209. Li Aozi's Exoskeletal Soldiers
Li Aozi projected a map and began explaining in detail:
"For a marauder-type [Society] like [Mechanical Society], its body and Speaker are extremely powerful, but their infiltration and assimilation abilities aren't particularly strong."
"[Society] itself cannot descend onto a planet or civilization. It's like a ghost in the universe—untouchable, unobservable, incomprehensible. Only when its main body willingly releases its citizens does it briefly manifest."
"The marauder-type [Society] invades by releasing various society citizens, infecting civilizations like a virus. Those citizens grow in strength, selecting new council members and a Speaker to form the Society's parliament, which communicates with the main body. Through a ritual summoning, it descends into our world and devours a civilization completely."
"That process sounds straightforward, but in reality, because the citizens and councilors all start infiltration from scratch, it's hard to progress and select them. Many unexpected events can derail it. If they lack key councilors or the ritual fails, all is lost. So overall, the success rate of a [Society] consuming a civilization isn't that high."
Of course, Li Aozi did not mention that, despite the statistics seeming unimpressive, if it does happen, survival is impossible.
"We cannot defeat [Mechanical Society] itself, but we can defeat its councilors."
Li Aozi began arranging the forces:
"The parliament of [Mechanical Society] Mashgegang convening at this abandoned temple on Mount Austro. According to intelligence, the Mechanical Council comprises:"
"Mechanical Speaker: Meganium Ross — Has not descended or appeared."
"Quantum Machinist Councilor: Coulomb Torque (Zeta-tier)"
"Sacred Machineling Councilor: Watt Rivetsteel (Delta-tier)"
"Codetalker Councilor: Turing Binary (Gamma-tier)"
"The council of [Mechanical Society] doesn't have many members. They only need three councilors to convene. Because the meeting was called in haste and growth time was short, their jury is only at Alpha-tier."
On the surface, it might look like a few village folks could handle them, but the current situation is too unusual.
Trivira was attacked, Education Minister Balkomon pursued the mastermind to reclaim the Identification Eye fragments, the White Candle Star administrative system is nearly paralyzed, and other powerful beings are busy maintaining order.
No one has time to spare.
As for civilians, who are they?
In the past, even a Beta-tier Li Aozi could push these Gamma-tier civilians around.
Lacking combat training, they can't step onto the battlefield; they'd only hand [Mechanical Society] free kills.
Only players, who don't care about dying, can shoulder such a burden.
"Folks, I need your help."
Li Aozi turned to the players, speaking earnestly:
"There are far too many enemies this time. The main body of [Mechanical Society] is near White Candle Star, so the council members have an endless supply of energy. I have to focus on dealing with the three councilors."
"I need you to clear the way and eliminate the riffraff."
With that, Li Aozi issued a quest to the players:
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[Your lord, Li Aozi, has revealed a dire truth to you, triggering the next main quest—"Crusade Against the Mechanical Realm"]
[Type]: Extermination
[Deadline]: 24 hours
[Difficulty]: SS
[Description]:
"The [Mechanical Society] Marshgurgon, a marauder dreaded throughout the Galactic Eye region, was once a mighty machine civilization. Its citizens uploaded their souls into mechanical bodies. But for certain reasons, this led them to eternal imprisonment. Over countless years, digitized personalities gradually wore away."
"In pursuit of true immortality, this machine civilization chose to abandon Star Abyss and became a [Society]. In an instant, its Iron People transformed into inorganic cells, merging with the main body of the [Mechanical Society]."
"Marshgurgon, once the leader of that civilization and now the main body of this [Mechanical Society]—when its claws brush the corners of prismatic essence, does it still recall its form as an Iron Person?"
You've been swept into this crisis.
Truthfully, you understand that as a mere Alpha-tier, you're not qualified for such a fight. Countless splendid civilizations dot the cosmos. Losing White Candle Star is no big deal. You could simply leave.
But this is your home now.
After leaving your mother planet and enduring countless hardships, you worked to develop this new homeland.
Don't be afraid, young ones. Your lord, Li Aozi, has prepared everything. You need only muster your courage and fight with all your might.
[Completion Condition]:
"Sole Condition": Follow Li Aozi, participate in the annihilation of the Mechanical Council, and prevent White Candle Star's destruction
Councilor: Coulomb Torque (Alive)
Councilor: Watt Rivetsteel (Alive)
Councilor: Turing Binary (Alive)
White Candle Star (Not yet destroyed)
Success Reward (based on damage contribution):
Access to a new map area
1,000,000 EXP
+100 Faithkeep Village Contribution
「Masterwork」 Weapon: Tsu•Shadow's Edge
「Masterwork」 Weapon: Dust-Sealed Sanctuary
"Li Aozi Help Voucher"*1 (Allows your lord to aid you once)
Follower status under Li Aozi — Death Disciple
Follower status under Li Aozi — Grim Disciple
Failure Penalty: Faithkeep Village destroyed, White Candle Star map permanently closed.
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After reading the quest text, the players fell silent.
The rewards were incredibly rich, but the difficulty was equally daunting.
"We're… only Alpha-tier, right?" A player couldn't help asking. "An SS-tier quest is way over our heads!"
"The enemy is Gamma-tier, even Zeta-tier. How can we possibly fight that?"
"We can barely handle goblins, and now we're supposed to take on [Mechanical Society]? Is the dev punishing us for getting too far, forcing us back to Azure Star?"
Seeing the players' anxiety, Li Aozi tried to reassure them:
"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, you can go all out."
"You?"
One of the players couldn't hold back:
"When Li Aozi left Earth, he was only Beta-tier, right? Even if he's Gamma-tier now, he's just a somewhat stronger mortal here."
"Stop wasting time. Might as well log off."
"Meh, it's forced story progression. White Candle Star blows up, we're sent back to Azure Star."
The skeptical chatter was predictable, and Li Aozi had expected it.
So, he snapped his fingers.
Ping—
Inside the train's cargo, several cold-storage crates lit up, revealing menacing biomechanical weapons—these were Li Aozi's specially rushed exoskeletal soldiers.
Extending his deep blue tendrils, he re-injected each with a new genetic sequence, blending powers from [Remaining Moon], [Bloodline], and [Gravity]—bolstering their combat capability.
Though he didn't have Remaining Moon's terrifying numbers, Li Aozi held more sequence Omega Energies and had [Bloodline] to help balance them. These exoskeletal soldiers were stronger than Remaining Moon's, securely reaching Delta-tier.
Originally intended for battling Remaining Moon… but now that the situation had changed, he'd simply upgrade them to fight [Mechanical Society].
If not for the time crunch, Li Aozi would have mimicked Remaining Moon's "sea of soldiers" approach.
"These exoskeletal soldiers are a gift for you. Put them on, folks."
Lowering his tendrils, Li Aozi stepped back. One by one, the soldiers—resembling his own [Dictator Form]—emerged from cold storage, their eyes black and red. Their chests split open like a living bodysuit, waiting for players to step in.
Turning to the dumbfounded players, Li Aozi grinned:
"Now, let's give Mashgeganga little taste of an Azure Star shock!"
One player, stunned, quickly activated [Truth Eye] to examine Li Aozi.
[The target is your leased Omega Energy source; unable to probe.]
[Warning: Target's power exceeds Zeta-tier. Extremely dangerous!]