Chapter 78: The Horror of the Cathedral
Gray was the last to undergo the transformation procedure.
As he lay on the operating table, his mind was remarkably clear, having nearly shattered from the hellish ordeal he had just endured.
Qin Mo enhanced Gray's prosthetic arm with upgraded defenses and additional functionalities; now, his arm was a weapon in its own right. In addition to the ability to manipulate telekinetic energy, it had also been implanted with a medium that allowed Qin Mo to unleash his ability to distort physics, much like the pendant worn by Yao En.
"Am I still human?" Gray suddenly inquired.
"Of course you are," Qin Mo replied. "Your soul and mind remain intact, and many of your functions have been preserved. You can even reproduce."
"Why not replace that part with a cannon? That way, I'd have a weapon of mass destruction even when I'm not in my powered armor," Gray jested.
Qin Mo was taken aback by Gray's ability to joke, pondering the strength of his will.
Instead of indulging Gray's jest, Qin Mo moved on to the tasks at hand. "The war must continue, but I will conduct research underground in the caverns to develop a weapon that can end it, much like I did with dimensional technology. Don't worry; I'll inform you of our upcoming tactics."
"First, you and the others will infiltrate the Upper Nest. You are responsible for gathering intelligence, while Anruida will seek out locations suitable for large-scale teleportation. The others will target enemy arsenals or other critical facilities."
"It's evident what comes next: teleport the army in, seize the Upper Nest, and secure the position in preparation for an assault on the Tower Pinnacle."
Kreed had already departed, and among the personnel present, Qin Mo exhibited the most strategic acumen. Gray, hailing from a background as a foot soldier, and Klein, who had received military education but only learned to lead a regiment, along with the other officers, were similarly limited.
Thus, Gray listened attentively to Qin Mo's commands, preparing to act on his directives.
"Are there any more detailed orders?" Gray asked after absorbing the information.
"That's all; the rest is up to you," Qin Mo stated. "If the enemy discovers my orbital dock, I will teleport there personally to defend it."
Gray nodded in acknowledgment.
"Your brain is now sharper, so you must learn. Understand? In the future, we cannot rely solely on one army and fleet; you must learn how to be a commander."
"I understand. When you finish your research, you will see a nest that belongs to you," Gray said, pausing for a few seconds before adding, "My lord governor."
"Don't be too anxious. Even if we can't capture the Tower Pinnacle quickly, it doesn't matter; once the warships are completed, this world will inevitably belong to me." After saying this, Qin Mo fused the outer shell of Gray's prosthetic arm, signaling him to rise and stretch.
Gray stood and jumped in place a couple of times, then swung his fists. "I feel stronger, my senses sharper."
"The advantages go beyond that." Qin Mo turned and walked to a device, extracting a freshly printed drone.
As Gray observed the drone in Qin Mo's hand, he noticed it had a built-in teleportation beacon, instantly realizing that this drone functioned as a mobile teleportation station.
"Take it; it will prove useful." Qin Mo handed the drone to Gray.
"Understood." Gray accepted the drone, saluted, and turned to exit the blood-soaked underground cavern.
Outside, the other transformed guardians, already clad in their powered armor, awaited orders.
Gray relayed Qin Mo's commands, and the guardians silently turned to prepare for teleportation.
…
Assigned to reconnaissance, Gray did not don his powered armor but wore only a black cloak as he was teleported to the Upper Nest.
As the environment transitioned from the dimensional passage to an urban landscape, Gray took less than a second to meticulously survey everything within his sight.
The Upper Nest was a beautiful place.
The light was abundant, and magnificent buildings adorned the area; Gray had heard that each inhabitant of the Upper Nest possessed an entire sprawling mansion.
Yet, at that moment, this vibrant locale appeared deserted, devoid of any people, save for the enemy soldiers patrolling the streets and the sound of flames crackling in the air.
"We have arrived at the Upper Nest," Anruida's voice resonated in Gray's mind. He no longer needed powered armor to communicate via the comms channel, a beneficial feature bestowed by the biological processor.
"We each have our missions; if you encounter difficulties, signal through the comms channel, and we will assist each other," Gray responded.
"It's a pity Grot isn't here; he would excel at the task of sabotaging crucial facilities."
"That's true."
Gray intended to discuss matters regarding Grot, but a patrol squad emerged from both ends of the street before him.
He first observed the approaching patrols, then directed his gaze toward a cathedral straight ahead.
His vision effortlessly penetrated the walls of the cathedral, revealing all the occupants within, their positions, and their activities.
The cathedral boasted a tall spire, providing an ideal vantage point.
Having deliberated in an instant, Gray sprang into action, activating the reflex enhancement ability granted by his modified spine.
In an instant, everything within his field of vision slowed dramatically.
Gray dashed forward, weaving between the patrols' line of sight.
To others, Gray appeared to be moving at an astonishing speed—quick enough that while their eyes registered a fleeting shadow, their minds couldn't process it in time.
When one of the patrolling soldiers, gazing forward, sensed a fleeting glimpse of something, Gray had already slipped through an open window into the cathedral.
The effects of the enhanced reflexes still lingered; as Gray landed on the cathedral floor and rose, the occupants remained oblivious to the intruder's presence.
These individuals were all officers, seemingly plotting their defense strategies for the Upper Nest.
Gray's eyes marked every enemy within view with a red box, and instinctively, he took action.
As his prosthetic arm raised, the outer shell detached, revealing a gun barrel that extended and fired. Micro bullets silently shot forth, piercing the heads of all those within his line of sight.
These micro bullets shattered skulls into countless fragments, instantly obliterating the brain tissue of those struck.
Gray pivoted his body, firing upon the remaining occupants on the first floor of the cathedral.
At that moment, he could distinctly observe the bullets in flight, his eyes calculating their trajectories with precision.
Only one person remained alive on the cathedral's first floor, and as their corpse slowly crumpled, the world around Gray returned to normal; the effect of the reflex enhancement had concluded.
As the body struck the ground with a dull thud, the last surviving officer froze for a second before opening his mouth to call out, his voice about to escape his throat.
In an instant, Gray lunged forward, seizing the officer by the throat and pinning him to the ground, just two meters away as the patrol squads drew nearer.
They turned to search the next street when their lights illuminated one another.