[Reboot Volume] Chapter 263: Giving It One’s All

Two minutes earlier.

In the Shenzhou Propulsion Chamber.

Wu Danze was about to turn around when suddenly a dagger flashed toward his neck, the sharp blade scraping with a harsh metallic screech—the clash of metal on metal!

The attacker hesitated for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, Wu Danze unleashed an Energy Blast, aiming to repel him.

The assailant quickly recovered, reacting instantly by retreating swiftly. The silver-white weapon in his hand transformed into a shield, absorbing the fierce impact.

“How did you get in here?” Wu Danze frowned, activating the Bronze Wall Iron Fortress to block the main entrance. He had clearly seen this guy engulfed in gunfire moments ago, yet in the blink of an eye, he had teleported behind him?

How fast was his mobility and agility? And without being detected!

“Hey, you tell me first—why can’t my dagger pierce your body?” the intruder asked curiously.

The sudden attack hadn’t even left a scratch on Wu Danze, let alone draw blood.

“See these scars on my arm?” Wu Danze paused. “Seventeen of them! And you think your blade can cut me? Compared to these, you’re no match!”

“Ha! Interesting! No wonder you’re the top freshman at the Royal Saint Sky Academy!” the attacker praised. “A walking Bronze Wall Iron Fortress lives up to its name!”

“Oh? You know that too? Seems your employer not only paid you well but also gave you my personal info!” Wu Danze shrugged, then fired a Concentrated Light Cannon from the muzzle, sending a blue-white beam hurtling toward the opponent. “Planning to wipe me out completely?”

The attacker dodged again and said, “I’m aggressive but not a bloodthirsty killer. Usually, I stay hidden in the city, untouched by worldly affairs, only following mission orders.”

“Don’t pretend to be high-minded! Weren’t those Shenzhou maintenance workers dealt with by your kind?”

Wu Danze raised the Dragon’s Roar and launched several missiles. The opponent, like a cunning fox, twisted his body slightly and dodged again.

“We’re just eradicating evil, not doing anything wrong,” the attacker explained.

“Stop making excuses for your crimes,” Wu Danze said, extending his left hand. A powerful magnetic force gathered, the surrounding air twisting in spirals.

Magnetic Storm!

A skill that instantly pulls nearby objects inward!

“What? Using this move?” The attacker was clearly surprised, his movements restricted by the Magnetic Storm, his shoes scraping against the ground. “Aren’t you afraid the recently repaired fuel nexus could rupture again?”

“Of course I thought about it!” Wu Danze grinned, “But right now, the priority is to take you down!”

“Heh, interesting!” The attacker chuckled. Suddenly, his body emitted a dark red glow; golden streaks flashed in his eyes. Like a phantom, he instantly broke free from the Magnetic Storm’s control. His dagger turned dark gold. “I’m no pushover either!”

Wu Danze was momentarily stunned; the opponent’s strength had surged several times over. What kind of buff was this?

At the same time, Wu Danze activated Bronze Wall Iron Fortress again, channeling gold elements to reinforce its defense, uncertain if it could withstand the enemy’s assault.

Just as the fierce clash between spear and shield was about to erupt, a cheerful ringtone sounded:

“Zuo Zuo, handsome guy~ Zuo Zuo, handsome guy~ Your friend Lin Ao is sending a video call~”

The tense atmosphere shattered instantly. The attacker’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he ceased his attack, retreating.

Wu Danze was also baffled by this turn of events.

What... what’s going on?

“Wait, I need to take this call first.”

Zuo Zuo waved his hand, signaling for a pause, then answered the call. On the blue-white screen appeared a figure with short black hair, sharp and deep features, an icy demeanor.

The same person Mo Xing had encountered on the deck.

“Old Ao, why the sudden call?” Zuo Zuo scratched his head. “I was just about to unleash my ultimate move to finish off the opponent!”

“Mission accomplished, withdraw immediately.” The other party said, then ended the video call.

“What the... just hung up on me! Are all powerful people this moody?” Zuo Zuo grumbled, then quickly shifted expression. “Hey, friend! I’ve got to go! Maybe we’ll fight again someday!”

“Trying to leave?” Wu Danze snapped his fingers, and countless metal arms sprang up beside Zuo Zuo.

“What the heck? You set a trap while I was on the phone?” Zuo Zuo was shocked, unable to break free as the metal arms locked him in place. “That’s too dirty!”

“Fighting criminals! What’s dirty about that?” Wu Danze chuckled, then wrapped a Steel Shield around the other, adding an extra lock—after all, the opponent was cunning!

“Can it get any dirtier than this?” Zuo Zuo barely finished speaking when the entire Shenzhou suddenly jolted, and he tumbled to the ground. Fortunately, the Steel Shield and the metal arms cushioned the fall, leaving him unscathed.

Wu Danze leaned forward, grabbing the nearby railing to steady himself.

“Damn! The Shenzhou is starting to fall!” Wu Danze frowned heavily. The fight had wasted too much precious time.

“What? The Shenzhou is falling? Let me out now!” Zuo Zuo panicked. “I’m not going down with it!”

