Something's Wrong, Lord Ao Ge

The interior structure of Crescent Moon was quite peculiar. There were no floors; instead, metal platforms roughly two meters wide crisscrossed from bottom to top, layer upon layer. They looked chaotic, but were actually arranged in an orderly fashion.

At the center of the platforms stood a massive instrument over twenty meters tall. Pale blue "rays" extended outward from it, connecting one by one to more than a dozen smaller auxiliary devices below. It looked as beautiful as a burst of fireworks.

This was a supercomputer developed by the Fellinton Federal Government at enormous expense decades ago. After being improved and upgraded with ancient technology, it was now used for research into Super Gene Technology.

Inside the enormous spherical Light Energy Simulation Interface, data related to the Gene Engine was being demonstrated. Complex data codes scrolled up and down while Gene Chain fragments broke apart and recombined, making the sight dizzying.

At the other end of the interface was a three-dimensional figure standing with both arms outstretched. After calculations by the simulation system, it slowly "disintegrated" into countless particles. Then ripples appeared across the display, and it reassembled elsewhere. It was clearly a demonstration experiment of using Micro Wormhole Transportation on oneself.

The supercomputer was running. The researchers, who should have been making records and calibrating instruments, had all gathered together instead. They looked at the young man who had smashed through the window from outside—or rather, the angel—with obvious fear on their faces.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Hard Roman-style combat boots stepped across the cold Metal Platform like death warrants from hell. With every step, the researchers' hearts clenched tighter, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy.

Hua Zhen did not look at them. From the moment he flew in, his eyes had remained fixed on the supercomputer's Light Energy Simulation Interface. His heavy breathing revealed the turmoil in his heart.

"Y-you can't go over there..." Just as he was about to approach, a clear voice suddenly rang out.

Hua Zhen glanced at the speaker. She was a young woman in her twenties. Seeing that she was clearly terrified yet still wore a stubborn expression, he could not help finding it amusing. He shook his head and continued toward the supercomputer without stopping.

The woman clenched her teeth and, ignoring the people beside her trying to stop her, hurried two steps forward. "You angels have no right to... Urgh..."

Her body suddenly stiffened, and she did not dare say another word. An exquisite dagger was hovering at her throat. If she had not stopped in time, it would likely have pierced her neck. Everyone else broke out in a cold sweat for her.

"If you don't want to die, stay out of my way!" Hua Zhen's impatient voice reached her ears.

"C-come back, Anna..." An elderly man stepped out from the crowd, grabbed the woman by the arm, and dragged her back.

"But, Teacher..." Anna bit her lip.

The old man brought her back into the crowd and sighed bitterly. "Even the Mecha Guardians and Lord Ji En couldn't stop him. What can we possibly do?"

Anna gritted her teeth as she stared at Hua Zhen's back, her delicate face filled with unwillingness. "Damn it... If Lord Ao Ge were here, he would definitely be able to stop him!"

Hua Zhen sneered inwardly when he heard that. He ignored them and spread his wings, flying to the supercomputer's control terminal. He first let out a long breath to calm his excitement, then extended an arm. A gleam flashed through his eyes as he commanded, "Gene Engine, begin Data Intrusion..."

"Unknown data intrusion detected. Initiating security protocols..."

A cold voice suddenly sounded. The spherical Light Energy Simulation Interface rippled, then quickly changed into Bang Ni's appearance. Her eyes were hollow as she looked at Hua Zhen without a trace of emotion. She was the supercomputer's Artificial Intelligence.

"Warning!! No matching data found in terminal backups. Stop the intrusion immediately!"

As soon as the words fell, the supercomputer began calculating under her command at an overclocked speed of tens of billions of operations per millisecond. At the same time, the arrayed auxiliary devices below began operating at full power.

The Gene Engine data demonstration, Gene Chain fragment recombination, and every experiment involving Micro Wormhole Transportation on oneself stopped at the same instant. Firewalls formed from countless layers of scrolling code locked, sealed, and protected them one by one.

