Mo Yu, now in the form of black mist, sped rapidly through the air.
At this moment, he felt like he had countless clones. Every mechanical nanobot acted as an eye, giving him a 360-degree seamless field of vision.
After so many years, the barrier of the Black Wind Domain Field reappeared at the edge of his vision.
Since its sudden expansion years ago, this Domain Field hadn't clashed with humanity again, nor had it been specifically targeted.
Aside from its remote location, this had much to do with the formidable strength of the Black Wind Clan.
But this time, Mo Yu had decided to use his strongest form to bring this Domain Field to an end.
He was going to make up for his final regret—and truly say goodbye to his past self.
At that thought, he suddenly accelerated.
At the same time, a stream of electronic messages rang in his mind:
[Detecting activation status of mechanical nanobots… 100% activation achieved.]
[Detecting charging status of mechanical nanobots… Energy reserve at 99.9% (replenishing via absorption of ambient spiritual energy).]
[Detecting structural integrity of mechanical nanobots… 100% intact.]
[Combat mode engaged. Mechanical nanobots entering high-energy operation.]
[Recording mode engaged. Combat data will be transmitted to the Star City database in real-time.]
…
Behind the electronic prompts, the Mechanical Modification Division was recording everything live.
Before launching his assault on the Black Wind Clan, Mo Yu had submitted an application to the Supreme Council of Star City.
But the decision on whether he could participate in frontline combat wasn't his to make.
Creating mechanical nanobots was a massive financial burden. Damage during combat would mean a staggering loss for all of Star City.
Even so, his request had been approved without any resistance.
That was thanks to both the support of the city administrator and the unanimous consent of the Star City Supreme Council.
They all believed that no matter how valuable the technology was, if it couldn't be field-tested, then it was meaningless.
Every technology had to be tempered in real battle to prove its worth.
That was the core principle behind the council's original decision to fund mechanical nanobot development.
As for why the powerful Black Wind Domain Field was chosen as the test site—it wasn't just about Mo Yu's personal history. The upper echelon of Star City also knew that only a formidable opponent could truly put the mechanical nanobots to the test.
If it was just an ordinary Domain Field, then what made these nanobots different from regular frontline soldiers?
With over 100 million bloodstones invested over the years, only through facing powerful enemies could the technology's worth be validated.
At that moment, the swarm of nanobots erupted in a flash of black light, forming a jet-black stream that shot through the barrier of the Black Wind Domain Field.
From Mo Yu's perspective, a howling, shadowy world unfolded before him, filled with plants and animals completely alien to the human world.
His presence quickly caught the attention of a nearby Black Wind Clan outpost.
Although the Black Wind Domain Field hadn't been declared a target for purging in recent years, it still saw frequent exploration missions from various combat squads.
The relationship between the Black Wind Clan and humanity had always been one of careful probing.
So, it was perfectly normal that the Black Wind Clan had established defensive outposts and watchtowers facing human territory.
Mo Yu had already locked onto this outpost as his first target.
His appearance immediately triggered alertness among the Black Wind warriors stationed there. A bizarre horn sounded through the air as figures rushed to gather inside the base, believing a human incursion was underway.
The Black Wind Clan had vaguely humanoid features, but from a human aesthetic standpoint, their faces were grotesque—two protruding fangs jutted from their mouths.
But this was only one of their forms.
Within the Black Wind Clan existed a special subgroup called the Faye. Translated into human terms, they were "Elemental Envoys." They had the ability to temporarily transform their bodies into a unique element unknown to the human world: "black wind."
It was an ambush by these Elemental Envoys that had once severed Mo Yu's left arm and legs before he could even react.
Now, two spiraling black tornadoes rose from the outpost and hurtled toward Mo Yu with astonishing speed.
But this time, things were different.
The moment the black tornadoes collided with the nanobot-formed black mist around Mo Yu, it was as if they had met their natural predator. The nanobots furiously devoured the black wind element, reducing the tornadoes to nothing in an instant.
The two Elemental Envoys didn't even have time to react. They vanished without so much as a scream.
The Black Wind warriors below were stunned.
At the same time, real-time combat feedback popped into Mo Yu's mind:
[Unknown elemental energy devoured. Elemental damage reduced by 45.7%. Elemental energy absorbed: 39.5%. Mechanical nanobot loss rate: 0.14%. Self-repair complete. Current loss: 0%. Devouring recharge complete. Current energy reserve: 107%. Energy slightly overloaded. Beginning excess energy release.]
As the mechanical voice echoed in Mo Yu's mind, a single thought triggered his next move.
The nanobots clustered together, glowing with black light.
Buzz—
A low hum sounded as the gathered energy coalesced into a black energy orb, which dropped toward the ground.
Boom!
With a deafening blast, earth mixed with the shredded limbs of several Black Wind warriors shot into the air. The shockwave uprooted nearby trees and flung them far into the distance.
Gazing down at the terrified Black Wind warriors, Mo Yu didn't hesitate.
He dived straight toward them.
The Black Wind soldiers were no fools. Realizing they weren't a match for this mysterious force, they tried to scatter and flee.
But Mo Yu gave them no chance.
