Chapter 1 Outer Space Battle

Outside the planet Di Huan, two massive mechanical legions, one black and one white, were locked in a fierce, interwoven formation, resembling two crazed dragons tearing at each other's flesh and scales. Broken mechanical parts rained down like a storm, each second bringing tens of thousands of casualties.

Two Mechanical Gods tumbled and grappled, their colossal forms surprisingly agile. Heavy weapons, fueled by immense energy, clashed wildly, each impact capable of shattering a planet. They left horrifying wounds on each other's bodies, the nano-repair systems barely keeping up with the damage.

The shockwaves from each weapon impact shattered entire ranks of nearby mechanical units. Occasionally, a Mechanical God would be thrown off balance, its massive body rolling across the battlefield of mechanical legions like an elephant crushing ants. Blasts of fire erupted, and countless mechanical units were crushed, friend and foe alike.

Countless turrets sprouted from every part of the machines, firing streams of psionic blasts and dark energy rays, like whips lashing out to wear down shields, unleashing arcs of electricity.

As the battle raged, the energy levels in the battlefield rose exponentially, triggering a chain reaction. Clouds of ethereal blue energy formed, dense and palpable, radiating destructive power, creating an environment similar to the psionic restriction belts around the homeworlds of the three great civilizations.

The clash of concentrated energy transformed the battlefield into a highly compressed energy field. Space-time became incredibly unstable, warping light and causing energy rays to arc and bend at impossible angles.

Looking past the battlefield toward the starry sky was like peering through a bizarre lens. Intense diffraction created hundreds of images of each star, forming irregular patterns that made it seem as if the heavens were collapsing and the stars were shattering.

Clang!!

Another brutal clash of weapons sent tremors through the machines, forcing both combatants to retreat and create distance.

Han Xiao glanced at the Star Destroyer Blade in his hand. The edge was marred by a few dents and chips, with hairline fractures visible.

As a universe treasure, Manison's Mech Emperor Trident had undergone numerous improvements, giving it greater power and resilience. After many direct clashes, the Star Destroyer Blade's durability was deteriorating faster.

However, the Star Destroyer Blade incorporated his self-developed ninth-generation Black Star Alloy. While not as resilient as the Mech Country's proprietary materials, it possessed some of Han Xiao's characteristics, allowing for faster repairs. The Star Destroyer Blade's durability would slowly recover on its own.

From the moment Han Xiao's fleet descended and launched a surprise attack, to the point where the heavens and stars were blotted out by their fighting, only a short time had passed. But because of their incredible speed, they had already collided tens of thousands of times.

"You truly are an amazing person. Just when people think they've figured you out, you always manage to surprise them."

Manison's electronic eyes flashed as he examined his own equipment, a complex expression on his face.

The energy conversion armor, a universe treasure modeled after Black Star's Undying Body, was already damaged in numerous places. The armor itself was not yet perfected, and Black Star's attacks were far more powerful than before. Every so often, he would unleash critical hits, exceeding the armor's limits.

Furthermore, every time Black Star unleashed a burst attack with the "Getter Beam" suffix, he would harass him on the private channel.

Manison had been counting in his head. So far, Black Star had used it twenty-seven times, each attack unique. The trajectory of the floating energy-gathering devices differed, resulting in different types of special attacks. Even to his eyes, this technique was innovative and remarkable.

The Mechanical God's damage was relatively easy to repair by absorbing mechanical soldiers, but some damage bypassed the Mechanical God and affected the Overlord Avatar at its core, causing its durability to decrease significantly. Manison's avatar did not possess an Undying Body, and once it shattered, it was gone for good.

"In your current state, you won't be able to fulfill your boast. If you want to take the Time Amber from me, you'll have to show me your true abilities."

Han Xiao ran his hand over the blade of the Star Destroyer Blade, quickly repairing the hairline fractures. He grinned at Old Manison.

"... We are Virtual Machinists, but your fighting style is more like a Mech… cough, Armored Machinist. You've gone down the wrong path, kid," Manison said quietly.

"As long as it works, right?" Han Xiao raised an eyebrow.

"You're right. Power itself has no limitations. Being able to fight is more important than anything else... In that case, let me show you the true power of a Virtual Machinist."

