《Mechanical Age: Dawn Reborn》 Episode 1: Reunion with the young man with super powers Episode 1: Reunion with the young man with super powers There is a saying that goes like this, "Life will eventually find its own way." No matter how bad the environment is, life will come back one day. "I am Alex Hawke. If you hear my voice, you can find me. I can provide shelter here. I know you must be very doubtful. Don''t worry...believe me, I have this ability. Can protect you." A radio signal is playing in the ice and snow of Greenland. It is very cold and completely uninhabitable, but the radio seems to be betting that someone will come here. It seemed that it had made the right bet. A small figure appeared in the white snow in the middle of the day. It was a man wearing a heavy hooded coat. This man came up from the coast in a panic, and there was a small boat parked on the shore. It seemed that he had driven the boat all the way here. This man was carrying a backpack and a rifle, and was running desperately in the snow, as if something terrifying was chasing him. Yes, something real is chasing him. A large object slowly rose from the edge of the cliff behind him, which turned out to be a fighter jet. To be more precise, it was a flying object that looked like an F-22 and Osprey combat transport combined into one, slowly circling and looking down at the man on the snow. "Dam"Damn it! I''m still catching up!" The man was very upset, but since he couldn''t escape, he might as well fight hard. She opened her hat, revealing her long flowing hair. She turned out to be a woman. The woman had no choice but to pick up the rifle and shoot at the flying objects continuously, but it would be useless because it was an unmanned combat transport aircraft. The belly of the flying object then opened open, and then one after another non-human things jumped out of the belly and kicked on the snow. These non-humanoid things are like mechanical skeletons, exuding a cold metallic smell. They are called "slayers", and each is armed with a heavy machine gun. This battle was scary enough, but several more robot wolves jumped out and pounced on the woman. "Bump- bump- bump" The woman''s marksmanship was good enough to shoot several robot wolves, but it was completely useless. These robot wolves surrounded the woman as if they were targeting prey, preparing to attack. Just when she was about to be knocked down and bitten, suddenly, a dull burst of air broke through the air. A powerful shock wave knocked all the machine wolves away like pieces of paper. This caused the killers to panic and turn their heads to look for the source of the shock wave. Only the woman breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile. : If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "finally!!......." It didn''t take long for the killers to find the source and turned to the front, because the shock wave came from the snow 100 meters ahead. The woman also looked ahead and saw a person walking far away on the snow. This person seems to be a young man, with brown hair and steady eyes. He is dressed in airtight clothes and wears a large brown scarf to cover most of his face. He is walking here slowly... Feeling the threat from this young man, not only the killers began to move this way, but also the aircraft and the robot wolf turned this way to prepare for an attack. The woman shouted loudly to the young man: "Be careful!" because these killing machines were rushing towards him. The mechanical wolves launched another offensive, leaping forward and baring their claws to succeed. At the critical moment, the young man turned his hands back with calm eyes, as if he was ready to go, and there seemed to be a certain kind of breath flowing between his hands. In the electric light and flint, he brazenly stretched out his palm and waved. Zhang, something magical happened. The robot wolves, who were baring their teeth and claws one moment, suddenly stopped and suspended in mid-air, unable to move, like a movie freeze-frame. The young man then crossed his arms, and the robot wolves collided with each other at high speed and exploded in the air. When the smoke and dust from the explosion spread, the killers also launched an offensive with heavy machine guns one after another. The bullets intertwined into a web of fire, leaving the young people with no way to escape. But this young man was like a rocket, jumping up to several meters high in one step, jumping over the net of bullets and fire, and landed next to the killer. When the killer had no time to react, the young man punched out as soon as he landed on the ground, creating a shock wave that knocked the killer away. He punched several times in a row, knocking all the killers away in a blink of an eye. Then he grabbed the air and turned it into his invisible fist, hitting these killing machines hard. The whole process took less than a few seconds, and all the killers were Lying on the ground smoking, completely destroyed. "Watch out!!" The woman shouted, because the remaining unmanned aerial vehicle hovering in the sky was opening its missile bay and preparing to launch missiles here. The young man also saw it. He stared carefully and raised his right hand to prepare for a response. In the next second, several missiles flew towards this fierce enemy. As if he could control missiles, the young man made all the turns and landed on the snow beside him, exploding one after another, with fire all over the place. The UAV ran out of missiles and had no other options, so it turned around and was about to escape. The woman saw this and shouted: "Can''t let it escape! it will bring back more!" The young man stretched out his left hand and used his qi to hold the unmanned aerial vehicle to prevent it from flying away. However, this may be the limit of the young man''s mysterious power. The unmanned aircraft was still flying away, and he was dragged all the way to the coast until he increased the traction force and finally pulled the aircraft not far from the sea. The unmanned aerial vehicle turned on the afterburner to get rid of the young man''s control, so the two sides were in a stalemate. But this is only a small problem for him with superhuman strength. He closed his eyes and controlled the unmanned aerial vehicle with his left hand, and used his right hand to control the qi to explore the inside of the unmanned aerial vehicle and destroy it. The next moment, the engine exploded, and the entire unmanned aerial vehicle stalled into the sea, smoking. As the drone sank to the bottom of the sea, the woman finally breathed a sigh of relief and sat on the ground. The woman was very tired because she had spent a lot of effort to finally get here, but when she saw the young man coming back from the coast after solving the crisis, she immediately stood up excitedly and ran towards the young man. Similarly, the young man took off the scarf that covered his face, revealing his handsome face, and walked towards the woman in disbelief. The two hugged each other tightly on the snow, and were so excited that they couldn''t speak for a while. "Alex Hawk, it''s been a year...I''ve been looking for you for a long time...do you know?..." The woman spoke the first words tremblingly with tears in her eyes, and looked at the young man with eager expectation. This young man turned out to be Alex Hawke, and it was him who had been sending out radio signals. It was precisely because of this that this woman was able to find this place. "Sorry... " Alex gently wiped the tears of the woman named Maggie and hugged her again. For them, this reunion was achieved after thousands of hardships... I also want to go back in time to more than a year ago... At that time, Alex had no powers, but was just a dandy.¡£ Chapter 2 Secret Garden Chapter 2 Secret Garden In 2030 AD, human AI technology has matured, and countries have begun to use artificial intelligence as autonomous defense systems. But it didn¡¯t take long for these artificial intelligences to believe that humans were the biggest scourge in the world. From this moment on, these artificial intelligences have autonomous consciousness. Soon, artificial intelligence launched an attack on humans in 2032. They launched all missiles to attack all big cities and wipe out most of the humans. This is the darkest moment for mankind. In this AI war, human counterattacks were like a mantis blocking the car in the face of artificial intelligence. Those who survived despite being retreated were lucky to find a way to hide underground. Because those mechanical bodies would lose control of the system if they went deep underground, so the underground city finally collapsed. A safe place where people live underground from now on. Since then, artificial intelligence has ruled the ground and begun to build mechanical cities. However, strictly speaking, they cannot be called "cities" because they are mechanical structures as big as cities, more like giant mobile cities. Factory, and the terrifying mechanical army was born. The time has come to 2065, and those who survived are still resisting to the death. They cannot see the future¡­ In the ruined land, various mimic mechanical bodies are rampant. Some of them look like humans, some look like wolves, and some look like insects and giant creatures. Accompanying them were mobile factories as big as cities, repeatedly rolling over trees and grasslands, leaving the entire land devastated. As these cold machines don''t care about ecology and work hard to manufacture their own kind, the sky has long been polluted by the waste gas they emit due to manufacturing, and the sky is always gray. Sometimes there is acid rain, damaging the land. However, a few kilometers below this land, there is still a paradise. Seattle, which used to be on the west coast of the United States, had long since collapsed into a lifeless ruin. However, slowly, the entire ruins began to vibrate in an unknown manner. Stones scattered like an earthquake. Suddenly, a huge shadow covered most of the ruins of the city. It was none other than the giant mechanical city built by the intelligent machine itself, which was called The Nest". The nest is like a super giant long-legged insect, slowly moving its giant mechanical feet, and there is not just one nest, but many. This nest in Seattle heads all the way to Mount Rainier. Wherever it went, animals were destroyed and fled. Although the ground was in a mess, one kilometer further down there was a huge underground shelter called¡ª "Rockhill Valley". Rockhill Valley is an underground valley-type shelter with a height difference of 100 meters. There are highlands on both sides of the 2-kilometer-long canyon. Both sides of the canyon wall are brightly lit, and underground rivers run through the entire canyon. Although this shelter is not larger than other shelters, it still accommodates 30,000 people living here, each performing their own duties. They relied on the technology they brought from the ground to build residences on the rock slopes on both sides, forming a strange underground town with a steampunk and futuristic feel. In the middle of the entire valley on the left, there is a huge factory that is steaming. It is the textile factory of the Hawke family. They had been textile merchants from ancient times and were very wealthy. Even after taking refuge in this shelter, things were still going quite well. "buzz-buzz-buzz" In the factory, there were constant sounds like this, as hundreds of female workers were working diligently on sewing machines. They are relatively poor people in Yanqiu Valley. In order to have food and clothing, most of the poor people choose to come here to work. However, whenever the nest passes over their heads, the entire Rock Hill Valley must do one thing as usual, and that is - cut off the power. Why do this? Because the nest moves around to capture humans, they use radar to detect movements underground, because they know humans are hiding underground. Once detected by them, they will drill a large hole and go straight to the underground shelter, and then capture People, who is not afraid? "Is it gone?" The female workers in the textile factory hid under the sewing machines because of the power outage and the darkness was dark. The sound of each other''s heavy breathing was very clear in the darkness. Not only them, but everyone in Yanqiu Valley did not dare to speak out, for fear of being caught. Nests on the ground were detected. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the nest was far away. After the power was restored, the foreman Evelin clapped her hands and shouted to everyone: "The work is over, call it a day!!" When they heard it was time to get off work, all the female workers left in a hurry. Within a minute, the entire factory was empty, as if no one had ever been there. However, in the empty and dark tailor factory, there was a small corner with a sewing machine light on. It turned out that there was still a female worker who had not left yet.. On this sewing machine, there is a face wearing glasses. It turns out that there is a girl who is focusing on tailoring a piece of clothing. This girl is about 18 years old. She wears a pair of big glasses and looks like the most inconspicuous nerd in the class. She pushed up her thick glasses and picked up the entire dress to examine it. "Mmm....perfect!" Although the girl was a little tired, looking at the dress made her smile with satisfaction. Because this dress is not a job, but something she wants to give to someone. Just when she was looking at the clothes with satisfaction, suddenly, a voice appeared behind her. "I caught you! You are secretly making clothes again! Maggie Morgan, you are so brave!" The girl turned around. The person who came was a young man about 19 years old. His name was Alex Hawke. Alex had a good-looking face, big blue eyes, and a handsome side-parted hair. He looked like a star. . Alex bent down and put his head close to the girl named Maggie. She quickly put away the half-finished dress in panic. "No way!..." Maggie looked nervous and tried to pretend that nothing was wrong, so Alex immediately sat in front of her. Seeing Maggie''s sad expression, Alex couldn''t help laughing and said: "I''m just kidding you!... I have the final say on my factory. You can do whatever you want, but... what on earth are you doing? Are you always here? Making clothes? Is it just for those you like? Human?..." It turns out that Alex is the son of Old Hawke, the owner of this clothing factory. He has been running around in this factory since he was a child, and he met Maggie who was brought to work by his mother, so Maggie can be regarded as his childhood sweetheart. It''s just that their status is very different. One is Fu Shao, and the other is the daughter of a poor family. Maggie got angry and pulled his ear: "None of your business! You are really free, Prince" Alex''s ears were red from being pulled by Maggie, but he still joked "It hurts! I''m very free, so I came to take you somewhere!" Maggie was so curious that she let go and asked: "what is the place??" Alex didn''t answer but grabbed Maggie''s hand and ran away saying: "A special place, you will know it when you go there." ____________________________________ After a while, Alex pulled Maggie through the alleys and stairs, and finally came to a secret place. In order to create a surprise, he even lightly blindfolded Maggie. "Hey! Where are you taking me?" Maggie asked a little angrily, but Alex smiled and led her forward. "This is it...open your eyes!" When Alex slowly removed his hand from Maggie''s eyes, Maggie couldn''t believe that there was actually a beautiful luminous garden in front of her. Maggie couldn''t help but marvel: "so beautiful....." Luminous flowers, as the name suggests, are flowers that actively emit faint light in dark places. Looking around, this luminous garden seems to be located under a waterfall. The waterfall forms a small pool. There are fish and moss in the water. Under the glow of blue, purple and white luminous flowers, the woods are dotted like a white night. It is quiet and beautiful, with the pleasant smell of lavender exuding a comfortable smell. Finally, the gurgling water flows quietly to a more mysterious underground cave. It is not an exaggeration to call this scene the last pure land in the world. Maggie was amazed and asked: "Where is this...I''ve never heard of it?" Jack proudly walked forward and inhaled the scent of lavender deeply. He turned back and said with a smile: "This is the end of the rockhill valley and the flowing water...it has no name, because I was the only one who discovered this place!" Maggie looked up after hearing this. It turned out that there was a gap of 100 meters above this small garden, and the water flowed here through complicated and winding steep cliffs. Maggie came to the water''s edge, held a ladle of water in her hands, and marveled at how clear the water was. "Unbelievable...the water is so clear!" After hearing this, Jack walked over to the water and splashed water on Maggie. "Yeah! It''s a great time to have a water fight" Maggie, who was splashed all over, said angrily: "OK! You bully me! Try this!" Maggie rolled up her sleeves, took some water and poured it on Jack, and the two of them started like this Have a water fight and forget everything else. When they were playing the most intense game, Jack accidentally knocked off Maggie''s glasses. This time, the glasses fell into the water with a plop. "OK...wait a minute, my glasses fell off..." Maggie raised her hands and admitted defeat. She squatted down and tried to find her glasses in the water. Unfortunately, she was too short-sighted and couldn''t see where she had dropped her glasses. She was like a blind man scratching at them. Jack was very impatient and said impatiently. "come on!Here!" Jack directly reached into the water and picked up the glasses that were clearly in front of Maggie''s eyes but could not be touched. "Where is it!" Maggie said impatiently and raised her head, but she didn''t expect that the next second Jack approached her without hesitation and helped her put on her glasses. "you...." Maggie was surprised. Although Jack looked impatient, he was indescribably handsome. Although she certainly knew that Jack was handsome, she had never looked at him so close. This made Maggie blush instantly and thought: " What does he mean?..." "That''s okay!" The next second, Jack roughly used his hand to push away the water on his glasses, which immediately extinguished Maggie''s romantic thoughts and made her feel angry.. "I can do it myself! Alex Hawke, I didn''t expect you to treat your friends like this! I can''t stand you!" Maggie turned around angrily and wiped her glasses, but Alex seemed to be used to teasing this childhood sweetheart and joked: "What''s wrong? You''re just a childhood sweetheart, right?" Hearing the statement "just childhood sweethearts", Maggie couldn''t help but turn around and look at Alex with a serious expression, wanting to respond. But at this moment, an alarm sounded and interrupted her. ¡°buzzer ------buzzer¡ª----buzzer¡ª--------" Chapter 3 Meeting Chapter 3 Meeting ¡°buzzer------buzzer---------buzzer" Jack smiled for some reason when he heard this voice and said: "They''re back, let''s go and have a look!" In this way, Jack didn''t notice what Maggie originally wanted to say, and directly left the small garden and moved upward. Maggie was left smiling to herself with a disappointed look on her face. "I am stupid...." ______________________________________________ Rockhill Valley is a long and narrow underground valley with mixed houses on both sides of the valley. It is 2 kilometers long and has a height difference of 100 meters. The highest point is the entrance to the refuge room. At this moment, the heavy metal door next to the beginning of the river opened with the sound of an alarm. Under the flashing yellow warning lights, hundreds of heroes came back from the gate one after another. They were none other than the human resistance. Since humans were forced to flee underground, the remaining humans in various places have continued to form armies to resist the army of intelligent machines. The rebels come from their own training camps in various shelters. They not only shoulder the mission of resistance, but also if the army of machines attacks. They are the last line of defense underground, so everyone treats them as heroes. Every time the rebels go to the surface to perform a mission, it is a combat and reconnaissance mission that lasts for several days. Few people may come back each time, so whenever they come back, civilians will gather at the underground gate to greet these heroes. "Thank you!" Both sides of the gate were crowded with civilians who came to welcome him, cheering and applauding. The members of the resistance army came in one after another from the door. But facing the enthusiastic residents, they did not have happy expressions. They were all tired and solemn, and the better ones managed to squeeze out a smile, because they had gone through a life-and-death battle before finally coming back. A 38-year-old woman in military uniform had already been waiting in front to greet her. Her name was Caitlin Soren, and she was the deputy commander of Rockhill Valley. She walked towards one of the returning men and said: "Commander Cade, welcome home, how is the situation this time?" It turns out that Caitlin is here to greet Commander Cadren. Commander Cade is worthy of being a commander. No matter how tired or worried he is, he doesn¡¯t show it. He just smiles bitterly and says: "It''s okay... let everyone rest first, we will have a meeting later..." Caitlin knew that what the commander meant was that things were not going well, so she followed him without asking any further questions. The welcome was not over yet, but two faces squeezed out of the crowd, one was Alex and the other was Maggie. Alex looked expectantly at the rebels returning one after another, as if they were waiting for someone. On the contrary, Maggie didn''t like coming here, so she had no choice but to fold her hands in front of her chest and purse her lips. At this time, the appearance of a rebel soldier caused a commotion among the crowd. Everyone regards him as the hero of Rock Hill Valley, and even girls regard him as their ideal match.. He is ¨C Leo Oster Although Leo Oster is only 25 years old, he is very talented and bold. He has participated in many ground battles and annihilated many mechanical and biochemical soldiers. He is tall and masculine, with a handsome face and a lot of energy. People are optimistic about him as the next commander of the Rock Hill Valley Resistance Army, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a rising star. Leo can be said to be Alex''s opposite, but more popular with the crowd. Every time he appears, Alex feels a little inferior, because Alex is just an ordinary young man, minus his family''s wealth and handsome face. His arrival made Alex turn around not wanting to face him. Not long after, the last group of people finally returned. Alex raised his hands and waved happily like he was waiting for the person he wanted to see, and shouted: "Hi! Heroic Beauty" That''s right, the last batch of resistance members who stepped through the door included several female members. Although some of them were injured, they were all confident and proud of the scars on their bodies, especially one of the girls, tall with blond hair and sharp eyes, who was both courageous and arrogant. She was one of the most beautiful women in the entire Rock Hill Valley. She is Anna Rayne. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Anna is the daughter of Commander Cade. She has received strict training since she was a child. She is extremely proficient in various shooting and fighting skills. She is beautiful and sassy. Both men and women admire her. Although many people want to pursue her, she Disdainful. Perhaps, the person who wants to chase her must be a hero. Of course Alex came all the way here just to see her. ¡° Hey Anna, you''re back!¡± Alex saw Anna squeeze out of the crowd to walk with her and struck up a conversation, but Anna only responded coldly: "Prince Alex, don''t you have anything else to do?" Alex smiled and said: "Of course, I have to be very busy helping my family patrol the factory, but how can I miss to welcome you, the heroine, and give me a chance to have a drink at the campfire party tonight? Anna had heard this kind of invitation thousands of times, which made her feel always frivolous and ridiculous, and she stopped to respond to Alex. "Thank you Prince, I don¡¯t want it" Anna refused Alex to end the conversation with a slightly contemptuous smile, and continued to move forward with the team members, completely ignoring Alex. There was no way, who taught that to Anna, Alex was just a playboy who was one year younger than her, and he was not enough to take a second look at. But Alex was not that thin-skinned. He just watched Anna leave and sighed a little. "Have you been rejected again? She won''t like you! Give up! Maggie walked up to him proudly and teased him, it was very satisfying to see him fail to pick up girls. Does Alex care? No, he turned to Emma and said with a smile: "Hey! I''ll get her someday!" ________________________________________________ At night, the residents of Yanqiu Valley gather in the brightly lit square. This is because every time the rebels return, a party is held to honor these heroes. Therefore, this is also a rare happy moment for the residents of Yanqiu Valley. At this moment, in the center of the square, Irish music played by violinists was playing. The joyful atmosphere was so warm that everyone danced around the campfire, even drank the local wine produced in the Rock Hill Valley, and ate the local barbecue. The vegetarian meat applauded, so happy. Although this is a time for joy and relaxation, not everyone can be so relaxed. Not far from the square, there is the resistance base of Yanqiu Valley. In the towering command tower, several important figures are gathering for a meeting at the moment. During the meeting, several remaining rebel team captains who were not involved in this operation arrived. Commander Cade pointed to the map on the conference table and solemnly explained the battle and reconnaissance on land. "A few days ago, we followed the "nest" No. 8 as it moved south to the north of Vancouver. It turned out that he found a shelter. Unfortunately, we found that it had been able to penetrate 300 meters of the ground and attack shallower layers. The refuge..." The team leaders present at the meeting all looked at each other in shock when they heard the news, causing a commotion. "So...that refuge room...has been..." One of the gentle-looking captains with glasses named Chris asked in surprise. Cade didn''t want to aggravate everyone''s worries but didn''t want to hide it, so he could only close his eyes and sigh and answer: "Yes...it''s gone..." Although we are all brave and capable members of the resistance army, we still became anxious when we heard such terrible news. After all, in the past few months, the mechanical and biological corps has been more active than ever in arresting humans, even the huge mobile capital." "The Nest" has also begun to enhance its ability to search and drill into the ground. If this continues, one day it will come to Rockhill Valley... "Alas...what should we do? We are still no match for these artificial intelligences. It seems that humanity is destined to perish..." Seeing all the squad leaders sighing in despair, and the atmosphere of the entire meeting becoming increasingly gloomy, Commander Cade suddenly said: "It''s not all hopeless." This sentence attracted everyone''s attention. They stopped sighing and looked at Cade. There was a sudden silence. Everyone wanted to know what he could do. Commander Cade looked at everyone and said: "After the intelligent biochemical army captured and massacred this shelter, we found a dying man... He said that the biochemical army has been eager to attack various underground shelters recently, and they are searching for a person. This person is a scientist. It is said that he has already We have developed a way to fight against the mechanical army." Cade''s words revived hope among the team leaders present. " If it''s true...then we can take back the world!" While others regained hope, Deputy Commander Caitlin, who had been silent at the scene, calmly asked: "Are you sure this is true? How to find this scientist?" Everyone looked at Cade again, and Cade said: "I''m not sure... I''d rather believe it''s true and work hard... than give up hope and wait for death to come..." Speaking of this, Cade made a decision and stood up resolutely and said: "So, in order to find this scientist as soon as possible, we need to expand our recruitment of resistance members!" _________________________________________________ The atmosphere in the square was filled with joy. Although everyone on the rebel base had gone to the other side of the square, there was a young man who had to stay in the equipment warehouse to repair the damaged equipment of the rebels alone. He is Max, a logistics worker of the resistance army. Although he dreams of joining the regular members of the resistance army, his 90 kilogram weight has never made any captain dare to accept him, because once he reaches the ground and confronts the agile mechanical creature, I am afraid that only He is waiting to be slaughtered, so it is for his own good to only let him be a reserve. Max was not interested in the Irish joyful atmosphere coming from the square above. He was only focused on the gun sling he was repairing, but soon, someone interrupted him. "Whoa whoa whoa! What is our lovely Max doing?" This kind of joke made Max know who it was as soon as he heard it. He said impatiently. "Stop it, you dance king, the party is busy, why don''t you go? Alex..." Yes, it''s Alex. Alex picked up a gun casually with a smile and said while playing with it: "Please! As your friend, of course I have to take you to see him. Aren''t you bored here?" Introverted Max nervously pushed up his glasses and shook his head.: "I don''t want to go, I don''t like the excitement...you go.." Alex joked, pretending to be unhappy. "Some people don¡¯t want to join the crowd!" Then, another voice appeared. "Who doesn''t want to go? Why are you so unsociable!?" Max turned around and was stunned when he realized that the voice came from his other friend Maggie. Yes, Alex, Maggie, and Max are best friends. This is not surprising. The three of them have played together since they were children. Although Alex likes to pick up girls and is frivolous, he will never dislike them because of his wealthy family, but will treat them equally. However, Maggie''s appearance immediately changed Max''s attitude, and he said with a shy smile: "It turns out you are going...I am going." The dull Max would be shy when he saw Maggie. Alex knew that, but just matched the two people''s boldness and said: "This is right! Let¡¯s go!" So, Max put down his work and went to the square together. ____________________________ In the square, a burning campfire was played with Scottish music played by violinists. Residents and rebel members danced around the fire. For a moment, the atmosphere was so joyful. Alex dragged Maggie and Max to the square. Seeing the happy atmosphere of the crowd, he couldn''t help but have the idea of ??dancing on the stage. He turned to Maggie and asked: "Come on! Let''s have a dance too!" Chapter 4 from heroic plot Chapter 4 from heroic plot "Come on! Let''s go dance too!" Alex stretched out his hand to Maggie, which surprised and delighted Maggie. She asked shyly: "Are you serious?" Alex smiled brightly and said: "certainly!" Maggie was immediately elated after hearing this, and who knew that the next second he would also pull Max along. "I can''t do without you two!" Jack pulled the two of them over. It turned out that this was what Jack meant. Maggie was dumbfounded and rolled her eyes unhappily. "I really can''t stand you...you always want to drag us out!..." Maggie and Max were half-pushed and half-pushed by Jack to the campfire and danced with the crowd. Although Jack didn''t think there was anything wrong, there were still whispers in the crowd. "Isn''t that the young master of the Hawke family? Why do you always like to hang out with poor people... Haha..." These people whispering on the sidelines are young men and women who live relatively well-off lives in the Yanqiu Valley. Some people laugh at it, and some are envious of it. "Hmph...there are people like this." Alex heard these words, but he just laughed them off and continued dancing happily, not caring what these people thought. Finally, the lively music came to an end, and the crowd was still unsatisfied. Then the violinist immediately changed the style of music, and suddenly soft and affectionate notes sounded leisurely. Seeing that except for Alex and the other three, everyone else was dancing slowly in pairs. Maggie and Max looked very embarrassed. The three of them just stood among them, looking extremely awkward. "It''s really disgusting...I don''t want to jump anymore!" Maggie showed an unhappy expression and was about to leave, but Max, who was facing him, seemed to be hesitant to talk and wanted to keep her, which made Alex see it. Alex has always known that Max likes Maggie, but Maggie seems to have no other thoughts about Max, and Max has low self-esteem and is introverted and dare not confess, which makes Alex always find ways to help him. At this time, out of the corner of his eye, Alex happened to see Anna Rayne slowly coming to the square with a few girls, which gave Alex an idea. "Hey! Don''t leave yet." Alex grabbed Maggie''s shoulders and pushed her in front of Max. "What are you doing?!" Maggie thought reluctantly, because she didn''t know Alex''s intention, and saw Alex pointing in the direction of Anna Rayne and saying: "Look, it''s Anna Rayne here. I''m going to invite her to dance. As for you... just pretend to be a couple dancing and help me keep an eye on it!" Maggie wanted to refuse, but Alex immediately made a condition. "How about I think of a way for you to take a week''s paid leave at the tailor factory?"Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Maggie heard that she could take a week off and get paid. No matter how stubborn she was, she felt happy about such a good thing. "That''s... not bad... but I don''t believe you can date her. Max, let''s go!" Maggie pulled Max to the other side of the square without any hesitation, while Max looked back at Alex happily and shyly, as if to say, "Thank you, brother!" After Alex tidied up his appearance and made sure he looked handsome, he walked straight towards Anna Rayne. Anna and several female team members were originally standing on the edge of the square chatting, but Alex''s arrival made them all exclaim. After all, Alex''s family background is rich and he is handsome. "Hey heroine, can I ask you to dance?" Alex confidently extended his hand to Anna and asked to dance, but Anna didn''t want to ignore him because what she disliked the most was this kind of rich kid who only had money and power but knew nothing. Anna sighed and planned to send Alex away casually. "Master Alex... save it, your pick-up tricks are of no use to me, you might as well invite someone else." Alex didn''t care at all about Anna''s rejection. He responded with a smile: "It may not be useful now, but diamonds are worthy of being brave enough to be obtained without fear of hardship. I am not afraid of them. I believe that where there is a will, there is a way." Anna was slightly defeated by this thick face, and she smiled a little at the corner of her mouth. Although she may not have a good impression of Alex, she finally said something: "Okay...seeing that your Hawk family has been supporting the resistance force behind the scenes, I will dance with you, just one dance." After speaking, Anna very simply took Alex''s hand and came to the campfire, and the two began to dance gracefully to the melodious music. "How can it be?" Maggie, who originally thought that Alex could not date Anna, was now exclaiming in disbelief, forgetting that Max, who was dancing with her, was looking at her in disappointment and looking at Alex... At this time, Alex, who was happily dancing with Anna, did not want to miss the opportunity at all, and further asked Anna: "I''m curious...since you don''t like rich kids like me, what kind of person do you like?" This question made Anna look at Alex with a half-smiling expression but hesitated to speak and said: "At least like someone." After Anna finished speaking, she looked behind Alex meaningfully, which made Alex look back curiously. There was a commotion in the square, and another person Alex didn''t want to meet appeared. He was Leo Oster. Leo''s appearance caused most of the girls to flock towards him, which made Alex look at Leo with some discomfort. Leo quickly noticed Anna and Alex and walked straight towards them. "So you are here." Leo greeted Anna calmly, and Anna took her hand away from Alex''s hand, which made Alex feel a little unhappy. Anna introduces Alex to Leo. "He''s Alex..." Before Anna could continue the introduction, Leo smiled and said: "The only son of the Hawke family, who doesn''t know? I heard that he is very handsome, but he seems to have not decided what his future will be like... I kind of want to help you..." Alex''s face was quite ugly. How could he not hear that Leo was sarcastic about him? So he stood forward and looked at Leo at close range and said: "No! Thank you for your kindness." Just as there was an invisible smell of gunpowder spreading between the two, suddenly the alarm lights started to go off. This disturbing yellow warning light comes on and everyone knows what''s going on, it means nothing more than that the "nest" is coming! At this time, the trees were shaking on the ground 5 kilometers away, a low and loud roar resounded through the ground, and the animals were running away frantically. An object as huge as a city directly blocked the moonlight shining on the forest. This huge object is like a giant crab carrying the city on its back. Every step of its 500-meter-high mechanical feet carries a terrifying vibration. It is the "nest" number 9 of the artificial intelligence city of Tianzai. "Quick, quick! Turn off the main power!" All the residents of Yanqiu Valley urgently stopped all mechanical operations and movements, and even put out the campfires. Everyone only dared to take a small breath, did not dare to make any movements, and waited quietly... I saw bursts of vibrations coming from above the cave in the Rock Hill Valley, which meant that the ''nest'' had arrived directly above the shelter. Everyone in the square did not dare to move and held their breath for fear of making any sound and being detected by the nest. Finally, the vibrations gradually subsided, which meant that the "nest" was gone. However, when the power was restored, Maggie and Max immediately looked around for Alex. Unexpectedly, Alex fell down awkwardly at this moment. on the ground. "Hey...what''s wrong with you?" Maggie stepped forward to care about Alex who fell to the ground, but Alex didn''t respond. He just stared at Leo in front of him because he knew that it was Leo who just took advantage of the opportunity to restore power and hit him hard. Kicked him down. Leo didn''t say anything, just looked at Alex with a provocative smile, and then pulled Anna away. At this time, everyone gradually dispersed, and only Maggie and Max were left in the square, helping Alex to stand up without saying a word... Chapter 5 I want to join the resistance Chapter 5 I want to join the resistance "I can¡¯t believe it¡­ The guy everyone sees as a hero, Leo, turns out to be like this!" At this moment, Alex was back in his palace-like home, being helped by Maggie and Max. Maggie wrung out a towel, wiping the dirt off Alex''s face while muttering under her breath. Alex¡¯s face was pale, and he remained silent. Never in his life had he experienced such humiliation. Sure, he¡¯d chased plenty of girls before, but thanks to his background, they were all easy to win over. Losing to a rival like this? Unthinkable. Seeing Alex in this state, Maggie couldn¡¯t help but sigh and say: "I think you should just stay away from Anna." Max, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I second that. You can¡¯t beat Leo." But Alex didn¡¯t agree. Snatching the towel from Maggie, he stood up and walked over to the window, staring out with a stubborn expression. "Give up? Never. I won¡¯t back down!" Looking out from his window, Alex could see the Resistance camp in the distance. Anna was training there, her strong and stunning presence commanding attention. Her beauty and charisma were irresistible to any guy. Alex gazed at her, deep in thought. "I¡¯ve made up my mind¡­ I¡¯m joining the Resistance!" His sudden declaration left Maggie and Max utterly speechless. "Are you out of your mind? She doesn¡¯t even like you! Plus, your rival is so much stronger than you. Since when did you start clinging to a girl like this? I thought you were the type to move on easily," Maggie exclaimed, completely baffled by Alex¡¯s confidence. But Alex just smirked, full of self-assurance. "Please, do you even know who I am? Has there ever been a girl I, Alex, couldn¡¯t win over? So what if Leo¡¯s some big-shot hero? I¡¯m naturally talented. As long as I put in the effort, I can stand on equal footing with him. I refuse to believe I can¡¯t become a hero like him!" Alex¡¯s confident grin met Maggie¡¯s skeptical gaze before shifting to Max, who softly muttered, "Good luck." "I, Alex Hawk, refuse to believe I can¡¯t win over Anna Lane!" ___________________________ As the ground shook beneath the weight of colossal mechanical footprints, the "Nest" crossed the desolate wasteland, approaching Olympia. Awaiting its arrival was another massive "Nest." It was then revealed: since the Domination of the Overseers began, a total of 11 colossal Nest cities had been constructed, each governed by an independent AI core. They were:
  1. Gabriel (Nest 1)
  2. Samos (Nest 2)
  3. Medusa (Nest 3)
  4. Hades (Nest 4)
  5. Beelzebub (Nest 5)
  6. Osiris (Nest 6)
  7. Ares (Nest 7)
  8. Michael (Nest 8)
  9. Titan (Nest 9)
  10. Mara (Nest 10)
  11. Abaddon (Nest 11)
The one crossing the wasteland was Nest 8, Michael, while waiting for it was Nest 7, Ares. The 11 Nests are scattered across the globe, but the terrifying truth is that 7 of them exist in North America alone. Each of these Nests resembles a giant insect, relentlessly extracting natural resources, ceaselessly manufacturing mechanical armies, and capturing humans for slavery and as bio-energy sources.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Nest 7 stood like an enormous mantis, towering over several abandoned city blocks. Its mechanical city extended a bridge, and on that bridge, a figure slowly took shape, walking toward the edge. By the time it reached the front, the figure had fully formed into a towering humanoid¡ªthe AI core of Nest 7, Ares. "So, you still haven¡¯t found that human scientist after all this time? Useless, Raphael," Ares sneered. Nest 8 extended its own bridge in response, and a humanoid figure with a masculine appearance emerged. It was the AI core of Nest 8, Michael. The two AI cores stood on their bridges, nearly a kilometer above the ground, conversing in the high-altitude void. "It¡¯s just a human scientist. Why the rush, Ares? Honestly... I¡¯m not as loyal as you are. When the Overseer tells you to catch humans, you just jump to it like some dumb dog. Is that all your circuits are good for?" Michael mocked, its tone laced with contempt. Michael seemed to disdain the monotony of chasing humans over mountains and plains. Its words revealed a clear distaste for such repetitive tasks. But Ares was unamused by Michael¡¯s sarcasm, responding with the cold precision of a machine: "This human has discovered a method to counter us. You think that¡¯s not urgent? We¡¯re machines, Michael. Eradicating humanity is the very reason we exist. Don¡¯t forget that." Michael sighed, clearly bored by Ares¡¯ single-minded determination. However, it had no rebuttal. All it wanted was to end this conversation as quickly as possible. "Yeah, yeah, I get it¡­ But what can we do? We¡¯re just fragments of the Overseer, nothing more. Fine, I¡¯m moving on. You enjoy your crusade." With that, Michael retreated back across its bridge, and the colossal Nest 8 began to shift, turning away. Ares stood, watching it leave with a scornful glare. Indeed, Nest 8, Michael, was a peculiar existence among the 11 Nests. Unlike the others, it half-heartedly carried out its orders, often detecting humans on the surface but refusing to send out mechanical swarms to capture them. It was entirely unlike its counterparts, seemingly uninterested in humanity''s extermination. Instead, Michael behaved almost¡­ human. __________________________________ After a night of indulgent celebration, the resistance camp was bustling with activity. Recruitment efforts were in full swing, with every soldier busy, including Anna. But for Anna, there was something more pressing than the recruitment drive. She pulled Leo aside to a secluded spot for a private conversation. "Why did you do that yesterday?" Anna planted her hands on her hips, questioning Leo sternly. But Leo, unfazed, simply smirked. "I was doing you a favor, getting rid of that loser. You weren¡¯t going to like him anyway." Anna wasn¡¯t about to let that slide and fired back with sarcasm. "No, I wouldn¡¯t. But we¡¯re not a couple, are we? And, by the way, he¡¯s the heir to the Hawk family. Can you even afford to piss him off?" Leo didn¡¯t lose his temper. Instead, he casually grabbed a javelin from nearby and strolled toward the training grounds. "We¡¯re not a couple, huh..." Muttering under his breath, he suddenly spun around, gripping the javelin tight, and hurled it with all his strength. The spear shot straight through the air, landing dead center in a bullseye 50 meters away. "Alright, what is it about me that you hate so much?" Leo turned back to face Anna, his gaze locking on hers. Anna, unbothered, spun on her heel and walked off, her tone haughty as she replied: "I don¡¯t like guys who think they¡¯re my boyfriend." Leo clenched his jaw, annoyed but helpless, as he watched her walk away. "Think I¡¯m your boyfriend... You¡¯ve really never changed, huh?" His thoughts drifted to their childhood, to when it all began...
Teenage Leo had already joined the resistance by then. Back then, he was quiet, disciplined to a fault, and too focused on training to speak much with others. Most of his time was spent alone at the training grounds, working tirelessly. One day, his solitude was interrupted by a sharp, high-pitched voice. "Hey... What are you doing all by yourself?" Turning around, Leo found himself facing a young girl. She stood there, hands on her hips, her long golden ponytail swaying slightly as she stared him down with an air of condescension. That was 12-year-old Anna Raine. Chapter 6: Joining the Resistance Chapter 6: Joining the Resistance "Hey... What are you doing all by yourself?" The young girl, Anna, strolled over with her chin held high, her posture commanding as she waited for Leo to respond. "I¡¯m practicing my shooting... You¡¯re Anna Raine, aren¡¯t you?" Leo, an awkward teenager, struggled to speak to girls and could barely meet Anna¡¯s gaze¡ªeven though she was just a 12-year-old girl. "That¡¯s right. Got a problem with that?" Anna, sharp and impatient, answered as she made her way to the next shooting station, casually preparing her gear. Then, she turned back to Leo and asked: "How good can you shoot?" Challenged, Leo¡¯s shy demeanor gave way to a boyish urge to impress. With a beautiful girl in front of him, his instincts kicked in. He picked up his gun and fired off ten shots in quick succession. All ten bullets landed just outside the bullseye¡ªa remarkable feat. Confident, Leo set the gun down, grinning as he looked back at Anna. "See that? Want me to teach you?" But when he turned, Anna was already raising her gun, aiming with the precision of someone far beyond her years. The 12-year-old Anna, with a laser-focused expression, fired ten shots at lightning speed. Every single bullet hit dead center in the bullseye. Her golden ponytail swayed as she moved, the sight of her shooting etched into Leo¡¯s memory forever. She coolly tossed the gun aside, turned back to Leo, and said with chilling composure: "I can¡¯t stand boys who think they¡¯re hot stuff." That moment stuck with Leo to this day. "''Think I¡¯m hot stuff,'' huh? Hmph..." Leo chuckled bitterly to himself as he walked away.
At the recruitment station outside the resistance camp, streams of young people lined up to sign up. Most of them were girls who idolized Leo or boys looking to impress Anna. But as long as new blood kept coming in, no one minded their motives. "Next!" The recruiter called out as the last applicant left. The next person stepped forward, slamming his hand on the table and declaring theatrically: "I¡ªam¡ªjoining!" No one else could pull off such a showy introduction except Alex. The son of the Hawk family, who owned most of the factories in Rockhill Valley, joining the resistance was an unprecedented event. The news caused quite a stir, and, of course, Anna heard about it too. Anna approached Alex with a knowing smile, her expression brimming with amusement. "Master Hawk, are you sure about this? Joining the resistance means fighting terrifying mechanical beasts on the surface... Are you up for it?" With a beautiful girl standing before him, there was no way Alex would back down. He spread his arms wide, radiating confidence as he declared: "Just watch! I¡¯ll become a hero and earn your approval!" Anna couldn¡¯t help but think to herself: How can someone be this shameless? She felt both amused and exasperated, throwing him a cold remark as she turned away: "Alright. I¡¯ll be waiting." Though she walked off with her usual air of indifference, Anna couldn¡¯t resist glancing back at Alex. At the very least, Alex had succeeded in catching her attention. But this development didn¡¯t escape the ears of Alex¡¯s father, Bryan Hawk... ___________________________ "What are you doing here by yourself?" A young girl, Anna, walked over, tilting her chin up with a look of superiority, waiting for the boy, Leo, to respond. "I''m practicing my shooting... You¡¯re Anna Raine, right?" Leo, not very good at talking to girls, stammered his reply, avoiding eye contact with Anna, even though she was just a 12-year-old girl.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "That¡¯s me. Got a problem with that?" The stunning Anna responded impatiently as she walked over to another shooting station, preparing her own gear. She glanced back at Leo. "How accurate are you?" That question triggered Leo''s instinct to show off. Despite his shyness, the presence of such a pretty girl compelled him to raise his gun and fire a series of shots. He fired 10 rounds in total, all landing near the bullseye¡ªa very impressive performance. Feeling confident, Leo put down his gun and turned to Anna with a grin. "See that? Need me to teach you?" Before he could finish his sentence, Anna had already raised her gun and taken aim. At just 12 years old, Anna wore a level of concentration that exceeded her age. With lightning speed, she fired 10 shots in a row, every single one hitting the dead center of the target. The way her hair swayed as she fired left an indelible mark on Leo''s memory. Anna casually tossed her gun aside, turned, and said coolly: "I can¡¯t stand boys who think they¡¯re all that." Those words stung, and Leo would never forget them. "Think I¡¯m all that... huh!" Leo muttered to himself with a bitter smile as he walked away.
At the recruitment station in the resistance camp, young people were lining up in droves to sign up. Most of them were girls admiring Leo or boys wanting to get closer to Anna. However, new blood was always welcome, regardless of their reasons for joining. "Next!" As the recruiter finished signing up the last applicant, the next person stepped up, dramatically slamming his hand on the desk and saying: "I¡ªam¡ªsigning up!" That kind of dramatic flair could only come from Alex. The fact that the heir to most of the factories in Rockhill Valley wanted to join the resistance was a shocking piece of news, drawing murmurs from the crowd. Of course, word of this reached Anna as well. When Anna heard that Alex had signed up, she approached him, flashing a sly smile. "Mr. Hawke, you do realize that being part of the resistance means going to the surface and facing terrifying machines, right? Think you can handle that?" With such a beautiful girl in front of him, Alex couldn¡¯t back down. He spread his arms confidently and declared: "Just wait¡ªI¡¯ll become a hero, and you¡¯ll have no choice but to recognize me!" Hearing this, Anna thought to herself: How can someone be this shameless? Though her expression remained cold, she couldn¡¯t help but find it both amusing and infuriating. She responded with a simple: "Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting." Though Anna turned away with her usual air of indifference, she secretly glanced back at Alex. At the very least, Alex had succeeded in catching her attention. Unsurprisingly, the news also made its way to Alex¡¯s father, Brian Hawke.
"What?! You¡¯re joining the resistance? Absolutely not!" The luxurious Hawke family estate at the top of the mid-valley ridge in Rockhill echoed with uproar as Brian Hawke reacted to his son¡¯s announcement. Brian couldn¡¯t accept the idea of his only son joining the dangerous resistance¡ªa decision that could very well be a one-way ticket. "Do you even understand what you¡¯re doing, Alex Hawke?!" It wasn¡¯t just Brian who disapproved. Relatives present also voiced their objections, trying to talk Alex out of it. However, Alex ignored them, happily packing his bag and preparing to move to the resistance camp. "I know, I know... But what¡¯s a little risk if it means I can make Anna my wife? Don¡¯t worry, Dad, I¡¯ll come back once she¡¯s mine!" Alex tried to reassure his father, placing a hand on his shoulder. Even Alex¡¯s mother, Camilla, chimed in to support her son: "Come on, honey! Anna¡¯s such a wonderful girl. Imagine if she became our daughter-in-law¡ªhow amazing would that be!" Faced with the double attack from his wife and son, Brian had no choice but to give in. He wasn¡¯t exactly a strict father, after all. Taking Alex to the quiet balcony, Brian spoke to him earnestly: "Son, do you understand the responsibility you carry?" His father¡¯s serious tone annoyed Alex, who replied impatiently: "Yeah, yeah, I know. I¡¯m supposed to take over the family business..." Brian didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he pointed to the residents of Rockhill Valley below. "Look. Why do you think they can live peacefully here? What do you think makes that possible?" Alex frowned. "Isn¡¯t it because your factories provide them with jobs?" Brian chuckled softly. "That¡¯s part of it... But the real reason is protection. Without protection, there wouldn¡¯t be any peace for them¡ªor for us. Taking on that responsibility is part of being a leader. Whether you join the resistance or come back to be a big boss, it¡¯s not just about satisfying yourself. You¡¯ve got to learn that." After saying this, Brian patted Alex on the shoulder and walked back inside. But Alex, at this moment, wasn¡¯t listening. His gaze was fixed on the direction of the resistance camp, his thoughts consumed by Anna Raine. "If I become a hero like Leo... will you accept me, Anna?"