“Thanks to you!” Wu Danze complained, activating the High-Altitude Flyer to soar to midair, continuing to repair the damaged fuel transport nexus.

Time was running out. The Shenzhou was plummeting—could he still save it?

At the bottom of the Shenzhou.

Zhang Zhihao unleashed the power of the Fire Dragon God Aisla within him, a mighty force supporting the entire ship.

His upper clothes tore apart completely, his body glowing red, tinting half of the Shenzhou’s protective shield crimson.

Blazing Crimson Lotus!

At full power!

He had to maintain this state to rapidly transport the Shenzhou to the nearest landing zone on Dragon Tooth Island.

Zhang Zhihao was host to the Fire Dragon God Aisla, naturally inheriting the primal fire element power. All of this stemmed from that accident years ago, which bestowed him with this formidable strength.

Was it luck? Or misfortune?

Since childhood, he had been the center of attention—whether in academics or other aspects, always outstanding. And it remained so now.

If one could bear praise, one must shoulder great responsibility.

But sometimes, the burden grew heavy, and he felt weary...

Countless times he wanted to confide in others, but they always responded with smiles: “You’re the great one. Only you can handle this. We can’t. So you have to hold up the sky!”

Yes.

This kind of thing was borne alone; others could hardly help...

How did that song go?

“Invincible is how... how lonely...

Invincible is how... how empty...”

Quite a meaningful lyric...

Yet some only laughed upon hearing it...

Without standing alone at the summit, how could one feel the chill of that cold wind?

It’s not the cold of the outside world, but the cold within the heart...

No matter how warm the flame, it cannot melt the ice and snow inside...

Like those so-called ‘elite trainees’—their first reaction to trouble was to flee; comrades who could unite and face hardship together were nearly nonexistent...

Zhang Zhihao’s eyes slowly turned dark red, his skin gradually covered by red dragon scales. Just then, a clear echo stirred deep within him:

“Great Zhang Zhihao! You must hold on!”

It was Mo Xing’s voice! Like a pebble cast into a still lake, rippling gently. That slight sound immediately brought Zhang Zhihao back to his senses; the red dragon scales covering him ceased shimmering.

“A connection between dragon gods?”

Zhang Zhihao looked at his dragon-transformed crimson arm and smiled. Overusing the Fire Dragon God Aisla’s power had nearly consumed him with inner demons, but luckily Mo Xing pulled him back from the brink through dragon god resonance.

In his current state, he could sustain the Shenzhou’s flight for another ten minutes. According to the original plan, Wu Danze should have repaired the damaged nexus by now. Something must have gone wrong, but he still trusted Wu Danze to handle it.

Mo Xing, being the variable, together with Shiyan, would surely play a key role.

And Xia Ningxin—she should act soon as well...

Elsewhere.

Fifth floor corridor.

“Tap, tap—”

Lin Ao, with short black hair, strolled alone down the corridor. The earlier tilt of the Shenzhou hadn’t affected him in the slightest. After obtaining the documents and notifying Zuo Zuo—the competitive one—to evacuate, he began recalling the boy they had seen on the deck minutes ago...

He possessed special eyes capable of instantly shattering an opponent’s mental defenses. Any adversary who met his gaze for two seconds would either collapse trembling or flee in panic. Only a rare few strong enough could withstand that stare.

Originally, there were quite a few such strong ones, but all had fallen under his power.

As for that boy...

His strength was weak, his sword stance stiff, but after panicking briefly, he regained composure and held eye contact with Lin Ao. At that moment, Lin Ao felt an indescribable sensation.

The mission’s target did not include him, so Lin Ao spared the boy.

There was another reason—he felt they would meet again, soon.

Suddenly, Lin Ao stopped and said:

“Come out, light that illuminates the sky.”

At that moment, a dazzling light appeared at the corridor’s end. Xia Ningxin stepped out from the glow, followed by an orange cat—Little Moonshadow.

“Long time no see, darkness that cleanses evil,” Xia Ningxin greeted in return.

“Meow~” Little Moonshadow meowed.

“Your lines are longer than last time,” Lin Ao smiled. “And you brought the Nine Heavens Mystic Fox.”

“Oh,” Xia Ningxin replied coldly, not continuing the previous topic. “How many did you clean this time?”

“You should be able to estimate,” Lin Ao paused. “Aside from the Royal Saint Sky Academy members, the rest on the Shenzhou were spies from the Kalandis Sect.”

“Thirty-six in total,” Lin Ao counted on his fingers. “Seven of them you helped take care of.”

“Who’s the employer?” Xia Ningxin asked, changing the subject.

“You know how it is in this line of work—we don’t care much about the employer’s identity. As long as the job’s done and the pay’s received, we become strangers thereafter,” Lin Ao smiled.

“Don’t you find it suspicious?” Xia Ningxin questioned.

“I never doubt anyone; those who are doubted get terminated by me,” Lin Ao dusted off his shoulder. Suddenly, his body dissolved into black particles. “And—”

“Goodbye.”