Mechanical Alchemist

Hepitasong Dock, the sound of the steamship whistle pierced the sky.

Seeing those steel giants entering the port, everyone remaining in Mafa cheered and shouted with excitement.

The Empire hadn't abandoned them, and this gave everyone a real hope for survival.

"Don't bring so much stuff, there's plenty of food and water on the ship! Let as many people get on as possible..."

"Let women and children board first, don't push everyone, there are enough ships for everyone, and there are thousands more coming! Every day!"

"..."

Seeing the endless array of ships at sea, the tens of millions of people in Habitson City truly felt at ease.

The gangways were lowered, and people surged onto the ferries.

To fit as many people as possible, these cruisers had all unnecessary decorations and luxurious amenities removed, leaving only empty cabins.

A cruiser that originally had a standard capacity of five thousand now could carry fifty thousand.

Tens of thousands on each vessel, and there were hundreds, even thousands of giant cruisers, giant cargo ships, and various models of mid-sized steamboats on the sea.

This first batch alone could relocate tens of millions of people.

Because the top forces of the Heavenly Plane had been severely damaged before, and the traitors within the Empire had been purged, the situation was now under control. Ships were setting sail from Ruying to Mafa every day, non-stop.

They would continue to transport residents from all the major coastal cities of Mafa for a long time to come.

...

It wasn't just cruisers that came this time, but also a joint fleet led by "Thunder Tiger" Meredith Ben Moses and General Rostov.

They had been rescued by the Dawn Group earlier and later launched a surprise attack on the ports along the coast of the Heavenly Plane. Now they were back as an escort fleet.

On the deck of the warship, Meredith, looking at that familiar city and at the residents who were crying with joy, sighed deeply, "We're finally back."

The city before him was his homeland, and among those dense crowds were his relatives, friends, and family.

There were also many senior mechanics, engineers, and technical talents who had not been evacuated in time.

Now that they could come back for them, this once Grand Marshal of Mafa's navy finally felt the pent-up frustration lift from his heart.

Always on the receiving end of blows, this was their first real victory.

"Yes. Had it been before, I wouldn't have dared to imagine that we could organize such a large transit fleet to come and pick up people..."

General Rostov also nodded in agreement.

Only those at their level could see that for a civilization, nothing was more important than its population.

But he looked to the east and said, "However, we have a tough battle ahead."

Meredith, hearing this, also became stern and said firmly, "We will win."

General Rostov, pondering for a moment, also felt a surge of confidence, "Yes, we will win!"

The soldiers of the joint fleet were the first to use genetic potions. Moreover, Dr. Banks' biological laboratory team was stationed right on the fleet, and they had been busy with this task for the last month or two.

Only after using it did they realize how powerful the "mythical bloodline genetic potions" developed by the Dawn Group really were.

For most people, it was as if they had awakened a talent anew out of thin air.

The overflow of the genetic potion was visible to the naked eye, and in this time, it had already elevated the members of the fleet by an entire major rank.

They also kept practicing the group alchemy battle formation.

Now, the battle strength of the joint fleet was not the same as before.

Even against a ten-thousand-person mage group, they were not without the strength to fight.

....

While Hepitasong Dock was a hive of activity, Su Lun and Mr. Jing were observing the surroundings from atop the city walls at the suburban rebel camp.

Intelligence personnel were reporting the situation in real time through the communicator.

Although the city had fallen, there were still intelligence personnel from the former Mafa Empire in every city.

It was these intelligence personnel, stubbornly persisting behind enemy lines, who provided the Empire's military with detailed reports on the movements of the mages.

After listening to various pieces of intelligence, Su Lun turned to his senior sister and said, "Twelve ten-thousand-person mage groups are closing in from the east, south, and north. It's about the same as our planned expectations, those guys still don't know about our methods, that's why they're dividing their forces to come here."

Mr. Jing, listening, nodded slightly.

To the enemy, revealing their movements didn't matter because the ten-thousand-person mage groups were invincible in land battles, even if their movements were known.

