Third-generation Super Soldier!

A month later, in the Shadow Realm.

This was a world without sky or ground.

Beneath their feet lay bottomless darkness, and overhead was darkness just as thick. In every direction stretched a void that seemed to have solidified.

Yet deep within this absolute darkness, a dazzling light shone.

It came from a resplendent palace.

Built entirely from an unknown dark crystal, its walls were studded with countless tiny points of light, like a galaxy frozen in the night sky.

Around the palace, groups of shadow soldiers patrolled back and forth.

Their steps were perfectly synchronized, their figures blending into the darkness until their outlines were almost indistinguishable. Only pairs of scarlet eyes flickered along the patrol routes.

Higher up in the darkness, several enormous Dark Demon Serpents glided silently, their scales reflecting a dim metallic sheen in the faint light, as though surveying the entire Shadow Realm.

Inside, the palace was brightly lit.

The spacious hall had been converted into an enormous laboratory, with hundreds of giant shadow soldiers moving through it, carrying all manner of research documents and data tablets.

Some were manipulating complex models on holographic screens, while others were debugging sets of precision instruments.

Energy conduits hung from the ceiling, connected to the enormous energy storage tank at the very center of the hall.

The tank was transparent throughout, with golden energy fluid flowing along its inner walls.

A figure floated inside the energy storage tank.

His eyes were shut tight, his body wrapped in a milky-white glow. Behind him, black wings lay half-folded, drifting slowly in the energy fluid with the faint currents of air.

Tara stood three meters in front of the tank, his hands clasped behind his back, his golden slit pupils fixed on the figure inside.

Beside him stood a Shadow General clad in dark armor.

"Samo, I've prepared everything you need."

Tara's voice was low, carrying unquestionable authority.

"You must complete the task the king entrusted to you. Otherwise, even if the king doesn't blame you, I'll deal with you myself."

Samo's back stiffened slightly, his voice firm and resolute. "Rest assured, Commander. If I fail to complete the task, I will atone with my life."

Tara snorted before finally nodding in satisfaction.

To obtain this research equipment, he had practically turned Eagle Country upside down over the past month, then sent Ninja and his men on several trips to other countries.

If Samo dared let his efforts go to waste, he would give him a lesson he would never forget.

"Commander."

Just then, Ika approached from the side, frowning at the motionless figure inside the energy storage tank.

He was the grand general of the Shadowkhan, second only to Tara in rank.

"The king has been in there for a month. Could something have gone wrong?"

There was a trace of worry in Ika's voice.

Tara turned his head and glanced at him, his golden slit pupils calm and untroubled.

"Grand General Ika, you needn't worry. The king walks a different path from ours."

He withdrew his gaze, his voice level but certain. "We only need to refine dark energy to gradually increase our strength, but the king needs the support of scientific research and technology."

"But once the technology advances to the next level, the king's strength will make a qualitative leap. We can't compare to that."

Ika fell silent for a few seconds, then slowly nodded.

"I see."

He relaxed, but the worried look on his face soon gave way to another expression.

He edged half a step closer to Tara and bowed slightly, a hint of flattery entering his voice.

"Commander, the next time the king needs help, could you let me take the men out?"

Ika rubbed his hands together, his tone full of frustration.

"The men are so bored staying here that they're practically growing mushrooms. Last time that bastard Mingta went out, he came back bragging to me about who he'd beaten up and what he'd seized. He was so smug his mouth was practically pointing at the sky. I really can't stand him."

He was the grand general, after all!

The second-in-command of the Shadowkhan!

When Qin Feng needed men, he hadn't even thought of him first?

This made him feel he needed to do something to make Qin Feng realize his importance!

Tara glanced at him, little emotion stirring in his eyes.

"The king's decisions aren't for you or me to change."

His tone was indifferent.

"Still, there's no need to rush."

"As I see it, the king isn't the sort to quietly keep to himself. When the time comes, you'll have your chance to take the field."

Ika's eyes lit up at that.

"For now, the most important thing is to complete the task the king assigned."

Tara changed the subject, his face turning stern again. "By the way, how is the work I assigned you coming along?"

"Rest assured, Commander."

Ika straightened his back. "The king's temporary palace will be finished in three days at most. Will you inspect it yourself?"

"Yes, when the time comes..."

Tara's voice abruptly stopped.

His gaze snapped toward the energy storage tank in the center of the hall.

Inside the tank, violent ripples spread through the golden energy fluid.

The bubbles suddenly began rising faster. The conduits connected to the tank started vibrating with a hum, and the readings on the instrument panel shot upward wildly.

The pale golden patterns of light on Qin Feng's body abruptly became blinding. Dazzling golden radiance burst from inside the tank, bathing the entire hall in a brilliant glow.

Then the eyes that had been shut for a month suddenly opened.

With a bang, the tank burst apart.

Qin Feng stepped out over the fragments. His black wings slowly folded behind him and retracted into his back, while the light around his body gradually faded.

He lowered his head to look at his hands, feeling the entirely new power circulating within him.

Reaching the level of a third-generation Super Soldier had made his perception far clearer all at once. Even the residual particles of energy in the air were clearly distinguishable.

"My king, congratulations on advancing your strength once more."

Qin Feng turned around, a smile appearing on his face.

He walked over and patted Tara on the shoulder.

"Tara, thank you for all your hard work lately. Gathering all this couldn't have been easy, could it?"

He looked around. The hall held countless times more precision instruments than it had in its empty state before he went into seclusion.

A month ago, this had been nothing more than a dim stone hall. Now Tara had transformed it into a proper research base.

"Any amount of hard work is worthwhile when serving you, my king."

As Tara spoke, his demonic face actually managed a rare smile.

"Besides, some friends kindly donated all these things."

Friends?

Qin Feng blinked, his expression turning peculiar.

Where had Tara found friends in this world?

He was the commander of the Shadowkhan, and until recently, he had stayed at Qin Feng's side without leaving him for a moment, serving as his bodyguard.

Qin Feng knew practically everyone he knew. Where had these friends come from?