Manison raised his arm, the trident pointing towards the light gate of the secondary dimension armory.

The light gate rippled, and a large group of special mechanical soldiers flew out. It was his signature move – the Undying Mech Country army, special war machines built around AI lifeforms.

But what was most striking was the three figures at the forefront of the Undying Mech Country army, exuding undisguised Super-A Grade energy fluctuations, like surging stars in one's perception.

Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. The three figures were of different species, with a mixture of biological tissue and mechanical devices. At a glance, it was clear they were highly modified mechanical implants.

Their bodies were covered in intricate machinery, most of their skin replaced with special alloys. Their faces were replaced with metal masks, making it impossible to discern their original appearances. Only their eyes, converted into mechanical electronic eyes, flashed red.

"Those are the Exiles…" Han Xiao said, his eyes narrowing.

The Exiles were Old Manison's trump card. Using advanced biological modification and mechanical biochemical implantation technology, he transformed living Super-humans into powerful weapons of war, essentially replacing their internal organs.

Especially their brains. Through mechanical technology, he simulated and restored biological tissue, changing the neural pathways of their thought patterns, making them readable and writable, rewriting their thought processes.

He also used virtual technology to upload the modified individuals' minds into the quantum network, changing the nature of their consciousness, turning their biological souls into virtual intelligent lifeforms. Like other intelligences, they were immune to all mental spells or abilities, obeyed their controller's commands, and retained their original combat experience.

After the modification, the Exiles retained most of their original abilities, but their strength was less than it had been. But precisely because of the special modification, they could enjoy some of the controller's mech power enhancements, even if the conversion rate was not as high as that of normal mechanical soldiers. The actual combat power they unleashed was even more terrifying than before!

"Performing live modifications on Super-A Grades? Aren't you afraid of the higher civilizations and the Development Alliance coming after you?" Although Han Xiao knew the truth, he pretended to be ignorant and asked.

"Heh, they are all former trophies of mine. I have the right to dispose of them as I please. I modified them long before the association was established. As for the three great civilizations, do you think they are completely unaware?" Manison said calmly.

All Super-A Grades that fell into Manison's hands disappeared without a trace. The higher civilizations and the Super-A Grade community naturally had various speculations about this. Although they did not know about the Exiles, they had hypotheses about live modifications. After all, the impression of the Mech Country as a research maniac was too deeply ingrained. It was hard to imagine that he would not dissect and study the Super-A Grades he captured.

After all, he didn't have a Time Amber like Black Star, allowing him to splurge on opening a museum.

Manison rarely used this trump card because each time he used it, outsiders would gain more intelligence. He also rarely encountered enemies who required him to use the Exiles.

And Black Star was one of the very few opponents he felt was worth using this trump card against.

Zzzt!

Mech power lightning shot out, connecting to the three Exiles of varying sizes.

The red light in the eyes of the three Exiles intensified, and their momentum soared.

Zzzzt!!

The Exile in the center shuddered and released mech power lightning, attracting the surrounding mechanical units of the Mech Country to converge. Its size increased rapidly, and blinding electric light enveloped the entire field, like silver snakes dancing wildly!

The next moment, five segmented mechanical tails lashed out violently. A massive machine emerged, its appearance humanoid but with bestial organs. The five long tails were like five spears, and its fingers extended into sharp claws, making it look extremely ferocious and savage.

The third Mechanical God had descended!!

Han Xiao couldn't help but twitch.

This meant that the Exile was a God-Throne Mechanic who had mastered the [Combination - Mechanical God]!

For a moment, he couldn't help but recall his first meeting with the Mech Country. Old Manison had talked about the AI civilization, saying that the incident was actually caused by another Super-A Grade Mechanic, and that it eventually became his collection… perhaps this Exile was that unfortunate guy?!

Bang!

Just as he was speculating, the semi-beast Mechanical God activated its thrusters, and the entire machine accelerated, charging forward in the blink of an eye. Its claws went straight for Han Xiao's head.

Han Xiao reacted immediately, turning the Star Destroyer Blade to meet the attack.

Clang!!

The two machines collided, both shaking violently. The semi-beast Mechanical God was weaker in terms of strength and was knocked back by the blade.

However, before Han Xiao could pursue, he saw the semi-beast Mechanical God suddenly flick its five tails, entangling the Star Destroyer Blade and the arm holding the blade. A tremendous force came, and he stumbled!