His nanobot-formed body split instantly into over ten clouds of black mist, each shooting off in a different direction.
All Black Wind Clan lifeforms that came into contact with the mechanical nanobots were devoured in a matter of seconds. Their flesh was reduced to bare bones, and in the end, even the bones were gone.
But non-energy-based materials couldn't be digested by the nanobots. After being chewed, they were spat out and dispersed like drifting powder.
Mo Yu was more than satisfied with the power the nanobots had shown on their first deployment.
The data streamed in real time to the Mechanical Modification Experimental Division, and the monitoring team was buzzing with excitement.
Energy absorption, energy conversion, devouring—while still a far cry from the capabilities of the psionic nanobots, the mechanical nanobots were already showing a unique flair reminiscent of Little Black.
But even this wasn't their full combat potential.
Once the dispersed nanobots regrouped, Mo Yu advanced deeper into the Black Wind Domain Field.
Along the way, strange alarms kept sounding off. Any Black Wind Clan warrior that entered the operational range of the nanobots met the same end—devoured to nothing in moments.
With their nanoscale size, the mechanical nanobots were nearly impossible to hit.
Any physical attack sent gusts of wind ahead of it, which dispersed the nanobots before contact. It was as if they had a built-in ability to dodge physical strikes.
And elemental damage was even easier to deal with.
Thanks to the properties of magic-sealing stones, the nanobots could ignore part of the damage. Meteorite stones let them absorb and convert part of the elemental energy into backup power.
Most importantly, the nanobots could self-repair.
Each mechanical nanobot was an independent machine capable of fixing its peers.
In the Black Wind Domain Field, Mo Yu was like a tiger among sheep. The Black Wind Clan warriors couldn't last a single exchange.
With unstoppable momentum, a city appeared at the edge of Mo Yu's vision.
But this city looked nothing like what humans would consider a city. It was made up of countless black stone pillars, appearing crude and bare.
The Black Wind Clan had built their homes atop these massive pillars. The black stone pillars extended deep underground, seemingly drawing some kind of energy from the earth. Their surfaces pulsed with intense spiritual energy, powering the homes above.
Hearing the alarm, more and more Black Wind Clan warriors stepped out from their stone dwellings. Weapons in hand, they looked toward the direction from which Mo Yu approached.
A new round of battle was about to begin.
Countless energy blasts made of black wind elements shot up like rain and came crashing down on Mo Yu.
Faced with a barrage like a tidal wave, Mo Yu didn't even bother to dodge. Controlling the mechanical nanobots in their mist form, he let the attacks come.
The energy was quickly broken down and absorbed by the nanobot swarm.
The mechanical nanobots soon reached 180%—a mid-level energy overload state.
While they lacked Little Black's ability to grow stronger through devouring and splitting, the excess energy could still be weaponized by Mo Yu.
He regrouped into human form and raised his right hand.
The nanobots expelled the excess energy, channeling it into his palm. In a blink, a massive black energy orb took shape.
Mo Yu waved his hand forward, and the orb surged ahead at blazing speed.
Boom!
The energy orb exploded in the area filled with stone pillars. In an instant, more than ten black stone pillars were destroyed. The shockwave leveled nearby houses as well.
The Black Wind Clan had assumed this was a sudden human assault and had prepared for a bloody battle.
But faced with this bizarre and terrifying nanobot entity, the only things in the eyes of their warriors were confusion and fear.
They didn't even know how to fight back.
After a brief moment of disorientation, they reorganized and launched another attack on Mo Yu.
But now that his life form had advanced into a mechanical nanobot collective, the number of enemies no longer mattered.
As long as the elemental attacks couldn't exceed the nanobots' energy capacity, he was invincible.
Against physical strikes, it was tougher—but the nature of the nanobots still gave them innate evasion abilities.
It was like the concept of "energy redirection" described in ancient martial arts, such as Tai Chi before the Cataclysm.
When the enemy's weapons swung at him, the gusts of wind alone dispersed the misty nanobot form. Their blades couldn't even make contact.
Once the wave of attacks ended, the nanobots surged forward. The weapons in the Black Wind warriors' hands corroded like they'd been dipped in acid, melting in a flash.
The nanobots were only beginning to show their savage edge.
Faced with such a horrifying enemy, the Black Wind Clan revealed their own terrifying combat efficiency.
Realizing they couldn't harm the nanobots, they began a coordinated retreat, fighting while withdrawing—searching for any weaknesses.
It was clear that when facing a mysterious enemy they had never encountered before, the Black Wind Clan was extremely cautious.
But since they relied on elemental attacks as their primary means of offense, they had already lost the battle the moment it began.
As they failed time and again to damage the nanobots, despair started spreading through the hearts of the Black Wind warriors.
Still, none of them backed down. They held the rear line, buying time for their weaker kin to escape.
It showed that Black Wind warriors, just like the frontline soldiers of humanity, were always ready to die for their people.
But Mo Yu did not hold back.
Even if he wasn't driven by revenge, he would still slaughter them without hesitation.
This was racial war—kill or be killed. A soft heart had no place in the brutal battlefield of the future.