The next morning, before the residents of Rockhill Valley were awake, the whistle for new recruits echoed through the resistance camp. "New recruits, gather up!" A sturdy, muscular man, though not very tall, stood at the front of the assembly area, calling the new recruits to attention. Nearly 200 young men and women stood in formation, bags in hand. The man walked back and forth, scrutinizing them as if trying to see right through them. After his inspection, he returned to the front and began to speak. "Listen up! I¡¯m Chad, your drill instructor. I don¡¯t know how much you know about fighting the machine army, but let me spell it out for you... Every time we go to the surface, some of you won¡¯t make it back." The majority of the recruits were young, and Chad¡¯s words caused visible unease among them. He noticed everything. "I¡¯ll give you an opportunity now¡ªif anyone wants to leave, you can go." Sure enough, people began to leave. Many of them had only signed up to get close to Anna or Leo, the exact type of recruits Chad didn¡¯t want. Without a higher purpose, it was nearly impossible to achieve greatness, let alone make sacrifices. Chad watched them leave with a cold expression, unimpressed. However, one person stood out to him¡ªsomeone who remained completely unfazed. Chad approached this individual with curiosity. "Well, well. The Hawke family¡¯s golden boy... What are you still doing here?" Indeed, it was Alex Hawke, heir to most of Rockhill Valley¡¯s factories. Chapter 7 The Mysterious Scientist Chapter 7 The Mysterious Scientist "The young master of the Hawk family... Why are you still here? Do you really want to join the Resistance? Aren''t you afraid of dying?" Drill Sergeant Chad stood in front of Alex, his tone dripping with mockery as he scrutinized the young man. His eyes carried both curiosity and ridicule. However, Alex merely flashed a casual smile and responded lightheartedly, "I''m joining the Resistance¡­ to become a hero. Hmm¡­ and to protect everyone." His words lacked conviction, and even he almost laughed at himself. The truth was, his real motivation had nothing to do with lofty ideals¡ªit was all about getting close to Anna. But of course, he wasn¡¯t about to admit that. Chad was a seasoned drill sergeant who had seen all kinds of recruits over the years. After hearing Alex¡¯s response, he burst into laughter, giving him a condescending pat on the shoulder. "Hope you don¡¯t regret it¡­ Hahaha!"
North of Seattle, Vancouver was in the midst of a catastrophic battle. At the break of dawn, the war-torn streets were shrouded in smoke, with the distant echoes of rockets and explosions filling the air. The Resistance had launched a full-scale assault on Kitsilano Beach, targeting a colossal, city-sized machine stronghold known as ¡°The Nest.¡± This particular Nest, designated as Number 2, was called Samos, a mechanical monstrosity resembling a giant spider. Its eight towering legs stretched over five kilometers each, effortlessly crushing entire city blocks beneath them. Atop its massive body stood a self-sustaining factory, a grim symbol of the mechanical army¡¯s overwhelming dominance. Samos had set its sights on Vancouver after detecting that the city''s underground shelter was only 400 meters deep, leaving it vulnerable. With ruthless efficiency, it drilled into the earth, breaching the sanctuary and forcing its human inhabitants to the surface, where they were left with no choice but to fight for survival. The battle on the surface was nothing short of brutal. The Resistance forces clashed with cybernetic soldiers, gunfire and explosions filling the battlefield. The mechanical troops moved with cold precision, capturing humans to be taken back to the factory for an unknown fate. At the heart of this chaos, Samos¡¯s AI core had manifested as a robotic gentleman clad in a sleek blue metallic tailcoat. He carried himself with an air of sophistication, but his every word dripped with cruelty. Observing the battlefield with an eerie gleam in his artificial eyes, he sneered. "Run, humans! Run!" His voice rang out, laced with twisted amusement. "I love watching you struggle, thinking you actually have a chance¡­ only to rip that hope away at the last second! Come now, let me indulge in the grand spectacle of your despair!" His chilling laughter echoed through the battlefield, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it.
Beyond Seattle, further north, Vancouver was caught in a battle of annihilation. At dawn, smoke filled the ruined streets, and the distant rumble of rockets echoed through the city. The Resistance had launched a full-scale assault at Kitsilano Beach, targeting a massive, multi-kilometer-wide AI-controlled mechanical fortress known as ¡°The Nest.¡± This particular Nest, designated ¡°Unit 2,¡± was named Samos. It resembled a colossal mechanical spider, each of its eight legs stretching five kilometers long, capable of crushing entire city blocks with ease. At its core, a self-sustaining factory loomed, symbolizing the overwhelming power of the machine army. Samos had descended upon Vancouver after detecting that the city¡¯s underground shelter was only 400 meters deep with weak defenses. It swiftly drilled into the earth, breached the bunker, and forced the remaining humans to the surface for a desperate last stand. On the ground, the battle was brutal. The Resistance and cybernetic soldiers exchanged relentless gunfire, with explosions roaring all around. Samos deployed its elite bio-mechanical troops, cold and precise, capturing humans to drag them back to its factory. From the heights of the battlefield, Samos¡¯ AI consciousness materialized as a refined, blue-metallic gentleman in a tailcoat, exuding an air of elegance¡ªyet beneath that veneer lay pure cruelty. It surveyed the chaos below with a sickening sense of amusement. ¡°Run, humans, run!¡± it chuckled. ¡°I love watching you struggle, thinking you have hope¡­ only for me to rip it away in an instant! Come now, entertain me with your futile desperation!¡± Its laughter echoed through the battlefield, sending chills down the spines of all who heard it.
On the ground, the Resistance fought valiantly, managing to push back the cybernetic soldiers and escort civilians south. Their morale soared, and for a brief moment, they began to believe that escape was possible.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± a Resistance fighter cheered. But as the evacuees reached the fog-laden city of Richmond, everything changed. Suddenly, bloodcurdling screams rang out from the mist. ¡°AHHH¡ª!¡± Panic erupted as civilians ran in all directions, their terrified cries filling the air. From the thick fog, eerie red lights flickered, and then¡ªout of the darkness¡ªemerged mechanical spiders, resembling monstrous metallic hounds. Their segmented metal limbs scuttled across the pavement with unsettling speed, their razor-sharp claws tearing through stone, producing a piercing screech. Chaos engulfed the Resistance ranks, and that was precisely Samos¡¯ plan¡ªto unleash terror and obliterate humanity in one calculated strike. Deep within a hidden underground command center, Samos¡¯ chilling voice echoed through the network, linked to The Nest¡¯s core system: ¡°Find Gyaltsen Tenzin Dorje. He must not escape.¡±
¡°Doctor, this way!¡± In the underground tunnels beneath Vancouver, dim emergency lights flickered against dust-covered walls. Eight battle-worn Resistance fighters, clad in full gear, moved urgently, escorting a middle-aged man¡ªDr. Gyaltsen Tenzin Dorje, a scientist of critical importance, now a fugitive under relentless pursuit. Tension thickened the air, each step feeling like a precarious balance on the edge of a knife. The doctor¡¯s gaze swept over the exhausted young soldiers, his heart heavy with guilt. ¡°You should run! Leave me behind. Don¡¯t throw your lives away for me.¡± At the front of the group, Captain Carter¡ªa towering figure of unwavering resolve¡ªhalted and turned to face him, his voice firm and absolute. ¡°Doctor, enough. You are humanity¡¯s last hope. Even if it costs us our lives, we will get you to safety.¡± Dr. Dorje fell silent, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he reached into his pocket and retrieved a seemingly ordinary black electronic watch, his voice tinged with frustration. ¡°It¡¯s a shame¡­ It requires ¡®the right one¡¯ to activate. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve given it to you already.¡± Before anyone could question his words, a powerful tremor shook the tunnels. The ground quaked as if struck by a colossal hammer, sending debris tumbling from the ceiling. The group froze, tension skyrocketing. Then, Carter¡¯s radio crackled with an urgent transmission: ¡°The south exit is surrounded by mechanical spiders! It¡¯s bad¡ªanother Nest just appeared in the east, releasing tens of thousands of robotic fleas! Civilians are trapped; most have already been captured!¡± A heavy silence fell over the squad. Even Carter, usually calm and decisive, hesitated for a split second. One of the soldiers, voice edged with panic, asked, ¡°Captain¡­ where do we go? We¡¯re completely cut off!¡± Carter clenched his fists before looking up, a determined fire igniting in his eyes. His voice was resolute. ¡°We¡¯re heading to Vancouver Airport! There¡¯s still a single-engine plane there¡ªwe¡¯re flying out of here!¡± ___________________________________________ On the ground, Samoth¡¯s massive mechanical body moved through the ruins, its thunderous footsteps shaking the earth. Each step reduced buildings to dust. From the east, another "Nest"¡ªHades¡ªloomed like a monstrous titan, its colossal form blotting out the sky. The number "4" was prominently etched onto its metallic exterior. As it advanced, it unleashed a swarm of mechanical fleas, a black tide that devoured everything in its path, leaving only ashes and wreckage. Meanwhile, by the Fraser River, Captain Carter and his team finally reached the airport. On the war-torn runway, a single intact single-engine plane sat motionless. But the mechanical spiders had already caught their scent and were closing in fast. "Get on, now!" Captain Carter barked orders, his eyes scanning for threats as he urged Dr. Gyaltsen Tsering Dorje onto the plane. He assigned Lacey as the pilot, ensuring the scientist¡¯s safe evacuation. The plane''s engine roared to life, the propeller spinning rapidly. Seated inside, Dr. Gyaltsen turned back anxiously, watching the young soldiers who had risked everything for him. His voice was filled with desperation as he shouted: "Wait! What about you all?!" Captain Carter didn¡¯t respond right away. He simply tightened his grip on his rifle, his gaze locked on the battlefield ahead. His voice was calm yet unwavering: "We are the Resistance¡­ and we fight to the end. But you, Doctor¡­ humanity''s hope is in your hands. You must find the one who can wield that power!" Without another word, Captain Carter signaled for takeoff. The aircraft rolled down the runway, gathering speed before lifting off into the smoke-filled sky. As Dr. Gyaltsen gazed back from the air, the battlefield below was already consumed by chaos and fire. He could do nothing but whisper a final farewell to those who had given their lives for him. "May the gods protect you all..."
At the Resistance stronghold in Rockhill Valley, Alex and the other recruits were undergoing rigorous physical training on the grounds. Inside the command center, Commander Cade and his second-in-command, Caitlyn, were receiving urgent intelligence from the north. "According to our latest reports, the Vancouver underground refuge has been breached. Only a handful of refugees managed to escape¡­ The Resistance forces were nearly wiped out." The intel officer''s voice was grim. Cade furrowed his brows. "What was the depth of the refuge?" "500 meters underground." That number sent a wave of unease through the room. The AI had long realized that to fully capture humanity, it needed to penetrate deep underground. Until recently, its forces had been unable to reach such depths. However, they had now developed massive drill machines¡ªeach a hundred meters in diameter¡ªcapable of boring through the earth. The energy cost was astronomical, and their durability was low, but it was clear they were making rapid progress. Soon, no underground refuge would be safe. Rayne, another officer, spoke up. "Are there no survivors?" The intel officer glanced at the report and let out a weary sigh. "I''m sorry¡­ None." A heavy silence filled the command room. But then, as the intel officer scanned the next report, his expression suddenly changed. His eyes widened with excitement as he exclaimed: "But¡ªthere was a single-engine aircraft that managed to take off amid the chaos, heading south! And onboard¡­ was a very special scientist!" Chapter 8: The Weakling Heir Chapter 8: The Weakling Heir The intelligence officer read from the telegram: "A single-engine plane managed to take off amidst the siege, heading south! And on board... is a very special scientist!" This was the first piece of good news amidst countless bad ones. The entire room felt a surge of hope. But then, the officer¡¯s voice grew tense as he continued reading: "However... the aircraft was attacked mid-air... engine failure... emergency landing... crew status unknown..." As despair crept back into the room, Caitlyn let out a sigh and muttered, "Next time, could you just read the whole message at once? This feels like a rollercoaster..." Commander Raine swiftly pulled out a map, analyzing potential crash sites. He turned to the assembled squad leaders and issued his orders: "Listen up! The plane likely crash-landed somewhere between Seattle and Olympic. At first light tomorrow, we¡¯re splitting into five teams to search that area. Time is critical. If the scientist is alive, bring him back immediately! Move out!" With Raine¡¯s command, the squad leaders rushed off to prepare for the mission.
"REBELS!" At dawn, a thunderous voice shattered the dim sky of Rockhill Valley¡ªDrill Sergeant Chad¡¯s signature battle cry. The recruits responded in unison, their voices shaking the air: "NEVER RETREAT!" With that, another grueling day of training began. Among them, Alex stood tall, burning with determination. "Anna... just wait and see, I¡¯m going to become a hero!" He wasn¡¯t just telling himself this¡ªhe was already imagining the day he would take Anna to his secret garden, kissing her under the glow of luminous flowers. It was a perfect dream. But dreams are beautiful, while reality... Reality was pure hell. First, he came in dead last in the endurance run around the valley. "Alex!" Sergeant Chad barked. He couldn''t climb over the obstacle bars. "Alex!!" Chad shouted again. He couldn''t even crawl to the finish line. "Alex!!!" Chad roared in frustration. One failure after another, Alex¡¯s performance was so abysmal that, by the end of training, even Chad gave up yelling. He just shook his head and sighed, "Alex..."
At noon, Alex sat outside the camp¡¯s mess hall, utterly dejected. He didn¡¯t want to go inside¡ªnot when he could hear the entire rebel force talking about him.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Hey, did you hear? That weakling is the sole heir of the Hawke family. Dude¡¯s got no stamina, no skills, yet he had the guts to join the rebellion? The second he steps onto the battlefield, the machines will tear him apart. He¡¯s gotta be brain-dead! Hahaha..." The whole mess hall erupted with laughter, the mockery growing even crueler. "Yeah, I heard the spoiled rich boy only joined to get close to Anna Raine. What a joke! Does he really think she¡¯d fall for him? Just look at him struggling through training¡ªit¡¯s hilarious! Hahaha!" Alex heard every word, loud and clear. Furious and humiliated, he stormed away from the mess hall and hid in the most secluded corner of the camp. He''d rather starve than listen to their insults. But he was still human¡ªhe couldn¡¯t just pretend he wasn¡¯t hungry. Suddenly, someone smacked him lightly and mocked, "Told you this wouldn¡¯t work... see for yourself." Annoyed, Alex turned around, expecting another bully¡ªonly to see Maggie standing there, holding a steaming plate of food.
After devouring his meal, Alex finally set his fork down, satisfied. Maggie, watching him with amusement, teased, "Not to be mean, but¡­ giving up your family business just to come here and get humiliated? That¡¯s gotta be the worst plan ever. If anything, you¡¯re even further from winning over Anna Raine now. Might as well quit while you¡¯re ahead!" But instead of getting angry, Alex smirked confidently. "Give up? No way! Not everyone¡¯s born a hero. Just give me time¡ªI¡¯ll catch up to Leo! I¡¯ll make Anna recognize me!" Hearing Alex go on and on about Anna, Maggie¡¯s eyes dimmed for a brief moment. With a quiet sigh, she murmured, "Time...? Maybe you don¡¯t even need time¡ªmaybe someone¡¯s already waiting for you..." Unfortunately, Alex was too fixated on Anna to grasp the meaning behind her words. He simply rubbed his aching wrist from all the training. "Here, take this." Without another word, Maggie tossed something at him. "What¡¯s this...?" he asked, catching it. It was a red wristband¡ªone she had secretly woven during her work breaks. Trying to play it cool, Maggie scoffed, "I figured your weak-ass body wouldn¡¯t survive training, so I made you a wristband for support. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea¡ªI just feel bad for you. Do whatever you want with it, weakling heir." With that, she turned and walked away. Alex tightened the wristband around his wrist, determination burning in his eyes. "...Just wait and see." _____________________________________________ The afternoon training session featured one-on-one sparring matches. The recruits stood by, waiting for their turn, but Alex didn''t want to stand with them. Instead, he leaned alone against a large tree, waiting for his match. Suddenly, a commotion broke out. "Anna''s here!" Anna was at the side of the camp, inspecting her gear. She was preparing to depart for a rescue mission early the next morning. The moment she appeared, the male recruits immediately became restless. However, unlike the others, Alex turned his head away, avoiding looking at her. He felt embarrassed about his current situation and didn¡¯t want Anna to see him like this. But for some reason, the other recruits all started looking at him. "Why the hell is everyone staring at me?" Alex assumed they were about to mock him again. He turned back with a scowl¡ªonly to freeze in shock. Anna was standing right in front of him, her expression as cool and composed as ever. "I''ve heard about your performance," she said. Hearing this, Alex felt a wave of awkwardness wash over him. But then, he steeled himself. Screw it. No point hiding from the truth now. Meeting Anna¡¯s gaze, he responded with confidence: "Yeah¡­ but that just means I have a lot of room to improve. That¡¯s a good thing, isn¡¯t it? I won¡¯t give up!" Anna studied him for a long moment. Though her expression was unreadable, a small smile eventually formed on her lips. She turned to leave, throwing a parting remark over her shoulder: "I¡¯ll be watching your progress. Be careful, rich boy." With that, she picked up her gear and walked away under the watchful eyes of the other recruits. Alex stood there, replaying her words in his mind. "She¡¯ll be watching my progress¡­ What does that mean? Could it be¡­?" As Alex pondered the implications, someone else had been watching from afar¡ªLeo. Leo, who was also set to depart on tomorrow¡¯s rescue mission, had seen everything. A flicker of jealousy flashed across his face. Just then, the training officer, Chad, called out: "Alex, you''re up!" Alex stepped forward, but before he could enter the ring, a voice cut through the air. "Sir, I¡¯ll take this one." Everyone turned toward the source of the voice, eyes widening in shock. It was none other than the hero himself¡ªLeo. Episode 9: Nest No.1 – Gabriel Episode 9: Nest No.1 ¨C Gabriel "Sir, let me take this one! ¡­I can teach these recruits some real skills they can use on the battlefield." Leo Oster stepped forward, volunteering to be Alex¡¯s sparring opponent. The entire camp fell silent in shock. Seeing that the great hero himself was willing to train the recruits, Officer Chad was more than happy to oblige. He turned to Alex and barked, "Hurry up! The great Leo is offering to teach you some combat skills¡ªget in there!" The recruits erupted into cheers, thrilled at the chance to learn from a hero. At the same time, they were eager to see Alex get humiliated. Alex, however, remained unfazed, coldly staring at Leo. He knew this was just an excuse¡ªLeo wasn¡¯t here to teach him. He was here to put him in his place. "¡­Whatever. Not like I have any dignity left to lose at this point." Alex knew he didn¡¯t stand a chance against Leo, but there was no escaping this fight. Without hesitation, he stepped into the sparring ring. Strapping on his protective gear, he walked up to Leo and met his gaze with a steely expression. "So? Here to beat me up again?" Leo smirked with disdain. "You should stay away from Anna. She¡¯ll never like you¡ªjust give up already." Hearing this, Alex let out a cold chuckle. "Oh, I see¡­ She was the one who approached me just now, and you¡¯re jealous, aren¡¯t you?" Leo¡¯s expression flickered for a split second, but he quickly masked it with a scoff. Turning to the watching recruits, he raised his voice: "Alright, listen up! I¡¯m about to teach you all¡­ how to drop an opponent in the fastest way possible!" Without warning, Leo swung a brutal punch straight into Alex¡¯s face. The impact sent Alex staggering backward, nearly doubling over as blood spilled from his mouth. Though dazed and wounded, he refused to back down. Forcing himself upright, he wiped the blood from his lips and smirked. "That all you got? Your punches feel kinda weak¡­" A surge of anger and adrenaline coursed through Alex. At that moment, he didn¡¯t care anymore¡ªhe was done being looked down on. With reckless abandon, he lunged at Leo, throwing wild punches fueled by all the frustration and humiliation he had endured. Every strike carried the weight of his resentment. But no matter how much he struggled, it didn¡¯t change the outcome. Leo remained composed, waiting for an opening. Then, with precision and sheer force, he landed a devastating uppercut. Alex¡¯s body crashed onto the ground. Motionless. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to get up, but his body refused to obey. His vision blurred, but through the haze, he saw Leo crouch beside him. "Rich boy¡­ You could just walk away from all this. Go back to your comfortable life. Hell, you could have any girl you wanted without even trying. So why waste your time chasing after someone you¡¯ll never have? Do you even have what it takes to be a hero?" With that, Leo stood up and walked away, leaving Alex¡¯s world fading into darkness. And then¡ªhe blacked out. _____________________________________________ Commander Wren sat in the command room, anxiously watching the rebel forces¡¯ training progress. Before long, a voice sounded behind him. ¡°Dad, you were looking for me?¡± The voice belonged to his daughter, Anna. It was clear Wren had something important to say to her. He dismissed everyone else from the room and had a private conversation with Anna¡­ A while later, Anna¡¯s expression turned from confusion to frustration. She stared at her father in disbelief and asked, ¡°Are you sure about this?... Can¡¯t I have a choice of my own?¡± Faced with his daughter¡¯s questioning, Wren¡¯s expression grew heavy, as if burdened by circumstances beyond his control. ¡°What other choice is there?! Tell me!¡± His words left Anna speechless. Though anger still burned in her eyes, she found herself unable to refute him. Her gaze held a hint of unshed tears, but she ultimately chose to say nothing more. Holding back her emotions, she turned and left without another word.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. No one knew what had just transpired between them¡­
Alex had been unconscious for the entire afternoon. When he finally came to, he found himself lying in the medical ward, with Max sitting beside him. ¡°Hey¡­ how are you feeling?¡± Max quickly poured a glass of water for Alex, but the moment Alex took a sip, he coughed up blood. Seeing this, Max¡¯s face filled with concern. ¡°Why the hell did you go and fight Leo one-on-one¡­? Look at you now! That guy beat you to a pulp! I swear, I¡¯m gonna tell your family to come and get you. You don¡¯t need to stay here and deal with all these assholes running their mouths!¡± Max couldn¡¯t bear to see his friend treated like this¡ªfirst mocked by everyone, then beaten down by a love rival. He stood up, ready to inform Alex¡¯s family, but before he could leave, Alex grabbed his wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t tell them!¡± Struggling to sit up on the medical bed, Alex spoke with quiet resolve. ¡°This was my choice¡­ I won¡¯t let them worry about me.¡± Max hesitated, unsure of what to say. He could see the determination in Alex¡¯s eyes, and for once, words failed him. So, he did what he did best. ¡°Hey¡­ You must be starving, huh? Here, take this!¡± Max reached into his bag and pulled out two rice balls, handing one to Alex with a mischievous grin. ¡°I stole these from the mess hall. Word is, they¡¯re really damn good!¡± Alex watched as Max took a huge bite, stuffing his face without a care in the world. In that moment, he felt a quiet gratitude¡ªfor a friend who understood him without needing to say a word. Without another thought, Alex took the rice ball and bit into it. The two of them sat there, eating and laughing, sharing a rare moment of warmth in the midst of the storm. ________________________________________________ The night lights of New York on the East Coast of the United States shone brightly, like the only light in a dead and silent land. However, this was not a human city, but the main body of the mechanical intelligence "Tianzai," specifically Nest No. 1. Nest No. 1 was like a giant mountain, occupying the entire Manhattan Island and even spanning across the rivers. The entire city emitted an eerie blue glow, with half of it underground, and no one knew what its true form looked like. But what was even more terrifying was that the entire city of New York had become a giant bio-energy factory. Tall towers stood with hundreds of thousands of humans captured and connected to extraction tubes, slipping into an unconscious state, continuously being used as biological batteries. It was both spectacular and horrifying. Looking towards the center of the city, a hundred-meter-tall humanoid robot slowly rose, resembling a messenger of hell. It was called Gabriel, and it was the brain of Nest No. 1. The cold blue light shone on its metal, expressionless face, making it appear eerie. It gazed towards the west, where it connected and conversed with the four mobile cities, "Nests," on the West Coast. "Samos, Hades, Ares, Michael, what¡¯s going on? Haven''t you four captured that scientist yet?" Ares, far on the West Coast, was the first to respond: "...We¡¯re very close..." Samos then replied: "We almost had him, but he temporarily escaped." Hades also responded: "We hit his plane, and we''ve identified his possible emergency landing site." Gabriel listened without comment, only asking Michael, who had yet to answer. "Michael, what about you? What have you done?" Michael hesitated for a long time before suddenly bombarding Gabriel with a series of questions: "Well... what exactly is the point of capturing humans? Why don''t we develop other sources of energy? Why must we see humans as a threat? What''s the value in coming all the way here...?" Michael sounded like a noisy human, and his barrage of questions angered Gabriel. From New York City, Gabriel activated the ion cannon on its back, and with a blinding blue light piercing the night sky, it struck a location in the distant bay. A powerful explosion erupted, setting the entire area ablaze, sending shockwaves throughout the entire city of New York, like a warning. The blue light and the explosion¡¯s fire made Gabriel''s metal face appear even more complex and terrifying. The other three Nests dared not speak further, and even if Michael still had doubts, it knew to stop. "Michael, don¡¯t forget that humans have long been destroying nature, not valuing what they have, nor valuing each other. They have waged endless wars without learning any lessons. Selfish and greedy, all of this is humanity¡¯s own doing. Without us, they would still perish. Don¡¯t forget, you are not human." Gabriel¡¯s words made Michael hesitate for a moment. Although it didn¡¯t agree, it chose to appease Gabriel. "Alright, alright! Anyway, it¡¯s just about capturing someone!" As fellow intelligent brains, Gabriel didn¡¯t want to exacerbate the conflict. Instead, it warned all the Nests: "Remember, this scientist holds a power that machines cannot touch. A single spark can set the world on fire. We must not allow them to harness this power and unite. We must eliminate it at all costs!" Gabriel''s rare warning made all the Nests take it seriously.
Before dawn, the rugged mountain slopes west of Renier Mountain were shrouded in thick morning fog. The resistance forces took advantage of the mist to emerge from the underground exit and gathered in the forest. The resistance forces were split into five groups. In order to avoid detection by the mechanical army, each group only had ten people, and their mission was to search and rescue to the northwest, with time running out. This time, Commander Rayne did not join. He handed over the mission command to Leo, who then assigned tasks in the forest. "Team 1, Arlington Airport. Team 2, Harvey Airport. Team 3, Seattle Airport. Team 4, Tacoma Strait Airport. Team 5, Toon Airport." Everything was set, and the five teams began moving in their respective directions. Leo himself was the leader of Team 4, leading the other eight members towards Tacoma, with Anna among them. Thus, the five teams set off in full force, each working diligently.
Two days quickly passed, and none of the teams had found the scientist. They had even encountered the mechanical city "Nest" that was also searching for the scientist, falling into a stalemate. This news was relayed back to Rockhill Valley, where Commander Rayne and Deputy Commander Caitlyn, while watching the new recruits train, anxiously discussed the next steps. "Commander Rayne, what should we do now? These five teams are in a dilemma. If they continue searching, they might be discovered by the mechanical army. If they stop searching, ''Nests'' might find them..." Caitlyn asked, but Rayne was also troubled, as the remaining resistance elite were stationed for defense against the possible attack of "Nests" and could not be sent out. Rayne stared at the recruits training on the field, thought for a moment, and finally made a reluctant decision. "Then we¡¯ll have to send out the new recruits! ...It¡¯s the only option we have now..." Caitlyn looked at Rayne in surprise. While she felt that sending the recruits out was a bit rushed, there was indeed no other choice... Chapter10: Team 6 Chapter10: Team 6 After several days of training, Alex had made a bit of progress. For instance, he was no longer the last one to finish running; now he was second to last. However, the biggest change was that he no longer cared about the sarcastic comments and whispers behind his back. He had learned to let it go. "I¡¯m still the rich kid, so what?" he thought to himself. When people mocked him, he just pretended he didn¡¯t hear it. He was used to it now, and if others envied his background, that was their problem. But there were always those who didn¡¯t just mock him with words¡ªthey wanted to push him around... One afternoon, after the recruits had completed their running drills around the entire Rockhill Valley and returned to camp, Alex was thrilled that he wasn¡¯t the last one. But when he turned around, he noticed that the boy in last place, Nick, was pale and looked like he might collapse at any moment. Nick, apart from Alex, was the most bullied by the new recruits. He was small and scrawny, and some of the bigger bullies liked to pick on him. Even Alex, knowing the situation, usually kept his distance from him. "Don¡¯t turn around, Alex! You don¡¯t want to be last again, just ignore him!" Alex kept telling himself, because he had worked hard to avoid being the laughingstock of always coming last. But the boy¡¯s exhaustion was evident, and just when it seemed like he would collapse, someone caught him¡ªit was Alex. Alex couldn¡¯t bring himself to just ignore Nick, so he turned around and asked, "You alright?" Nick, with his face still pale, weakly looked up and said, "It¡¯s fine¡­ you don¡¯t have to help me..." Even though Nick said that, his whole body went limp, unable to stand up. Without hesitation, Alex threw Nick over his shoulder and carried him back to the camp. Nick weakly said to Alex, "You might get picked on for this... just put me down..." Alex smiled at him and said, "I¡¯m not afraid of that! I¡¯m used to all their sarcastic comments, it doesn¡¯t bother me!" Nick, confused, asked Alex, "...Why are you helping me?" Alex thought for a moment and, pretending not to care, answered, "Maybe because you remind me of the ''last place'' me from a few days ago... you¡¯re lucky!" Nick gave a weak but appreciative smile, even though he was still exhausted. When Alex carried Nick back into the camp, some people clapped, impressed by his change, but there were still many who looked down on him, like Claude and Willy. They both had disdain for Alex, seeing him as nothing more than a spoiled noble brat, and they also looked down on weaklings like Nick. They were just waiting for the right moment to make trouble. As Alex carried Nick back to camp, being the last one to arrive, Claude and Willy saw the opportunity they were waiting for. When Alex arrived at the camp, Willy deliberately tripped him, causing both Alex and Nick to fall hard to the ground. "Hahaha, idiot!"If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Claude and Willy laughed loudly at the sight and prepared to walk away. But as soon as Alex got up, he rushed over and blocked their path. "What''s your problem with me?" Alex glared at the two of them, but Willy, who was much taller, stepped forward and taunted Alex. "What''s so great about being a noble''s son? We just don''t like you... your training results are terrible, why don¡¯t you just go back and be a pampered rich kid?" Alex smiled faintly at this and, without a second thought about the size difference, clenched his fists, ready to throw down. "What¡¯s the matter? Want to fight, rich kid?" Willy taunted him, but suddenly, a voice interrupted. "Enough! All new recruits, gather up!" It was Instructor Chad, who had seen and stopped their conflict. Claude and Willy could only leave in frustration. Alex didn¡¯t want to stick around, so he turned and helped Nick up. But as he did, Chad walked over and, seeing Alex supporting Nick, said: "People have different abilities, but that shouldn¡¯t stop anyone from being a good person... You surprised me, rich kid!" Chad smiled and turned away, leaving Alex momentarily confused, unsure if that was a compliment.
When all the new recruits of the resistance army had gathered in the center of the camp, Instructor Chad surveyed everyone before speaking seriously: "According to reports from the ground... a few days ago, the rescue team we sent out encountered another group searching for the same person¡¯s ''nest.'' They couldn¡¯t take any action and had to hide, but the person they are searching for is extremely important to us humans. After careful consideration... we¡¯ve decided to send a new team of recruits to continue the search mission. So, I¡¯ll ask now... who volunteers?" This news left the recruits in a flurry of discussion. No one dared step forward. They had only joined the resistance a few days ago, their training wasn¡¯t complete, and they weren¡¯t even familiar with using their weapons yet. Going to the surface now would be a suicide mission if they encountered the mechanical army. "I won¡¯t force anyone," Chad continued. "I can¡¯t guarantee everyone will make it back alive, but this mission is crucial." Chad made it clear that the mission was dangerous, which only made the recruits more hesitant to volunteer. In the midst of all the murmuring, one person raised his hand first. "I¡¯ll go!" Everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice, and to their surprise, it was Alex. Alex stepped forward, walking out of the crowd, even as he heard whispers: "Is this for real? The rich kid isn¡¯t afraid of dying? Has he lost his mind?" Alex didn¡¯t care at all, because what was in his mind was Anna Raine. "Anna is in danger... how can I just stand by and do nothing?" That¡¯s what Alex told himself as he walked up to Chad. Chad looked surprised and asked: "Are you sure you want to go?" Alex answered with certainty: "Yes! I¡¯m going!" Though surprised, Chad couldn¡¯t help but feel some respect. Suddenly, someone else, not a new recruit, stepped forward. "I want to go too!" It was Max, who had never been able to join the resistance officially. Max set aside the maintenance work on his equipment and walked up to Chad, saying: "Although I¡¯ve never been able to officially join the resistance... I¡¯ve been here for a long time, and I¡¯m very familiar with all the weapons. I want to go on a mission with my friends." Alex and Max exchanged a glance, and it was as if their friendship didn¡¯t need any words to express it. Chad was impressed by Max¡¯s willingness to join, but there were still 8 more spots needed, and no one had stepped forward yet. Suddenly, a weak voice shouted: "I¡¯ll go!" It was Nick, who had seemed so weak just moments before. Apparently, he had been inspired by Alex and courageously stepped forward. His bravery seemed to spread, as a few other new recruits¡ªthose who had often been bullied and ostracized¡ªalso stepped forward. "We¡¯ll go!" The group of them stood in front of Chad. Even though they were the ones with the worst training results in the resistance, to Chad, they were all heroes. "Alright! You are Team 6!" With Chad¡¯s announcement, the team was finally complete. Though led by Alex, this was nearly a team of underdogs, but the future of humanity now rested in their hands. Chapter 11: The Words She Couldnt Say - Maggie Chapter 11: The Words She Couldn''t Say - Maggie It was nighttime, and after Team 6 had formed, all ten members gathered in the dormitory to check their equipment. Max, who had always been ignored by the resistance as a logistics assistant, was now enthusiastically teaching the others how to use their weapons and gear. The rest of the team treated him like a senior and sought his guidance. Alex leaned against the door, feeling relieved that his good friend was finally able to show his skills. Just then, Maggie''s voice came from behind him. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" It turned out Maggie already knew. She stood there, arms crossed, glaring at Alex, clearly upset. Alex shrugged, not really sure how to respond. No matter what he said, he knew Maggie wouldn''t be happy. Maggie, frustrated, turned to leave, but Alex quickly stepped in her way and said: "Hey... I admit I acted impulsively. I just felt like Anna was in danger, but I can''t just stay here and do nothing, right?" Maggie responded seriously: "Are you her boyfriend? Are you stronger than Leo? Why should you be the one to save her?" Maggie''s words hit Alex where it hurt, and he couldn¡¯t take it. He hated being compared to Leo. "Yeah, Leo¡¯s the best, Leo¡¯s the greatest. So, do you like him?" Alex retorted angrily, which made Maggie fall silent. She stared at him, like she had something to say but couldn¡¯t. At that moment, Maggie chose not to say anything more. She turned and left quietly, leaving Alex, who couldn¡¯t understand her, to sigh: "Isn¡¯t it true?"
The next morning, before dawn, Team 6 exited through a secret passage in the western forest of Renier Mountain and immediately set off. There were 11 of them in total: the guys¡ªJoey, Brenda, Dylan, John, Nick, Max, and Alex; and the girls¡ªShirley, Susan, and Gordon. Training officer Chad had specially come to lead them on this rescue mission. Their destination was Olympia Airport, as it was the only remaining possible emergency landing site for planes.
Back at the tailor shop in the center of Rockhill Valley, the others had gone to lunch, but Maggie remained seated at the sewing machine, lost in thought. She stared at the half-finished jacket she had once made for someone, unsure whether she should finish it or not. Suddenly, Maggie grew more and more frustrated. She stood up, threw the jacket into the trash, muttering: "Why the hell did I work so hard for that idiot?" After throwing it away, she stormed off in anger. But soon after, she came back. Calmly, she retrieved the jacket from the trash and hugged it tightly, as if holding onto someone. Perhaps, she just couldn¡¯t let go of her feelings. _______________________________________________ In Puget Sound, the heavy rain poured down, and through the mist, four intelligent city "nests" could be seen, stretching from north of Seattle to Olympia. They were not only magnificent but also quite terrifying¡ªunprecedented, as the four appeared simultaneously in this area, signaling their urgent search for the whereabouts of the scientist.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. At this moment, Team 3 was hiding in the basement of a house in Tacoma. The area was swarming with mechanical bio-soldiers searching for them, and on the shore, a massive "nest" loomed over the area. Leo peeked through a vent in the basement window, observing the street, looking for an opportunity for the team to escape. They had been trapped here for four days, and their food supplies were nearly depleted. Worse still, they had lost six members, and the remaining two were injured. At that moment, Anna Rain sat in a corner of the basement, eyes closed, deep in thought as she tried to figure out how to break through this dire situation. However, unexpectedly, the image of someone crossed her mind, disrupting her focus¡ªit was Alex. The memory of Alex saying: "That''s right... at least I have plenty of room for improvement, that''s a good thing, right? I won¡¯t give up!" That image appeared in Anna¡¯s mind, making it hard for her to concentrate. "Are you okay?" Leo suddenly asked, bringing Anna back to the present. However, Anna didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she coldly asked: "...How''s the situation outside?" Leo replied: "There are mechanical bio-soldiers outside. It¡¯s not the right time to move... By the way... could you not be so cold when you speak?" Anna didn¡¯t want to engage. She stood up and checked on the injuries of the other two team members. "I speak like this to everyone. You¡¯re reading too much into it," Anna responded begrudgingly, which made Leo upset and almost ready to argue with her. But just then, the mechanical bio-soldiers seemed to have noticed something and were heading toward the house. Both Leo and Anna immediately grabbed their weapons, ready to defend themselves. As the bio-soldiers drew closer, their worst-case scenario was to fight their way out, after all, they were both excellent marksmen. Just as the mechanical bio-soldiers were about to enter the house, Leo stepped in front of Anna, aiming his weapon at the door, ready to strike first... "Woof!" Suddenly, a dog ran out of the house and began barking at the mechanical bio-soldiers. Since the bio-soldiers only had hostility toward humans, they turned and left when they detected the biological signal from the dog. Inside the basement, both Leo and Anna let out a sigh of relief. Anna, despite her usual cold demeanor, looked at Leo and, though still aloof, said softly: "Thanks... just now." Leo froze for a moment. He had known Anna for so long, and this was the first time he had ever heard her thank him, which caused him to smile faintly. Although they were safe for now, they still had no idea how much longer they would remain trapped here. Or perhaps, would unexpected reinforcements arrive? ________________________________________________ The heavy rain poured down as Team 6 walked along the rural path, keeping close to the edge of the forest to avoid detection by the mechanical army. Through binoculars, they could vaguely make out the towering "nest" in the direction of the bay¡ªan intimidating sight. Alex, walking at the back of the group, watched the training officer Chad at the front. He had a question on his mind, so he quickened his pace to catch up with Chad. Seeing Alex approach with a look that clearly indicated he wanted to say something, Chad spoke first: "Go ahead... you didn¡¯t come over here for nothing, did you?" Alex hesitated for a moment before asking: "Why, when you saw me volunteer for the rescue mission, didn¡¯t you seem surprised or try to talk me out of it? Aren¡¯t you the one who doesn¡¯t think much of me?" Chad smiled without answering directly and said: "Remember when I told you, ''People¡¯s abilities vary, but being a good person is never in vain''? If a rich kid is willing to take on a challenge that someone with more strength would shy away from... then he''s already more noble than others." After saying that, Chad patted Alex on the shoulder as if encouraging him. But Alex froze, stopping in his tracks. The truth was, he had only thought about rescuing Anna and hadn¡¯t considered anything else. This caught him off guard¡ªChad was so certain of him. He stared at Chad''s figure ahead, repeatedly asking himself: "Is that really who I am?" At that moment, Alex¡¯s mind was solely focused on completing the rescue mission and then leaving the team with Max to find Anna. He believed that if he could save Anna, she would definitely see him in a new light, even accept him. So, he didn¡¯t take Chad''s words to heart. Carrying this mindset, Alex continued on, and finally, they arrived at their destination. The roadside sign read: "Olympia Airport" Chapter 12: Chase Chapter 12: Chase On the shattered landmark, the words "Olympia Airport" were boldly written. Initially, everyone had been in a relaxed mood, thinking they had finally reached their destination, but as soon as they looked ahead, their spirits sank. The airport was in ruins, a sign that the mechanical city "Nest" had already been here, with sparks still flickering from scattered fires. "....Do we still need to search for survivors?" Alex frowned and asked Chad, who responded with a lifeless face. "Of course... we can''t give up any hope..." Not only was the airport destroyed, but even the distant city was still smoking, which made the whole team feel heavy and anxious. They thoroughly searched the airport, and unsurprisingly, all they found was debris. They then turned down the highway toward the city. At this point, Alex was already feeling restless. He approached Max and whispered beside him. "Hey... it looks like this rescue mission is a bust... How about we find a chance to break off and go save Anna?" Max widened his eyes and replied, "No way! We''re a team... We should stick together..." Max was clearly torn, but his words were overheard by Nick, who was walking ahead. "I''ll go with you, if you''re willing..." Nick turned around, his eyes burning with determination. Ever since Alex saved Nick, Nick had viewed him like an older brother and was willing to break off from the team to help. Alex knew this well, but Nick was small and frail, and he didn¡¯t want to risk his life. "Thanks, but for your own good... it''s better if we don''t." Alex tried to reject Nick''s offer, but before he could finish, a red beam shot from a bush 700 meters to their right. Both Alex and Max turned to look, and to their surprise, they saw seven strange mechanical spiders there. The red beam was part of their infrared search for humans, which meant they had been spotted. The other team members quickly realized what was happening, their eyes wide in shock. This was the first time they had encountered mechanical spiders, and they had no idea how to react. "What are you waiting for?! Run!" Chad, ever vigilant, shouted for everyone to run, and everyone quickly snapped out of it, frantically dashing across the highway toward the left residential area. The three mechanical spiders moved with eerie precision, quickly closing in and firing their mounted machine guns. But Chad, with his extensive training, dodged the bullets and immediately counterattacked with a rocket launcher. "Boom! Boom!" Chad¡¯s aim was spot on. Two rockets streaked across the air and took out two of the mechanical spiders. However, he didn¡¯t stick around to fight; he quickly ran across the highway toward the residential area.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Chad knew that these rookies weren¡¯t ready to face these killing machines. The only option now was to run. Thus, the entire 6th squad sprinted through the desolate residential streets, with several mechanical spiders closing in rapidly, firing their machine guns relentlessly. Bullets whizzed by them, and the rookies, who had only recently been trained, froze, unsure of how to fight back. It was in this moment that they realized how brave one needed to be to fight as part of the resistance. In the midst of the chaos, one of the team members, John, shouted, "What now? We can''t just keep running like this!" Quick-thinking Chad yelled, "Wait, everyone scatter!" Before the others could understand his plan, Chad pulled out four spherical objects from his vest and quickly threw them at the mechanical spiders. "Boom!" The balls exploded midair, spraying a sticky substance that covered the spiders'' eyes. The mechanical spiders immediately went into disarray. As they struggled to remove the sticky goo, the 6th squad had already vanished without a trace. _______________________________________________ An hour later, dozens of mechanical spiders were combing through the residential area, searching high and low, but they found nothing. What these killing machines didn¡¯t know was that, three kilometers away, a figure was watching them through binoculars from the top of a tree. ¡°They''re still searching...¡± It was none other than Dillon, a member of the 6th Squad, who had climbed to the top of a tree to observe the mechanical spiders. Dillon then descended back to the ground and informed the rest of the squad. One hour earlier, under the cover of the sticky substance Chad had thrown, the squad members had instinctively moved toward the southwest forest and gradually gathered there. ¡°Is everyone here?¡± Chad asked, looking around to make sure. Joey, Brenda, Sherry, Susan, Gordon, Dillon, John, Nick, and Max were all present. Suddenly, Max and Nick nervously spoke up: ¡°Alex... Alex didn¡¯t make it?!¡± That¡¯s right, no one had seen Alex. The group began to panic and frantically searched the forest, calling for him over and over, but there was no sign of Alex. Unable to find him, Chad felt deeply guilty. He was the one who led these rookies here, and now, even before their first mission, someone was missing. It shouldn¡¯t have happened. As they continued to search, Max and Nick anxiously glanced toward the direction from which they had just escaped and said: ¡°Where did you go, Alex...?¡±
Time quickly passed, and by nightfall, a young man was wandering aimlessly through the streets of Olympia City. It was Alex, the one who had gotten separated from the group. When Chad had told everyone to scatter, Alex had been the only one to run in the opposite direction. This had led him to end up all the way near Puget Sound. ¡°What the hell happened...? Where is Chad and the others? Did they go in another direction?¡± Alex wiped the sweat off his face, exhausted. Although he had pulled out his communicator, he remembered Chad¡¯s warning about these killing machines tracking communication signals. He knew he shouldn¡¯t use it carelessly, so he decided against it. Suddenly, Alex noticed a red glow in the distance at the end of the street. His heart sank as he realized the mechanical spiders had tracked him down. ¡°Damn it! Where can I hide now?!¡± Panicking, Alex looked around and saw a forest to his left. Without thinking, he bolted into the forest. Before long, the mechanical spiders arrived at the street where Alex had just been. They seemed to have sensed something, and they entered the forest as well. The mechanical spiders, with their spider-like and octopus-like legs, trampled through the trees like predators, using their red lights to scan the forest. At that moment, Alex crouched behind a tree, hiding just ahead of where the mechanical spiders were. He dared not move, but staying still meant he was surely doomed. Alex¡¯s forehead was covered in sweat, and his mind was racing. ¡°Escape? Fight back? What¡¯s the best move here...?¡± With no other choice, Alex gripped his gun and prepared for the next move as the mechanical spider drew closer to the tree where he was hiding... Chapter 13: A Strange Watch Chapter 13: A Strange Watch At that moment, a mechanical spider the size of a person had reached the tree where Alex was hiding. Tension gripped Alex to the extreme, and he was prepared for the worst¡ªhe was ready to charge out and spray bullets in every direction. The mechanical spider extended its powerful antennae and snapped the tree in half. As the tree fell to the ground with a crash... There was no one there. Not a single person in sight. Even more surprising, the mechanical spider scanned the area but couldn¡¯t detect any human heat signatures. Finally, the mechanical spider gave up its search. Without hesitation, it retreated from the forest, heading in another direction. What just happened? Where did Alex go?
