Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

In the dead of night, the mechanical gate of Flame Pass (the dam’s outflow) slowly lifted, as the ’Mechanical Hunter’ army, having received the news, advanced inside. The three-story-high mecha emitted a dangerous metallic sheen, the exaggeratedly modified Mechanical Hunters coldly scanned the surroundings, and the terrifying mouths of the lurking Radiation Beasts occasionally gaped open.

All this foretold that Flame Pass had found a new master.

The forces of the Land of Flames were greatly surprised upon receiving the news, as their calculations indicated that Flame Pass could hold off the enemy for at least a month. If the ’God’ suddenly regained strength as in the past, they might even launch a counterattack.

The daytime battle had ended in collapse.

By night, they were driven to the highlands. How could it happen so fast?

A single wave tactic!

The indigenous warlords couldn’t help but reflect whether they could withstand the enemy if they were in command.

The answer wasn’t promising!

For a moment, countless envoys, carrying gifts and trembling with fear, set off toward Flame Pass.

They were eager to know whether the ’God’ was dead or alive.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the eyes of enterprises sought deeper truths.

Was this the Holy Brain Group’s plan, or a tactical blunder?

If it’s the former, everything made sense.

If it’s the latter, things grew even more intriguing.

They were soon received by the new owner, an unexpected face—General Quel, once the right-hand aide of the ’God’.

General Quel calmly proclaimed that the God was not dead, merely retiring for health reasons.

She would henceforth be responsible for all matters concerning Flame Pass.

As for the legendary hunter, the envoys didn’t meet him at all.

However, General Quel’s revelation brought some relief.

The Flame Motorcycle Faction had not been eradicated.

This meant it was merely an ’internal conflict’ rather than a ’usurpation’.

The mastermind had no intention of a grand conspiracy.

After arranging for the envoys, General Quel stretched her limbs and told the two Flame Boys by the door, ”Notify me if anyone arrives.”

The Flame Boys zealously thumped their chests.

This sight surprised General Quel.

Previously, only the ’God’ could make the Flame Boys obey commands.

Not only was the ’God’ imprisoned, but their authority was also usurped.

What terrifying individuals!

Thinking of the one she was about to meet, General Quel felt a tinge of nervousness.

In the God’s harem garden, passing through the guarded mecha, she soon saw the Hunter White Bone, besides White Bone were the Beauty God Aphrodite, Night Goddess Nix, and Goddess of Fate Themis.

At that moment, the three goddesses were vying for the attention of a delicate-looking youth.

Seeing this, General Quel’s mouth twitched several times, finally revealing a helpless smile.

The three goddesses had been rescued the previous night, while the other scores of God’s divine consorts had all ’disappeared’.

It was evident where they went, and General Quel knew why she defected.

She entered the ’Flame Boys’ production base, amidst vast pipelines and cloning tubes, meeting the Godslayer.

He was conversing with Ms. Du about something.

Based on what she’d heard, Ms. Du was this Godslayer’s divine consort—perhaps even the Goddess.

The enthusiasm and respect he showed were unlike ’God’.

”Greetings, Leader.”

General Quel pounded her chest with one hand, kneeled with one knee, showing utmost solemnity.

”Oh, you’re here.”

As for the title, Gao Gong was consistent with his philosophy—whatever makes everyone happy.

Tribe members liked to call him Consultant.

Mechanical Hunters called him Boss.

Old folks referred to him as the Owner.

The Little Woman called him the Perverted Consultant.

Hearing ’Leader’ for the first time felt novel.

Since Ms. Du had started using second-hand items, she not only seemed rejuvenated, appearing several years younger, but also became rather clingy. Once she heard he was heading to Mechanical City, she immediately rode Iron Hide over great distances to find him.

She cherished their final moments together.

Ms. Du took a glance at the other’s rather strong features, confirmed it wasn’t a type her someone preferred, and displayed a kind smile.

”Hello, General.”

General Quel was somewhat flattered.

”Let me show you something.”

Gao Gong opened a projection screen, where an animated film began. The image was a nowadays rare ’two-dimensional animation’.

It seemed to be an ancient mythological story, with a series of Q-version characters appearing—

’The earth split open, birthing Gaia; the underworld split open, birthing Uranus. As Uranus and Gaia united, there existed men and women. They begot a pantheon of divine children, of whom the strongest was the first Divine King, Chronos.’

’...thus, Chronos disposed of his own father, and during his reign, inherited his father’s cruelty and ferocity. The second generation of the Divine King, the most powerful Divine King, was to be born in flames…’

It appeared to be a mythical tale from the Civilization Era, yet General Quel’s expression gradually changed; surprise, doubt, anger, and loss.

The story in this cartoon is almost identical to the actions of the ’Divine’. He bestowed the title of twelve main gods, built a Divine Kingdom on the World Tree, and established the Flame Divine Race. In the cartoon, this second-generation Divine King’s tone, demeanor, and aura are simply a replica of the ’Divine’.