In contrast, the opponent not only stopped its retreat but also closed the distance, immediately entangling itself, its claws scratching wildly, leaving tearing gashes in the outer armor.

At the same time, Manison seized the opportunity and thrust his trident from the side, piercing Han Xiao's machine through the waist before he could block it.

"Hiss…"

The intense pain transmitted through the mech power neural network made Han Xiao suck in a cold breath.

He could maintain a balanced fight against Manison alone, but against a two-on-one situation, he was overwhelmed.

The Mechanical Exile, enhanced by Manison's mech power, formed a very powerful Mechanical God. Even if its performance was not as good as his and the Mech Country's, the difference was not significant. Even in a one-on-one fight, he would have to spend some effort to deal with it, and it was not something that could be easily dismissed.

Han Xiao glanced to the side. The other two Exiles did not attack his main body but instead led the Undying Mech Country army into the legion battlefield, tearing open huge gaps like a wave. They were attacking his mechanical legions.

One of the two Exiles seemed to be a martial artist, and the other seemed to be an Esper. They charged straight ahead as if they were in an unpopulated area, and their combat power crushed the Apostle Weapons. Soon, they were causing chaos and destruction.

At this rate, within two hours, the two Exiles would dismantle all thirty-plus of his Apostle Weapons.

"What terrifying combat power…" Han Xiao's sigh was sincere. The Exiles' combat power was somewhat beyond his expectations.

"Now do you understand how wrong it was to become my enemy? I warned you, but you've disappointed me time and time again!"

Manison twisted his trident, and psionic energy exploded, blasting Han Xiao's machine into two pieces.

The semi-beast Mechanical God immediately tore open the chest of the machine, gouging out Han Xiao's body and holding it in its hand. At the same time, its five tails lashed out wildly, constantly scattering Han Xiao's surrounding mechanical soldiers to prevent them from reassembling into a Mechanical God.

Han Xiao struggled, unable to escape the Mechanical God's palm. Although his body was not afraid of being killed, it was difficult to shake the Mechanical God.

However, he was not worried. He looked up at the huge machine and clicked his tongue.

"The weakness of this move is still very obvious. You need to bear the chi consumption of three Super-A Grade weapons. How long can you last?"

"So what? Does it take that long to deal with you?"

Manison did not deny the weakness.

The Exiles were modified with mechanical implants, lacking a large number of cells that produced chi. If they wanted to continue to unleash Super-A Grade combat power, they naturally needed the corresponding chi, and this part was borne by Manison.

Through the special energy conversion implants of the Exile technology, Manison's single-attribute mech power could be compatible with Exiles of different classes. However, the conversion rate was equally harsh. If an Exile consumed 100 points of chi, he would have to spend 130-170 points, creating a very high load, causing his endurance to plummet.

Now that he had unleashed three Exiles, plus himself, it was equivalent to one person bearing the chi consumption of 5 or 6 Super-A Grades. If Manison's chi regeneration was not fast, he would be drained in two or three hits. But even so, it broke his chi regeneration balance, and his chi value was declining at a visible rate.

"You're right. If it were in the past, I would most likely have to teleport away, but unfortunately…"

Han Xiao shook his head, not only not panicking but even wanting to laugh.

Old Manison, I've been waiting for you to use this move!

Did you think I only wanted to plunder your specialties today?

My [Virtual Purification - Restoration] has been waiting for a long time!!

At this moment, Manison raised his massive mechanical arm, wanting to take Han Xiao from the semi-beast Mechanical God's hand.

But halfway through, his wrist was suddenly tightly gripped by the semi-beast Mechanical God's claws, unable to move forward.

"Hmm?" Manison was stunned and looked up, puzzled. "What are you doi..."

Bang!!

Before he could finish, the five tails shot over, stabbing into his face at the same time and tearing outwards!

The Mechanical God was caught off guard, and its head exploded, turning into scattered metal fragments!

The entire machine leaned backward and flew out, rolling twice before stopping, leaving a huge gash on its neck.

"What's going on?!"

The sudden change of events left Manison somewhat dumbfounded, and a rare look of astonishment appeared on his face.

Why did my Exile turn against me without warning?!