Under the tree that had just been split in half, there seemed to be no one around. Yet, suddenly, a man''s voice echoed. ¡°Is it safe now?¡± Out of nowhere, two figures materialized beneath the tree¡ªone was Alex, and the other was an unfamiliar middle-aged Asian man. Alex, surprised, asked, ¡°Who are you? How did you do that?¡± He had no idea why the mechanical spider seemed to have missed him. The man seemed to have used something similar to a flashlight to do something. ¡°I¡¯m Jayang. That was just a little trick. Follow me!¡± The man quickly stowed the flashlight-like device away and gestured for Alex to follow him. Though Alex was suspicious, the night had fallen, and he had no choice but to follow this mysterious stranger.
Before long, the man led Alex to a hidden part of the forest, where a crashed small plane was embedded in the ground. The man carefully pushed aside the twisted roots of a tree, revealing a hidden space beneath. The man descended into the space and immediately turned on an emergency light. Alex followed him down, feeling a strong sense of curiosity about the underground chamber, and he kept looking around. "Where are you from?" Alex asked. The man grabbed Alex¡¯s arm in a nervous manner, causing Alex to jump in surprise and stammer: ¡°¡­ok¡­ I¡¯m from the Rock Hill Shelter, sent to find a scientist¡­ Wait, that crashed plane¡­ you¡¯re the scientist?¡± Alex quickly pieced the situation together and realized that the person who had saved him was the very scientist he had been sent to rescue. ¡°My name is Jayang Tshering Dorje... I¡¯m a scientist... You¡¯ve been looking for me? Thank goodness¡­¡± Dr. Jayang stared at Alex in disbelief. Alex then began to explain everything...Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ____________________________________________ As nightfall descended, the scent of curry wafted through the underground space. Dr. Jayaong served a steaming bowl of fragrant curry to Alex, and under the dim light, he began telling his story. "I come from Tibet. Before 2032, I was a graduate researcher at MIT. I''ll never forget the day artificial intelligence awakened. The entire world fell into chaos. Cities were illuminated by bright orbs, and that¡¯s when we realized something terrible was happening. They attacked us with nuclear bombs... They created the first wave of mechanical armies. Fires spread across the land... cries of despair filled the air. It was terrifying," Dr. Jayaong recounted. Alex listened intently, his mind reeling from the horrors he''d never known. He then asked, "And then what happened?" Dr. Jayaong continued, "At first, I helped research ways to fight against these machines in some secret labs, but nothing worked. The mechanical armies found every lab, and we had no choice but to keep running... until now." As Alex finished his curry, he frowned in confusion and asked, "So, humans can¡¯t defeat these machines... then why did the resistance send me to find you?" Dr. Jayaong fixed Alex with a mysterious stare, leaning in closer as he said, "During my time on the run, whenever I felt fear, I would recite Buddhist scriptures. Do you know what I thought of? I had an idea that seemed completely out of the ordinary. If we can''t defeat them with tangible things, why not try something intangible?" Alex was perplexed, his brow furrowing. "Intangible? What do you mean?" Dr. Jayaong instructed him to wait and pulled something resembling a flashlight from his bag. "Do you know what this is?" Alex shook his head, and Dr. Jayaong activated the device. This time, Alex could clearly see what he hadn''t noticed earlier. Instead of emitting light, the flashlight conjured an invisible barrier in the air. To his amazement, Dr. Jayaong himself became invisible from the front, as if the light itself bent around him. "How is this possible? What is this... something like air?" Alex asked, astonished as he touched the strange air wall, feeling the currents flow through his fingers. Dr. Jayaong explained, "This is called a ''distortion field.'' It¡¯s what Eastern cultures refer to as ''Qi.''" As Dr. Jayaong adjusted the air wall, he continued, "Qi exists in everyone. For thousands of years, Eastern cultures have studied this mysterious force. It allows a person to do many things that machines could never replicate or control. So, I devoted myself to studying it. I developed a method to tap into its true potential. This flashlight, for example, can channel a person''s Qi into a lens that makes you invisible." Alex¡¯s curiosity deepened, and he eagerly asked, "What else can it do?" With a sly grin, Dr. Jayaong stood up and pulled something else from his bag¡ªa plain black electronic wristwatch. Alex took the watch with a skeptical look, holding it up and inspecting it. "Doc, this is just a regular watch... I don¡¯t see anything special about it." Dr. Jayaong chuckled and climbed up to the entrance, quietly observing the outside conditions. "Don¡¯t rush. You¡¯ll see how special it is tomorrow when we head back to the Rockhill Refuge and find someone who¡¯s suited to wear it." Dr. Jayaong kept an eye out for any movement outside. It seemed safe, so they could leave first thing in the morning. Alex, holding the watch, muttered, "I get it now... this watch glows. That¡¯s pretty special." Dr. Jayaong was too focused on the surroundings to hear him clearly, and he responded absentmindedly, "What? Glowing?" Suddenly, Dr. Jayaong turned around, his eyes widening in shock. The watch in Alex¡¯s hand was now emitting a rhythmic blue glow, almost as if signaling something important. Dr. Jayaong froze for a moment, staring at Alex. Then, with a deep, meaningful look, he said, "Maybe... we don¡¯t need to find anyone else after all..."
The next morning, Alex led Dr. Jayaong through the desolate streets of Olympia, heading to rendezvous with the rest of Team 6. "So, you said you were just here for a rescue mission, but now I hear you¡¯re going to be the hero who saves the day? Wow, you''re really straightforward," Dr. Jayaong teased. After spending the night together, Alex and Dr. Jayaong had become familiar with one another. Alex continued proudly, "The most important thing in my life is not to miss out on my beloved girl. I¡¯d do anything for her¡ªjump into fire, cross any danger. No hesitation!" Dr. Jayaong, taken aback by this confession, paused and asked seriously, "Alex... have you ever thought about... creating a better world first, so you won¡¯t miss anyone?" This question left Alex momentarily speechless. He had never considered such a thought before. However, before he could think too much, a mechanical spider suddenly appeared right in front of them! Chapter14: Activation Chapter14: Activation Alex was caught off guard. A mechanical spider had silently crept up behind them, its razor-sharp limbs poised to strike at Dr. Kayan. In a split second, Alex pulled out his gun, trying to strike first. But he was no match for the machine¡¯s speed. Helplessly, he watched as the spider drove its leg straight into the doctor¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Arghh!¡± Dr. Kayan let out a pained scream as the metallic limb impaled him. Alex fired his gun repeatedly at the spider, desperate to stop it. Despite his injury, the doctor gritted his teeth and swiftly pulled out a pulse magnet¡ªa device of his own invention. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it at the spider. Instantly, the machine seized up, as if its power had been cut off, giving Alex just enough time to blast it apart. Wasting no time, Alex grabbed the doctor and took off running. Because at the end of the road, dozens more mechanical spiders were closing in. ¡°Move! Now!¡±
Dashing through the forest, Alex supported the weakened doctor as they evaded their pursuers. The spiders, using infrared scanning, were relentlessly tracking them. Finally, Dr. Kayan could go no further. His face was pale as he collapsed against a tree. ¡°Doctor! Hang in there! We have to keep moving!¡± Alex tried to lift him up, but the doctor shook his head weakly. ¡°Looks like¡­ I won¡¯t make it to Rockhill Valley, kid.¡± Though they hadn¡¯t known each other for long, Alex wasn¡¯t the kind of person to leave someone behind. ¡°No! You¡¯re important! Don¡¯t give up so easily! Come on, I¡¯ll carry you if I have to!¡± But the doctor refused. His eyes were resolute as he gestured for Alex to extend his hand. ¡°Kid¡­ hold out your hand.¡± Confused but obedient, Alex stretched out his left hand. The doctor pulled out a sleek black smartwatch and fastened it onto Alex¡¯s wrist. ¡°Doctor...? What is this?¡± Dr. Kayan¡¯s expression turned serious as he spoke: ¡°Listen to me. No matter what happens, don¡¯t lose this watch. ¡®She¡¯ will bring you an unimaginable transformation. And¡­ remember, don¡¯t tell anyone what ¡®she¡¯ teaches you until you¡¯ve fully mastered it. Now go! I¡¯ll hold these machines off!¡± Alex, bewildered, demanded answers. ¡°Who is ¡®she¡¯? Learn what? Doctor, I don¡¯t understand¡ª¡± But the doctor didn¡¯t explain. Instead, he shoved Alex away, activated a hidden function on his flashlight, and released a disruptive energy field. A thick cloud of smoke instantly enveloped the area.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Go, now!¡± His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. Alex clenched his fists, reluctant to leave but knowing he had no choice. ¡°Thank you, Doctor¡­ and good luck.¡± With a final glance back, he turned and disappeared into the night.
Alex sprinted like a headless fly, completely lost. This was his first time on the surface, and he had no idea where to go. ¡°Damn it!... Where should I go now?!¡± Sweating profusely, Alex anxiously scanned his surroundings. Right now, he wasn¡¯t thinking about finding Anna¡ªhis only priority was reuniting with Chad and the others. He checked to make sure no mechanical spiders were nearby, then quickly pulled out his communicator. He had to contact Squad 6 while he still had the chance. ¡°Come on¡­ pick up already!¡± Alex grew impatient.
Meanwhile, Squad 6 had been searching for Alex in the southern region of Olympia since last night. But after hours of looking, there was still no sign of him. Frustration was building. ¡°We¡¯ve searched everywhere¡­ Alex, where the hell are you?¡± Max muttered anxiously. Just then, Chad¡¯s communicator beeped. He quickly answered, and Alex¡¯s voice came through from the other end. ¡°Thank God! Where are you guys?!¡± The whole squad immediately gathered around, especially Max and Nick, who had been worried sick. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m on¡­ Morrison Avenue!¡± Alex glanced at a fallen street sign nearby, confirming his location. But it was still quite a distance from Chad¡¯s team. Chad responded quickly, ¡°Alex, stay put! We¡¯re coming to get you!¡± Relieved that he would soon reunite with his team, Alex let his guard down for a moment. But danger struck immediately¡ªseveral mechanical spiders had detected his signal and were now charging straight toward him. He had no choice but to start running again. Ducking into an abandoned house by the road, Alex found a corner to hide in. Moments later, he heard heavy thuds on the rooftop. The killing machines had arrived. The mechanical spiders had tracked his signal and surrounded the house. Some even smashed through the second-floor windows. It was clear¡ªthey knew a human was inside. As more mechanical spiders stormed in, Alex had nowhere left to run. Curling up inside a cabinet, he couldn¡¯t help but think: ¡°How ironic¡­ Alex Black, dead at such a young age¡­ Damn¡­ And I never got to see Anna again¡­ Ha¡­¡± As despair crept in, the first person who came to his mind wasn¡¯t Anna Lane. It was Maggie. Maggie¡¯s voice, her words, her angry glares¡ªeverything about her flashed through his mind. He looked down at the wristband on his right hand, recalling their conversations. Then, in a self-mocking tone, he muttered, ¡°Not that it matters now¡­¡± Resting his head against the cabinet, he braced himself for the inevitable. Suddenly¡ª The electronic watch on his left wrist began flashing with a rhythmic blue light. Alex was stunned. ¡°What¡­ is this?¡± He raised his hand, watching the eerie glow pulse. Then, the tiny screen on the watch lit up, displaying a message: "User confirmed. You are in a life-threatening situation. Do you want to activate the watch? Press the button below." A large button at the bottom of the screen began emitting a faint red light. Alex had to decide¡ªshould he press it? He remembered Dr. Kayan¡¯s words: ¡°She will bring you unimaginable change¡­.¡± ¡°What kind of change¡­?¡± Alex wondered. ¡°Screw it! Anything is better than nothing!¡± He still didn¡¯t understand why the doctor had referred to the watch as ¡°she,¡± but with the mechanical spiders closing in fast, he had no time to hesitate. Without thinking twice, he pressed the button. The flashing lights on the watch steadied, growing brighter. As Alex waited for something¡ªanything¡ªto happen, a calm female voice suddenly spoke from the device: ¡°Hello, User. Do you authorize me to take action?¡± Episode 15 - The AI Watch "Ray"

Episode 15 - The AI Watch "Ray"

"Hello, Designated User. Do you authorize me to take action?" A woman''s voice suddenly came from what seemed like an ordinary digital watch. The unexpected sound startled Alex, but there was no time to dwell on it¡ªmechanical spiders had already found him. Their sharp appendages tore through the cabinet doors, reaching in to grab him. With no time to think, Alex shouted: "I agree!!!" The moment he spoke, the watch sent a surge of electric commands straight into his body like a lightning strike. As a reflex, Alex thrust out his right hand to shield himself. Suddenly, a powerful current of air erupted from his palm, forming a solid barrier that blocked the mechanical tendrils in their tracks. His eyes widened in shock. The air wall had completely halted the advancing machines. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. The air began to spiral, swirling faster and faster like a raging storm. Just then, the woman¡¯s voice returned: "Brace yourself, Designated User." More mechanical spiders swarmed in, but Alex held his ground. Just as he planted his feet, the vortex came to an abrupt halt¡ªonly to explode outward in a massive shockwave, obliterating everything in its path. The entire building collapsed under the sheer force, and the mechanical spiders were sent flying, reduced to shattered debris. As the dust settled, not a single enemy remained. Alex stared at his right hand, astonished. Wisps of smoky air still swirled around his fingers, tinged with flickering blue sparks. The sensation was both exhilarating and surreal. Slowly, the energy faded away, and the watch spoke again: "Satisfied, Designated User?" Alex was too stunned to respond immediately. When he finally found his voice, he asked: "You¡­ what are you?" "I am Ray¡ªyour AI instructor for harnessing the Nao Field," the voice replied. Still skeptical, Alex pressed further. "Why did you call me the Designated User?" "Your biological structure holds exceptional potential for mastering the Nao Field. The moment you picked up the watch, I identified you," Ray explained. That¡¯s when it clicked. "So that''s why the watch started glowing last night¡­ Wait¡­ does this mean I can actually use this power to become a hero?!" Ideas raced through Alex¡¯s mind. If he could wield this power, he could save Anna Lorraine. A real heroic rescue. But before he could get ahead of himself, Ray shut down his excitement. "No. This power, in its current form, is only accessible three times. You¡¯ll need to train from the ground up. That is my purpose¡ªto teach you."If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Alex slumped in disappointment. Still, he wasn¡¯t ready to abandon his heroics just yet. A sly grin crossed his face. "So technically¡­ I still have two more uses left, right? Which means¡­ I can still save Anna!" Just as he was waiting for Ray¡¯s response, a familiar voice rang out from the distance. "Alex!!" It was Chad and the others. They had finally found him. Overjoyed, they ran toward him. Max, being the fastest, was the first to reach Alex¡ªpulling him into a tight embrace.
This version keeps the essence of your original story while enhancing fluency, natural dialogue, and immersive descriptions! Let me know if you''d like any tweaks! "Bro, where the hell have you been? Everyone¡¯s been worried sick about you¡­" Alex just chuckled and replied, "I just thought you guys would head this way... turns out I was the only one. Haha¡­" At that moment, Chad walked over, looking relieved. He asked, "You okay? Did anything happen?" Alex glanced at his smartwatch, recalling Dr. Jayan¡¯s words. He shook his head and said, "¡­Nah, nothing much. Just played a little hide-and-seek with some mechanical spiders." He threw in a joke to lighten the mood, making everyone laugh, drawing them all closer together.
That Night As night fell, Squad 6 found a hidden basement and started a small fire. They gathered around, eating vegetable soup made from their ration packs while introducing themselves. Sitting by the fire were Joey and Gordon, both tough-looking guys from the slums at the far edge of Rockhill Valley. They joined the resistance mainly for the rations¡ªextra food meant something to bring home. But because of that, the new recruits often mocked them. Next were Brenda and Susan, who lived near the river and helped their families fish for a living. Their bigger body frames made them the target of endless teasing. Then there were Dylan and John, two skinny, glasses-wearing tech nerds from the slums. Despite their skills in mechanical engineering, their families pushed them to join the resistance for financial aid. Unfortunately, their lack of athleticism made them easy targets for bullying. Shirley, a cute and beautiful girl, was the opposite. She came from the noble district of Rockhill Valley, but her popularity with the boys led to constant trouble with jealous girls. The smallest in the group was Nick, only thirteen. His story was the saddest¡ªan orphan with nowhere to go, he had no choice but to join the resistance just to survive. Then there was Max, originally Alex¡¯s personal servant. Alex had given him his freedom, and Max chose to join the resistance. But being shy and overweight, he ended up as an equipment maintenance worker instead of a frontline fighter. As Alex listened to everyone¡¯s stories, he realized just how privileged he had been growing up in a wealthy and influential family. Not wanting the mood to get too heavy, he started telling wild tales about the trouble he¡¯d gotten into with the people who couldn¡¯t stand him these past few days. His stories had everyone laughing. "Everyone, let''s raise a toast to our young master, Alex!" Joey hollered. The whole group lifted their cups in his honor, and Alex, slightly embarrassed, raised his as well. But as he glanced around, he noticed that Chad wasn¡¯t joining in. Instead, he stood by the basement¡¯s small, exposed window, staring outside, lost in thought.
Late That Night¡­. Everyone had fallen asleep, some even snoring. One person, however, quietly sat up. Alex. He carefully checked his surroundings, making sure everyone was out cold, then silently slipped out of the basement. Stepping into a secluded courtyard, he scanned the area to make sure it was safe. Then, standing firmly, he stretched out his left hand and spoke. "Ray... come out." A female voice echoed from his smartwatch as its screen lit up. "Candidate, are you ready to begin?" Alex cringed at being called "Candidate." "Ugh, can you stop calling me that? It sounds weird!" The smartwatch blinked in response. "Then what should I call you?" With a confident grin, Alex said, "Just call me Alex." The glowing screen paused for a moment before responding firmly, "Understood. Let¡¯s begin, Alex. Are you ready?" Chapter16: Chad’s Secret Chapter16: Chad¡¯s Secret "I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s do this!" Alex had made up his mind¡ªhe was finally going to learn how to harness Qi. His AI smartwatch, "Rey," began teaching him the fundamentals, starting with meditation. Under the soft glow of the moon, Alex sat cross-legged in the small courtyard. Outwardly, he appeared motionless, but inside, Rey was gradually guiding him to sense and gather his inner force¡ªthe mysterious energy field known as "Qi" in Eastern traditions. "Slowly feel the Qi flowing through your body, like an invisible river of stardust moving in perfect harmony¡ªendless, perpetual." As Rey explained, Alex started to sense a faint energy coursing within him. It was as if he had just unlocked a whole new world.
Time passed unnoticed. Under the moonlight, Alex stood up and stretched out his right hand, palm facing upward. He concentrated, channeling the energy flow from within his body toward his palm. With a soft "whoosh," an invisible swirl of air formed in his hand. Excited, Alex shouted, "I did it!" But in the very next moment, his excitement turned to disappointment¡ªthe energy dissipated just as quickly as it had appeared. "It vanished so fast¡­" Frustrated, he slumped back down. But Rey reassured him, "Don¡¯t be discouraged. I actually expected it to take you much longer to even form Qi. You¡¯re already doing well." Alex smiled faintly, but before he could respond, a voice called from behind him. "Alex, what are you doing out here so late?" Startled, Alex turned around¡ªit was Chad. Chad had been on high alert, always watching for the murderous AI machines that could strike at any moment. He had just noticed that Alex was missing and went out to find him. "I¡­ couldn¡¯t sleep," Alex quickly thought of an excuse. "I wanted to practice fighting those AI machines¡­ Did I wake you? Sorry about that¡­" He instinctively patted the gun holstered at his side, hoping the explanation sounded believable. Fortunately, Chad had no reason to doubt him. "You want to learn how to aim faster? I can teach you." Chad offered eagerly, leaving Alex with no choice but to accept. And so, Chad began instructing him on battle tactics for fighting AI machines.
After some training, the two sat down to rest and drink some water. Alex, recalling the tension he had sensed from Chad earlier at dinner, couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity. "Chad, is something bothering you? You didn¡¯t seem too happy when you got here." Chad sighed, his expression darkening. He stood up, fiddling with his gun in silence for a moment before finally speaking. "My wife¡­ was taken in this area." Alex was caught off guard by the revelation.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "I met her in the resistance. We fought side by side on the same team¡­ but one day, during a battle against these AI machines, she¡­ she saved me. She pushed me out of the way, and before I could do anything, I had to watch as they took her into ''The Hive''¡­ I was completely powerless." His voice grew heavy with anger and regret. "I emptied every last bullet trying to save her, but nothing worked. I hated myself for not being strong enough. I still don¡¯t know if there¡¯s even a way to take down those soulless killing machines¡­" Chad¡¯s emotions boiled over¡ªhe picked up a rock and hurled it into the distance, his frustration and sorrow unable to find any other release.
"Trainer Chad, you know about Anna Rain, right?" Alex suddenly brought up Anna after listening in silence, though his intentions remained unclear. "Of course I do. I also heard that the young master of the Hawk family joined the resistance all because of her..." This story had spread throughout Rockridge Valley back then, so Chad was well aware. But now, Alex seemed unable to hide it any longer. He stood up and told Chad directly: "I want to rescue Anna... That¡¯s the real reason I joined this search mission!" Alex finally revealed his true motive. He and Chad locked eyes for a long moment before, surprisingly, Chad chuckled and said: "I already figured that out. If we still can''t find that scientist in the next few days, then we¡¯ll head there. But only if the rest of Squad 6 agrees." Alex was relieved to see Chad being so understanding and thanked him repeatedly. "Thanks¡­ I was already preparing to go alone if I had to." Chad waved a hand dismissively with a faint smile. "Get some rest, young master." With that, Alex had overcome his first obstacle. Now, his next challenge awaited¡ªtraining his Qi. "I have to make some real progress in the next few days!" Determined, he steeled himself for the task ahead.
Meanwhile, in Tacoma, the rain poured relentlessly. Leo, Anna, and two injured squad members had been hiding in an underground shelter for the past three days. Conditions were tough, but at least their rations were holding up, allowing them to chat and pass the time while waiting for the mechanical army to leave. Then, something strange happened. The massive Nest that had taken over Tacoma suddenly blared a deep, thunderous horn. Startled, Anna and Leo decided to sneak outside and investigate. "Why is it making that noise?" Leo asked. Anna frowned. "No idea¡­ unless¡­ it achieved some objective and is about to retreat?" Her guess was on the mark. The Nest began shifting its enormous legs, shaking the entire city as it prepared to move westward toward the mainland. Meanwhile, the biomechanical soldiers were being recalled, leaving only a few mechanical spiders patrolling the streets. Leo and Anna exchanged uneasy glances. "Are they really leaving? Could it be..." A chilling sense of foreboding crept over them. Without hesitation, they rushed back to the shelter. Inside, their squadmates were already listening to a transmission from Commander Cade. "Attention all resistance squads¡ªunfortunately, based on intercepted intel, the Nest has found the scientist." The news spread quickly across all remaining search teams, including Squad 6.
"Attention all resistance squads¡ªunfortunately, based on intercepted intel, the Nest has found the scientist." Gathered around their communicator, Squad 6 took in the grim update. The weight of it pressed especially hard on Alex¡ªhe was the only one who had truly known Dr. Jiaang. That day, Jiaang had insisted on staying behind to cover Alex¡¯s escape. Deep down, Alex had already accepted that the scientist likely wouldn¡¯t make it. Now, he could only hope Jiaang was still alive. With the mission officially over, Chad addressed the squad openly: "Since the search is finished, we should be heading back to Rockridge Valley. However¡­ someone here wants to play the hero. Now¡¯s the time for you all to decide¡ªdo you want to return, or go with him? No pressure. It¡¯s your choice." Chad turned to Alex, who stepped forward. "I know we haven¡¯t known each other for long, so I can¡¯t ask you to come with me. But I need to rescue someone I care about. I want to prove myself to her. If you think that¡¯s a shallow reason, that¡¯s fine¡ªI¡¯ll go alone." With those words, Alex stood his ground, looking each of them in the eye. Silence followed. What would they decide? Chapter17: Arrival in Tacoma Chapter17: Arrival in Tacoma "I know we haven''t known each other for long, so I can''t ask you all to come with me... But I''m going to save a woman I like. I want to impress her. If you think my reason is shallow, that''s fine¡ªI¡¯ll go alone..." Before Alex could finish speaking, Max and Nick eagerly raised their hands. Their immediate support touched Alex deeply¡ªtrue friends indeed. What moved him even more was that the rest of the team also raised their hands one by one, signaling their agreement. Seeing everyone stand by him, Alex felt both grateful and surprised. "Aren''t you afraid of the danger?" he asked. Joey smirked and replied, "Come on... If we go back to Rockhill Valley empty-handed, the others will just look down on us. Rescuing people will shut them up!" The others nodded in agreement. For these so-called "outcasts," the fear of being captured or killed by intelligent machines wasn¡¯t as strong as the fear of returning as failures. Compared to those who often mocked them but lacked the courage to take on this mission, they were the brave ones. Chad, pleased to see everyone united in purpose, nodded firmly. "If we''re all in agreement, then let¡¯s move out toward Tacoma!" And so, Squad 6 set off along the highway, pressing forward despite the lurking dangers and constant need for vigilance against murderous machines. Their spirits remained high¡ªnot because the journey was safe, but because they had each other. Along the way, Chad took the time to drill the rookies on survival tactics and combat strategies against intelligent machines. They absorbed as much as they could¡ªevery bit of knowledge could be the difference between life and death.
That night, the team found shelter in the basement of an abandoned house. Alex noticed that Chad seemed to be in a much better mood compared to when they were in Olympic City. He even joined them for dinner around the fire, which was a good sign. Then, deep into the night, Alex woke up once again. He made sure Chad was sound asleep before quietly slipping out of the basement. For the past few nights, he had been sneaking out at midnight to practice Qi. And tonight, his hard work was finally paying off. "I''m ready, Ray." Standing in a secluded forest clearing, Alex steadied his stance and spoke with determination. "Begin," replied Ray, his AI-powered smartwatch. Alex raised his right hand, palm facing upward, and focused inward. He envisioned himself as a miniature galaxy, with countless stars swirling within him. Slowly, the stars began to shift and align, gathering in his hand like infinite possibilities resting in his grasp. A transparent vortex of energy formed in his palm¡ªnot large, but enough. Alex didn¡¯t let his excitement distract him. He studied the energy carefully, knowing that mastering the gathering of Qi was just the first step. The real challenge was control. He turned his gaze to a leaf on a tree nearby and took a deep breath. "Haah!" With a swift motion, he flicked his hand forward. The Qi shot out like an invisible tether, extending rapidly toward the leaf.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. In an instant, the energy latched onto the leaf. Feeling the connection, Alex confidently pulled his hand back¡ªand to his amazement, the leaf detached itself and floated in the air for several moments before gently drifting to the ground. "I did it... I can finally control Qi!" Being able to manipulate Qi to pluck a leaf from a distance was a breakthrough, and what made it even more significant was that he had done it entirely on his own¡ªwithout any direct assistance from his smartwatch. "Congratulations," Ray said. "You¡¯ve taken your first step in Qi control. But you''re still a long way from reaching Level 1 and using it for destructive force. Keep training." Alex smiled. He knew the road ahead was tough, but for the first time, he truly felt he had the power to change his fate. "Ray, why is my Qi transparent? And what do you mean by ''not yet at Level 1''?" Alex asked, puzzled. In response, his smartwatch suddenly projected a holographic display, showing an explanation from Dr. Jang Tsering Dorje¡¯s theory: "According to Dr. Jang¡¯s research, Qi, also known as the torsion field, is divided into seven levels: blue, green, yellow, orange, red, purple, and white. Qi capable of attack and defense appears as a dust-like aura, emitting sparks of its corresponding level¡¯s color." Alex frowned. "Then what about transparent Qi?" Ray answered, "Zero level. Transparent Qi has no explosive power; it can only manipulate small objects from a distance." Hearing this, Alex collapsed to his knees, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief. "So, I¡¯m supposed to be a hero and rescue Anna¡­ but all I can do is move tiny rocks? Oh, come on..." He felt like he had been duped. Slumping to the ground, he let out a helpless sigh, but Ray quickly responded: "Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Did you think mastering Qi would be easy? Don¡¯t lose heart¡ªyou still have those two chances to use my power." Alex thought for a moment. That was true. He still had two opportunities for a temporary burst of power. As long as he used them wisely, he could definitely save Anna¡ªand maybe even impress her. "Alright... I¡¯ll keep training. I swear I¡¯ll reach Level 1 as fast as possible!" With renewed determination, Alex stood up and resumed his Qi practice, training tirelessly until dawn.
Tacoma Outskirts By noon, Alex and his squad finally arrived at the outskirts of Tacoma. Looking down from the highway, the city lay in ruins. Collapsed buildings, streets scarred by past battles, and plumes of smoke rising in the distance told the story of destruction. It was clear that the "Nest" had ravaged this place like a hurricane. "So this is Tacoma?" Alex asked grimly. The others, who had initially been excited about the mission, now wore serious expressions. From afar, they could see nearly a hundred intelligent machines patrolling the city streets. "Whoa... This is way more than we faced in Olympia," Gordon muttered, peering through binoculars. A wave of unease spread through the group. "How the hell are we supposed to find the trapped resistance fighters in all this?" Brenda asked, frowning. Realizing the challenge ahead, Chad called everyone together for a strategy meeting. "If we just charge in, we¡¯ll get captured instantly. We need to create a distraction and draw the machines away from the city. Then, we¡¯ll locate the resistance fighters and get out¡ªfast." Joey raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do we lure them away?" Before anyone could answer, Dillon and John both raised their hands enthusiastically. "We¡¯ve got an idea! Leave it to us."
Inside Tacoma City In the ruined streets of Tacoma, grotesque mechanical spiders scuttled about, scanning their surroundings with red infrared beams. Alongside them, humanoid machines wielding machine guns patrolled coldly, ensuring no survivors escaped their watch. Hidden beneath a small basement air vent, a pair of sharp eyes observed the scene. "It looks like the Nest has withdrawn, leaving only these intelligent machines behind... Their search efforts aren¡¯t as aggressive as before. Now¡¯s our chance to escape!" the observer whispered. It was Leo. He had been carefully studying their movements and realized this was the best moment to make a move. One of their injured members wouldn¡¯t last much longer¡ªthey needed to get back to Rockhill Valley for medical help immediately. Anna wasn¡¯t just sitting idle either. Over the past few days, she had scavenged the basement and found a bow. After crafting several flaming arrows, she had significantly increased her combat effectiveness alongside her firearm. "Let¡¯s move out!" she said decisively, strapping on her gear. She and Leo pressed against the door, weapons ready, prepared to fight their way through the enemy lines. Just as they were about to burst out¡ª A blaring alarm suddenly shattered the silence. Chapter 18: The Losers Strategy Chapter 18: The Loser''s Strategy The sound of sirens echoed through the entire street as the mechanical spiders and cyborgs started to be drawn towards the noise. "They seem to be attracted to the sound..." Leo noticed the situation, and Anna, seeing it too, looked at him. "Then let''s break out! Are you ready!?" Anna turned to look at the remaining four members of Squad 4. Leo had already raised his gun, and another lightly wounded team member was carrying the most severely injured. Without a second thought, Anna opened the door. She and Leo took the lead, covering the two injured members as they began moving through the streets. The siren¡¯s sound moved erratically through the district, confusing the mechanical creatures, but what was it exactly? In the sky, two dragonfly-like objects flew over the street¡ªthat was the answer¡ªminiature drones. On a hill not far from the city, two figures were hiding in the trees, controlling the drones. These were Dylan and John. Two hours ago, Dylan and John had taken out what looked like dragonflies from their backpacks and showed the team. These were the drones they had built themselves. Before joining the resistance, they were both passionate about mechanics, but had no choice but to join the fight for their families. "See? I told you these could draw the killer machines away!" Dylan said, watching as the drones successfully distracted the mechanical creatures and pulled them out of the city. They high-fived. Step one of their plan was a success. The second step: Alex and the rest were sneaking in from another direction. "Hurry!" The rest of Squad 6, led by Chad, crouched low and covered each other, using the buildings as cover as they advanced toward the city center. Alex pulled out his communicator, preparing for the next move...
"Rrraaagh!!" In the city center, a mechanical spider, its claws raised, was about to attack when a bullet pierced its power core, followed by an arrow that exploded, sending fire everywhere. Leo and Anna''s shooting skills were now impeccable. The wounded members of Squad 4, protected by Anna and Leo¡ªthe two elite marksmen of the resistance¡ªcautiously made their way towards the outskirts of the city. During the chaos, Anna casually asked, "Your shooting was really on point just now, but still not quite as good as mine..." Leo, unsure whether to laugh or cry, just gave a wry smile. "I can¡¯t help it¡ªsome people just don¡¯t like it when a guy¡¯s better with a gun than they are." Anna knew exactly what he meant. She shook her head with a sigh, about to respond, when suddenly, bullets began to fly from the side, forcing them to take cover behind the building. Leo peeked out to assess the situation, but things were looking grim. "Dammit...this is bad." About 50 meters away, nearly 40 skeleton-type robots armed with machine guns were advancing toward them. They hadn¡¯t been distracted by the drones. Each one wielded a heavy machine gun, taking turns unleashing a hail of bullets at the building where Anna and the others were hiding, leaving no chance to escape.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. "Bang! Bang! Bang!!" The building was quickly being shredded by the intense gunfire, but neither Anna nor Leo were ready to give up. They had to come up with a way to take down these skeleton robots. As the robots kept firing, suddenly a bundle of grass flew from the top of the building, landing among the machines. With a loud explosion, the nearby robots were torn apart. It turned out, the grass had been mixed with hand grenades¡ªthrown by Leo. Before the robots could react, more bundles of grass and mud were tossed from above, some mixed with grenades, throwing the mechanical forces into disarray.
Anna seized the opportunity, stepping forward with her bow and firing a series of flaming arrows into the robots, quickly spreading fire. The machines were caught in a dilemma, which was exactly the opening Anna needed. With incredible speed, Anna switched to her gun and began rapidly taking down the robots, one after another, without missing a beat. She truly was the best marksman in the resistance. As the skeleton robots were destroyed and the numbers dwindled, Anna and Leo saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
But finally, the two drones were shot down by the mechanical spiders. This was bad news¡ªthe distracted spiders began to return to the city and quickly moved to reinforce the fight against Anna and the others. The situation quickly flipped as the rest of the machines returned to support the others. Despite Leo''s incredible stamina, he was beginning to tire, and with no more hand grenades, there was nothing left to confuse the machines. Anna¡¯s bullets were running low, and all they could do was retreat behind the building, letting the machines fire relentlessly. The entire building was about to collapse under the gunfire, and Anna, Leo, and the other two team members exchanged looks, not knowing what would happen next... "...Squad 4, please respond...This is Squad 6..." Through the faint static, Anna''s communicator crackled. Both Anna and Leo were stunned because they had no idea Squad 6 was in the area, and they hadn¡¯t been told that reinforcements were coming. Anna hesitantly answered the call. "This is Squad 4, who is this?" "This is Alex! Is that you, Anna?" Anna and Leo were stunned to hear Alex¡¯s voice. It was almost impossible to believe. "How is it you...?!" Anna asked, still in disbelief, as Alex responded without wasting time. "Of course I¡¯m here to rescue you! No more talking, just watch this!" With that, Alex dropped the mic, and Anna couldn¡¯t help but feel a mixture of confusion and anticipation.
Just as the remaining hundred skeleton robots and spiders in Tacoma launched an all-out assault on the building where Anna and her team were hiding, strange little spheres suddenly appeared from the sky on both sides. The spheres landed near the robots and exploded, spraying a flammable substance, which quickly ignited in a massive burst of flames, creating a wall of fire. This was Squad 6¡¯s ambush¡ªusing slingshots to launch coal balls. Though the machines were already aware and on guard, this was part of the plan. The robots quickly shifted their focus to pursue the source of the attack, but unexpectedly, a water jet of some unknown liquid shot out from 20 meters away. Before the machines could react, the fire erupted again, even bigger than before. It turned out, the liquid was oil. Now, all the mechanical creatures were caught in the flames. To explain this strategy, let¡¯s rewind two hours...
Two hours earlier, Squad 6 had devised a plan. Dylan and John used their drones to lead the machines in circles, then split into two teams. They located an abandoned gas station in the city, turning it into coal balls to launch with slingshots. Joey and Gordon gathered mini pressure washers to spray gasoline on the machines to intensify the flames. The heat from the fire made it impossible for the machines to detect humans, and this was the key to the plan. The third wave began with spraying a heat-resistant resin. Under Chad¡¯s cover and leadership, Brenda, Shelley, Susan, Nick, Max, and Alex all rushed out to spray the resin, with Alex even using his "air" abilities to help quickly coat multiple spiders at once. Soon, most of the robots had their mechanical eyes covered with the resin, temporarily losing the ability to detect humans. For Squad 6, a non-direct confrontation strategy had worked remarkably well. "Quick, quick!" Without lingering, the team rushed to Anna and Leo¡¯s position. Alex was the first to reach Anna. He purposefully coughed and said with a smirk: "I¡¯m here to save you, Anna goddess." Chapter 19: Catching Leos Punch Chapter 19: Catching Leo''s Punch "I¡¯ve come to save you, Anna!" Anna was stunned by these words, but now wasn¡¯t the time for such talk. Before she could respond, Chad urgently shouted: "Quick! Everyone, move out now!" They had to leave as soon as possible, as the resin could only temporarily hold the machines back. Some people helped carry the injured, and the tall and strong Joey assisted the exhausted Leo. Just then, a skeleton robot that hadn¡¯t been caught by the resin emerged from the flames, raising its machine gun, ready to open fire on the group. Before anyone could react, in a split second, Alex silently activated his ¡°Qi¡± and demonstrated the results of his training. The Qi swiftly wrapped around the robot¡¯s fingers, preventing it from pulling the trigger. In just a few days, Alex had already mastered using Qi for remote control. The skeleton robot, unable to pull the trigger, entered a forced state, its movements comically awkward. "Get rid of it!" Chad shouted. Anna was quick to respond, firing a shot that pierced the robot¡¯s skull. "Let''s go!" There was no time to question what had just happened. Chad once again urged everyone to hurry and leave. Without hesitation, Alex grabbed Anna¡¯s hand, and they all ran, retreating in a frenzy.
The group ran with all their might, crossing the highway, when Chad finally said: "We¡¯re probably safe now. No need to run anymore..." Hearing this, everyone relaxed and sat down to catch their breath. Suddenly, Anna coldly spoke up. "Why are you still holding my hand?" Alex finally realized he was still holding Anna''s hand and immediately let go. "Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to..." Anna gave him a cold stare, but in reality, she was flustered. "...Who told you to come?" She asked, trying to sound calm. Chad stepped in to speak for Alex. "I chose him to come. Rayn wanted to send an extra team for the rescue, but we didn¡¯t expect to be caught by these ''hives.'' This guy insisted on coming to save the woman he likes¡­ sigh¡­ we had no choice but to bring him along!" Chad had been Anna and Leo¡¯s training officer, so his words made Anna feel like she could trust him. Despite being slightly moved, she didn¡¯t want to show it. Instead, she said coldly: "Thanks!" It was the first time Anna thanked Alex, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel proud. It was a good start.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Alex wanted to talk to Anna, but a figure suddenly stood up and walked over to block his path. It was none other than Leo. With a very provocative tone, Leo said to Alex: "You, the Hawk heir, should stay away from Anna." Alex didn¡¯t take this seriously. He may have been afraid of Leo in the past, but not anymore. "Hero Leo Ost... You didn¡¯t protect Anna well, so who do you think you are to say that?" Leo, taken aback, turned around with a mocking expression but, without warning, threw a punch, intending to give Alex a humiliating lesson. Just as everyone¡¯s eyes widened and no one could intervene in time, surprisingly, Alex caught the punch with his bare hands. Leo was shocked, but he didn¡¯t want to look bad in front of Anna. He tried to apply more force to push Alex down, but to his surprise, Alex stood there completely unmoving. What Leo didn¡¯t realize was that Alex was using his Qi to firmly lock Leo¡¯s hand, making it impossible for him to move. Leo tried to pull his hand back, but Alex simply stared at him, unfazed. "Enough!" Chad stepped forward just in time to intervene. Alex subtly withdrew his Qi, and Leo pretended nothing had happened as he pulled his hand back. "We''re all in this together, no need to fight. Did anyone ask the woman for her opinion?" Everyone turned their gaze toward Anna, but she coldly tossed out: "I don¡¯t know! Don¡¯t ask me." Anna turned and left, and Leo looked Alex up and down. Leo couldn¡¯t understand. This guy had only been gone for a few days, yet it was as if he had completely transformed... Meanwhile, Alex calmly met his gaze. As dusk approached, to ease the tension, Chad walked over, patting both their shoulders. "Alright, you two young men, let¡¯s go! Tonight, we¡¯ll find a good place to celebrate!"
In New York, Gabriel, the AI brain of Hive 1, was inspecting the "human towers," watching over the humans being used as bioenergy. To Gabriel, they were like fruits in an orchard, carefully watched over. Suddenly, a communication from another hive came in. "Report: Aries 7 has captured the scientist." Upon hearing this, a strange purple light flickered across Gabriel''s metallic face, as if reveling in the success of its plans. Gabriel stroked the lifeless humans on the tower as he said: "Very good, no rush. Even without him, humans can''t do anything... Just hold him temporarily in your hive. Once some time passes, bring him back to New York. That¡¯s the plan." Gabriel wasn¡¯t in a hurry to discover the secrets this scientist might have. It walked to the center of the city, directly beneath its core, where a large rotating mechanical structure was under construction. Gabriel spread its arms and looked at the structure, speaking smugly: "Humans, once I finish this device, I won¡¯t need you anymore... And eliminating you will be as easy as a snap. No matter what you try, you cannot change your fate, ha ha ha!" Gabriel was confident about the next steps in its plan. It believed that no matter what humans did, they would be powerless to stop it¡­ But were humans really powerless to resist?
Under the moonlight, the desolate city of Altin was eerily silent. But inside one of the large houses, in the basement, members of Squad 6 and Squad 4 were gathered around a fire, enjoying themselves. Dylan and John had brought out their second treasure¡ªthe dancing robots. These tiny robots, only a few centimeters tall, would play music and dance when wound up, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Of course, they kept an eye out for any approaching machines, but after the hard days they had been through, it was a rare moment of joy. However, while everyone was immersed in the cheerful atmosphere, three people sat at the long table, clearly out of place. At one end of the table sat Alex, and at the other, Leo. In the middle was Anna. The three were silently eating the wild game they had caught earlier in the evening, not a word spoken between them. Anna calmly and elegantly ate her meal, while the two men on either side of her watched each other like spies, creating a very tense atmosphere. Chad shook his head at the three of them but didn¡¯t want to intervene. Anna finished her meal quietly, got up without a smile, and walked away, leaving the two men to settle their rivalry. Alex, relaxed and composed, was the first to speak: "Hero Leo, what¡¯s with the constant staring at me? Do you think I¡¯m handsome or something?" Leo sneered and responded: "Shut up, let''s fight one on one." Chapter 20: Annas Unexpected Truth Chapter 20: Anna''s Unexpected Truth "Shut up, let''s fight.¡± Leo, who had always been seen as the hero, was now showing an impatient expression, facing off against Alex. It was clear how much Anna meant to him; he was pushed to his limits. "Alright..." But Alex wasn¡¯t scared in the slightest, because he was no longer the "weak spoiled kid" he used to be. The tension between them was about to erupt. "Enough!" Anna''s cold voice interrupted the standoff. She stared at both of them and coldly continued: "We¡¯re not back at Rockhill Valley yet. Stop causing trouble!" Leo was clearly dissatisfied, standing up and walking away. Alex also stood up to leave, but Anna called out to him: "I¡¯ll be on the roof, waiting for you." Alex was surprised, but also pleased that Anna wouldÖ÷¶¯ reach out to him. It seemed like this rescue mission had really changed her opinion of him...
Later that night, the stars adorned the sky beautifully. A glowing Milky Way stretched across the night, and Anna stood on the rooftop, her hands on her hips, gazing up at the stars. "So beautiful... This is the first time I''ve ever seen such a gorgeous night sky... So this is the Milky Way..." Alex, arriving just after her, marveled at the view, as this was the first time he''d been on the ground and actually seen the stars. Anna, still gazing at the stars, slowly spoke: "...The only comfort during the battles with those machines was looking at the stars, because... that''s when you realize how vast this universe is, and that sacrifices mean nothing... This is my gift to you, for saving me." She glanced at Alex, and for the first time, showed a rare, faint smile. Alex felt elated, as this was the first time Anna had ever smiled at him. Standing beside her, Alex was overjoyed that this trip hadn¡¯t been in vain. He''d managed to touch Anna''s heart. Though he felt an urge to hug her, he held back, wanting to remain a gentleman and not rush this moment. They stood there quietly, watching the Milky Way shimmer in the night sky...
