Han Xiao was initially in high spirits after helping Ames capture the old scoundrel Iso and exceeding the mission's objectives. However, upon turning around, he saw a group of Goddora warriors hurrying by, and his mood instantly soured, his expression hardening.
He recognized the Goddora combat suits. These people weren't low-level investigators, but rather a special operations force specializing in combat. The leader was none other than a highly skilled Goddora superhuman from his previous life. In version 2.0, this person was a key figure in dealing with the Mutation Disaster on Planet Aquamarine. Most of the combat missions players received from the Goddora faction were issued by him, making him essentially a commander and a very important NPC for the players. Therefore, Han Xiao was very familiar with him.
Nagokin, a senior officer of the Goddora War Bureau and A Tier martial artist, is only deployed for important missions. His appearance in Noriosse definitely means that some unknown important event has occurred here. Han Xiao had a flash of inspiration and immediately thought of Owenn, the half-blood Goddora he had met a few days ago.
"The two must be related..." Han Xiao thought to himself.
Another anomaly puzzled him. The Nagokin before him was exceptionally handsome and masculine, with a powerful stride and a robust physique. However, in Han Xiao's memory, when the players from Planet Aquamarine in his previous life first met him, Nagokin was in a crippled state. Half of his face was almost a skull. Not only was he disfigured, but his left arm and legs had been replaced with prosthetic mechanical limbs, and he had many artificial organs implanted in his body to maintain his life.
And now, less than a year has passed since the launch of version 2.0.
Therefore, Nagokin was crippled during that year, though he didn't know the exact time.
Han Xiao's eyes flashed. As soon as he had a question, he put it into action, shaking off the Noriosse executives who were chatting with him, and went straight to block Nagokin's way.
"Who are you? Get out of the way." The group of Goddora warriors stopped, Nagokin frowned as he sized up Han Xiao.
Han Xiao gave a brief self-introduction.
"Black Star? Oh, I've heard of you. You and some other mercenaries captured a DarkStar mothership. Not bad."
Nagokin nodded, not taking it too seriously. Someone of his rank usually focused on more important matters. He only knew of Han Xiao's name because a subordinate had mentioned it casually. He was in a hurry and patiently asked, "Why are you stopping us?"
"Just saying hello, and by the way, is there anything I can help you with?" Han Xiao asked. This was a common opening line used by players. He was trying to trigger a quest to find out the goals of this Goddora people. He lacked information and didn't know about the clash between DarkStar and Goddora in Noriosse; he had only noticed something unusual.
These warriors were reinforcements sent by Goddora, tasked with rescuing Owenn. In the past few days, two more of Owenn's clones had been captured, and the situation was urgent. Owenn learned from his clones' senses that the strongest member of the DarkStar's Pursuit team was only a B-rank superhuman named Fossatude. Therefore, Goddora dispatched Nagokin, who was closest to the enemy, believing he was sufficient to deal with them.
Nagokin felt he didn't need any help and could handle the enemy himself, so he replied dismissively, "We don't need your help. We're in a hurry, so we'll be going now."
Having said that, Nagokin walked past Han Xiao and left with his men.
Watching the group's the Sight of Father's Back, Han Xiao stroked his chin. "Tsk, failed to trigger the mission. An event requiring Calamity Grade expert to intervene is probably quite risky."
Since Nagokin doesn't welcome outsiders, then forget it; he's too lazy to bother trying to win him over.
He opened the panel; he had obtained Ames's character card earlier, but hadn't looked at it yet.
[Character Summon Card - Ames: [Force Field - Dragon's Gaze] - Compresses a medium (solid, liquid, or gaseous) within a certain range, applies it to a target, and inflicts a [Stun] state. For every 100 points of Strength the target possesses, the target gains a 1-second immunity. The base duration is 18 seconds. Uses: 0/1]
Han Xiao thought it was alright to have acquired a powerful control skill. Ames had many skills, and at her level, at least 70% of them were useful. Although they weren't powerful attacks, the control skills were more flexible, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
The group left the airport and returned to the ground, renting a temporary base where he planned to rest for a few days and purchase some supplies. Noriosse had many shops, and he intended to upgrade his combat machinery. Two High-End Knowledge and many Advanced Knowledge could be combined to create more good blueprints, enough for an upgrade. He still had over 200 million experience points on his panel; as long as he was a little frugal, he could combine enough blueprints.