"Pretty capable, aren't you?" Hua Zhen curled his lips into a smile. He stretched out both hands, materializing a Light Energy Keyboard before him. "If this had been when I first arrived, I definitely would've been scratching my head with no idea where to start. But things are different now. Cracking an Artificial Intelligence like you won't be difficult for me... Heh, let me show you what I've learned at the Heavenly Palace over these past few years..."

Time rewound to more than ten minutes earlier.

Inside the command room of the Central State District's coastal military base, Ao Ge, Ke Li, and the other Five Great Leaders had gathered. Below them sat military commanders from every level of the Fellinton Civilization's Five Great State Districts, arranged in layers upon layers. Their number had already surpassed a hundred.

Tomorrow would be the day war arrived. The matter was of great importance, and to ensure nothing went wrong, Ao Ge had summoned them once more to carefully arrange and coordinate the series of prewar deployments.

"This may be old news, but while it's true that we started this war, I believe everyone understands what kind of disaster conducting private research into Super Genes would bring to Fellinton!" Ao Ge sat in the chief seat, sweeping his gaze over the commanders in the room as he spoke in a low voice.

Other than Bang Ni, Ao Ge could be said to be the youngest person here. Yet none of those below looked down on him because of it, whether they belonged to the Central State District or one of the other four Great State Districts. Everyone listened attentively.

"To be honest, Lord Ao Ge, Fellinton has been conducting Super Gene research experiments for two whole years... Even now, I still feel like I'm dreaming," a middle-aged man in his forties said with a sigh.

"My apologies, everyone!" Ke Li said remorsefully. "My momentary greed led to the situation we have today..." He paused, narrowing his eyes. "But everyone, Fellinton has been under the Angel Civilization's hegemonic rule for far too long. They won't allow us to develop, and they restrict our technology. If this continues, Fellinton's future..."

"Governor, we all understand!"

"That's right. I've always fought on the front lines, so I feel it deeply. When those angel birdmen fight other advanced civilizations, they don't treat us like people at all. They use our soldiers as cannon fodder. Hmph, I've wanted to rebel against them for a long time!"

"Exactly! As long as we seize tomorrow's opportunity and capture the Heavenly Palace's Third Prince in one stroke, there'll be nothing to fear from that old bastard Hua Que!"

A cacophony of voices rose from below. Everyone looked ready to go all out. Fellinton now had an opportunity to enter the Gene Era—how could they not want to see it happen? Just as Ke Li had said before, no one wanted to remain humble forever.

Ao Ge tapped the table, signaling everyone to quiet down. "I'm pleased that everyone is united, but there's something else I need to remind you of!" Once he had everyone's attention, he continued, "Eight years ago, the Heavenly Palace's Third Prince Hua Zhen proposed Micro Wormhole Transportation to Angel King Hua Que. After this technology was successfully developed, it has already been implemented on a small scale in the Heavenly Palace.

"If I'm not mistaken, his two personal guards should have mastered this technology as well. Although they can only transport things like weapons, I hope everyone takes it seriously. And also..."

Hiss!

At that moment, the meeting room doors suddenly opened. Soon, a soldier dressed like a civilian staff member rushed in, his face filled with panic as he shouted, "S-something's wrong, Lord Ao Ge..."

"Can't you see we're in a meeting? Why are you running around in such a panic?" Dai Wei, the leader of the Western Federal District, frowned and rebuked him.

Ao Ge waved at him, then looked at the soldier and asked, "What happened?"

The soldier took several ragged breaths. "Lord Ao Ge... The Supervisory Hall has sent word that everyone stationed there has... has disappeared!!"

"What?!! What happened?!" Ao Ge shot to his feet.

"Whoosh~~"

The people in the command room were likewise deeply shocked by the news.

"Quiet!" Ke Li shouted sharply, glaring at the soldier. "When exactly did this happen? Why are you only reporting it now?"

"Governor, the report was just sent over. As for when exactly..."

"Something's wrong! Lord Ao Ge..."

Before the soldier could finish, someone else rushed in. He stumbled and nearly crashed into one of the commanders seated near the entrance.

"Another emergency? Speak!" Ao Ge's face darkened, and his voice was low.

"M-my lord... The Heavenly Palace's Third Prince Hua Zhen, together with his two personal guards, has t-taken our Research Base!!"

"W-what?!!"