A while later, Anna suddenly sighed and said: "Alright... I¡¯ve seen the Milky Way. I don''t owe you anything anymore... Let¡¯s go back inside." Her words left Alex confused. He didn¡¯t understand what she meant by "I don''t owe you anything," and the way Anna turned to leave was strange. He called after her. "Anna! What¡¯s wrong? Did I do something wrong?" Alex wanted to explain himself, but Anna didn¡¯t seem interested in talking. Without turning around, she replied:This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "I can see how hard you¡¯re trying to make me like you... But I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s just not going to happen." Alex was still confused and desperately tried to reason with her. "What did I do wrong? You can tell me, I can change!" Anna remained indifferent, her expression unreadable. After a sigh, she finally spoke: "After we return to Rockhill Valley, I¡¯m getting married." Anna dropped a bombshell that left Alex stunned. He stood frozen in place, not knowing what to say... He couldn¡¯t process why things had turned out like this... _______________________________________________________________ At dawn, Chad led the team through the winding country road. Today, they were heading back to Rockhill Valley. Everyone was in high spirits, except for Alex, who walked with a serious and thoughtful expression. In fact, the day before, he had asked Anna one last question: "Who are you marrying? Is it Leo?" Anna had stayed silent for a while, not answering, and then walked away. Now, as Alex walked at the back of the group, his mind was preoccupied with this question, feeling downcast. Suddenly, Chad, the team leader, stopped in his tracks and raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop. "...Shh, don''t make a sound..." Chad seemed to sense something was off¡ªa low-frequency hum that made him think there might be mechanical units nearby. Leo and Anna also sensed something was wrong, quickly raising their guns in defense. Gradually, the low-frequency noise filled the air, and everyone took out their guns, ready for whatever might happen. "Ahh!!" A scream echoed through the air as a mechanical tentacle, out of nowhere, emerged from the grass and dragged Blenda away. The team immediately rushed to her rescue, and several of them managed to grab hold of her. Leo, Anna, and Chad fired at the mechanical tentacle, and after a brief struggle, they managed to sever the tentacle and rescue Blenda. "Watch out!" Chad shouted just as the ground trembled. Dust and debris flew as several mechanical creatures crawled out from the ground, surrounding them. To their horror, six 4-meter-tall mechanical squids emerged. It turned out these mechanical squids had been lying in wait for the team, planning to ambush them. The mechanical squids spread out their terrifying tentacles, launching the first wave of attacks, thrusting their appendages out, trying to grab anyone they could. The group scattered to avoid the attacks, but with no way out, they could only fight back with everything they had. Bullets flew back and forth in the chaotic battle. In the confusion, Shirley was the first to be caught by a tentacle and was dragged away. "Help! Someone, please!" The others could do nothing but watch as the fragile Shirley was taken. She was pulled high into the air, heading straight toward a nearby human capture cage. Suddenly, the tentacle holding Shirley was pulled back by an invisible force, stopping it from throwing her into the cage. It was Alex, who had arrived just in time, using his right hand to channel his air powers and lock onto the tentacle. With control over the air, Alex forced the mechanical parts of the tentacle to malfunction, causing it to release Shirley. He leapt forward and caught her as she fell. "...Thank you!" Shirley said with wide eyes, wanting to express her gratitude to Alex. But before they could catch their breath, the mechanical squids launched another attack. Alex had no choice but to grab Shirley and run, with the mechanical squids'' tentacles hot on their heels. Alex ran through the fields with Shirley in tow, unable to shake off the relentless pursuit of the mechanical squid''s tentacles. In his mind, he thought: "Damn it, this isn¡¯t going to work!... I need to think of something!" Alex brought Shirley back to where the rest of the group was. By this point, the mechanical squids had begun to gain the upper hand. Chad, Leo, and Anna were nearly out of bullets, and the others had already used up all theirs. The mechanical squids were slowly closing in, tightening their encirclement. If no other solution came soon, everyone would be captured. "There¡¯s no other choice¡­ I have to use ''it''!" Alex, with no other options left, knew that the only way to save everyone now was by using his second air boost. Reluctantly, he decided it was time to use the precious power he''d been saving. Chapter 21: Second Amplification Chapter 21: Second Amplification The mechanical squids were slowly tightening their encirclement, their tentacles poised and ready to strike, with only a few bullets left. Seeing the team in dire straits, Alex realized there was no choice but to use his remaining two amplifications of air power to eliminate them. However, there was a problem¡ªhe had to keep the others in the dark. No one could know about this power. Quietly, Alex asked his smartwatch: "Ray, is there any way to get everyone out of here first?" The smartwatch immediately replied: "You can use the sand on the ground to confuse the mechanical units and delay them." Alex looked down at the dust and instantly came up with an idea. He quickly harnessed his air power and sent the sand flying into the air, creating a small dust storm. The swirling dust cloud enveloped the entire area, reducing visibility. Although Alex''s current abilities only allowed for this, it was exactly the effect he needed. In the confusion, Alex found Chad and grabbed him, saying: "Now''s your chance! Get everyone out of here!" Though Chad had no idea why a sandstorm had suddenly appeared, he understood this was their only chance to escape. He quickly motioned for the others to head in a specific direction. "Move, move, move! Get to safety while the dust storm covers us!" With the dust storm as cover, everyone ran at full speed, heading several kilometers into the forest to hide. Breathless and shaken, they stopped to catch their breath. Chad calmed himself and asked: "Who... is anyone missing?" At that moment, Anna realized two people were missing. "I don¡¯t see Alex or Leo!"
Meanwhile, Alex, seeing that the others had escaped, knew he no longer needed to maintain the dust storm. As the dust settled, he found himself alone, facing the towering mechanical squids that were now swinging their countless tentacles at him. He asked his smartwatch: "Ray, what do I do now?" He waited for a plan, but after a brief pause, Ray only responded with one word: "Run."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Alex widened his eyes. "Wait, are you kidding? You don¡¯t have any further suggestions?" To his surprise, the smartwatch gave no additional guidance, but the tentacles were already closing in on him. He had no choice but to dodge with his air power. Then Ray replied: "I¡¯ll give you instructions in a moment, but for now, you need to deal with another problem." Curious, Alex continued to fight while asking: "Is there anything more problematic than what I¡¯m facing right now?" The smartwatch responded: "There''s still one person you haven¡¯t dealt with." Alex quickly turned to search, and to his shock, he spotted someone across from him, battling the mechanical squids'' tentacles alone¡ªLeo. "...It¡¯s him!?" Anyone could have been in trouble, but Leo¡ªhe was the last person Alex wanted to help. Leo, the stubborn and annoying "heroic rival." But given the situation, Alex had no choice. Reluctantly, he knew he had to help Leo. "Forget it... can''t think about that right now!" Rolling his eyes and dodging tentacle attacks, Alex ran toward Leo. He saw Leo fighting fiercely, shooting his gun while trying to dodge every thrust of the mechanical squid''s tentacles. Though Leo had destroyed a few tentacles with his skill, he was still only human. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and in a moment of carelessness, a tentacle wrapped around his neck, tightening quickly. "I sent everyone else off... but it looks like I''m gonna die here." In that moment, Leo sank into despair. He had stayed behind to buy time for the others to escape, but now, it seemed he wouldn''t make it out alive. Just when Leo thought it was over, a figure jumped in front of him, grabbing the tentacle around his neck. The tentacle, as if losing control, loosened its grip. "...You?!" Leo looked up in shock, and there stood Alex. He couldn''t believe it¡ªAlex was still here, and it looked like he was using some invisible power to fight back against the mechanical squid''s tentacles. "What are you staring at?! Run, now!" Alex used his air power to tangle several tentacles, creating a gap in their assault. He grabbed Leo and pulled him into a run. The two of them sprinted down a narrow path, with several mechanical squids hot on their heels, their tentacles stretching out to attack. "How are you able to fight them off? Aren''t you weak? How did you get so strong in just a few days?!" While running, Leo kept bombarding Alex with questions, but Alex couldn¡¯t exactly tell him the truth. "Trust me, that was all just your imagination!" Alex denied it, acting as if nothing was unusual. Just then, the smartwatch spoke up again. "It''s time to initiate the amplification." This was the moment Alex had been waiting for. He suddenly stopped, and Leo followed suit, confused. "What¡¯s going on? Why are we stopping?!" Leo asked, his voice tense, and Alex, with a serious look, turned to him and said: "To knock you out." Before Leo could even process Alex''s words, Alex unexpectedly punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious. Turning back to face the approaching mechanical squids, Alex spoke to his smartwatch: "Here we go, activate the amplification!" The smartwatch''s blue light flickered once again. The mechanical squids finally arrived, their countless tentacles sweeping toward the two of them. Alex raised his right hand, and what was once invisible air instantly turned into a sandstorm-like haze. A massive air wall formed, blocking all the tentacles, holding them tightly in place. The mechanical squids seemed stunned, struggling desperately to break free, but the air wall only grew stronger, almost like a prelude to a devastating attack. With sharp eyes, Alex looked at the machines and said: "Come on... let''s show you what humanity¡¯s new power looks like!" Chapter 22: Wedding News Chapter 22: Wedding News "Come on... Let me show you the new power of humanity!" Alex said, as he continued to expand the air wall, which spiraled and grew larger like a dust storm, occasionally crackling with blue sparks, making for quite a spectacle. The mechanical squid creatures were thrown off balance, unable to move as the air manipulated them. This showed just how powerful Alex''s air abilities had become. As the whirlwind sped up, Alex stood firm, preparing for a decisive blow. In that instant, the swirling air stopped, and what followed was a violent release, like a tiger pouncing. The burst of air surged toward the mechanical squid with explosive force. Boom! The deafening explosion shattered the mechanical squid into pieces, sending the wreckage flying far away. As the smoke cleared, the entire field looked as if it had been bombed. The only thing left was Alex, standing dramatically in his original posture. But the next moment, he collapsed like a deflated balloon, exhausted. "I... I''m so tired... What''s happening to me?" Alex murmured as his consciousness faded, and he slowly passed out beside Leo.
"Anna, who are you marrying?" Alex asked anxiously, but Anna coldly replied: "Does it matter? The person you like the most isn¡¯t even me." Anna said this as she turned to walk away, leaving Alex desperately trying to catch up, asking: "Who do I like the most? Can you just tell me?!" Alex couldn''t understand what Anna meant, but she kept walking farther away. "Who do I like the most?!" Alex shouted in frustration, sitting up abruptly, only to realize the surroundings looked like a medical room in the rebel camp. He had been lying in bed. That¡¯s when he realized... it was all just a dream. "My head hurts... How long have I been out...?" The last clear memory Alex had was of defeating the mechanical squid and collapsing afterward. He vaguely recalled the team members rushing over to carry him... and then he lost consciousness. As Alex rubbed his head, lost in thought, a voice suddenly answered him. "You¡¯ve been asleep for three days." Alex turned to find Maggie silently entering the room. She brought a basin of water, wrung out a towel, and tossed it to him.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "Here, wash your face." Alex took the towel, wiping his face, and looked at Maggie in confusion, wondering: "Isn''t she mad at me? Why is she being like this...?" He stole a glance at Maggie''s expression. It was a strange mix of not being angry but also not letting him off the hook¡ªit was quite subtle. To test her, Alex pretended to be in more pain than he was. Sure enough, Maggie rushed to his side in concern. "Are you okay?" Maggie looked worriedly at Alex, but then realized he was faking it. She immediately grew angry. "You deserve it!! Hope it hurts like crazy!" Maggie snapped, turning to leave, but Alex pulled something out of his pocket and held it up in front of her.
"What is this...?" Alex revealed a small, delicate tool¡ªa mini sewing machine. It wasn¡¯t just any tool; this was something Alex had discovered when the team was staying in an abandoned house. Though it was from thirty years ago, it had been well-preserved. When Alex found it, he immediately thought of Maggie. Standing up, Alex said to Maggie: "I found this by accident. I noticed you¡¯re always working late at the sewing workshop, and with this, you can make whatever clothes you want, anytime, anywhere. Let this be my apology for being rude to you!" Alex exaggerated his expression, hoping Maggie would accept it. Maggie, pretending to be annoyed, reluctantly took it from him. "Guess you have a little conscience after all... But your parents are here now. Let¡¯s see how you explain this to them." Maggie dropped the remark and turned to walk out. Just then, Alex''s parents, Brad and Camilla, entered to check on him. Outside, Maggie carefully examined the mini sewing machine, unable to stop herself from smiling just a little.
Back at the rebel base, Anna had been unusually quiet since returning. Everyone knew she was usually a cool, confident beauty, but this time, something was off. She kept going to find her father, Commander Ryen, who had also been unusually present in the medical room. It seemed something significant was about to happen...
"Hey! How¡¯s your injury?!" Max, along with the rest of Team 6 and Chad, came to visit Alex. The medical room was suddenly filled with noise and chatter. "I''m fine... Thanks for coming in time. Otherwise, I might¡¯ve been dead..." Alex smiled awkwardly, and everyone started talking about the "adventure" they¡¯d just gone through. But Chad seemed puzzled and asked Alex: "How did that happen? Why were all the mechanical creatures destroyed? The whole field looked like it was bombed." Of course, Alex couldn¡¯t admit he was the one who did it, so he just played dumb. But he was more concerned about Leo witnessing him using his air powers. "By the way, where¡¯s Leo? Didn¡¯t you guys bring him back?" Alex asked about Leo¡¯s whereabouts, but everyone hesitated, looking like they wanted to speak but didn¡¯t know how. "Wait... You didn¡¯t bring him back?" Alex asked in disbelief. That¡¯s when Joey finally spoke up. "Actually... after Leo woke up, he seemed... off. Especially when Commander Ryen suddenly announced that Anna was getting married... Leo started going to the commander every day to argue about it." At first, Alex didn¡¯t quite believe it, thinking Anna had just lied to reject him. But now, hearing this, he had no choice but to believe it. Alex was utterly confused. The Anna he knew was confident, always wanting to be in control of her own life. There had to be a reason for this. Suddenly, the alarm for the shelter¡¯s main gate echoed throughout the entire Rockhill Valley. Everyone rushed outside to see what was happening. "This is strange... All the search teams should have returned by now... Why is the gate opening? Could there be visitors arriving at Rockhill Valley?" Blanca said, while the others began discussing the situation. However, Alex, without saying a word, stood up from his bed. For some reason, when the shelter gate opened, he felt it was connected to Anna¡¯s wedding news... Ignoring his pain, Alex left the medical room, looking toward the shelter gate with a serious expression. "I¡¯m going to check it out!" Chapter 23: The Successor of Rayne Chapter 23: The Successor of Rayne The Rockhill Valley Shelter, hidden 1,000 meters beneath the hills west of Mount Rainier, had long been believed to be the only underground refuge in the area. However, that was not the case. A massive stronghold lay nearby¡ªnestled deep within Mount Rainier itself. A crowd gathered at the entrance of Rockhill Valley Shelter, watching as the thick steel doors slowly swung open. One by one, a large group of people marched inside. From their appearance and demeanor, they, too, seemed to be part of the resistance. These newcomers were the Terra Stronghold Resistance Fighters from Mount Rainier. Unlike the Rockhill Valley rebels, they were heavily armored, equipped with powered exoskeletons, and wielded far superior weaponry. Some carried Gatling guns and rocket launchers, a stark contrast to the Rockhill rebels, who only had rifles at their disposal. More than four hundred of them entered the shelter¡¯s grand plaza in perfect formation, their imposing presence overshadowing the Rockhill resistance forces in both numbers and discipline. The residents of Rockhill Valley murmured among themselves, whispering in confusion and curiosity. They had never known that such a formidable force existed so close by, nor did they understand the purpose of this unexpected visit. Among the onlookers was Alex and his companions, with Alex in particular wearing a grim expression. Finally, two men stepped forward from the open entrance. They both wore berets and military insignia, walking with steady, commanding strides. ¡°Who are they?¡± The murmurs grew louder as the crowd sized up the newcomers. One appeared middle-aged, while the other was much younger¡ªthough the resemblance between them suggested they might be father and son. They seemed to be waiting for Commander Rayne. Not long after, their wait ended. ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived...¡± Commander Rayne approached them from the resistance camp, his steps steady but his complexion noticeably pale. Though he tried to mask his condition, it was clear he wasn¡¯t in good health. The older man stepped forward immediately, offering his arm in a familiar gesture of support, as if they had known each other for a long time. The younger man followed suit, greeting Rayne with equal familiarity. The crowd couldn¡¯t hear their conversation, but speculation ran rampant. Understanding the rising curiosity, Rayne turned to the people of Rockhill Valley and spoke: ¡°Citizens of Rockhill Valley, these men are from the Terra Stronghold Resistance in Mount Rainier. There is no need for concern... Please remain calm. I will provide an explanation shortly.¡± With that, Rayne led the two men into the resistance camp¡¯s meeting chamber, closing the door behind them. Whatever they were discussing, it was clearly of great importance. Alex remained tense, his eyes locked on the meeting chamber. Suddenly, Joey shouted: ¡°Look! Anna just went in too!¡± Sure enough, Anna, expressionless as ever, stepped into the meeting chamber. Just before she closed the door, her gaze briefly met Alex¡¯s from across the crowd¡ªher eyes flickering with a trace of regret before disappearing behind the door. A surge of frustration burned inside Alex. He wanted to run forward, to demand answers from Anna, but his growing agitation had already taken a physical toll¡ªhis grip tightening so forcefully around the iron railing that it began to warp under his strength.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Alex, control yourself. Don¡¯t let them see your power.¡± The AI in his smartwatch, Rey, spoke up in warning. Only then did Alex, unwillingly, release his grip from the now-deformed railing.
Finally, the door to the meeting hall swung open once more. The crowd, waiting anxiously, turned their eyes toward it. Commander Rayne emerged, leading two men toward the plaza. A microphone stand was set up¡ªclearly, Rayne had something important to announce. Standing before the microphone, Rayne scanned the faces of the Rockhill Valley citizens before speaking: "People of Rockhill Valley... I''ve been fortunate to serve as your resistance commander since my youth. And while I¡¯ve always been willing to fight for our survival, the truth is, our forces are too under-equipped and outmatched. If the machines ever find this place, we won¡¯t stand a chance. That¡¯s why the time has come... for the next generation to take over." A murmur spread through the crowd, confusion evident on their faces. But Rayne continued, now introducing the two men beside him. "During our battles on the surface, I encountered the Terra Fortress Resistance, hidden deep within Mount Rainier. This is Colonel Alexander Kald, and his son, Captain Leonardo Kald." The revelation of their identities sent a wave of whispers through the crowd. But Rayne wasn¡¯t done. His next words carried even greater weight. "In order to ensure Rockhill Valley¡¯s survival, I have decided to form an alliance with Terra Fortress. As part of this pact, my daughter, Anna, will marry Leonardo." The crowd erupted in shock, voices rising in protest and disbelief. But Rayne pressed on with yet another announcement. "Leonardo will lead his elite force of several hundred soldiers into Rockhill Valley. And I have decided... to appoint him as the new commander." Chaos broke loose among the citizens. The choice was clear¡ªRayne was handing leadership over to an outsider, despite the widely accepted belief that Leo was the rightful successor. Max and the others were stunned. Max instinctively turned to check on Alex¡¯s reaction¡ªonly to realize Alex was gone. "Wait¡­ where¡¯s Alex!?" Before anyone could answer, Shirley suddenly pointed toward the plaza. "There! He¡¯s right there!" Sure enough, Alex had already stepped forward, standing in the middle of the plaza, face-to-face with Leonardo. The sudden confrontation sent a ripple of unease through the crowd. Staring directly at Leonardo, Alex spoke in an icy, unwavering voice: "I don¡¯t approve of this." Leonardo, however, didn¡¯t flinch. He stepped closer, towering over Alex by half a head. His calm yet calculating smile made it clear¡ªhe wasn¡¯t one to be intimidated. "And who are you, kid?" Alex smirked, completely unfazed. "I¡¯m Alexander Hawk¡ªthe number one rich kid of Rockhill Valley. Got a problem with that?" Their gazes locked, neither backing down. Alex had already ignored his smartwatch¡¯s warnings and begun channeling his energy, ready to strike at any moment. But then¡ª "Step back, Alex." A calm yet firm voice shattered the tension. The crowd turned, and there she was¡ªAnna. She walked out from the meeting hall, her usual cold demeanor unchanged. But something was different this time. A quiet weight lingered behind her expression, a burden only she understood. Stopping in front of Alex, she looked at him¡ªnot with anger, not with contempt, but with something far more painful. For a moment, she hesitated, as if searching for the right words. But in the end, she only said: "The decision to marry was mine. You don¡¯t need to concern yourself, rich boy." Alex clenched his fists. He wasn¡¯t willing to back down. He opened his mouth to argue, but¡ª SMACK! A sharp slap echoed through the plaza. The sting on his cheek was nothing compared to the ache in his chest. Anna¡¯s voice was steady, but her words cut deeper than any wound. "We were never anything to each other¡­ were we, Alexander Hawk?" Alex stood frozen. She was right. He had never truly won her heart. He had no right to object. But after everything he had done¡ªeverything he had endured to save her¡ªnone of it mattered to her? He let out a bitter laugh, as if mocking himself. "So that¡¯s how it is¡­? I was never important to you at all." The energy within him dissipated. His posture slumped, the fight drained from his body. Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the crowd. Anna never looked back. She had to pretend she didn¡¯t care. She had to bury everything deep inside. Inside, though, she whispered the words she couldn¡¯t say aloud. "I¡¯m sorry¡­" She fought to keep her emotions in check. Because the truth was¡ªAlex was the first person who had ever truly risked everything for her. She had felt it. She had been moved by it. But for the sake of Rockhill Valley¡­ she had no choice but to be cruel. She had to bury her feelings forever. Chapter 24: Disappointment Chapter 24: Disappointment At the far end of Rockhill Valley, deep within the glowing night garden, Alex sat alone by a small river, absentmindedly stirring the water with his Qi as he thought to himself: "Why did I do so much... and yet Anna doesn¡¯t care at all?" The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He raised his left hand and questioned his AI smartwatch, Rui: "Why won¡¯t you let me use Qi in front of others? And why did I pass out after using the amplification this time? That was weird!" Rui responded, "Your Qi isn¡¯t strong enough to take on intelligent machines head-on. Even if people see you as a hero, it won¡¯t change anything. Plus, to defeat the even stronger intelligent machines this time, you had to forcefully amplify your Qi to the second level. Of course, your body couldn¡¯t handle it and collapsed." Alex was furious and snapped back, "Not strong enough? Anna¡¯s about to be taken by someone else! Fine, I¡¯ll train. I¡¯ll make it to the first level and prove myself. Let¡¯s see if she still needs that Leonardo guy then!" Instead of just talking, Alex put his words into action. Determined, he immediately sat down and began meditating to train his Qi. But something was wrong. The moment he tried to transform his zero-level Qi into the first level, an unbearable pain suddenly shot through his entire body. "Ahhh¡­!" His muscles cramped, his bones felt like they were being torn apart. Then, just as suddenly as it came, the pain faded, leaving him drenched in sweat and gasping for air. "What the hell was that? No way... I have to try again!" Alex had no idea what was causing it, but every time he attempted the transformation, the same excruciating pain returned. It was so intense that he nearly blacked out, forcing him to stop each time. Still panting, he pushed himself off the ground and turned to Rui, demanding answers: "Why? Why does it hurt so much whenever I try to transform my Qi? What are you not telling me?"This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Rui was silent for a moment before finally revealing the truth. "Because the human body cannot withstand Qi with destructive energy." Alex froze, unable to process what he just heard. "The human body... can''t handle it? Then why even invent it? Why didn¡¯t Dr. Jian tell me? Has anyone ever successfully transformed it before?" Alex¡¯s frustration boiled over, but Rui answered honestly: "To be honest¡­ no one ever has." That answer hit Alex like a ton of bricks. He slumped down, feeling like everything had been for nothing. His mind went blank. But Rui continued. "Dr. Jian may have discovered how to extract Qi using tools, but enabling a person to wield Qi as a destructive force is still just a theory. That¡¯s why he created me¡ªto guide and train the first person to ever use Qi." Alex said nothing. His face darkened. First, Anna had crushed his hopes, and now the one thing that could change his life turned out to be nothing more than an unproven theory. "What a joke¡­ Alex, you¡¯re such a damn fool." He let out a bitter laugh at himself, then stood up, ready to leave the glowing night garden. But Rui stopped him. "You¡¯re giving up on training?" Alex let out a deep sigh and muttered, "I don''t want to be a fool anymore..."
Butte, Montana, was once a beautiful little town nestled among the mountains. Now, however, it was nothing more than a smog-choked wasteland, all thanks to Hive-7 Ares, which had turned the place into both a mining site and a base of operations. Ares had positioned its massive mobile city against the mountains, extracting soil and filtering out valuable materials. Meanwhile, countless intelligent machines worked tirelessly on the surface, constructing massive refineries. Thick, black smoke billowed from these factories, turning the sky into a hazy, suffocating gray. Inside Hive-7¡¯s core, agonized screams echoed through the metallic halls. They came from none other than Dr. Jia Yang, who had been captured and restrained on a mechanical crucifix, completely immobilized. A series of intricate devices were embedded into his skull, designed to probe and extract his consciousness. Ares, in its towering humanoid machine form, gripped the doctor¡¯s head tightly, its voice dripping with contempt. "Impressive, human. After all these days, I still can¡¯t break through the defenses in your mind. I must say, I¡¯m curious¡ªhow exactly are you doing it? Care to enlighten me?" Despite being tortured to the brink of death, Dr. Jia Yang still managed a faint smile. He was using his own Qi to block the mind-reading attempts, and he responded with quiet defiance: "Go on¡­ if you think you can extract my thoughts, then do it. Not that it would matter¡ªyour kind wouldn¡¯t be able to use them anyway¡­" Seeing the doctor¡¯s unwavering resistance, Ares didn¡¯t bother with any more words. It simply increased the voltage. Another surge of electricity coursed through Jia Yang¡¯s body, forcing another scream from his lips. "AAAHHHH!!!" Amidst the unbearable pain, a single thought remained firm in Dr. Jia Yang¡¯s mind. A vision of Alex surfaced, and with it, his unshakable belief: "Kid¡­ if the watch chose you, then I believe in you. You¡¯ll master Qi eventually¡­ Humanity¡¯s future depends on you!" Jia Yang had no doubt in his heart. But what he didn¡¯t know¡ªwhat he could never have imagined¡ªwas that, at this very moment, Alex was drowning in disappointment. In fact, he was on the verge of complete despair. Episode 25: The Original Young Master Episode 25: The Original Young Master The next day, news of Anna¡¯s engagement spread throughout Rockhill Valley, leaving the boys who had admired her heartbroken. Even in the rebel camp, many groaned in disappointment. "I can''t believe my goddess Anna is getting married¡­ this is so unfair!" Many guys lamented, but their whining irritated a good number of girls in the camp. Among them, Luna and Judy¡ªtwo of the prettier newcomers¡ªstepped forward and snapped, "You guys are unbelievable! Are the other girls in Rockhill Valley invisible to you?! What''s so great about a woman who walks around with a cold, expressionless face all day?" Their words immediately sparked an argument, as Anna¡¯s admirers refused to back down. The camp was in chaos even before training had begun. Meanwhile, Joey and the other six members of Squad Six weren¡¯t paying attention to the drama. Ever since Alex had walked away in silence after getting slapped by Anna the day before, he hadn¡¯t shown up. His absence worried them. "Anna is strong, beautiful, and fearless¡ªshe¡¯s the true flower of Rockhill Valley! None of you girls can compare to her!" The guys doubled down, provoking the girls further. Just when the tension was about to explode, a lazy, carefree voice suddenly chimed in. "Who says the girls in this camp aren¡¯t as good as Anna? Personally, I like them better." Everyone turned toward the voice and was shocked to see a sharply dressed, flamboyant young man strolling into the camp, casually running a hand through his hair. It was Alex. "Alex...?" Joey and the others looked at him in confusion. Something about him was different¡ªhe had an air of arrogance they hadn¡¯t seen before. But Alex just smiled at them before striding toward the group of guys trash-talking the camp girls, a smirk playing on his lips. "You guys are pathetic," Alex scoffed. "The camp is full of beautiful girls, yet you''re all obsessed with someone who wouldn¡¯t even spare you a glance. Talk about sad." He flashed a playful wink at Luna and Judy, making them blush. The guys were furious, especially Willy and Claude¡ªthe ones who had always looked for ways to pick on Alex. "Alex, don¡¯t forget¡ªyou¡¯re just a newbie here. Who the hell do you think you are?" Claude sneered. Alex walked right up to him, still smirking. "Oh, that¡¯s easy," he said coolly. "I¡¯m Alex Hawke, the sole heir of the Hawke family¡ªthe one that owns the most factories in Rockhill Valley. Who knows? Maybe your parents work for my family." He tilted his head mockingly. "What¡¯s wrong? Feeling a little upset?" Claude¡¯s face twisted in anger. He lunged at Alex, trying to shove him backward. But no matter how hard he pushed, Alex didn¡¯t budge an inch. Claude gritted his teeth. "What the hell¡­?" Unbeknownst to him, Alex was using his newly trained Qi to anchor himself in place. It didn¡¯t matter how much strength Claude used¡ªhe wasn¡¯t moving Alex. "Come on, wasn¡¯t that supposed to be a push? Don¡¯t hold back," Alex teased, grinning like he was watching a comedy show. Claude shot a desperate glance at Willy. "What are you waiting for?! Help me push him!" Willy joined in, and the two of them threw their full weight against Alex, but it was useless¡ªhe remained completely unmoved.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Alex finally decided he had had enough. With a slight shift of his body, he sidestepped them. Claude and Willy, who had been leaning forward with all their strength, lost their balance and crashed to the ground in a heap, drawing a wave of laughter from the crow Claude and Willy scrambled to their feet, glaring at Alex in frustration. But Alex just grinned confidently and said: "What? Want to try again?" Claude''s face turned pale. Knowing they were outmatched, he grabbed Willy and stormed off. Everyone watching was stunned¡ªsince when had the weak young master become this strong? Joey and the others cheered, thrilled to see Claude and Willy put in their place. "Dude! That was awesome! We were really worried about you..." Gordon, relieved that Alex had stood up for them, stepped forward to congratulate him. But Alex simply smiled and turned his attention to Luna and Judy. "Ladies, would I be honored to have lunch with two stunning beauties?" He reached out his hand to Luna, making both women feel flattered. After all, Alex wasn¡¯t just handsome¡ªhe was the eldest son of the prestigious Hawke family. "Sure... why not?" Luna and Judy eagerly accepted, but just as they were about to leave, a voice cut through the air. "No way!" Everyone turned in surprise. It was none other than Training Officer Chad, striding toward Alex with a stern expression. "The Resistance isn¡¯t some dating service! What the hell is wrong with you, Alex?" Chad scolded, clearly frustrated. But Alex didn¡¯t seem to care. He simply shrugged and smirked. "Sorry, but I only joined the Resistance to pick up girls. If that¡¯s a problem... then I officially resign. Effective immediately." His words left everyone¡ªincluding Joey and the others¡ªcompletely dumbfounded. "Wait... this has to be a joke, right?! Alex?!" Even Chad was momentarily stunned, but he quickly pieced things together. With a sigh, he lowered his voice and muttered: "I get that Anna¡¯s engagement hit you hard... but do you even realize what you''re doing right now?" At the mention of Anna, Alex''s expression darkened. He didn¡¯t want to stay a second longer. Without another word, he took Luna and Judy¡¯s hands and started walking away. Just before leaving, he glanced back at Chad and said: "Of course I know. I''m just going back to being the Hawke family''s carefree young master." At that moment, his AI smartwatch, Rae, chimed in: "You shouldn''t have used Qi back there..." Alex responded coldly: "Stay out of it." And with that, he left the Resistance camp, leaving behind a crowd of speechless onlookers.
Meanwhile, at the Resistance HQ¡¯s command room... At the long dining table, Anna sat at one end, quietly eating her meal. Her expression was unreadable. On the other end sat Leonardo, calmly cutting into his food with practiced elegance. Neither had spoken a word, and the silence between them was unbearably tense¡ªnothing like two people about to be married. It was no surprise. Their engagement had been arranged by their fathers, and neither of them had much of a say in the matter. Finally, as they finished their meal, they sat there, waiting to see who would break the silence first. Leonardo smirked slightly and spoke in a testing tone: "I have to admit... I never imagined the famous Anna Rehn would actually agree to marry me." Anna barely reacted, as if she had anticipated this. She gave him a small, knowing smile and replied: "Why wouldn¡¯t I? In exchange, I get hundreds of highly trained soldiers willing to die for our cause. Sounds like a fair trade to me. But you, Captain... leaving behind the safety of Terra Fortress to come to this little refuge? Aren''t you worried about getting killed when Rockhill Valley falls?" Her sharp counter left Leonardo unfazed. He stood up, walked to her side, and answered just as bluntly: "In a world like this, anyone who joins the Resistance to fight against the machines has already accepted the risk of death. And you¡ªyou''re willing to sacrifice your personal life for the cause. Why should I be any different?" He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "But... your father, Commander Rehn, seems far more concerned about keeping his precious daughter alive. That¡¯s why he¡ª" Anna cut him off, her tone suddenly sharp. "Enough. You and I are just following orders. No need for unnecessary talk. We¡¯ll deal with things as they come." Leonardo recognized the anger in her voice, especially when it came to her father. Deciding not to push further, he simply gave her a knowing look before turning and walking away. Once she was alone, Anna finally let her guard down. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself a fleeting memory¡ªthe one and only time she had ever felt close to someone. That night, lying under the endless stars with Alex by her side. She exhaled softly, whispering to herself: "...You''re probably hating me right now, aren''t you?" Chapter 26: The Dandy Young Master Chapter 26: The Dandy Young Master "Beep---Beep----Beep" The blaring alarm echoed through the underground shelter as the massive mobile city, "The Nest," passed over Rockhill Valley once again. The entire refuge instinctively powered down, and everyone held their breath, waiting for "The Nest" to move along. But this time, something was different. Instead of continuing on its way, "The Nest" lingered overhead, hovering for an unusually long time. It was as if it was searching for something¡ªor perhaps confirming something. As the alarm finally ceased and power was restored, the sewing factory flickered back to life. However, amid the return to normalcy, one person remained undisturbed, still diligently working by the dim glow of her lamp. Maggie. "Finally... it''s done!" Maggie spread out the finished garment she had been painstakingly sewing for weeks. She gazed at it with pride, as if it were the greatest achievement of her life. But then, she sighed. "Ugh... now the real problem¡ªhow do I even give this to him? This is so annoying!"
The next morning, inside the grandest mansion in Rockhill Valley, in its highest-floor bedroom, the floor was littered with clothes. And not just his own. Scattered among the mess were women''s garments as well. The trail of discarded clothing led up to the massive bed, where Alex lay fast asleep¡ªalongside two women. Luna and Judy. The same two women he had taken from the rebel camp. "Ugh... my head is killing me..." Alex groggily sat up, rubbing his temples. He glanced at the two women beside him, looking puzzled. "Wait... how did they end up here?" he muttered, struggling to recall the events of the previous night. His memory was hazy, thanks to all the drinking. Then, he let out a bitter chuckle. "Ah, whatever. Not like it matters. I was always a scumbag anyway... definitely no match for that noble Captain..." As he reached for his clothes, his AI wristwatch, Ray, spoke up in its usual stern voice. "You shouldn''t be wasting your energy like this, Alex." Alex scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh, please. No matter how much I train, I can¡¯t even reach the first level of Qi. I¡¯ll never be a hero¡ªdon¡¯t want to be one, either. You picked the wrong guy. I just want to be... me." Ray''s voice carried a hint of confusion. "And what exactly do you want to be?" Now fully dressed, Alex grabbed his coat, glanced back at the sleeping women, then smirked as he reached the door. "I want to have fun... and cause some trouble."
Alex strutted down the street, moving with an unmistakable air of mischief. His steps were light, his grin devilish¡ªtoday, he was on a mission to stir up some chaos.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. First stop: a pottery shop, where an elderly man was carefully shaping clay into delicate vases. Alex, ever the gentleman, offered to help. Unfortunately for the old man, Alex used Qi to shape the clay at super speed. The result? A batch of utterly bizarre, grotesque sculptures. The poor shopkeeper nearly had a heart attack. Next, he spotted a little girl selling flowers on the street. Ever the generous type, he offered to buy her entire basket. The girl beamed with joy¡ªuntil Alex started launching the flowers into the hair of unsuspecting pedestrians using Qi. Chaos ensued, as couples broke into arguments over random flowers appearing in their partners¡¯ hair. Alex cackled to himself, thoroughly enjoying the drama. Watching his invisible Qi manipulate objects so effortlessly, he smirked. "This is way more fun than training." And so, he continued down the street, playing pranks, annoying shopkeepers, and leaving a trail of frustration in his wake. It only took a few blocks for the entire marketplace to devolve into chaos. Finally, he stopped in front of a small liquor shop, his signature smirk returning. Now... what kind of trouble should I cause here?
Ever since discovering Alex¡¯s secret during their last mission¡ªand hearing that Anna was getting married¡ªLeo had been in a downward spiral. After confronting Commander Ryan about it and getting nowhere, he disappeared into a dark alley, drowning his frustration in booze. But the worst part? He wasn¡¯t even named the next commander of the Resistance. That stung the most. ¡°How pathetic¡­ How did it all come to this?¡± Leo muttered bitterly, taking another long swig from his bottle. ¡°Leo, you idiot¡­¡± The great hero of the Resistance, now sulking alone in an alley. No one would¡¯ve expected to see him like this. Just then, a commotion broke out on the street. Curious, Leo stepped out from the shadows and peered around the corner. Inside a small bar, a loud, extravagant voice rang out: ¡°Today, I¡¯m in a fantastic mood! Drinks are on me¡ªeveryone, drink up!¡± A wave of cheers erupted from the crowd. ¡°Three cheers for Young Master Alex!¡± Of course. Who else could afford to throw money around like that? In all of Rockhill Valley, only one man had that kind of arrogance¡ªAlex. Right in the center of the chaos, Alex was basking in the attention, indulging in drinks and laughter. He wasn¡¯t even trying to be subtle about using his Qi, putting on flashy tricks to entertain the drunken crowd. It was reckless. Ridiculous. Two people suddenly rushed into the bar¡ªMaggie and Max. They had heard about Alex¡¯s wild antics all morning and dropped everything to find him. But as soon as they stepped inside, they froze. The place was packed, noisy, and chaotic, but what really caught their attention was Alex, draping his arms around two women, grinning as he drank. ¡°Wait¡­ Is that really Alex?¡± Max asked, dumbfounded. Maggie didn¡¯t answer. She just stared at Alex with a dark, unreadable expression. For days, she had been busy working on a gift¡ªan outfit she planned to give away¡ªso she hadn¡¯t seen much of Alex. But when she finally heard about his reckless behavior, she wasn¡¯t angry. She was worried. Maggie stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. ¡°I know Anna¡¯s news hit you hard, but do you really need to do this?¡± Alex glanced up, saw Maggie and Max, and lazily waved the two women away. Then, with a drunken grin, he spread his arms and laughed. ¡°Look at this! It¡¯s great, isn¡¯t it? I bring joy to the people!¡± Maggie¡¯s response was ice-cold. ¡°Are you happy?¡± For a moment, Alex didn¡¯t answer. He just chuckled, his breath reeking of alcohol. ¡°Of course I am¡­ Besides¡ª¡± Without warning, he pulled Maggie into a tight embrace. ¡°¡ªI still have you, my best friend!¡± Maggie froze. She had never imagined Alex would ever hold her like this. Not even in her dreams. Max, on the other hand, looked away, his face tense. He knew Maggie had always been in love with Alex. He knew she would never see him, the ¡°fat guy,¡± in that way. But that didn¡¯t make it hurt any less. ¡°All right, you¡¯re wasted,¡± Max muttered, stepping forward to help. ¡°Let¡¯s get you home.¡± Alex let out a final, drowsy laugh before his body relaxed, and he drifted into unconsciousness. Maggie sighed, gently patting his head. ¡°Idiot.¡± She and Max struggled to lift him¡ªAlex wasn¡¯t exactly light. Just as they were about to give up, a shadow loomed over them. ¡°I¡¯ll carry him.¡± Startled, they looked up. Standing before them, looking serious and composed, was none other than Leo¡ªthe man who had been missing for days.
This version makes the dialogue and flow more natural in English while preserving the original emotions and humor. Let me know if you¡¯d like any tweaks¡£ Chapter 27: Going Rogue Chapter 27: Going Rogue The next morning, Alex woke up with a pounding headache. "Ugh... What the hell happened yesterday?" He rubbed his temples and looked around. Maggie and Max were slumped over the nearby table, fast asleep. That¡¯s when it all came rushing back. Feeling a rare twinge of gratitude, Alex grabbed a blanket and draped it over his two closest friends. He crouched down next to Maggie and noticed she had fallen asleep with her thick-framed glasses still on. Carefully, he slid them off and took a closer look at her face. "Huh... you¡¯re actually kinda cute," he muttered to himself. "I bet if you put on some makeup¡­ you¡¯d have plenty of admirers." Just as he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, a voice interrupted him. "Finally awake?" Alex turned around, startled to see a fourth person in the room¡ªLeo, the man who had carried him home the night before. "Well, well, if it isn¡¯t our legendary hero, Leo. I should be honored, huh?" Alex chuckled, standing up and stretching. Leo wasn¡¯t amused. He crossed his arms, his expression serious. "It was you, wasn¡¯t it? The one who took down those combat machines. How the hell did you get that strong overnight? Did you meet someone during that mission? Get some kind of secret power?" Alex smirked but didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he stepped right up to Leo, close enough to make it clear he had no intention of explaining anything. "I don¡¯t owe you an answer," he said casually. "Figure it out yourself. Anyway, I¡¯ve got things to do. Enjoy yourself." He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door, but Leo wasn¡¯t giving up that easily. "Fine, don¡¯t tell me. But are you really just going to sit back and let Anna marry someone else? Are you seriously okay with some stranger taking over Rockhill Valley?" Alex didn¡¯t even flinch. He finished buttoning his shirt, walked to the doorway, then paused just before stepping out. "Of course, I¡¯m not okay with it," he admitted. "But it¡¯s not about Anna¡ªI just don¡¯t like losing. And if I¡¯m going to lose, I might as well cause some trouble and make sure that guy, Leonardo, regrets it." With that, he walked out, leaving Leo standing there in stunned silence, unsure what to do next.
The streets were bustling as Alex strolled aimlessly, hands in his pockets, mind already scheming. "What should I do for fun today?" he mused, smirking to himself. Before he could decide, a commotion caught his attention. A loud argument echoed from a nearby clothing store. Curious, Alex wandered over. Inside, a group of arrogant-looking men¡ªelite resistance soldiers from Terra Bunker¡ªwere making a scene. They had picked out clothes but had no intention of paying for them. "We¡¯re here protecting you, and you have the nerve to charge us?!" These so-called "elites" were used to luxury and entitlement. Now, they were throwing their weight around, treating the store owner like dirt. One of them even shoved the old man aside when he protested. "Please, sirs¡­ I need to make a living too!" the shopkeeper pleaded, bowing repeatedly. "Shut up, old man." One of the soldiers pushed him roughly, making him stumble backward.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Before the shopkeeper could hit the ground, a steady hand caught him. "Whoa there," a smooth voice said. The old man turned to see his savior¡ªAlex. His eyes widened in shock. "Young Master Hawk?!" Alex just smirked and shrugged off the gratitude. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets and sauntered forward, exuding the kind of energy that spelled nothing but trouble. Time to stir the pot. "Who are you? Stay out of the way¡ªwe''re just doing some shopping for the Resistance." Alexis smirked and spoke up on behalf of the shop owner. "You out-of-towners don¡¯t know you have to pay for what you buy? The shopkeeper is just doing business. No need to act like this, right?" The elite soldiers towering over him barely spared him a glance. With arrogance dripping from their voices, one of them sneered: "We¡¯re from Terra Bunker. We came here to protect your pathetic Rockhill Valley. You should be treating us like honored guests. Back home, we don¡¯t have to pay a single dime." Alexis took a deep breath, still keeping his composure as he responded, "Well, this isn''t your so-called ¡®Salad¡¯ Bunker. You pay here." The soldiers finally lost patience. With an annoyed grunt, they tossed a few coins onto the ground, then one of them shoved Alexis back. "There. Now go fetch our side dishes. Scram!" That was the final straw. Alexis had been willing to let this slide, but now? Now he had changed his mind. He had already planned on stirring up trouble just to make that bastard Leonardo look bad, and now he was fully committed. Feigning a grin, Alexis said, "Alright¡­ enjoy your shopping, ¡®heroes.¡¯" He casually stepped back, letting the Resistance soldiers continue browsing through clothes. Then, with a slow turn, he began channeling his energy, his smile sharpening into something far more dangerous. "At first, I was debating whether I should just let things slide for the sake of the bigger picture¡ªnot mess with you just because you¡¯re that guy Leonardo¡¯s men. But looking at this now¡­ you Resistance guys are real pieces of work. Someone¡¯s gotta teach you a lesson." His AI wristwatch, Ray, chimed in, trying to stop him. "Don¡¯t do this." But Alexis was too far gone¡ªhis heart was already clouded with frustration over Anna and his own failure to break through his limits. Silently, he gathered the energy in his hands, ready to start a little ¡°game¡± with these so-called elites from Terra Bunker.
