Chapter 98 Chapter 98: All Things Return to Zero
Chapter 98: All Things Return to Zero
"Operator Kevin, arriving at combat position."
He had almost forgotten how long it had been since he last used such a reporting phrase.
Pressing his earpiece, Kevin stood up. A sweep of Honkai energy cleared away all the sand and dust from his clothes, leaving not a single speck behind.
"Excellent, Kevin. What you need to do next is simple: assist each squad in stopping this city in the gentlest way possible. Rhodes Island technicians will provide you with support. I'm counting on you."
The Doctor's tone carried a hint of relief.
The agreement between Kevin and Rhodes Island was one of cooperation, not a hierarchical superior-subordinate relationship. Therefore, whether out of friendship or the terms of the treaty, the Doctor was very careful with her wording.
You ask where she learned this? A couple of days ago, some operators had gone shopping in Lungmen and, due to personal interest, bought back a book titled "The Iceberg Prince: One Hundred Questions - From Beginner to Master."
She happened to see it and borrowed it. You know what? The author using the pen name "Sharp Pen" is truly a talent.
Some of the little methods seemed tailor-made for Kevin. You could say she believed the author wrote it specifically with him in mind.
See? Putting what she just learned into practice right away. Sigh, the only one worth her putting this much thought into is basically this icy man.
"Mhm."
"Kevin."
Hearing no more movement outside, the members of Scout's squad finally dared to peek out.
Scout saw the large crater in the floor and couldn't help but click his tongue. That huge, living person who was just tangling with them was gone in an instant.
"Everyone alright?"
"We're all fine."
He waved his hand dismissively. Even though everyone was left a bit dusty and disheveled by that, isn't being dirty much better than bleeding?!
"You should all understand the mission now."
"Of course. Solana, Changyin, it's up to you two."
Both were women. The cute appearance their Feline traits gave them did not affect their professionalism.
Or rather, they were originally operators from the Engineering Department. Usually, only one member accompanies Scout's squad for contingencies. This mission was special, so both were deployed.
Of course, expecting just two people to operate a behemoth like a Nomadic City isn't realistic, but performing a "braking" operation is more than sufficient.
Tap tap tap!
While the two operators worked at the control console, Scout and the others proceeded to finish off the Snake Scale members who had been knocked senseless by the impact.
"Is he that Mr. Kevin that Captain Scout always talks about? He's really strong!"
Scout's squad members' eyes shone. When Kevin went to rescue them last time, Scout immediately led them in retreat, so they hadn't witnessed it then.
This time, they finally got to experience the joy of having a powerful ally to rely on, just like their captain.
Kevin extended his hand. The greatsword underground broke through the soil and rock, flying into his grasp. A shake of the blade sent a few streaks of blood dripping onto the ground.
The fate of the Snake Scale Amiya was obvious.
"Captain, there's a problem."
The blue light from the screen illuminated Solana's face but couldn't ease her furrowed brows.
"What is it?"
"After these people started the city's engines, they used a virus to invade Chernobog's system. Although they didn't succeed in breaching it, they triggered the defense system. With just the two of us... we can crack it, but it will take a long time."
She had a headache. This was an entire Nomadic City. The workload visible to the naked eye already made her feel overwhelmed.
"Alright. I'll request that the Doctor dispatch a technical team as soon as possible."
Departing from Rhodes Island, then taking an aircraft, plus the unknown time needed for cracking... Scout didn't know if it would be in time or not.
But one must do their best and leave the rest to fate.
"What's the problem?"
Kevin walked up to the control console and inquired.
"It won't be easy to stop this big guy. It might take quite some time."
Scout answered, pressing his earpiece, about to report the situation here to the Doctor and request assistance.
"If you don't consider other factors and simply want to stop it, it's very simple."
Kevin's words were astonishing. Even Solana and Changyin at the control console turned around in surprise.
Was this... questioning their professionalism?
Of course, they weren't the kind of ungrateful people who would mock their own powerful ally over a minor issue.
That kind of fool probably only exists in some absurd literary works.
"Mr. Kevin, we have indeed encountered some technical difficulties. If you have any suggestions that could help correct things, we would be extremely grateful."
Anyway, there's no solution right now. Might as well let someone try. It's not like this huge Nomadic City control console can be broken by tinkering.
Changyin smiled and stepped aside to make room.
What if he can't figure out the problem? It's fine; they can't do anything about it for now either. Round it off a bit, and everyone is on equal footing.
Then praise each other a little, and Rhodes Island's friendly working environment is fostered, right?
"When I say stop this place, I don't mean through this method."
Kevin showed no intention of stepping forward. Instead, he turned his gaze to Scout.
"Where is the main drive engine of the Nomadic City?"
"Huh?!"
This time, not only Scout but even the two women listening nearby were stunned.
Wanting to stop the city by finding the engine? If not adjusting through the control system, are you going to stop it with your bare hands?
——————
Rumble!
Massive gears meshed and turned. Countless white streams of air vented from numerous pipes. Stifling, scalding hot air filled this entire space.
Large piles of Originium were conveyed via belts into the reactor furnace. Blazing flames reddened the faces of everyone witnessing this scene.
"Kevin, it should be roughly over there."
Even though they were still quite a distance from the actual engine room, the temperature here was already extremely high. Scout, Solana, and the others were already sweating profusely.
Their clothes clung tightly to their bodies.
Scout pointed through several layers of thermal insulation windows at that human-made construct as massive as a titan. But this was only its tip of the iceberg. Something capable of driving an entire Nomadic City could no longer be described merely as "huge."
"Mhm. You all go back."
"Ah, no need. We can just watch from here."
Changyin chuckled naively and rubbed her hands together.
"...Alright."
Kevin roughly estimated the distance and nodded.
This spot was just for observation. It shouldn't be affected later.
Hiss! Hiss!
Pressure release valves opened one after another as Kevin stepped deeper into the engine room.
The scorching temperature twisted the air itself. Prolonged overload operation worsened this condition even further.
But the man ignored all of this. Compared to the Heavenly Fire representing a star's demise, this engine room's temperature could only be called "cool."
He walked step by step before that construct, removed his glove, and placed his distinctly knuckled hand directly against the iron wall glowing with heat.
"Rejecting matter without end; all things return to zero."
Snowflakes, frost, ice—the "white" representing return to zero and stagnation descended upon this fiercely blazing land of heat.
An endless expanse of white covered the thermal insulation windows through which Scout and Solana relied to observe this miracle.
It obscured this sky-reaching creation!
The roaring ceased; the intense heat became hard to find. Only a vast snowy landscape remained. A colossal "ice sculpture" hung in mid-air like an ancient deity, making it difficult to breathe just by looking at it.
Screech—
Accompanied by a teeth-grating sound,
Chernobog's engine,
stopped!
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