Just as everyone was resting, a storm quietly broke out.
On the outskirts of Noriosse City Number Four.
Nagokin led dozens of Goddora warriors in a flying vehicle to a skyscraper. High-rise buildings stood nearby, and the maglev station connecting the city was not far away.
According to Owenn's intelligence, the DarkStar Force's stronghold is located on the 80th floor of this building, right at the waist of the building.
Owenn's main body maintained contact with the rescue team, observing the DarkStar personnel through his clone's senses and then providing clues to Nagokin. His requirement was to eliminate the DarkStar's Pursuit forces. Only after confirming that there was no danger would his main body appear, proceeding with extreme caution.
"The enemy's main force is inside. We'll destroy their base first, then deal with the DarkStar members operating outside. Otherwise, we'll alert them. Right now, the enemy base doesn't know we're here; we have the intelligence advantage. Follow me on the assault!"
The aircraft slowly ascended, approaching the target floor. Nagokin's expression was serious as he slowly clenched his fist, a dense golden aura flowing down his arm, its texture like liquid.
He punched the outer wall.
Boom!!
In the blink of an eye, a visible white ring-shaped shock wave spread hundreds of meters in all directions along the contact plane!
All the windows in the building shattered!
The burst of fist force pierced through the eighty floors, leaving a hole that was completely through from front to back. The building structure creaked and groaned, and the middle of the building collapsed, like a wooden stick that had almost been broken in two!
Let alone buildings, Calamity Grade martial artist can easily dismantle a warship with their bare hands. Given enough time, they can even transform into a self-propelled bulldozer and single-handedly flatten the surface of a planet.
With a single punch that shattered the terrain, Nagokin led his men in, storming the stronghold, and immediately spotted the disoriented Fossatude and his men.
Nagokin gestured, and dozens of Goddora warriors surrounded Fossatude's group. He said in a deep voice, "I am Nagokin of the Goddora War Bureau. You are surrounded. Lay down your weapons and surrender. I will send you to Rainbow Light Prison."
The building swayed precariously. Fossatude steadied himself, a sinister grin spreading across his face, as if he'd seen prey fall into a trap. He chuckled, "Looks like we've caught a big fish. Nagokin, look around you. Who do you think is the one surrounded?"
Two surging energy waves suddenly erupted, trapping Nagokin's troops right in the middle.
Nagokin quickly turned his head and saw Anur and Ashes staring intently at him from either side.
The intense killing intent almost froze the air.
"How can there be two Calamity Grade superhumans?! The intelligence is wrong!" Nagokin's expression changed drastically.
Owenn's clues indicated that the strongest member of the Pursuit force was only a B-rank, and Goddora's deployment of an A Tier was already a precautionary measure. With Nagokin involved, even if DarkStar had an A Tier member hidden within, the two sides would be evenly matched. However, they did not expect DarkStar to go to such lengths, sending two Calamity Grade members to Pursuit down the traitor—a complete overkill... and this was itself a trap set by DarkStar.
Anur and Ashes did not appear in front of Owenn's clone. Fossatude pretended to be the captain and misled Owenn's team into believing that there was no Calamity Grade superhuman in them. It was because the DarkStar side guessed that Goddora would send reinforcements that they deliberately misled Owenn, speculating that there would be at most one A Tier superhuman among the reinforcements, and this person was the prey of Anur and Ashes!
DarkStar not only Pursuit Owenn, but has also laid an ambush, intending to cause Goddora to lose a top-tier fighter!
This is why Anur and Ashes acted together; Goddora had fallen into DarkStar's trap.
The Goddora warriors present felt a chill run down their spines, and were drenched in cold sweat. The pressure from the two powerful enemies almost made their hearts stop beating. They were extremely tense and didn't know which direction to defend.
Nagokin's face was grave; knowing his chances of survival were slim, he took a deep breath.
"We will die today..."
call--
A martial arts aura enveloped his entire body, his energy fluctuations rivaling those of Anur and Ashes. He assumed a fighting stance, his eyes hardening, his jaw clenching, and a deep, resounding growl squeezed out from between his clenched teeth:
"Fight before we die!"