The Legendary Mechanic, page 779
“Things are still not clear yet,” Urranrell said with a heavy frown. “Black Star has yet to agree to work with the Mechanic Emperor. He’s a smart person. I believe he will make a choice that’s beneficial for the peace of the universe.”
The church pope coldly said, “But what if? The federation once trusted the Mechanic Emperor too much as an ally, which led to him pushing the boundaries and gradually getting out of our control. With such an example, is the dynasty still planning to continue to protect Black Star for the sake of not offending him? A choice has to be made between the big picture and allies; unending fawning will only make the other party think you’re weak.”
Hearing this, Urranrell closed her eyes, only opening them again after a while. Her eyes were emotionless when they opened again.
“By then, I’ll have my measures.”
“Such as?”
“That’s not for you to worry, Your Excellency!”
On the other hand, the confrontation was still underway on Planet Magnetic Cloud. As soon as Manison said that, everyone present was startled. They did not think Manison would be willing to pass the virus core to someone else.
Han Xiao was shocked too. He was just mocking Manison and testing him. He did not think Manison would really agree to it. Hearing this, Han Xiao hesitated and did not respond instantly. He started to think quickly in his mind.
Manison wants to work with me, not only to shift the target to me but also because of the teleportation ability of the King suit. Of all the people here, I’m the only one who can leave this place with the virus core easily. Old Man Manison is strong, sure, but even he isn’t very confident in fleeing from here, which is why he has chosen me…
Han Xiao pondered. This body was a Lord’s Avatar that did not have the King. Nonetheless, he could summon a spare one from the Dimension Factory, so it was not an issue. Manison is killing two birds with one stone. If I agree and leave with the virus core, I’ll instantly become the target of everyone, while Manison won’t have to fight for a way out after throwing the hot potato to me. Instead, he got himself out of the equation, and I’ll face the most pressure from the three Universal Civilizations.
If I break my promise after acquiring the technology, not only will I have to endure the pressure alone, but I’ll also have to suffer the consequences of breaking my promise. Not speaking of offending Manison, my name among the Beyond Grade As will plummet for sure. Therefore, he’s certain that I’ll need an ally, so he knows he’ll most likely still get his hands on the technology, and he’s willing to gamble on it…
Han Xiao clenched his teeth in his mind.
He’s playing these dirty tricks again! The two of them did not chat privately but openly. Manison’s intentions were clear; he wanted to shift the target of the conflict, and everyone understood that. However, some people still panicked. Seeing that Han Xiao was about to be convinced, the dynasty’s inspector yelled loudly, “Black Star! You have to think carefully about what you’re doing!”
He had to panic. Although the spacetime was stabilized, Black Star was the only one who could just teleport out.
Although the two of them could run but could not hide, if the three Universal Civilizations could not retrieve the virus core on the spot, it would cause tons of problems afterward.
The Beyond Grade A Mechanics changed their positions and stood apart from Manison and Han Xiao.
This time, Manison raised the contained virus core, stared at Han Xiao, and said, “Black Star, I’ve always had high hopes for you. You should know that this will become the amulet for the Beyond Grade As. We have the same philosophy. Leave with it. Our future is in your hands.”
“Bullsh*t. Although you’re the association president, you still don’t have the right to make this kind of decision on behalf of all the Beyond Grade As. No one needs you to plan the future for them.” Kant turned to Han Xiao and said, “Black Star, don’t get tricked by him. Not only will possessing the virus core not give us insurance, but it will bring us a disaster.”
Han Xiao hesitated.
His philosophy was not the same as the Mechanic Emperor’s. He wanted to interfere with the Calamity of the Supers so that the explored universe could preserve more strength to deal with the World Tree Civilization in the future.
Manison wanted to make the Beyond Grade As stronger, making everyone in this Grade his shield. Another goal of him attempting to acquire the Domino Virus technology was most likely to make the other Beyond Grade As more united around him and see him as their leader.
In Han Xiao’s previous life, Manison most likely was the one who got the Domino Virus. However, he did not use it during the World Tree Civilization war. His ambitions showed from that-since he still did not expose his trump card even when the explored universe was threatened by an outside enemy, he clearly wanted to use it on the three Universal Civilizations.
Han Xiao looked around and saw the expression on everyone’s face.
Is the Domino Virus really an amulet? Who knows? It might be a death invitation.
How can the three Universal Civilizations possibly be willing to be restricted by someone? If I threaten them with this as leverage, I won’t receive compromises but, more likely, the three Universal Civilizations’ resolve to eliminate their enemies no matter the cost.
Most of the time, the three Universal Civilizations would think about the big picture, but this did not mean that they would compromise without limits. Strategic weapons would only achieve a balance of power when the power of the two sides was on the same level in the first place. However, if one side’s power overwhelmed the other, it was tough to imagine they would allow an outsider to use a weapon that could threaten them to demand things. If he obtained the Domino Virus technology, he would be able to cause huge damage to the entire universe if he wanted to and make the galactic society go back multiple generations. He might feel this meant that the three Universal Civilizations would have no choice but to choose to tolerate and compromise with him… However, this would be the exact source of the three Universal Civilizations’ resolve to eliminate him.
