Free Web NovelChapter 303: Chapter 107: The Finale of Mechanical City and the Secret of Jing Liu
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"Who knows, perhaps hidden within this bizarre casket are also secrets of another world; it’s just my guess, of course. Why, there isn’t even a single white or black skin among the tall towers, it seems very bland, doesn’t it? Have you discovered anything in this world of its kind?"
"What doubts?"
"I’ve always had one doubt after coming to this world."
"What do you think is hidden inside the casket?"
Zheng Zero said, not knowing what was meant by the distant pointing.
To regain the memories of the current world, the casket had to be opened; it was only a piece of memory, naturally, it was impossible to open the casket within the world.
White Faraway smiled with a playful look.
"Perhaps it’s also a kind of memory alteration that contains some super-sequential series or super-hierarchical keywords, something very important because of these twisted rules created by the makers. It seems like people in this world have forgotten some ordinary things, and this is important, but it seems that you don’t want to remind you all," White Faraway said.
Zheng Zero appeared confused, why he had no memory of such significant things himself, how could he have forgotten?
A woman, who was partially transparent, had already given Zheng Zero a casket. It was as if White Faraway’s and Zheng Zero’s memories were being projected in front of them.
Zheng Zero quickly found this lost memory within his Heart Core, according to some unique codes, turning his data into memories.
It seemed as if he were a piece of the last-day creation, an ideational entity that didn’t follow certain rules; only White Faraway had this memory, but not Zheng Zero.
Both had forgotten, but their worlds merged in the end, which was a strange trick.
In reality, both White Faraway and Zheng Zero had seen a certain memory during their world fusion process.
"You can find that set of data, but it won’t be data anymore, for the memory might be erased by some kind of force. You probably won’t remember," White Faraway said.
"I... can’t remember," Zheng Zero admitted.
"I need to know what is inside that casket, because there once was a woman in your memory who left a casket," White Faraway continued.
"What does ’payment’ imply?"
Zheng Zero was very much in need of White Faraway, who, however, could not resist the Ulaga disease, which was why he came.
Zheng Zero paid attention to White Faraway’s nearly continuous sentences, which indicated there were numerous post-merge symptoms that were very dangerous, and realizing the fusion might lead to identifying or even solving the mechanical world’s problems, without any delay in untying.
"But if you’re embroiled in all these unclear situations, and with the urgent need to resolve the world merger lying right on your eyelids, you’d simply have to pay whatever you need to use him, even though he is a very useful piece of damaged goods," White Faraway said.
"White Faraway is of great benefit to me. Although I will still contract the Ulaga disease, it will temporarily create a ’unitary’ state in the Mechanical tribe, managing external threats to the extent possible. There’s no absolute solution to the inherently dangerous Ulaga disease," White Faraway asserted.
Zheng Zero didn’t have much hope, to begin with.
"I have no interest in the world inside; to you, I’m just a lively person from that world. But don’t involve me, after all, you’re the ones merging. If you want, you can ask White Faraway about these things. It’s not the right thing to do, no matter what you tell the farmer and his field," White Faraway said dispassionately.
"... Are you related to that lying character you created?"
Naturally, Zheng Zero couldn’t guess that.
White Faraway’s smile had a touch of inextricable charm from beginning to end. "What’s your guess?"
"What could your relation to White Faraway possibly be in the end?" Zheng Zero asked.
"With external enemies already ousted from your city and you having left this small town, would not it weaken that three-roomed house you hold dear? That’s too perfect a childhood," White Faraway said pointedly.
Once the merger is resolved, such a recognition would also vanish.
Zheng Zero, although feeling strong recognition towards White Faraway, knew ultimately that such feelings only served his own interests.
Zheng Zero was merely posing as someone from White Faraway’s world, as White Faraway spoke quite frankly.
"I have no interest in this city; instead, I cherish my small village, where I can act freely in this world. Once the merger issue is resolved, you should also polish it well, as the external enemy has already been driven out," White Faraway suggested.
But White Faraway changed several critical factors; there were not a few who acted as the enemy of White Faraway. Who then is the enemy? It seemed there were quite a few imposing threats on White Faraway, suggesting he may not even know how to view White Faraway at a glance for a time.
At least he did not seem hostile.
Zheng Zero had some difficulty comprehending White Faraway, who might be acting as a spectator or different from White Faraway altogether.
This person’s words carry an instinctive wariness and caution, a significant asset in existence. His feelings towards White Faraway were quite complicated.
Zheng Zero didn’t understand.
"Granted, there are things you haven’t seen throughout your merging process, because of course, there is a relation," White Faraway said.
"What relation do you have with that, and why should you talk with White Faraway?"
White Faraway
"We need to talk about the payment for this action; at a time when you’re busy handling mundane matters, not wanting to waste time, you become less reliant on calculation. You should realize that you can’t be weak, given that you’re working as a half-mechanical, half-human person," White Faraway stated.
