Chapter 266 Nagokin's Request

Inside the temporary base's hall, everyone was going about their business when the room's built-in television flickered and interrupted with a news bulletin.

"Norieus Emergency Report: Ten minutes ago, the western edge of Fourth City was subjected to man-made destruction. Three city blocks were obliterated, and the station is paralyzed. Casualties and economic losses are being tallied. According to reports, the aftereffects of a battle between Supers are the cause of the destruction. Specific details are pending further investigation. The Bureau of Public Security has launched an investigation. The following is live footage from the scene..."

The news immediately grabbed everyone's attention. Sylvia banged on the door of the mechanical modification room, calling Han Xiao, who was engrossed in mechanics, to come out and watch TV.

The news displayed the scene: dozens of high-rise buildings collapsed into ruins, billowing black smoke. Just ten minutes ago, this place was bustling with activity, but in a matter of minutes, it was destroyed. Security team aircraft were conducting rescue operations. The scene was chaotic, with bodies being placed into body bags and tossed aside, a scene of utter devastation.

"No wonder I felt a tremor just now. I thought it was an earthquake," Volga commented.

Veshawn, who was cleaning his wings with a brush, shrugged. "Is this a war?"

Han Xiao pondered, "Such a high level of destruction in a short period of time... the two sides fighting probably have Calamity Grade combat power…"

He immediately thought of Nagokin, whom he had met once. The timing matched, and he felt the possibility was quite high.

However, this had nothing to do with them. No mission was triggered with Nagokin. Since there were no benefits, Han Xiao wouldn't meddle in other people's business.

*Didi…*

Just then, the communicator suddenly rang, and an unfamiliar communication request came through. Han Xiao accepted the request.

In the next moment, Nagokin's figure appeared on the screen, panting, covered in blood, battered and exhausted.

"Black Star... please help me," Nagokin said, his tone somewhat reluctant.

…

Not long before, Nagokin had been ambushed by DarkStar. He fought a bloody battle, and the aftershocks destroyed three city blocks. The elite warriors he led were all killed. The unknown Calamity Grade Super turned them into ashes in an instant, without even a scream.

These were his old subordinates who had fought alongside him for a long time, but they were easily killed, causing Nagokin to be extremely angry. However, he had to force himself to remain calm and respond decisively to the two powerful enemies.

Although he was the only one left, Nagokin did not have the idea of a strategic retreat. He knew the principle of surviving from desperation. If he could take down one strong enemy, he would not be at a loss.

Calamity Grades were also divided into strong and weak. Nagokin's strength was not significantly greater than that of Arnuul and Ember. Faced with the siege, he fell into an absolute disadvantage. Both opponents were tricky Esper abilities, and in a short exchange, he was covered in wounds.

The intensity of the battle quickly alarmed the security team, who arrived quickly. Arnuul originally wanted to pursue relentlessly, but after weighing the situation, he chose to retreat temporarily, unwilling to be pursued by the security team. The ambush did not achieve his expected result. He wanted to quickly kill the Godora Grade A powerhouse, but Nagokin was a physically strong martial artist with thick skin and flesh, and he could only inflict serious injuries.

Fortunately, Nagokin was a musclehead, otherwise he would have kicked the bucket long ago.

Dragging his heavily injured body away from the scene, Nagokin did not immediately bandage his deep, bone-revealing wounds. The first thing he did was contact headquarters. Enduring the pain, he reported his encounter. The Godora War Affairs Bureau was shocked and immediately issued an order, instructing Nagokin to stand by and absolutely not take risks. Preserving himself was the top priority.

He requested headquarters to send reinforcements, but it would take time to arrive. Relying on headquarters was already too late. Giving up and retreating were never in his dictionary. Even if he was alone, he had to prevent DarkStar from achieving their goal.

Just as he was hesitating whether to kill his way back, Nagokin suddenly thought of Black Star, whom he had met once at the port.

Perhaps… only mercenaries could help him.

Norieus was relatively remote, and not many mercenaries were active in the area. Black Star Mercenary Group was probably the strongest mercenary group in Norieus for the time being, so he could only seek their help.

He had refused Han Xiao's help at the time, but now he had to take the initiative to ask for help. This kind of behavior was too embarrassing. Nagokin didn't expect this situation to happen, but he could only bite the bullet and contact Han Xiao—for the sake of the mission, losing a little face was not a problem at all.

"Nagokin?" Han Xiao's eyes widened in surprise. As expected, Nagokin was related to the news. He had been severely injured by an unknown enemy. The help he mentioned was obviously related to this matter. Nagokin's subordinates had all disappeared, probably wiped out. With no one else available, he had asked for the help of mercenaries.

In just a moment of pause, Han Xiao had pieced together the general situation. He remembered Nagokin's crippled appearance in his previous life, but after looking him over, Nagokin, though covered in blood, was still intact.

"I'm shouldering a mission to Norieus to meet a defector from DarkStar. His name is Owen, and DarkStar has also sent a team to hunt him down. The other side has two Grade A Supers. I was ambushed…"

Nagokin explained the situation in detail.

