Chapter 1 The Resumption of Duty
A week later, the four members of Hawk Three team, fully rested, set out once again.
As per Gu Ya's request, his title of War God was revoked. Information about Gu Ya was stored as top secret in Xian Xia's most secure archives, known only to a few top-tier officials, with no one else aware. Thus, Gu Ya was completely free from the surveillance of Special Department Nine.
However, Gu Ya still had not heard from Ye Ying.
Ye Ying was currently stationed in Wolf Fire City, in the Kuang Hai Zhi Feng combat zone, and was unable to break through the enemy encirclement to rendezvous with Gu Ya.
This time, Hawk Three's mission was to clear all Black Star enemy forces within a thousand-kilometer radius of Xian Xia City.
"Report status," Gu Ya said calmly.
Soaring at an altitude of fifty thousand meters, maintaining sync with the lower-flying team members, Qiao Weiwei served as the early warning and satellite mecha.
Qiao Weiwei said leisurely, "No situation detected, rest assured."
The team maintained their vigilance, searching. Three days passed with no success.
On the fourth day, as Hawk Three set off again, the radar suddenly detected dozens of mechas, moving at extreme speed, circling in a diameter of tens of kilometers.
Since the enemy was hundreds of kilometers away, their details were unclear even with the mechas' cameras zoomed to maximum.
However, based on battlefield experience, Qiao Weiwei stated with slight certainty, "Hmm, it should be enemy mechas."
"Qiao Weiwei, maintain altitude and continue your vigilance. The rest of us will approach rapidly," Gu Ya said calmly.
You Yin, Red Beast, and Green Duke increased their thrust, flying towards the enemy mechas.
The enemy quickly detected the three approaching mechas. After flying south for several hundred kilometers, they suddenly executed a U-turn, charging head-on towards Hawk Three.
"The enemy likely has reinforcements. Qiao Weiwei, prepare for a rapid descent. Everyone, prepare for combat!"
The dive and acceleration were swift. Just as Gu Ya and the other two were still over ten kilometers from the enemy mechas, the Boundless Red descended to an altitude of approximately ten thousand meters.
The mecha cameras zoomed in quickly, and the enemy outlines became visible. They were indeed Black Star enemy mechas, but they appeared to be just a group of ordinary mechas.
You Yin hung back slightly, leaving the opportunity to eliminate enemies to Red Beast and Green Duke.
The two mechas, one red and one green, plunged into the enemy formation as soon as they made contact.
The special and massive propulsion devices on Red Beast's shoulders suddenly erupted with even more brilliant crimson fire. Wielding two war hammers, Red Beast directly blew up an enemy mecha head-on. Immediately after, Red Beast swung its arm, and the war hammers flew from its hands like an unparalleled giant missile, destroying another enemy mecha.
With a resounding clang, it was revealed that Red Beast was dragging a long chain. Swinging it with all its might, the red war hammers it wielded spun like propellers, forming a giant red disc. Any enemy mecha it struck had its mecha instantly smashed by the ferocious energy from the war hammer.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Take it easy, I swear!" Li Fang exclaimed loudly in complaint.
Red Beast's war hammers had a wide sweep, narrowly missing Green Duke.
At that very moment, two enemy mechas flew directly at Red Beast from behind, their cold beam swords held at chest height, about to pierce Red Beast!
Suddenly, a white light flashed across the sky. The Boundless Red's beam cannon fired in time, instantly turning the enemy mechas into two massive fireballs.
Green Duke swung its green beam halberd, charging into the enemy formation, slashing and hacking left and right, preventing the enemy mechas from getting close.
This battle, which was devoid of suspense, ended with extreme speed. The ground was left with vast wreckage of Black Star enemy mechas.
After Gu Ya landed You Yin, he began to pick through the enemy mecha wreckage for useful parts and components.
It wasn't until late at night that Gu Ya finished his work.
"The abilities of a battlefield mecha mechanic still need improvement," Gu Ya murmured, looking at the bizarre contraption he had assembled.
Liu Feng and Qiao Weiwei were sitting by the campfire, having dinner.
Qiao Weiwei, wrapped in a thick cotton blanket, cupped a bowl of sweet soup in her hands. She puffed her cheeks, blew on it, and then took a delicate sip, followed by a satisfied smile. "It's been a long time since I've camped outdoors."
Liu Feng sat beside the petite Qiao Weiwei like a small mountain, gnawing on a large thigh bone with both hands.
Gu Ya walked over to the campfire from the glow of the mecha spotlights and asked, puzzled, "Where's Li Fang?"