Zheng Zero and White Faraway were sitting together at a new café terrace, outside a fancy coffee shop.
In the world...
...
...
Mechanism City might eventually emerge in a wholly new form, for it could self-repair. However, it wouldn’t need much time because, despite possibly having some damages, the city remained.
Zero smiled quickly, but there was also a moment of bewilderment.
Depending on his own body’s fuel to maintain the Heart Core Mechanoid’s operation, the support pipes were completely fractured, connecting directly to the vast emptiness of the sky-lit core.
In the streets of the western, southern, and eastern districts were scattered remains of mechanical bodies, broken cores, and corpses of the mechanical tribe.
The countless mechanisms had been subject to something far worse than Ulaga’s disease of negative emotions—madness.
The entire Mechanism City was more than fourteen percent destroyed, and Wu Ji, Xie Xinghang, and Zheng Yue lay collapsed on the ground, emanating an air of deflated revelry.
With Jing Liu’s curses and roars accompanying... the white light finally dispersed beneath the tent of this long-drawn-out ordeal.
"Get the fuck out of my city!"
Zero, imposing with fury, spoke as he watched this scene. frёewebηovel.cѳm
It seemed as if Jing Liu, already weakened, could not withstand another terrifying strike akin to celestial Judgment, a white blade descending once again, eradicating Jing Liu’s figure from view.
Atop the massive black golden island was a gigantic teleportation formation.
Ironworkers and merchants were constantly evading the fiery onslights of the mechanical tribe, and they were not just in some distant place.
Jing Liu would be gone in an instant.
"Even if you don’t come looking for me again, perhaps I could find you amidst the white fog. Shouldn’t you be less confident about never seeing me again for once?"
Zero knew he could not hold onto Jing Liu, feeling a breath from a small island somewhere in this otherworldly dimension.
The entire process looked like a clump of thick smoke surrounding its body, incessantly being filled and repaired by the black material from the emptiness within.
Jing Liu’s body started to crumble inch by inch.
Yet, despite being driven away, Zero grew even stronger. That example, just like many years ago, when Zero had driven away Akasha, had returned to Mechanism City for the first time.
Jing Liu watched angrily as it was obstructed by its own silver-haired mechanical race again! Countless laser lines pierced through Jing Liu’s body.
The teleportation formation on the island was already active.
From a remote little island came a tremendous surge of energy that had already diffused throughout the skies and land. Zero knew how difficult it was to kill such a terrifying existence, but evidently, he was calculating the odds of keeping Jing Liu detained.
"You guarantee this city will be destroyed on my next visit, Zero...!"
Even it had to reassess the danger to the city, which was as explosive and alarming as the Mechanism City had evidenced today.
Its spirit had taken severe damage, especially within this world, with the annihilation of Jing Liu impending.
Gradually, the destructive laser lines slowed down, accompanied by Zero’s body emitting numerous freezing beam attacks for this kind of replenishment, although...
Jing Liu’s body would inevitably be replenished by the peculiar black material, as if it were an avatar capable of infinite rebirth. Regardless of the extent of destruction, Jing Liu’s body was exceptionally unique.
In the ultimate showdown, Zero, manifested in this actual world, had gained an absolute advantage!
In the western district of the sky...
...
...
Although this device was only a contingency plan for a strategic retreat after a northern defeat, being a creation-cum-battle technician from the three-person team, Jing Liu was very cautious. Naturally, it did not expect to have to rely on this mechanism.
The ironworker had to use the transfer device once more to avoid annihilation by the mechanical tribe’s dread fire.
"I imagine the big guys will be very angry... We’ve underestimated the power of this domain," said the ironworker, his expression grave.
This territory was defined by the fierce battles between two deific beings in the sky, not simply because it harbored creations of Zero, including Mechanism City and the Mechanical City’s technological prowess, but because it was a black domain.
Massive forces of the mechanical tribe kept pouring in, shocking and terrifying the ironworkers and merchants. Despite being on the brink of death, these two individuals were just barely alive, but the place had become a land of death and aftermath.
Their situation was so dire that their laughs together seemed like an exchanged final testament, with each one barely hanging on to their last breath, a single life reduced to the final exhalation.
At this moment, Xie Xinghang and Zheng Yue had passed on a message through their connection to Zero.
They had started to charge ferociously almost immediately, driven mad by the encroaching darkness that enveloped the ironworkers and merchants’ field of vision. The invasion of the mechanical tribe had begun not long before, in the shadows of the Sulking Mech.
Slightly braver mechanical tribes began to follow the lead of the ones invading the southern district soon after, not long after these mechanical tribes took the forefront.