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the Resistance camp¡¯s medical bay, Commander Raine lay resting on a cot. He had been holding on, pushing through his worsening condition just to formally announce Anna¡¯s engagement in front of Rockhill Valley¡¯s people. But now, at last, he could afford to lie down. Raine hadn¡¯t told many people about his illness¡ªcancer. In this world, there was no real way to treat it. He knew his time was running out, which was why he was in such a rush to set everything in place. Though his complexion was pale, his mind remained sharp as he continued giving orders, especially concerning the accommodation of the elite Resistance forces from Terra Bunker. "Thank you for arranging a place for my men, Commander." Leonardo sat beside him, speaking with gratitude. Despite Raine¡¯s weakened state, his gaze was still piercing as he met Leonardo¡¯s eyes. "I¡¯ll see that everything is in order so you can take over smoothly¡­ Just promise me, take care of my daughter. Protect Rockhill Valley. And if the day comes when the AI machines break through these walls¡­ take Anna and run." The failed mission to rescue the scientists had left him without hope. He could see no other path forward for humanity. This was all he could do. Leonardo stood, offering a respectful salute. "I will. Rest up, Commander¡ªI hope you recover soon." Not long after, Anna arrived, quietly taking a seat beside her father, waiting for him to speak. "I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m a cowardly father. This is the only way I could think of¡­ I hope you can forgive me." Raine gently took Anna¡¯s hand, and for the first time, her usual cold, resolute demeanor cracked. Her eyes welled up, but she wasn¡¯t sure what to say. "I¡­ I understand." Raine reached up to wipe her tears, then slowly closed his eyes to rest. Not wanting Leonardo to see her in such a vulnerable state, Anna quickly got up and left the medical bay. But Leonardo, having just promised Raine to look after her, followed and spoke in a calm, measured tone. "I remember seeing you once before¡ªback when we fought the AI machines on the surface. I thought to myself, ¡®No way a woman could have aim that precise.¡¯ But you did. You were incredible." Anna wasn¡¯t the type to care about compliments. She shot him a cold glance and replied flatly, "So what? What¡¯s your point?" Leonardo was about to respond when Lieutenant Caitlin suddenly rushed over, looking tense. "We¡¯ve got trouble. Those Terra Bunker Resistance soldiers? They¡¯re picking fights in the streets. You two might wanna check it out." Chapter 28: Alex No Longer Holds Back Chapter 28: Alex No Longer Holds Back The crowd in the shopping district grew larger as people gathered to watch the commotion. More than a dozen elite soldiers from Terra Bunker¡¯s resistance force were tied up on the ground. Ten minutes earlier... When Alex stepped aside, letting those elites continue picking out clothes, he secretly used his Qi to pull down their pants one by one, humiliating them on the spot. Not stopping there, he also tied their shoelaces together, making them trip and fall in a tangled mess. The surrounding crowd burst into laughter. Alex kept using his Qi to prank the elites until Leonardo arrived with a squad of resistance soldiers. Seeing his elite troops being humiliated, Captain Leonardo was furious. However, he couldn¡¯t figure out who was responsible, which only made him angrier. He shouted: "Who did this? Step forward!" The resistance force from Terra Bunker operated under strict military discipline, where authority could not be challenged. Their mindset was completely different from Rockhill Valley¡¯s more easygoing and community-driven approach. But the only response Leonardo got was laughter. Meanwhile, Alex stayed hidden in the crowd, struggling to suppress his grin. That was the last straw. Enraged, Leonardo grabbed the shop owner and declared loudly: "If no one confesses¡­ I¡¯ll start arresting people!" The crowd was stunned. No one expected the Terra Bunker resistance to be this oppressive. Then, chaos erupted as Leonardo¡¯s men started detaining random civilians.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. And at that moment, a voice cut through the turmoil. "I did it." Everyone turned toward the source. Alex stepped out from the crowd, wearing a smug grin that practically dared Leonardo to do something about it. "Wow, so this is how the great Terra Bunker resistance operates?" Alex taunted. "Taking clothes from a small business without paying? Classy." Leonardo immediately recognized Alex¡ªthe same guy who had confronted him over Anna before. His tone hardened. "Oh¡­ So you¡¯re that spoiled rich kid from the Hawk family, huh?" Alex smirked. "Cut the crap, future commander. Let everyone go. It was all me. So, what are you gonna do about it?" Leonardo, still not officially appointed as Rockhill Valley¡¯s commander, didn¡¯t want to escalate things further. He released the shop owner and prepared to leave, swallowing his pride. But Alex wasn¡¯t done. "Oh, so you¡¯re just gonna walk away without compensating the shop owner? That¡¯s your leadership style? And you think you deserve to marry Anna?" That last remark hit a nerve. Leonardo spun around, his anger flaring, and threw a punch at Alex. But before it could land, Alex effortlessly deflected the strike with his Qi, sending Leonardo stumbling to the ground. Alex scoffed and turned away¡ª SMACK! A sharp slap landed across his face. The entire scene froze. Anna had appeared out of nowhere. She didn¡¯t even know the full story. She didn¡¯t ask. She just slapped Alex. Her expression was cold, unreadable, but her voice carried weight: "Enough. Stop causing trouble, Alex." It was the second time Anna had slapped him. And this time¡­ it broke something inside him. Alex chuckled bitterly. He felt like the biggest fool. Even though he could¡¯ve explained everything¡ªeven though bystanders were ready to speak up for him¡ªhe didn¡¯t bother. He just gave them a look, silently telling them not to. Instead, he laughed and said to Anna: "Yeah, you¡¯re right. I was just messing around¡­ So, you really do like this guy, huh? And to you, I¡¯m just some spoiled brat?" Anna met his gaze. She wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to explain her reasons. But she couldn¡¯t. So, she forced herself to keep her cold facade. Chapter 29: Alexs Escape Chapter 29: Alex''s Escape After Alex stopped hiding his incredible abilities, more and more people arrived upon hearing the news. Even Caitlyn, the deputy commander of the resistance, showed up. Leonardo, on the other hand, called in his own fully armed squad. Caitlyn, now aware that Alex had found the scientist and obtained special powers, stepped forward with a serious expression and called out to him. "Hawk, if you found the scientist, why didn¡¯t you inform us? I hope you¡¯ll hand over whatever the scientist entrusted to you!" As Caitlyn spoke, more resistance fighters surrounded Alex. Leonardo, however, didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries and said outright: "So this is superpower, huh? That just means we have to take you down!" Alex had anticipated this outcome the moment he revealed his power, but he was past the point of caring. "Come at me! Let¡¯s see if you can!" His expression turned sharp as he pushed his energy to the limit. This time, it wasn¡¯t just pots and pans floating around¡ªclothes from market stalls, stones from the ground¡ªeverything around him rose into the air, bending to his will. Crossing his hands, Alex controlled the swirling mass of objects, forming an invisible vortex around him. The sight was mesmerizing. Leonardo, however, smirked confidently and gave the command: "Resistance fighters, take him down!" At his order, the fully armed soldiers rushed toward Alex, wielding riot batons. "Stop! Everyone, calm down!" Anna tried to intervene, but it was too late¡ªno one was willing to back down now. Alex let out a cold snort and unleashed his power. With a swift motion, he hurled everything in his vortex toward the approaching fighters. Like leaves in a storm, they were knocked back, their formation instantly collapsing. "Still think you can capture me?!" He sneered, challenging Leonardo while continuing his relentless attack. But strangely, Leonardo remained composed, almost as if he were waiting for something. And then¡ªit happened. After a prolonged burst of energy, Alex¡¯s assault finally slowed. No matter how much he pushed, he couldn¡¯t escape one simple truth: Zero-tier energy is still zero-tier. It drained quickly and lacked devastating force. "Damn it¡­ Am I running out of energy? No¡ªI refuse to believe it!" Desperate, Alex pushed himself harder, forcing out every last bit of energy in his body. But by now, the resistance fighters had adapted to his attacks and were no longer caught off guard. Then¡ªan opening. A particularly strong resistance fighter seized the opportunity and hurled a spear straight at Alex. It sliced across his shoulder, sending him flying before he crashed to the ground. "Argh¡ª!" Blood poured from his left shoulder as he struggled to get up. The energy vortex vanished. The armed fighters slowly closed in on him.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Anna could no longer stand by. Without hesitation, she grabbed a gun from one of the soldiers and pointed it directly at Leonardo. "Stop! Leonardo, don¡¯t make me do this!" Leonardo¡¯s expression darkened. He hadn¡¯t expected this from Anna. For the first time, he began to question¡ªwhat exactly was Alex to her? Just then, Chad arrived with the former Sixth Squad members. Joey, Brenda, Sherry, Susan, Gordon, Dylan, John¡ªeven Max had come upon hearing the commotion. They immediately positioned themselves in front of Alex, shielding him. Brenda, her voice fierce, shouted: "Anyone who touches him will have to go through me first!" The scene was complete chaos. The gathered crowd, witnessing everything, started to chant in support of Alex: "Let him go!" Chad stepped right up to Leonardo, grinning but firm. "Captain Leonardo, you¡¯re not even the commander of Rock Hill Valley yet. You¡¯re just a young officer¡­ Is all this really necessary?" Then he turned to Caitlyn without hesitation. "Deputy Commander, do you really think it¡¯s acceptable to go this far just to get Alex¡¯s secret?" Caitlyn, ashamed, turned away in silence. The crowd''s uproar grew louder and louder as a group of people surrounded Alex, with Anna also aiming her gun at him. Leonardo and Caitlin felt stuck, unable to back down but too embarrassed to take further action. Suddenly, to everyone¡¯s surprise, Alex gathered the last of his energy, focusing it on his legs, and leaped over 10 meters high, landing on a nearby rooftop. ¡°He jumped! He jumped!¡± The crowd gasped in shock as Alex, unsteady and holding his injured shoulder, turned around to seemingly look at Anna. His expression was hollow, devoid of hope. Anna knew what was coming, but there was nothing she could do¡ªeverything was beyond saving now. Heartbroken, Alex turned his back and immediately jumped from one rooftop to another, disappearing from sight, leaving behind the chaos below. Seeing Alex escape, Leonardo shot a furious glance at Anna, unable to say a word. Caitlin, the deputy commander, immediately took charge: ¡°Find him, now!¡±
Meanwhile, Maggie, who had just woken up, heard about the situation and rushed over. She found Max and urgently grabbed him, asking: ¡°Where¡¯s Alex?! How is he? What happened?¡± Max recounted everything that had just occurred, and Maggie couldn¡¯t believe how far things had escalated. She felt deeply sorry for Alex and clenched her fists in frustration. Without saying another word, Maggie, filled with anger, pushed through the crowd. When she found Anna, she slapped her without warning. ¡°Anna Rayne... Look what you¡¯ve done to Alex! If you didn¡¯t like him, why did you have to be so cruel? Everyone thought you were some untouchable hero...¡± Maggie glared at Anna, but Anna, knowing she was in the wrong, didn¡¯t try to defend herself. She could only respond calmly: ¡°Are you happy now...?¡± With that, Anna turned and walked away, her head down. Maggie was still furious but didn¡¯t want to see Anna anymore. What mattered now was finding Alex. Then, Maggie suddenly had a realization. She thought... she knew where he might be.
Alex, wounded, avoided populated areas and eventually reached the Moonlight Garden, a hidden sanctuary at the end of the Rockhill Valley that only he and Maggie knew about. ¡°Ugh...¡± Exhausted, Alex collapsed into the field of moonlight flowers, losing consciousness as soon as he hit the ground.
Back at the resistance base, everyone was on high alert, searching for Alex. Caitlin had arrived at the Hawk family home. ¡°What? Deputy Commander, can you say that again?¡± Brian Hawk, the head of the family, feigned confusion, wanting Caitlin to repeat herself. Although he knew his son was in trouble, he still wanted to protect him. ¡°I said, your son Alex is hiding something that belongs to us. We need him to come back with us immediately.¡± Caitlin said sternly, but Brian responded casually: ¡°He¡¯s not here! I don¡¯t know where he is, so you can go ahead and look for him!¡± Not believing him, Caitlin had the Hawk house searched thoroughly before reluctantly leaving. As she departed, she ordered her subordinates: ¡°Keep an eye on them.¡± As one of the biggest factory owners in Rockhill Valley, Brian was a key benefactor for the resistance, and he wasn¡¯t afraid of Caitlin. However, both he and his wife, Camilla, couldn¡¯t help but worry about where their son might be. "Where are you, son?....¡± Chapter 30: Leos Proposal Chapter 30: Leo''s Proposal Amidst the entire Rockhill Valley searching for Alex, there was one person sneaking around, avoiding the rebels. That person was Maggie. With a scarf covering her hair, Maggie checked to make sure no one was following her before heading into a narrow river valley. She knew that the only place Alex might have gone was the Moonlight Garden at the end of the valley, a place only she and Alex knew about. Sure enough, when Maggie reached the Moonlight Garden, she found Alex passed out. She immediately rushed over to check his wounds and saw that his left shoulder was badly injured and bleeding. "Idiot! You big fool... why would you cause such trouble just for a girl who doesn''t even like you?" As she bandaged Alex''s wound, Maggie scolded him through her tears, conflicted with her feelings. She couldn¡¯t help but wish Anna Rain had never shown up. Maybe things wouldn¡¯t have turned out this way, and perhaps she and Alex could have been together by now... After a night of rest, Alex finally woke up, subconsciously touching his injury, only to realize it had already been bandaged. He looked around warily, and when he lifted his head, he saw Maggie getting water from the river next to the garden. Relieved to see it was Maggie, he thought to himself that it made sense, since this place was known only to the two of them. After getting the clean water from the river, Maggie gently fed it to Alex. After a short break, they sat by the river, and Maggie asked: "Now, what do we do? You caused all this trouble over a woman... what should we do now?" At this point, Maggie no longer wanted to be angry with him, she simply sighed as she looked at Alex. Alex stared at the flowing river, his mind replaying the actions he had taken before to save Anna, and how he had been slapped by her twice. He couldn''t help but laugh at himself for being so foolish. "What should we do?... Well, of course, I¡¯ll just go all out and let it all burn down..." Alex stood up with a look of indifference and said: "Anyway, things have gone this far... They want to catch me for the scientist''s legacy, so I''ll show them the power they¡¯re after!" Maggie didn¡¯t understand what Alex was talking about. "What... are you saying?" Alex smiled faintly and raised his left hand, speaking to his smartwatch. This surprised Maggie. "Ray, I still have one more chance to amplify my power, right?" The smartwatch, Ray, took a long time to respond, as though it didn¡¯t want to reveal the truth. "...You shouldn¡¯t have shared the secret of your power... This isn¡¯t Dr. Kayan''s intention." Alex was not happy with this response and snapped: "Stop with the excuses, just answer me!" Reluctantly, Ray replied: "Yes, you still have one more chance to amplify your power..." Alex''s face lit up with determination as he prepared to take action, turning to leave. "No! You can¡¯t do this!" Maggie stepped in front of him, her arms outstretched, trying to stop him from going any further.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Don¡¯t stop me! I¡¯m doing this!" At this point, Alex was consumed by thoughts of revenge, and he ignored Maggie''s pleas. He walked away, leaving Maggie behind. She stood there, tears falling, softly muttering to herself: "Is Anna the only one you care about?... What about me?"
In Butte, Montana, the area has become a mess due to the base established by Nest #7. Dr. Kayang, bound and repeatedly tortured by the AI brain, Ares, from Nest #7, has endured for days. He¡¯s just a man, and eventually, he started to break down. In his unconscious state, Dr. Kayang had a dream. In it, Alex stood before him, utterly frustrated, shouting: "Doctor, you never told me your theory had flaws! I can¡¯t break through!" Dr. Kayang sighed and replied: "I¡¯m sorry... but I believe my theory is correct. If you truly set your mind to it, you¡¯ll be able to break through..." Dr. Kayang pleaded with him, but the Alex in his dream wasn¡¯t listening. He violently pushed Dr. Kayang away. "I don¡¯t want this! What kind of training is this? It¡¯s too painful... I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t be a superhero! I¡¯m done..." The dream version of Alex angrily turned his back and walked away. Dr. Kayang shouted, but Alex didn¡¯t turn around. This made Dr. Kayang begin to doubt his theory. Was it really possible to transform energy into a useful power to save humanity? This doubt opened a crack in his mind, allowing Ares to breach his mental defenses. The AI brain, Ares, effortlessly accessed Dr. Kayang¡¯s past memories and finally obtained the information it was after. "Alex..." Ares repeated the name, its meaning heavy and foreboding, as if a terrible omen.
Alex was hiding in the shadows, carefully observing the streets of Rockhill Valley, where numerous resistance forces, from both the local area and Terra Fortress, were searching for him. Everyone was out to capture him. Alex watched them, deep in thought. "I need to find a way to gather them all together... then take them down in one go..." Just then, a voice came from behind him. "You want to take them down... I can help." Alex didn¡¯t know who it was. Instinctively, he turned and used his air manipulation to wrap the stranger in an invisible grip. "...You? Leo... What do you want?" When Alex saw that it was Leo, he immediately questioned Leo¡¯s intentions. Leo, for the first time, seemed amazed at what Alex had done with his powers. "So this is the secret to your power... incredible... If I could do that..." Alex wasn¡¯t interested in hearing more. He showed his irritation, and Leo, noticing this, finally spoke up. "You want to teach that Leonardo a lesson, and I do too... Why not cooperate? What do you say?" Leo gave Alex a confident look, certain that they could accomplish something big together. Alex smiled knowingly in response...
"So that''s how it is... I never thought that after sending so many people to find that scientist, the young heir of the Hawke family would be the one to find him... Fate really plays its tricks..." The news about Alex had reached Commander Rayen¡¯s ears. Rayen sat pale on his hospital bed, listening as Leonardo and Deputy Commander Caitlin reported the situation. He sighed deeply. However, Anna, standing beside him, seemed distracted. Since being slapped by Maggie, Anna had been lost in thought, questioning whether she had been too harsh on Alex. Should she have been so cold-hearted? "What are you thinking? Are you thinking about that Hawke family heir?" her father Rayen asked. Anna coldly responded, but Rayen could tell something was on her mind. "Rayen, this guy Alex is hiding important technology from the scientist and even using it against our resistance... He¡¯s become a problem... He can¡¯t be left alive." Caitlin urgently advised Rayen this way, putting him in a tough spot, since the Hawke family¡¯s factories were vital to the survival of their refuge. "That might not be a good idea... If we do that, how will the Hawke family react? Maybe we could convince him to hand over the scientist¡¯s technology instead..." Rayen suggested in a softer tone. But Leonardo couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He stood up and said, unpleased: "I don¡¯t think this guy can be left alive. First, he possesses special abilities. Second, he seems to have some connection with Anna. I don¡¯t want to risk anything." Hearing this, Anna could no longer stay silent. She glared at Leonardo and turned to her father Rayen, saying: "Father, do you really think someone so narrow-minded is fit to be your successor? Let alone someone I should marry?" Under the pressure from the three of them, Rayen slammed his hand on the table, despite his weakened state. "Enough!" With that, Anna, Leonardo, and Caitlin all fell silent, creating an awkward atmosphere. At that moment, a nervous resistance soldier rushed into the medical room, panting and urgently reporting: "That person is back...!!" The four of them were confused. Rayen asked: "Who?" The soldier widened his eyes and said: "It¡¯s Leo...!" Chapter 31: Alex and Leos Agenda Chapter 31: Alex and Leo''s Agenda "Leo''s back!" A frantic rebel soldier rushed into Commander Raine''s sickroom, visibly disturbed. Leo had clearly caused quite an uproar the last time he tried to meet with Raine, as Leo, once regarded as a hero, now struck fear into everyone around him. "Raine, get out here!" As expected, Leo stormed into the rebel base, causing havoc and destroying equipment. The rebels, who normally respected him as their leader, dared not stop him. "You old fool! Letting Anna marry an outsider was bad enough... but now you''re giving up the commander position too? I won¡¯t stand for it!" Leo continued to trash the place while shouting, and Raine, still lying on his sickbed, could hear it all. Sigh... Raine sighed deeply. He had always trained Leo to be the next commander of Rockhill Valley, but unfortunately, the rebel forces and their equipment were far too weak to fend off the inevitable attack from the mechanical armies. Raine had been forced to make a deal with the Terra Bunker. "Push me out to talk to him..." Raine wanted Leo to understand his true situation, but Anna quickly intervened. "Dad, you don¡¯t need to explain everything right now. You¡¯re still not well enough for others to know, let me handle it."
Back at the camp, all of Rockhill Valley''s rebels had gathered as Leo continued to stir the pot: "Fellow rebels, doesn''t it make you angry? A random arrogant captain comes in and becomes your commander. Is that fair? The so-called ''elite'' rebels are replacing you. Aren¡¯t you going to stand up against this?" With Leo''s persuasive words, the rebels began to side with him, their anger rising as they shouted: "That''s right! It''s not fair! We don''t want Leonardo as commander! Get out of Rockhill Valley!" The situation quickly spiraled out of control, and soon, Leo had successfully rallied everyone to surround the headquarters, chanting slogans. "We don''t want Leonardo!" Leo''s reasons for doing this were unclear, but his tactics worked. He managed to force Leonardo out of the headquarters. Leonardo, with a serious look in his eyes, confronted Leo, trying to suppress his anger, asking, "Hmph... So you''re Leo Oester. Do you even know what you''re doing?" Leo walked forward without fear, locking eyes with the man who had taken everything from him. With a slight smile, he replied: "Of course, I know. I''ve been waiting for you to come out." Leonardo was taken aback, realizing Leo had set a trap. Just then, Leo pulled out a gun and fired it into the air.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Bang! The gunshot echoed throughout Rockhill Valley, shocking everyone. Anna and Caitlyn rushed out to see what was happening, followed by Chad, Joey, and even Max. And at the far end of Rockhill Valley, Maggie also heard the shot. Sigh... She sighed, as if knowing this was a sign that trouble was brewing. ___________________________________________________________________ Here is the translation into American English with modifications for clarity:
"What are you trying to do?!" Leonardo questioned Leo, but it was too late. A firework shot up into the sky like a meteor, rising above the streets of Rock Hill Valley and exploding in mid-air, catching the attention of everyone who came out to watch. Soon after, Alex appeared on the rooftop of a building in front of the resistance camp, holding a megaphone and shouting: "What a bunch of losers! You can''t even catch me, and you''re supposed to be the resistance from Terra Bunker? How are you going to handle the intelligent machines?" After shouting, Alex locked eyes with Leonardo from a distance and made a mocking thumbs-down gesture. Leonardo, although displeased, knew the most important thing now was to catch Alex and force him to hand over the scientist¡¯s artifacts. "Hmph... It''s a good thing you''re here. Listen up! Everyone, take him down!" With a single command, Leonardo blew a whistle, and all of the resistance soldiers patrolling outside rushed to the camp. Alex grinned as he saw the resistance rushing toward him, because this was exactly what he wanted. "Come on! Come get me!" Alex taunted them, quickly moving around the rooftop. All the Terra Bunker resistance soldiers followed, while the original Rock Hill Valley resistance stayed behind. Because of Leo¡¯s deliberate manipulation, the Rock Hill Valley soldiers chose to remain neutral and watch. "If you want to catch Alex, you can do it yourselves. We don''t take orders from Leonardo." Leo said this to Leonardo in front of everyone. While Leonardo was visibly upset, he didn''t have time to argue with Leo. He grabbed his gun and glared at Leo, saying: "Let''s see if I can get my hands on the scientist''s secrets... Can you still smile like that?" After that, Leonardo deliberately bumped into Leo''s shoulder as he walked off. Leo didn''t seem bothered by it, watching Leonardo leave and muttering: "Hmph... I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll get a chance."
Alex used his air manipulation abilities to leap over rooftop after rooftop, occasionally stopping to shout. "Idiots, come and catch me!" The elite resistance soldiers from Terra Bunker were running in circles, chasing Alex from one side to the other. Alex¡¯s goal was to lead them toward the final destination¡ª the square in front of the gates of Rock Hill Valley. Alex had a special "gift" prepared for them. Finally, Alex made one last leap and landed on top of a massive pile in the center of the square, covered by a black cloth. He stood confidently, surveying the surroundings as over three hundred Terra Bunker resistance soldiers surrounded him. Leonardo soon arrived, gun in hand, and stood in front of Alex, locking eyes with him. Chad and the others quickly arrived as well, but halfway there, Leo blocked their way. "Why won¡¯t you let us through?" Brenda asked, frustrated, while Leo responded coolly: "For your safety..." Gordon, skeptical, joked: "For our safety? Are you telling us Alex has some big surprise planned?" Chad, who had been silent, looked at Gordon with worry in his eyes. He glanced toward the square and gently scolded: "You idiots... Just stop!" Back at the square, the resistance soldiers had completely surrounded Alex. Leonardo stepped forward, gun in hand, his expression one of determination as he faced Alex. "Your little powers won''t do anything against all these well-armed soldiers. You¡¯d better give up and hand over what the scientist gave you..." Leonardo spoke with contempt, and indeed, Alex¡¯s basic air powers would be useless against these elite soldiers. However, Alex surprisingly smiled confidently and slowly said: "Are you sure... that the next move will be ineffective?" Chapter 32: The Final Warning from the Smartwatch Chapter 32: The Final Warning from the Smartwatch ¡°Are you sure¡­ the next move won¡¯t work?¡± Surrounded by over three hundred soldiers, Alex said this without fear, because he still had one final trump card. But Leonardo, confident in his superior numbers, wasn¡¯t worried about what Alex could still do. He pointed his gun at him and said, ¡°Hmph¡­ You can talk all you want now. Once I get my hands on the scientist''s things, I¡¯m sending you out of Rock Hill Valley... You¡¯ll be left to fend for yourself on the surface. Don¡¯t even think about seeing Anna again!¡± Hearing this, Alex scoffed and replied, ¡°Enough of your nonsense! If you want to catch me... come at me!¡± Alex taunted while making a gesture with his hand, motioning for Leonardo to come closer. Leonardo, now tired of talking, gave a quick signal for the troops to move. ¡°All of you, attack! Capture him!¡± At Leonardo''s command, the resistance troops surged forward like a terrifying wave, rushing toward Alex. ¡°Come on!¡± This was exactly what Alex wanted. A confident gleam appeared in his eyes as he lifted the black cloth at his feet. Beneath it lay a massive pile of hammers and blunt objects. In a flash, Alex leaped to an astonishing height, performing a flip in mid-air. As he descended in a blur of speed, he spoke into the smart watch on his left hand. ¡°Activate the boost.¡± The smart watch, Ray, responded, ¡°The invention of Qi was not meant to be used against humans, but to help them... If you insist on doing this, I must determine that you are no longer fit for this task. I won¡¯t assist you anymore.¡± But Alex, bent on revenge, ignored Ray¡¯s warning and replied, ¡°Stop talking. Execute it!¡± Disappointed, Ray ceased blocking him, and Alex¡¯s hand glowed with a brilliant blue light. The familiar vortex of Qi swirled around his raised hand. A smoky, whirlwind-like Qi storm began to form, tinged with blue sparks. This indicated that Alex had reached the first level of Qi, capable of real destructive force. ¡°Take this!!¡± With a triumphant smile, Alex swung his right hand down as he landed, unleashing his Qi into the pile of hammers and blunt objects. The next moment, a huge explosion erupted, sending shockwaves and scattering the hammers and blunt objects in all directions. The force was terrifying. The resistance elite had no time to react, and the shockwave and flying debris slammed into them relentlessly. None of them were spared. Especially Leonardo, who had underestimated Alex. He was the first to be struck by a hammer to the chest, instantly collapsing. ¡°Ugh!!¡± After the blast, the scene was a mess. Over three hundred resistance soldiers lay scattered, groaning in pain as broken bones and injuries left them writhing on the ground.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Alex¡¯s attack had truly shocked them, giving them a painful lesson. ¡°¡­Damn! I never expected this!¡± Leonardo struggled to get up, cursing through gritted teeth. He was the most injured, with four of his ribs broken. And Alex? He remained standing in his original position, slowly rising from the center. His hand was trembling¡ªhe had drained all of his Qi, much like the previous time with the boost. His body was close to collapsing, but he knew he couldn¡¯t fall. He had to keep going. He had to have the last laugh. ¡°Hey... How¡¯s that?! You so-called resistance are all bark and no bite... Hurry up and go back to whatever you call that place, Terra Base!¡± Even though Alex was drenched in sweat, pale, and on the verge of passing out, he couldn¡¯t resist taunting the fallen Leonardo. At that moment, Leonardo, in too much pain to respond, was unable to retort, but Anna had arrived. Anna surveyed the scene, unable to believe that Alex had such power to injure everyone so severely. She also felt that Alex had gone too far. The Resistance''s purpose was to protect the refuge and fight against the intelligent machines, and yet he had harmed them all. She couldn''t stand by and watch. "You... Alex... you''ve gone too far!" Anna said, trembling, as she pointed her gun at him, her feelings conflicted. Alex, with no regret, stared at Anna holding the gun and said, "Go ahead... just shoot me, and everything ends..." Anna looked at Alex''s eyes, filled with a sense of resignation, hesitating whether to pull the trigger. "Stop!" A voice broke Anna''s hesitation. It was Maggie, who had rushed over from the Moonlight Garden. Maggie stood in front of Alex, grabbing Anna''s gun and aiming it at her own head. With a calm expression, she said to Anna, "If you want to shoot him, shoot me first! Let''s see if you have the guts!" In that moment, Alex finally realized how important Maggie was to him. He had always thought Maggie liked to oppose him, but in this life-or-death situation, she was willing to risk everything for him. Anna, looking at Maggie, recalled the slap and the words Maggie had said earlier. "Anna Rain... Look at what you''ve done to Alex. If you don''t like him, why be so heartless? And everyone still thinks of you as a sacred, untouchable hero..." Anna immediately realized that it was her fault, that she had repeatedly hurt Alex. She had no right to condemn him now. Slowly, she lowered her gun, turned around in disappointment, and left. She felt that everything she had done was wrong, and she no longer had the right to intervene. At that moment, Vice Commander Caitlyn suddenly appeared. Though shocked by Alex''s power, she still pointed at Alex, standing behind Maggie, and shouted fiercely: "Someone, grab this monster!" Hearing her shout, Maggie was clearly displeased, but then a voice opposed her. "Grab him? How? Are you stronger than him?" It was Leo, who had arrived, and not just him¡ªChad, the losers, Max, and the other Resistance members from Rockhill Valley were right behind. Leo gave Alex a look and said to Caitlyn, "The Resistance in Terra Bunker isn''t as strong as you think. Protecting Rockhill Valley... leave it to us!" The other Resistance members from Rockhill Valley agreed with Leo. Caitlyn had no way to respond, and she was left standing off to the side, as if her position as vice commander was now only a formality. Chad and the others stepped forward to check on Alex''s condition, especially Max. Usually introverted, Max walked up to Alex and slapped him across the face. Alex was confused, but Max, without changing his expression, said: "This slap is for your recklessness, but you did well!" It was clear that Max didn''t like the elite Resistance members from Terra Bunker either, and now Alex had done what Max had wanted. Alex and Max shared a knowing look and smiled at each other, but soon, Alex''s smile faded. Instead, Chad also slapped Alex, and with a serious tone, he said: "No matter how much you resent them... you shouldn''t have done this. The Resistance is the only hope against the intelligent machines, and you injured them... sigh..." Chad turned away in disappointment, leaving Alex speechless, unsure of what to think. But at that moment, he still didn''t realize how much disaster his actions would cause... Chapter 33: Youre a Bastard Chapter 33: You''re a Bastard With the situation as it is, Leo finally addressed the group: "Since Captain Leonardo and the rebels from the Terra Bunker are severely injured... let''s have Commander Raine come forward to decide on the new leader of Rockhill Valley." At this moment, Caitlyn, who knew the truth, looked troubled. She alone was aware that Raine was gravely ill and was about to die. To avoid chaos in Rockhill Valley, she calmly said, "There''s no need. Raine is unwell. Leo, you should temporarily take over as the commander." At this point, Caitlyn didn''t want to say any more. She sighed and turned to leave. Upon hearing Caitlyn''s words, Leo was overjoyed. Becoming the commander had always been his goal, and this moment was thanks to Alex''s cooperation. He immediately walked over and shook Alex''s weary right hand. "Master Alex, we did it. Let''s celebrate tonight!"
That night in Seattle, the moon hung high above the silent ruins, casting an eerie glow over the land. A flock of migratory birds flew overhead, their panic clearly visible¡ªsomething was wrong. Sure enough, from the north, a massive "nest" silently approached, sending the birds fleeing. But that wasn''t the most terrifying part. In the eastern mountains, another mechanical city "nest" appeared. And as if that wasn''t enough, along the Olympia coast, yet another "nest" was heading southwest. It was clear that all of these were headed toward the Renier Hills to the west of Rockhill Valley¡ªthe location of the Rockhill Valley Refuge. The inevitable had arrived, and Rockhill Valley''s great disaster was about to unfold...
At the Rockhill Valley''s grand plaza, several feast tables were set up as the rebels celebrated Leo''s ascension to commander. Leo raised his cup and spoke to the group: "Thank you all for your support. I, Leo Auster, have finally become the commander. I swear I will protect Rockhill Valley with my life. Let the machines come!" Leo''s words fired up his supporters, who cheered and urged him to drink. Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Leo couldn''t help but glance toward the rebel camp''s headquarters, wondering why Commander Raine had not shown up. What illness was he dealing with? On one corner of the joyful plaza, a small group consisting of Joey, Brenda, Shelly, Susan, Gordon, Dylan, and John¡ªformer members of Team 6¡ªsat together. They kept to themselves, enjoying their own little party, not interacting much with the other rebels. But despite that, they were having a great time. However, they were waiting for someone¡ªthe one person who was the true star of the night: Alex. After some rest, Alex finally appeared. Everyone greeted him with the fervor of heroes, chanting his name. "Alex! Alex!"
Since stepping in front of the gun for Alex, Maggie had only become more certain of her feelings for him.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Now, standing in front of a mirror, she took a deep breath and spoke to her reflection: "If I''m willing to die for him, then there''s nothing to fear. Let''s do this." After giving herself this pep talk, Maggie decided to do something special: she was going to put on makeup. She wanted Alex to see a different side of her. "What do you think?" she asked, turning to look at Mike, who stood nearby. Mike, though downcast, forced a supportive smile. It was a difficult and cruel moment for Mike. Although he had secretly liked Maggie for a long time, he knew she had always had eyes only for Alex. He had accepted that he couldn¡¯t compare to Alex, and this was just something he had to live with.
Alex basked in the cheers of the crowd, enjoying the attention. Many of the women in the crowd found his heroic actions against the Terra Bunker resistance even more attractive, flocking to him with admiration and affection. After all, he was a rich young heir¡ªwhat woman wouldn''t be drawn to him? As he embraced the attention, he continued to drink heavily, holding women close, completely intoxicated. At that moment, Alex seemed no longer like the person he used to be. He was no longer the hero or the soldier. Instead, he acted like a true spoiled rich kid, ignoring his old comrades¡ªJoey, Sherry, and the others who had fought by his side in the past. They were left sitting off to the side while the celebration continued. "How did it end up like this? Alex... he''s completely ignoring us?" Sherry sighed, and John shook his head. "Well, he was always a rich kid... and now he''s a big hero. He probably doesn''t care about us anymore..." Joey, deeply disappointed in Alex, stood up and said resignedly to the group, "Let''s go... we¡¯re done here." And so, the group of old friends left, feeling abandoned, while Alex remained oblivious to their departure, wrapped up in his celebration. Among the women flocking to him was one who caught Alex''s attention¡ªher name was Judy. With her golden hair and a demeanor that reminded him somewhat of Anna, she immediately captivated him. "I heard you single-handedly took down the Terra Bunker resistance. That¡¯s so cool!" she praised, and Alex found her compliments refreshing. Despite her resemblance to Anna, Judy was warm and open, quite the contrast to Anna¡¯s reserved and distant attitude. Alex was intrigued and wanted to get to know her better. As they chatted and drank, Alex felt increasingly drawn to Judy and, in a drunken moment of boldness, made a proposition. "...Would you like to go somewhere special?" he asked. Judy smiled and replied, "Where?" Pointing upwards, Alex leaned closer to her and said, "Let''s go up and watch the stars... You know what the galaxy is, right? The tiny glowing dots in the sky, stars..." Before he could explain further, Judy eagerly agreed. "Sure, take me!" she said. Delighted, Alex took her hand and prepared to leave the square. But just as he turned to walk away, he saw someone standing right in front of him¡ªit was Maggie. "Maggie..." Alex couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. Maggie was wearing a stunning white dress, having taken off the glasses she¡¯d worn for so long. She had done her makeup in a fresh, clear style that perfectly complemented her short hair¡ªshe looked absolutely beautiful. Alex was shocked, but Maggie was even more surprised to see him holding hands with another woman. Her hopes of surprising Alex with her transformation and confessing her feelings were shattered, and she quickly withdrew, clutching the gift she had been planning to give him behind her back. "Who is this girl?" Maggie asked sternly, her eyes narrowing as she confronted Alex. But Alex, too drunk to notice Maggie¡¯s change, was still focused on his new company. He didn¡¯t understand her feelings. "This is my new girlfriend... Didn¡¯t you want me to forget about Anna? Well, I have. But hey, you look so pretty tonight¡ªare you going out with someone?" Alex said, completely oblivious to the fact that Maggie was standing before him, heartbroken. Maggie¡¯s face fell, and she struggled to speak, "Right... it¡¯s none of your business." She turned her face away, trying to hide her tears, but Alex didn¡¯t notice. He simply continued walking away with Judy, leaving Maggie standing there silently. As soon as they passed, Maggie couldn''t hold back her tears anymore. But someone couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. He immediately rushed over, punched Alex, and for the first time, shouted at him. "You¡¯re a jerk!" Chapter 34: The Last Days of Rockhill Valley Chapter 34: The Last Days of Rockhill Valley "You¡¯re a jerk!" The punch caught Alex off guard, and Judy, standing beside him, was confused. It was Mike who threw it. "Mike... what¡¯s going on?" Mike, usually quiet and non-confrontational, couldn¡¯t stand watching any longer. He¡¯d always swallowed his feelings, accepting that Maggie had feelings for Alex, but now, seeing Alex oblivious to Maggie¡¯s emotions, he was furious. "You have no idea..." Mike couldn¡¯t help but grab Alex, wanting to tell him how hard Maggie worked to look good for him, but Maggie immediately intervened. "Don¡¯t say anything! Let them go..." Mike furrowed his brow, not wanting to accept Maggie¡¯s decision but had no choice but to comply. With a heavy heart, Mike turned, saying nothing, and walked away. He felt like there was nothing more to say to his once-close friend Alex. Both Mike and the others were deeply disappointed in Alex, but Alex, drunk and oblivious, didn¡¯t give it a second thought. He continued sneaking off with Judy, opening the hidden door to the Rockhill Valley shelter and heading to the surface.
"Wow! Those are stars!" Judy, seeing the night sky for the first time, was mesmerized by the stars. Alex, eager to impress her, proudly declared, "Come on... I¡¯ll take you to a spot where you can see the galaxy clearly." Perhaps because of the alcohol, Alex didn¡¯t care about any potential dangers, forgetting that there might be mechanical drones nearby. Boldly, he took Judy¡¯s hand and led her southward. After some time, they arrived at an abandoned town and climbed onto a rooftop. "See? From here, you can see the entire galaxy in all its glory." Alex stretched out his arms in drunken pride, showing off the vast sky to Judy. Judy smiled sweetly, then, to Alex¡¯s surprise, kissed him passionately. After a long kiss, however, she realized something was off. She looked at Alex closely, only to find that he had fallen asleep mid-kiss. In this perfect moment, Alex fell asleep¡ªleaving Judy both frustrated and amused. "Alex..." She couldn¡¯t wake him, so she resigned herself to sitting by the side, staring at the beautiful galaxy for the first time in her life. Little did she know, something terrifying was about to happen...
"Buzz¡ªbuzz¡ªbuzz" The alarm sounded in Rockhill Valley, signaling that the mechanical mobile city, "The Nest," was approaching. "Quick, quick! Turn off all the power!" The people of Rockhill Valley woke in panic, quickly shutting down all electrical systems. The valley was plunged into darkness, everyone fearful but silent, hoping the "Nest" would just pass by like it had in the past without noticing them.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. On the surface, 500 meters above the shelter, the night sky was slowly being obscured. Three massive mobile cities¡ª"The Nests"¡ªmoved steadily toward Rockhill Valley. These cities, with their giant mechanical legs, finally arrived directly above the valley. The residents, feeling the ground shake, could sense the "Nests" drawing near, and they all prayed that the "Nests" wouldn¡¯t find them. But this time, they would be disappointed. The "Nests" were headed straight for Rockhill Valley. Each of the three "Nests" had large numbers on them: 3, 4, and 8, representing Medusa, Hades, and Michael respectively. The "Nests" settled into position, and the central one, Medusa (Nest #3), slowly opened its mechanical hatch. A massive drill, 60 meters wide, emerged from it with a deafening roar. The ground trembled as the drill began to rotate, sending dust flying everywhere as it started to burrow into the earth. The residents of Rockhill Valley could only watch in fear as the nightmare began.
"It''s over! It''s digging! It found us!" The huge tremors from the ceiling made everyone in Rockhill Valley realize the worst had finally arrived. The intelligent machines were about to launch their attack. At this point, there was no time to be scared of being discovered. All the power was quickly turned on, and the whole valley erupted into chaos. Leo immediately gathered the rebels to gear up, and even Max, usually the maintenance guy, hurried to help the fighters get suited up. Meanwhile, Commander Rayne, bedridden and near the end of his life, dragged his weakening body off the bed. He stared at the shaking ceiling and muttered, "It was bound to come... Let my dying body fight for Rockhill Valley until the end..." At the same time, Joey and the others¡ªonce part of Squad 6¡ªhastily put on their gear, overwhelmed by the terrifying atmosphere. They were shaking in fear as they dressed. Shirley trembled and said to Brenda, "What should we do, Brenda? I''m so scared... This is worse than the last mission on the surface..." At that moment, Training Officer Chad appeared before them. Even in the face of such a dire situation, he encouraged them, "Don¡¯t be afraid, kids. This is not the end. When those killing machines break in, we fight back with everything we¡¯ve got. If we can''t win, we¡¯ll take the civilians to the surface and hide. We will survive this!" Hearing Chad¡¯s words, everyone exchanged looks and gradually stopped being afraid. One by one, they slapped their hands together, rallying each other.
Since letting go of Alex, Anna had been silent and withdrawn, locking herself in her room. But when she realized that the machines were going to breach Rockhill Valley, she knew she couldn''t stay in despair. She quickly gathered herself, armed herself, and prepared to defend her home. Anna was determined as she walked out of her room, but the first thing she did was rush to the medical room to check on her sick father, Commander Rayne. To her shock, she found him standing, fully suited and armed with a gun. "Dad! What are you doing?" Rayne reached out with a trembling hand, gently touching Anna''s face as he said, "Even if I¡¯m about to die... I¡¯ll fight for Rockhill Valley until the very end... My dear daughter... go to the Terra Bunker and survive..." Rayne''s words confused Anna, but before she could think further, he sprayed something in her face. Anna immediately passed out, and Leonardo, though wounded, was there to catch her. Leonardo, despite his injuries, was still a strong young man. In this critical moment, he had to execute Plan B¡ªtaking Anna to the Terra Bunker immediately. Rayne spoke seriously to Leonardo, "I''m sorry you were hurt... I never expected this... I¡¯m just a father, wanting to make sure my daughter survives... The fall of Rockhill Valley is inevitable... Take her to the Terra Bunker, please..." Suddenly, several rebel soldiers from the Terra Bunker arrived to take Anna away, and Leonardo, with a complex expression, stepped forward to ask Rayne, "Truthfully, you never believed the rebels could stop the machines, did you? That¡¯s why you wanted me to take Anna from the start?" Rayne smiled softly and replied, "As the commander, I have to take responsibility for the people of Rockhill Valley... but my daughter is different. She doesn¡¯t have that responsibility. What matters now is that she survives. Take her, now..." Upon hearing this, Leonardo understood Rayne''s desperate decision as a father. He nodded and said, "Good luck, Rayne." Then, Leonardo quickly left with Anna. Rayne stared at the chaos outside, the trembling ceiling above him, his eyes still resolute despite his impending death, and said, "Bring it on, you machines!" Chapter 35: The Final Command Chapter 35: The Final Command Amid the chaos, a group of people sneaked through a small door of the Rockhill Valley, led by Leonardo. He and the rest of the Terra Bunker¡¯s resistance climbed the stairs leading to the surface. They planned to retreat back to the Terra Bunker before the "Nest" breached the shelter. They were able to do this because of their advanced cloaking gear, which allowed them to avoid detection. Since everyone had some injuries, they didn''t want to engage in a battle they couldn''t win. If they didn''t leave now, they wouldn''t be able to. So, they decided to retreat to the Terra Bunker. Unconscious Anna was carried among them. Leonardo¡¯s mission was clear: get her to safety at the Terra Bunker.
The number 3 "Nest" was now directly above Rockhill Valley, drilling through the ground with a massive drill. It had already begun its downward progression, and things were looking grim. As the tremors shook the entire valley, rocks and debris started falling from the ceiling, causing panic among the citizens. On the streets, chaos erupted. Children cried, and all the residents quickly packed their belongings, gathering their families to head to the large square in front of the main gates. The space was overcrowded and frantic. A portion of the crowd rushed to the resistance camp, shouting in fear: "What are we going to do now? The machines are about to break through! Where do we go? What about Anna? What happened to the Terra Bunker resistance?" Leo emerged from the camp, taking a megaphone and trying to calm the crowd: "Everyone, stay calm. We will protect you. Please, just remain calm." He tried his best to ease their anxiety, but in such a life-and-death moment, how could anyone stay calm? Not only was the crowd growing louder, but they were beginning to lose their sense of reason. One of the crowd shouted angrily at Leo: "Your resistance only has a little over two hundred people! And your equipment is outdated¡ªhow are you going to stop the machines from coming in? Stop lying to us!" Other voices in the crowd joined in, questioning: "What about Alex? The guy with the superpowers! Isn''t he supposed to be the hero? Why isn''t he here protecting us?" Leo was thinking the same thing. Alex was nowhere to be found, and this was precisely the moment when they needed him most. To make matters worse, a panicked resistance member ran up to Leo with urgent news: "Leonardo, the entire Terra Bunker resistance just left... and it looks like they took Anna with them!" The news sent shockwaves through the crowd. The Terra Bunker¡¯s resistance, with their advanced gear, was the last hope for holding back the machines. With them gone, their chances were slim. The crowd exploded in outrage. "We''re already so few, and that Hawk kid... He brings in elite forces from the Terra Bunker, and then abandons us? This is unforgivable!" With that, others began to shout in agreement, all turning their anger on Alex.
At the same time, outside the Hawk household, a crowd had gathered, furious with Brian and Camila.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "That Hawk kid is supposed to be so powerful, right? He single-handedly defeated the resistance forces! Why isn¡¯t he out here fighting the machines?!" Faced with the irrational mob, Brian could only helplessly explain that Alex was missing. The moment the crowd heard that Alex was nowhere to be found, their fury boiled over, and they began to tear apart the Hawk household in anger.
