No! I don't want to be a Super Necromancer!

General Hong Fei immediately jumped in. "Yeah, yeah! Duck meat's the best! Not chewy like, you know… those young military brats!"

"Much more tender," General Riki added, completely straight-faced. "Very juicy. Doesn't fight back either."

"Hahaha! Eat more! Eat more!" General Liang bellowed, slapping Damien on the back hard enough to make the table rattle.

Fatty was staring at Damien like he'd grown wings.

"Boss…" he whispered with admiration. "You eat human meat too? That's crazy!"

Damien calmly reached over and smacked Fatty upside the head.

"Don't listen to these old lunatics," he muttered. "They got infected by a stupid virus earlier today. It's called 'Senile Madness'."

The generals roared with laughter.

"Truth be told, little boy," General Maru said, wiping his mouth, "you're amazing. Too amazing."

General Riki nodded, duck bun still in hand. "Your feat earlier today killing 5,000 awakened beasts in one simulation run… that wasn't human. It was godlike."

"Honestly, we're not sure how long we can keep you around," General Liang muttered, sighing into his tea. "Something like that doesn't go unnoticed."

"Definitely not," General Hong Fei said, voice low now. "The top brass probably already have your name plastered on half the Ministry's walls."

Maru gave Damien a sideways glance. "You've probably even caught the attention of… him."

"Yes you very definitely did." Gneral riki sighed deeply as though Damien had just passed away and he would never be able to see him again.

Damien blinked. "Him who?"

General Liang visibly shivered. "The Black Asura."

"Black Asura?" Damien's eyebrows rose. "That's not real, right?"

"Oh, he's real," General Riki said grimly. "We just don't say his name too loud or the lights flicker."

"Grand Marshal Li Qingshan." General Liang said reverently. "A killing Asura wielding the Darkness Energy. 2nd on the Golden Ranking, even higher than Germany's Space Sovereign."

Damien's jaw almost dropped at that moment.

What the hell? Even stronger than the person who wielded half of the ultimate element?!

"The real reason why the war with the European Empire is at a stalemate. Screw military strength. Screw strategic weapons. He is a one-man nuclear arsenal. For as long as he is alive, the European Empire would not dare to win the war." General Maru intoned seriously.

"Why not?" Fatty asked in an awed whisper.

"Simply because the European Empire would not survive his revenge killing spree." General Hong Fei said in a soft voice.

"And he… probably has his sights on you now." General Maru sighed.

Damien sat there for a second, processing.

What the hell?

All this attention. All this chaos. All this—

He pressed a palm to his forehead and groaned.

"I wanted to stay low profile," he muttered under his breath.

The generals all froze.

Then, in unison:

"Low profile?!"

General Maru gaped. "Low profile? You call decimating 5,000 simulated awakened beasts low profile?!"

"You outbid a colonel's son in public, fought a beast-mecha like you were on a walk, and made half the elite military cry tears of envy watching your footwork!" General Hong Fei added.

"Only real gods or real demons can do what you did today," General Liang said, stunned. "And you call that 'laying low'?"

Damien slumped slightly in his seat. "Damn it… I was just… caught in the moment."

The table fell silent for a moment.

Then Fatty quietly slid a second duck bun onto Damien's plate and patted his shoulder.

"There, boss. You eat. You'll feel better."

Damien sighed. Took the bun. Took a bite.

"Damn this bun is good." he muttered. "Would be better if I was unknown and had a low profile though."

General Riki raised his cup in salute.

"To the Hungry Monster," he declared. "And his totally low-key, not-at-all world-breaking career."

"Cheers," the generals echoed mournfully and emptied their cups.

"Another round!" General Riki roared.

"I am not going home until I drown my sadness in wine!" General Maru added with a howl.

Fatty leaned in, eyes wide with awe. "Boss… are we in trouble?"

Damien stared at his half-eaten bun.

"Almost certainly."

Then he took another bite.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The final day of the Beijing Battle Gods Arena tournament dawned bright and clear, as though the heavens themselves wanted a good view.

The virtual stadium had never been louder.

Every screen across the nation was tuned in.

The crowd was swollen with dignitaries, commanders, elites, nobles, academy heads, and even the reclusive hybrid aces from the military's internal divisions. But most notably…

Grand Marshal Li Qingshan had arrived.

He sat at the center of the VIP skybox, flanked by his legendary entourage, including Colonel Yin Lu, Commander Gao Jian, and Captain Lian Fang. They said nothing. They didn't need to.

The entire stadium buzzed with their presence alone.

Sleepy Smile leaned forward into the mic, voice silky as ever. "Ladies and gentlemen, soldiers and citizens… welcome to the grand finals of the Beijing BGA tournament."

Grumpy Bear, for once, sounded genuinely happy. "Yeah, and let me say right now. I've seen miracles. I've seen monsters. But this is different. This right here? This is Hungry Monster's judgment day. His final test. And also coincidentally, the end of his lucky streak."

"And why is that, Grumpy?" Sleepy Smile asked with a grin.

Grumpy Bear slammed his fist on the desk. "Because his opponent isn't just anyone! She's from the goddamn military!"

The stadium lights dimmed. The ground rumbled.

"And here she comes!" Sleepy Smile intoned.

"Representing the Northern Army Corps!" Grumpy Bear shouted excitedly. "The strongest ace of the military division! A three-time champion of the BGA tournament! The hammer of frost and destruction herself!"

The crowd rose in a wave.

"Let us welcome the return of our undefeated warrior! Colonel Xue Lingtian!"

A roar shook the stands.

And then she appeared.

Descending from a military air-cruiser above, the mecha dropped like a thunderbolt onto the arena floor, landing with a seismic thud that cracked the tiles beneath. Smoke hissed from its limbs, and the roar of its engines howled like war drums.

Oblivion Hammer.