Chapter Seventy-Three: Invasion and Deciphering

Ji Cheng wanted to return and seek out the spherical mechanical guardian.

Just now, it struck him that since the owner of Baishan Star could likely be inferred to possess no noble rank, their technological knowledge would at most not exceed Level One. Therefore, the defense matrix equipped on this mechanical guardian would not be particularly strong.

Defense matrices belonged to the realm of computer theory, and Level One computer theory encompassed only a handful of matrices—most likely just a few basic types.

“If that’s the case, there’s a good chance I can crack it.”

Listening intently to the sounds around him, Ji Cheng began sprinting back toward the spot where he first encountered the D-150 spherical mechanical guardian.

Meanwhile, he drew the Kengang dagger from his leg holster and gripped it in reverse, then took the Blackrock pistol from his belt, thumbing the hammer into firing position before returning it to its holster.

Whether or not he succeeded in breaking through, there would certainly be some combat. In fierce battle, a moment’s hesitation could spell the difference between life and death. He needed to make every possible preparation while on the move.

Tap, tap, tap.

Ji Cheng soon reached a corner and halted.

His keen perception, sharpened by instinctive resonance, had detected something approaching beyond the corner—a harsh scraping of metal against the ground echoed in his ears.

Zzzz—Zzzz—

Ji Cheng adjusted his breathing, pulled down the tactical visor on his all-terrain combat suit, activated his wrist computer to release Shana’s senses, then tensed every muscle, ready for battle.

He never forgot his purpose for entering the Hive Laboratory.

Finding a second-tier protoform was just one objective, and a relatively minor one at that. In a place like this, after searching various areas and given the low clearance level of his identity card, the odds of stumbling upon one of the most suitable second-tier protoforms were slim.

His main intention was to uncover clues about Baishan Star.

Especially regarding that case—his intuition told him Baishan Star was likely connected to it.

If he could crack the mechanical guardian’s defense matrix, he could trace the network into the Hive’s Area A hub, and perhaps uncover some vital information.

Ji Cheng didn’t hesitate. As the scraping sound drew close to the corner, he sprang out.

The terrifying metallic body of the spherical mechanical guardian appeared before him, moving on its bisected sphere beneath and nearly colliding into Ji Cheng.

He said nothing, silently pressing the button on the tactical visor to initiate the planetary local network access module.

The tactical visor of the all-terrain combat suit came equipped with a planetary network access module.

Its power and cracking speed far surpassed anything Ji Cheng could cobble together himself.

—Connection established. Rapid cracking program loaded. Please select buffer zone.

Excellent. Ji Cheng swiftly selected the parameters, and his visor’s display filled with graphic interfaces and streams of data.

This was the perfect moment to begin the incursion.

“Commence intrusion.”

Ji Cheng faced the cold, fearsome steel construct without retreat, stepping in close and pressing the Kengang dagger to the joint between its waist and lower sphere.

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His palm met resistance; his muscles bulged, the Tyrant serum activated.

Though the effect was diminished due to the limited quantity of serum, his muscle strength still advanced by a small margin.

“Lower it a bit, then withdraw immediately after the attack,” Shana’s voice came.

Using her special connection with Ji Cheng, she intervened in his mental ether.

Ji Cheng felt as though Shana gently held his hand, guiding it downward ever so slightly.

A crisp clang.

The dagger sliced across the joint, leaving a fine scratch.

With no one else around, Ji Cheng triggered “Regret,” slashing the same spot with an air blade. This time, sparks flew; the metal at the joint darkened, faint blue smoke rising, and he could just make out a few severed wires.

Indeed, the effect of the matrix was superior.

The D-150 spherical mechanical guardian’s alloy, called Stonebone, was smelted using Level One materials science.

The “Regret” matrix belonged to Level One force field research, its lethality within that range—though at the lowest tier.

Ji Cheng suddenly kicked the guardian, using the force to spring backward, retreating ten meters.

The mechanical guardian staggered, then quickly regained its stance.

But the stiffness in its movements made it clear it had sustained considerable damage; the joint between the sphere and its body was compromised, severely affecting its balance and mobility.

Ji Cheng drew his Blackrock pistol, aiming its facial sensors through the holographic sight.

Beep.

—Intrusion interrupted. Defense matrix unbreakable.

The planetary network access module sounded an alarm; the visor displayed the message.

But Ji Cheng had expected this. The pitiful automatic cracking code from Nankang Research Institute was never meant to breach any legitimate defense matrix.

“Visualize the matrix. Switch to manual cracking mode.”

Code streamed like a waterfall. A translucent high-level matrix appeared on the visor’s lens, its transparency set just at the threshold of visibility so as not to hinder combat.

“Shoot its face,” Shana abruptly instructed.

This battle mode, aided by a data ether entity, was one Ji Cheng knew well; instinctively, he followed her analysis.

Bang!

He squeezed the trigger, firing a custom armor-piercing round that tore through the air with a sharp whistle.

The projectile’s wind cap struck the guardian’s facial instrument, shattering into fragments, and the intact, pointed core immediately followed, slamming into it.

Crack.

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The plastic panel on the instrument, seemingly of good quality, was gouged out with a deep dent.

Inside the projectile, dozens of high-strength, fine-diameter impact pins advanced, pressing against the shell for a second wave of force.

Crunch.

The mechanical guardian jerked its head back as if punched hard; when it turned to face Ji Cheng again, an irregular, finger-sized crack had appeared, shining with light within.

That shot had dealt it considerable damage.

“This matrix is…”

Ji Cheng seized the brief respite to glance at the matrix’s structure, then began recalling.

“One hundred thirty tiers, process separation coefficient…”

Creak.

The guardian recovered, its head twisting a bizarre 180 degrees to present its hardened metal rear to Ji Cheng.

Even without its facial sensors, it could easily track Ji Cheng’s form.

The guardian leaned forward, sphere rolling, charging inexorably.

Ji Cheng retreated slowly, firing calmly, his finger rapidly pulling the trigger as round after round blasted forth.

Unfortunately, against the metal monstrosity’s armored exterior, even the Blackrock pistol’s considerable muzzle velocity had little effect.

Bullets whistled against the Stonebone alloy, producing only dull clangs and leaving feeble marks.

“I see—it’s a ‘Ring Operator’ matrix.”

Within seconds, Ji Cheng identified the defense matrix’s true nature.

“Shana, come out—follow my directions and breach this matrix.”

He needed to fight, unable to operate the keyboard; Shana would have to emerge and carry out the cracking.

A gentle, water-lily-like figure appeared beside Ji Cheng, floating lightly as she embraced him from behind.

“I’m glad to be of service,” Shana said, her ethereal fingertips resting on the planetary network access module.

“E8-W2-30, redirect to A5-B75-B2…” Ji Cheng recited, Shana’s eyes reflecting the code, while the visor’s matrix interface shifted rapidly.

At that moment, the mechanical guardian charged in close—whether due to programming constraints against using thermal weapons or some other reason, it refrained from firing its arm cannons. Instead, the sphere spun faster and suddenly lunged forward.

The burst of force was terrifying; it crossed eight or nine meters in an instant. Ji Cheng’s neural reflexes couldn’t keep up. His body instinctively twisted aside, but he was struck hard!

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