Apocalyptic Mechanist

Jiang Xiao smiled and increased his Source Energy Intensity a bit to replenish his mana. The interwoven blue and yellow lights of the Thunder Cannon Floating Cannons gradually turned red!

Above the sky, the central television tower's aircraft diligently broadcasted the scene.

Kliffen's usual strange, sharp voice echoed throughout Sin City.

"Eh? Everyone, has anyone seen the Sin City Council's Electromagnetic Tanks? Am I blind?"

"Awooo~~ So it wasn't me who was blind, it was the Sin City Council's Electromagnetic Tanks that were blind! You scared me, hahahahahaha!"

Chapter 49 Jiang Xiao: "Miss you, Prison Duo"

Kliffen taunted sarcastically, without any attempt to hide his schadenfreude. His sharp laughter spread throughout Sin City.

Most criminals in Sin City's bars and gang territories acted as if they heard nothing, staring blankly at the holographic screens and television broadcasts.

Two figures shrouded in almost tangible Source Energy Auras charged into the flock like two behemoths, slaughtering wildly without restraint!

Countless rifle muzzles, grenade explosions, and even heavy cannons and sniper cannons unleashed a barrage of fire!

The terrifying firepower was unlike anything most Aliens in Sin City had ever seen. Dense flames and plasma light waves obscured most of the screen.

Yet, even so, they couldn't stop the two monsters one bit!

Even the mid to high-level members of the major gangs were now filled with dread.

They knew that unless sniper cannons and heavy cannons hit a Tier 2 Elite head-on, shrapnel and explosive waves alone couldn't cause any casualties!

The problem was that over ten thousand fully armed gang members were gathered in the Kasar Street Block. Even if the vast majority weren't martial artists, such a dense concentration of firepower meant that even a Tier 2 Peak wouldn't guarantee they'd emerge unscathed.

After all, Source Energy was finite.

What was going on with these two guys who, under such concentrated fire, had been killing non-stop for nearly ten minutes, almost completely defeating the Council's army?

Infinite Source Energy?

At the Blade Armor Gang headquarters, a creature that resembled a praying mantis, with two blade arms and two claws, watched the scene in silence.

"...Why aren't the Sin City Council's Electromagnetic Tanks firing?" it asked in a hoarse voice.

"Boss, the Council says the humans have signal jamming equipment. It's suspected that the Black Mech Gang is behind it, as only a few masters from the Black Mech Gang possess devices capable of small-scale interference with Electromagnetic Tanks," a Blade Armor Gang Elite replied in a low voice.

"..."

The wall adorned with holographic screens shattered violently. The Blade Armor Gang leader's voice was filled with anger, "Damn that old octopus! How many times did it brag about the Electromagnetic Tanks, and then it falters at the crucial moment!

Four thousand gang members, trained in military formation, are going to be lost for nothing?!

Order them to withdraw!"

"Yes!"

It wasn't just the Blade Armor Gang. The other three major gangs were even more furious and powerless. The loss of thousands of elite gang members might not mean much to the Viper Gang and the Blade Armor Gang, but for the other two, it was a devastating blow!

Countless messages demanding a retreat were sent, but all vanished without a trace.

Only then did they remember that, apart from a few wired communication devices, the communication signals throughout the entire Kasar Street Block had already been personally jammed and destroyed by them.

Sin City Council Building.

The Chairman hovered above the ground, gazing in the direction of the Kasar Street Block.

His four pure blue eyes showed no discernible emotion.

"Chairman, it's not worth exposing yourself for fifteen tanks. I can't guarantee I can completely mask your aura when you make a move. Last time, attacking the Hunter from afar almost alerted the Starport."

A slender figure floating in mid-air drifted to the Chairman's side.

"I know. Have you found the real reason why the Electromagnetic Tanks couldn't lock on?"

"No. The most likely cause is the Black Mech Gang's involvement. Another possibility... is that the Hunter's Esper ability has been enhanced. The abilities she's displayed should be capable of doing something similar."

The Chairman paused, "Unless her Spirit Energy reaches Tier 2 Peak, her abilities shouldn't be able to reach targets thousands of meters away."

"Chairman, let's look on the bright side. Perhaps that killing god possesses a Tier 2 Peak Esper ability?"

"..."

The Octopus Chairman didn't get angry at the slender figure's jest. He silently watched in the direction of the Old Capital.

"It doesn't matter. Even without the insect eggs, the plan will only be delayed by a year. What's the progress on the Induction Wave Oscillator?"

"We'll need to raid seven more Black Mech Gang markets."

"Too troublesome. Let's find the soonest possible time and go to war with the Black Mech Gang directly. In the end, only two hundred spots are available for departure anyway."

"Understood."

Kasar Street Block.

The twenty-minute frenzy of killing ended. Jiang Xiao, as if nothing had happened, vibrated his Source Energy to clear the bloodstains.