In the middle of the battle, Mo Yu began testing the extreme overload threshold of the nanobots.
When the energy reserves hit 570%, alerts started flashing through his mind:
[Energy overload at 570%. Entering extreme overload state. Energy nearing critical limit—must release immediately!]
At that moment, Mo Yu's consciousness stirred.
The black mist suddenly contracted, and all mechanical nanobots turned into a golden state of extreme energy charge. Then, like a storm of bullets, they shot forward.
From a high-altitude view, it was a breathtaking sight.
It looked like a golden curtain being pulled open, or like a surging golden wave crashing forward.
Any Black Wind Clan warrior touched by the mechanical nanobots dissolved like they were soaked in acid. Their flesh melted away at a speed visible to the naked eye. Soon, even their bodies vanished, leaving only drifting powder in the wind.
The Black Wind warriors didn't even have time to scream before they were gone.
This was a completely one-sided massacre.
But amid the battle, Mo Yu's condition grew unstable.
The mechanical nanobot modification had indeed succeeded—but had also failed.
What succeeded was that he had managed to split his consciousness and inject it into every mechanical nanobot. Every nanobot shared his thoughts. There was no signal delay, no command lag—complete and perfect control.
What failed was that once split to the nanoscopic level, his consciousness couldn't last.
His awareness was gradually dissolving.
Like tiny drops of water under the sun, shrinking until vanishing.
This was the point of exploration—taking risks to discover what's wrong, so the wrong could be fixed.
But Mo Yu knew there was no turning back. With his consciousness already split, his life was nearing its end.
All he could do now was let loose—to give as much combat data as possible for those who came after him.
This would be his final offering before fading away.
As a pioneer of mechanical transformation, he'd already survived many risky trials. But luck doesn't last forever. In his heart, he was ready to fail.
This battle was his final dance for those yet to come.
The mechanical nanobots obeyed Mo Yu's will, devouring everything in their path.
The brutal power of it left the Black Wind warriors shaken with fear.
But they only saw how strong he was. They didn't see the endless days and nights he'd spent working without sleep or rest.
A gentleman's revenge may wait ten years.
But for Mo Yu, it was more like this:
Ten years honing a blade. When it is drawn, it strikes to kill.
His mind was dissolving, but his smile was carefree.
His wife, his grandmother, his brothers—countless faces flashed through his thoughts.
He surged forward like an unstoppable force, carrying the will of the fallen. And with each strike, the regrets in his heart faded.
The battle raged for two days.
In the end, only a few members of the Black Wind Clan escaped the domain field and disappeared without a trace.
The once-mighty Black Wind Clan was now reduced to a wandering remnant.
When Mo Yu reformed his body and stood atop the tallest black stone pillar of the Black Wind Clan, looking down at the ruins below, there was no fear of death in his heart—only the joy of vengeance fulfilled.
After a long time, his body broke apart into black mist again and flew toward the frontline supply zone.
Three hours later, Mo Yu reappeared in the frontline square.
Just before his consciousness completely faded, Mo Yu stood once again before the statue of Feng Qi.
The wind blew through his nanobot-simulated black hair. All the regret, anger, and sorrow in his heart vanished like smoke.
The world was vast. He'd spent his whole life running, and he'd only ever seen a corner of it.
He still had lofty dreams and ambition to climb to the peak of mechanical transformation. But he knew his mission, handed down by history, had been fulfilled. It was time to pass the torch.
In the future, someone more brilliant would stand on his shoulders and look farther—continue blazing the trail for humanity.
"Mo Yu, your presence is a blessing for the human race."
As his consciousness grew fuzzy, Mo Yu heard a familiar voice. A gentle smile appeared on his face.
He turned toward the statue of Feng Qi and knelt on one knee. Softly, he whispered:
"From this moment on, I am the Sword of Dawn. I vow to cut through the endless night for the human race."
As his words fell, his body exploded into a cloud of black mist. The mechanical nanobot swarm surged toward the Dawn Sword in the hand of the Feng Qi statue.
Under the biting of the nanobots, the Dawn Sword disappeared.
A moment later, the nanobots reassembled into a brand-new Dawn Sword, resting once again in the statue's hand.
At that moment, the transport vehicle in front of the statue received a signal. It unfolded on its own, transforming into a control platform for the mechanical nanobots.
This was the contingency plan Mo Yu had set up in case he failed.
His consciousness may have vanished, but he had left behind a drawn blade for the frontline supply zone.
And he would be remembered forever in the human race's annals.
One day, when the young of humanity flipped through their textbooks, they would find the story of a historical figure who pioneered an entirely new system of mechanical transformation.
The Mechanical Pioneer: The Mo Yu Chronicle.
That young boy, once inspired by the hero tales in his textbooks to become a frontline warrior, had now been written into those very books in a way he never imagined—becoming one of the honored spirits in the Pantheon of Heroes.
The tide of the times never stops flowing.
But during those decades, Mo Yu was undoubtedly the brightest star of humanity.
And in the years to come, every young warrior arriving at the front lines who came to pay their respects at the statue of Feng Qi would see that radiant Dawn Sword shimmering in the sunlight.
That sword was called Mo Yu.