Although their lingering anger could still drive them forward, this contingent of the mechanical tribe had ended up trapped below the city, prepared for execution, just moments before. Regardless of being second or third-generation machines, they were still driven by the residual rage inside them, even though Zero’s rejuvenation had significantly reduced it.
From the entire eastern market district in the south, countless mechanical bodies surged forth!
Even if we only consider the destructiveness of power within Mechanism City, without the help of mechanical bodies, Xie Xingzhi and Zheng Yue are definitely at the absolute pinnacle, just tower-tops. But without mechanical aid, they would also be just ordinary people, a part of the throng.
Although the two people before our eyes are exceptionally strong, they’re still not worth mentioning compared to them.
For there are still many more mechanical beings because of the bright light that descended!
Such views are often at odds with people, hard to reach a common understanding.
"Ah, it’s a real pity... the Iron Craftsman... had some regrets originally, but now can no longer continue to trample at will!"
Zero Number has recovered to its peak state and has run out of Palace God Mech!
At this moment, both the businessmen and the Iron Craftsman were already predicting the worst possible outcome!
What is this formidable destructive power?
Even the strongest defensive Soul Devouring Barrier, which the Heart Core Mechanoid had moved from within the city to Jing Wu’s battlefield had been unexpectedly split open by this white blade!
The Iron Craftsman and the businessmen, following the terrifying energy fluctuations, witnessed a shocking scene.
In an instant, the entire eastern market district lights up! A divine light descends from the sky, carrying a beam of light! Like a huge white blade slashing down through the sky, it’s as if verifying their premonition!
Iron Craftsman and Blood Flow both had a bad premonition.
"Who knows how to reverse it... indeed, it’s their true power. But has any person ever had the upper hand in destruction? Let’s not even talk about annihilation," said Blood Flow.
"I never wanted to play more games; it’s hard enough to meet an opponent of the same nature," the Iron Craftsman scoffed, hinting at the entire implication of Blood Flow’s words.
"Hahahaha, it’s true that I’ve somehow managed to create a wearying spectacle for people, even though I’m not fundamentally good at fighting. But then, would such a person like me be left in charge for so long?" the Iron Craftsman continued.
Zheng Yue fell to the ground, unable to stand steadily on his legs, because both of his legs were shaking too much, two hands propping up his body. The severity of his condition was even worse, as he awoke from a dream in a mere instant.
At last, Zheng Yue, tossed and turned within his own dream, could not wake up and finally vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, his eyes filled with blood as he slowly opened them.
There was a clear unwillingness in his heart, as he collapsed onto the ground.
Even as Xie Xingzhi, a modified human, entered a state of near-death vulnerability, it became more apparent he was losing too much blood.
Xie Xingzhi’s fingers had been smashed into dust by the war hammer of the new era, wielded by the Iron Craftsman, and he could no longer make a sound of pain.
Several minutes earlier, in the eastern district...
...
...
Zero Number, alongside the very summit of Mechanical City, is like Mechanical City itself—an entire mechanical giant!
Just entering Mechanical City through the white fog one gets a feeling like this city is a colossal mechanical body in itself!
At the same time as the mechanical people were transmitting signals to each other, Zero Number had already started modifying the entire Mechanism City, its advanced computing power handling numbers that would be able to transform fundamentally.
Jing Liu had no conception of Zero Number’s pinnacle era; to the land the most difficult enemy was Zero Number itself.
For the white mist, however, this world’s reality was a wildfire raging. If the mechanical people these days had the will to fight, then the black material energy of Jing Liu was enough to wipe out a wildfire with wrath. A sudden appearance of miracles, if you will, descends abruptly onto this world.
They started to resist, bustling about as "gods," spreading the word among the mechanical people about this event.
This twisted world is the only place that can sustain their existence because of the special nature of the mechanical tribe!
These ideas bring their minds and souls together in unity, not minding sacrificing everything to protect this city, for this city is their home.
Whether it’s out of fear of an external enemy’s strength, sorrow for the city that has been saved so many times at the cost of pain, or anger at an outsider’s destruction of their homeland, people have various reasons...
—A message was then sent out from the depths of the ocean of every mechanical person’s brain, following Zero Number.
This gave even more brightness to the city they created—their god, and also affirmed their own meaning. However, because of Heart Core Mechanism, they were able to survive in the same way.
Because of the varying compositions of mechanoid souls and cores, they were able to avoid spreading the dangerous disease of Ulaga.
At times, it seemed like the data transfer among the mechanical people was as rapid and stable as if those thoughts were being transmitted—communication between mechanoid tribes.
After all, the one who was part of Accor against his will, the one who initially seemed to have no sense of detachment from this city...
... Zero Number has always loved this city, and compared to the painful memories in Dugu’s lonely world, this place is truly his joyful land.
"Ah! We don’t want to die in vain! With such a situation on hand, we should at least be able to chase them away! Since we’ve already lived this far, we must defend this city like a god! Darkness hasn’t been banished yet!"