Even if he did not think of causing trouble, people could change, and the three Universal Civilizations would not be willing to take that risk.
From Han Xiao’s perspective, the three Universal Civilizations allowing them to possess the Domino Virus technology did not seem like a big deal. After all, as long as everyone held back, it seemed like no one would suffer any losses. It looked like a small issue not worth all the trouble.
However, this was only his mind playing tricks on him, telling him he might get lucky. In truth, the three Universal Civilizations had lines that could not be crossed. They could tolerate others being greedy, but they would never allow anyone to threaten their positions as the absolute rulers.
In this situation, if he ignored their warnings and took the virus core away, no matter what he said afterward, the three Universal Civilizations would still assume he was thinking of overthrowing their rule.
If things really turned ugly, Han Xiao did not think the other Beyond Grade As would be standing on his side. He knew very well that everyone had their own plans. His call only got so many responses before because it suited their interests. However, no one was ready to turn on the three Universal Civilizations. By then, there would definitely be more people who would choose not to be involved than people who chose to take this path to the end.
By that time, he and the Mechanic Emperor might be seen as the cancer of society. Most of the time, the majority represented the society they were in.
Also, the impact of things turning completely ugly would show in all areas. The Black Star Army’s territory in the Flickering World would be retrieved; the civilizations would no longer provide any resource channels; the civilian financial groups would terminate their partnerships; the army’s funds and accounts would be frozen, and the army would not be able to purchase any resources; countless army soldiers would quit and leave; the army’s business would shrink dramatically… The three Universal Civilizations would only have to make a simple announcement for all this to happen. All the benefits he was enjoying from the advanced civilizations would be gone forever.
Everyone was a member of the galactic civilization. There would certainly be extremely few people who would be willing to fight against the three Universal Civilizations on the Black Star Army’s side.
After all, most people were just ordinary people. No one could blame them for putting themselves first.
Han Xiao’s eyes flickered. He stopped joking around and said with a deep voice, “You’re putting me in the gamble.”
“I’m thinking about the big picture.” Manison’s tone was calm.
Han Xiao stayed silent for a while before suddenly moving.
Buzz!
Void energy erupted and shrouded this area. Everyone there felt like they were in a swap and could not move freely.
Void Prison!
Due to the spacetime stabilization device, the strength, duration, and range of this ability all decreased drastically, but it was still barely enough.
In this area, only Han Xiao’s movements were unrestricted. He flew past the encirclement around and instantly came before Manison, grabbed onto the virus core and immediately moved aside.
“Black Star!”
As Void Prison ended, everyone came and surrounded Han Xiao this time.
Everyone’s eyes landed on him with all kinds of complicated emotions such as anger, worry, anxiety, and many more.
Outside the crowd, Manison looked at Han Xiao and said, “Looks like you’ve figured it out. You’re a smart man. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Black Star, don’t do anything stupid.” Sidreun and the inspectors were shocked.
Han Xiao did not respond to anyone. He looked at the virus core in his hands carefully, softly rubbed the container, and made sure it was the real thing.
With so many Beyond Grade As around, the possibility of it being swapped without getting noticed was nonexistent.
With the virus core in his hands, he felt as if he was not holding onto a physical object but the fate of countless people in this universe.
The direction of the era and the path it would take might be all decided by his one decision.
This time, Han Xiao looked up at the nervous eyes of everyone and slowly said, “Before taking the bet, one has to see the risks first. Sorry, I might have made a not so right decision. It’s just that I suddenly recall something a woman once said to me…
“She said… this universe has an end no matter how enormous it is, but ambition has no limits.”
Right after he said that, under the shocking look of everyone, Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force erupted and flowed into the container.
The Mechanical Force was mixed with a virtual soul attack. It completely wiped both the virus core’s physical body and soul.
Ka-cha!
He shattered the metal shell with his fingers. The empty container turned into pieces and fell to the ground.
At this moment, it was like everything froze.
Everyone watching, including the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations who were watching the broadcast, were all completely astonished.
Everyone had a lot of guesses in their minds, but not a single person had thought of what just happened.
Black Star destroyed the virus core?
He’s mad! Why did he do that?
Even if you don’t want it, you didn’t have to destroy it!
A bright light suddenly appeared in Manison’s eyes, and a terrifying energy flowed in his body like a tsunami.
His deep voice echoed around word by word.
“What! The! Hell! Have! You! Done!”
Chapter 1115. Twin Gods Advent |
The lightning snaked wildly around, flickering with arcs of electricity as the energy fluctuations blasted around with the force of a hurricane. The Beyond Grade A avatars and machinery present were all blown away and retreated. Han Xiao was blown back a short distance, and he immediately stabilized himself, staring at the other party. Manison was entwined with a brilliant golden arc of Mechanical Force, releasing an astonishing aura. His pinnacle Beyond Grade A energy was fully released, and even though this was just an avatar of his, Han Xiao felt a heavy sense of oppression.
