Chapter 505: Disappearance

Li Hao and A Youyou were on their way to forage for food when suddenly the Skycom rang. Li Hao saw it was an unknown number and didn't intend to answer, but the other party called again and again, followed immediately by Dita's Skycom. Li Hao hurriedly picked it up.

"Li Hao, something terrible has happened!" Dita started shouting the moment it connected.

Li Hao's ears were almost blasted apart. "Dita, calm down, tell me slowly."

At this moment, Ma'er appeared beside Dita. "Li Hao, we defeated Noah's people, and Master led the team inside, but after entering, a distress signal was sent. A second wave of people also went in, but their communications were also cut off. The situation is extremely dire."

As an Artificial Human, Ma'er had no real emotions, and the only thing that worried her was Xilian's safety.

Li Hao frowned. "Tell me what happened." As he spoke, he pulled A Youyou to the side of the road.

"The opening of the ruins went very smoothly, and the initial exploration was just as recorded. But when we entered the central section, we suddenly lost the signal; it seemed we encountered an attack," Ma'er took a deep breath. "Then our reserve team entered. Everything was normal at first, but they also lost the signal when they reached the central section. Master said that if an extreme situation occurred, I must contact you."

"Second Brother, Depuya and Laika led the second wave of the reserve team in. Dita and I stayed on the aircraft carrier, and everyone else went in." Solomon looked worried. He had originally wanted to go in too, but Xilian had ordered that not everyone could enter; someone had to remain behind to maintain external contact. Dita was left on the Moon side, and Solomon was left on the Earth side.

At this moment, Venus appeared. "I left a tracker on Zuo Xiaotang. The last piece of information was that Zuo Xiaotang lost consciousness."

"Why did you do that!" Ma'er said in a deep voice, looking at this self-willed intelligent tool with disbelief.

"I... I'm friends with him, I left it when we were playing games." Venus was a bit afraid of Ma'er and said in a low voice.

Li Hao knew that nothing was useful here. Hearing Ma'er say that the process of defeating Noah's Ark was relatively easy, he felt that something was not right. "Connect me over there immediately."

"The aircraft is already arranged, give me the location." Ma'er said in a deep voice.

Li Hao shared his location directly, and Venus received it immediately. "Ma'er, Dita, Solomon, you all stay on high alert. Do not go in again. Wait for me. Tell me immediately if there is any news. We will stay in contact."

Hanging up the Skycom, Li Hao gently pulled A Youyou, wanting to say something but hesitating. A Youyou held Li Hao's hand back. "I know, I won't go, I'll wait for you."

Li Hao hugged A Youyou gently. "I was careless. I analyzed it with Kevin before, and I felt that given Xilian's personality and preparations, plus the act we put on, we should have been able to control the situation. I have to go see."

"You must be careful, I'll wait for you at home." A Youyou suppressed her worry. She also wanted to go, and with her strength, she could actually be of use, but in this situation, her presence would definitely distract Li Hao.

"Don't worry, A Youyou, as long as you are all safe, there is really nothing I'm afraid of. It might not be Noah's Ark; it could be something inside the ruins." Li Hao comforted her.

Less than ten minutes later, a maglev aircraft descended from the sky. The door opened, and Li Hao jumped on directly, waving at A Youyou.

The aircraft shot straight into the sky and disappeared into the air. Just as A Youyou was about to open her Skycom, her expression shifted; she was being watched.

On the way, Ma'er transmitted the combat process and the exploration details to Li Hao. Li Hao had looked through them; the battle process with Noah's Ark was considered normal. The opponent had deployed very strong forces, but they hadn't expected that the Elite of Apocalypse gathered by Xilian, combined with the Meraphis private armed forces, would result in a one-sided victory. If Apocalypse hadn't brought so many people this time, those five powerful Giant Mechanical Octopus could have wiped them out. As for the battle between the aircraft carriers, the victory was due to Venus; her ability was second to none at the Solar System level.

"Although we are not sure if Noah is on it, this is about the same as the intelligence we obtained. The design of the mechanical octopus follows a different route than ours, but their underwater combat power is stronger than ours," Ma'er said.

The ruins of the Nimeier Civilization were indeed very shocking. Who would have thought that another huge space ruin was hidden deep within the Mariana Trench? Inside was a very magnificent city, but it was completely empty and damaged everywhere. It seemed that a battle or collapse had occurred. Currently, it is unknown whether that place is a part of Earth or linked to another space.

In the footage, the group was very smooth at the beginning, with people collecting valuable items into armored vehicles. This was not the first time the Meraphis Family had explored, and they had sufficient preparations and relevant personnel leading the team. The group walked all the way to a huge square, and then it was suspended, with no road ahead. The Mecha tried to fly over but was blocked by an invisible barrier.

In the center of the square was a Nine-Headed Statue, and strange patterns extended across the ground. In the center of each forehead was a brilliant green stone. Judging from this familiar feeling, it was very likely the Ocean Heart, and it was unprecedentedly huge and complete.

