Chapter 49 - 43: Alien Base

The A-level internal conflict in Scavenger City was too loud for the Security Corps to ignore.

In fact, long before, the Security Corps had known about the existence of the ’Duke of Fission’ and had anticipated the conflict between the old and new A-level monsters.

They even had a plan to catch the prey when the ’sandpiper and clam’ were in conflict.

But they really did not expect that the Duke of Fission and the Crimson Empress would join forces to take down the Mechanical Fortress first.

This was definitely bad news.

The pressure on the Eastern Front suddenly inflated tenfold.

The expansion of the metropolitan area was inevitable, and so was the large-scale conflict.

The reason being, both the Duke and the Empress are A-level Radiation Beast leaders; their power increase would inevitably lead to the expansion of Genetic Territory.

Furthermore, Radiation Beasts and Mechanical Bio-Beasts are not the same. The reproduction or ’mechanical creation’ of Mechanical Bio-Beasts requires a certain amount of time.

Whereas for powerful Radiation Beast leaders, as long as they have enough power, the entire Iron Sand Desert could be their territory.

Almost simultaneously with the end of the A-level internal conflict, an entire bomber squadron flew out from the Security Corps headquarters’ ’Sky Battleship’.

To take these two monsters’ lives while they’re injured!

The bombers were the Mechanical Legion’s latest ’Fire Crow Flying Devices’, equipped not only with ordinary kinetic energy weapons but also with electromagnetic rocket cannons, anti-radiation microwave emitters, and an energy main cannon.

Besides the bomber squadron, there were also three troop transport airships, each carrying two hundred Mechanical Warriors.

Although these Mechanical Warriors did not use the Mother City’s Reproduction Technology, they were outfitted in factories with a 2-in-One Mechanism using titanium alloy inner skeletons and exoskeleton armor, bringing their physical strength close to B-level Mechanical Bio-Beasts.

It is worth mentioning that the titanium alloy inner skeleton on Gao Gong’s body is the basic version for Mechanical Warriors. Though the material is the same, it lacks energy sockets, combat chips, and definitely no intelligent weapon implants.

Using the standard industry terminology—inner skeleton youth version.

The biggest impact of this war on Gao Gong and his party was that they could not return via the original route and had to make a big detour to avoid the blood-soaked front-line battlefield.

Though Gao Gong didn’t mind, as long as he didn’t unluckily run into a B-level boss, he was confident that, no matter what he encountered, he could successfully escape.

But behind him were nearly two hundred unarmed members of the Cable Tribe.

As the saying goes, when you save someone, save them all the way to the end; when you deliver a Buddha, deliver them to the West...

Well, Gao Gong wasn’t so kind-hearted, actually.

The reason he’s doing this is that this small scavenger tribe has considerable potential.

The tribe maidens, led by Little Woman, have over twenty members whose perception reaches double digits.

Plus, their experience and methods of training ’small Mechanical Bio-Beasts’.

It could be said that as long as the ’Tightening Ring’ is sufficient, Gao Gong could instantly pull together a platoon of small Mechanical Beasts.

And besides the maidens, the Cable Tribe also has eight Tribal Warriors, or nine if you include Meng Duo, the disabled person.

In the cement forest, Gao Gong was like a wolf, infiltrating everywhere with the help of the Single-Molecule Line Claw.

When encountering Radiation Beasts, he either dealt with them directly or, if he couldn’t solve it, quickly informed the main force behind to take a detour.

With Desert Skin, and combined with Cold Blood and stealth, he could easily get close to most Radiation Beasts.

’Ding’

[Single-Molecule Line Hook Claw proficiency reached 3000/3000]

[Skill Level Up]

Single-Molecule Line Hook Claw (Passive) (Advanced): A technique to enhance attack or escape while maneuvering at high altitudes, increasing assassination chances.

Proficiency: 1/5000

The skill notes aren’t much different from before, just changed from ’assist attack’ to ’enhance attack’.

However, in Gao Gong’s mind, countless advanced techniques of the claw suddenly emerged, all of which were close combat techniques, without exception. Techniques such as using the claw to disrupt the enemy’s balance or using the claw to stabilize and unleash chain attacks for kills.

’From what I remember, that Rainy Night Lord’s claw skills are at the ’Expert’ level.’

’With my speed of defeating monsters, reaching Elite or even Expert level is not difficult.’

’Could it be destiny, that the ’Rainy Night with a Knife and No Umbrella’ school in combat will flourish in my hands.’

Gao Gong was inexplicably excited, always feeling that this significant name suited him well.

’Since ’Hook Claw’ has advanced, Night Warrior needs upgrading too; otherwise, close combat burst power won’t be enough.’

[You’ve increased Night Warrior to lv5]

[You’ve increased Night Warrior to lv6]

[You’ve increased Night Warrior to lv7]

Night Warrior lv7 (Advanced): When using blades or swords, Attack Power +25%, sword attack speed increased by 20%, and sword chain attack has an 18% chance of inflicting a Bleeding Effect.

Additional State: Drinking Frenzy, Stealth

Drinking Frenzy: Inflicts a Bleeding Effect on an enemy with a blade or sword, increasing Attack Power by 5% (stackable up to twelve times)

Stealth: Reduces the chance of being detected while hidden by 15%, increases the One-Hit Kill chance on targets

Gao Gong focused on ’Stealth’, recalling that the previous note was, ’increases the One-Hit Kill chance against unguarded targets’.

