Translator: CinderTL
Boom!!
A red-and-white beam tore through the night sky, illuminating the heavens.
Everyone in Prism Ring City looked up, momentarily convinced that daylight had arrived.
But after a dozen seconds, the artificial daylight slowly faded.
Night returned, with the two moons—one large and one small—hanging high in the sky, surrounded by countless stars.
The disc warship that had been spanning the sky remained in combat readiness, several circular energy rings transmitting power, ready to unleash a devastating strike at any moment.
Meanwhile, the black towers at the center of the city had silently activated their Force Field defenses, sending up blue pillars of light that converged in midair to form a massive barrier enveloping the entire city.
"What's going on?"
"Is a legion about to attack Prism Ring City?"
"They've even alerted the warship and activated a citywide alert! Could the ancient empire be launching a new war?!"
Whispers of alarm and concern rippled through the city, spreading like a tidal wave.
In the midst of the chaos, a dozen elite reconnaissance teams were dispatched to the area where the beam had originated, as well as the corresponding wasteland outside the city walls.
The wreckage of more than a dozen aircraft lay scattered across the earth, with flickering flames still clinging to the metal shards and components.
The mechanical intelligence warriors, the backbone of the City Defense Force, were reduced to charred fragments. The entire landscape outside the city was cratered and churned with upturned soil.
This scene was transmitted to the Warship within the city, where the interior was visibly packed with figures.
Elite warriors in combat suits or nanosuits moved back and forth, while holographic screens and keyboards floated everywhere.
In the central control room, photon signals flashed rapidly, accompanied by real-time analysis reports providing data-driven conclusions.
"Target's life signs have completely vanished. Preliminary assessment suggests they have departed. No traces found within three kilometers of the city."
"Mechanical squadron wiped out. Central controllers and weapon platforms completely destroyed."
"Three mecha defense members confirmed dead. Mecha damage rate: 100%. Recovery failed."
A soft female voice echoed through the room. Upon closer inspection, it emanated from a phantom electronic being suspended within the cabin.
It appeared human-like, with long hair cascading down its shoulders and clad in a tight blue leather suit. In reality, it was the highest-authority holder of the Warship, a true advanced intelligence.
"Even a domain-class mecha would be critically damaged by such an attack. How could he have blocked it?" the Warship's commander asked in a deep voice, a burly figure clad in black armor that covered most of his body, leaving only his short-cropped hair and stern face visible. He appeared to be in his forties.
"He did indeed block it," the phantom intelligence replied, its female voice echoing through the bridge. The holographic figure tapped the screen, magnifying the image hundreds of times.
Within the red and white beams of light, a Scarlet Gold shield seemed to rapidly coalesce, forming a metallic Round Shield. Though riddled with cracks, it ultimately held, preventing complete destruction.
"Is he a mecha pilot?" the commander frowned.
"No," the phantom intelligence shook its head, switching to several new screens.
Scarlet Gold flames, searing heat. Three star core-grade mecha pilots were nearly annihilated instantly.
"Based on current information, he is highly likely an unknown awakened, wielding flame-like abilities."
"Possesses incineration, high-temperature, and explosive properties. Physical strength is extremely high, and it also wields domain-class nano-metal weapons. Estimated danger level: S-class. I've already reported this to the deep web."
Analysis after analysis appeared, creating a tense atmosphere within the Warship.
An S-class threat was capable of causing a disaster that could destroy a main city.
Especially during this critical period.
Silence fell, and the Warship's commander, his face grim, asked the question everyone was most concerned about.
"Who exactly is he?"
"Could he be a high-rank Awakened sent by the ancient empire assassin court?"
"We have no information yet to confirm his true identity."
The phantom intelligence shook her head, then her fingers flew across the virtual keyboard, instantly typing out a flurry of information.
"However, I've already reported this matter to headquarters."
"The deep web has responded, stating they will intervene in the investigation and activate a higher-level Celestial Dome Lockdown to track him."
"I believe it won't be long before we locate him and take him into custody."
Thud!
Chen Feng crushed a pile of dry leaves underfoot, his boots sinking into the muddy ground as he came to a halt.
Looking left and right, Chen Feng saw only a desolate wilderness stretching into the distance, with the ruins of a town not far off.
The Steel Bones armor covering his body was riddled with cracks, indicating significant damage. It was draining his stamina as it autonomously repaired itself, slowly retracting into his body.
"This world is truly remarkable," Chen Feng muttered, shaking his head. The technological prowess of this world was truly extraordinary.
A Third-Tier True Intent level flesh-and-blood body with only ordinary mental fortitude could achieve the Flying General level using a Mecha. On Blue Star, this would be utterly impossible.
Becoming a Flying General-class cyborg required not only extensive augmentation modules implanted into the body and replacement with mechanical parts but also a significant transformation in mental fortitude to withstand the strain.
The disc-shaped warship, which appeared capable of firing laser cannons, and the powerful barrier enveloping the town, blocking his Perception, also struck him as unusual. He suspected that a Legendary-grade Mecha warrior, comparable to an angel, might be hiding within.
Because of this, he didn't rush into a head-on confrontation or immediately summon the Holy Shield Colossus.
Even the greatest confidence and assurance required sufficient information. He decided to learn more about this world.
In addition to that...
"Something feels off."
Narrowing his eyes, Chen Feng looked up at the night sky.
Countless stars, numbering in the thousands, surrounded him. Two moons, one large and one small, hung high above. The larger moon went through its normal phases, waxing and waning, but the smaller one was a perfect, brilliant sphere, almost unnaturally bright.
This struck him as odd.
Its perfection felt...unnatural.
He hadn't seen a night sky like this in a long time. Whether on Earth or in other Secret Realm Worlds, none could compare.
