Blue Star, Dragon Kingdom, Imperial Capital Academy of Sciences, third underground level, High-Level Military Security Lab.
The air was so still it was suffocating.
In the room, Ban Jianguo sat upright while Lei Zhen stood solemnly to one side. More than a dozen of Dragon Kingdom's foremost academicians in materials science, Bioengineering, and mechanical dynamics stood in a circle, staring intently at the Holographic Projection of the disassembly blueprints for the [Titan's Fist] biomecha.
Two imposing elderly men sat at the head of the table.
Every person in Dragon Kingdom could recognize them at a glance.
"Academician Li, what is the experts' conclusion?"
The elder seated at the head spoke steadily, but the knuckles gripping his teacup had turned faintly white.
Academician Li, Dragon Kingdom's leading authority on Neuroengineering, removed his glasses and stared at the core Neural Translator structure in the blueprints with an almost reverent gaze.
"Reporting, sir, we can preliminarily confirm that this is more than mere game design." Academician Li's voice trembled slightly. "This logic for delay-free conversion between neural and electronic signals perfectly resolves the bottleneck that has stalled our brain-computer interfaces for ten years. Although we cannot yet synthesize the biological materials involved, if we use graphene and memory alloys as downgraded substitutes... it is theoretically entirely feasible."
Another dynamics expert added, "And this Bionic Muscle Bundle Drive System abandons those cumbersome Hydraulic Rods. If we can fully master this technology, the load-bearing capacity of our Individual Exoskeletons could conservatively increase fivefold, with flexibility comparable to the human body itself."
Ban Jianguo stood to the side, taking a deep breath, disbelief still in his eyes.
The elder at the head fell silent for a moment before slowly rising to his feet.
"We need to invest more resources into this game."
"Pass down the order. Raise the clearance level of the Wall Breaker team and establish the Titan Engineering Bureau. Assemble experts from relevant fields nationwide and decipher the technologies in these blueprints at any cost."
Lei Zhen listened silently, not daring to interrupt. He had attended as a bridge between the players and the authorities. The top players had long reached a consensus—everyone in the game had an equal chance to grow stronger, and using temporary strength advantages to disrupt real-world order or oppose the collective was pure suicide.
Data Maniac, Tian Ce: "Those people who think getting stronger means they deserve privileges don't seem very smart. Especially those idiots who've been jumping around lately. There are so many strong people, yet they still dare to show off. A bunch of uneducated fools."
The elder's eyes were sharp as torches.
"Based on the current situation, the number of game players will continue to grow, and sooner or later it will become universal. Our law enforcement must cooperate with those top players and strengthen restrictions on power. Heh, fortunately, they are all smart people who can see the situation clearly instead of thinking they are uniquely entitled to carve up territory."
"In the game, let them fight without restraint. In reality, we must turn these technologies into sharp blades that defend our homes and country."
"Hmm... given our current advantage, perhaps they need not be used solely for self-defense..."
Inside the game, Liver - H-124 Joint Camp - Special Workshop 01.
Compared to the grand narrative in reality, the air here was thick with the pain of spending money.
"Careful! That's five million Bio-Energy!"
Dragon Fighting in the Wild pressed himself against the observation window, watching the [Flesh Artisan] embed crimson crystals into a mold inside, his heart bleeding.
"To scrape together this money, I sold off the equipment and resource stockpile in the guild warehouse!"
[Crafting: Titan's Fist]
Vanguard Across the Realm stood at the workshop entrance with a grave expression.
Even after the three major guilds and Great Wall Watch emptied their coffers, they only had enough resources to build four machines.
"This thing is too expensive." Data Maniac shook his head as he looked at the backend data. "Fortunately, its energy system doesn't burn Bio-Energy. It uses the [High-Energy Fire Cores] we obtained in the lungs. One Fire Core can sustain thirty minutes of high-intensity combat."
"Tch, those aren't cheap either!"
"The allocation plan has been finalized." Data Maniac brought up the list.
Vanguard Across the Realm: LV.26. Mecha specialization: [Chainsaw Thermal Blade] + [Back Thruster].
Dragon Fighting in the Wild: LV.26. Mecha specialization: [Dual Tower Shields] + [Thickened Composite Armor].
Brute Force Yields Miracles: LV.25. Mecha specialization: [Heat-Resistant Coating] + [Heavy Power Hammer].
Thunder King: LV.25. Mecha specialization: [Beyond-Visual-Range Fire Control Radar] + [Thunder-Magnetic Sniper Cannon].
These four represented the current ceiling of individual combat power. As Mind Hackers, Data Maniac and Tian Ce could not currently compare to damage dealers in combat strength, and Cloud Pomelo, as a healer, went without saying.
Tian Ce adjusted his glasses. "Maniac and I will handle crowd control and command from the rear."
Cloud Pomelo nodded as well. "I'll lead the Life Sage Group behind you and keep healing."
"Then it's settled."
Chen Feng looked at the four black giants radiating an icy metallic sheen.
"Four Mechas, seven of the strongest fighters on the entire server."