Although he knew that revealing the fact that there were two Grade A powerhouses might make Han Xiao hesitant and afraid to help, Nagokin's character would not hide the enemy's strength and deceive the mercenaries. He was straightforward, and even if he knew that the mercenaries might refuse his request because of this, he would definitely tell the truth.

Han Xiao suddenly understood. He had sensed something was amiss when he met Owen, but he had no information and had been kept in the dark. As expected, it was related to DarkStar.

"Who are the two DarkStar Grade A Supers?"

"I don't know," Nagokin shook his head.

"Then what are their abilities?"

"One can turn people into dust and control a large number of micro-dust particles to form various weapons. If I don't use Qi- силовое field protection, he can slowly peel away my flesh…"

Han Xiao's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice, "Carbon Element Manipulation, Ember!"

He thought this guy had died in the fleet bombardment, but he had escaped. Not only that, he seemed to have successfully reached the Calamity Grade level. When he first fought Ember on Longtan, Ember was already Grade B+, far exceeding him. If his specialty hadn't restrained the other party's trump card, he wouldn't have been able to fight him to a draw.

Ember could almost instantly kill all carbon-based life forms below his level. This was a very tricky ability, simply a god-level skill for clearing the field. Only Aroshia and himself would not be affected. Veshawn was a mixed-blood demon. He didn't know the composition of his body. If it wasn't carbon-based, he might also be immune to the instant kill.

However, after Ember reached Grade A, he didn't know what new uses he had for his abilities. Even ordinary attacks were much more powerful than before.

"What about the other one's ability?" Han Xiao asked.

"He's a shapeshifting Esper, able to transform into a bizarre flying creature, about four or five meters tall, and seems to have the ability to control airflow. He's very fast, difficult to catch with the naked eye. When he flies, he's surrounded by wind pressure, which not only protects himself but also has a certain cloaking effect, seemingly deflecting light in some way. And the faster he flies, the stronger the wind pressure behind him, and the area he passes through is swept and crushed by the wind pressure, like a wind pressure cannon."

"Shapeshifting… wind pressure…"

Han Xiao's mouth twitched. "Could it be Wind Demon Arnuul?"

DarkStar had a limited number of Grade A Supers. Based on their abilities, Han Xiao could guess the identity of the opponent. Arnuul was a core member of DarkStar, a veteran member, and very difficult to deal with. After he transformed, he could continuously accelerate. If he was allowed to fly around a planet a few times, the accumulated wind pressure would turn into a huge hurricane, sweeping across the surface.

These two were very tricky people. Han Xiao frowned and pondered. Before Version 2.0, he didn't want to provoke DarkStar head-on, but this was an opportunity to connect with a Godora Grade A Super. This was a channel to reach the upper echelons of Godora. With Nagokin, it would be easier to gain their trust when he handed over the Heteromorphy Virus sample, and he could also discuss the benefits.

Nagokin pursed his lips, waiting for Han Xiao's reply, secretly praying that he wouldn't be rejected. Han Xiao was his only hope for help at the moment.

Time seemed to be stretched out by his breathing. After a long while, Han Xiao slowly shook his head. "Fighting against two Grade A's is too dangerous…"

Nagokin's expression froze. Although he had expected it, he was still a little disappointed.

"...However, your mission isn't to kill them, is it?" Han Xiao changed the subject. "As long as Owen safely leaves Norieus, the matter is resolved. The problem now is that your Godora reinforcements need time to arrive, so as long as we help Owen evade DarkStar's pursuit and stall for enough time, then I can try to help you."

Nagokin's eyes lit up, overjoyed.

At this moment, Han Xiao's interface showed a new mission prompt.

[[Nagokin's Request]]

[Mission Description: You have agreed to help Nagokin, whose mission is to rescue a traitor from DarkStar.]

[Mission Requirements: 1. Assist Owen in hiding until the Godora main force arrives. 2. Kill all DarkStar pursuit forces (complete either requirement to complete the mission)]

[Failure Conditions: 1. Owen dies. 2. Nagokin dies.]

[Reward: 5,800,000 experience, 24,000 Enas, Godora Faction Favorability +850, Owen Favorability +30, Nagokin Favorability +30]

"Two mission requirements. It seems that stalling for time is more reliable," Han Xiao thought to himself. Although killing all the enemies was more direct, the other side had two Calamity Grades, so he should just go to sleep.

Of the three main missions he had obtained earlier, one was [Godora's Alliance]. The mission target was numerous, and Arnuul and Ember were among the designated targets to be killed. The reward was very high, but Han Xiao was just thinking about it. There was probably no way to complete it.

Nagokin was about to ask how to cooperate, but Han Xiao interrupted him, his eyes flashing.

"With just us, we're too few. Let me find you some more help."

Turning his head, Han Xiao instructed Melos.

"Use the Mercenary Alliance to issue a recruitment announcement to the areas surrounding Norieus. The target is all the mercenaries nearby. We want anyone who can come, as many as possible."

Melos asked, "Who should we write as the issuer? Nagokin or Godora?"

"No, their names won't work."

Han Xiao shook his head.

"Use my name."