Madakaros, Daddy's Here!

The three weeks of the volunteer campaign passed in a fast-paced but controlled rhythm. To Quyen and Quynh Nhu had both achieved respectable accomplishments, while Lam Minh remained content in his role as "Chef Lam," the silent hero of the entire base.

That peace was shattered late one afternoon.

WEE-OO... WEE-OO... WEE-OO...

The Code Red alarm—the highest level—blared throughout Lac Hong Base, tearing apart the peaceful atmosphere.

"CODE RED! CODE RED! ENTIRE BASE, ENTER LEVEL 1 COMBAT STATUS! ALL VOLUNTEERS, EVACUATE TO THE SHELTERS IMMEDIATELY!"

Chaos immediately ensued. Soldiers swarmed out of the barracks like a broken beehive, rushing towards the defensive bunkers. The volunteers, facing a top-level alert for the first time, turned pale and ran in panic towards the shelters under the command of Quynh Nhu and the officers.

In the kitchen, Lam Minh threw down his apron, his eyes turning razor-sharp. The spiritual sense of a Foundation Establishment cultivator instantly enveloped a vast area. He could "see" clearly, from three directions, thousands of Qi Refining Madakaros were frantically attacking the base's defensive lines. The attack was massive and fierce, but it seemed... spread out and unfocused.

"A feint," he murmured. "Too obvious. Attacking on three fronts but with no breakthrough point. They're just trying to draw all of our attention and firepower. There must be another, more important target."

He quickly put on his nano-suit, tucked the Blacklight dagger into his side, and threw on a loose jacket. Taking advantage of the chaos, he didn't go down to the shelter but instead snuck towards the central command center. With the agility of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, evading patrols and security cameras was all too easy. He needed to confirm his suspicions.

He hid outside the command center, where the lights were bright and the air was as taut as a bowstring. He used his spiritual sense to "eavesdrop" on the entire emergency meeting inside.

"Colonel, report!" an intelligence officer said, his voice rushed. "We've just intercepted a secret enemy communication! This attack is just a feint! Their real target is the transport train CT-29, which is carrying a shipment of new Adamantium energy cores!"

"Train CT-29?" Colonel Dung, the base commander, slammed his fist on the table. "Dammit! Its schedule is top secret! How could they know?"

"It's possible they've planted a spy, or they have a Foundation Establishment creature with extremely powerful energy-sensing abilities. Sir, the train will pass through Devil's Cry Canyon in about 45 minutes. And according to intelligence, an elite enemy force, led by a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment creature, is lying in ambush there!"

The air in the command room seemed to freeze. A Mid-stage Foundation Establishment! That was an existence that could easily destroy the entire train. Adamantium cores were a strategic material; if they fell into enemy hands, the consequences would be dire.

"Immediately dispatch the X-4 Squadron for support!" Colonel Dung ordered.

"Impossible, Colonel!" The air force officer shook his head. "A sandstorm is forming east of the canyon, visibility is near zero, the planes can't take off! Moreover, our forces are completely pinned down by this feint attack. We can't pull troops for reinforcements!"

They were caught between a rock and a hard place. A perfect trap by the enemy. All they could do was watch helplessly as the train headed to its doom.

Hearing this, the corners of Lam Minh's mouth curled up slightly.

"The opportunity has arrived!"

This was the perfect stage he had been waiting for. A solo mission, no one supervising, no one getting in his way. A fantastic opportunity to "die and be reborn," to farm a colossal amount of points.

He didn't report. He acted directly.

He went straight to the vehicle depot, where the "Iron Horse" No. 07 all-terrain armored vehicle was parked. The two guards on duty were stunned to see a student appear here.

"Halt! Who are you?"

Lam Minh held up his "Special Consultant" card. "On General Khang's orders, I am commandeering Iron Horse 07 for a top-secret mission." He used a hint of his Foundation Establishment aura, creating an invisible pressure.

The two soldiers were overwhelmed by his presence, and hearing "top-secret mission" and "General Khang" during such a critical situation, they dared not delay.

"But... we need an order from Colonel Dung..."

"Report it later," Lam Minh said, his tone allowing no refusal. "Any delay will come at a price. Can you bear that responsibility?"

The two soldiers looked at each other, then had no choice but to step aside.

Lam Minh climbed into the Iron Horse. In his previous life, he had driven all sorts of military vehicles; controlling this machine was a small matter. He started the engine, then drove straight out of the depot, heading for the south gate.

"Stop! Who authorized this deployment?" the defense team at the south gate yelled over the loudspeaker.

Lam Minh didn't answer. He floored the gas, smashed through the temporary barricade, and sped out into the desert, disappearing into a cloud of dust.

In the command center, Colonel Dung received the report and was stunned, then slammed the table in anger. "This crazy kid! Acting on his own? Is he trying to commit suicide?"

Quynh Nhu, who was assisting command at a defensive post, was speechless when she heard the news over the comms. "Lam Minh... he... alone?"

Worry and fear welled up inside her. Facing an elite enemy force led by a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment creature alone? That wasn't brave; it was insane!

But she didn't know that for Lam Minh, this wasn't insanity. This was a hunt.

And he was the hunter.

The Iron Horse sped like an iron beast across the desert. Lam Minh drove while looking at the map, calculating the shortest route to Devil's Cry Canyon.

He had to get there before the train. He had to single-handedly wipe out the entire ambushing enemy force.

"One Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and maybe a few Early-stage ones too," he murmured, his eyes shining brightly. "Not to mention a bunch of Qi Refining followers. This feast of experience points... is truly lavish."

He licked his lips, a belligerent and fervent smile appearing on his handsome face.

"Madakaros, Daddy's here! Get ready to contribute your points for Daddy's level-up!"

A high school student, in an armored vehicle, charging into the desolate desert, heading straight for a deathtrap. The most solitary and reckless heroic drama was about to unfold.