Technology and Ruthless Acts

"Please show me your passport."

Although Gu Yan's passport was lost, with the current level of technology, it was very easy to verify a person's information.

"Please read and sign this agreement carefully."

Taking the document from the person in charge, they read it carefully. Without asking further questions, both of them signed their names.

The content was nothing more than a requirement to keep the truth about the nuclear strike secret, or face consequences.

After all, if ordinary citizens knew that there was an anti-human element capable of creating nuclear bombs out of thin air, it would cause severe panic.

Although the existence of the First Herrscher had been disclosed to the high-ranking officials of various countries, everyone generally believed it to be a unique case. Furthermore, its current range of activity was limited to the western regions of the Beautiful Country, so most other countries were unwilling to provoke it.

However, adhering to humanitarian principles, while military aid would not be provided, rescue efforts would be made.

As for the constantly appearing Honkai beasts and Deathsworn, they only existed within the Herrscher's range of activity. People initially concluded that the Herrscher was the source of these disasters.

Everyone had the illusion that once the Beautiful Country eliminated the First Herrscher, everything would be over.

What severe lack of intelligence. After all, the Beautiful Country could hardly resist the First Herrscher, and things wouldn't just end there.

After the two signed the agreement, they couldn't return home immediately. They had to wait until the search and rescue operations were completed before they could set sail.

"Brother Gu, could you have done that just now?" Zhao Qi had regained his ability to speak.

"Probably."

If Gu Yan possessed powerful offensive abilities, combined with his own energy output, he could indeed achieve it.

Although he couldn't do it now, it didn't stop him from bragging to his good brother.

Xu Muchi had already landed and walked into the newly erected tent.

She had to remain vigilant at all times to deal with any unexpected situations.

Although she was a transmigrator, she didn't know what Honkai or Herrschers specifically were. She had only encountered these terms before crossing over and hadn't made an effort to understand them.

Having lived for three thousand years, she was truly fed up. When she transmigrated to this world, she had a system that helped her cultivate and grow, even granting her immortality. However, after only a few years, the system was erased by some entity, and her growth came to a halt, stagnating for a thousand years.

She just wanted to return to her original world!

The system had once said that the flow of time there was different from here. A thousand years in this world would be but a fleeting moment there. As long as Xu Muchi returned to her original world, everything could be considered as if it never happened, and she could continue her life.

Therefore, she wanted to go back!

In this world, Xu Muchi was immortal. Everyone she knew and was familiar with grew old and died before her eyes, while she remained unchanged.

Loneliness and bitterness were the hallmarks of solitary immortality.

So, when she heard the word "Herrscher," she harbored a sliver of hope in her heart.

If this was the world described in that Honkai game, even if she couldn't go home, she could at least let her family know of her existence!

It was meaningless, yet inexplicably, she agreed to the official request to escort them.

However, it was a pity that this wasn't it, though she didn't know it.

Just as she entered the tent and before she could find a place to rest, Xu Muchi suddenly turned and walked out, her beautiful face filled with gravity.

Her intuition told her something bad was about to happen!

Not far away, Gu Yan, who was helping to set up a tent, also stopped abruptly. His heart rate spiked for no reason, and he began to pant heavily.

Thump-thump, thump-thump!

Acting on instinct, he even felt an urge to turn and run.

"What's wrong, Brother Gu? Already feeling weak?"

Zhao Qi, carrying two boxes of supplies, was puzzled by Gu Yan's condition. Why did he suddenly look like he was overworked?

No one responded to Zhao Qi. The atmosphere on the scene became eerie.

Two planes had already landed, while another was still circling in the air, waiting.

Gu Yan didn't move rashly. He had just felt something lock onto him. Following the sensation, he looked towards the distant sky.

There was nothing there, except for the blue sky, thin clouds, and the transport plane circling within his line of sight.

Boom!

The transport plane suddenly exploded. The sound of the explosion reached them a few seconds later, breaking the silence.

"Alert!"

Someone shouted, and everyone immediately became vigilant.

The sound of guns being cocked echoed. Xu Muchi gripped her long sword tightly, Gu Yan crouched slightly, and Ice Cones were ready, warily watching for any potential attack.

Silence, a terrifying silence.

