Chapter 27: Crimson Covert Battle (Thanks to the esteemed supporter "A Fish That Eats Cats" for the generous recommendation)

Han Feng’s obsidian eyes fixed on Famuel, gathering and compressing the raging power of lightning in his palm until it quickly took the shape of a golden spear of electricity. With a cold sneer in his heart, Han Feng raised the lightning spear in one hand and hurled it; in an instant, the golden spear cut through the sky, crackling with dangerous energy, and shot straight toward Famuel.

Caught off guard, Famuel, who had been leisurely sipping human blood, panicked and instantly activated all his psychic power and cellular vitality to dodge. The lightning spear grazed past Famuel, crashed into a distant residential building, and exploded with such ferocity that it blasted a gaping hole in the two-story structure, causing it to collapse with a roar.

Famuel suddenly realized that the illusion he had created with his abilities seemed to be unraveling.

Right after casting the lightning spear, a prompt suddenly popped up on Han Feng’s system panel.

[You have triggered a Faction Series Quest]

[Quest Name: Crimson Secret War]

[Quest Type: Faction Series Quest (Mainline)]

[Quest Level: A]

[Quest Description: Once, a ferocious war broke out between the Dragon Soar Republic and the United States of Maireken, the flames of conflict spreading across several star systems. After years of intense battle, both sides suffered immense losses, and the war ended without a victor. Although peace was restored through negotiations and handshakes, for a long time both sides have been waging a secret war in the realms of military, economy, and politics—creating trouble and chaos for one another, striking at specific targets. Countless agents and superhumans have laid down their lives and earned glory on this front. Unspoken yet understood, neither side has deployed high-ranking superhumans above Class B, keeping this protracted secret war within reasonable bounds. You have inadvertently been drawn into this Crimson Secret War, and may now choose a faction to fight for.]

[Objective 1: Eliminate 10 secret warriors of the enemy faction.]

[Objective 2: Eliminate 100 secret warriors of the enemy faction.]

…

[Objective 5: Eliminate 100 enemy secret contractors (superhumans, Class E).]

[Objective 6: Eliminate 50 enemy secret contractors (superhumans, Class D).]

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[Objective 7: Eliminate 10 enemy secret contractors (superhumans, Class C).]

[Objective 8: Complete various faction side quests.]

[Objective 9: Disrupt secret operations of the enemy faction.]

[Quest Rewards: Side quests will be settled promptly upon completion, while the main quest rewards will be determined by completion degree and evaluation. Rewards include, but are not limited to, star coins, supplies, honor, skill points, card points, and faction reputation.]

[Accept/Decline?]

Han Feng’s eyes shone as he saw the quest prompt on his panel. This was a quest he knew inside and out—the 1.0 version’s core faction mainline quest, the one that spanned the entire version, only brought to an end by the advent of another great event after years of bloody clandestine struggle.

In his previous life, players could choose one of four great empires as their birthplace in version 1.0, each with its own mainline quest. For Dragon Soar and Maireken, the mainline quest was precisely this “Crimson Secret War.”

[Please select a faction: Dragon Soar Republic / United States of Maireken. Detected: You are currently engaged in combat with a secret contractor of the United States of Maireken. Would you like to choose the Dragon Soar Republic faction?]

Naturally, Han Feng chose Dragon Soar Republic. In his past life, his in-game birthplace was Dragon Soar, making him intimately familiar with its mainline quest and granting him a decisive intelligence advantage. This knowledge would greatly aid in achieving a high evaluation upon completing the ultimate main quest.

Since Famuel was a secret contractor of Maireken, his purpose for attacking the settlement within Dragon Soar territory became clear: to sow chaos, attract official attention, and cover for other covert missions elsewhere.

In his previous life, Han Feng had rarely operated on Soltis I, so he wasn’t clear on what secret skirmishes had occurred at this particular time. Though he knew the main quest well, it was a massive questline with a myriad of side missions scattered across countless planets—he couldn’t possibly have participated in them all.

But that hardly mattered. Alone, his energy was limited; he could only take part in as many missions as possible within his means, raising his final main quest evaluation. For now, the immediate concern was taking down Famuel.

Famuel was shocked; his tried-and-true illusionary ability had been broken so swiftly. With a shrill cry, he signaled the hundred or so blood thralls waiting in the plaza, who immediately began howling and charging.

Famuel drew two red daggers inlaid with golden patterns from behind his waist, spinning them once in his hands. With a leap, his figure shot forward, the dark red hem of his coat billowing behind him as he became a crimson bolt of lightning hurtling toward Han Feng.

Han Feng raised his sword and struck.

“Demon King’s Flame Sword: Cross Slash!”

A cross-shaped arc of black flame roared forth, its searing heat melting the very ground. The horizontal blade sliced through the charging blood thralls, instantly incinerating them to ash. The vertical slash tore a deep gash in the earth, heading straight for Famuel’s face.

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Famuel, true to his vampiric nature, displayed incredible speed—innate to his kind—dodging the flaming sword arc with a sidestep, though the stench of scorched hair assaulted his senses.

Of all the vampire clans, the Tzimisce were the most vain, often enhancing their own beauty by harvesting the essence of their enemies’ bodies. Any act that marred their appearance was an unforgivable affront.

Now, with his elegant and handsome appearance twisted by singed hair, Famuel’s face became contorted and ferocious. Four fangs gleamed with menace as he slashed at Han Feng with his daggers, tracing twin arcs of crimson moonlight.

Han Feng’s sword blazed with furious fire, spinning two sword flowers in the air.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

Blade clashed with dagger in rapid succession; red moonlight tangled with jet-black infernal flames.

Throughout the assault, Famuel ceaselessly conjured illusions, hoping to disturb Han Feng’s senses, but was astonished to find his infallible abilities utterly ineffective!

The illusions Famuel created attacked Han Feng head-on, while his true body used their cover to slip behind, whirling like a sinister cyclone. The two blood-red daggers drove fiercely toward Han Feng’s back.

But Han Feng seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; with a backward sweep, his sword slashed horizontally!

Though Famuel’s illusions were lifelike, in Han Feng’s eyes they were no more than ephemeral bubbles. With the power of the Evil Eye Master skill, every illusion instantly shattered.

Having failed at his sneak attack, Famuel immediately tried to retreat.

But Han Feng pressed his advantage. A black humanoid phantom shot out at incredible speed, bearing a strong resemblance to Han Feng but clearly insubstantial. The phantom wielded a violet sword of illusions and struck at Famuel’s back.

“Phantom Blade!”

The shadowy figure unleashed six consecutive slashes before dissipating.

Han Feng’s Phantom Blade skill was only at level one, meaning the illusionary duplicate had just 30% of his real attack power—insufficient to truly harm Famuel. He released the skill only because the phantom was fast and unexpected, capable of delaying Famuel for a crucial moment.

The real killing blow was yet to come.

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