Translator: ryuxenji Editor: H2dH2mr D1 and the others were not just sitting there and doing nothing. They had been trying to contact D2 and D3 at the secret base all this time, but they had not been able to get in touch. Even though good news kept coming from the storehouse, their mood was getting worse and worse.
They already had a vague feeling that something was wrong — something must have happened at the secret base. Every time they thought of this possibility, they regretted it. Why had they been so engrossed in the battle results they were about to obtain when D2 had made his request, and not immediately transferred their spectres to the secret base?
They were even more resentful that the Federation military had played a good move, using a diversion tactic to split up their forces and break up their originally sure-win situation.
"Say, do you think something happened to D2 and D3?" The silent atmosphere made D10, the youngest of the lot, unable to hold himself back any longer. He could not help but ask.
However, all he got in return was silence. Seeing that everyone's mood was getting worse and worse, D1 pulled himself together and retorted loudly, "Impossible! We contacted them half an hour ago. At that time, D2 said everything was normal. The infiltrators had been successfully intercepted by the mecha battle team, and Carter and Peter had also gained the upper hand."
"Then why hasn't the T-virus broken out?" D10 finally asked the question on everyone's mind. According to D2's report half an hour ago, the T-virus should have broken out 20 minutes ago, so why was there still no sign of it?
D10's question made D1 fall silent for a few more seconds, and then he opened his mouth to say hoarsely, "Perhaps, the T-virus has undergone some mutation at the last minute. After all, we've only succeeded once, so no one knows what kind of situation it will be when it truly takes shape. Or perhaps the outbreak of the virus has a certain incubation period, so it won't show up immediately..."
D1's words made the others perk up a little. Indeed, the lack of movement now did not mean that they had truly failed. They might as well continue contacting the secret base — perhaps they would be able to contact them in the next second and receive good news.
Seeing everyone pull themselves together, D1's mood improved slightly. He continued to say, "Just now, I contacted Reiter, saying that he's already sent Witt over. We should soon know what's going on at D2's side, and why contact was suddenly cut off.
After all, this was not their country's virtual network. As an invader, they had no way of fully controlling this place. There was the possibility of losing contact almost every day. It was just that in the past, it was not so long, only a few minutes. D1 reflexively glanced at the activation button he had originally set. He really hoped that he would not have to use that move...
With their hopes reignited, the D1 members continued to attempt to gain control of the situation at the secret base, but they still failed. Not long after, they felt a terrifying energy suddenly descend on their heads. Before they could react, the energy mercilessly crushed them.
After D1 sensed that surge of energy, his expression changed drastically as he exclaimed, "Void... this is impossible!"
D1 and the others had initially thought that the Huaxia Federation had only sent one spectre this time, so they had purposely set up a trap to lure that spectre and the Federation investigation team into the trap they had set up beforehand. Then, they had sent two more spectres to be responsible for killing that spectre with all their might.
When they saw that the other party had stepped into the trap without any warning, before D1 and the others could rejoice, they found that the secret base had been invaded by another team they did not know about. D2's urgent notification informed them that there was still a powerful spectre inside. This fact made D1 very depressed. He had not expected that a foolproof plan would actually have a slip-up.
However, D1 was not too alarmed. To ensure the safety of the secret base, he had left two spectres there to hold the fort. D1 believed that two spectres against one spectres was absolutely no problem at all.
That's right — this time, in order to ensure the success of Plan T, the Caesar Empire had not only sent 30 top-class hackers, they had also generously sent out four top-class spectres to deal with the spectre sent by the Huaxia Federation.
D1's plan had been very optimistic. With two spectres at each of the two locations, they would definitely be able to wipe out the two spectres sent by the Federation. However, he had not expected that while the trap had succeeded, the situation at the secret base had reached a stalemate. In a situation where they had a huge advantage in a two-versus-one situation, they had been held back by the other and were stuck in a stalemate. Even more unexpectedly, at the last moment, he had actually lost contact with D2 and D3.
In truth, he had already sensed that something was wrong, but he refused to think or admit that he would fail. In his heart, he had been hoping that the secret base was operating normally, that it was just a normal loss of contact and that nothing unexpected had happened. However, when this massive wave of spectre power appeared, D1 knew that the secret base was definitely finished.
D1 was not just a hacker. At the same time, he had also awakened spectre power. It was just that he did not want to lose his freedom, so he had chosen to evolve his hacker abilities. Perhaps because he was exceptionally talented, his spectre power had not stopped evolving. He had successfully broken through twice to advance to high level, and was now only one step away from becoming a top-class spectre.
This had always been his secret. He knew that if the Empire's military found out, he would definitely lose his freedom and eventually become a research subject. Thus, he had always sealed his spectre power, only exposing his superior hacker abilities.