Who was the enemy? Where was the enemy?

No one knew.

"Uninteresting resistance."

A disdainful voice echoed from above, and the newcomer materialized out of thin air.

Ji held a cerulean spear, her chestnut hair casually loose, her eyes filled with indifference. She stood atop a colossal creature, looking down on everyone like a queen.

The massive beast was a kilometer long with an 800-meter wingspan, its entire body shimmering with a metallic silver sheen. It was none other than a Mechanical Dragon!

The Mechanical Dragon, Morr, a construct of the Herrscher of Reason!

Talk about cutting-edge technology and sheer audacity!

Ji swept her gaze across the scene, pausing when her eyes landed on Gu Yan. Her expression shifted, and a slight smile touched her lips.

So, it's a Herrscher whose core hasn't fully formed yet! Or, you could say, her younger brother!

As for the firearms, she chose to ignore them.

"Open fire!"

Contrary to what Gu Yan knew, Ji possessed not only the authority of the Herrscher of Reason's "constructs" but also the ability of "insight." Therefore, even without ever learning Chinese, she could communicate without any barriers.

Bang bang bang!

Clink clink clink!

All the bullets were blocked by a shield. Ji waved her hand, and hundreds of floating cannons materialized, directly bombarding the crowd below. She deliberately avoided the area where Gu Yan was.

The expected explosion didn't occur. The floating cannons' attacks were blocked by an unknown defense, swallowed whole.

Xu Muchi brought her fingers together, her expression calm. It was her doing.

"Hmm?" Ji seemed surprised.

Blocked?

Sweat beaded on everyone's foreheads. From the activation of the constructs to the attacks being blocked, it all happened in the blink of an eye. This feeling of dancing on the edge of death was far from enjoyable.

Gu Yan frowned. He didn't know who was stronger between the two women, but he knew the Herrscher of Reason wouldn't care about the lives of ordinary people and would fight without restraint.

Time for my support role!

"You guys go first!" Xu Muchi clearly understood the unfavorable situation. Since she had agreed to this escort mission, she had to take responsibility for these people.

"No, I disagree."

Ji had, at some point, floated into the air alone. As she spoke, Morr lay horizontally across the group's escape route, emitting a low growl from its throat, unsure if it was the engine operating or a warning.

Tsk, truly troublesome.

An enemy of unknown strength, and a Mechanical Dragon capable of optical camouflage.

They hadn't attacked directly yet. Two possibilities: either they had malicious personalities and were toying with them, or they weren't here to cause harm.

While Xu Muchi was contemplating, Gu Yan had already stealthily approached the two clashing individuals.

Hmm? What is this?

Xu Muchi was astonished to find all her abilities suddenly enhanced. Her spiritual energy recovery had also increased by nearly half. With all these boosts, she roughly estimated her strength had increased by forty percent compared to just moments ago!

And these effects have no side effects!

What? Is this world also experiencing a spiritual energy revival?

Even facing a powerful enemy, she couldn't help but glance back.

Is it that exchange student, the support-attribute ability user? This support ability is already top-tier, and the support from others is now useless to me. It's like the difference between clouds and mud!

Ji was also surprised. Seeing Gu Yan approaching, she thought her good younger brother was coming with her, which was why she hadn't made a move yet. She felt quite pleased.

He understands his older sister!

However, Gu Yan stopped about fifty meters from the other woman. Immediately after, the woman's aura suddenly intensified.

Ji: "???"

So filial.

Gu Yan was also stunned. After approaching, he had cast his buffs, bestowing Strength, Giant Strength, Swift Steps, and more. He had set the duration to the longest possible, five hours, and then...

[Ding! Plunder takes effect. Constitution +200. Acquired abilities: Mustard Seed Space, Levitation.]

[Acquired buffs: Breath Concealment, Shadowless. Passive: Ancient Martial Arts Mastery LV98.]

[Target's energy unknown, converted to an increase in Honkai Energy output power of 800 HW.]

I don't believe this without some perseverance and effort!

Wait, why are both these women staring at me?

(The current ability is actually more fittingly called Mimicry or Copy. However, after becoming the Third Herrscher, the ability will change, and that's when it will truly be considered Plunder.)