuminating her eager grin. Xalvoria stood right beside Xavier, her freshly energized cells radiating an oppressive aura as she looked at the syndicate members with pure disgust.

“I already paid the toll in orbit,” Xavier stated, stepping off the ramp to close the distance between himself and the syndicate boss. “I strongly suggest you lower those rifles before my crew decides to do it for you.”

The alien laughed, and his men joined in, tightening their circular formation around the ship.

“Orbit is corporate,” the boss growled, his cybernetic jaw whirring. “Down here, you pay us. Hand over fifty thousand USC, or we strip this fancy ship down to the bolts and sell your crew to the fighting pits.”

Xavier did not reach for his weapon. Instead, he casually tapped the discrete console on his collar. Three metallic streaming drones immediately detached from his suit and buzzed into the air, forming a tight recording perimeter around the standoff.

A holographic interface materialized in his peripheral vision as his channel went live across the galactic network.

[ Stream Initiated. Viewers joining: 1.2 Billion… and climbing. ]

The chat overlay instantly exploded with a torrent of rapidly scrolling text.

[CosmicKing]: HE IS ALIVE! THE LEGEND RETURNS!

[StarGazer99]: Bro disappeared for months! I thought the Empire finally got him!

[LunaBite]: Where have you been?! You can’t just ghost billions of subscribers!

[IronFist]: Look at the background… is that Vandermis Aventine?

Xavier addressed the hovering camera with a charismatic smile, completely ignoring the forty kinetic rifles pointed at his crew.