NABC Page 22
Page 22
The Iron Guard's electronic voice calmly reported.
"Okay, now that we've cleaned this place, let's call it a day and head home..."
Before Chen Yuan could finish speaking, the Loongson main controller's alarm went off immediately.
[Warning, warning, multi-band radar scanning detected.]
[Location: Northeast; Distance: 800 meters.]
[Target Recognition: Non-Mana life signal, belonging to a multi-frequency, highly mechanized unit.]
[Main target composition, preliminary testing shows: 5 lightweight reconnaissance robots (disc-shaped chassis, multi-sensor probes, high mobility)]
Heavy transport robot x 1 (tracked chassis, huge cargo hold, strong defense, core equipped with small jammer).
Standard combat robot x 2 (humanoid basic structure, dual-arm integrated weapon platform).
Threat Level: High; Recommendation: Immediate alert!
Chapter 27 The People of the Mechanical City
Almost at the same time that Loongson issued the alarm, five disc-shaped reconnaissance robots, resembling large metal flying discs, slid out from behind the pile of rocks at the edge of the mine at the edge of Chen Yuan's vision. The sensor arrays on their tops flashed red and green lights, firmly locking onto Chen Yuan and Tie Wei.
Following closely behind, a tracked transport robot, resembling a small tank, rumbled over the gravel. Its thick armor plates were covered with grappling hooks and mechanical arms, making it look quite intimidating.
Finally, two standard humanoid combat robots stepped out with heavy but steady steps. Their arms were equipped with weapon modules: a heavy machine gun with a rotating barrel on the left and an energy gun flashing with blue charging light on the right. They were now raised and pointed at Chen Yuan and his companion.
The other side had clearly spotted Chen Yuan; all the robots' sensors focused on him, their gazes filled with cold scrutiny.
Is it a signal jammer?
Chen Yuan thought to himself, "No wonder it took Loongson so long to detect it. It seems their technology is quite advanced."
The brief silence was broken.
A slightly distorted, electronically synthesized voice, clearly with a human accent, came from the loudspeaker of one of the combat robots, speaking the Old World Common Language.
"Unidentified mech unit ahead. Report your identity and affiliation. Repeat, report your identity and affiliation, or we will have to switch to annihilation mode."
The voice carried a condescending, commanding tone.
Chen Yuan's brows furrowed beneath his mask. These all seemed to be robots?
Loongson confirmed through scanning that there was no living person driving inside, but rather that it was being remotely controlled by humans.
He instantly recalled the hostile curses of the Coastal Alliance squad's Dead Dog before his death. Could they be from Mechanical City? What a coincidence!
"We're from Dragonbone Village, you must be from Mechanical City, right?"
With a thought, Chen Yuan signaled the Iron Guards to remain on guard, while he stepped forward and used a voice changer to process his voice, making it equally cold.
"From Dragonbone Village? Their armor technology has advanced to this level?"
The other person sounded doubtful, "Are you the White-Haired Woman's subordinates?"
"Since you know about Mechanical City, I won't go into too much detail. We are the Seventh Resource Exploration and Recovery Team of Mechanical City. The mecha you're wearing has a unique style and its performance seems to far exceed standard equipment. Brothers, are you two interested in joining our Mechanical City?"
Background: The Cogwork Citadel.
Origin: A survivor faction entrenched in the ruins of giant automated factories, military bases, or research facilities in the Old World.
They inherited some automated production lines and military technology, but lacked biotechnology and a complete energy system.
In order to survive and fight against the Devouring Beasts, they embarked on a radical path of human mechanization.
They call themselves the Cult of the Machine God, with the philosophy: "Steel is flesh and blood, firepower is truth."
They believe in mechanical ascension and that sacrificing part of their physical body in exchange for the power and precision of machinery is an inevitable choice for survival.
They pursue maximum firepower, robust defense, and high killing efficiency. Their attitude towards the Mana ecosystem is usually one of complete destruction, rather than researching any kind of Mana symbiosis.
……
"I'm sorry, we have no plans to switch sides at the moment," Chen Yuan refused without hesitation.
"Don't rush to refuse. You may not know, but the benefits for official members of the Mechanical City are ten times better than those in Dragon Bone Village. What you have, we in the Mechanical City also have. What you don't have, we can also get. How about you consider it?"
The other party's words were full of seduction and greed for technology.
However, his true intentions lay elsewhere.
Chen Yuan sneered inwardly, "Join?"
Perhaps they'll be added to their dissection table or recycling furnace?
I've heard that everyone in the Machine City is crazy!
"Sorry, not interested."
Chen Yuan's answer was firm and decisive; he refused again.
"Are you really not thinking about it anymore?"
The other party's voice turned cold, carrying a hint of threat, "The power of the Mechanical City far exceeds your imagination. Cooperation is always better than... confrontation."
The words had barely left his lips.
