Chapter 185: Xiao Lingdang Is Leading to Victory

Guided by Xiao Lingdang, Gong Cheng burst from the shadows, even as a mech ahead raised its weapon—his motion didn't falter for an instant.

Yet his precious ability wasn't meant for fighting mechs; the sole reason he was assigned to Group A was to crack the alien-built security system of the Governor's Mansion!

Though all camouflage would fail the moment he moved, he believed he wouldn't… before activating his ability.

Orange-red light slashed through the night sky, followed by steam rising from evaporated rain, and the delayed boom of gunfire.

The mech staggered under the strike; Chaitian's team pressed forward. Gong Cheng paid no heed to the chaos around him—his sole focus was crossing the mech and reaching the corner of the Guixiewei's outer wall.

"Right here—about one point seven meters behind the wall!"

Xiao Lingdang's hint surfaced in his mind, followed by a phantom shadow seeming to pierce through the wall.

The arc of electricity in Gong Cheng's hand seeped forward along the shadow, and with the satisfying click of the final puzzle piece slotting into place, his ability surged to its absolute limit.

Scrape!

Lights, sound systems, everything around the Guixiewei building fell silent at once—and Xiao Lingdang's voice blared over the team channel:

"All automated devices are disabled. I'll increase rainfall now. Each squad follows the plan—no rash moves! I've got you!"

The goddess's voice, mingling with the sudden downpour, was profoundly reassuring; every squad slipped silently into position.

"Well done!" Chaitian thought inwardly, raising his electromagnetic rifle, ready to risk broken hands for a close-range shot—when, at that very moment, a red glow in his vision drew his eye irresistibly.

The angle was perfect. He couldn't help shifting his aim. As the round fired, the shot meant to fully stun the mech's pilot skimmed past its shoulder and flew into the distance!

"Missed! Damn it!" Chaitian cursed inwardly—but Xiao Lingdang's voice came instantly:

"Nope! Look!"

As she spoke, Chaitian stared in shock: the mech, merely grazed, had suddenly halted—and its sealed hatch now sprang open!

Though he had no idea how this worked, Chaitian didn't waste precious time asking—he lunged forward, seized the pilot whose neck was caught by the hatch's safety lock, and snapped it with one twist.

Hss—

The sound of the air valve releasing, the safety lock popping open, and the pilot's body slumping down—just as Chaitian prepared to return to battle, Xiao Lingdang prompted him:

"What are you waiting for? Toss the body out and get in yourself! Don't worry—even if you don't know how to pilot it, I'll guide you!"

Though the downpour had slashed visibility, nearby guards were already converging—and hearing the distinctive running sound of mechs, Chaitian gritted his teeth!

"To hell with it!"

Though he didn't know how to pilot a mech, the inexplicably opened hatch gave him some confidence—he yanked out the pilot, sat down in the cockpit just as the man had, and secured himself.

The hatch and safety lock slammed shut, power engaged—and a strange view unfolded before him. Only then did Chaitian notice, in the distance, a mech that had fallen sometime earlier.

"That was your electromagnetic shot! It ricocheted off the emergency valve and hit the rear mech's radiator. How's that for reliability?"

Hearing the goddess speak in that playful, expectant tone, Chaitian felt a strange warmth. Looking at the control stick, watching the guards tangled with his comrades on-screen, he suddenly bared a feral grin:

"So reliable a goddess—can you help me wipe out all these trash?"

"That depends on your skill!"

…

Aside from Gong Cheng, who had been temporarily reassigned to Group B, the remaining four members of Group A had already breached the pitch-black Guixiewei building. Flashlight beams and chaotic footsteps echoed, yet under Xiao Lingdang's guidance, they never once directly encountered any security forces.

Just as they began thinking, "Is this mission too easy?", Xiao Lingdang suddenly spoke:

"Sugimoto, hold them off. Everyone else, turn left and evade."

"Guess I'm going first!" Sugimoto didn't hesitate—he activated his ability. The power of faith, channeled through his combat suit, boosted his strength to a level capable of briefly wrestling a mech.

"Don't let Sugimoto die in vain!" The other three didn't delay—they obeyed Xiao Lingdang's order, ducking into the corner. Seconds later, emergency power surged on; though most lights were burned out, some illumination still lit the area!

"Right here?" Sugimoto watched enemies raising weapons, then became a streak of dark light. As a child, he'd once idolized ninja and samurai in manga—and now, he would burn like those heroes he admired, right here.

"Break the window—climb up along the outer wall ledge!"

Sugimoto was already locked in combat—screams, cries, and gunfire echoed down the corridor. Xiao Lingdang's instructions never paused. The combat team knew they couldn't reach their goal without her, so they simply followed her advice, pressing forward.

…

"Huff… huff…"

"We're almost there—but sixteen security personnel remain, and the remaining targets may be armed. Ready?" Two minutes later, the last two members of Group A once again reached the outer wall. Unlike previous attempts to evade patrols, this time, they had only one final leap left.

"Just kill as many as we can!" Sato, still dripping blood, looked at Inoue beside him, his expression solemn, then activated his ability again.

"Go, Inoue! Before I die, you won't be hurt!"

The life-link reestablished. Inoue watched the projected silhouettes in his vision, the numbered sequence laid out by the Bell Goddess, and gripped his blade tighter.

His blood began to burn. The elderly man with white hair suddenly regained youth—the agony and burden of burning his life fell upon Sato. With a sharp crack, he kicked one shoe into the room!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The torrent of bullets made Inoue sneer. In the next instant, his figure lunged inside.

Though most weapons had ceased fire, many bullets still tore into his body.

But at this moment, he would not fall.

No weighing, no judging—he only needed to follow the sequence the goddess had prepared, and cut them down one by one!

"I just wonder how many more I can cut down with this life of mine!"

(End of Chapter)