Netherworld Retrograde

Capítulo 1050: Chapter 509: Divine Engine Descends, Titan Engages! (Part 2)

The damned rebellious Mechanical Soul is going to get me killed!

“Destroy that camera!” Zhou Ding angrily ordered, “Everyone on alert!”

A large number of Mechanical Souls were awakened: vehicles, automatic turrets, Iron Guard Armor, and even a massive Underground Tunnelling Machine. All were awakened by Zhou Ding’s order, vigilant for any potential enemies.

…

Meanwhile, in the underground space where Li Yelai and others were located.

The aftermath of the explosion gradually dissipated, and a thick yet broken stone wall collapsed, allowing Li Yelai and the others to emerge.

This was Zhou Hao’s Divine Ability, Earth Shaping. It controlled the earth to form a stone wall and enhanced its hardness. It became a barrier, blocking the not-insignificant power of the methane explosion.

It is said that the establishment of the Giant City back then relied a lot on this ability.

However, it significantly consumed Zhou Hao’s Spiritual Energy.

“What should we do now? Keep moving forward?” Strawberry asked the panting Zhou Hao.

“The enemy is in the dark, we are in the light… Continuing might lead us into traps again,” Grenade said, “Maybe we should go back, gather more manpower, or notify the authorities.”

It’s clear Zhou Ding had prepared the area in advance; continuing forward could result in unforeseen danger.

The four had already encountered two attacks and hadn’t even seen anyone. Moving forward might lead to casualties.

“Indeed, the officials should take over now. Regardless of what Zhou Ding has done, that Taboo Item must be contained by the authorities,” Li Yelai also said, “You wanted to negotiate with Zhou Ding to bring him back to the family, but he hasn’t held back at all.”

“No, don’t worry, the more commotion we cause here, the quicker the Old Family Head can approach Zhou Ding,” Zhou Hao said, “If Zhou Ding remains unrepentant, the Old Family Head will clean house.”

“So that’s why you had us separate… You planned from the beginning to use us as a diversion.” Grenade clicked his tongue.

“There’s no other way; this Taboo Item is too troublesome. It’s very difficult for us to find him by ourselves,” Zhou Hao, breathing steadily now, said, “I apologize, everyone. Let’s keep going; with our strength, even traps can’t harm us; instead, they might draw his attention… Of course, I’ll double the reward. Consider it a package deal!”

“Actually, I have a better method,” Li Yelai said.

“What method?”

“You all retreat first, I’ll go forward alone,” Li Yelai said, “I have a Taboo Item that attracts enemies. But the cost of using it is significant, so I hope you’ll leave first.”

Li Yelai intended to use You Must Meet Strong Enemies to lure out or find Zhou Ding.

Of course, this depended on the curse recognizing Zhou Ding as a strong enemy… However, with him holding a Taboo Item, it might work.

“You’re talking as if you’re setting up a Monster Brushing Cage…” Grenade commented, suddenly pausing.

Monster Brushing Cage? From the Champion Team One? What the…? Really?

Could this Lord Feng Yu be…

Before he could finish, another sound drew everyone’s attention.

‘Click-clack’

‘Click-clack’

The sound of heavy footsteps approached from a distance.

The four frowned. More trouble?

Each gripped their weapons.

And when they saw the newcomer, they were taken aback.

It was a severely damaged Iron Guard Armor. From the torn chest armor, one could see that the inside was empty, save for a large area of dried blood. The wounds indicated that this Iron Guard had previously been ambushed by a Hunting Insect.

At this moment, this unmanned Iron Guard Armor, somehow having evaded the blast without being completely destroyed, stood before them, its trembling metallic finger pointing in a direction.

“What does this mean?” Strawberry frowned, “Is it… indicating we should go that way?”

“What kind of performance is this?” Grenade sneered, “Zhou Ding, your act has too much flair!”

“Not even bothering to act anymore?” Zhou Hao was also quite annoyed.

Li Yelai approached the Iron Guard Armor, scrutinizing it up and down, and asked, “Is he there?”

The armor did not respond, or rather couldn’t. Instead, it dragged its soon-to-collapse body in the indicated direction.

Li Yelai could faintly sense the weak Mechanical Soul inside, urgently urging them toward that direction.