This was also why D1 could still speak under this terrifying spectre power. Because of the seal, he had a certain level of resistance against spectre power attacks.
However, even so, D1 still could not escape Little Four's full-powered attack. D1 knew very well that under this terrifying spectre power, his spectre power had only instinctively protected his main body, but in the next second, as if submitting to its own king, it had automatically released its defences to meet its death.
Inspiration flashed through D1's mind, and he instantly understood. This spectre power was definitely not the so-called top-class existence — it had broken through the top-class, reaching the legendary realm of a spectre king, or even a spectre god that had never appeared in the virtual world before... in the book on spectre power research he had read back then, it had mentioned the possibility of such an existence.
D1 watched helplessly as his Group D members turned into white dots and dissipated into the virtual world. If his spectre power had not instinctively blocked that blow, he might have already disappeared without a trace along with his companions. Even so, he knew that time was running out. He saw his own two feet begin to fade, turning into white dots and slowly disappearing...
"Are you a spectre king, or a spectre god?" D1 asked fearlessly. The black robe that had initially been hidden had already been destroyed by that terrifying spectre power, revealing his true appearance. He was about 24 or 25 years old, handsome, with golden hair, deep sapphire blue eyes, and well-defined facial features. These were all characteristics that belonged to the people of Caesar...
"Eh? He's actually not dead? "Little Four, who had been expecting a one-hit kill, could not help but exclaim in surprise when he saw that there was still someone alive. The next second, Little Four appeared before D1's eyes. With his little pigtails and short, chubby figure, Little Four, who looked only five or six years old, caused D1's gaze to explode with disbelief.
"How could the Huaxia Federation have someone like you?" One look and it was obvious that Little Four was a Huaxian. Although D1 knew that the attacker must have been a spectre from the Huaxia Federation, seeing Little Four's child-like appearance, he was stunned and unable to understand. At Little Four's age, even the most talented spectre would only be at the point of awakening their spectre powers. Generally, those who had just awakened their spectre powers could only reach the internship stage. To be able to advance to a lower level in one step was already an extremely aberrant existence, and a mid-level spectre was even more likely to become a spectre king...
But no matter how aberrant a child was, it was impossible for him to step into the realm of a spectre king in one go. D1 smiled bitterly — could it be that Huaxia's luck had not run out yet, so they were lucky enough to have this kind of natural-born king? In the end, D1 could only think so.
Little Four did not answer D1's question. He only touched D1's body to grasp the other's information. "You're so strange, actually able to coexist as a hacker and spectre at the same time, and both of your abilities have reached a certain level." Little Four naturally knew that in this world, spectre power and hacker power could not coexist.
"I don't know either." Seeing Little Four behaving like a little adult, D1 found it extremely funny, and actually began to laugh. Perhaps knowing that he was about to die, D1 no longer suppressed himself, simply being himself once more, laughing whenever he felt like it …
"Mm, there's a great need for research." Little Four looked at D1. Perhaps the other's handsome appearance gave Little Four a very good impression, for he instantly made a decision. Little Four decisively reached out with his little hand, reaching towards D1's head.
D1 stared in shock at Little Four's actions, only to find that Little Four's hand had actually sunk into his head. Then, he felt as if his soul was being grabbed, as if his soul was being extracted alive, or as if his body was being forcibly torn apart …
"Ah …" The intense pain caused D1 to scream uncontrollably, his body beginning to tremble violently.
But the intense pain kept him extremely clear-headed. He still had a million questions in his mind — what was that child trying to do to him? Why was he feeling such intense pain? Why was the other's hand able to enter his head … but he no longer had the chance to ask. By the time Little Four's hand had retracted from his head, D1 had already lost consciousness, sinking into darkness. His entire body suddenly exploded with a bang, turning into countless white dots that slowly dissipated into the air.
Little Four's entire attention was focused on his right hand. He did not notice that before D1 lost consciousness, his right little finger had twitched, and a hidden device in the distance had silently activated.
Little Four opened his right hand. There was a ball of pure energy in the centre of his right palm, exuding a faintly discernible white glow. Little Four studied it closely, and very soon discovered that within the white glow, there were several strands of golden threads that were much thinner than silk, so thin that they would almost be overlooked …
"Mm, his spiritual form is indeed somewhat abnormal. Looks like before Floret wakes up, I don't have to be so bored." The corners of Little Four's lips quirked up involuntarily, his eyes crinkling into crescents. He seemed to be in an extremely good mood. "Consider yourself lucky to have met me. Little Four is in a good mood, so I'll give you a chance to live …"
As Little Four mumbled to himself, he pressed that spiritual form against his own body. That spiritual power was absorbed into Little Four's body, instantly disappearing without a trace.
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