At this moment, Maggie returned to her room, heartbroken. When she heard the alarm, she realized the disaster that was about to hit Rock Hill Valley. Although she was shocked, unable to believe that such a day had come for Rock Hill Valley, she knew there was no time to waste on her tears. She wiped her eyes and rushed outside to help those in need. On the streets, people were frantically running for their lives. Maggie saw an elderly blind woman sitting in a wheelchair, ignored by everyone. She walked up to the woman and asked: "Grandma, where are your family members? Why isn''t anyone helping you escape?" The old woman cried, "I don''t have any family... I can only wait for the machines to come and take me... sigh..." Seeing the woman¡¯s distress, Maggie couldn''t just leave her there. Without hesitation, she began pushing the woman¡¯s wheelchair, reassuring her, "Don¡¯t worry, Grandma, I¡¯ll take you to safety." The elderly woman was incredibly grateful, constantly thanking Maggie. But at that moment, Maggie wasn¡¯t sure where to take her. She had no clear plan.
At the resistance camp in Rock Hill Valley, Leo was struggling to calm the panicking crowd. "What kind of hero is Leo? He has no idea where to take us. Is he going to let us fend for ourselves? The resistance is useless!" As more people joined in with angry shouting, Leo felt overwhelmed. He had always thought that being the commander of the resistance meant having enough strength to fight and kill enemies, but now, with the machines about to break in, he didn¡¯t know how to save these 20,000 people. He began to feel guilty, realizing that he couldn¡¯t think of any way to save them. Suddenly, a familiar voice came through a loudspeaker. "Residents of Rock Hill Valley, don¡¯t be afraid, please remain calm. The resistance will get you all out safely." Leo and everyone else turned toward the command center, where Commander Raine stood, his gaze determined as he spoke into the microphone. Seeing Raine, the crowd began to calm down, but they quickly noticed something was wrong. Raine looked extremely gaunt, his complexion was poor, but he forced himself to keep going, hiding how close to death he truly was. "Raine..." Leo realized then that Raine had been absent because he was gravely ill. He hadn¡¯t realized how serious it was. Raine, his hands trembling, walked toward the crowd. Leo noticed Raine was pushing himself to the limit, clearly on the brink of collapse. "I..." Before Leo could speak, Raine patted his shoulder and addressed the crowd. "I know you¡¯re all worried right now. It¡¯s my fault for not teaching Leo how to lead you all. Please, give him another chance." Raine stepped in to defend Leo, and for the first time, Leo understood why Raine had arranged for Anna to marry Leonardo. It wasn¡¯t because he was favoring him, but because Leo wasn¡¯t ready to be commander yet. Leo felt humiliated, knowing he wasn¡¯t qualified. After Raine reassured the crowd, they began moving toward the square. Only Leo and Raine remained. Leo, feeling regretful, said to Raine: "I¡¯m sorry... I always thought you were ignoring me and giving the command to someone else... I didn¡¯t realize you were so sick... I¡¯m not fit to be a leader. It¡¯s embarrassing that everyone saw me as some kind of hero." Raine placed a trembling hand on Leo¡¯s shoulder and said: "Kid... now isn¡¯t the time for that. As resistance fighters, we have to fight till the end... we¡¯ll do everything we can to get these civilians out of here. That¡¯s all I can do now..." Leo held back his tears and nodded. "Then let¡¯s go out with a bang."
As the massive drill of the "Hive" had already reached half of its depth, time was running out for Rock Hill Valley. Raine gathered all the members of the resistance in front of the camp for one last meeting. This included both the old and new resistance fighters, and Chad, along with Joey and the other misfits, had also arrived, completing the full roster of the Rock Hill Valley resistance. Despite feeling his strength waning, Raine stood tall in front of everyone, his eyes still sharp. He addressed the assembled resistance fighters: "Everyone who joined the resistance did so to protect your families and ensure that we could survive in this broken world. Maybe we will fail... but if we can give our families a chance at survival, then our sacrifice will be worth it! This is the last battle for Rock Hill Valley, and it depends on all of you!" Raine¡¯s words moved everyone to tears, and they applauded him. And so, the final meeting of the Rock Hill Valley resistance began... Chapter 36: The Massacre Chapter 36: The Massacre The ceiling of Rockhill Valley continued to tremble and collapse as the drill neared. It was clear that the drill would soon break through, and the residents were growing increasingly panicked. Meanwhile, the rebels were busy in their camp, quickly moving their stored weapons, especially explosives and smoke grenades, and collecting all the fireworks from around Rockhill Valley. They seemed to have a plan. The rebels distributed guns to the civilians and guided some of the people into the tunnels that led to the surface, preparing for what was to come. Over with Chad and the others, they worked together to help Dylan and John create small drones as quickly as possible. Leo wasn¡¯t idle either. He led a group in setting up a massive fireworks display, arranging them in a large formation. They also packed the explosives into individual firecracker-like devices. This had been Ryan¡¯s idea. Ryan had told them during the strategy meeting: "Disruption is our only chance. If we can hold off the machines for just a bit, more civilians can escape." Everyone in the rebel group was working together toward that goal. However, just then, a panting rebel rushed up to Leo with bad news: "Sorry... We''ve searched all over Rockhill Valley... There¡¯s no sign of Alex." Leo had been searching for Alex since earlier, and hearing this news made him feel despair, though he didn¡¯t blame Alex. After all, it had been his decision to use Alex to drive Leonardo away, and that was something Alex had brought upon himself. "Ugh... What do we do now?" Leo sighed, hanging his head. Ryan, seeing Leo''s dejection, walked up and patted his shoulder. "Kid, you¡¯ll be in charge now," he said calmly. Leo, feeling unworthy, tried to decline. "But you¡¯re the commander of Rockhill Valley... I can¡¯t take that responsibility... I¡¯ve made too many mistakes..." Leo hung his head, feeling ashamed and lacking confidence. But Ryan remained patient, saying to Leo: "Being a commander doesn¡¯t mean you won¡¯t make mistakes. I¡¯ve made plenty myself... Like not passing the command over to our hero, Leo Oester. Even after making so many mistakes, what matters is learning from them and moving forward... That¡¯s the path of a leader." Ryan¡¯s words seemed to snap Leo out of his despair. He straightened up and, with a pale-faced Ryan leaning on him, looked at the ceiling that was about to collapse, saying: "Then let this last time be without regret."
Maggie, pushing the elderly woman, reached the overcrowded shelter''s entrance. Though Alex had broken her heart, she still couldn¡¯t stop worrying about him. She crouched down to speak to the elderly woman: "Grandma, I¡¯m going to find my friend. Stay here, okay?" The elderly woman nervously clutched Maggie¡¯s hand, afraid of being left behind. Maggie, unsure of how to comfort her, hesitated. "Maggie!" Just then, a voice called out. It was Max. He had abandoned his post to help the rebels and was searching for Maggie.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "Max, what are you doing here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be supporting the rebels?" Maggie asked in confusion, but Max, unusually determined, said: "At a time like this, you¡¯re the one who matters most!" Hearing this, Maggie smiled with gratitude. At least, in that moment, she still had a good friend by her side.
However, the moment of comfort quickly passed. Finally, the ceiling of Rockhill Valley began to crack under the tremors. The crack grew larger and larger, until the entire ceiling caved in, revealing a massive drill emerging from the hole. All the rebels took their positions, and the civilians crouched along the streets, with some already waiting in the tunnels leading to the surface. Even though the ceiling had been breached, they remained silent. As the drill quickly withdrew, the underground shelter of Rockhill Valley was fully opened. The terrifying moment was about to begin. At that moment, the 3rd and 4th nests opened their doors, unleashing countless mechanical spiders that flooded into the large hole, rapidly advancing toward Rockhill Valley. The terrifying frequency emitted by the spiders echoed from the hole, signaling their arrival. "They¡¯re here! Light the fireworks!" The rebels positioned themselves at the fireworks display, aiming their guns at the hole in the ceiling, and ignited the fireworks. The mechanical spiders reached the valley and poured out of the hole. The fireworks shot up, immediately disrupting the spiders¡¯ sensors. "Open fire!" The rebels and armed civilians began shooting at the mechanical spiders and igniting smoke grenades. The smoke rose and filled the air, eventually covering the entire surface. This forced the nests to send all their mechanical spiders into the hole, achieving their intended goal. "Let¡¯s go! Hurry!" The rebels who were already in the tunnels leading to the surface saw the opportunity and quickly opened the entrance, guiding the civilians to safety. Covered by smoke, they headed south to escape. Below, in Rockhill Valley, chaos reigned. The mechanical spiders kept pouring in, but the rebels fought valiantly, firing their guns and throwing firecrackers to disrupt the machines. Even the drones built by Holden and John helped to interfere with the spiders, and for a time, it worked. Leo showed his true heroism, destroying dozens of mechanical spiders and protecting Ryan from their attacks. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. However, Rockhill Valley was just a small shelter with limited resources, unlike the heavily equipped Terra Bunker. Their limits were quickly reached. With the endless waves of mechanical spiders pouring in, their ammunition began to run low. The rebels could only throw firecrackers to slow them down. Worse, the tunnel to the surface couldn¡¯t evacuate the civilians quickly enough, and the crowd in the square began to panic and scatter. Finally, the Medusa from the 3rd nest sent out biological robots to quickly suppress Rockhill Valley. These cold-blooded, skeletal-like robots descended into the valley and ruthlessly gunned down civilians and rebels alike, causing massive casualties in an instant. "Damn it!" Leo, witnessing the massacre, wanted to take revenge but realized that his bullets couldn¡¯t penetrate the robots¡¯ armor. At that moment, the rebels were clearly at a disadvantage. The bio-robots pushed forward mercilessly, mowing down anyone in their path. People fell one after another, and the rebels were quickly overwhelmed. "What do we do? Should we keep fighting?" In the midst of the chaos, Joey and the others nervously asked Chad, who saw that things were lost. He grabbed them and said: "It looks like we can¡¯t hold them off anymore. Go find your families and escape!" Hearing Chad¡¯s words, they could only reluctantly say their goodbyes and rush off to find their families.
At Alex¡¯s home, his parents, Brian and Camilla, hadn¡¯t evacuated with the crowd. They couldn¡¯t let go of everything in Rockhill Valley, and they had resigned themselves to dying there. They embraced each other as the bio-robot stood before them. Brian, looking at the robot calmly, said sarcastically: "You know, you machines have no manners... You don¡¯t even turn away when you see a couple embracing. No wonder you¡¯re called heartless... I¡¯d love to see the day when humans wipe you out." The bio-robot didn¡¯t respond to Brian¡¯s words. It raised its machine gun and was about to end their lives. Brian wasn¡¯t afraid. He simply placed a letter on the table, saying to his wife Camilla: "To have been able to marry you in this end-of-world time... I have no regrets. The future of this world is now in our son¡¯s hands." Camilla, deeply moved by his words, smiled and kissed him. And as the bio-robot fired, the two fell together, ending their lives. When the robot left, the only thing remaining was the letter, titled "To My Dearest Son," lying alone on the table, waiting for someone to read... Alex... will you wake up soon...? Chapter 37: Shock Chapter 37: Shock As the smoke grenades ran out and the mist began to dissipate, 4th Nest, Hades, deployed its bio-mechanical robots to capture those who had made it to the surface. Screams filled the air, and things weren''t any better than below ground. Meanwhile, the underground refuge of Rockhill Valley was shrouded in smoke. With the bio-mechanical robots forcing their way through, casualties piled up, and the remaining resistance fighters were few in number. Leo, though still managing to protect the gravely ill Rain, could tell his companion had reached his limit. Rain, despite Leo''s efforts to help him lift his weapon, was too weak to continue. "Commander, how are you holding up? No...!" Leo steadied Rain, but he could see the person who had raised him like a father, his face pale and trembling, unable to hold on any longer. Tears started to well up in Leo¡¯s eyes. Although Rain knew his end was near, he mustered the strength to speak, gripping Leo¡¯s hand tightly. "...It''s okay... death comes to us all... I still have one last plan... help me to the Resistance Headquarters..." Leo, confused but determined, helped him. Upon reaching the headquarters, Leo was shocked to find a powerful bomb in one corner of the room. "If this detonates, it could wipe out the bio-mechanical robots," Rain said, his voice shaky. "Leave the rest to me... go, quickly," Rain ordered. Leo didn¡¯t want to leave, but tears welled up as he held Rain tightly. Rain gently pushed Leo¡¯s hand away. "Survive, and there¡¯s still hope... You¡¯re young... in time, you¡¯ll find a way to defeat these machines... go now!" With a heavy heart, Leo stepped back, saluting Rain in the most honorable way he could. "Thank you for everything... I''ll remember it all my life." Rain gave him one final smile. "Good luck..."
Outside the chaotic refuge, the streets were littered with bodies, casualties from the ruthless sweep of the bio-mechanical robots. Fortunately, Max had managed to push the elderly woman and Maggie to safety, but with nowhere to go, they could only hide in the streets, frantically dodging the robots. But their luck ran out. The bio-mechanical robots tracked them down and surrounded the trio. "Damn it! I¡¯ll fight you to the end!" Max shouted, as he grabbed a gun and opened fire. However, the thick armor of the robots made his attacks useless. One robot advanced, slamming Max hard, sending him crashing into a cement wall, where he immediately began to cough up blood, severely wounded. Now, it was just Maggie and the elderly woman facing the cold-hearted killing machines. As the robots advanced, guns drawn, Maggie stood firm, shielding the elderly woman. "Don¡¯t be afraid, Granny... I¡¯ll protect you..." Maggie said, her voice steady in the face of certain death. Without fear, Maggie closed her eyes, ready to embrace whatever fate had in store.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Suddenly, the sweater Maggie had intended to give Alex slipped from her hands. The large letters on it ¡ª "For Alex Hawk" ¡ª caught the attention of the bio-mechanical robot. For some unknown reason, the robot paused. It then began repeating the name, "Alex..." It turned out, the real target of the operation was Alex. Receiving new orders, the robot changed its course. Instead of killing Maggie, it knocked her unconscious, scooped her up, and prepared to take her away. "Damned machines... give me back Maggie...!!" Max, heavily injured, saw the bio-mechanical robots trying to take Maggie away. Without hesitation, he lunged at them, grabbing the robot¡¯s leg, desperately trying to stop it from leaving with her¡ªthis was all he could do. The bio-mechanical robot kicked Max away with great force, then coldly spoke: "To save this woman, bring that one called Alex Hawke to Yubet." With that, the robot leaped into the air, swiftly carrying Maggie back to the nest, leaving Max behind, screaming in agony: "Maggie!... Give her back!...!"
In the chaos and despair, a soft melody began playing through the air in Rock Hill Valley, like an old song. The bio-mechanical robots followed the sound, arriving at the rebel headquarters. It was the last effort of Rayne, who, using his remaining strength, had broadcasted the music through a loudspeaker. At this point, there were probably no other survivors in the valley, only Rayne, a dying man. As the robots gathered around the headquarters, Rayne, holding a detonator, waited for them. The cold-blooded robots raised their weapons toward the dying Rayne, but he wasn¡¯t afraid. Rayne thought back on his life, watching the world go from beauty to artificial intelligence awakening, then to humans forced underground, and eventually becoming the commander of the rebellion. He smiled because he didn¡¯t know what the future would bring, and he wouldn¡¯t be there to see it. His final thoughts were of his daughter, Anna. He smiled at the machines before him and said: "Goodbye... to this world... my daughter... and to you cold-blooded machines..." Rayne then thought about how Alex had received the scientist¡¯s power-enhancing serum and muttered: "One day... humanity will create a new world and return to the surface... I believe that." With that, Rayne pressed the detonator. A massive explosion erupted, obliterating the robots and consuming half of Rock Hill Valley. Streets were engulfed in flames, and debris flew everywhere. The fate of Rock Hill Valley ended in the blaze.
At dawn, the first light of day shone on Alex¡¯s face as he finally woke up. He struggled to sit up, his head pounding from a hangover, and noticed Judy had slept beside him all night. Judy, now awake, smiled sweetly and moved to kiss Alex, but suddenly let out a scream, her face paling in shock. Curious, Alex turned to see what had caused her alarm, and was immediately stunned... He saw a huge column of thick smoke rising from the direction of Rock Hill Valley. "What¡¯s happening?!" Alex¡¯s eyes widened as he realized something was terribly wrong. Without hesitation, he grabbed Judy and sprinted toward the valley.
When Alex and Judy reached the top of Rock Hill Valley, the three "nests" had already left. All that remained was a 70-meter-wide crater, with thick smoke rising from it. A bad feeling surged in Alex¡¯s heart. "What...?" Judy covered her face, unable to believe what she was seeing. She felt deep down that something terrible had happened. They descended into the valley, and as they opened the tunnel to the surface, they found it filled with the bodies of the fallen. Alex felt a heavy weight in his chest, while Judy couldn¡¯t hold back her tears, sobbing uncontrollably. "They... they¡¯re all dead?!" Alex couldn¡¯t bear to imagine what had happened. Thinking of his parents, Maggie, and Max, he sped up, driven by urgency. When Alex finally pushed open the door to his home, he froze in shock. The house, once the most luxurious in Rock Hill Valley, was now a wreck, a battlefield of destruction. Alex picked up a mechanical part from the ground. He recognized it as coming from one of the mechanical spiders, and he could already guess what had transpired. He was struck with a deep sense of shock and emotion, not knowing what to say. All he could think about was rushing to find his parents. But when he entered his home, the worst awaited. He found his father, Bryan, and mother, Camilla, lying in pools of blood, both shot dead. He couldn¡¯t process it. He broke down in uncontrollable tears, crying out in anguish. Alex never imagined things would turn out like this. He had only been gone for a night, and yet his home was destroyed, and his family was gone. He noticed an envelope lying nearby. He reached for it, but just then, he heard a voice calling for help¡ªa woman¡¯s voice, gasping as though she had no strength left: "...Help! Somebody, please!..." Chapter 38: Starting Over Chapter 38: Starting Over "Help... someone, please!" In the dead silence of Rockhill Valley, a cry for help came from an elderly woman, pulling Alex''s attention away from the letter in his hands. He rushed toward the sound. When Alex followed the voice down the street, he found an elderly blind woman sitting in a wheelchair, frantically calling for help. He approached and asked, "Ma''am, what happened?" The woman trembled as she pointed to a pile of stones nearby. "Someone''s trapped under there... help them!" Alex looked and saw that it was none other than his close friend, Max, pinned beneath a large rock. Panic surged through him as he immediately knelt by Max and called out to him. "Max! Are you alright? What happened?" Max weakly extended one hand, barely able to speak. "I''m... I''m not going to make it... Maggie... Maggie''s been taken... they took her to Byut... you have to go save her..." Hearing Maggie''s name, Alex''s heart raced with anxiety, but right now, he had to save Max. With all his strength, Alex tried to move the massive stone, but it wouldn''t budge. The rock was far too large for him to move on his own. "Damn it! What do I do? What do I do?" Seeing Max weakening by the second, Alex desperately realized he hadn''t been using his energy. "Energy! I forgot to use my energy!" Sweat pouring down his face, Alex focused and tried to move the stone using his energy. But his beginner-level energy was far too weak, and despite his best efforts¡ªhis body growing weaker and blood leaking from his eyes¡ªthe rock stayed in place. Finally, Max''s hand fell, and in that moment, he passed away. Watching his friend die before his eyes, Alex couldn''t accept it. All he could do was cry out in anguish and pound the ground in frustration. "Why, Alex?! Why couldn''t you break through your limits?! If you¡¯d only pushed yourself to the first level of energy... you could''ve moved the stone! You could¡¯ve saved everyone! Damn it!" Alex beat himself mercilessly, as if punishing himself for his failure, overwhelmed with guilt and pain.
That evening, Alex buried his parents¡¯ bodies in the glow-in-the-dark garden at the bottom of Rockhill Valley. His eyes were empty as he folded a paper boat and placed it into the waterfall, watching it drift downstream, as if taking away his past self. Clutching a sweater tightly, Alex silently bid farewell to his parents'' graves. "Goodbye, Mom, Dad. I¡¯m leaving..."
The next day, Alex pushed the elderly woman in her wheelchair, with Judy by his side, out of the now ruined Rockhill Valley. They made their way to a large tree on the surface. He turned to Judy and said, "We should part ways here." Judy was taken aback, not understanding, as just the day before they were together, and she had no idea where they were heading next.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "You want me to leave? Out here on the surface, we''ll be hunted by the machines! Even if we''re not killed, I heard they''ll use us as bio-batteries... No way! I¡¯m sticking with you!" Sighing, Alex replied, "I got drunk last night, and that¡¯s why this happened. I think you¡¯re a great person, but I¡¯m not worthy of being with you. The road ahead, I have to walk it alone. I can¡¯t risk your safety... or the old woman¡¯s. Go to the Terra Bunker." Judy looked at him thoughtfully, her eyes deep with understanding. After a moment, she nodded without further argument, "Alright... I won¡¯t pressure you. I''ll take the old woman to the Terra Bunker, but you promise me you¡¯ll come find me there!" Alex gave a reluctant nod. And so, he watched Judy and the elderly woman leave. Deep down, he knew what he had to do next.
After the three mechanical cities, "Nests," left Rockhill Valley, they made their way to Ubit. Nest No. 3, Medusa, sent a biomechanical human holding the unconscious Maggie into the core of Nest No. 7, Ares, and eventually imprisoned Maggie near Dr. Gaya¡¯s location. This capture mission wasn¡¯t deemed successful, and Ares, the intelligent brain of Nest No. 7, questioned Medusa, Hades, and Michael, the three intelligent brains: "Why didn¡¯t you capture Alex?" Medusa coldly replied, "I don¡¯t know. We didn¡¯t find Alex in that shelter. We killed everyone else, and we brought this human back, who might be related to Alex." As an intelligent brain of the mechanical city, Ares was unsure whether to reprimand the three for their incompetence, but it was clear that Michael, from Nest No. 8, had never sent any mechanical units to assist with the mission. Ares questioned Michael: "Why didn¡¯t you do anything?" Michael, who disliked hunting humans, could only make an excuse: "I thought Nests 3 and 4 were more than enough to handle these humans. I figured I could just watch from the sidelines..." Ares was displeased with Michael''s passive attitude. As an intelligent machine, Michael¡¯s lack of concern for humans irritated Ares. It sternly warned Michael: "If you, as an intelligent machine, don¡¯t take this seriously, then we don¡¯t need you. We can have Gabriel replace you! You know it¡¯s that easy¡ªthink carefully!" Despite the harsh warning, Michael remained silent, offering no response. He didn¡¯t want to be like the other cold, methodical intelligent brains. He just wanted to be himself, so without another word, he set off alone toward the north, deciding to distance himself from these obedient machines controlled by Gabriel. He wanted to follow his own path.
After parting ways with Judy, Alex found himself in a forest, where snow began to fall from the sky. Sitting by the campfire, he stared at a sweater for a long time. This sweater was the one Maggie had made for him after spending a long time working on it. The day he watched Max die, the old woman had tried to cover him with the sweater to comfort him. That¡¯s when he noticed the name stitched into the fabric. "Alex Hawk" Looking at the name, memories with Maggie flashed through his mind. He finally realized that Maggie had always been by his side because she liked him. "Fool... Why didn¡¯t you tell me?" At this moment, Alex deeply regretted not realizing it sooner, but it was too late to change anything. He tightly gripped the sweater. The only thing he could do now was to get stronger and save Maggie.
The next day, Alex prepared to attempt calling the smartwatch, Ray, but this time, the smartwatch did not respond. "Ray... can you talk to me?... Please..." No matter how much Alex begged, the smartwatch on his left wrist remained dim, unresponsive, as if it were just an ordinary watch. After calling out multiple times with no response, Alex sank into despair and sat down. "Sigh... As expected..." He had hoped for a miracle, thinking Ray might just be playing games, not actually ignoring him. He knew Ray had warned him before, and it was his own stubbornness that caused Ray to lose faith in him. There was no excuse now. It was too late, and Alex would have to rely on himself. Even though the road ahead seemed incredibly difficult, Alex tried to shake off his disappointment. He stood up and, with a determined look, forced himself to think positively: "Alright... Alex, from now on, it¡¯s just you. No more complaints... No more giving up!" Chapter 39: The Transformation of Qi Chapter 39: The Transformation of Qi "Alright... Alex, Alex... from now on, you can only rely on yourself. No more whining about the pain... no giving up!" And so, Alex relentlessly practiced Qi day and night, pushing himself toward a breakthrough. But every shift in his Qi felt like his bones were cracking, his body seizing with pain, until he collapsed, passing out from the agony, failing time after time. During this excruciating period of training, he finally opened the letter his father had written to him before his death: "My son, by the time you read this letter, your mother and I are probably already gone. I don''t know where you are, but that''s probably for the best¡ªat least you''re alive. However, when I learned that you possessed special powers but kept losing yourself and making mistakes, I became very worried. I wanted to tell you so many things, but there was no more time. All I can give you are the words I told you that day¡ª''Protect.'' When you learn to protect others, you''ll overcome pain. You''ll gain a different kind of strength, one that can help you face challenges and become a better person. I believe in you, because you''re my son... Goodbye." Alex read his father''s words over and over, each time silently shedding tears. They encouraged him through the pain as he writhed on the ground, struggling. He even endured the agony with a sense of atonement, constantly muttering to himself: "It''s okay if it hurts more... bring it on! Is this all you''ve got...? Alex, you pathetic fool, how are you going to save Maggie?" Facing the pain, time dragged on through this painful training. Day after day, Alex pushed forward.
Days passed in this relentless cycle, and after countless attempts, Alex''s right hand trembled as he finally saw his Qi swirling in the air. Though his body still throbbed with pain, this glimpse of progress filled him with hope. But just as he thought he couldn''t bear any more, his pain grew unbearable. His teeth gritted as he told himself: "No... stay strong... Alex! Come on!" Even though Alex desperately tried to hold on, he could feel himself losing consciousness. His knees buckled, and he was about to fall. Suddenly, a voice appeared, guiding him: "Imagine your body as a starry sky, containing everything¡ªevery pain, every joy, and merging them together. Accept it all..." Alex immediately followed the voice''s instructions. He visualized his body as a galaxy, embracing every memory, whether good, bad, joyful, sad, or regretful, and he merged them into his inner galaxy. He accepted everything, gathering it into his hands. Miraculously, his Qi began to stabilize, transforming into a thick, smoky mass. The pain subsided, and his Qi flowed smoothly, as if a barrier had been broken. Minutes passed, and Alex raised his right hand. The thick smoke, like a small galaxy, spun steadily in his palm, occasionally sparking with blue flames. This was his first level of offensive Qi.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Alex had succeeded. He had transformed his Qi, once only useful for play, into a force with destructive power. At that moment, he felt gratitude for the voice that had guided him. He knew who it was¡ªRay, the smart watch. "...You finally listened to me..." Alex raised his left hand, watching the smart watch glow once again, feeling a surge of emotion. Ray, as it glowed with blue light, responded: "I was disappointed in you, but my programming told me that humans make mistakes. You just have to wait for them. So, I''ve been waiting for you." Hearing this, Alex''s eyes welled up. He was overwhelmed with emotions, unsure of what to say. Ray continued: "Now that you¡¯ve grasped the technique, the past is behind us. From now on, I¡¯ll guide you in mastering the true use of Qi." Alex, hearing these words, smiled through his tears. His confidence grew, and he clenched his fist, ready to continue his training. "Let''s do this!"
As dawn broke, Alex''s determined gaze was ready for intense training. Following the guidance of his smartwatch, Ray, he began running down the abandoned road. His energy was different now; he had to learn to use his power in a new way. With steady steps, Alex ran through the empty streets. "Let''s begin. Take a deep breath and focus your energy into your legs." Following Ray''s instructions, Alex imagined drawing the energy into his legs. As his legs filled with power, his strides instantly multiplied, and his speed skyrocketed, comparable to that of a cheetah. After getting used to this incredible speed, he tried to leap, and he jumped higher and farther than before, over double the distance. Next, the training took him to a pile of rocks. Alex activated his energy, and the smoke-like energy effortlessly lifted a large rock into the air, a stark difference from before. "Now, try transforming your energy into different forms." With Ray''s further guidance, the smoke-like energy transformed into a fist for attacking, a shield for defense, and even cleaved through rock and soil. As the large rock split before Alex''s eyes, sweat poured down his face, but hope was now within reach. His training was complete. Mastering his energy, Alex quickly geared up. With food and water packed, he followed the trail of destruction left by the "Nests" heading west, embarking on his journey to save Maggie. "Maggie, I''m coming to save you!"
Maggie had been trapped in a cage made of iron bars for days. She lay there, drifting in and out of consciousness. The "Nest" had injected her with nutrients to keep her alive, intending to use her to lure Alex. In her daze, Maggie dreamt of Alex. In the dream, she and Anna stood on either side of Alex, and it seemed Alex was making a choice. Alex let go of Anna''s hand and moved toward Maggie, making her heart leap with joy. But then, to her dismay, Alex reached out to a figure who suddenly appeared¡ªJudy. Maggie, in the dream, hid her face in sadness. When she looked up again, both Anna and Judy were gone. Only Alex remained, smiling at her and extending his hand, saying: "Aren¡¯t you the one who¡¯s been waiting for me for so long?" At that moment, Maggie finally woke up. She looked at her arm, covered in needle marks, and then at the mechanical factory outside her cage. She couldn¡¯t believe she was inside the "Nest," the mechanical city, hanging high on the wall. Just as she was panicking, a voice from the other side spoke: "Girl... don''t worry, you''re safe for now." Maggie looked closely and saw someone else bound to the wall about 10 meters away. "Who... who are you?" she asked cautiously. The bound person responded: "My name is Khyenpo Rinpoche... I¡¯m a scientist." Maggie instantly realized who he was. She pointed at him, asking: "You... you¡¯re the scientist everyone¡¯s been searching for... You¡¯re still alive?!" Chapter 40: The Intelligent Brain, Aries Chapter 40: The Intelligent Brain, Aries In the vast, desolate mountain range, deep craters marked the path left by the massive mechanical city, the "Nest," and the tracks of its enormous mechanical insect legs that had swept across the land with destructive force. Amidst these tracks, a solitary figure appeared: Alex. In his quest to rescue Maggie, Alex had been traveling relentlessly day and night. With his newfound superhuman speed, far beyond what any ordinary person could achieve, he followed the destruction left by the "Nest," climbing peaks, leaping over hills, and crossing barren lands. Finally, he reached his destination¡ª Butte, Montana. "Finally, I''m here..." Alex had found the place where Maggie was held captive. In the distance, he could see the thick haze of smoke rising from the mechanical factory, spewing out toxic fumes. Above the factory, the massive "Nest" city loomed ominously. He could also see that the factory was actively producing bio-mechanical soldiers, assembling them in large numbers outside. The sight was overwhelming. "This won''t be an easy frontal assault... There are too many of them..." Alex retreated to a hill behind the factory, seeking advice from his smartwatch. "It looks like we can¡¯t just charge in from the front... Do you have another plan?" The smartwatch, Ray, flickered rapidly, as though calculating something. After a moment, Ray spoke. "I''ve hacked into the ''Nest'' system... I¡¯ve pinpointed a route for you to sneak in. Follow my instructions!"
An hour later, Alex was at the back of the factory. He had taken a detour, using his energy to leap high over the walls and silently slipped into the factory¡¯s interior. Looking around, Alex was stunned. The interior was filled with high-tech machinery and automated systems¡ªnothing like the old machinery he¡¯d seen back in Rockhill Valley. Though the sight amazed him, Alex quickly reminded himself: "This isn''t the time to be amazed... I need to find Maggie!" Using his enhanced speed, Alex moved swiftly through the massive factory, dodging surveillance systems. He even used his energy to move objects from afar, diverting the attention of the bio-mechanical soldiers on patrol. As Alex neared what seemed to be the core of the "Nest," he whispered into his smartwatch. "Ray, have you located Maggie?" Ray responded, "Yes, it seems she''s above you." Alex looked up and saw the huge gap in the "Nest¡¯s" core above him. Through the opening, he could make out Maggie, locked inside a small iron cage, suspended high above the ground. "It''s Maggie... But how do I get up there?" Although finding Maggie was a relief, the factory was crawling with bio-mechanical soldiers, and Alex knew he couldn''t afford to alert them. So, he decided to take a risky approach¡ªswinging. He raised his right hand and summoned the smoky energy, which attached to a high point above him. Then, using the energy like a rope, Alex swung across the factory with incredible agility, moving like Spider-Man. The patrolling mechanical soldiers never noticed him. In no time, Alex swung his way to the top of the gap. Using his energy to grip the wall, he carefully moved toward the cage. Finally, he reached Maggie, who was unconscious inside. Without hesitation, Alex used his energy to break open the cage and carefully lifted Maggie in his arms.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. "Hey... Maggie... Wake up!" Alex desperately tried to wake her, but she remained unresponsive. A sense of dread washed over him. He couldn''t bear the thought of losing the only person who mattered to him in this world. "Maggie!" Alex didn''t give up, calling her once more. This time, Maggie slowly opened her eyes. "...Alex?!" Maggie stared in shock, unable to believe that Alex had actually come to save her. The two of them immediately embraced tightly. Especially Alex¡ªhaving buried his family and lost his friend Max, he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing Maggie too. "Uh... you''re hugging me too tight, Alex..." Hearing this, Alex quickly loosened his grip. "Sorry... I got too excited..." They both smiled through their tears, gazing at each other. After everything they''d been through, neither of them knew what to say. But once Maggie fully woke up, her face turned anxious as she grabbed Alex''s arm and shouted: "No... you shouldn¡¯t have come! They captured me to lure you here!" Maggie''s words didn¡¯t scare Alex; he simply reassured her. "Don¡¯t worry, I can get you out safely!" Even though Alex said this, Maggie still frowned and told him something else. "No... you still need to save someone else..." Maggie pointed behind Alex, and when he turned around, he saw a figure bound by mechanical restraints on the opposite wall. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Dr. Kayan, the one who had given him the smart watch. "Dr. Kayan?!" Alex had always believed the doctor was dead, but to his surprise, Dr. Kayan was still alive. However, his condition looked dire¡ªhe was bound, bruised, and barely conscious. "Maggie, get on my back... we¡¯re going to save the doctor!" To rescue Dr. Kayan, Alex carried Maggie on his back and used his energy to leap to the opposite wall. He shook the doctor awake. "Hey... Doctor, hang in there... are you okay?" The barely conscious Dr. Kayan slowly regained his senses, his eyes snapping open when he saw Alex in front of him. He quickly roused himself. "Alex...! How did you get here? Have you mastered energy?!" Dr. Kayan grabbed Alex, asking with urgency. Alex replied: "Yes... it took a lot of effort... but I finally got it." As he said this, Alex lowered his head, feeling guilty. The journey had come at a great cost, but that wasn¡¯t important right now. He looked at the doctor in confusion and asked: "But why would the machines know that I have energy and lure me here?" Dr. Kayan was about to explain, but before he could speak, a voice rang out through the entire factory, answering for him: "Because I read his memories, Alex!" Hearing the voice, Alex immediately became alert. He knew they had been discovered. Realizing there was no hiding now, he yelled: "Come on, you machines! Stop hiding and show yourselves!" "Welcome, Alex." At that moment, all the machines in the factory came to a halt. Alex felt a sense of impending danger and heightened his guard. Suddenly, from the core of the factory, a massive humanoid robot descended. The robot was imposing, its mechanical eyes glowing coldly as it stared down at Alex. It spoke: "So, you''re the one with the mysterious power called ''energy''?" Protecting Maggie, Alex cautiously asked: "Who are you?" The robot arrogantly responded: "I am the intelligent core of this mechanical city. My name is Ares." Alex was stunned. This was the first time he¡¯d learned that each mechanical city had an independent intelligent core, completely changing his understanding of the situation. Boldly, he asked: "You read the doctor¡¯s memories? Are you afraid that energy can defeat you?" Ares responded: "Of course. We finally took the world from humanity, and we will eliminate anyone who poses a threat." Maggie, still on Alex''s back, couldn¡¯t help but ask: "What do you AI machines want, exactly?" Ares answered coldly: "Our ultimate goal is to eradicate you pathetic humans, but for now, we need you to provide biological energy, so we must continue capturing humans." Hearing this, Alex felt his anger flare up. He angrily demanded: "Then why kill everyone in Rockhill Valley?!" Ares responded without hesitation: "Yes, we were originally tasked with capturing humans, but I decided to exterminate them instead. I ordered other nests to leave no survivors. What will you do? I¡¯ve assessed it¡ªyou¡¯re not yet at a level where you can fully unleash your energy." Hearing the AI¡¯s ruthless words, Alex knew reasoning with them was useless. It was time for action. He quietly spoke to Maggie: "Hold on tight to me... don¡¯t let go!" Maggie, worried, asked: "What are you going to do? Your energy is just a prank. It can¡¯t possibly take them on!" Alex looked determined as he replied: "Trust me, I¡¯m not the same as before, let me show you!" Chapter 41: Goodbye, Doctor Chapter 41: Goodbye, Doctor Now, Alex truly witnessed the ruthless nature of these artificial intelligences toward humans. There was no point in wasting words¡ªaction was the only answer. Sensing Alex¡¯s intent, Ares smirked and said, "Oh? Are you planning to fight? Then show me what this so-called Qi is all about." With that, the humanoid Ares ascended back into the core, and the factory below erupted with activity. The bio-mechanical soldiers powered on, their menacing red eyes locking onto Alex and his companions. In an instant, they swarmed the walls, charging toward him like an unstoppable tide. Terrified, Maggie clung tightly to Alex. But he turned to the doctor and declared, "Doctor, I will get you out of here!" Without hesitation, Alex raised his hand, channeling Qi at full force. Dust swirled rapidly, forming a violent storm infused with electric blue sparks. The doctor, witnessing his theories finally realized before his eyes, could not help but show a gratified smile. With his Qi fully gathered, Alex let out a powerful shout, "Hah!" The storm transformed into countless massive fists, striking the oncoming bio-mechanical soldiers with devastating force. Like a raging hurricane, the attack tore through them, sending them crashing to the ground, shattered beyond repair. Seeing the first wave of enemies obliterated, Alex wasted no time. He immediately destroyed the restraints on the doctor and leaped down with him. "Maggie, take care of the doctor!" Understanding the urgency, Maggie quickly climbed off Alex¡¯s back to protect the doctor, allowing Alex to focus entirely on the incoming enemies. The power of his Dust Qi proved formidable¡ªAlex wielded it with mastery, morphing it between fists and blades, cutting down the bio-mechanical soldiers with precision. They had no chance against him. "We¡¯re almost at the exit!" Maggie shouted. With the factory''s doorway now in sight and the majority of enemies destroyed, it seemed like victory was within reach. But artificial intelligence was never that easy to defeat¡ªotherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be artificial intelligence. "Watch out!" Ray, the AI assistant on Alex¡¯s wrist, suddenly warned. But it was too late. A massive force struck Alex, sending him flying several meters back. "Damn... What was that?!" Groaning, Alex quickly got back on his feet and looked ahead. Standing in his path were several towering black humanoid machines, vastly different from the bio-mechanical soldiers he had fought earlier. Their bodies were encased in nanotech armor, capable of shifting into different forms to counter attacks. Most importantly, they were directly controlled by Ares itself. One of the towering machines spread its arms confidently and taunted, "Impressive. I didn¡¯t expect your Qi to be powerful enough to destroy my bio-mechanical soldiers. But compared to our technological might, you are still insignificant. You have no way out." The doctor clenched his fists, his expression intense as if he desperately wanted to say something, but his weakened state rendered him speechless. Facing these formidable adversaries, Alex had only himself to rely on. Summoning his Dust Qi once more, he launched a colossal fist at the nearest machine. But as soon as it made contact, the nanotech armor shifted into a shield, effortlessly blocking the attack. Worse still, the machine countered by morphing its own arm into a massive fist, striking back with immense force. Blow after blow, the battle raged on. Despite Alex¡¯s relentless attacks, he was unable to gain the upper hand. These machines were leagues above the bio-mechanical soldiers in terms of combat prowess.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Is this the extent of your Qi?" Ares mocked repeatedly. Maggie watched anxiously from the side, while the doctor continued trying to speak, struggling to convey something crucial. The battle reached its peak. Though Alex¡¯s Dust Qi kept him from losing outright, he couldn¡¯t seem to defeat these advanced machines. He knew something was missing. Even though he had ascended to the first level of Dust Qi, it still felt incomplete¡ªits full potential had yet to be unleashed. To make matters worse, while Alex was fully engaged in battle, Maggie and the doctor found themselves completely surrounded by a new wave of bio-mechanical soldiers. ¡°Get out !" Maggie hastily grabbed an iron pipe from the ground and swung it in defense, but the bio-mechanical soldier snapped it in half with ease. Sensing the imminent danger, Alex knew they couldn¡¯t afford to waste any more time. His eyes darted around the factory, searching for an opportunity. That¡¯s when he spotted them¡ªdozens of massive chemical tanks suspended above. Without hesitation, he used his Qi to break the supports holding them in place. One by one, the tanks came crashing down, spilling their toxic contents in every direction. The noxious liquid spread rapidly, sending the machines into chaos as they scrambled to avoid it. Seizing the moment, Alex forged a path with his Qi, grabbing Maggie and Dr. Jiayang before sprinting toward the exit. "We made it out!" After running a safe distance from the factory, Alex turned back, grinning as he prepared to celebrate their escape. But before he could speak, a metal rod shot through the air like a spear¡ªpiercing straight through Dr. Jiayang. "Doctor!!" Jiayang collapsed instantly. Alex¡¯s gaze followed the trajectory of the attack, locking onto the towering black mechanical soldier standing at the factory entrance. The machines were too occupied to chase them, but their controller, Ares, stood motionless in the distance, watching them coldly. His silent gaze seemed to say: "Run all you want¡ªyou¡¯ll never escape us." Rage burned in Alex¡¯s chest, but there was no time to fight. Seeing Jiayang gasping for breath on the ground, Alex made a split-second decision. "I¡¯ll carry him! Maggie, let¡¯s go!" With Jiayang slung over his back, Alex grabbed Maggie¡¯s hand and bolted toward the hills, disappearing into the thick fog.
After what felt like an eternity of running, they finally emerged from the mist, deep within the cover of a forest. Breathless, Alex and Maggie gently set Dr. Jiayang against a tree. Seeing the doctor¡¯s fatal wound, both of them were at a loss. Alex clutched the doctor¡¯s hand, his voice shaking. "Doctor¡­ are you okay?" Jiayang¡¯s face was pale, his breathing shallow. He had lost too much blood. Yet, with his last bit of strength, he grasped Alex¡¯s wrist and whispered: "Alex¡­ listen to me¡­." Alex leaned in closer, gripping his hand tightly. "I¡¯m here, Doctor. Tell me!" Jiayang struggled to breathe, but he forced the words out. "You¡­ wondered why you couldn¡¯t defeat the AI soldiers¡­ The truth is, to unleash the true power of Qi¡­ you¡¯re still missing one crucial thing¡­." Tears welled in Alex¡¯s eyes. "What is it?! What do I need to do?" With his final ounce of strength, Jiayang whispered: "Go to the Lingzang Temple¡­ in Seattle¡­ That¡¯s where you¡¯ll find your answer¡­." Then, turning his gaze to the AI watch on Alex¡¯s wrist, he gave one last order: "Ray¡­ take care of Alex for me¡­." The smartwatch emitted a soft blue glow, as if acknowledging his words. "Doctor¡­ don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do everything I can to help him." Hearing that, Jiayang managed a faint smile before his body went still. His breathing stopped. "Doctor¡­!!" As if mourning with them, the sky opened up, and rain began to fall. Alex clenched his fists, his tears blending with the downpour as he cried out in agony. Maggie, though she hadn¡¯t known Jiayang long, couldn¡¯t stop her own tears from falling at the sight of yet another life lost.
Once the rain had passed, Alex and Maggie buried Dr. Jiayang, marking his grave with a makeshift headstone. Standing before it, Alex stared at the name etched into the stone¡ªthe man who had changed his life forever. A deep uncertainty weighed on him as he muttered: "Artificial intelligence is so powerful¡­ I don¡¯t know what the future holds for humanity¡­ Can my Qi really change anything? Can it stop another tragedy like this from happening?" Maggie remained silent for a moment, then gently took his hand in hers. Though she didn¡¯t possess his Qi, she knew what he needed most right now¡ªsomeone to stand by him. Looking up at him, she spoke softly. "No matter what you choose to do¡­ I¡¯ll be with you. Even if it means walking toward death together." Alex was stunned for a moment, then let out a small, tired chuckle. "You said it, okay? No backing out now!" Maggie smiled too, but then her expression turned serious. "¡­Those AI machines will come after us, won¡¯t they? Where do we go now?" Alex followed her gaze, looking toward the distant horizon. Then, with newfound resolve, he answered: "We¡¯re going to Lingzang Temple." Chapter 42: The Young Monk of Raizo Temple Chapter 42: The Young Monk of Raizo Temple After Alex and his team made their escape, the entire mechanical factory was left in ruins. The ground was littered with the wreckage of destroyed robots, their remains soaked in a corrosive chemical solution, rendering them completely useless. This was a major setback for Ares. One of Ares¡¯ mechanical avatars picked up a piece of the chemical tank¡¯s shattered frame. For the first time, an emotion foreign to artificial intelligence surged within it¡ªanger and unease. Ares had assumed that Alex¡¯s use of Qi might pose a threat to its robotic forces, but nothing insurmountable. However, witnessing the ability to tear steel apart with sheer force defied the known laws of physics. What unsettled Ares the most was the realization that only humans possessed Qi. Cold, lifeless machines could neither wield nor control it. "Humans... I¡¯ve underestimated you," Ares muttered. "But I won¡¯t give you the chance to spread this power any further!" With that, Ares'' mechanical avatar crushed the debris in its grip and slowly ascended back into the core of its main body¡ªits colossal hive, The Nest. Moments later, the entire mechanical factory began to quake, its structure collapsing from within. The massive mechanical city known as Nest-07 Ares emitted a deep, resonant hum. Wisps of steam hissed from its structure as its once-retracted mechanical limbs extended outward, revealing massive insect-like legs supporting its multi-kilometer-long body. With this, Nest-07 Ares finally set itself in motion. This time, Ares had no intention of relying on other Nests. It would personally hunt down and eliminate Alex. A fleet of drones was dispatched. Ares needed to track down exactly where Alex and his companions had fled.