Or rather, the ’Divine’ is a mimicry of that Q-version character.

Although General Quel does not believe that the ’Divine’ is a true god, being brainwashed by the ’Divine’ for years, he actually has some belief in the divinity of the ’Divine’.

Now, the myth has collapsed.

The origin of the ’Divine’ turned out to be a fairy tale from the Civilization Era.

Utterly absurd!!

General Quel took a deep breath and said, ”I understand what you mean, from now on, I—”

”I don’t need your allegiance.”

Gao Gong shook his head: ”Demanding loyalty from subordinates is a sign of incompetence from the superiors. What I want you to do is to guard this place, make sure everything looks perfectly fine. As part of the deal, I will ensure the safety of those Divine Consorts and Divine Children.”

General Quel looked at him deeply, once again beat his chest with one hand, and took leave.

”Interesting!”

Suddenly feeling a pain in his waist, Gao Gong saw Director Du looking at him angrily and chuckled.

”No hidden agenda, this General Quel is someone with leadership skills, I can see that.”

What he ’saw’ was actually that the other party had a template, and a rare ’Commander Template’ at that.

Flame General (Faction Exclusive):

General’s Might: Can boost and inspire, enhancing allied morale, morale +30%, faction loyalty +10%

Blood of War: General Quel possesses excellent command skills; as long as she is in the commander’s seat, campaign success rate +10%

Legendary Gunner: General Quel is most skilled in gun warfare, under her command, artillery calibration +20%

The commander template is a level higher than the ordinary template; in today’s Mechanical Split Star, only the Legion Commander of the Mechanical Legion or the Commander-in-Chief of the Space Fleet would have such a ’Commander Template’.

Gao Gong felt this time he truly struck gold.

If it weren’t for her being advanced talent, he wouldn’t be backing an enemy general’s rise to power.

According to the original plan, Flame Pass would become the third base, the core of Cable Oasis in the Land of Flames.

And besides being a logistical base, the third base also needs to serve as a training base.

From a military perspective, its importance exceeds that of the first and second bases.

A force cannot rely solely on a bunch of thugs; Gao Gong has already had General Quel open the water valve, abandoned the keeping of genetic slaves, and instead placed the genetic slaves inside the Pass, treating them as ordinary people.

With ’Neutral Good’ attributes, General Quel must be quite willing to do so.

”Let’s go, I’ll show you something good.”

Gao Gong swept a circle around the cloning tubes, unsurprisingly, this was the last batch of Flame Boys.

But no need to worry about the cannon fodder, there will naturally be players to replace them.

Director Du somewhat regrettably said, ”These machines, although outdated in style, have excellent performance, no need to feel too bad.”

Goodness, General Quel is ’Neutral Good’, I barely count as ’Chaotic Neutral’, and you, sir, seem to be ’Extreme Materialism’.

Gao Gong cleared his throat, ”That’s not important, the key is the secret here.”

The two passed through the Cloning Factory and entered the ’Palace of the Sky’ at the back, soon, a cold mechanical voice sounded.

”Welcome, Crown Prince.”

”Open the cabin.”

The next moment, a ’line’ suddenly appeared on the mechanical wall behind the original ’throne’.

With the line as the center, the mechanical wall started to retract to both sides.

This place, neither the ’Divine’ nor Manager Ji has ever entered.

Only the identity of an imperial descendant can enter it.

”You’re not really an imperial descendant, are you?” Seeing such a scene, Du Zhaodi couldn’t help but ask.

Although the two grew up together and knew each other well, as Gao Gong exhibited more and more bizarre behaviors, even Director Du was somewhat doubtful.

Could it really be that domineering emperor trope?

Gao Gong gave a mysterious smile and did not explain.

This expression in Director Du’s eyes, however, deepened her judgment.

’Imperial Crown Prince, Imperial Family, son—’

Director Du’s eyes suddenly brightened.

Gao Gong walked into the ship’s core, where various electronic devices lit up one by one: sail control station, life center, control center, turret system, shield system.

Although imperial spaceships are known for being ’klutzes’, there’s no denying that being a ’klutz’ also has its advantages.

That is, they are sturdy and durable.

Switch to the Alliance and Federation civilizations; their ships over half a century would almost certainly have problems.

’Hercules No. 3 salutes the Emperor!’

”These things are actually intact!?”

As a heavy machinery enthusiast, nothing is more delightful than seeing a complete mechanical system.

Yet Gao Gong shook his head, ”I’m afraid not.”

”Open the spaceship database for me.”

’Sorry, spaceship Intelligent Core missing, unable to execute this operation’

’Sorry, spaceship Intelligent Core missing, unable to execute this operation’

The spaceship’s onboard intelligence is even more advanced than that of a Sky Mother Ship, equivalent to the level of a ’Mechanical Main Brain’.

This kind of loss is no small matter.