But now it was different.

.....

Su Lun had considered attacking the ten-thousand-person mage groups stationed in various major cities directly half a month before.

But after some thought, he decided not to act hastily.

Firstly, those mage groups had built numerous magic towers within the cities, and a forceful charge would result in great losses.

The second concern was not to startle the enemy prematurely.

Once the enemy realized that the ten-thousand-person puppet groups could easily counter the ten-thousand-person mage groups, they would surely be on guard.

After one or two times, it would be difficult to achieve surprise effects.

If those guys were to hide or gather into super-large groups, Su Lun would not be able to do anything to them then.

To migrate people on a large scale, therefore,

So he thought of the current plan.

Wait for the enemy to leave the cities with the magic towers, and then kill them outside. Attract several ten-thousand-person mage groups at once, and once they are dealt with, there would be peace for a long time.

Now, it seemed that the situation was as expected.

The twelve ten-thousand-person mage groups had taken the bait.

Even in the divine realm, real-time communicators were rare. The previous annihilation of eight ten-thousand-member mage squads at the Imperial Strait was very thorough, and the intelligence clearly had not spread.

The enemy was unaware of the Dawn Squad's methods.

Mr. Jing nodded upon hearing this and said, "Prepare for battle. Don't let them get close to Hepitasong Port."

Su Lun also nodded, "Mhm."

There were many civilians here, and if a large-scale legion battle spread to this area, the casualties would certainly be severe.

However, just as the two had determined the enemy's location and were about to teleport over, something unexpected happened!

To the southeast, several tens of kilometers away, a mushroom cloud suddenly surged into the sky.

Su Lun and Mr. Jing had keen senses and looked over the moment the anomaly occurred.

"An explosion?"

Both of them frowned at once.

The mushroom cloud was clearly caused by an explosion.

But the flames from the explosion were very special, displaying a strange deep blue color.

After a few seconds, there was a "boom." Only then did the terrifying sound and shockwave reach Habitson City.

A glint flashed in Su Lun's eyes as he watched the blue mushroom cloud, his gaze also filled with confusion.

...

Clearly, someone had taken the initiative to strike.

Mr. Jing was just as perplexed, muttering to himself, "That direction holds a ten-thousand-member mage squad. It seems someone took the initiative to strike."

Su Lun let out a light exclamation, "Eh... could it be the joint fleet? No, that's not right. The power of the explosion is not something that shipborne artillery could produce."

Before the two could ponder over it any further, first-hand information had already come in through the communicator.

However, after listening, Su Lun's expression turned slightly strange, "The intelligence department says that someone just detonated a bomb, ambushing a ten-thousand-member mage squad. At present, that mage squad has suffered significant losses."

Mr. Jing was also visibly shocked upon hearing this and thought of something, then questioned with doubt, "Strange, does the rebellion have the power to contend with a ten-thousand-member mage squad?"

The reason she was surprised was that this was completely outside the plan.

This ambush was a top-secret plan discussed between Dawn and the United Empire, unknown to anyone else.

So even if there were to be action taken, she would certainly know about it.

Now, this explosion was so sudden that the military obviously did not initiate it.

In the communicator, intelligence personnel had already reported back, and Su Lun listened with a bizarre expression, "It's not a power. The intelligence department suspects the cause of this blast is... 'Explosives Genius' Jike James."

Mr. Jing, having never met Jike but having heard of such a disciple of Su Lun, looked at the still present blue mushroom cloud and smiled lightly, "Your disciple is quite impressive."

"I had no idea he could cause such a big commotion," Su Lun replied as he shrugged, not knowing what else to say.

Jike had been his disciple from a very early on, but essentially, he was left to his own devices.

Since the disciple's research was in the field of alchemy explosives, there wasn't much Su Lun could teach him.

He had sent him to study at the Mafa Royal Academy before, but not long after, the plane was invaded.

Contact was lost afterwards due to various circumstances.