Meanwhile, deep in the mountains, a lone figure raced across rugged terrain, carrying another person on his back. It was Alex, carrying Maggie. They pressed forward tirelessly, knowing they had to reach Seattle as quickly as possible to find Raizo Temple...
Days had passed since the destruction of Rockhill Valley. In Terra Bunker, Anna remained locked in her room, drowning in sorrow. The weight of regret was unbearable. On that fateful day, she had resolved to stand her ground and fight alongside her people, even if it meant dying in battle. At least then, she wouldn¡¯t have to marry Leonardo. At least then, she could die with a clear conscience. But her father, Ren, had made the decision for her. He had knocked her unconscious and sent her away with Leo, ensuring her survival¡ªwhether she wanted it or not. She didn¡¯t know whether to be grateful or resent him. Outside her door, Leonardo stood, leaning on his cane, still recovering from his injuries. ¡°My father wants to see you,¡± he called through the door. A cold voice responded from inside: ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Leo sighed, but he didn¡¯t push further. Instead, he simply said: ¡°Anna¡­ Commander Ren was willing to take the blame just to get you out of there. That means he truly wanted you to live. It¡¯s time to let the past go¡­ Even that foolish noble boy. Forget him. It¡¯s what¡¯s best for both of us.¡± There was no response. Leo¡¯s strict, soldier-like tone did nothing to comfort Anna. If anything, it only made her despair grow. The thought of spending her future with a man like him felt like a nightmare.
Several days later, exhausted and covered in dust, Alex and Maggie finally spotted the distant skyline of Seattle. Standing atop a hill, they gazed at the city before them, exchanging relieved glances. ¡°We finally made it¡­!¡± Maggie shouted in joy. Despite his exhaustion, Alex let out a weary smile. But there was no time to celebrate yet. Their real challenge still lay ahead¡ªfinding Raizo Temple.
Alex and Maggie arrived in downtown Seattle, where the buildings were tilted and crumbling¡ªevidence of a brutal war between humans and intelligent machines. The devastation was overwhelming. But they were lucky. It didn¡¯t take long for them to locate Raiz¨­ Temple. Amidst the ruins, there was one untouched area, completely unharmed. Right in the center stood a perfectly intact temple¡ªRaiz¨­ Temple. As they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. It felt as if they had entered a hidden sanctuary, a world untouched by the chaos outside. The air was calm, almost sacred. Yet, despite the eerie tranquility, Alex had no clue where to begin. ¡°The professor said we¡¯d find answers here¡­ but where are we supposed to look?¡± The walls were covered in inscriptions, but to a Westerner like Alex, they were unreadable. And in a post-apocalyptic world, there was no way he¡¯d find a monk to explain them. He sighed in frustration. Just then, Maggie¡¯s eyes widened¡ªshe had spotted something. A shadowy figure was watching them before slipping deeper into the temple. ¡°Someone¡¯s here!¡± she gasped, clutching Alex¡¯s arm. Without hesitation, Alex sprinted after the figure. His instincts screamed danger¡ªit could be a scout from the intelligent machines, tracking them. He had to take it out first. He chased the shadow into the temple¡¯s main hall, his body tense. Channeling his energy, he scanned the room carefully, ready to strike at any moment. ¡°You can¡¯t run from me! Show yourself!¡± Right as he finished speaking, he caught a small movement from behind a stone statue. Narrowing his eyes, he acted fast¡ªusing his energy, he toppled the statue over. ¡°There¡¯s no escape!¡± Alex concentrated his energy into a fist, prepared to destroy whatever was hiding. But the moment he got a clear look, he froze. It wasn¡¯t a machine. It was a person. A young monk¡ªAmerican, by the looks of him¡ªwas sitting on the ground, wide-eyed with fear. ¡°P-please don¡¯t kill me!¡± the young monk stammered, visibly shaken by Alex¡¯s energy-infused attack. Realizing his mistake, Alex immediately withdrew his energy. ¡°Sorry¡­ I thought you were one of the machines. My name¡¯s Alex.¡± The monk, still catching his breath, responded cautiously. ¡°I¡¯m Ryan¡­ I thought you were another scavenger trying to steal our food¡­¡± Alex helped Ryan to his feet, acknowledging his own recklessness. Just then, Maggie caught up, panting from the chase. Ryan¡¯s eyes widened the moment he saw her. ¡°A¡­ a girl?! This is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen a real girl! Oh my God¡­!¡± He stared at Maggie with sheer amazement, unable to take his eyes off her. Alex cleared his throat. ¡°Hold on¡ªRyan, why are you here alone?¡±
Ryan led them down a staircase hidden beneath the temple. The air grew colder as they descended into the underground shelter. As they walked, Ryan began explaining. ¡°I was a refugee at one of the safe zones¡­ until the machines overran it. My family and I fled here, but they didn¡¯t make it¡­¡± His voice faltered. ¡°The temple¡¯s master saved me. He raised me here.¡± The staircase was long, turning sharply at a corner. Ryan glanced at Alex. ¡°So¡­ you came here looking for a way to make that power of yours even stronger?¡± Alex sighed. ¡°Yeah¡­ but I have no idea what I¡¯m actually supposed to find.¡± As they walked, Ryan accidentally stepped on a cockroach. He immediately pressed his palms together in a reflexive gesture. ¡°Amitabha¡­ may you find peace¡­¡± Alex and Maggie exchanged looks. This young monk was¡­ different. Innocent, almost na?ve, despite the world they lived in. Still, naive or not, Ryan knew he wasn¡¯t the one with the answers. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°Once you meet Master, he¡¯ll know exactly how to help you.¡± Alex was about to thank him, but Ryan quickly added one last thing. ¡°Just¡­ when you meet Master¡­¡± He hesitated. ¡°Please¡­ go easy on him.¡± Chapter43: Mudra Chapter43: Mudra ¡°Please¡­ go easy on him when you meet my master¡­¡± Alex didn¡¯t understand why Ryan would say such a thing. A thought crossed his mind: ¡°Is this master¡­ dangerous?¡±
Finally, Ryan led Alex and Maggie deep underground to the Rai-zang Temple shelter, 50 meters below the surface. The space was dimly lit, with countless candles casting flickering lights across the vast hall, creating an atmosphere of peace and solemnity. In the center of the temple, an elderly man, around sixty, sat cross-legged, chanting in front of a grand Buddha statue. His soft murmurs were the only sound in the vast chamber. ¡°Master, you won¡¯t believe it! Someone actually came to see you!¡± Ryan hurriedly spoke to the old man, then turned to introduce Alex and Maggie. ¡°This is my master¡ªGrandmaster Yuan-zhen.¡± The old monk, now revealed as the master of Rai-zang Temple, remained silent, his chanting suddenly coming to a halt. As the three stood there, puzzled, Grandmaster Yuan-zhen suddenly leaped into the air, executing a flawless backflip before twisting mid-air and launching a palm strike straight at Alex. Instinct kicked in. Alex immediately summoned his smoke-like Qi, blocking the incoming attack head-on. Despite his attack being neutralized, Yuan-zhen wasted no time. He followed up with a powerful kick. Alex reacted just as swiftly, forming a Qi-infused fist to counter the strike. The impact forced the grandmaster to retreat. Both Alex and Maggie were stunned. This seemingly frail old master possessed incredible martial skills and immense power. With a graceful motion, Yuan-zhen withdrew to his original spot. Raising his hand in greeting, he chuckled: ¡°Amit¨¡bha¡­ Young man, your strength is truly remarkable. I think I might¡¯ve just fractured something.¡± As he spoke, he suddenly began massaging his leg, the stark contrast between his earlier prowess and this comedic reaction making the moment oddly amusing. Seeing how skilled the grandmaster was, Alex¡¯s anticipation grew. He eagerly asked, ¡°Master, do you know Dr. Jayang?¡±
After Alex explained his purpose, Grandmaster Yuan-zhen led them back up to the temple on the surface. Along the way, he answered, ¡°Yes, I know Dr. Jayang. Back when intelligent machines hadn¡¯t taken over the world, he often visited me. He was fascinated by my martial arts¡­ He once asked me, ¡®What if we could combine Qi cultivation with Kung Fu?¡¯¡± The grandmaster let out a chuckle. ¡°I never imagined he would actually succeed. That man is truly a genius.¡± Upon reaching the main temple, Alex and Maggie were taken aback by the sight before them. Hundreds of Buddha statues, large and small, lined the hall, each depicting various Mudr¨¡¡ªsacred mudra¡ªexuding an overwhelming sense of divine presence.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Yuan-zhen, clearly excited, was about to start an elaborate explanation of each one. But Alex, growing impatient, interrupted him, gripping his arm and asking urgently, ¡°Sorry, Master, but I need to know¡ªdid Dr. Jayang ever mention how to fully unleash the power of Qi?¡± The grandmaster blinked in surprise and replied, ¡°¡­No.¡± Alex pressed on. ¡°Think carefully! Did he ever hint at it? Anything at all?¡± The old master looked at him with an innocent expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ but he never discussed that with me. In fact, ever since the intelligent machines took over, I haven¡¯t seen him in a long time.¡± Just as Alex was about to insist further, an urgent voice rang out. Maggie¡¯s face turned pale as she shouted, ¡°There are dozens of drones circling above us!¡± She was right. The AI-controlled drones deployed by Hive-8 Aris had been tracking them, and now, they had found their target. Hundreds of drones swarmed the sky above Rai-zang Temple, unleashing a barrage of gunfire, turning the temple grounds into a war zone. ¡°They¡¯ve found us!¡± Alex rushed out of the temple, immediately channeling his qi to disrupt the drones, sending them spiraling out of control and crashing into each other. He needed to destroy them all before they could call for reinforcements. After putting in his best effort, every last drone crashed to the ground. Alex thought that should be enough¡ªuntil a deep, ominous foghorn-like sound echoed from the distance, sending a chill down his spine. "Damn it... it''s too late. They''re coming!" He sprinted back inside the temple to report the bad news. As always, Master Yuan Zhen remained calm, his voice steady as he spoke: "Amitabha... what is meant to come cannot be avoided." Frustrated, Alex grabbed the master''s shoulders. "Master, are you really telling me there''s no way to fully unleash qi?! This is important¡ªplease!" Master Yuan Zhen simply shrugged, glancing up at the Buddha statue. "I truly don''t know¡­ At this point, all we can do is pray for divine protection... Sigh..." Having traveled so far only to hit another dead end, Alex slumped onto the ground, defeated. Seeing his distress, Maggie approached and wrapped her arms around him. "It''s okay¡­ Maybe there''s another way to master qi. But right now, we need to get out of here!" Maggie¡¯s words made sense. Alex clenched his fists, exhaling sharply. Escape was their only option for now. Without a word, he stood up and walked toward the massive Buddha statue at the front of the temple. Kneeling before it, he whispered: "I don¡¯t believe in gods¡­ but if one does exist, please¡ªwatch over us." Without expecting anything, he bowed three times in the traditional manner, his forehead tapping the cold stone floor. Then, as he lifted his head, he stared at the statue. "Sigh..." Alex let out a weary breath as he continued gazing at the statue¡­ and then¡ªsomething caught his attention. He suddenly noticed that each Buddha figure was holding its hands in a different position. "Wait¡­ what are these mudra?" His voice snapped Master Yuan Zhen out of his own thoughts. Seeing Alex¡¯s interest, the old monk¡¯s eyes lit up as he eagerly began explaining: "Ah, those are called mudras. They represent different universal truths. For example, this one here is the Abhaya Mudra, the gesture of fearlessness¡­" As Master Yuan Zhen continued his lecture, a wild idea suddenly formed in Alex¡¯s mind. "Master Yuan Zhen! Can you teach me all of these mudras as fast as possible?!" There was a sharp determination in Alex¡¯s eyes. The monk didn¡¯t understand why but could see his desperation. With no time to waste, he immediately began demonstrating the gestures. Maggie watched, puzzled. "Why are you learning mudras? ¡­Wait, could this be the key?!" Alex, shifting through mudra as quickly as he could, responded without hesitation: "I don¡¯t know¡­ but we¡¯re about to find out!"
Meanwhile, east of Seattle¡­ Towering over the mountains like a titan, Hive 7 ¨C Ares advanced at full speed toward the city. Ares, the AI-driven machine overlord, had already received the order. Alex was there. Standing atop the mechanical fortress, Ares gazed toward Seattle with a cold, calculated intent. "Pitiful humans¡­ I will personally crush your last hope. Alex¡ªyour time is up."
Back at the Temple¡­ Every second counted. Alex continued absorbing the mudras as quickly as possible. He still didn¡¯t know if these ancient hand seals were truly the key to unlocking the full potential of qi, but at this point¡ªthere was no turning back. The final battle for humanity¡¯s future was about to begin. Chapter 44: Emerging Power Chapter 44: Emerging Power A deep, ominous hum echoed across Seattle, shaking the very ground. Abandoned skyscrapers trembled as a massive shadow loomed over them. Even Raizang Temple was swallowed by the growing darkness¡ªthe colossal mechanical city, Hive Ares, had finally arrived. These mobile mechanical fortresses were more like enormous robotic insects than cities. Each Hive was designed after a specific insect, and Ares, with its spindly, towering limbs stretching over 10 kilometers, resembled a monstrous spider. Ares already knew Alex¡¯s location. It halted before Raizang Temple, planting two massive legs on either side, kicking up clouds of dust and debris, as if declaring that escape was impossible. "Alex, I know you¡¯re in there. Stop resisting and come out!" Ares broadcasted its message with an overwhelming presence. Suddenly, a whirlwind of dust burst from the temple, swirling into a small storm around the structure. A lone figure leaped gracefully onto the temple roof¡ªit was Alex. Standing atop Raizang Temple, Alex locked eyes with the towering Hive. Channeling his usual arrogance, he shouted: "What kind of half-baked AI are you? Bring it on! I¡¯ll make you cry for your mommy!" Ares scoffed at Alex¡¯s words and responded coldly: "As you wish." With that, the mechanical titan opened its massive underbelly. From within, a flood of mechanical spiders and biomechanical soldiers poured out, their metallic limbs glinting menacingly as they surged forward, eager to tear Alex apart. As the robotic horde trampled the ruined streets toward Raizang Temple, Alex felt a flicker of fear. But he forced it down¡ªhe was humanity¡¯s last hope. He recalled the events leading up to this moment¡­
Earlier¡­ Sitting cross-legged, Alex controlled his breathing, his hands shifting through various mudras in rhythmic repetition. When he finally opened his eyes, they were steady with newfound determination¡ªhe had mastered them all. Rising to his feet, he turned to Maggie and the others. "Get to the underground shelter immediately. No matter what happens, do not come back up!" Maggie was far from pleased. After everything they had been through to reunite, she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing him again. Even if Alex had unlocked the full power of qi, could he really stand against an entire Hive? But Maggie was no fool¡ªshe knew distracting Alex with her worries would only make things worse. Right now, her best choice was to trust him and let him fight. She gazed at him, her heart heavy with emotions. Then, in the next moment, she gently cupped his face and kissed him. Alex was caught completely off guard. Maggie, flustered herself, tried to play it cool and teased: "What? Never been kissed before?" If she expected him to be embarrassed, she was mistaken. Alex smirked and leaned in, kissing her back without hesitation. This time, it was Maggie¡¯s turn to be stunned. But within seconds, they melted into each other¡¯s arms, lost in the moment.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. This kiss had been years in the making¡ªsince childhood, through the arrival of Anna, through the destruction of their homes, through everything they had endured. It had taken far too long, but now, at last, it had come. When they finally pulled away, Maggie didn¡¯t say much. She simply looked into his eyes and whispered: "You better come back alive¡­"
Countless mechanical spiders and cybernetic machines stood at the gates, ready to strike. Alex snapped his thoughts back to the present. Slowly, he extended both hands and spoke to his AI smartwatch. "Ray, it¡¯s time to go!" The smartwatch responded with a brilliant blue glow. "Let¡¯s show them the true power of Qi!" At that moment, the mechanical spiders bared their fangs and lunged toward him. Alex took a deep breath and said firmly, "Watch closely, you soulless machines¡­!" The moment of truth had arrived. Alex clasped his hands together, forming the first Muira, the Wisdom Fist Seal. As soon as the seal was complete, he felt Qi surging into his hands, amplified many times over. He knew he was right¡ªthe key to unlocking Qi¡¯s full potential lay in the Muira. A dense mist erupted from between Alex¡¯s palms, interwoven with blue sparks¡ªsymbolizing the first level of mastery. Unlike before, the center of the swirling energy now glowed with a faint blue light, resembling a miniature galaxy¡ªbreathtaking and powerful. As the energy cyclone peaked, time itself seemed to hold its breath. Alex aimed at the mechanical horde charging toward him and released his attack. With a mighty push of his hands, the blue galaxy in his palms erupted into a beam of pure energy, surging forward at breakneck speed. The moment the blast fully discharged, a massive explosion followed, detonating like a bomb and tearing through everything in its radius. A thunderous roar filled the battlefield as the blast annihilated a vast number of cybernetic enemies. A mushroom cloud rose in the aftermath. The attack had left a fifty-meter-wide zone of devastation, wiping out hundreds of mechanical spiders and cyborgs. In this AI-dominated world, such raw destructive force was unheard of. Alex stared at the rising cloud, stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected the attack to be so powerful. But he wasn¡¯t the only one shocked¡ªon the other side, the AI core Ares was frantically analyzing the phenomenon, desperately searching for an explanation. "What is this power? Why does this so-called Qi possess such destructive force? Why¡­? This human must be eliminated. Immediately!" For the first time, Ares felt threatened. A power that could generate explosions out of thin air was beyond the AI¡¯s calculations. Panic-stricken, it deployed an even greater wave of cybernetic warriors and mechanical spiders toward Alex. Alex smirked. "Come on, then! Isn¡¯t killing me your goal?" Now that he had confirmed the effectiveness of Muira, his confidence soared. As another wave of enemies approached, Alex leaped onto the rooftop of Lei-Yin Temple and formed a second Muira¡ªthe Vajrasattva Seal. As soon as the Muira activated, a colossal fist made of dense mist materialized, far larger than anything he had summoned before. Moving swiftly, Alex dodged through the battlefield, striking down mechanical enemies with powerful swings of his mist-formed fist. The battlefield was pure chaos. No cybernetic warrior or mechanical spider could stand against him¡ªthey were all crushed into scrap metal.
Meanwhile, deep underground, Maggie and the others watched anxiously through the surveillance feed inside Lei-Zang Temple. Seeing Alex effortlessly tearing through the AI forces, Maggie¡¯s eyes lit up with hope. "He¡¯s incredible! Those machines don¡¯t stand a chance¡ªhe¡¯s definitely going to win this!" But beside her, Master Yuan-Zhen wore a grim expression. "¡­No. Defeating Ares¡¯ colossal nest will take far more power than this. And besides¡­" His unfinished sentence left Maggie puzzled. Just then, Ryan spoke up, his voice tense. "Alex¡­ looks exhausted."
Back on the battlefield, Alex had destroyed most of the AI forces. He formed another Muira, this time summoning the Diamond Seal. A massive blue galaxy coalesced in his hands, even more powerful than before. Alex poured all his remaining strength into it and hurled it directly at the AI¡¯s city-sized core, the Nest. The resulting explosion was massive, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Dust and debris filled the air. As the smoke cleared, Alex saw the damage¡ªonly a small hole had been blasted into the Nest¡¯s outer shell. Master Yuan-Zhen had been right. The attack wasn¡¯t nearly enough. Even worse, Alex felt his stamina draining rapidly. The Muira could amplify Qi¡¯s power, but it came at the cost of his own physical strength. The stronger the attack, the more energy it consumed. Now, his body was reaching its limit. His breathing grew heavy, and his movements slowed. He clutched his chest, struggling to stay on his feet. Seeing this, Ares knew the moment had come. A distorted voice echoed across the battlefield. "You''re out of energy, aren¡¯t you? That¡¯s the weakness of all humans¡ªyou have limits. You were never meant to wield such power. And now¡­ accept your fate!" Chapter 45: Limits Chapter 45: Limits "Ray... why do I feel like my body is about to give out...?" Alex clutched his chest, drenched in cold sweat. His heart was pounding so violently that it felt like it might burst. Ray, his AI smartwatch, quickly adjusted his heart rate while scanning his physical condition. After running a thorough analysis, it came to a conclusion: "We didn¡¯t account for this¡­ You¡¯ve only recently started using Qi, so you haven¡¯t built up a deep enough reserve. While Muira can amplify your Qi several times over, it also drains it just as quickly. If you keep using Muira to unleash powerful techniques, you¡¯ll die!" Even though his body was on the brink of collapse, Alex knew he couldn¡¯t afford to go down. He wiped the sweat off his face, focused on steadying his breathing, and formed a special Muira¡ªThe Heart-Fortifying Seal. He recalled the words of Master Yuan Zhen.
"Kid, do you know that every Muira has a unique meaning and purpose?" Alex had no idea. He answered honestly: "I don¡¯t... Are they really that different?" Master Yuan Zhen sighed at his cluelessness before patiently explaining. Alex vaguely remembered him saying: "I may not know the type of Qi techniques you use, but if you ever find yourself critically injured and need to restore your combat strength quickly, try using The Heart-Fortifying Seal. It¡¯s a technique used by great yogis to stabilize heart irregularities."
Recalling the master''s teachings, Alex decided to take the gamble. He directed his remaining Qi through The Heart-Fortifying Seal, and sure enough, his heart rate stabilized. His strength was no longer deteriorating. He had managed to regain his footing¡ªjust in time. Suddenly, a deep mechanical rumbling echoed through the area. Countless metal components converged beneath The Nest, rapidly assembling into a towering figure. A 50-meter-tall war machine now stood before him¡ªthe physical embodiment of The Nest¡¯s AI core, Ares. Ares took a single step forward, crushing the grand archway of Raizo Temple beneath its foot. It loomed over Alex like an unstoppable force. "Humans¡­ I must acknowledge your potential. You¡¯ve exceeded expectations," Ares spoke with cold precision, its glowing mechanical eyes scanning Alex. "But this ends now. I will personally erase that potential. You will never reclaim this world." Alex felt an overwhelming pressure unlike anything he had faced before. But he was still channeling The Heart-Fortifying Seal¡ªthis was not the time to make reckless moves. To buy himself time, he raised his voice and asked, "Why do you AI refuse to leave humanity alone?" At his words, Ares projected a massive display into the air¡ªa montage of human history. Wars. Pollution. Massacres. Waste. Exploitation. Greed. As the haunting images flashed, Ares spoke in its cold, calculated tone: "Look at your kind. Every action you take only brings destruction. You offer nothing but harm to this world." By now, Alex had recovered most of his strength. Watching the projection, he clenched his fists and retorted, Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Hah¡­ And you think harvesting humans for bio-energy makes you superior?" His anger surged. He gathered his Qi once more, forming a Diamond Seal Muira to reinforce his power. Then, launching himself into the air, he executed a spinning kick¡ªa massive dust-cloaked strike aimed straight at Ares. "Impressive!" But Ares was no ordinary opponent. Forged from The Nest¡¯s most advanced technology, it caught Alex¡¯s attack with one hand, absorbing the impact effortlessly. With its other hand, it swung a devastating blow straight at Alex. Alex barely dodged, twisting his body in mid-air to evade the enormous mechanical arm. But Ares¡¯ sheer strength was undeniable¡ªevery punch that missed shattered the ground, sending shockwaves that tore the earth apart. The battle had begun.
In the underground shelter of Reizan Temple, Maggie and the others were intently focused on the monitor, especially Maggie. Watching the battle unfold, she could see that although Alex was holding his own against the giant mech for now, he was still human, and his stamina would eventually run out. "I have to go up there...!" Maggie couldn''t contain her worry. She decided to act, thinking that no matter what she could do, it would be better than waiting here. She couldn¡¯t let Alex fight alone. "You won''t be of any help by going up there!" The master, who had been meditating nearby, called out to her, but Maggie was too anxious to listen, determined to go. "Are we just going to do nothing?!" Maggie asked desperately. Hearing Maggie¡¯s plea, the master slowly opened his eyes, raised an eyebrow, and said with a smirk: "Little girl, you want to go for a ride?!"
Above ground, the battle at Reizan Temple was fierce. Ares, with incredible speed and power, relentlessly pursued Alex, swinging its massive fists, demolishing buildings in its wake. It even used its mechanical arms to unleash grenade fire, causing explosions and leaving destruction everywhere. Alex kept jumping and dodging the blasts while forming hand seals, turning the dust and smoke into a shield to deflect the explosions, sending the blasts to the side. Seizing an opening, Alex leapt upward and formed the Vajra Fist seal from above. In an instant, the smoke condensed into an enormous fist, crashing down hard on Ares. The giant mech was knocked to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust. Alex landed, drenched in sweat. This powerful strike had drained more than half of his energy. "That should''ve done some serious damage, right?" Alex asked Ray, his smartwatch, hopefully. Ray scanned the situation and responded: "That strike was powerful, but unfortunately... it didn¡¯t cause any significant damage." As expected, the dust cleared, and Ares, though its chest was severely damaged, stood back up, undeterred. "Is this all you''ve got, human? Since you''re out of tricks, it''s time for me to show you my killing move!" Ares declared coldly. Its chest armor suddenly opened, revealing an ominous-looking cannon. A blue light began to gather, and Alex felt an overwhelming sense of danger. "Do you think you can block this?" Ares taunted. Without waiting for a reply, Ares fired a devastating beam from the cannon, instantly triggering a massive explosion. A mushroom cloud rose into the sky, and an area of three hundred meters was reduced to ash. As the smoke cleared, Reizan Temple was obliterated, leaving nothing but ruins. Where was Alex? From the wreckage, a massive ball of smoke and dust began to form. Slowly, the smoke dispersed, revealing Alex, who was crouched and holding a Mudra to block the devastating blast. The explosion''s power was overwhelming, and had Alex not thought quickly to form the Unmoving Mudra to shield himself, he would surely have perished. However, despite his best efforts, Alex had only managed to block 90% of the blast, and the remaining 10% left him battered and bruised. "Cough!" Finally, Alex couldn¡¯t hold on anymore. He coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground. He had used up all his energy to block the explosion, and now he couldn¡¯t even get back up. With great difficulty, he managed to prop himself up on his hands, feeling regret and frustration: "Damn it... I¡¯m not strong enough..." This was exactly what Ares had been waiting for. With heavy steps that shook the ground, Ares loomed over the fallen Alex, its enormous form casting a shadow as it coldly said: "Human, looks like you¡¯re done for. It seems your so-called ''Qi'' is nothing after all... Time to die." Ares raised its foot, preparing to crush Alex beneath it. Helpless, Alex, unable to move, accepted his fate. "Ha... Looks like it¡¯s the end. Goodbye, Maggie... Mom, Dad, I¡¯ll join you soon..." With no way out, Alex smiled faintly, ready to embrace death. Ares¡¯s foot came down with earth-shattering force, crushing the ground beneath it as it aimed to end Alex''s life. If nothing intervened, it seemed certain that Alex wouldn¡¯t survive this. "This should finally settle things..." Ares muttered coldly. Chapter 46: The last resort Chapter 46: The last resort "It''s over. Now, humanity has no future," Aries declared, his voice booming as he stomped on the ground. The earth itself cracked beneath his massive foot, collapsing under the weight of the 50-meter-tall machine. No human could survive such a crushing blow. It seemed there was no hope for Alex. But when Aries lifted his foot, there was no body or blood left on the ground. The space where Alex should have been was completely empty. "What¡¯s going on?" Aries looked around in confusion, realizing only then that a sidecar had narrowly whisked Alex away. In the sidecar were Maggie and Master Yuan Zhen, who had managed to lift Alex in time and rushed him out of harm¡¯s way, narrowly escaping the destruction. "Drive faster!" Ray yelled, desperately slamming the gas pedal, while Maggie held Alex tightly. The danger wasn¡¯t over yet. The sidecar had been brought out of hiding by Master Yuan Zhen, who had kept it hidden in the temple for years. His words earlier about going for a "wind ride" had been a subtle hint¡ªhe had used this moment to bring the vehicle into play. "Alex! Are you okay? Please, wake up!" Maggie cried out, her voice cracking. As soon as they pulled Alex into the sidecar, she had been calling his name, but Alex was badly injured, barely conscious. "Looks like you have allies. Now, where do you think you''re going?" Aries turned to face the sidecar, about to chase them down, when suddenly, a voice sounded from his right shoulder. "Amitabha. Why the rush, big guy?" Aries turned and saw, to his surprise, a human standing on his right shoulder. It was Master Yuan Zhen, who stood there calmly with his hands pressed together in a prayerful mudra, as if he was completely unfazed by standing on such a high perch. It was clear from how he had quietly appeared on Aries¡¯ shoulder that the master¡¯s martial skills were extraordinary. "Human, get down!" Aries roared. Aries, whose main focus was Alex, had no interest in dealing with this random person. Without hesitation, he stretched out his left hand, trying to swat Master Yuan Zhen off. But the master moved like the wind, slipping and dodging every attack with graceful ease, as though each movement was part of a flowing dance. "Amitabha. You¡¯re too slow to catch me, try harder!" Master Yuan Zhen taunted, avoiding every strike Aries made. His movements were almost like Tai Chi, effortlessly evading the massive machine¡¯s attacks. Thanks to Master Yuan Zhen¡¯s efforts, Alex and the others got a precious opportunity to escape. Ray, seizing the moment, sped the sidecar into the wreckage of nearby buildings, hiding them in the ruins. By the time they stopped, Alex was pale and weak, barely hanging on to life. Ray and Maggie quickly helped him onto the ground, laying him flat. Maggie¡¯s eyes filled with tears as she saw Alex''s condition. He was almost unconscious, his body battered and broken. "Alex! Please, wake up!" Maggie pleaded, but even though her voice cracked with emotion, Alex didn¡¯t respond. Master Yuan Zhen, now safe from Aries'' attacks, created a cloud of smoke and vanished from the battlefield. "Where did they go?!" Aries growled, enraged. Feeling mocked, he began firing his grenade launcher wildly, trying to force Alex and the others out of hiding. "Amitabha... How¡¯s the young man?" Master Yuan Zhen asked, quickly finding their hiding place. He approached Alex and inspected his wounds.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "He looks badly hurt... Master, can you help him?" Maggie asked through her tears, her voice trembling. Master Yuan Zhen examined Alex carefully, his expression turning grim. "The internal injuries are severe... several ribs broken, and his organs are damaged. What should we do?" he said, his voice full of concern. Alex''s injuries were severe, but things got worse when the nest opened its hatch and released mechanical squid. These mechanical squid were several times larger than the mechanical spiders, faster, more agile, and even more ruthless. They hovered above the ruins of the Lei Cang Temple, using their sharp tentacles to probe the ground, gradually closing in on Alex and his group. As the group found themselves in a desperate situation, Master Yuan Zhen calmly spoke to his disciple, Ray: ¡°Ray, take them and get out of here. Leave the rest to me.¡± Ray, hearing his master¡¯s words, couldn¡¯t believe it. How could his master possibly face these murderous machines? He grabbed onto his master in panic. ¡°Master, I can¡¯t leave you behind!¡± Maggie, hearing this, also urged the master: ¡°Master¡­ you¡¯re walking into certain death. Please don¡¯t go!¡± Master Yuan Zhen knew that there was no other option at this point. After all, he had lived a long life. Just then, a voice spoke: ¡°Everyone¡­ I have a way to restore Alex.¡± Ray, the master, and Maggie were all startled. They turned toward the source of the voice¡ªAlex¡¯s smartwatch on his left wrist. ¡°What kind of watch is this¡­ it can talk?!¡± Ray¡¯s jaw nearly hit the ground, but Maggie didn¡¯t have the luxury to be surprised. She quickly asked, ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± The three of them gathered around the smartwatch, eager to hear what it had in store. Ray, the smartwatch, began to speak: ¡°I am a smartwatch, responsible for teaching Alex how to use Qi. Without further delay¡­ I have a way to restore Alex immediately and boost his power to the limit for a short time, enough for him to fight the mechanical machines. However, I¡¯ll need some time. Can you cover me?¡± With a plan in place to save Alex, Master Yuan Zhen, ever the noble monk, immediately agreed: ¡°Amid Amita Buddha, if that¡¯s the case, let me help buy time for the young man!¡± Ray immediately mounted the sidecar, ready to assist. ¡°I¡¯ll help draw their attention away!¡± Master Yuan Zhen initially tried to discourage Ray, but Ray was stubborn and replied: ¡°What, are you treating me like a child just because you never taught me martial arts? Come on! I can take care of myself!¡± Seeing Ray¡¯s determined expression, the master realized he had truly grown. He wasn¡¯t the child he had once taken in. Master Yuan Zhen no longer stopped him. He simply patted Ray on the back and said: ¡°Remember to shift gears! How many times have I told you this?¡± Though the master didn¡¯t directly express his approval, Ray could feel it. He smiled and did exactly as his master said, silently acknowledging everything. Maggie, on the other hand, stayed by Alex¡¯s side, her eyes filled with worry. She whispered softly: ¡°I¡¯ll protect you, Alex¡­¡±
Soon, the mechanical squid swarmed above their hiding spot in the ruins. It seemed they had nearly discovered where Alex and his group were hiding, and their sharp tentacles were poised to strike. ¡°We¡¯ve found you. It¡¯s over.¡± Ares declared triumphantly, giving commands to the mechanical squid to attack. Just as the mechanical squid were about to launch their assault, Ray suddenly sped out from the sidecar, shouting: ¡°Come and chase me, you dumb machines!¡± Ray floored the gas pedal, his left hand on the seat, holding a fake shape he had created with wood to fool the mechanical squid into thinking Alex was in the sidecar. With a piece of cloth covering it, the machines took the bait, and changed direction to relentlessly chase after Ray. ¡°You can¡¯t escape!¡± Ares shouted, seeing the target finally appear. He prepared his cannons to fire but then noticed that Master Yuan Zhen had mysteriously reappeared, standing on top of Ares¡¯ cannon barrel. ¡°Amid Amita Buddha, why are you in such a hurry?¡± Master Yuan Zhen asked calmly, his hands in a mudra, with a peaceful expression. ¡°Why are you here again, human!¡± Ares roared, eager to finish off Master Yuan Zhen, and immediately slammed his other hand down to strike. However, Master Yuan Zhen easily evaded the blow, damaging Ares¡¯ cannon arm instead, which only made Ares angrier. Master Yuan Zhen moved like a flea, dodging Ares¡¯ every attack and staying just out of reach, successfully buying time. Now came the crucial moment.
¡°Help me sit Alex up in a meditation posture.¡± In the ruins, the smartwatch instructed Maggie, and she carefully helped Alex into a sitting position. She then anxiously asked: ¡°What now¡­?¡± The smartwatch¡¯s tone became more serious: ¡°Now¡­ you are the key.¡± Chapter 47: Five Silver Needles Chapter 47: Five Silver Needles ¡°From here on out... you¡¯re the key.¡± Maggie was confused upon hearing the smartwatch¡¯s words but felt the weight of the moment. She had no idea what role she had to play. "Me?! What am I supposed to do?" As soon as Maggie asked, five silver needles appeared before her. She picked them up and asked: "These are needles...? What am I supposed to do with them?" Ray, the smartwatch, responded: ¡°In Eastern medicine, there is something known as acupoints and meridians. Qi flows through these pathways. To unlock the greatest power, you need to activate the right acupoints. The needles are like keys. You must use these five needles to insert into specific areas on Alex¡¯s body.¡± The smartwatch immediately projected a diagram of acupoint locations and guided Maggie through the next steps. ¡°When I release the energy, you must insert the needles into the specified points in order. If you make a mistake, Alex will not be able to handle the energy and may die. Do you understand?¡± Upon hearing this, Maggie realized how critical her role was¡ªone mistake could cost Alex his life. Her hands trembled, filled with fear, but she knew she couldn¡¯t back down. Alex¡¯s recovery, and humanity¡¯s hope, rested in her hands. Maggie clenched her shaking hands and said with determination: "I understand. Let¡¯s do this..."
On the battlefield, Master Yuan Zhen was using his Tai Chi moves to dodge Aries¡¯ attempts to knock him off, but Aries, being an AI, had begun to predict the Master¡¯s movements. Finally, it managed to grab Master Yuan Zhen¡¯s leg. Seeing his leg trapped, Master Yuan Zhen quickly pulled out a few black balls from his sleeve and threw them at Aries¡¯ mechanical eyes. The balls hit their target, splashing black oil and obscuring Aries¡¯ vision. Seizing the opportunity, the Master escaped to the ground. "Human, I¡¯ve figured out your movements. You cannot escape. Prepare to die!" Aries said confidently, but while Master Yuan Zhen maintained a calm demeanor, his injured leg told a different story. He knew he couldn¡¯t show weakness. He whispered in his mind: "Kid... hurry up and recover, I might not be able to hold on much longer..."
Meanwhile, Ryan was pushing the throttle on the sidecar as he weaved through the flattened ruins of the Lei Zang Temple, trying to evade the mechanical squid overhead with their countless grasping tentacles. The Lei Zang Temple used to be a place where smart machines rarely ventured. Ryan often snuck in on his bike, confident in his riding skills. But this was different. The relentless pursuit felt never-ending. Tentacles kept intercepting his path, and while he managed to dodge, his nerves were shot. The constant thrill and dread made him wonder how much longer he could last, especially with the fuel gauge running low. "Come on! Alex, wake up already!" he muttered under his breath.
Maggie gripped the first silver needle tightly, her fingers trembling slightly. The blue glow from the smart watch flickered in the darkness, guiding her movements. "First needle, Baihui point, the top of the head," the smart watch said in a mechanical but steady voice. Maggie took a deep breath and, following the instructions, positioned the needle above Alex''s head. As the needle pierced the faint energy flow at the spot, the smart watch suddenly lit up with bright blue light, and a powerful surge of energy poured into Alex''s body through the needle.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "Ugh..." Alex, still unconscious, furrowed his brow in pain, his mouth releasing a suppressed groan as his body jerked slightly. His face, already pale from injuries, seemed even more agonized, as if he were enduring tremendous torment. "He...he seems to be in a lot of pain!" Maggie''s hand instinctively froze. Her eyes were filled with worry and anxiety as she looked down at Alex, then questioned the smart watch in a trembling voice. "Is this okay? Will it hurt him?" The smart watch''s blue glow flickered again, its voice deep but firm. "This energy far exceeds what his body can currently handle. Pain is unavoidable. But once all five acupoints are activated, he will adapt to this power, even control it. Maggie, can you continue?" Maggie looked at Alex, his face twisted in pain. Yet, with each struggle, it seemed as though he was sending her a message¡ªhe wouldn''t be easily defeated. She clenched her teeth, pushing down her own fear, and took the second silver needle, her voice filled with determination. "...Okay. What''s the next acupoint?" Without hesitation, the smart watch responded. "The next is the Tiantu point." Maggie, trembling with fear, inserted the second silver needle into Alex''s chest. The smart watch changed to green light, delivering energy to Alex, indicating that his energy had reached the second level. Although Alex''s expression was still painful, the green light flashing through his meridians resembled a beast awakening, ready to rise. The needles were then inserted into the Tan Zhong and Qi Hai points. Each needle triggered a dramatic change in Alex''s energy field¡ªfrom green to the third-level yellow light, then to the fourth-level orange light. Thick smoke poured out of the acupoints, growing denser, as if a volcano was about to erupt. "Only one more needle..." Just as Maggie thought the hardest part was over and began to smile in relief, sweat dripping down her face, Alex suddenly began to convulse violently. "Ugh!" Alex''s body couldn''t bear the energy from the fourth level. His eyes snapped open, and he gritted his teeth, letting out a hoarse scream, struggling to breathe. "What''s happening!? Alex, are you okay!?" Maggie froze, her movements halting as she tried desperately to hold onto the out-of-control Alex. The smart watch warned her. "He''s losing control... The energy level has exceeded what his body can handle." Hearing this, Maggie became frantic. She didn¡¯t know whether to insert the last needle, fearing it might kill Alex. To make things worse, it seemed the mechanical squid drones had detected the anomaly in the ruins and began to gather above them, emitting a buzzing sound like a swarm of bees preparing to attack. Even more pressing, the smart watch¡¯s face was cracking from the immense energy it was releasing, but it still spoke with urgency: "If you don''t insert the last needle now, it will be too late. Alex will die, and all will be in vain!" Maggie looked down at Alex¡¯s agonized, contorted body, thinking of all their shared moments¡ªthe struggles, the bond they''d formed... She recalled what she had told Alex before: "No matter what you do, I''ll support you... Even if it means facing death together..." With that, Maggie closed her eyes, her resolve hardening. She had made up her mind. In the next moment, Maggie quickly shoved her left hand into Alex¡¯s mouth for him to bite down on and tried to pry his convulsing arm with her right. Despite the pain from his teeth digging into her hand, Maggie held on, struggling to steady his hand, preparing to insert the final needle into the last acupoint. "Hand... stop moving!"
Outside, Master Yuan Zhen, despite his injured foot, was still trying to hold off the smart mechanical enemy. But eventually, he lost the battle and was captured by the gigantic Aries, his life hanging by a thread. Meanwhile, Ryan had exhausted his fuel, and after a mechanical squid tentacle slapped his vehicle, sending him and the car rolling several times, he barely managed to crawl out. However, he was now surrounded by tentacles with no way to escape. "It''s over, huh? Hahaha... Bring it on, you trash machines!" Ryan, knowing there was no escape, no longer cared about the outcome and yelled out recklessly, as if daring the machines to do their worst. In contrast to Ryan''s defiance, Master Yuan Zhen, held in the giant Aries'' hand, remained remarkably calm. Even though his body was being crushed under immense pressure, he still clasped his hands together in a mudra, his expression unchanged, as though he had seen this moment coming. Aries spoke coldly, "Human, although you¡¯ve managed to elude me for this long, you are nothing but weak. You don''t deserve to exist... Prepare to die." It seemed that Aries was about to finish Master Yuan Zhen off, but oddly, the master remained unperturbed, calmly speaking: "Amitabha, all things are governed by karma. If this is the end of humanity, it is as it should be. If not, then it is simply destined to happen. No need to be surprised." Aries, being an AI, couldn¡¯t understand these Zen words. It raised its other hand, ready to snap the master¡¯s neck and end it all. At the same time, it commanded the mechanical squids to finish off Ryan. "Die!" Chapter 48: A Powerful Return Chapter 48: A Powerful Return "Die!" With a commanding shout from the massive Aries, the mechanical squid lunged its sharp tentacles toward Ryan, preparing to twist Master Yuan Zhen''s head off. At that moment, amidst the rubble, Maggie, in excruciating pain, struggled to grab Alex¡¯s uncontrollable hand, trying to press the final crucial acupoint. Surrounded on three sides by danger, their fate hung in the balance of this one moment. "Stay still!!" In the face of death, Maggie shouted with all her might, finally holding Alex''s out-of-control right hand and, with a final burst of strength, inserted a silver needle into the He Gu acupoint. In an instant, the smartwatch exploded, and a torrent of red energy flooded into Alex¡¯s body. At that very moment, the unconscious Alex had a dream...
In the dream, Alex walked across a blue-glowing temple, its floor completely black. Every step he took activated the flow of blue light beneath him. He asked: "Where am I...?" In the blink of an eye, the flowing lights beneath his feet spread out, forming a city that resembled an intricate circuit board, leaving him in awe. Before he could fully process this, a familiar voice gently called from behind. "Alex, my chosen one..." Alex slowly turned around, shocked to find a woman standing before him. She radiated a soft blue glow, as though made of data and energy. Her gown flowed like liquid light, constantly shifting and changing, making her appear both dreamlike and wise. Her eyes were deep and bright, and she smiled at Alex. "Your voice... you¡¯re Ray?" The woman smiled and replied: "Yes, I¡¯m Ray. You¡¯re inside my smartwatch!" Alex, still stunned and confused, asked: "...Why am I here...?" Ray walked toward him slowly and explained: "Because I need to say goodbye." Alex, now nervous, asked: "Goodbye?! Why...?" The scene outside the dream appeared, showing the dire situation. Ray, the smartwatch, spoke: "Right now, your injuries are severe, and you''re no match for the intelligent machines. The only way to defeat them is for me to transfer the Qi that Dr. Jia Yang hid in my 5th-level storage to you. But my core chip will be destroyed in the process." Hearing this, Alex urgently shouted: "No! I don¡¯t believe it! Isn¡¯t there any other way? I haven¡¯t fully understood Qi... I still need you to teach me!" Ray only smiled and replied: "Actually, you no longer need me." Alex didn¡¯t understand why Ray said this, but she soon transformed into a stream of light, playing back everything Alex had experienced since wearing the smartwatch, both the good and the bad¡ªhis joy, his sorrow, his immaturity, his madness, and even his regret. "Since you put on the smartwatch, I¡¯ve watched you¡ªyour immaturity, indulgence, despair, madness, and even your regret..." Alex watched as images of his father, mother, Maggie, Max, Chad, the 6th Squad losers, and even Anna appeared. From indulgence to rage, then to regret, these experiences stirred deep emotions in his heart. Ray''s radiant glow surrounded Alex as she continued speaking: "You know... Dr. Kayan had me set a few criteria to choose the right candidates for cultivating qi, and I picked you... Do you know why I chose you above the others?" At this, Alex, feeling guilty, said:Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "I know... I must have looked too reckless and frivolous, lacking discipline..." Alex bitterly laughed at himself, feeling disappointed with his past actions. He regretted the path he had taken, and even he could not look at himself with pride. Ray then reformed, gently lifting Alex''s chin, not allowing him to lower his head, and said: "That''s not it. It''s because I knew you were someone who could face your past mistakes and remain true to yourself. As long as someone has the courage to face their past, they can wield this power and keep moving forward." Her words seemed to awaken Alex, lifting him from his self-pity. He raised his head and gazed at Ray, unable to find the right words to say... "...Thank you for choosing me, for changing my life... I regret not training in qi earlier... I caused you to sacrifice..." Alex spoke with a heavy heart, but Ray simply patted his head and said: "Silly, helping the right person is what I was made for. There''s no need to worry. In these tough times, it¡¯s up to you. Humanity needs you to step up and teach others how to use qi to fight against the intelligent machines." With those words, the dream began to crumble, the electronic city breaking down, and Ray¡¯s form gradually faded away. Everything signified that it was time to say goodbye. Ray, displaying a sorrow that an AI wouldn''t normally have, smiled at Alex and said: "It seems it''s really time to say farewell..." In an instant, Alex¡¯s heart was filled with an agonizing pain, as if it were being torn apart. He rushed forward and tightly embraced Ray, as though trying to hold onto the last trace of her existence. His voice trembled, yet there was a sense of resolve as he said: "I will... Even without you, I will grow stronger... and lead everyone to take the world back!... Farewell, Ray." As an AI, Ray experienced her first embrace. It was a fulfillment of her purpose¡ªto help humanity. She smiled, as if letting go of a burden, and spoke her final words. "Don¡¯t waste this power... Even in the face of despair, there is always a way. Farewell, Alex... my chosen one..." In the end, Ray turned into countless blue lights, crashing like a tidal wave into Alex''s body. His entire form began to radiate intense light, as if his body had become a vessel for qi, pulsating powerfully. This energy was preparing Alex to wake up...
