Sky-cracking Rider

It takes two to three days to hatch a batch, and since they are oviparous, the mother bears no burden and can continue wreaking havoc.

It's just not clear how long their growth cycle is. Based on livestock farming data, if they can enter the breeding period in ten days to half a month, these monsters are truly terrifying.

Even without special abilities, sheer numbers alone can overwhelm and kill. Once they proliferate geometrically within the Blue Star ecosystem, it's akin to a biological bomb capable of self-reproduction, enough to exhaust the Blue Star Civilization to the point of collapse.

Perhaps in Mr. Randon's previous life, the Blue Star Civilization was smothered to death in this very way.

From another perspective, the Blue Star Sovereignty showed foresight early on, not only forming the Global United Defense Committee but also establishing thousands of Aircrew Bases worldwide, with the headquarters set up at the front line in combating mutant disasters, in Hablav City.

If the mutants were to reach the level of otherworldly monsters, it would also spell disaster.

Fortunately, the mutants and monsters on Blue Star are like water and fire, they fight to the death upon encountering each other. If they combined forces, the Blue Star Sovereignty would have already been overwhelmed, barely able to cope.

While several Combat Mechs continued to search the entire plantation base, they discovered a door leading to a basement within the ruins of an agricultural equipment warehouse.

"Survivors found! 'Adam', knock on the door, give it some rhythm."

Following Chen Fei's command, the Combat Mech arrived at the charred door and began knocking on the steel door to the rhythm of "California Hotel"—this melody wasn't chosen by Chen Fei, but was a random pick by "Adam", showing that even AI could have generational gaps.

A series of clicking mechanical sounds came from inside the door, followed by a dull thud as the door slowly pushed open, revealing several wary faces.

Monsters ravaging outside would never knock with such rhythm, so the people hiding inside had no suspicions. However, they were still somewhat scared when opening the door.

Upon first sight of the Combat Mech, they were initially stunned, then let out a long sigh of relief, revealing joyful expressions as they embraced and cheered, celebrating their survival...

The Combat Mech quickly confirmed the number of survivors—22 people, including even the pilot of the agricultural biplane who likely parachuted out in time and escaped to the underground shelter inside the agricultural equipment warehouse while the monsters were distracted by the "Oil Aloe Vera".

However, not everyone was so fortunate, with some ending up as monster chow.

Considering that the plantation base was still unsafe, after confirming the survivors, the Combat Mech led them to board a small landing craft, escorting them back to the No. 2 flagship.

After clearing out the monsters, the large armed Magic Cube Warship "Snow Mountain" carrying the Ability User Team arrived at the still-burning plantation base. Without even using Psi Skills, a few spells were enough to reduce it to ashes—well, to be exact, ashes to ashes as the fire was snuffed out immediately. The frost scattered everywhere was noticeable, indicating that despite the tropical climate, snowflakes were falling from the sky, driving temperatures below freezing, making it impossible for the fire to reignite.

The two airships didn't linger at the attacked "Oil Aloe Vera" plantation base nor did they unload the rescued survivors there, instead taking them along to continue towards the location of the "Wormhole Cloud".

The familiar black vortex cloud came into view again, with the suppression fire from the active military forces of the Blue Star Sovereignty becoming more refined over time.

Monsters emerging—whether flying, crawling, or burrowing—were all subjected to focused fire.

The ground beneath the black cloud had begun to show signs of lava, making it impossible for burrowing monsters to dig underground, as the subsurface deeper than ten meters was filled with thousand-degree Celsius lava or molten sand-glass, instantly incinerating any living being that fell in, leaving them no chance to crawl out.

The flames and smoke shooting into the sky were turning the monsters into smoked meat, with only a handful managing to escape. The perimeter around the "Wormhole Cloud" had multiple lines of defense, leaving little room for escape.

Chen Fei remarked helplessly, "There's no way to get close like this!"

The Command Center wanted to organize the Space System Ability Users for another close observation, which was impossible given the risk of friendly fire, not to mention the threat from the monsters, making it hard to avoid being hit.

Though the No. 2 flagship had defensive measures, prolonged attacks would deplete its crystal energy reserve in the energy core, unable to escape being blown up mid-air.

"Don't worry, we won't be deploying Space System Ability Users this time."

The female communicator at the Command Center reassured Chen Fei.

After the near-total loss last time, the Command Center had learned its lesson and wouldn't make the same mistake again.

Moreover, if the "Wormhole Cloud" were to "self-destruct", its power would be immense, damaging even the Crystal Jets, let alone the larger airships. Entangled by the bizarre lightning, the outcome would be disastrous.

The ground blockade was kept at a certain distance from the "Wormhole Cloud", roughly the maximum radius of its self-destruct shockwave. However, some automated fire platforms supplied with ammunition and crystal energy by Combat Mechs were steadily advancing, even if they were lost, there would be no personnel casualties. The "Fuel Guy" was globally renowned for his wealth and wouldn't mind a little expenditure.

"That's good to hear!"

Chen Fei sighed in relief, knowing that if not for his quick reflexes and timely responses last time, he and his team would have been handed a one-way ticket to the Otherworld.

"A Metallic Dragon will be arriving shortly. I'm sending the identification key now."

The communicator had a new message.

"A Metallic Dragon? What's a dragon doing here?"

Chen Fei was stunned, wondering if this was another supernatural twist.

An auditory signal simulation was received.

Ding!~

The notification was from the AI "Adam", which received a special data packet through the battlefield data link, found the decoding method, and identified it as an ID for friend or foe recognition to avoid friendly fire from allied smart weapons or missiles. For non-guided inertial weapons, there was no help, but to a Metallic Dragon, these were mere snacks and backscratches.

Adam: Adult Metallic Dragon detected, 550 kilometers away, one individual, ID verified, name: Osythius, male, 3145 years old, security level D

Metallic Dragons give strong radar signals, making early detection within the specified scanning radius possible.

"Insufficient permissions, awaiting decryption!"

The communicator didn't provide the answer Chen Fei wanted, suggesting it wasn't time to reveal it yet.

"Strange!"

Chen Fei furrowed his brows deeply.

Though he had a Metallic Dragon friend, he knew better than to think all Metallic Dragons were easy to deal with. Even Yilan had warned him not to approach other Metallic Dragons casually, as most of them were brainless bastards.

A quarter-hour later, an iron-gray dragon with flaming wings roared in, its thunderous sound sweeping over the two airships, briefly shading the sun, diving unstoppably towards the "Wormhole Cloud," and plunging into the fiery sea, sending glassy magma flying.

"Roar!~~~~~"

The dragon's roar was wildly arrogant as it faced the sky.

Miyoshi Xuesen was the first to caution, "Security level D means unsafe. Be careful, rookie."

He and Chen Fei received synchronized information with little difference in content.

Metallic Dragons are the nemesis to Metal Ability Users and can go berserk unexpectedly, requiring caution.

Security level A is the highest, indicating harmlessness to humans and animals, whereas G is the most dangerous, like a deadly star, devastating all life in its wake, typically used for evaluating dragons, magical beasts, and wild beasts. Most Metallic Dragons have safety evaluations below D, usually at E and F, with D being rare, C even rarer, and no levels above that.

The female Metallic Dragon Yilan that Chen Fei knew was rated at safety level C, qualifying her to be selected by Sky Dragon City to investigate the death of the adult Metallic Dragon Bit on Blue Star.

Interestingly, the current Dragon King of the Dragon Clan is rated E, rarely participating in external affairs, usually staying (lounging) in Sky Dragon City, reluctantly performing the duties of a Dragon King. Mostly lazing around but still better than adding trouble to the Dragon Clan.