Su Lun had thought something bad had happened to his disciple, but to hear news of him again in such an unexpected manner was a surprise.

...

This operation, to ensure the secrecy of the information, had not been communicated to the rebellion, so the overwhelming majority of people were also unaware of the early arrangements made by the imperial military.

At the very moment the explosion occurred, the rebel camp also quickly reacted.

"Everyone prepare for battle, those divines have come again!"

"Damn it! We absolutely can't let those guys get close to Hepitasong. Brothers of the Knight Alliance, come strike with me, snipe those divines!"

"Yes!"

"..."

The camp was a hubbub of noise as the rebels immediately sprang into action. Various firearms, ammunition, mechanical armor, and heavy-duty motorcycles roared to life.

Almost in the blink of an eye, various motorcycles and armored vehicles streamed out from the camp, toward the direction of the explosion's roar.

Barely glimpsing hope, everyone knew they couldn't let the enemy get close to the dock.

Even knowing the strength of the enemy, the rebels charged forward without hesitation.

Su Lun and Mr. Jing watched the rebels advance one after the other, their own expressions growing stern. Without exchanging many words, they raised their hands and donned their Gold-Patterned Cloaks.

With a flicker of spatial fluctuation, the two figures disappeared on the spot.

This battle was not about the rebels being the main force.

It was them, Dawn.

...

Just as Su Lun and the others vanished, sentries on the camp walls noticed these two odd individuals.

They were surprised that anyone would be foolish enough to stand on top of the walls.

However, before they could wonder further, they spotted the characteristic Gold-Patterned Cloaks.

The gold alchemy patterns on the cloak were dazzling in the sunlight.

The guards were stunned for a moment: How could someone just disappear like that?

However, in the next instant, as they matched the gold-patterned cloak to its owner, the guards were dumbfounded, pointing in the direction where Su Lun and company had disappeared, wanting to say something, but it seemed as if an invisible hand was choking them, preventing them from speaking.

Other sentinels looked on, thinking their comrade had a stroke, just about to step forward to help, when the shock on their faces suddenly turned into ecstasy and excitement of seeing an idol, their voices trembling, "That was... a master from Dawn!"

The entire camp was stunned by this declaration.

They never imagined that legendary figures they had heard so much about that their ears could develop calluses would actually be in the camp!

In an instant, the camp was boiling with excitement.

....

The explosion sounded, and the battle suddenly started.

The Mage Legion from the Godly plane intended to form battle arrays, which would inevitably slow down their marching speed.

The Alliance fleet also changed their plans and began long-range firepower suppression.

The aim was not to kill the enemy but to prevent the thousands-strong mage corps from rapidly approaching the dock.

In an instant, thousands of cannons from the fleet fired in unison, creating a terrifying and exaggerated commotion.

This massive firepower gave everyone a mysterious sense of confidence.

Normally, those waiting at the dock to board the ships would have taken up weapons again and returned to the city to snipe at the enemy, giving the opportunity to board first to the elderly, women, and children.

Because they knew the mages' strength, and they also knew that relying solely on the Alliance fleet, it would probably be difficult to stop too many enemies.

At this critical moment, everyone knew that only by working together could they overcome this challenge.

Yet the next moment, an even more heart-stirring scene occurred.

On the Alliance fleet's warships, tens of thousands of well-equipped professional soldiers disembarked, and the overwhelming presence of a regiment in battle array gave everyone a sense of security.

Not only that, but there was also Mr. Hei's Dawn brigade.

This time the main attackers were Su Lun and Mr. Jing, while they were responsible for the defense tasks at the dock and in Habitson City.

"Hahaha, Marshal Meredith's Alliance fleet has also come ashore! Charge, damn it!"

"That black-sailed ship is 'Dawn's' Eternal Night Emperor, they've come too! Look, that gold-patterned cloak... that's top fighting power!"

"Our top fighters have come too, hahaha... victory is ours!"

"Victory!"