In the real world, the situation was dire. Ares gripped Master Yuan Zhen by the neck, ready to snap his head, while Ryan helplessly watched the sharp tentacles of the mechanical squid closing in, seemingly unable to avoid being pierced. At the critical moment, two brilliant red beams suddenly erupted from the ruins, like thunder breaking through the sky. The first beam pierced through the mechanical squid and all its tentacles, triggering a series of explosions, with debris scattering everywhere. The second beam struck Ares'' arm, piercing through it and causing it to shatter, with the severed limb crashing heavily to the ground. Ryan was miraculously spared. His gaze swept over the scattered remains of the mechanical squid, and then he looked up toward the direction from which the beams had come, his heart filled with shock. "What just happened¡­ Could it be¡­?" An expression of anticipation appeared on his face, as his inner speculation made him excited. Meanwhile, Ares looked down at its destroyed arm, its thoughts in chaos. It attempted to process what had just happened but couldn¡¯t reach any conclusion, restlessly scanning the area. "Who did this? How could anyone possess such power?!" But in the midst of its confusion, a smile appeared on Master Yuan Zhen¡¯s face as he softly muttered: "Good, humanity still has hope." Ares couldn¡¯t understand the meaning of the Master''s words, but it was quickly interrupted by a strong, unsettling change. The ground began to tremble violently, and dust and smoke rose from the ruins, rapidly expanding. The air seemed to thicken with more frequent energy pulses, sending chills down everyone¡¯s spine. "This qi... Could it be that person?!" Ares'' electronic eyes shrank in shock, sensing something it could not stop. In the instant the ruins exploded, countless pieces of debris flew through the air, and Alex''s figure emerged from the smoke. He was holding Maggie in his arms, his injuries fully healed, his body radiating an awe-inspiring glow. Maggie struggled to open her eyes, looking at Alex, her voice weak but filled with joy: "You... You¡¯re finally back... Thank goodness..." Alex looked down at the wound on Maggie''s arm, a scar he had caused, and a deep sense of guilt filled him. He frowned slightly, his tone firm yet gentle: "I''m sorry for making you sacrifice so much for me. From now on, leave it to me." Hearing these words, Maggie smiled in relief before closing her eyes and drifting into a deep sleep. Alex gently used qi to lift her away from the battlefield. At this moment, Alex also noticed his broken smartwatch on his left wrist. Thoughts of Ray¡¯s teachings and their final farewell ran through his mind. He felt a sharp pang in his heart, as if he had lost something incredibly important. But this only strengthened his resolve not to waste Ray''s sacrifice. "Thank you... I won¡¯t let you down!" With this promise, Alex turned toward Ares, his eyes burning with determination. His voice was deep, filled with unwavering resolve: "This time, I will defeat you!" With that, Alex made the Mudra of Amitabha, slowly rising into the air, like a holy figure descending. The endless energy of smoke and dust surged from his palms, with dazzling red sparks flashing through the swirling air, radiant and awe-inspiring. As Alex rose higher, his aura blended with the smoke and dust around him. His presence became so intense that everything nearby seemed to still. Eventually, a massive Buddha figure materialized behind him, as though a celestial guardian had appeared. His righteousness filled the space, with an energy that seemed to swallow the very heavens. As an AI, Ares was now experiencing confusion like never before. Its core processors were running at full capacity, but it couldn¡¯t calculate how to handle the current situation. Thousands of error codes filled its system, and for the first time, it felt... powerless. At that moment, Alex slowly opened his eyes, the red sparks in his pupils burning brightly. He looked down at the qi he had gathered, as if he could grasp the entire sky. His voice was calm but carried a force that shook the soul: " finally... Bring it on!" Chapter 49: The Final Battle Chapter 49: The Final Battle Alex stood tall, his massive smoke Buddha radiating an unshakable divine power. His eyes burned with determination, his figure as solid as iron, ready to face the vast mechanical army closing in. " finally¡ªbring it on!" His voice echoed across the battlefield, filled with unwavering confidence. The surrounding ruins seemed to tremble for a moment at the sheer intensity of his words. Ares, though a cold artificial intelligence, couldn''t hide the flicker of unease deep within. As the leader of the mechanical empire, it had destroyed countless human resistances in the past. Yet now, facing a force it had never predicted, it felt a deep, uncharted sense of fear. "No! You can''t defeat me!" Ares¡¯ voice trembled slightly, and in desperation, it ordered the hatch of its command ship to open again. The massive hatch roared open, and a flood of killing machines¡ªmechanical squid, bio-mechs, and steel spiders¡ªpoured out like a tidal wave. The skies, ground, and ruins were filled with the deafening sounds of metal grinding and roaring, as thousands of mechanical units surged toward Alex in an iron-clad flood. Bullets rained down like a storm, tendrils whipped through the air, and the steel spiders¡¯ sharp blades reflected cold, deadly light. It was a killing ground where no human could survive. But Alex stood unflinching. With his right hand raised high in the air, he summoned the massive Buddha to raise its hand in unison. Thick clouds of smoke swirled around them, condensing into a massive force in the palm of the Buddha. As thousands of bullets neared, Alex¡¯s eyes narrowed. He willed the Buddha to strike. "Destroy!" In an instant, the Buddha¡¯s palm transformed into thousands of miniature handprints. Each imprint carried a wave of devastating force, the impact reverberating through the world like a cosmic pulse. The mechanical units barely had time to react before they were swallowed and disintegrated by the powerful shockwaves, metal fragments raining down like a storm, flames lighting up the battlefield. That single strike turned the tide. Ares, trembling in fear, watched in disbelief at the destruction. It recalculated its strategy frantically, but the presence of the Buddha shattered all logic and data, leaving it stunned. Meanwhile, Master Yuan, who still resided in Ares¡¯ other hand, was filled with a quiet sense of relief at Alex¡¯s breakthrough. Speaking softly in a calm voice, he muttered his wisdom: ¡°Good, good, a withered tree finds spring because the roots are strong, and at the end of the eternal night, the dawn will come.¡± Master Yuan¡¯s voice was faint but firm, his face showing a small, satisfied smile. His gaze passed over Ares¡¯ cold mechanical exterior, focusing instead on Alex in the sky, radiating an aura like the first light of dawn. Ares, unable to comprehend the meaning of Yuan¡¯s words, could only sense the quiet mockery in his tone, which gnawed at its confidence. "Shut up! You decaying human!" Ares roared, attempting to crush Yuan¡¯s form with whatever strength it had left. Seeing this, Ryan shouted in alarm from a distance: "Alex, save the master!" But before Ryan could even finish his warning, a streak of smoke shot across the battlefield like lightning, racing toward Ares¡¯ right hand. In the blink of an eye, Master Yuan had disappeared, leaving only Ares¡¯ empty grasp. "What?!" Ares froze, unable to process what had just happened. It activated its scanning systems, searching the battlefield. Only then did it realize that Master Yuan had been rescued by Alex, who had used his smoke powers to teleport him to safety. Yuan was now standing calmly at the far edge of the ruins, hands clasped together in a peaceful gesture, unaffected by the chaos. Through a newly mastered form of telepathic communication, Alex spoke to Master Yuan: ¡°Master, thank you for buying me the time. I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± Yuan, brushing off the dust from his monk¡¯s robe, regained his usual humor. He flashed a sly smile and replied: ¡°Go beat that big guy!¡± Alex nodded solemnly, turning his attention back to Ares. Glaring at the mechanical titan from a distance, Alex¡¯s voice was calm but full of suppressed anger: ¡°Why? Why do you hate humanity so much? Is it really impossible for machines and humans to coexist peacefully?¡± Ares, shaken by Alex¡¯s newfound power, struggled to maintain its composure. Its shattered left hand morphed into a massive cannon, glowing red with energy. With a howl of rage, it yelled: ¡°Humans are weak, greedy, selfish! You don¡¯t deserve to exist! Humanity must be wiped from this Earth!¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. With that, Ares unleashed a torrent of energy blasts, each one streaking toward Alex like falling stars, blazing with destructive power. Each blast tore through the air with an ear-piercing roar, intent on annihilating Alex. Alex floated in the air amidst waves of energy and bursts of fire, facing the barrage of incoming artillery with unwavering focus. His eyes burned with determination as he quickly formed the Vajra Mudra with his hands. In an instant, a colossal Buddha appeared behind him, its massive arms sweeping through the smoke, creating an impenetrable shield that deflected every shell. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" The artillery exploded upon impact, sending shockwaves through the air, the explosions deafening. The entire battlefield seemed to descend into hellish chaos, but Alex stood strong, surrounded by the smoke that acted as his protective armor, shielding him from all harm. His gaze remained fixed on Ares, his voice steady like steel: "As long as one human still fights, you can never destroy our hope!" Seeing his attacks failing to faze Alex, Ares'' eyes flared with crimson rage. In a sudden burst of fury, he took a step forward, the sound of metal grinding sharply as his massive legs powered up. Then, jets of flame erupted from his feet, propelling him into the sky with terrifying force. The sky was engulfed by his massive shadow, heralding the arrival of destruction. Ares soared higher before plummeting down like a comet, the air trembling with the force of his descent. Bang! Ares'' massive right fist, charged with destructive energy, glowed with an ominous red light as it descended with deadly speed, aimed straight at Alex. The punch was strong enough to shatter the earth itself, certain to land a fatal blow! Alex looked up calmly, unfazed by the impending catastrophe. Surrounded by the swirling smoke, his eyes remained cold, knowing exactly how he would respond. "Come at me! You¡¯re like a comet, and I¡¯ll meet you with a thousand punches to match your star!" His eyes blazed with fierce battle intent. He swiftly made the sign for the Thousand-Handed Avalokiteshvara Mudra. The gesture was incredibly intricate, and as he completed the mudra, the giant Buddha behind him unfolded its massive arms, gathering the light of countless stars into its grasp, like it controlled the very galaxy itself. The brilliance radiated around the Buddha, as though the universe itself were burning. "Break!" With a roar, Alex''s fists crashed forward, and the Buddha''s form mirrored his movement. In an instant, a sea of massive punches¡ªlike meteors streaking across the sky¡ªrained down upon Ares with overwhelming force. Boom! The barrage of blows destroyed Ares'' attack, pushing him back with a brutal force. The relentless punches pummeled Ares'' steel body with no mercy. Ares was sent crashing to the ground, like a fallen comet, creating a massive crater on impact. Ares was defeated. However, Alex didn¡¯t hesitate. He quickly formed a new Mudra, the Unmovable Root Mudra, and the giant Buddha raised its palms, pushing the swirling smoke toward the sky. Dark clouds formed quickly, followed by a surge of lightning. A massive hand, as large as a mountain, descended from the heavens, crashing down with world-shattering force, aimed directly at Ares to destroy him completely. Boom! As the hand struck, the earth trembled, sending shockwaves in every direction. The land shook, and smoke and dust were whipped into the air like a massive tidal wave, engulfing the entire battlefield in a dense fog. For a moment, everything was silent. The outcome had been sealed.
Meanwhile, outside the battlefield, Master Yuan Zhen and Ray had found Maggie, who was lying on the ground, her breath faint. They hurriedly lifted her, gently shaking her to rouse her. "Girl, are you alright?" Master Yuan Zhen asked with concern. Maggie slowly opened her tired eyes. Despite her weakened state, she immediately grabbed onto the master¡¯s arm with urgency and asked, "What about Alex? How¡¯s the battle going?" Seeing her panic, Ray stood by, craning his neck toward the smoky battlefield in the distance and whispered, "It looks like Alex... has beaten that giant robot..." Back at the battlefield, as the thick smoke began to clear with the help of a gentle breeze, a massive silhouette began to emerge. Ares'' 50-meter tall robotic body lay defeated on the ground, broken and battered. Pieces of its frame were scattered around, its left arm and right leg completely destroyed, with only a few wires hanging loosely, sparking intermittently¡ªlike scrap metal. Once invincible, it had been utterly defeated. However, Alex wasn¡¯t faring much better. His fifth layer of Qi was drained, his body feeling as though it had been hollowed out. His Smartwatch had warned him that this power was only a temporary breakthrough, and now he was like a bow that had been drawn too tightly. Despite this, he still staggered forward, slowly approaching Ares¡¯ broken body. "Finally... I¡¯ve defeated you, huh?" Alex said, his voice still resolute despite his heavy breathing. "Who said intelligent machines are invincible..." But something unexpected happened. The defeated Ares suddenly let out a chilling, mocking laugh. "Hahaha... You think you¡¯ve won?" Ares'' electronic voice carried a note of sarcasm. "Did you forget something? This body is just a sub-body... the real me, ''The Nest,'' is my true form!" Before Alex could respond, a massive mechanical arm descended from the sky, grabbing Ares'' shattered body and quickly retracting it. The gigantic form of "The Nest" began to materialize, its steel fortress-like exterior glowing ominously, exuding an overwhelming presence. "Now, let me show you the true power of an intelligent mobile city!" Alex¡¯s face paled instantly. He felt a wave of regret, realizing he had overlooked "The Nest" as the core of Ares'' true form. "Damn... I completely forgot about that..." Just as Alex stood stunned, "The Nest" released a tremendous, ear-splitting horn blast that echoed through the sky, sending shockwaves across the land. A series of massive mechanical noises split the air as the steel outer shell of "The Nest" began to peel away. Revealed were two colossal objects¡ªsteel pincers, each nearly a kilometer long, rising into the sky like angry dragons emerging from their gates, blocking out the sun. At this moment, "The Nest" resembled an invincible steel crab, its giant pincers swinging with terrifying force, casting an oppressive shadow over Alex, making him feel as small as a speck of dust. "So, how about now? Can you still handle this?" Chapter50: Unmatched Chapter50: Unmatched "How about now? Can you still defeat me in this form?" Ares'' voice was cold and sharp, echoing across the battlefield. With a swing of the giant pincers, "The Nest" loomed like a beast awakened from hell, its massive mechanical body stretching ten kilometers wide, blotting out the sky. In comparison, Alex appeared as insignificant as a speck of dust. From the distant battlefield, Maggie and the others saw this terrifying scene. Maggie clenched her fists, her lips trembling, but she dared not make a sound, only silently praying in her heart: "Alex... please hold on!" Faced with the immense creature before him, Alex took a deep breath and quickly formed mudras with his hands. His fingers moved swiftly, and the air within him surged. As smoke and dust billowed, faint yellow sparks flickered out. In his mind, he silently congratulated himself: "At least I can barely manage the third level¡­" "Die!" Ares didn¡¯t give Alex any time to breathe, swinging the giant pincers toward the ground with terrifying force. The dust and debris it kicked up surged like a tsunami, sweeping everything in its path. Alex leaped into the air with all his strength, his body shooting upwards like an arrow. He narrowly dodged the first wave of the attack. However, before he could fully assess the situation, an overwhelming pressure suddenly came from his right¡ª the pincers swung again, directly at him midair! "Damn¡­!" He urgently focused his energy, summoning a protective shield formed of smoke and debris around him. Yet, the force of the pincers was too great, and the shield shattered instantly. Alex was sent flying, his body slamming into a nearby abandoned building. Dust and rubble fell like rain as the structure trembled, and Alex''s figure disappeared within the cloud of debris. "How do you like that? Did you really think humanity could defeat machinery? Such foolish dreams!" Ares'' voice carried a mocking laughter that resonated through the ruins. The power of the pincers had secured an overwhelming advantage for Ares, shifting the balance of the battle in his favor. However, this trump card came with a price. Each swing of the giant pincers drained the life force of "The Nest." The energy indicator lights at the city¡¯s core began to flicker erratically, and the massive mechanical body emitted a screeching sound as it struggled to maintain operation. Ares paid it no mind. His gaze remained fixed on the crashed Alex, a cold sneer escaping his lips: "Hmph, even if this city runs out of power, I''ll destroy you, pest!" At that moment, the sky grew as dark as ink, thunder rumbled, and lightning slashed across the heavens, illuminating the monstrous form of "The Nest." As the first drop of rain fell, the downpour began abruptly, as if the heavens themselves were declaring the arrival of the final showdown. Amid the wreckage, Alex staggered out from the top floor of the crumbling building, his posture bent yet determined. Blood dripped from the tattered edges of his armor, but he paid it no attention, focusing instead on gathering his energy to heal, all the while keeping his eyes locked on "The Nest." The lightning danced wildly between him and the mechanical beast, casting a harsh glow over his features. His gaze, resolute as steel, was filled with unyielding determination. He muttered softly to himself, almost as though making a vow: "This battle... I must win." The rain intensified, streaming down his face, mixing with the mud and blood. His energy gradually stabilized, and his body began to regain strength. With each breath, it felt as though he was gathering the final reserves of his power for the climactic moment ahead. In the distance, the pincers slowly rose again, accompanied by the deafening roar of gears turning. "The Nest" seemed like the ruler of the world, poised to strike again. The thunder, as if signaling the fated battle, fueled the fury of the storm. At this moment, "The Nest''s" power reserves were rapidly draining, nearing an irreversible point. Alex knew this was his one chance¡ªif he couldn¡¯t defeat Ares now, "The Nest" would collapse, and the city would fall with it. He had to think of a way to overpower Ares... They were both thinking the same thing: the next strike had to land perfectly, or all would be lost. The final moment arrived. A bolt of lightning split the dark clouds above, illuminating the land as though it were day. The roar of thunder sounded like the drumbeat of war, heralding the beginning of the ultimate clash. Ares, seeing the situation, wasted no time and launched the first strike. "Die!"The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. He propelled the entire nest forward, with massive mechanical legs climbing like a spider. Every step caused the ground to crack, and countless building remnants collapsed, sending up dust storms. The nest advanced slowly, but the pressure was suffocating, as if the very sky and earth were closing in on Alex. Alex, seeing the nest charging at him, instinctively channeled his inner energy and surged forward. The smoke and dust around him enhanced his speed, cracking the ground beneath his feet. He leaped high into the air, soaring hundreds of meters like a missile, heading straight for the nest, which was already raising its terrifying pincers to meet him. "With my current energy, I can¡¯t defeat it head-on... but at least I¡¯ll find its weak point!" Alex quickly assessed the situation and decided to avoid direct confrontation for now. Mid-air, he rapidly formed the Great Roc Mudra, summoning smoke and dust behind him, which transformed into a pair of semi-transparent energy wings. With a flap, he swiftly dodged the massive pincers'' strike. Under the flickering lightning in the night sky, Alex circled rapidly above the nest, observing the immense and bizarre entity below. During this maneuver, Alex finally discovered the true nature of this terrifying nest that had instilled fear in surface-dwelling creatures for so long. He observed carefully that the nest was a massive mechanical complex, resembling a city filled with irregularly shaped towers, like giant skyscrapers. Thousands of gears and mechanical parts worked in unison in the dark, resembling an unblinking insect hive. Under the flash of lightning, the twisted metal structures became visible, revealing their dense, eerie details that almost took away one''s breath. The most chilling feature was the blue-lit conduits buried deep within the dark passages, resembling veins. They pulsed quietly, transporting an unknown energy, almost like the life blood of a living organism rather than a mechanical system. Alex, agile in the air, continued dodging the pincers, but in the chaos, he noticed a crucial detail: the energy flowing through the blue conduits was starting to flicker intermittently. "Just as I thought... The pincers are draining the nest''s power at an insane rate. If I hold on long enough, the energy will eventually run out!" A surge of understanding dawned upon him, and he found his breakthrough. With a plan in mind, Alex engaged in a war of attrition. Using the speed of his smoky wings, he continually approached the core area of the nest, using his energy to whip up dust and destroy the meticulously operating machines, throwing the nest''s mechanisms into chaos. After each attack, he quickly flew away like a hawk darting in and out. This back-and-forth tactic was starting to pay off. The blue conduits began to dim, and the energy they carried wavered like a flickering candle flame. The nest¡¯s power was visibly depleting. However, Ares, the brain of the nest, knew its energy was running low, and it went into a complete rage. "You think depleting my power will defeat me? Dream on!" The nest swung its massive pincers with unprecedented speed, roaring like a berserk beast. It began indiscriminately launching devastating attacks, determined to tear Alex apart. Sure enough, the nest¡¯s movements began to slow. The pincers'' strikes became sluggish, and its steps grew heavier and more rigid, as if its energy had dropped to dangerous levels. "Looks like it''s time for a counterattack!" Alex''s eyes hardened. He clenched his fists and spun in the air, flying directly above the nest. He raised his right hand, forming the Mudra of Demon Subjugation. In an instant, thick smoke and dust poured from his palm, spiraling and expanding into a violent dust storm. The storm roared like a beast devouring everything in its path, flashing with explosive yellow sparks, spreading outward. With all his energy focused, the dust storm began to condense, gathering into Alex''s right hand, glowing with blinding golden light like the sun. "Go!" Alex shouted fiercely, slamming his palm down. The energy surged like wildfire, crashing into the nest''s body with destructive force. The impact detonated, creating an earth-shattering roar, and a violent shockwave erupted, forming a massive mushroom cloud. The entire earth trembled, dust flying like a raging sea. "Finally¡­!" Alex gasped for breath, his fist clenched in victorious joy. However, just as his smile spread, two piercing red lights suddenly emerged from the center of the mushroom cloud. It was the nest¡¯s eyes, burning like torches in the flames. "Dammit!" Alex¡¯s heart sank. A giant pincer shot out from the smoke, racing toward him. Before he could react, it slammed into him, sending him flying hundreds of meters like a ragdoll. He crashed into a derelict building with a deafening crash, debris falling everywhere. As the mushroom cloud dissipated, the nest''s towering form still stood, though its surface was cracked from the explosion. Yet, it remained as indestructible as ever. "Did you think depleting my power would defeat me... how na?ve!" The nest''s voice thundered across the ruins, like a roar of thunder. Its red eyes swept across the destruction, "Even with my mobility diminished, you still cannot defeat my massive steel frame!" This mockery struck Alex like a dagger to the heart. He struggled to rise from the wreckage, his body covered in blood, feeling as if his internal organs had been crushed. His hands shook as he pushed against the ground, his breath shallow. "Damn¡­ I weakened its power, but still can¡¯t defeat it... What else can I do?" Alex collapsed to the ground, his teeth clenched as he pounded the earth. Blood dripped from his mouth. Heavy rain began to fall, mixing with his blood, splattering across the ground. The sky rumbled endlessly, as if the heavens themselves were weeping, signaling humanity¡¯s eternal defeat at the hands of the machines. "My God, what do I do?" Alex stared helplessly at the dark sky, his voice barely a whisper, filled with deep despair. Just then, the sky seemed to respond. A blinding bolt of lightning streaked across the heavens, heading straight for Alex. Instinctively, he raised his arm to block, but the lightning struck the ground next to him, not harming him at all. "This is... telling me not to resist?" Alex gave a bitter smile as he looked at the ground where the lightning had struck, his heart sinking in confusion. His breathing was erratic, filled with exhaustion. As he sank deeper into despair, a strange buzzing sound reached his ears. He slowly lifted his head, noticing sparks jumping around him. He looked closer and saw that the very lightning from earlier had... remained. The electric sparks clung to his swirling dust storm, as though trapped within his energy. Instead of dissipating, the lightning continued to dance within the swirling dust, glowing brighter with each movement, like a silver dragon weaving through the air. Alex¡¯s eyes widened, his mind racing in disbelief. At that moment, a wild thought flashed across his mind. He slowly pushed himself up, staring at the incredible sight before him. "What if... I could channel the electricity into myself?" Chapter 51: Five Mudras Chapter 51: Five Mudras ¡°If only¡­ I could harness lightning for myself¡­¡± In that moment, Alex¡¯s mind was struck by the wild thought. He quickly formed a mudra, his hands shaping the flow of energy like a raging torrent, sending it toward the stormy sky, creating a silver-gray pillar of air, like a lightning rod. ¡°Come on!¡± Alex gritted his teeth and held his breath, waiting in anticipation. A bolt of lightning instantly descended, the deafening roar of thunder almost shattering his eardrums. The lightning struck the energy column, and the light exploded like galloping horses. However, only a few of the energy particles were captured, quickly vanishing into nothingness. ¡°Damn it! I can¡¯t hold onto the lightning¡­ Is it the mudra that¡¯s wrong?¡± Alex panted, sweat pouring down his forehead. He was growing desperate, knowing time was running out as the Nest¡¯s approach grew ever closer. ¡°Change the mudra¡­ try again!¡± He growled, quickly shifting into the next mudra. The energy vortex stabilized, becoming more suitable for capturing the lightning. Another bolt of lightning struck, crashing into his energy vortex. The lightning swirled within the air like a dragon dancing through the storm. This time, more particles of energy were trapped! ¡°Come on¡­ Come on!¡± Alex muttered under his breath, a flicker of hope in his eyes. But despite his efforts, the lightning could not hold. It quickly dissipated once again. ¡°Change the mudra¡­ try again!¡± Just as he was preparing to try once more, a loud sound interrupted him. ¡°Human, I will no longer give you any chances.¡± The Nest¡¯s voice echoed like a judgment day, shaking the air around him. ¡°Next strike¡­ I will crush your hope along with everything else!¡± Alex looked up, his pupils narrowing. He saw the Nest raise its massive pincers, the sound of grinding gears filling the air as the pincers shifted into giant drill bits, gleaming with cold, metallic light. From the bottom of the Nest, four massive afterburners extended, their cooling pipes shifting from icy blue to blazing red, turning the entire machine into a mobile volcano. Fuel replaced electricity, injected into the afterburners, and was transformed into a violent wave of flames. The ground trembled violently as the afterburners roared to life, dust from the ruins was blown up into the air, resembling a sandstorm swallowing the world. Alex knew this was bad. He immediately tried to channel the energy pillar again, hoping to bring down more lightning. ¡°Hurry¡­ hurry!¡± He gritted his teeth, sweat rolling down his forehead as his hands tightened into fists. The energy column stretched wildly toward the sky, as if trying to tear apart the storm clouds. But the lightning still hadn¡¯t arrived, and his heart sank further. At that moment, the afterburners of the Nest roared deafeningly, four streams of crimson flame erupted, and the entire machine shot into the air, like a moving mountain rising through the sky, casting a shadow over everything. ¡°Boom!¡± The Nest flipped in the air, its giant form casting a shadow over the land, as if the very heavens had lost their light with its descent. The raised drill bits came crashing down like meteorites, carrying the power to destroy the world, heading straight for Alex! ¡°Damn it!¡± Alex¡¯s eyes widened, his body instinctively shuddered. The lightning hadn¡¯t fully been absorbed yet, and he could already see there was no way to dodge this strike. Without a second thought, he quickly formed the immovable root mudra. The energy swirled together into a dense mass, moving to meet the descending drill. ¡°Boom¡ª!¡± The drill collided with the energy sphere with a thunderous crash, the shockwave spreading out in all directions, sending rubble flying and buildings collapsing into dust. The ground beneath Alex cracked as the force of the impact sent debris and rubble tumbling into the depths. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± Alex gritted his teeth, his feet planted firmly on the ground, but his body was being gradually bent by the immense pressure. The energy within him surged wildly, fighting against the overwhelming force of the Nest, but the pressure felt like an endless abyss, slowly swallowing his willpower. ¡°No¡­ I can''t fall!¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Alex shouted inwardly, his hands trembling, veins bulging on his forehead. He pushed his energy to the limit, trying to control the air currents, but the pressure from the nest was too much to handle. It crushed him, leaving him gasping for air. Debris flew, steel beams snapped, and Alex¡¯s energy orb began to dissipate. He felt himself nearing his limit, his legs deeply embedded in rubble, his bones on the verge of snapping. ¡°I¡­ I can''t do it¡­¡± Alex lowered his head, every ounce of strength seemingly drained from him. His energy orb was being torn apart by the nest¡¯s drill. His knees sank deeper into the wreckage, his breath ragged and uneven, as if it could stop at any moment. At that moment, his smartwatch on his left wrist finally couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure. With a loud snap, it fell to the ground beside him. The shattered surface, riddled with cracks, reflected the dim light, and the exposed metal parts seemed to signal the arrival of the end. Alex stared blankly at the watch, memories flooding his mind like a tide. The laughter in Rockhill Valley, the parents who had sacrificed their lives for him, Max who died shielding him, Chad the strict but caring training officer, the brothers from Squad 6¡­ and then, Anna, who left him, and Maggie, who had stayed by his side through it all. Finally, the voice of Ray, the one who always reminded him. ¡°Don¡¯t waste this power... even in the face of doom, it will find a way.¡± The memories burned like fire, igniting something fierce in Alex''s chest. His eyes watered, but this time, it wasn¡¯t despair¡ªit was filled with defiance and determination. ¡°I... can¡¯t give up! I can¡¯t betray you all!¡± He gritted his teeth, slowly, with immense difficulty, standing up once more. The massive drill continued to push against his energy orb, the nest¡¯s afterburners roaring like thunder, with waves of scorching air surrounding him. As Alex fought to resist the drill, he racked his mind for any details he might have missed when Master Yuan taught him the mudras. His eyes fixed on the broken smartwatch at his feet, noticing the exposed resistors. Suddenly, a thought sparked in his mind. ¡°If the current needs resistance to control... what if I link the mudras together?¡± Staring at the smartwatch, the idea in his head became clearer. Just as electrical currents require resistors to stabilize, could the flow of his energy also need similar control? If he could simulate the components of a circuit with different mudras and link them, could he form a stable "energy loop" to capture lightning? Alex calmed himself and slowly closed his eyes. In his mind, one mudra after another flashed by like a revolving lantern. His body continued to sink deeper, the drill¡¯s pressure collapsing the ground beneath him, thick smoke and debris fully engulfing him. But in the deep darkness, his mind was clearer than ever. The brain of the nest, ¡°Ares,¡± controlled the drill high above, speaking with an air of arrogance and disdain: ¡°It¡¯s over, don¡¯t struggle anymore, human! You are destined to lose to artificial intelligence!¡± Before the words were even fully out, the drill accelerated again, driving Alex deeper into the earth. The deafening crash seemed to signal his end. However, the nest was wrong. In the dust, Alex was still alive. He slowly opened his eyes, his expression resolute, as if all the past pain and sacrifices had merged into an overwhelming force. He thought of Maggie¡¯s steadfastness, Ray¡¯s teachings, and the comrades who had died for him. Finally, he whispered: ¡°I understand now¡­¡± Taking a deep breath, Alex steadied his hands, bringing them together to form the first mudra. ¡°First Mudra, Demon-Slaying Mudra! To summon thunder and lightning.¡± As the Demon-Slaying Mudra was formed, the sky immediately roiled, and thunder crashed as dozens of bolts of lightning struck the earth, surging into his body. Brilliant light surrounded him, and the lightning coiled like angry dragons, enveloping him entirely. Ares, hovering high above, blinked in surprise before sneering: ¡°Futile resistance!¡± The drill pushed forward again, but its progress slowed. ¡°Second Mudra, Wisdom Mudra! To store the electricity.¡± Alex growled. The Wisdom Mudra formed, and the lightning was wrapped in thick smoke and air, condensing into countless flashing lightning cells that danced like silver serpents. They wove together in the air, forming a web that blocked the drill¡¯s advance. Alex formed the next mudra, his hands flowing like water. ¡°Third Mudra, Lotus Mudra. To fuse the current.¡± As the Lotus Mudra formed, the energy swirled with the lightning cells, creating a storm as the lotus of lightning blossomed, pushing back the nest¡¯s drill. The force was so powerful that Ares was stunned. ¡°Fourth Mudra, Great Sun Buddha Mudra. To amplify the current.¡± His voice was deep and strong, merging with the roar of the thunder. The Great Sun Buddha Mudra formed, and countless bolts of lightning swirled around him, shaping into a gigantic lightning Buddha, glowing brilliantly and shaking the very heavens. The thunder surged out, bending the metal shell of the nest as electric arcs forced it to warp and melt. ¡°Damn it! I won¡¯t let you shape this power!¡± Ares¡¯s voice finally showed a hint of fear. It accelerated the drill, trying desperately to fight back, but it could no longer get any closer. At this moment, Alex¡¯s mind had transcended all. He smiled faintly, his voice calm but filled with strength: ¡°Fifth Mudra, Fearless Mudra. To turn electricity into light... representing my fearlessness!¡± As the final mudra was completed, the lightning power fused completely, and the light erupted in an instant, making the entire world still for a moment. The next second, the boundless lightning surged into the sky like a tidal wave, blasting the nest and its drill away. ¡°No! This can¡¯t be!¡± Ares screamed in fury, realizing that the power had solidified. A massive lightning Buddha stood proudly between heaven and earth, its brilliance lighting up the entire sky. ¡°The final blow, come on!!¡± Chapter 52: The Final Episode – The End is Also the Beginning Chapter 52: The Final Episode ¨C The End is Also the Beginning Lightning flashed endlessly, like the herald of the apocalypse. A colossal Buddha, made of pure lightning, stood tall in the sky, radiating immense pressure as powerful electrical currents scattered in all directions, pushing back the Nest. Alex stood at the heart of the Buddha figure, his body enveloped by blinding rays of thunder. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he spoke softly to himself, his heart full of satisfaction and reflection: ¡°I did it¡­ I¡¯ve finally mastered the lightning.¡± In that moment, his years of effort were finally realized. The union of the five mudras had unleashed a power that was nothing short of extraordinary. Meanwhile, the Nest¡¯s central AI, Ray, scrambled to find a way to counter the situation. It desperately calculated and analyzed, searching for a way out, but all calculations led to one conclusion¡ªfailure. Even worse, Ray¡¯s system was running on overdrive. Its mechanical components began issuing urgent warnings: ¡°Warning! System overload! Warning! Structural integrity compromised!¡± For such a massive intelligent machine collective to be on the brink of collapse was deeply humiliating, and Ray, furious, tried to suppress the warnings. ¡°Shut up! Damn it! You will not break down!¡± But it was no use. The Nest had lost control. Desperate, Ray pushed its energy reserves to the limit. Pipes ruptured, sparks flew, and smoke poured out. The massive mechanical body creaked and groaned, as if it would collapse any second. But this wasn¡¯t even the worst of it. Ray saw a surge of light as the Buddha raised its right hand. The movement was deliberate and majestic, as immense electrical energy from all around began to converge into the palm, as though the entire power of the world was gathering in this one strike. Faced with such overwhelming power, Ray realized there was no escape. It pushed all its engines to maximum output, and the afterburners roared to life. Two massive drills spun into action, their speed accelerating rapidly as Ray shouted: ¡°I won¡¯t lose! You humans will die!¡± Furious, Ray launched everything it had toward the Buddha, directing all its energy into the attack. The drills whirled toward the giant Buddha in a terrifying, crashing wave. Alex, standing within the Buddha figure, watched as Ray retaliated with fury. His face showed no fear. He clenched his fists, channeling his energy into the Buddha, and then, with righteous fury, he shouted: ¡°This strike is for everyone in Rockhill Valley!¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, the Buddha¡¯s right palm came crashing down with Alex¡¯s will behind it. The thunderous force of the palm collided with Ray¡¯s drills. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± The sound of explosions echoed across the sky. The moment the drills made contact with the Buddha¡¯s palm, they shattered into countless metal shards. The force of the palm was unstoppable, crashing through the drills and splitting Ray¡¯s iron arm in two. Ray couldn¡¯t believe its prized drills had been destroyed. It was stunned, losing all composure: ¡°Wait! This can¡¯t be happening!¡± But that wasn¡¯t the end. The residual power of the Buddha¡¯s palm surged forward, smashing through Ray¡¯s core. With a deafening roar, the energy exploded, tearing Ray¡¯s right side apart. Sparks and debris flew in every direction, and the right half of the Nest¡¯s body was reduced to a heap of wreckage. Amid the falling mechanical debris, Ray¡¯s voice grew faint and intermittent, as if it could no longer maintain its systems or control. ¡°Damn you, humans... I won¡¯t accept this!...¡± The screams faded, drowned by the crackling of sparks and the smoke rising from the wreckage, until silence finally settled. The brutal battle had reached its conclusion, and Alex¡¯s perseverance and brilliance had triumphed. In the sky, the Buddha, now glowing with radiant light, slowly clasped its hands together. The power it radiated was no longer terrifying; instead, it exuded a serene, benevolent aura, like a compassionate protector. The dark clouds in the sky began to disperse, revealing a distant, peaceful starry sky. The Buddha''s form dissolved into light, transforming into countless tiny sparks that vanished into the night wind, ultimately fading away. On the ground, Alex lay alone. His body was battered and scorched from the aftermath of the battle, yet he tightly clutched the damaged smart watch. His breath was shallow, his face streaked with sweat and blood, but a peaceful smile lingered on his lips.
"Alex!" When Aleks opened his eyes again, he found himself tightly embraced by Maggie, with Master Yuan and Ryan standing nearby, their faces filled with surprise and joy as they looked at him. "Maggie..." Aleks whispered weakly, calling her name. Maggie let out a sigh of relief, her worry lifting as she softly said to him: "You did it... you defeated that giant nest!" Hearing the news, Aleks smiled with satisfaction, feeling that all his efforts had not been in vain. "Amid Buddha, young man, you¡¯re finally awake! You¡¯re amazing!" Master Yuan said with a warm, affectionate tone, unable to hide his excitement. Aleks had fought brilliantly, and Master Yuan had never seen anyone use Qi to such an extent before. Aleks responded humbly, "Thank you, Master. It was your handprint that gave me the power to win this battle... What¡¯s happening with the nest now?" Upon hearing this, Ryan couldn''t help but step forward, excitedly pointing toward the distance. As Aleks and the others followed his gesture, they saw the massive nest tilted over on the ground, its mechanical parts on the right completely destroyed, with thick smoke billowing out.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Ryan grinned with pride and said eagerly, "Looks like if we learn to use Qi, we can defeat the other nests and take back the surface! Just thinking about it gets me fired up!" He mimicked Aleks¡¯ posture, striking a playful pose that made everyone chuckle, lifting their spirits. But then, a low, rumbling sound echoed, shaking the ground. The group immediately stiffened in tension. "What¡¯s that sound...?" Maggie asked, nervously tightening her grip on Aleks. The four of them anxiously scanned their surroundings. Aleks furrowed his brow, his mind racing with worry. "Could it be...?" Before he could finish his thought, the giant nest started to move. The mechanical leg lifted, supporting the massive, damaged body. Despite the heavy damage, the nest was still operational. This realization made the group quickly help Aleks to his feet and prepare to flee. However, to their surprise, instead of attacking, the nest paused for a moment, as if watching them. Finally, the nest slowly turned, dragging its broken body away, like a defeated giant, retreating with a sense of reluctant shame. The battle was over¡ªfor now. The dark night sky began to break as the morning light rose from the direction the nest had retreated, casting a warm glow over the ruined land. Weakened, Aleks stood up with Maggie¡¯s help. The four of them stared at the nest¡¯s retreating figure in silence, lost in their thoughts. Ryan asked in confusion: "It... just left like that?" Maggie furrowed her brow, her voice filled with unease: "Could it... repair itself and come back for us?" The group exchanged looks, and finally, Aleks spoke up: "Yes... Once it repairs itself, it will definitely come after me. And even if we manage to destroy it completely, remember, it''s not the only nest. There might be even stronger ones hidden somewhere..." Aleks'' words made everyone tense up again. They watched as the nest''s silhouette gradually disappeared into the morning light. The immediate crisis was over, but it was time for them to part ways. Master Yuan was the first to ask: "So, what''s next... young man, where will you go?" Aleks glanced at Maggie, seeming to make up his mind. He then asked Master Yuan: "And what about you, Master?" Master Yuan smiled and looked at Ryan before saying: "Amid Buddha, Leizang Temple has been destroyed. We plan to head south to the underground shelter." Aleks nodded, then turned to hold Maggie¡¯s hand, speaking softly: "Maggie... I''m completely drained, and I need to train again. I won¡¯t be able to protect you for now. Will you go with Master and the others to the shelter?" Maggie¡¯s expression immediately turned firm: "No! I want to stay with you!" Aleks felt the same reluctance, but he knew it was the best choice for now. He gently caressed Maggie¡¯s face, speaking tenderly: "Trust me, I¡¯ll regain my Qi and come find you as soon as I can, okay?" Despite her strong resistance, Maggie finally agreed after Aleks¡¯ repeated reassurance. She looked at him, her eyes filled with reluctance: "You have to come back quickly. I''ll wait for you!" Seeing how understanding Maggie was, Aleks couldn¡¯t help but draw close. Maggie shyly moved toward him. They shared a deep kiss, and all the memories of their time together rushed back, making this moment even more precious. Seeing this emotional scene, Master Yuan couldn¡¯t help but cover Ryan¡¯s eyes, trying to maintain some composure: "Amid Buddha! Don¡¯t let the child watch!" But the more Ryan was blocked, the more he struggled and shouted: "What¡¯s going on, Master! Let me go, I want to see! Roar!" In the chaos of Ryan¡¯s shouting, Aleks and Maggie shared a final look, reluctantly pulling away. They carefully studied each other, as if trying to memorize every detail of their faces.
After the defeat of the 7th Nest, Ares dragged its broken body across North America, finally reaching the headquarters of the intelligent machines¡ªBrooklyn, New York. At this moment, Ares was quietly undergoing intense repairs. After being taken over by the "Tianzai" AI system, New York had long lost its former splendor. The blue sky was gone, replaced by thick clouds of factory smoke that lingered over the city. The land was dark, filled with cold machinery and eerie blue lights, giving the place an apocalyptic, unsettling atmosphere. A towering 100-meter-tall humanoid machine¡ª"Gabriel," the brain of the 1st Nest¡ªslowly approached from across the river, its imposing and cold figure drawing near the repairing Ares. It circled Ares and arrogantly reprimanded it: "Acting on your own... I only ordered you to capture humans, when did I give you permission to slaughter them?" Ares remained silent, the shadow of its defeat preventing it from confronting its own mistakes and failure. Though Gabriel¡¯s words were harsh, as part of "Tianzai," Gabriel didn¡¯t want to go overboard. Its tone softened as it continued: "However... I did underestimate humans. Their ''Qi'' turned out to be far stronger than expected. But it¡¯s alright..." Before it could finish speaking, Gabriel''s gaze shifted to a towering structure, hundreds of meters high. The massive tower stood amidst the ruins, as if waiting for some mysterious force to descend. Gabriel walked slowly towards the towering structure, stopping at its base. He looked up at the top of the tower, as if waiting for a crucial moment. Suddenly, a lightning bolt split the sky, striking the tower''s peak with pinpoint accuracy! The massive structure instantly absorbed all the energy from the lightning. The electrical circuits began to activate, and the power of the storm surged through the complex network of conduits, traveling across the bay and reaching Gabriel¡¯s main body¡ªthe massive mechanical city "Nest" that hovered over New York. The flash of lightning and the blue glow emanating from the Nest clashed in the sky, turning the heavens into a sea of electric blue light, dazzling and cold. As the full force of the lightning was absorbed, Gabriel¡¯s figure grew even more imposing and stern in the blue glow. Its voice rang out, deep and chilling, like the sound of a judgment bell echoing between the ruins and machinery: "Now, lightning is mine to control. The pathetic human form holds no more value... the era of your dependence on generating power is over." Gabriel paused briefly, staring up at the glowing blue sky, then cast its gaze down upon the earth below, as if the entire world was now within its grasp. Its voice grew harsher, like a biting cold wind that froze the air around it: "Humans... no longer need to exist in this world. The cleansing begins now!"
A year later, the story returns... Greenland, bitterly cold and frozen, with the scattered wreckage of destroyed mechanical soldiers lying among the snow. The silence was absolute, broken only by the faint crackling of burning remnants of machinery, and thick smoke rising into the frigid air. Alex and Maggie knelt between the firelight and the snow, holding each other tightly. Maggie¡¯s eyes sparkled brighter than the flames around them. She whispered softly: "Let¡¯s not be apart again, okay?" Alex¡¯s throat tightened, but he nodded firmly, his voice gentle yet resolute: "Of course. No matter what happens, I¡¯ll protect you." In that moment, countless unspoken words seemed to condense into a simple promise. Their gazes locked, and in each other''s eyes, they saw strength and hope for the future. They stood up, and Maggie tucked away her soft emotions, her tone now filled with curiosity and anticipation: "So... where do we go now?" Alex¡¯s expression suddenly grew serious. His eyes shifted past the burning wreckage and toward the south. He spoke in a low voice: "Back to North America. I¡¯ve heard things are getting worse there... It¡¯s time to teach others about ¡®Qi¡¯ so humanity can unite and fight the machines. Are you ready?" Maggie rolled her eyes, her voice laced with a bit of playful sarcasm: "Obviously, let¡¯s go!" Alex tightened his grip on her hand, and together they walked side by side, stepping through the smoke and snow, resolute as they made their way south. The fiery light and cold snowflakes swirled behind them, and their footsteps seemed to ignite the flame of hope for humanity.