Rebuilding and News of Departure

Everything in the dream felt incredibly real. I was piloting a mech, transforming into a demon, and mercilessly crushing the invading enemies. I could use mech skills that were even more dazzling than those in PO Battle Network. But then I felt warm all over and wanted to sleep. And now it seems like... I've woken up?

Mu Fan opened his eyes and saw a black ceiling.

Where am I? Why is the ground so cold? Mu Fan quickly stood up and looked around.

A mech cockpit? But there's only half a control panel, which seems unusable. The screen in front is also completely black. Apart from that, there's nothing else in this mysterious place.

With a "hum," a red light flashed, and the half of the control panel suddenly lit up, projecting a beam of light and shadow, and the screen in front of it lit up accordingly.

"Warning: Remaining energy is 3.9%, enough to sustain low-intensity combat for 51 hours."

What is this? Mu Fan had no idea where he was. This was clearly not the cockpit of the RX-16 mech. His conscious awareness remained focused on the moment before the immense danger shattered the cockpit. What had happened after that? What was this half-dreaming, half-awake feeling?

"Host consciousness has been restored. Do you wish to leave the Central Control Cabin?" A cold voice suddenly rang out, and a line of options appeared on the screen.

whether?

Seeing the light flickering on the half-finished control panel, Mu Fan grasped the lit control lever and gently turned it.

Yes!

Only then did he realize that this half of the console was densely packed with numerous buttons, even more than the console buttons on the RX-16.

"Host, please leave. Shura is entering stealth standby mode."

The screen tilted back, and then light streamed in. Mu Fan saw the mecha's metal hand already positioned at the open opening of the cockpit. Glancing around, Mu Fan jumped onto the hand, and then the hand slowly touched the ground.

Is this in the mountains and forests? Mu Fan noticed the tall jungle around him, with giant trees dozens of meters high standing everywhere, their canopies completely covering his head.

Turning around again, Mu Fan was startled!

The dilapidated mecha, a blend of jet black and dark red, knelt silently before me, its right hand resting on a long, sheathed sword.

Why does this look so much like a scene from my dream? Upon seeing the crimson cloak that had vanished and then solidified behind him, Mu Fan finally woke up with a start. This was the image from his dream!

So, does that mean everything that just happened wasn't a dream at all? And those horrific scenes in the dream were all my doing? I looked down at my hands and there was nothing unusual about them.

"Stealth standby mode activated." A cold voice rang out.

Mu Fan looked up and saw the mecha gradually lie down, then kneel down and continue to compress, until its shape became unrecognizable, more like an enlarged iron ingot.

The cape behind the mecha rose high automatically without wind, turning into a cloud of light mist, and then gradually covered it.

The wrecked, dark mech was enveloped in a mist of light, then vanished into it. Mu Fan watched this miraculous scene and reached out to touch it. His hand disappeared from sight, but he had indeed touched real, cold metal.

What an advanced camouflage device!

A burning sensation emanated from his chest. Looking down, he felt the heat coming from the black Iron Badge. Mu Fan grasped it and was surprised to see a groove appear before his eyes.

There is an imprint on the groove that fits perfectly with the Iron Badge, as well as a palm print mark.

Mu Fan tried placing his right hand on it, and a cold, electronic voice sounded, "Activate Asura?"

He quickly withdrew his hand. This mecha is called Shura? And it's actually my mecha?! Mu Fan couldn't believe it. Why did this mecha appear? Why was he in its cockpit?

Mu Fan's mind was in a mess, so he decided not to activate it yet and just let it remain hidden here. He needed to get out of there as soon as possible; he had lost contact with Black and Harry.

"Reporting to the Speaker, that black mech can only be detected by the naked eye or optical instruments; it cannot be tracked by radar, infrared, or other detection devices. Therefore... the mech disappeared after entering the mountains behind the Fourth Guard's base," the major explained to Speaker Hai Deng, bowing his head.

"Disappeared?... Good. Order the exploration to stop. If we really provoke that mech again, Loga might really fall."

"Yes, sir!" the major saluted.

"Reporting to the Speaker, we have still not been able to contact Representative Wen Yu. According to planetary near-Earth monitoring, a small spacecraft was detected leaving the atmosphere half an hour ago." Another captain entered and saluted.

"Hmph, authorize the Special Affairs Division to conduct a Level 1 investigation on Representative Wen Yu. Also, authorize a comprehensive inspection of the military's communications; I want to find and execute all the bad apples!"

"Yes, sir!"

"The rest of you prepare for the reconstruction work. Everyone, disperse."

After everyone left, Speaker Hai Deng's face was a mixture of emotions. "I was wondering why everything seemed to be part of a scheme. If it weren't for that mecha, you probably would have succeeded already—Wen, Yu!" The last two words were uttered with a resolute resentment.

Aside from the military and space pirates, no one noticed the mysterious black mech, but how do you explain the masterpiece it left behind—the ground fissures that ran through the city and mountains and the building that was split in two?

Upon hearing the government's long-awaited declaration of peace, the survivors wept with joy, and cheers erupted from the underground bunkers of the Fuwen Mountain Villa. Wayne and the rest of his family waited a moment to thank the RX-16 that had saved their family.

"Contact Harry and his group," Wayne instructed his servants.

"Dad! I'm still alive!!!" As soon as the Sky Communicator connected, the fat man's wailing face appeared on the screen.

After carefully examining the fat man's face and finding no signs of injury, Wayne nodded in satisfaction and said, "It's over. Fuwen Mountain Villa has been defended! How are Sherry and her father?"

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Wayne." Sherry appeared, and the appropriate way she addressed him made Wayne nod in approval.

"I'm still alive." Gao Lingsen also appeared in the video, clearly unwilling to say more, but the expression of relief on his face was impossible to hide.

"That's good. By the way, Harry, where's Mu Fan? Tell him to come to the manor as soon as possible. You guys need to prepare for your trip to Zicui Star."

"That's great! Mu Fan will be so happy to know!" The fat man clapped his hands excitedly, then suddenly paused, "Where's Mu Fan? Isn't he with you?"

"No, didn't he come to see you afterwards?" Wayne began to feel like he had missed something.

"No!" The fat man sensed something was wrong. It seemed he hadn't seen Mu Fan since he woke up, except for a message.

"Mu Fan!" the two called out in unison.

*********

P. S.: Thank you to reader "Ji Feng Ying Wu" for the 1898 coins donation!

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