"Victory!"

"..."

When they saw the appearance of that iconic gold-patterned cloak from Dawn, people on the docks instantly boiled with excitement, and a tidal wave of cheers broke out.

With top fighters, a large-scale legion, and warships, no words could provide more confidence than such support.

The situation at the docks became chaotic for a moment after the explosion but quickly stabilized.

...

Meanwhile, Su Lun and Mr. Jing had already teleported to the southeast where the mushroom cloud had appeared before.

Upon their arrival, they immediately saw a giant deep pit with a diameter of a kilometer at the blast site of the mushroom cloud.

And beside that deep pit, a magic circle consisting of thousands of mages stood as if facing a great enemy, forming a defensive formation.

These mages were covered in dirt, with injuries varying in severity. On closer inspection, there were even some severed limbs and broken arms near the deep pit.

With just a glance, Su Lun concluded that this well-organized mage legion of ten thousand now had only seven or eight thousand people left; the missing ones had clearly been killed in the explosion.

He murmured to himself lightly, "Eh... this explosive could break through the legion's magic shield?"

Normally, the impact of purely energetic explosives on top-tier magic domains would become increasingly minor.

Therefore, this had always been a shackling point for the mechanics and alchemy fields. Failing to break through it meant that mechanical warriors always fell short at the top levels of power.

Unexpectedly, this explosion had directly caused heavy damage to the ten-thousand-person mage legion?

Just as Su Lun and his companion were observing, the mages searching for the enemy seemed to have triggered another detonation device, and "bang," another explosion erupted.

Like the previous one, eerie dark blue flames shot up to the sky, forming a mushroom cloud.

The terrifying shockwave from the explosion swept out instantly, and the surviving mage legion bore the brunt of it.

Even as the magic formation of the legion negated the majority of the explosion's force, a portion of that strange blue flame still managed to break through the magic shield, sending the ten-thousand-person legion tumbling.

Merely by observing the blast wave, complex formulas began to emerge in Su Lun's mind.

The person who had placed the bombs was extremely meticulous, having seemingly anticipated the mage legion's every move, resulting in this second precise explosion.

Seeing this, Su Lun immediately remembered Jike from when they were in Blizzard City, who was still an alchemy apprentice and had nearly used the explosives to kill the second-order professional who had nearly killed his father.

A thought flashed through his mind.

Now was obviously not the time to dwell on it.

Because the blast wave was already upon them, even though he and Mr. Jing were several kilometers away, the magnitude of its power left them both slightly numb.

Mr. Jing raised his hand, extending it forward, and a reflective shield appeared in front of them.

Normally, it would be a piece of cake for a ninth-order professional to protect against any blast wave.

But in that instant, Mr. Jing sensed something and frowned, raising another hand, reinforcing the mirror-like shield before them.

By Su Lun's side, who could overlook such a detail, he was astonished, "This... this explosive actually involves rule-breaking power?"

Having witnessed the explosion firsthand, he had already used the All-knowing Eye to discern the essence of this explosive.

It was not only powerful, but the explosion also contained a rule-breaking force of destruction.

In an instant, he understood why the previous explosion managed to break through the magic shield of the ten-thousand-person mage legion—it was because of this!

The first shockwave passed, and Mr. Jing also cast a somewhat peculiar look: "This disciple of yours?"

Su Lun also found it somewhat amusing yet helpless.

He hadn't expected Jike to concoct such an exaggerated explosive.

However, it was clear that this kind of explosive alone was not enough to completely annihilate a legion of ten thousand mages.

Although the two explosions had killed nearly five thousand people, most of the dead were lower-level magicians of the fifth and sixth orders.

The remaining eight-order commander and the seven-order sub-commanders had hardly decreased in number, so the combat power of the ten thousand mage legion hadn't suffered too much.

Moreover, after the two explosions, the magical aura was exposed, and the magicians used their methods to track down the location of the person who had planted the bombs.

"The enemy is on the northwestern hillside!"