But he didn't dwell on it.
Chen Feng quickly suppressed his wonder and turned his attention to the panel before him.
His Power of the Dead had only decreased by 100 points. He estimated he could remain here for about three days without activating the Dark Dream Mark.
In addition to that...
[Steel Bone LV6: 50/100]
[Heart of Glory LV6: 6/100]
Steel Bones' progress was normal. While the metal materials of the three Mecha weren't as advanced as those of a Peak Flying General, lacking super-grade metals like Rainbow Iron, they were only slightly inferior to Stellar Titanium, making them marginally valuable.
The Heart of Glory, however, grew at an exceptionally slow pace, showing almost no change.
After all, the Holy Shield Colossus had already broken through to the Lower-Ranking Angel level, making Flying General-level battles trivial.
The few points of progress it had gained were mostly due to the Black Tide battle, where it had directly faced a true Evil God Angel. Some Glory Points had lingered after the upgrade, pushing its progress forward slightly.
But none of this was Chen Feng's main focus right now.
Because...
[Azure Armor LV7: 92/100]
"Just as I suspected... the quality is too low."
Chen Feng shook his head, confirming his theory.
When he killed the City Defense Force, the mechanical intelligence soldiers showed no emotional response, but the three Mecha Warriors had provided him with some nourishment.
However...
"Although these Mecha Warriors have reached Flying General-level destructive power and defense..."
"But fundamentally, it's still just Fear Value provided by slightly stronger humans, and the quality is far inferior to this level."
Lost in thought, Chen Feng once again felt the difference between this world's technology and that of Earth.
He also recalled the keywords Keld, the battalion commander, had warned him about before his death:
The Tedo Kingdom and the ancient empire.War, Peace Fortress, silent regulations.
Chen Feng had some guesses, but he also regretted that the Warship's bombardment had come too quickly, preventing him from salvaging the Mecha Warriors' intelligent devices.
He might have gained something from them.
"No matter," he thought. "Even if I had kept those devices, they might have become traceable clues. And with the language barrier, I probably wouldn't have been able to decipher or control them anyway."
Shaking his head, Chen Feng expanded his Perception, scanning the desolate wilderness.
This area was more than ten kilometers from Prism Ring City. Low hills rose and fell, covered in dense green trees and wild vines and grasses. Numerous swamp-like depressions were filled with exceptionally muddy soil. Occasionally, wild beasts roamed the wilderness, their forms noticeably different from those on Earth, and their life force was significantly stronger.
Looking down, Chen Feng noticed several tire tracks pressed into the muddy wasteland.
Following the tracks, he saw a cracked and potholed asphalt road cutting across the wilderness a hundred meters away.
At the road's end lay a ruined town, shrouded in the darkness of night. Faint glimmers of light emanated from within.
"Someone there?"
His heart quickened, and Chen Feng began to walk toward the town.
Wild grasses lay flattened in swathes, and snakes and pythons lurked in the shadows, their Jade Green eyes fixed on Chen Feng's every move.
Rustle...
The night wind rustled through the leaves of the Greenfield trees.
Chen Feng walked slowly. The gravity in this world was similar to Earth's, and even without activating his Heart of Life, his stamina quickly recovered thanks to his powerful Physical Body.
After walking for about ten seconds, he paused.
Chen Feng stood before a muddy, potholed area, only seven or eight meters from the asphalt road.
Twisted vines clung to a massive tree, its trunk thick enough for four or five people to embrace.
At the far end of the asphalt road, two points of light appeared.
Vroom!!
The roar of an engine cut through the night wind, growing louder with each passing moment.
Chen Feng glanced in the direction his Perception had reached. A black-and-gray pickup truck was speeding toward them.
The truck's body was mottled, with rust and dents marring its surface. Four men sat inside, all male, their expressions wary. Some wore leather jackets, others camouflage pants and long-sleeved crew necks. Most carried submachine guns and rifles, and several metal crates were loaded in the truck bed.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, the black-and-gray pickup truck began to slow. Its blinding headlights shone directly at Chen Feng.
He stepped onto the road.
Whoosh!!
A thick python, its body as thick as a water bucket, launched itself from a tree trunk with explosive force that defied human comprehension. Its blood-red maw gaped wide, revealing razor-sharp fangs that sent a chill down Chen Feng's spine.
He narrowed his eyes, but then—
Bang!!
A gunshot rang out. A slender, specially designed bullet whizzed past his face, piercing the python's head. The violent impact sent the massive snake flying through the air before it crashed into a muddy puddle.
Even with its head shattered like a rotten watermelon, blood gushing from the wound, the python didn't die instantly. It continued to writhe violently, its massive body thrashing in the mud.
Its vitality far surpassed that of its Earth counterparts. Then, gunfire erupted again.
Bang!!
Another bullet struck, completely obliterating its head.
"That's enough, no need to keep shooting!"
"The black scale python's hide is worth a fortune. With its head gone, it's not going to survive."
A gruff voice called out from the approaching pickup truck, followed by the sound of the door opening.
Two figures emerged, rifles in hand, and approached the writhing, mangled snake. One looked at the python, while the other smiled at Chen Feng.
"Hey, buddy, you alright?"
"These beasts are cunning, but it should be dead now."
The man appeared to be in his late twenties, with yellow skin and black hair, strikingly similar in appearance to the people of Earth's Red Nation.
His lively tone was friendly, but Chen Feng's Perception revealed the other man's wary sidelong glances and the two figures in the truck, their fingers constantly poised on the triggers.
Chen Feng shook his head silently. He needed to familiarize himself with this world's language first. This group of people presented a perfect opportunity.
(End of the Chapter)
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