15 Red Light
Outside the arena, Hei Shou lay motionless on the ground, having fainted.
Yan, however, calmly walked off the stage.
After a moment of silence, the crowd erupted.
"How can this be?" shouted the Rank 1 Peak stage Gu master who had mocked him, disbelief evident in his voice.
"An Initial stage defeating a peak stage… I'll never believe it if I hadn't witnessed it," some were left tongue-tied.
"What a natural-born warrior!" Even Hei Liang was astonished. Initially, he thought Yan would only last a few minutes against Hei Shou, never imagining Yan would utilize the Fire Discharge Gu, a Movement Type Gu worm, for attack.
"There is no strongest Gu Worm, only the strongest Gu Master."
Though an experienced Northern Plainsman, he only truly grasped the meaning of this phrase in that moment.
"Yan, you performed very well. That was an ingenious use of your Gu Worm," Hei Liang declared, patting Yan's shoulder. "From now on, you'll be a full-fledged Elite!"
"Thank you for your praise, Vice-Commander. I won't disappoint you," Yan replied, saluting and bowing.
"Hehehe, good. Now, follow me. I'll show you around and help you claim your reward," Hei Liang said happily, leading Yan away from the training field.
As Yan toured the place, Hei Liang explained the inner workings of the Citadel and Fiery Lava Pit.
"Obsidian Tower is the source of the entire Fiery Lava Pit. Minerals and materials mined for Gu Worms and Gu Refinement are all transported there."
"As for the reason… well, that's information only Captains and higher-ups know, so keep it a secret," Hei Liang winked, revealing, "Because the Obsidian Tower is connected to our Hei Tribe's Iron Eagle Blessed Land by the Rank 5 Hole Earth Gu!"
'Oh? So they transport and exchange resources via this Obsidian Tower. That explains why a Troop that should be nurtured safely was sent somewhere dangerous. This Obsidian Tower… it's reasonable to call it the source of a High Grade Resource Point,' Yan realized, understanding why no one dared to attack the place.
After all, knocking on the doorsteps of a Gu Immortal is nothing but courting death.
'What a balanced and phenomenal way of living!' Yan sighed at the wonders of Gu Worms and the Gu World.
Hei Liang smiled faintly, misunderstanding Yan's sigh as shock.
"There are three Halls organized to manage this place," Hei Liang explained further.
Yan listened attentively, absorbing all the information like a sponge.
After Hei Liang explained everything, Yan asked a few minor doubts, gaining a clear view of the entire system.
'If I play my cards right, I might be able to reap more benefits,' Yan thought, smiling to himself, hiding his brilliance.
A Dark Tower of large proportions appeared in their vision after some time. From outside, it didn't seem amazing except for its size.
Hei Liang and Yan entered the second floor of the Tower without stopping. After crossing a few pathways, Hei Liang stopped in front of the Rank 2 Gu Recipes section.
"This place may seem unguarded… but without a Commander's permission, one cannot enter," Hei Liang said, sitting on the couch in the lounge, watching silently.
Yan understood and entered the room full of Gu Recipes.
"I have Attack, Defense, and movement type Gu Worms. According to the norm, I should focus on developing my Combat system and select an Investigative type or a Healing Gu worm. But…" Yan skipped past all the Gu Recipes in the Fire Path and focused on searching in the Wisdom Path section.
"Hmm? This seems like the one!" Soon he found what he was looking for with bright eyes.
Yan took the small scroll and left the room.
"Oh? You're finished?" Hei Liang was slightly surprised.
"That's good. Hahaha, I don't need to wait long," Hei Liang chuckled. "It seems you only took one recipe and didn't touch anything else."
Suspicion arose inside Yan as he asked, "How do you know, Vice-Commander?"
Hei Liang signaled for him to leave the place first. As they went down, he explained, "You're really righteous! If you were to take a second recipe or were to see the contents inside the scrolls of more than one, you would have been punished by the Formation operating inside the room."
Yan's eyes brightened as realization dawned on him. In fact, the only reason he didn't touch or read anything else was out of fear of being caught by someone guarding the place. Like, he would be a fool to leave a place full of treasures.
"Uncertainty looms where guards are absent; danger may lurk in the unwatched."
Yan smiled, recalling a phrase his father had once told him.
It was the year 3009 on Mars, in the Solar System.
BOOM BANG
In the heart of a shattered city, amidst the ruins of what was once a bustling metropolis, the battle raged on.
Human soldiers ducked behind crumbling buildings, their Electron rifles blazing as they exchanged fire with the relentless horde of Synth assailants.
A young soldier, barely out of his teens, sprinted across the debris-strewn street, dodging plasma blasts that tore through the air with deadly accuracy.
WHOOS
With a swift burst using the explosion, he leaped behind a toppled vehicle, his heart pounding in his chest as he checked his ammunition, finding it empty.
"Give me the report of what they are guarding?" Fang Huo asked via the small Radio transmitter inside his ears.
Soon, he received a response; "Negative, They are guarding absolutely nothing, Commander! This is a Feint Synths pulled on us to breach inside Earth's Northern magnetic field."
"What the hell?" Fang Huo swore as the adrenaline instantly cooled down inside him.
"Tell me you're joking, Dad!" Huo, after calming down, questioned the person in line, his father.
"Sigh, after all, this is your first mission after becoming a Commander, you're still inexperienced."
Fang Huo remained silent, pondering which part he failed to grasp.
"Don't worry, there are no casualties. ISS took precautions because it is your first mission and patrolled a backup. They took care of the Synths that tried to invade the Northern Magnetic Field."
Fang Huo still didn't respond, earning another sigh from his father.
"Sigh, You were assigned to guard the Northern Magnetic Field from invasions, but when you saw the movement of Synths on Mars, you immediately requested to be sent to Mars for extermination. Even though ISS knew it's a feint, they accepted your request readily. Take it as a lesson, boy."
Seeing Fang Huo not responding again, Fang Tian said a phrase his father often used.
"Uncertainty looms where guards are absent; danger may lurk in the unwatched."
Fang Huo's eyes brightened, instantly understanding which part he failed to grasp.
"I've been too hot-blooded in my decision." Fang Huo slapped himself and focused on the battlefield.
"Hahaha, chin up. By the way, they are really searching for one of the lost data in this place. Finish off the tin cans and retrieve it. The sooner you finish, the lighter your punishment will be, hahaha."
Fang Huo cut off from the disgusting laughter of his father and scoffed.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
On the opposite side of the street, a towering Mechatron, its metal frame gleaming in the dim light, unleashed a barrage of missiles that sent shockwaves rippling through the ground.
"Thanks to you, I failed my first mission. Shouldn't we celebrate it?" Fang Huo made the empty Electron Pistol self-destruct and threw it at the Mechatron.
BOOM
The instant it exploded, he sprang from cover and charged with a Red Lightsaber in his hands.
RAT-TAT-TAT!
Dodging and weaving through a hail of gunfire, he closed the distance, his fingers tightening around the Lightsaber as he jumped above the torrent of plasma bolts at point-blank range.
SWISH—!
A clean slash cut the entire Mechanical Behemoth in half.
The split parts fell down on both sides, sparks flying as Fang Huo deactivated the Lightsaber and walked towards the others.
ROAR
With a triumphant roar, the soldiers pressed forward,
Blows after blows rained down on the mechanized army. That day, Synths and Humans alike witnessed a Young Boy weave throughout the entire horde of Army with just a Red Lightsaber.
They called him, The Red Light.