Now, even prepared ones are included.

Gao Gong decided to practice a bit with a Mechanical Bio-Beast.

Soon, he confirmed a target—a ram with charging horns.

This mutated ram’s pair of charging horns resembled oversized electric drills.

When it saw Gao Gong, its eyes immediately turned blood red, the tips spinning rapidly and sending sparks flying, while its four metal hooves hammered hard, charging straight for Gao Gong’s chest.

But Gao Gong’s body did not move; only in the instant when the opponent charged, did he gently shake his wrist.

The hook claw directly nailed onto the ram’s right forehoof, and as the two crossed paths, the pulling force drew them closer.

The ram was slightly off balance due to the pulling force.

And Gao Gong took advantage of the momentum to lightly take a step forward.

As he stepped, he drew his sword.

The two figures passed by each other.

Gao Gong flicked the tip of the sword and sheathed it again.

The eyes of the ram antelope blinked in confusion, and the next moment, its abdomen split open, with numerous organs spilling out like rain.

[You have dealt 79 damage points to the ram antelope]

[You triggered the ’One-Hit Kill’ effect, experience +20]

[You have killed the ram antelope, experience +70]

Feeling the recent effortless strike, devoid of any hint of hostility, Gao Gong had a realization.

It turned out that high Perception was necessary to fully realize the combat style of the Night Warrior.

Only when Perception became the primary attribute did Gao Gong realize that he had been exerting too much effort all along.

Killing, why do it so brutally.

An artistic assassin style was the path of the Night Warrior.

In the game, advanced prosthetic body plugins have a prerequisite ’compatibility.’

If the ’compatibility’ is not high, even if forcibly installed, the power will be greatly reduced, and the likelihood of malfunction is terrifyingly high.

Although skills do not have a concept of ’compatibility,’ from an ’NPC’ perspective, Gao Gong vaguely felt that each skill seemed ’alive.’

"Man and Sword as One, or Unity of Man and Skill?"

As soon as Gao Gong returned to the main force, Huang Yuanli nervously approached.

"I sensed your killing intent from afar, are you alright?"

By a stroke of luck, after awakening the superpower of ’Mind Perception,’ this little woman’s Perception attribute doubled to an astonishing 20 points. If not for the ’Brain-in-a-Vat’ binding her with mental tentacles, her burgeoning Perception might have been overwhelming.

"I’m fine. Remember to train your ability regularly. The more you practice, the deeper your enlightenment. It’s beneficial for you."

"Why are you being so mysterious," Huang Yuanli rolled her eyes, then suddenly giggled, "it’s what you said."

The little woman’s eyes suddenly became vacant, staring straight at Gao Gong.

Gao Gong suddenly felt as if all his clothes had been stripped off, as if he were completely exposed.

"Huh? Why is your mindset so ’peculiar’? Didn’t you just kill that antelope, why so calm, almost like a monk."

Huang Yuanli’s face inexplicably turned red, she sneakily glanced around and said, "You didn’t go somewhere to do, you know what, while we were resting, did you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know, what you do before Wise Man’s Time, the kind where you fly around."

Huang Yuanli gave him a pitying look, "If you have needs, tell me. How would I know if you don’t say? Though I can’t help you, I can introduce you to some girls. This habit is addictive and harmful."

Gao Gong’s mouth twitched, and he backhandedly pressed her head down.

"Don’t use your ability recklessly!"

"Damn, weren’t you the one who told me to?! Let go, let go! If you don’t, I’ll bite your balls!"

The two of them bickered and bantered, and the surrounding tribe members watched this scene with smiles.

After a moment of levity, Gao Gong suddenly said, "What about the old man? Is he still in seclusion?"

Huang Yuanli sighed, "He’s neither eating nor drinking, completely waiting to die."

"Did you use mind communication on him?"

"I wouldn’t dare; what if he eats my brain?"

At this point, Huang Yuanli felt a lingering fear.

Gao Gong stood up and walked to the back of the group, where Professor Han’s eyes were sunken, looking like a withered corpse.

"I’ll have a word with him."

Mondo nodded, signaling two companions to bring him away.

Even though Gao Gong and Huang Yuanli hadn’t said it, the others weren’t clueless; they more or less understood that among the culprits that caused the Cable Tribe’s disbandment was Professor Han.

"I read your diary. I’d like to know the specific location of that research institute. Can you tell me?"

Professor Han remained silent.

"It’s okay if you don’t tell me. You’ve explored before, so the general location is known. If anything, I’ll find it myself."

"Your plan didn’t succeed, yet you won’t tell us the location of the refuge?"

"Is your ’sacrifice’ solely within your plan? Are you doing this for others, or just for yourself?"

Gao Gong deliberately taunted, sounding just like an old pro at moral coercion.

"Don’t go."

Professor Han suddenly spoke, his voice very hoarse.

"What?"

"The research institute contains many dangerous things. Compared to them, the ’Brain-in-a-Vat’ is considered safe."

Gao Gong frowned.

"Then why did you go? Was your last exploration not for migration, but just for that big brain?"

Professor Han’s eyes dimmed, and his voice was hoarse.

"During the war, this land was subjected to saturation attacks. Only around the research institute was there no attack from alien spaceships. Why do you think that is?"

Gao Gong raised his eyebrows, indicating for him to continue.

"Because the base at the time was already occupied by alien life. Of course, they wouldn’t attack their own."