Disaster Warning

It was very quiet in Moonview Valley.

The Bloodthirsty Vine swayed gently in the night breeze, and the outline of the Shelter stood silently in the dim light. On both sides were the plants that Lu Heng had planted himself, and the leaves were still covered with the dew that had condensed at dusk. Everything was in good order, a stark contrast to the desolate wilderness outside the valley entrance, littered with corpses, a world completely different from the one outside.

The Heavy Anvil Assault Mech and the Inkstone Guard followed behind Lu Heng. Their surfaces were covered with bits of dry grass, brown mud, and half-dried dark red bloodstains. The cold metal shells gleamed with a dull, matte sheen in the dim sunlight of the valley. The two machines remained silent throughout, without any extra hum, their steps steady as they slowly followed behind Lu Heng, like silent guards.

Lu Heng did not turn around.

He walked slowly forward, his feet treading on the smooth, compacted dirt road, until he reached the maintenance area outside the Shelter before stopping to stand sideways. The two machines came to a stop simultaneously, standing steadily on either side of the maintenance platform, their metal feet touching the ground, kicking up a little dust.

Lu Heng raised his left wrist, and the Wristband interface lit up silently. A pale blue light screen unfolded, and the post-battle operational data of the two mechs appeared line by line. The cold text and fluctuating values were clearly visible in his eyes.

Heavy Anvil Assault Mech – Peak output of the power core exceeds the threshold, power loss exceeds the standard, and 30% of energy remains.

Inkstone Guard - Auxiliary defense and perception lock-on continuously overloaded, remaining energy 40%.

Lu Heng's gaze lingered briefly on the numerical values as he silently reviewed the battle at the valley entrance. While the engagement itself hadn't seemed particularly long, the Heavy Anvil's breakthrough into the dense forest and pursuit of the fleeing targets, coupled with the Inkstone Guard's continuous deployment of its sensory network to lock onto all escapees, pushed both machines beyond their usual stationary guard load. The combined effects of days of patrolling and tonight's intense combat had significantly depleted their energy reserves, exacerbating their exhaustion.

He raised his hand and took out two Energy Core from the Storage Space of his Wristband, then walked towards the two machines.

Lu Heng first walked to the side of the Heavy Anvil, raised his hand to align the Energy Core with the slot, and steadily pushed it in.

Click.

A crisp locking sound rang out.

A deep blue light slowly spread along the energy-conducting patterns inside the machine, like revitalized blood vessels, gradually covering the heavy body. The originally dim indicator lights lit up one by one.

He then crouched down to replace the core of the Inkstone Guard. The Inkstone Guard was smaller, and the slot was located at the bottom of the machine, requiring him to bend over to operate it. His fingertips touched the cool metal, and the same soft sound rang out. Blue light rose and flowed along the slender frame of the machine.

The surface of both machines simultaneously brightened by a faint glow, and a deep, steady hum of power slowly emanated from within the machines, officially initiating the charging process.

The fierce sounds of battle outside the valley faded away completely, and the stench of blood was gradually shut out by the air flowing inside the valley, leaving only the peaceful and tranquil night.

His thoughts, however, remained firmly fixed on the battlefield just moments before, frozen on the instant Chen Yan fell.

The moment Chen Yan died, the Illusory Moon Talisman vanished into thin air.

Lu Heng remembered it extremely clearly.

Without any fragments, powder residue, or traces of being picked up, the object vanished in a flash of light, as if this strange object, which had accompanied Chen Yan on his escape and lured everyone into Moonview Valley, had never existed.

In the past, hunting wild Aberrant and jungle beasts would drop crystal cores, furs, and organs after the kill, all of which were real physical resources that could be picked up and stored.

The only exception is the strange object.

Are these rare items truly lost upon the death of their owner and not dropped?

Lu Heng's brows furrowed slightly, a clear doubt arising in his heart.

Is it the inherent environmental rules of this Plane land?

Or is it the unknown will of the Mist Forest secretly reclaiming what it has nurtured?

The thought had barely formed in my mind when a clear, indifferent voice suddenly resounded directly in my head.

Without any emotion, without highs and lows, it was as pure as the sound of wind passing through branches and leaves, natural and cold, without a source, resounding directly in the consciousness.

"The artifact was born in the Mist Forest; it is a product of its environment. Upon the death of its owner, the artifact returns to its origin."

Lu Heng's body stiffened slightly, and his fingertips clenched tightly.

It is the Forest Will.

"Your ability to retain this rare item is an exception. For the vast majority of survivors, even if they are lucky enough to obtain such a rare item, it will be reclaimed upon their death and will not be considered loot."

Lu Heng remained silent, listening quietly.

He knew very well that his ability to intercept the rare item largely depended on the special privileges granted by the World Fragment, an opportunity that others could not easily replicate.

The will paused briefly, but continued to transmit the message.

Currently, all major regions are only in a phase of initial environmental integration.

"Soon, integration will deepen, permeate, and unify, and the boundaries between the various fragmented regions will gradually fade."

Lu Heng's brows furrowed deeper as he intently received the information.

"A massive Energy Tides will erupt at that time. The seals Plane will continue to loosen, the environment will gradually unseal, and only the final step remains before the Global Region is completely unlocked."

His voice trailed off, carrying an age-old tranquility.

"But with the arrival of the tide—disaster will strike."

Lu Heng's pupils contracted slightly.

He instinctively wanted to ask about the nature of the disaster, its scope, and the approximate time of its outbreak.

But the voice of the Forest Will faded and dissipated like the receding tide, leaving no further answers and no longer responding to the questions in his mind.

The valley returned to tranquility.

Only the low hum of the machine charging its power remained, intertwined with the soft sound of the night breeze rustling through the grass and trees.

Lu Heng sat still for a long time without moving.

Environmental integration deepens.

Global Region Energy Tides.

The Plane continue to be unlocked.

An unknown disaster struck.

Every message signifies that this wilderness is about to undergo another earth-shattering transformation.

Lifting restrictions is never a gift or a benefit.

It equals a more violent environment, stronger and more ferocious mutated beasts, and a more brutal reshuffling of the survival order. The weakest survivors will be the first to be eliminated.

Lu Heng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his eyes showing no panic, only an extremely calm and clear-headed judgment.

If even someone like myself, who possesses two mechanical combat units, occupies the uniquely advantageous valley of Moonview Valley as Shelter, and has the support of World Fragment, cannot withstand this wave of disaster.

In the entire Withered Reed Plain and Mist Forest, among all the scattered survivors struggling to survive, none could live.

He stood up and gently brushed the dust and withered grass off his trousers.

The blue light flowing from the two machines in front of him became increasingly stable, and the energy replenishment became steady, rapidly replenishing the energy that had been depleted after tonight's battle.

The crisis has been foreshadowed, and significant changes are imminent.

Time left for stockpiling supplies, reinforcing defenses, and honing combat capabilities is running out.

Lu Heng looked up and gazed at the peaceful and serene Moonview Valley.

Crops grow quietly in the ground, defensive vines lie dormant, and everything appears peaceful and serene.

The current peace is merely a brief calm before the storm fully arrives.

He turned and walked into the Shelter, the heavy wooden door closing gently behind him.

The oil lamp inside was lit, its warm yellow light filtering out the deep darkness outside.

Lu Heng walked to the stone table, spread out the animal skin map, and the outlines of the Withered Reed Plain, the Misty Forest, and the Cracked Rock Hills unfolded before his eyes.

Strengthen defenses, stockpile resources, overhaul equipment, and reserve more Energy Core.

In preparation for the impending Energy Tides and unknown disaster, all preparations officially begin tonight.