Chapter Nine: Fearless Combat Prowess

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It seemed that Zigui possessed some sort of spatial storage device, perhaps a storage bracelet, for Mu saw him perform a series of tricks, producing several oddly shaped monocles, hiltless sword handles, and a few long spears of peculiar design as if by magic.

“This is a detector,” Zigui announced, placing a monocle over his left eye. “It can estimate the combat strength of a target. Heh, with this, we can pick on the weak and avoid the strong.”

“This is a high-energy oscillation blade!” He pressed a spot on the sword hilt, and with a whirring sound, a red beam shot forth, vibrating the air with a resonant hum as he swung his arm. “It can slice through gold and jade, sharp beyond compare, and—heh—a handy flashlight function!”

“This is a high-energy pulse ion gun. Fires in bursts, powered by energy crystals—each second of use consumes one energy point!”

“Which do you like? Take your pick!” Zigui declared with the pride of a treasure exhibitor. “I bet none of these exist in your realms.”

Gu Feng glanced over them. “Not interested!”

The bald man said bluntly, “I trust my own strength more.”

Only Mu stepped forward and tried on the detector. Sure enough, whenever his gaze fixed on someone, their stats appeared before him. The twin beauties, both assessed at over thirty thousand combat points; the burly men with the bald man, likewise. But when he turned the detector on Zigui, the number was pitifully low. Yet, when he aimed it at Gu Feng and the bald man, only three question marks appeared, with a flashing red warning: “Extremely dangerous individual. Keep away.”

He also noticed a small note on the detector: Numbers cannot explain everything.

He then picked up the high-energy oscillation blade, testing its feel, and hung it casually at his waist. Next, he picked up the high-energy pulse ion gun, squinting down the sight, only for Zigui to break into a cold sweat. “Brother Mu, if you like it, keep it—but don’t fire it carelessly! We’re in space, and the ship can’t take a shot from that!”

Mu finally realized that beyond the hall’s windows was a vast expanse of darkness—they were indeed in the void of space. The bald man asked, “Zigui, how much longer until we arrive?”

“Everyone can rest for a while if bored. At least six hours to go,” Zigui replied.

“Ah! You could have said so sooner!” Gu Feng yawned and laughed. “Neon, Cai, come massage my legs in my room!”

“Yes, young master!” the two beauties answered sweetly, gliding after Gu Feng. Zigui craned his neck after them, nearly drooling. “Alas! Two lovely maidens have fallen into the demon lord’s hands. Shouldn’t a heroic soul such as myself rush to their rescue?”

No sooner had he spoken than the robot at his side interjected, “Danger. Danger. Analysis: This person’s combat strength exceeds master’s by more than tenfold. Risk of instant annihilation. Action not advised.”

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Zigui was mortified. “Shut up…”

The bald man took out a vial of red liquid and tossed it to Mu. “G-virus evolution serum. Six hours is enough time.” The implication was for him to inject it immediately.

Zigui ordered the robot to show them to their quarters and scurried off. The bald man surmised there must be more people aboard than just their group—Zigui had likely gone to flirt with the female soldiers.

In his room, Mu ordered Number One to guard the door, then injected the G-virus evolution serum into his vein. Soon, an intense warmth coursed through his body, growing hotter and hotter, until it was as if his very organs were roasting over a fire. Yet he had no strength to move, not even to cry out.

He had no idea how long had passed before the searing heat gradually eased, replaced by an indescribable comfort radiating outward from his bones. He stretched luxuriously, and the crackling of joints sounded like beans popping in a skillet. Rising to his feet, he felt as though he had grown taller. Images of the burly men flashed through his mind. “Am I going to grow that big too?”

Mu had no desire to become such a giant. Lost in thought, he was startled by the communicator’s chime. “Mu, you should be awake by now. Come to the main hall.”

When Mu arrived, everyone was already assembled. The bald man asked, “What are your current stats?”

Mu quickly summoned Dingdang.

“Agent body analysis… Basic material-plane agent: G-virus evolution serum injected, DNA evolved: constitution, strength, agility, mental power, body possesses immunity. Result… Agent’s physical stats are approaching F-rank warrior level. Recommendation: improve physical stats promptly.”

The bald man nodded, “Not bad. Looks like you’ll reach F-rank after this mission. If possible, I suggest you aim for E-rank.”