"Gone to relieve himself!" Liu Feng replied, without even lifting his head, while still chewing.
"Hmph, men are so ungraceful. We girls never do that in the wilderness," Qiao Weiwei said with a hint of disdainful pride.
Gu Ya looked out at the dark, vast Gobi Desert. Apart from the campfire and the mecha spotlights, the rest was pitch black and invisible.
He then spotted a faint light on a low, small mound in the distance, which should have been the light from Li Fang's bracelet.
Amidst the crackling sound of the campfire, Gu Ya could hear Li Fang seemingly chatting happily with someone.
Days of busy enemy eradication passed like this, and soon a week went by.
Gu Ya's heart grew increasingly anxious. Ye Ying still hadn't arrived.
Logically, after receiving the transfer order from the General Strategic Department, the combat zone would arrange for escorts to see Ye Ying out of the city, and then arrange for a reception.
It had been almost two weeks, and Ye Ying still hadn't left the city.
It seemed the situation at Kuang Hai Zhi Feng was not optimistic, and Wolf Fire City appeared to be in dire straits.
"I hope Ye Ying is okay," Gu Ya murmured, gazing into the distance towards Wolf Fire City, lost in thought, staring at the empty, vast Gobi Desert.
"Ye Ying? Is she your girlfriend?" Qiao Weiwei asked, chewing her bread in small bites.
After receiving an affirmative answer, Qiao Weiwei's expression froze for a moment. Her eyes darted around, and she then asked with a smile, "Am I as pretty as her?"
Liu Feng quickly chimed in, "Of course! Ye Ying is the second most beautiful girl I've ever seen!"
"Tch!" Qiao Weiwei rolled her eyes at Liu Feng, but her expression was indescribably complex.
After spending these few days together, Gu Ya finally learned that Li Fang was in contact with Tao Na. Every time they communicated, Li Fang looked like a puppy. In the holographic projection, Tao Na was wrapped in white bandages from head to toe, and her condition seemed worse than imagined.
Just as everyone was enjoying a peaceful and serene afternoon, the mecha's early warning system suddenly blared an alarm.
Without a word, the four team members dropped their food and hurried into their respective mecha cockpits.
"Target at 21° southeast, number three hundred," Qiao Weiwei said calmly and quickly.
As soon as she finished, the Boundless Red preemptively erupted with formidable power, slowly ascending into the sky.
"Three hundred, and we don't know if they have any high-tier combat mechas. This is going to be a tough fight, everyone, brace yourselves!"
"Liu Feng, protect Qiao Weiwei. Initiate the first round of bombardment. After the bombing, Li Fang and I will move in to mop up the stragglers," Gu Ya commanded calmly.
Qiao Weiwei said with her arrogant tone and a chuckle, "Heh heh, we still have to rely on me."
"Who said that? Gu Ya also has a trump card. Whether you're here or not, the team will be the same," Liu Feng retorted.
"Liu Feng! I'll settle with you after the battle!"
The Boundless Red quickly broke away from Red Beast and charged towards the enemy formation.
Hundreds of missiles were launched from the rear armor of the Boundless Red, followed by countless beam energy cannons directed at the enemy formation.
After the first round of bombardment, only about a dozen enemy mechas were destroyed.
"Something's wrong!" Gu Ya immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. The enemy must have high-tier combat mechas.
"Qiao Weiwei, ascend to thirteen thousand meters. Switch to long-range artillery support, and provide timely cover for Li Fang and me. Liu Feng, protect Qiao Weiwei!"
With that said, You Yin and Green Duke charged forward.
Among the vast expanse of black enemy mechas ahead, Gu Ya saw a familiar silhouette. It was the Enemy Slayer from Red Lotus Ziwu, or more accurately, an evolved version of the Enemy Slayer.
With an even sharper blade-like head design and shoulder armor protruding outwards, this formerly formidable enemy appeared even more menacing.
Its special material outer coating, which was both real and illusory, subtly disguised its presence. In the sunlight, it looked almost transparent, and would be absolutely missed if not observed carefully.
Its weapon had been replaced by two short combat blades. The blades front and back were not long, and it was unclear if they could transform.
"Li Fang! Return quickly and protect Qiao Weiwei!" Gu Ya calmly shouted. "Qiao Weiwei! Give me sustained fire output at all costs!"
Just as Gu Ya was calling out the new tactic,
The system voice in his mind suddenly sounded:
[Main Mission Activated: Defeat the Black Star Special Type Combat Mecha, the Enemy Slayer]
[Mission Reward: One Hundred Thousand System Coins]