“Has this situation occurred before?” Li Yelai asked, “A Mechanical Soul controlled by Zhou Ding not following orders?”

“Not clear, we didn’t know at the time that it was activating Mechanical Souls; we thought it was just a hacker-type electronic attack,” Zhou Hao replied.

“Hmm… then let’s go check it out.” Li Yelai looked at the three.

“Feng Yu, do you really trust it?” Zhou Hao frowned, “Isn’t this obviously a trap?”

“Do you think a Mechanical Soul could be coerced by Zhou Ding with a Taboo Item?” Strawberry asked.

“Mechanical Souls are too mysterious. But, I’ve seen a Mechanical Soul that’s loyal to humans. It always fulfilled its duties as before. In the moments human warriors needed it most, it fired on the enemies of humanity.”

That was the Yan Yun Fleet of the human Border Fleet.

Even though it had exhausted all its fuel, with its control system completely destroyed, lying silent like a metal mausoleum in the ruins.

It roared an earth-shaking cry, declaring its arrival!

Once again fighting alongside humans, bombarding the flesh mutations!

Now, this armor might be another loyal Mechanical Soul. Li Yelai was willing to believe.

After all, with his strength, even if it’s a trap, there’s not much that can harm him.

Could it be that he can’t defeat Zhou Ding? He just hasn’t been able to find Zhou Ding.

This was the confidence of the Champion!

Seeing the Iron Guard moving further and further away, considering Li Yelai’s previous reliable actions.

Zhou Hao gritted his teeth, “Alright, let’s take a gamble. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I don’t believe Zhou Ding would plant a nuke here!”

…

Meanwhile, on the other side, Zhou Ding was too busy to concern himself with Li Yelai and the others.

The external alarms were piercingly loud.

Outside the shelter, countless weapons were firing, but Zhou Ding still felt the Mechanical Souls being destroyed one after another.

And a Black Shadow moved like a specter within the line of fire, destroying one fortified position after another.

That was the Old Family Head, Zhou Yuan!

Once a battlefield assassin, now the only Sixth-sense Great Spirit Ability User in the Zhou Family!

Zhou Ding thought he was old, that he wouldn’t dare fight anymore, how laughable!

Zhou Yuan was always waiting for the Giant City’s call, waiting to throw his old bones into the battlefield, to kill as many enemies as possible.

For humanity, for the Giant City, to carve out a future!

How could such a killing machine ever retreat?

“Zhou Ding, give up your resistance. Put down the Taboo Item. If your power is controllable, you are still part of our Zhou Family!” Zhou Yuan’s voice echoed on the battlefield.

This made Zhou Ding waver, but as he set his eyes on Zhou Yuan, something in his heart jumped.

Goodwill at negative fifty, high danger level; even after all these Mechanical Souls attacking, his chance of winning was only 28%.

“You old liar! You won’t fool me!” Upon seeing ‘the data,’ Zhou Ding cursed.

Goodwill at negative fifty, and still claiming reconciliation? Not much different from an enemy!

If he relaxed for a moment, he’d probably be beheaded, right?

Damn, even now, you’re still trying to trick me?

Zhou Ding completely distrusted Zhou Yuan’s words and instead pondered how to increase his winning odds.

A 28% chance of winning was too low; even though as Spiritual Energy dwindled and vitality faded, the odds slowly increased, reaching 70% might not happen soon enough.

He’d have to use his trump card…

Zhou Ding was extremely hesitant but ultimately decided on Awakening.

“Did you think I came here to hide and be at your mercy once more?”

Zhou Ding picked up the Mechanical Magic Cube, whose ability was not just activating Mechanical Souls.

Otherwise, how could it be called the Mechanical God?

Lord Zi Yu’s blessing granted him profound knowledge and a deeper understanding of the cube’s mystery.

Thanks to that knowledge, the final complex puzzle of the Mechanical Magic Cube was pieced together by Zhou Ding, and the entire cube emitted a terrifying pressure.

“Come, let me show you the descent of the Mechanical God!”

However, in the next second, Zhou Ding heard two distinct laughs.

One came from the exalted presence in the Void Realm, Zi Yu’s joyous laughter.

And the other… was from the cube itself.

“Finally… you’ve fallen for it, human!”

“God Machine descends, Titan activate!”