The weapons of the two combat robots glowed even brighter as they charged, and the five reconnaissance robots quietly dispersed, forming a semi-encirclement.
The transport robot was parked at the back, its huge mechanical arm slightly raised, as if preparing for something.
"I'm considering your uncle!!"
Chen Yuan's anger was completely ignited by the other party's hypocritical threat. He suddenly swore and instantly assumed a fighting stance, drawing his electromagnetic laser sword from his back with a whoosh.
The other party was clearly not prepared for such a rude and direct rejection. A brief static noise came through the communication channel, as if it were the bewildered sound of a human operator being choked.
Immediately afterwards, the synthesized voice suddenly turned cold and filled with murderous intent:
"Since you don't know what's good for you, then we'll have to temporarily halt the search mission... We can annihilate you first and then seize the mech samples!"
"Annihilation mode activated!"
The electronic voices of the two combat robots sounded simultaneously.
The battle broke out instantly.
"Da da da da da!"
The heavy machine gun on the left combat robot was the first to unleash a furious barrage of fire, with dense armor-piercing rounds sweeping in like a metal storm.
"Whoosh... Sizzle!"
The energy guns of the combat robot on the right fired simultaneously, and a red energy beam as thick as a bowl tore through the air and shot straight at Chen Yuan's chest.
At the same time, small gun barrels popped out from under the chassis of five reconnaissance robots, firing a flashing blue metal electric grid.
These electric grids were fast and angled in a tricky way, targeting not only Chen Yuan but also the Iron Guards beside him, clearly with the intention of capturing or interfering with them.
"Iron Guard, defense mechanism, the power grid is yours."
After giving the order, Chen Yuan's flight thrusters instantly activated, propelling him forward at high speed. His energy shield activated, and he sidestepped the oncoming energy beam.
The bullets from the heavy machine gun struck the timely deployed energy shield, only creating dense sparks and energy ripples.
[Command confirmed, defense mode activated!]
Iron Guard's response was concise and firm. He followed Chen Yuan and did not choose to dodge the electric nets that were closing in on him. Instead, he took a step forward and used his tall steel body as a giant shield to block Chen Yuan and most of the firepower.
"Crackling, crackling!"
Several electric nets accurately covered Iron Guard's body, immediately bursting out with intense blue electric arcs. The current, powerful enough to paralyze even large Devouring Beasts, surged wildly across Iron Guard's nano-alloy mech, and wisps of blue smoke rose from the mech's surface.
Iron Guard was a beat too slow; by the time he tried to retaliate with his electromagnetic laser sword, he was already encased in an electric grid.
[Warning: The suit is experiencing strong electromagnetic interference. Joint servo performance has decreased by 30%, limiting movement. Please address the issue immediately.]
The damage alarm for the Iron Guard sounded in Chen Yuan's mind.
Chen Yuan's heart tightened, but he was even more furious. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly raised his left arm, the dark blue light from the cannon muzzle in his palm frantically gathering to its limit.
That transport robot is not only crucial for resource collection, but it may also carry command nodes or powerful support equipment, so it must be destroyed as soon as possible.
[Palm Cannon Charge: 100%, Target Locked.]
Loongson synchronous response.
"boom!"
A thick, deep blue beam of energy, exuding a destructive aura, roared from Chen Yuan's palm like a spear of judgment tearing the sky apart. Ignoring the scattered bullets and energy beams (which were blocked by the shield), it accurately struck the heavy transport robot in front of him.
Chapter 28 Night Watch Mission
"Oh no! Intercept them immediately!"
From the other party's communication channel, a terrified scream came from the operator.
But it was too late.
The transport robot's thick armor was easily melted through like tofu under the maximum power of the palm cannon, and the energy beam penetrated into its interior, causing it to explode directly.
"BOOOOOOM!" (Art is an explosion!)
A deafening explosion echoed through the mine, tearing the massive transport robot apart from the inside as if it had been stuffed into a dynamite barrel.
Metal fragments, parts, and what appeared to be collected resource debris flew everywhere, and the resulting shockwave sent nearby reconnaissance robots flying.
[Target destroyed, heavy transport robot. Command node and supply depot presumably destroyed. Survival points +1000.]
The notification sound from Loongson seemed particularly cold amidst the explosion, but to Chen Yuan it was like heavenly music.
Surprisingly, killing robots also earns survival points.
The scrapping of the transport robot infuriated the other party.
"Iron Guard, what are you waiting for? Break free with all your might."
Chen Yuan roared, and at the same time, the electromagnetic laser sword in his right hand shone brightly with yellow light. The thrusters under his feet burst into full power, and he flew at low altitude like an arrow, rushing towards the combat robot with a heavy machine gun on the left.
[Command confirmed. Full power operation initiated forcibly.]
Iron Guard forcefully withstood the effects of the intense electric arc, and suddenly pulled his arms outward.
"Stab!"