"According to records, this is the second space gate to enter, and it needs to be opened, but the method of opening it is the Golden Zone," Ma'er said. "Looking from this position, the Nimeier should be very huge." In the light screen, Xilian, Chao Qinglong, Basta, Maxis, and a group of experts went up first. There were nine positions, and behind each person stood several Mecha, tied with iron cables, so that if there was any change, they would pull everyone down.

With the activation of the Golden Zone, there was no reaction at first, but under Venus's command, they constantly adjusted their positions and frequency bands. Finally, the nine huge heads lit up one by one, and the massive Ocean Heart emitted a huge light. Then, the golden light nourished the huge Nine-Headed Statue, and at the same time, the patterns on the ground began to light up, radiating light. Just at this moment, Basta was the first to feel that something was wrong; his injuries had not fully healed, yet those rays of light constantly encircled the nine Mobile Suit in the center, and the people around were also attracted by some kind of power, and then the vision cut off.

"My clone was also wiped out," Venus said helplessly.

"What about the second team?" Li Hao asked.

"It was very normal at first, but it seems they encountered an attack. The opponent screened the signal first before making a move. We could only hear the sound of gunfire, and then it cut off," Ma'er said. The last part had no video, only the sound of Mecha firing and roaring.

"Could it be that the aliens made a move?" Dita said.

"Aliens?" Solomon was a bit nervous. Those were all the top combat forces of Humanity; how could they just disappear?

Li Hao did not answer, nor could he answer, and fell into Silence.

After more than half an hour, Li Hao had arrived at the base, and after entering the nuclear submarine, it took another half an hour to reach the destination in the Mariana Trench.

Entering the aircraft carrier, Ma'er and the others were already waiting. "Li Hao, Master said that once an extreme situation occurs, everything is left to you to command."

"Prepare a Mecha for me!" Li Hao said.

Venus jumped out. "I have one, Master specially built it for you!"

The cabin door opened, and a huge Mecha covered in black cloth slowly rose, and under Venus's control, it was transported before everyone's eyes.

The huge black cloth was grabbed directly by mechanical claws, and a Mobile Suit made entirely of Titanium Black appeared in front of them. The appearance was somewhat similar to the Black Night Saber, similar in form, but there was a big difference in the spirit. This Mobile Suit had a stronger texture, a more oppressive outline, and was slightly larger in size.

"The one and only Eternity, based on the Black Night Saber. Master Jiabo is indeed peerless in the embodiment of the human body in Mecha. It has been updated with the Meraphis K23 Superhuman System, uses the best super Titanium Alloy, enhances the strength of the Blood Moon, uses a new type of metal from the Kepler Planet, retains the 'Fury', and uses Armor-piercing Shells entirely. Besides that, there is a surprise." The little sprite condensed in the air above the Mecha, emitting starry light. The Mecha started, and the Titanium Shield on the left arm of the Eternity underwent a mechanical change, instantly turning into a Cross Wheel.

"The Jiabo Axis System allows the Eternity's long-range strike power to be further improved. I don't think anyone in this world can build a second one," Venus said. "Master said that only the strongest Warrior of Humanity is worthy of piloting it."

Li Hao ignored this. "I'll go in by myself, you wait outside."

"No, I want to go in too," Ma'er said in a deep voice. "Without Master, I have no meaning for existence."

Li Hao did not object. "Dita, Solomon, you don't go. If there is still no news after we go in, you take the remaining people and leave."

"No, I want to go in too!" Dita said unconvinced.

"Dita!" Li Hao said in a deep voice. "Adding you to a situation that is already out of control is useless. Solomon, you are in command. Don't be reckless!"

Li Hao entered the Eternity. The Mecha started its engine, roaring. *Pop-pop-pop-pop*... The Mecha opened up, the Cross Wheel expanded and closed, the Blood Moon was unsheathed, and the 'Fury' circled in the left hand, completing the weapon experience in an instant.

"Let's go!"

Ma'er piloted the Thunder Fire Mecha. The rest were just controlling the aircraft carrier and had no combat power. Venus rotated and created a clone to lead the way in front, with a strange expression, as if she was a bit scared but not quite.

The two Mobile Suit entered the energy portal.

The Eternity and the Thunder Fire Mecha entered the Nimeier Ruins. The Mecha immediately conducted an ambient air test. The air composition of the entire ruins was similar to that of Earth, which meant it was more like a part of Earth. It was very likely that the Meinier Civilization had used some kind of technology to separate it out. The development of this civilization had some overlap with Humanity, but the general direction was different, and their civilization was more advanced.

How could such a civilization disappear just like that? Why were similar things discovered on Kepler, and how could the Ocean Heart, which only exists on Kepler, appear here, and in such a complete state, along with the technology used?

(End of chapter)