Manison’s eyes flashed as he locked onto Han Xiao, repeating his question.
“Do you know what you just did?”
“Are you angry?” Han Xiao did not bother to explain, only indifferently replying. “I’m very disappointed in you. You definitely understood what sort of chance you just gave up! Why did you destroy the virus core?” “Eradicating the Intelligent Plague is the goal of our trip. I just did my part… and on the first day I arrived, I told you this. It’s my generation’s responsibility to prevent the universe from growing more chaotic, but you didn’t seem to take it seriously.”
Manison hovered in the air, his tone not revealing any surprise or joy. “It seems like my understanding of you is still insufficient.”
“Many people don’t even understand themselves, let alone say that they understand others… Mechanic Emperor, you think that we’re the same kind of person, but in fact, we’re not.”
“Since things have reached this point, there’s no need to say any more. Since you disappointed me, you should know how this will end today!”
Manison’s Mechanical Force soared up to the sky, piercing through the clouds, and connected to his machinery in outer space. His voice boomed out.
“Let me see just how much ability you have!”
Just as his voice sounded, a black wave of machinery passed through the atmosphere, shooting out a dense beam of light as they fell from the sky like a meteor shower toward Han Xiao’s position.
“My thoughts exactly!” Han Xiao’s left fist slammed upward toward the sky in a fanfare of light. An arc-shaped psionic protective shield unfolded in the air.
The dense cluster of light beams hit on the protective shield like a heavy downpour hitting the leaves on a plantation. This was accompanied by crackling explosions.
Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force also rushed upward to the sky, summoning his machinery on standby in outer space.
The machinery acted instantaneously and broke through the atmosphere. Manison’s troops immediately shifted their targets, exchanging fire with Han Xiao’s troops at a high altitude. The crisscrossing beams gave off a mysterious glow in the skies.
Han Xiao and Manison’s avatars were not idle either. They quickly drew close to each other in a collision.
Boom!
Just like a comet hitting the earth, a bluish-gold circular shock wave exploded at the center of their impact.
The two figures exchanged attacks hundreds of times, entangled as they rose into the air.
Boom!
Alloy rubbed against alloy, releasing countless electric sparks, and shock waves constantly formed at the point of their impacts.
Just as two of them started fighting, the other Beyond Grade A avatars and troops on the scene immediately diverged from each other, running off to the side to watch without getting involved.
Seeing Black Star fighting against the Mechanic Emperor, everyone then recovered from the shock of Han Xiao destroying the virus core.
“I really didn’t expect… that Black Star would do this.” Maximiler was surprised.
“By doing this, he has put an end to the possibility of any organization obtaining the complete technology of this Virtual Mutiny Virus. Neither us nor the three Universal Civilizations can restore this technology now. He was too impulsive. Now no one has obtained anything from this trip,” Mornisa complained. “Impulsive? In my opinion, he’s the one who is the calmest and most rational,” Sun Hunter replied. “While doing this will cut off our hope of obtaining the virus technology, from the perspective of the universe and the bigger picture, this was a selfless choice.”
Kant nodded, speaking emotionally. “Come to think of it, we did not lose anything, nor did the three Universal Civilizations. The only ones who truly lost were Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor. The Mechanic Emperor has been made a fool of, and his position is making the three Universal Civilizations feel a certain degree of danger from him. As for Black Star, he has relinquished the possibility of obtaining benefits.
“If I was in that position, I would definitely not have destroyed it. I would have negotiated with the three Universal Civilizations in exchange for a lot of benefits. Yet Black Star was able to give up on those benefits to choose to destroy the root cause of this disaster. This should be the most beneficial to universal peace… I always thought of Black Star as a pure profit-seeker and didn’t expect him to do such a thing. Maybe I was wrong all along.”
“That’s right…” Judith sighed. “Our understanding of Black Star seems to be too limited. Turns out, he was not such a profit-seeker.”
Everyone was in a complicated mood. At this moment, the image of Black Star rose rapidly in their hearts since they did not expect him to perform such a noble move.
Even Jackornitz and those who had some enmity with him had to admit that their impression of Black Star had risen a notch. While the hope of restoring the virus technology was lost, no one was too disappointed even though they thought it a pity. In fact, they heaved a sigh of relief. This was an outcome they could all accept.
In fact, everyone had this vague worry in their heads as to what would happen after the three Universal Civilizations obtained the Virtual Mutiny Virus. Everyone present was a mechanic, and the Virtual Mutiny Virus would be the most lethal to them. The Virtual Mutiny Virus would pose a huge threat to their Class, which would cause their entire profession to enter hibernation.
In contrast, destroying the virus core was a wise choice. From this point of view, most of the people present were not against Han Xiao’s choice and even thought of it as a compromise that would benefit the Beyond Grade As.