But this world still holds many brave souls, who are willing to burn with passion. Yet, a strong invader brings a floating fear that surfaces in every person’s heart.
"What if we have no source of energy, essential for our survival, outside of this world? Will we still be able to continue living if this city gets destroyed?"
"Have we not always lived outside, in hostile environmental conditions?" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"I imagine, many years ago, this crowd was also invaded once..."
"Is that not a god?"
...
In the street above, a line of guards gazed upward, their faces shrouded with tears as they processed the criminals.
"...to think that the captain has actually died,"
"...how could the captain be dead,"
...
These mech beings had long surpassed humans in physical strength; they recognized that this truly was the domain of a god.
It seemed like countless stars in the sky, unceasingly burning and destroying in the stellar expanse, never appearing in the void.
The fearsome energy that echoed endlessly in the heavens was like an enormous wave. Jing Five and Zero City resolutely moved through the high emptiness of this city.
This city on the brink of death had finally arrived, and it was the Palace God Mech that had walked out! Gods returning to their kind was unthinkable; it was a time of utter despair.
In the dark city, where the criminals and the infected marched with a destructive force, the mechanical beings that were hiding in the darkness did not even know what to pray for.
Today, Mechanism City finally faced the darkest moment.
The chaos within the city grew worse, and its control weakened. Despite being trapped by the Ulaga disease, it never left the Palace God. These beings didn’t know that this god was suffering because of Ulaga, and it seemed they did not care about the city at all, merely sitting there as a god for so long without questioning the world.
For centuries, they all knew that in this world possessing a divine semblance, every Heart Core Mechanoid contained a soul blessed by a god.
But there was not a single ripple of emotional turmoil within the Heart of Mechanism City, only a calm, unnamed phrase.
"Citizens of Mechanism City, please join me in defending our city. Although the darkness has not yet been driven away, don’t forget, when you see the light shining on Mechanism City once again, it will be the light of Zero City, the heart of the city, and of me, Akas, who has already died defending against the foreign invaders. You are also your own creators,"
Every awakening consciousness of the mechanical race received this same message at this moment.
A white screen barrier fell from the sky, slashing like the divine sword of heaven.
To the mechanical beings raging in the streets, it seemed like they were hearing some sort of divine decree.
It felt as if there was some sort of comforting force welling up within them whenever the light was seen by the frightened citizens hiding inside the buildings.
The negative emotions that manifested in the Zero World were being absorbed, and the huge clouds of sorrow also lowered the effect of happiness, sadness, anger, and joy.
Curiously, instead of bringing tranquility, Ulaga’s epidemic had a noteworthy mention; the infected were slowly calming down.
Still, there were countless mechanical beings that went mad due to negative emotions, their bodies left behind as they succumbed.
Although the east and south markets were severely damaged, only the northern market was mostly intact, with each of the city’s four districts experiencing chaos.
But anyone could see that this battlefield was grievously wounded, and yet when there was finally light, the Mechanical City that had once shone with a myriad of lights seemed to come back to life.
...
...
Neither Jing Liu nor Zero City made enough noise to wake him; a white fog collapsed to the ground, their eyes closed, finally managing to withstand the shock for six minutes.
The white fog no longer bothered to ponder the mystery of the seven days’ lifespan.
Having already sacrificed half of their own life, it meant something.
They had started off with this pair of eyes, excluding everything else they had accumulated over time since arriving in this world; it made no sense at all.
Zero City was lucky to be standing here, on its own side of the battlefield, right opposite Jing Five... It didn’t matter.
The white fog felt no fatigue from the journey so far.
The effects of the sacrifice disappeared after a minute.
Zero City had already faced off against Jing Five in a bloody battle; it was something he had seen before, so there was no surprise, no product yet emerged from this encounter.
The white fog paid no attention to the upcoming battle.
The true ruler of this Mechanoid Kingdom had emerged from the Palace God Mech, as Zero City regained its pinnacle.
But it was too late.
...Every time, the story wasn’t deep enough; Jing Five constantly found itself divulging something to the white fog that seemed to emerge from the east to the west.
But really, it wanted to delay time... it didn’t necessarily believe that the white fog was lying, but it wasn’t sure of its true intentions.
Especially coming from that particular place, it was definitely an issue, not just some ordinary annoyance, particularly for those few people with the surname Jing from that place.
The white fog might have been trying to lead them astray, but it was the second time it had completely avoided the issue.
Jing Five would never let these kinds of people go; the white fog had spilled some information in its first divulgence, convincing Jing Five with logical arguments.
From the moment the white fog began to delay, Jing Five knew that Zero City would definitely come back to life.
(The White Silver Alliance’s random machine could no longer be used, having achieved a 22/01 completion.)