The streets within a thousand-meter radius were filled with craters and ruins from explosions. Countless Alien corpses littered the streets and buildings, densely packed, with an uncountable number of remains!

He hadn't killed them all; Jiang Xiao was simply too lazy to chase after the fleeing Aliens.

With all the Tier 2 Aliens and most of the Tier 1s slain, coupled with his and Xi Guang's repeated charges, it was already a sign of decent training that the group of somewhat trained criminals hadn't scattered immediately.

They'll all die sooner or later, no need to rush. The Electromagnetic Tanks and some weapon components are more important in the meantime.

A frontal assault on the Kasar Street Block served two purposes: intimidation and resource acquisition.

With so many weapons, Jiang Xiao could dismantle and modify them to significantly boost the Spark Gang's low-level combat power. Most importantly, there were the Electromagnetic Tanks!

As long as no Tier 3 appeared, they were the strongest offensive units in Sin City!

Combined with his Origin Data, their performance and combat effectiveness could be elevated another notch.

And those dozens of fixed laser cannons were also excellent; even a Tier 2 Regular Martial Artist would be wary of them.

"How is it?" Jiang Xiao walked to the side and asked Xi Guang with a smile.

"I'm alright."

The encroaching madness from prolonged slaughter was suppressed by her powerful Spirit Energy, but even so, she would need two to three days to recover.

In the vastness of the galaxy, the core restraint on the power of formidable individuals wasn't law or the deterrence of advanced civilizations, but rather a special kind of influence. After all, if a powerful individual truly wanted to hide, ordinary and intermediate civilizations would be helpless unless an advanced civilization intervened in the search.

And the source of this influence was mass slaughter!

If the desire to kill became too deep, one's consciousness would inevitably be tainted. This applied to both Source Energy martial artists and Espers, with the former suffering even more severe effects.

Many scholars in the galaxy believed that the origin of this influence was the resentful thoughts of the slaughtered intelligent beings.

Jiang Xiao had also seen similar information from the Doran, which was why he specifically asked Xi Guang.

Seeing that Xi Guang was fine, he no longer worried.

No matter what, she had lived on the Prison Star for many years. Now that her injuries were mostly recovered, she didn't need him to act as a babysitter.

Jiang Xiao sent a message to Xi Ling, asking her to bring people to collect the spoils, and also asked:

"Now that Xiao Guang's injuries have recovered, what are your plans for the next step?"

Xi Guang paused, then hesitated: "Mr. Jiang, you mentioned needing relatively intact Rampaging Mech Soldier remains before?"

"Yes, but I probably won't have time recently."

"I'll go alone. It'll be a good chance to return to the base camp." Xi Guang's expression was blank, but he could tell she felt a sense of nostalgia.

Jiang Xiao pondered for a moment. It seemed no one in the wilderness could threaten Xi Guang.

"Alright then, do you need Plasma Bombs? They're very effective against Mech Soldiers."

"No need, my abilities are very effective against Mech Soldiers."

Jiang Xiao suddenly recalled how, during the recent slaughter, solid projectiles and cannonballs would disintegrate and collapse as soon as they approached within ten meters of Xi Guang.

Even laser beams seemed to be partially decomposed or deflected by this Esper ability.

Clearly, the particle theory lessons he'd given Xi Guang over the past few days had some effect.

The particle theory wasn't something X-21 had deciphered. It was knowledge he'd recorded from attending a week of lectures as an apprentice repairman when he'd applied for a job on the 'Doran'.

Unfortunately, he lacked talent back then, and despite studying desperately, he couldn't grasp it.

Polymorphic particle beam weapons were equipment for intermediate civilizations. Learning them from scratch was a fantasy for him. Even now, there were many related theorems he didn't understand, only grasping the conceptual meaning.

"If I had awakened the Mechanist class on the Doran, I'd probably be able to punch Tier 3s and kick Tier 4s by now," Jiang Xiao mused.

The data from various intermediate civilizations on the Doran was quite comprehensive.

I miss you, my dear Doran!

Noticing Xi Guang about to drift off again, Jiang Xiao helplessly changed the subject: "Xiao Guang, do you have any hobbies?"

Xi Guang was silent, then softly replied:

"...Reading in the Elifilia Flower Sea. It's a flower from my hometown."

"Oh? What's its flower language?"

"Free Life."

Hearing Xi Guang's complex tone, Jiang Xiao chuckled, "Hahaha, how elegant. I'm sure it must be a beautiful place."

"What about you, Mr. Jiang?"

Xi Guang looked up, her crimson eyes, like rubies in the reflection, gazing at Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao was taken aback. Memories flooded back, and he then smiled, "Exploring the universe and... watching Twilight Sparkle in my spare time!"

"Hmm?"

"Just a bit of childishness."

"Oh."

As they chatted back and forth, Xi Ling soon arrived with about a hundred people on the outskirts of the Kasar Street Block.

Chapter 50: Day Eleven, Fusion Countdown