"Remember, this shell of iron only gives us the right not to be instantly killed in front of that Flame Demon. The Mechas' durability and repair costs are still unknown, but they'll definitely be astronomical. Anyone who dares to play recklessly can pay for their own repairs."
Zhao Kuo chuckled and patted the three-and-a-half-meter-tall giant. "Don't worry, Brother Feng. This is like driving a limited-edition sports car. I'll be steady as a rock!"
After several hours of rest and preparation, they arrived at the entrance to Duan Bronchus.
The gale cut like blades, and heat waves rolled through the air.
This was no longer a cramped fine bronchus, but a vast space with a diameter exceeding a hundred thousand kilometers.
"Roar—!!!"
A roar stirred up a Gale Force Eight.
At the center of the sea of fire stood a terrifying giant over three hundred meters tall—[Flame Demon Lord (LV.35 Lord)].
Its entire body was made of flowing lava and obsidian. Every step it took transformed the ground into a pool of magma.
"All units, attention."
Vanguard Across the Realm's voice came through the Mecha loudspeakers, carrying an icy metallic edge.
"The Mech Squad will hold it from the front."
"Tian Ce, lead the Mage Corps to clear the Flame Demon Larvae emerging around us. Don't let them interfere."
"Pomelo, don't stop healing! If the Healer Team runs out of mana, rotate!"
"Move!"
Rumble!
The four Mechas simultaneously blasted out blue exhaust flames, leaving trails of fire across the ground as they charged first into the sea of flames that had once sent them fleeing in defeat.
Bang—
Divine Soldiers Descend!
Engage!
The Flame Demon Lord looked at these slightly larger "bugs," its eyes filled with brutality.
It raised the hundred-meter Lava Whip in its hand and viciously lashed it at the black Mecha charging at the front.
The previous week, Dragon Fighting in the Wild had been sent flying and instantly killed by this very strike.
"Perfect!"
Inside the cockpit, Zhao Kuo's eyes turned bloodshot. His LV.26 strength erupted completely through the Mecha, synchronizing perfectly with its power system.
[Indomitable Skeleton]!
[Life Furnace]!
He controlled the thickly armored Heavy Assault Mech, slammed its two Tower Shields together, drove them deep into the ground, and fired the rear thrusters at full reverse power to brace firmly against the earth.
He held it!
Smack!!!
A world-shaking crash rang out.
The Lava Whip struck the Tower Shields viciously, blasting sparks down like a waterfall.
Zhao Kuo's Mecha was shoved backward dozens of meters by the massive impact, plowing two deep trenches through the ground. Its armor value instantly dropped by 15%, and alarms blared wildly inside the cockpit.
But...
It did not shatter!
And Zhao Kuo did not die!
"Blocked... blocked it!!"
Behind them, data streams flashed wildly in Tian Ce's eyes. "Damage was reduced by 80%! The remaining heat was absorbed by the Heat-Resistant Coating!"
"Hahahaha! That's got some kick!"
Dragon Fighting in the Wild laughed wildly. "Brothers, no more dodging! This time, we can stand there and trade blows!"
"Attack!"
Vanguard Across the Realm's calm command rang out.
Taking advantage of the brief recovery after the Flame Demon's attack, two black afterimages cut in from its left and right.
Brute Force Yields Miracles controlled his Mecha into a high leap. The Heavy Power Hammer in his hand spewed flames, and borrowing the force of his descent, he smashed it viciously into the Flame Demon's toe joint.
Rubble flew everywhere, and the Flame Demon's massive body lurched sideways.
At the same time, Chen Feng activated [Bullet Time].
Buzz—
The Mecha's rotation speed reached its peak!
In the slowed world, he controlled the Mecha through an aerial change of direction that defied physical laws, dodging the Flame Demon's protective ring of flames. The [Chainsaw Thermal Blade] on its right arm let out a piercing whine.
Screech, screech, screech—!
The hard obsidian shell was forcibly cut open by the chainsaw, spewing scorching magma blood.
Armor Break!!!
Although that strike only removed a small segment from the boss's enormous health bar, it was enough to lift everyone's spirits!
In the distance, Lei Zhen set up the sniper cannon.
A streak of blue light pierced precisely through one of the Flame Demon's eyes.
[Bio-Electromagnetic Field]
[Cerebral Overclocking]
[Energy Resonance]
The explosive burst from six potential points all-in on the Psionic Sequence talent erupted!
"Roar!!!"
The Flame Demon Lord let out a pained roar. It had not expected that these tiny insects, after putting on a layer of iron, would actually be able to hurt it.
"We can fight it! Its defenses are broken!"
The army of players in the rear erupted in cheers.
There were only four Mechas, but with the coordination of seven top players, they had forcibly torn open a gap in this inferno.
"Don't celebrate too soon."
Chen Feng stared at the Flame Demon's despairingly long health bar.
"This is only the warm-up phase."
"Keep the rhythm! We have to kill it before the reserve energy burns through a thousand Fire Cores!"
If you can't find a book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. It may have simply been renamed!
Before you continue