Chapter 138 Killing Machine

“Daren Zaka, from the Mech-Corpse Destiny, Rank Two, has been working for the Water Gate System ever since he joined over a decade ago.”

As the lift descended, Dailin recounted the target’s information.

“His parents passed away several years ago. He never married and doesn’t have any close friends. He’s a guy so isolated he has virtually no social connections.”

Anya commented, “He sounds like an extreme version of Elton.”

“He is nothing like Elton,” Sirian shook his head. “Elton at least has his own hobbies and ideals. Beneath his isolated exterior, he still possesses a passionate heart.”

He refrained from mentioning Elton’s love story; such private matters did not need to be aired publicly.

“For all these years, he has lived deep inside the fortress, just like the stereotype suggests, obsessed with technology and performing numerous optimizations on the Water Gate System.”

Dailin continued, “He doesn’t have a big reputation, but he has significantly influenced the Water Gate System.

Some people even think that if Daren were willing to cultivate his connections and build up his own influence, he would be a strong candidate for the next Chief Technology Officer.”

Sirian frowned and whispered, “He sounds like a huge problem.”

“I guess we’re unlucky,” Dailin said helplessly. “We actually have to deal with such a troublesome fellow.”

“Unlucky…”

Sirian couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far too coincidental.

“It’s truly baffling. How did he become corrupted by Chaos and end up on the liquidation list?”

Anya raised the point of doubt.

For someone as reclusive as Daren, she couldn’t figure out under what circumstances he would come into contact with Chaos, let alone start believing in the chaos evils and choose to become an enemy of Heer City.

“Stop overthinking it. We’ll know once we see him.”

Dailin interrupted Anya’s thoughts. The lift had stopped, and amidst the creaking sound of metal friction, the iron door slowly opened.

Beneath the archway, the three stepped onto a suspended steel grating platform. Through the mesh gaps, they could look directly down at the surging underground river below.

The depths of the fortress housed the observation area, where the river was forcibly constricted and channeled. The muddy, rapid current, carrying foam and unidentified debris, violently slammed against the reinforced alloy walls on both sides.

Water splashed, mixing with a heavy aquatic stench, hitting the cold steel structure, condensing into beads, gathering into thin streams, and constantly dripping along the rivets and welds.

Without needing further searching, the three found Daren.

To be precise, Daren was the only one on duty in this vast observation area.

Rather than coincidence, Sirian suspected the Water Gate System had received advance notice and cleared the area.

At the edge of the platform, thick pillars plunged deep into the torrent. Fixed upon them were huge searchlight bases, as well as grotesque, bulky observation equipment like hydraulic sensors and flow meters.

“Da… da da…”

Daren seemed to be in a good mood; they could hear him humming from afar.

The three exchanged glances. Dailin led the way, hands in his pockets, fingers gripping his brass knuckles. Sirian followed closely behind, skillfully concealing his boiling sword in Dailin’s shadow.

Anya walked at the rear, ready to provide support for the two at any moment.

“Daren Zaka.”

Dailin called out the man’s name, and the humming tune abruptly stopped.

Daren slowly turned his head. The shadow cast by his loose hood made his face indistinct.

“City Guard Bureau…”

He recognized the trio’s uniforms and muttered, “You shouldn’t be here.”

Before Dailin could say anything more, Daren suddenly laughed, completely ignoring the trio’s presence, turning back to record the complex readings.

“Wait a moment, everyone. Just a few more sets of data, and tonight’s observation will be complete.”

Daren began turning the heavy manual gate wheel; the brass disc was condensing moisture in the humid air.

The sound of the water below suddenly intensified. The air was cold and sticky, filled with the river’s unique earthy smell, rust, and an indescribable sense of oppression brought by the deep water.

Daren hastily recorded line after line of numbers. Through this complex data, he analyzed what was happening in the river and further anticipated his own fate.

“So that’s it. I’m worthless now, meant to be discarded?”

Daren muttered to himself, “Of course. You are the Light of the City. How could you tolerate a stain like me…”

“What are you talking about?”

Dailin grew alert. The atmosphere had undergone a subtle shift ever since Daren recorded the data.

Oppressive and deadly.

“Nothing. I’m just a little unwilling to die tonight.”

Daren said, troubled, “But honestly, I’m really curious. I want to see for myself what kind of scene he has depicted for Heer City.”

Dailin didn’t understand Daren’s words, and he didn’t have the chance to press him further.

Under the shadow of Daren’s hood, his crimson prosthetic eyes suddenly lit up, like the blood-red eyes of the abyss.

Without any warning or time to prepare, Daren suddenly tore off his disguise and recklessly unleashed his Source Energy.

At the same time, the might of Chaos erupted.

The bulky robe shattered into countless scraps of cloth, and the exposed torso had already transformed into a bloated metallic tomb.

Rough armor plating twisted and proliferated at the joints, welding scars coiled like centipedes, and countless thick black cables, like living parasites, pierced through the flesh, emerging from the spine, abdomen, and even the neck, with dark red blood mixed with oil dripping from their ends.