At that moment, the main hall’s sliding door opened and a soldier rushed in, saluting Zigui. “Report, young clan chief! The ship is about to land at Base Seven on Star E4. A large number of mutated bugs detected below. The captain advises you not to disembark.”

“Nonsense! There are warriors below loyal to my family. How could I not go?” Zigui declared righteously. “Tell the captain I’ll personally rescue my besieged clansmen!”

“Yes, sir!” The soldier saluted and left. As the young clan chief, Zigui’s authority was unchallengeable, even by the captain—they were all family soldiers, and Zigui was highly favored. The old patriarch had already decreed him as successor, so all respected him, none daring offense. His strength as a plane agent, with resources others could never hope for, had earned him many achievements for the family. There was virtually no opposition to his ascension.

After a shudder, the ship touched down. Through the main screen, Mu gasped in shock. The landscape was overrun with bugs larger than humans, spider-like with six rapidly scuttling legs, wave after wave assaulting the base.

“This scene…?” Mu’s heart trembled. “This is just like the sci-fi horror film ‘Starship Troopers,’ only the bugs look different.” But these bugs’ shells glinted with a metallic sheen, suggesting they were even more terrifying than those in the movie, with much stronger defenses. Fortunately, the weapons of this sci-fi realm were vastly more powerful. This base of just over a hundred warriors had held out against the bugs’ onslaught for three days, awaiting family reinforcements.

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Yet with the ship’s arrival, the bugs surged even more frantically toward the base. Zigui’s face grew grim. “With such ferocity, the base shouldn’t have lasted three days. I fear these bugs lured us here deliberately.”

Mu was startled. “No way—are you saying these bugs are intelligent? That’s terrifying!” As he spoke, a black cloud suddenly rose from the swarm. A panicked soldier shouted, “It’s bad! The bugs can fly—”

Zigui pulled up his collar, where a communicator was pinned. “Mech squadron, take off at once! Full firepower! Leave none alive!”

At his command, several hundred mechs launched from the ship. Zigui turned to the others. “Let’s go. We’ll see the front lines for ourselves!”

By now, the front line was manned by the newly arrived, well-equipped soldiers. But even with three hundred mechs—expensive as they were—they were too few, barely a ripple in the sea of bugs.

With a clang, an iron door dropped to the ground, and Mu followed Zigui and the rest off the ship. The base was the size of three football fields; the ship itself occupied a third of that. Setting foot on solid ground, Mu felt disoriented—an ordinary man, now on an alien planet. But this was no time for reflection. The stifling heat of the planet’s air left him breathless, and its gravity seemed slightly greater than Earth’s, adding to his discomfort.

As he watched the ferocious battle ahead, an idea struck. “Number One, show me what you can do!”

“Understood, master!” With a series of clicks, Number One reverted to its true form, leaping into the air and swiftly transforming into a flying craft, diving into the swarm. Explosions erupted as bugs were smashed to pieces, flesh and gore splattering everywhere. In moments, Number One shifted from aircraft to a towering robot, raising an arm to unleash a thick laser beam that instantly vaporized a line of bugs.

Then, soaring into the sky, it produced a whip of light, sweeping and pulling downward to dissolve a swath of bugs in an instant.

…Terrifying… utterly terrifying… Number One’s combat prowess left everyone dumbfounded. Zigui’s soldiers cheered, thinking it a new family mech. Zigui himself watched in awe, drooling at the display. He knew silicon-based technology surpassed even this sci-fi world, but he hadn’t expected such overwhelming power. At this rate, Number One alone could wipe out the entire bug horde!

With Number One in action, the base’s pressure eased dramatically. Mu, eager to witness its full strength, did not call it back. It rampaged unopposed, its light whip clearing wide swathes, its laser beam vaporizing bug after bug. Mu counted—within moments, Number One had fired well over a hundred laser beams, with no sign of energy depletion.

All were transfixed, when suddenly, several massive, unknown projectiles shot from afar, clearly targeting Number One, now hovering midair with every escape route blocked. But with a casual wave, a translucent shield enveloped it. The projectiles exploded on impact, the shockwave knocking soldiers within the base off their feet.

Gu Feng and the bald man’s expressions changed. In unison, they exclaimed, “What incredible power!” (Three chapters today—please recommend!)