Chapter 1096: A Familiar Face (1/2)

Jiang Fei, Ariel, and the stoic Isabella paced across the empty halls of the Main Engine room. It took them quite some time to arrive at the final empty hall where the group of Unknowns was waiting for him.

There were eleven of them, all hidden under thick black cloaks that masked their appearance. Even so, the aura that they were giving off allowed even Jiang Fei to sense their nature. They gave off the same presence as the two Unknowns earlier.

Once they were within sight, Isabella vanished from Jiang Fei’s side. In literally a fraction of a second later, Isabella appeared a few inches away from the group, with a deafening “bang” sound. She was unable to move any further as there was an invisible barrier, blocking her from attacking the group of Unknowns. One of them stood still while the other ten started to configure two machines that seemed to be responsible for the creation of the barrier.

Blocked and unable to move on, Isabella pummeled the barrier with her fists. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she punched, the barrier remained erected and sturdy. Isabella’s attack began to grow stronger with every punch. So much so that her punches now created sonic booms. It did not take long before flames started bursting from her punches as the speed of her punches ignited the air around the barrier. Even so! The barrier remained erected, undamaged.

“Jiang Fei, I had assumed you would not arrive until a few minutes later,” said the one hooded figure that was standing a hair’s length away from Isabella’s punches, behind the barrier.

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“It matters not now for I have accomplished what I had come here for.”

Stunned at the mention of his name, Jiang Fei staggered a little before he got back to his feet.

“You know me?” Jiang Fei asked. If the enemy knew his name, the chances of him knowing much more than that would be high.

“I do. You’re not the only one that has been bestowed with knowledge of the universe,” said the hooded figure. The sound of his husky voice, albeit slightly robotic, seemed incredibly familiar.

Isabella was completely ignoring the conversation Jiang Fei and the hooded figure were having as she continued to unleash everything she had on the barrier, trying to break it.

“Who are you?!” Jiang Fei questioned as he took a few steps closer.

“Mhm. You and I had crossed paths several times now. Though I must say, you have a slightly different look from what I remember. It took me by surprise the first time I got to know the real you. Know that we have been watching your every move ever since,” said the hooded figure as he took a step back and revealed himself to Jiang Fei.

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“You?! H-How?!”

Befuddled, confused, and disoriented, Jiang Fei could not think straight when he saw the face of the hooded figure. It was the face that once belonged to a person that he held a grudge against for killing Isabella.

“It’s been a while, Verdure Glider.”

“Bennette Straz?!”

How did Bennette Straz come to be in this world? Did someone revive him like how Jiang Fei revived Isabella and Ariel? It was not possible since Jiang Fei was the only one that had access to the Medical Bay and Bio-Human technology. If that was not the case, how did the Dragon God come into this world? Who was responsible for it?!

“J-Just who are you people…?” Jiang Fei asked, his voice shaking.

“Mhm. It’s hard to explain. Even I had trouble accepting it when I first came into this… unfamiliar body. It took a while but I finally understand what I am.”

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Bennette Straz paced around as he studied Jiang Fei’s reaction. When he was revived into the world, he found it extremely hard to believe the fact that his existence, a Dragon God, was merely a programme created by humans, purely for entertainment purposes. However, being reborn into the world, he was given a new sense of purpose. A purpose of which he now truly accepted.

“Who are you working for?” said Jiang Fei.

“Now now… You have asked just the right question. Even if I’d like to tell you, this new body of mine require proper clearance before I can answer that question. Despite how well we know each other, I cannot tell you what we are,” said Straz. He had retained every little bit of memory when he was still a Dragon God in the game, including the time when he first met Jiang Fei as Verdure Glider.

“How did you know I was Verdure Glider?”

“As I said, we have been watching you.”

“Alright. I heard enough. This ship is mine and I will fight you for it,” said Jiang Fei when he realized Straz was not giving him the information he wanted.