In an instant, the several thousand magicians charged toward the hillside to the northwest.

However, just as the mages from the divine plane had not long charged over, an explosion rang out again, triggered by some mechanism.

Clearly, Jike had even anticipated that the enemy would pursue them.

This time, however, the power of the explosion was much smaller, and it wasn't the previous peculiar green flame, lacking that rule-breaking effect.

Su Lun guessed that they must have run out of that special kind of explosive.

The explosion had slowed the assault of the ten thousand mage legion a bit, but this time it did not cause much damage. The eight-order commander, furious, led the legion forward, and then area-of-effect legion magic was released.

...

After the third explosion, hidden in a concealed defense bunker on the distant hillside, there lay a few mysterious rebels.

The youth with the mechanical arm observed the magic array in the sky and cursed silently, "Damn, they didn't die. That's large-area legion magic, quick, get to the tunnels!"

After this strange shout, the youths planned to crawl into the escape tunnel they had dug ahead of time.

They had escaped many times before with this method, and as long as the plan was meticulous enough, the remaining explosions would be sufficient to stop the enemy from catching up.

This time, however, they miscalculated.

Because amongst their enemies was a spatial mage.

Just as the first youth jumped into the escape tunnel, the space inside the bunker flashed, and a gloomy-faced white-bearded mage appeared out of thin air.

When the mage saw that he had nearly killed five thousand legionnaires and the culprits were just a few youngsters, the murderous intent billowed from him like a fierce wind, instantly stiffening the youths on the spot.

The youth with the mechanical arm turned pale in an instant, "No good, it's a seventh-order magic conductor!"

The youths despaired in an instant; with such a formidable enemy so close, they didn't even have the chance to detonate the explosives on them.

Are they going to die?

Even as he could feel the impending death, the youth with the mechanical arm showed no fear in his eyes, only unwillingness.

There was only one thought in his mind: What a pity, it would have been good if there were more dark matter explosives.

Thinking this, the youth with the mechanical arm looked toward the seventh-order mage opposite him and a cold smile suddenly appeared on his lips, thinking, "At such a close range, even a seventh-order will surely die... worth it!"

Just as the thought arose, the detonation device on his body suddenly activated.

This was a heart rate-triggered detonator set to go off at an extremely high heart rate.

For instance, at that moment, when he was locked on to by the killing intent of a top-ranking powerhouse!

Once the self-destruction was initiated, the blast would be enough to kill a seventh-order!

The mage opposite sensed the crisis and frowned deeply.

He sneered inwardly.

A top mage's sense of danger was not something these low-order magicians could grasp!

He did not doubt that these young people had the means to kill him, but they had to hit him first!

Feeling the danger, the old mage instantly used spatial displacement magic and prepared to leave the bunker.

However, the next second, the old mage's expression froze on the spot.

He looked around in horror to find that the space around him had been locked.

Could it be a high-level law restraint?

Impossible! If these youths possessed such power, how could they allow him to get close?

No, that's not right!

A top-ranking power must have arrived!

As the thought flickered through the old mage's mind, his shocked gaze fell upon two figures in gold-patterned cloaks appearing in the bunker.

He looked at the two figures and his eyes suddenly widened.

To be able to lock his teleportation and to appear silently... that meant these were indeed top-ranking powerhouses!

The youths across from him, however, were dumbstruck.

They thought that two more enemies had arrived and were ready to accept their death.

But to their ultimate surprise, as soon as the cloaked figures appeared, the overpowering killing intent that had suffocated them abruptly vanished.

Moreover, upon recognizing the familiar gold-patterned cloaks, the youth with the mechanical arm seemed to guess who had arrived, his heart bursting with joy.

He had a vague idea who it was!

The teacher!

Others only knew that the gold-patterned cloak was the symbol of the Dawn Organization; what they didn't know was that those gold motifs had subtle differences representing different members.

The one with the golden scythe pattern was his teacher!

Right there before his eyes!