“Stop hiding, everyone!”

Daren’s words twisted into a sharp electronic sound.

“Take whatever you want!”

Accompanied by grating metal friction and hydraulic hissing, the bloated torso suddenly split and transformed.

Thick cannon barrels instantly stabbed out from the shoulder blades, back, and flanks. The dark muzzles turned menacingly under the pale searchlight, precisely locking onto the trio.

“Damn it!”

Dailin swore, and the next moment, artillery roared.

Metal projectiles streaked with intersecting fire lines, and concentrated yet dissipating Source Energy shocks tore through the air. Debris and evaporating water vapor flew everywhere, turning the entire area into a steaming mess.

“Damn it, what’s wrong with this guy?”

Behind a piece of cover, Dailin shouted, still shaken. If he had been a step slower, he would have been riddled with holes.

“Isn’t it obvious!”

Sirian also shouted, trying to make his voice heard over the roaring gunfire.

“That bastard somehow sensed that something was wrong tonight and knew we were here to kill him!”

Dailin grumbled, “Shouldn’t he have played mind games with us for a while? Why did he just attack directly!”

“Have you read too many novels!” Sirian had enough. “If you can strike first, you strike first!”

“Can both of you just shut up and deal with that lunatic!”

Anya’s voice successfully overpowered the two, bringing them to an agreement.

Having survived countless bloody battles, all three possessed rich combat experience and evaded the attack in time. If they were replaced by a group of interns who had just embarked on the Path, they would likely have been wiped out.

Sirian tensed his body and flashed out from cover. Projectiles followed his movement until he lunged behind another piece of cover, where the firing finally paused for a moment.

“Extremely tricky…”

Many Paths themselves are further subdivided into different categories.

Just as the Path of Return to Silence distinguishes between sobriety and depravity, the Mech-Corpse Destiny, due to differences in the Forging Court and the focus of the Spirit Artisans, has also branched into many different combat styles.

Some Spirit Artisans are skilled at storing large amounts of design blueprints in their minds. When facing combat, they high-speed print them out of thin air, instantly creating numerous terrifying firepowers to shred their opponents.

Other Spirit Artisans, like Rolf, construct numerous dominance armor sets and clockwork servants, forming an army of one, overwhelming the enemy with frightening numbers.

Finally, there are Spirit Artisans like Daren, who shift their focus back onto themselves, performing extensive mechanical modifications to their bodies, striving to forge themselves into the most lethal weapons.

“Since you focus on long-range firepower, then…”

Sirian heated up his boiling sword; the blade glowed red hot, and flames shot up.

“Dailin!”

He shouted as he leaped out from cover.

Dailin tacitly understood Sirian’s intention. He released his Source Energy without reservation, flipped over the cover, and exposed his body to Daren’s sight.

The crimson eyes locked onto Dailin.

Instantly, a violent metal storm smashed toward Dailin. He let out a muffled roar as Source Energy surged and condensed on his body surface. His skin took on a cold, hard sheen, donning an invisible layer of armor.

The deadly hail of bullets struck his iron-clad body, exploding in countless dazzling sparks. Every bullet was like a heavy hammer on a drum, the dull impact sounds echoing beneath the archway.

Dailin crossed his arms in front of him. Under the overload of impact, the iron wall woven by Source Energy was gradually shattering.

Intense pain.

The impact penetrated the Source Energy defense, slamming hard onto Dailin’s body surface. Dark purple bruises rapidly spread and cracked, and fine beads of blood seeped from the cracks.

“Goddammit, Sirian! Are you done yet!”

Amidst Dailin’s wailing complaints, Sirian leaped up from the shadows.

“Coming!”

Aided by Dailin’s life-risking feint, Sirian closed in on Daren.

The boiling sword was raised high!

The roaring gunfire suddenly stopped, and the crimson eyes instead focused on Sirian.

“Haha!”

A hoarse, sharp laugh rang out. Immediately afterward, dozens of sharp blades, like a twisted thicket of thorns, sprang out from Daren’s joints and elbows with a metallic clang, their cold light chilling.

Blades clashed, and sparks flew everywhere!

Sirian’s carefully planned assassination attempt was deflected by Daren with such ease.

But what chilled him the most was not Daren’s body full of sharp weapons, but the completely unrestrained Source Energy reaction that was now fully released.

Rank Three, Mech-Soul User.

Daren’s figure shot up, encompassing a torrent of blade light, whipping up a storm.

Dazzling sparks burst and fractured during the high-frequency hacking!

Although Sirian was fully focused on defending against the assault, his body was still torn open by the vicious blades. Thin, long gashes burst open, and blood sprayed out.

Immediately afterward, Daren’s wrist violently lifted. Amidst the teeth-grinding sound of tearing metal and joint disintegration, a cold, ferocious scimitar sprang out.

It chopped down toward his head!