Future City.
Deep into the night.
At a secluded corner near the southern gate, Li Xingchen leaned against the wall. Cigarette butts were scattered at his feet.
He lowered his head to check the time, took a deep breath, and exhaled a puff of white smoke. Flicking away the cigarette, he raised his eyes toward the location of the control platform for the city gates.
The unstable red energy core in his chest began entering combat mode.
The control station was currently under the management of a city defense unit. He had no clearance to access it. If he wanted to open the gate for the Dawn Army, brute force was the only option.
Leaning against the cold wall, he looked up at the night sky.
Cold raindrops pattered against his face, but his heart remained as calm as still water.
If death simply meant that the heart ceased to beat, then he had already died long ago. What was there to fear?
The battle was imminent. By now, most of Future City's residents had already taken shelter in air-raid bunkers or other safe zones.
The city was eerily silent.
After waiting briefly, the midnight bells echoed through the skies above Future City.
Lighting another cigarette, he took a deep drag, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. A savage grin spread across his lips.
Then, he turned around and walked toward the control station.
At that moment, multiple figures emerged from the shadows and followed closely behind him.
More and more figures continued to step out of the darkness.
Under the dim lights, their mechanical bodies gleamed with an icy metallic luster. Without hesitation, they followed Li Xingchen toward the control station.
"Warning! You have entered a military restricted area! Leave immediately, or we have the right to open fire!"
"Warning! You have entered a military restricted area! Leave immediately, or we have the right to open fire!"
…
The guards stationed nearby quickly noticed the approaching figures. They immediately issued stern warnings, attempting to deter them from advancing.
As the alarms blared, more guards emerged, forming a defensive line. They raised their weapons, aiming directly at Li Xingchen and his followers.
Despite the threat, Li Xingchen remained unfazed. Instead, he quickened his pace.
"This is your final warning—"
Before the soldier could finish his sentence, Li Xingchen flicked away his cigarette. His body emitted a low mechanical hum as it went into overdrive. In the next instant, he launched himself forward, hurtling toward the city defenders.
As if responding to a battle horn, the other cybernetic warriors charged forward with him.
The city defense troops were equipped with high-tech weapons—specifically, Spirit Energy Firearms.
These weapons had been secretly developed by the Institute of Technological Research long ago but were never publicly disclosed. Even Black Shadow had never intended to release them for general use.
However, fearing that the war might spiral beyond his control, Black Shadow had finally unlocked the armory. Now, the city defense troops were fully armed with these weapons.
Spirit Energy Firearms weren't just highly destructive—they were also embedded with undisclosed cutting-edge technology.
For example, the Tech-A1 Spirit Energy Rifle had a unique ammunition system with "primary rounds" and "secondary rounds."
When set to "primary round" mode, the bullets inflicted minimal damage but left a tracking mark on the target.
Once marked, the shooter could activate the targeting function, allowing all subsequently fired "secondary rounds" to automatically home in on the marked enemy—regardless of the firing angle.
These firearms were designed by none other than "Mo" himself.
The internal structure of the guns operated like a complex spirit energy formation. As bullets traveled through the barrel, the firearm would autonomously draw in external spirit energy, etching intricate spirit energy trajectories onto the projectiles.
Depending on the formations inscribed within the gun, bullets could be imbued with elemental effects like frost, fire, or lightning.
This was the terrifying advantage of Spirit Energy Technology.
A soldier wielding a Spirit Energy Firearm essentially gained the ability to instant-cast spells.
Not only did they maintain formidable offensive power, but they also had an incredibly high casting frequency.
The original goal of these weapons was Black Shadow's ambition to perfectly integrate technology with cultivation, creating a new class of high-efficiency killing machines.
Beyond firearms, many melee weapons had also undergone spirit energy modifications.
These close-combat weapons were even more lethal, engraved with high-damage formations specifically tailored for melee warriors.
…
Bullets clashed against mechanical bodies, sending sparks flying in all directions. The advance was proving difficult.
But Li Xingchen was also armed with Spirit Energy Weapons.
With a swift motion, he flung a small apple-sized device into the air, arcing toward the defensive troops.
A sharp beeping sound echoed.
In the next moment, a dazzling explosion of light turned the night into day.
A spirit energy formation rapidly took shape in the heart of the blast radius.
Countless ice spikes materialized out of thin air, descending like a torrential downpour.
At the exact moment when the city defense troops instinctively looked up, Li Xingchen roared and accelerated forward.
The city defense unit was clearly well-trained. The commanding officer in the rear immediately deployed defensive spirit energy weapons in response.
A luminous energy shield materialized above the defending soldiers, expanding rapidly to block the incoming ice spikes.
Regaining their composure, the city defense troops resumed their counterattack against Li Xingchen and his forces.
Behind the ranks of gun-wielding soldiers, warriors armed with melee weapons stood in formation, their expressions cold and resolute, ready for close-quarters combat.
Their cybernetic bodies felt no exhaustion, nor did they experience pain.
But the arcs of electricity crackling across their metallic limbs and the occasional bursts of sparks proved that their bodies were operating under extreme overload, on the brink of collapse.
Li Xingchen suddenly surged forward at full speed, barreling through the rain of bullets, knocking several frontline soldiers aside as he forced his way into the city defense ranks.
Faced with the approaching blades, his eyes turned crimson.
The red warning lights on his body flickered wildly, and the overloading alarm blared in his ears.
"Catch this baton, Qi-xiaozi!"
He tore off the warning device on his right shoulder, and an energy blade extended from his arm. Without hesitation, he charged headfirst into the surrounding melee troops.
Outside Future City.
The vast plains stretched endlessly, now overgrown with wild grass.
Over the years, the outer districts of Future City had been largely abandoned, littered with remnants of collapsed buildings.
At this moment, the Dawn Army had finally arrived, having marched across mountains and rivers to reach this place.
The rain continued to fall. The soldiers gazed northward, where Future City's skyline remained brightly lit in the distance.
Meanwhile, they stood in a land swallowed by darkness.
With the battle imminent, the army made their final preparations.
Scattered campfires flickered in the night, illuminating the immediate surroundings. Yet, beyond the reach of the firelight, the shadows thickened like pools of ink, filling the air with an oppressive tension.
Feng Qi sat quietly, reading through the final email from Li Xingchen.
Li Xingchen:
Qi-xiaozi, by the time you see this email, the Dawn Army should have crossed the mountains and arrived at the Future Plains.
You've probably already guessed—Black Shadow didn't refrain from bombarding your march with high-tech weapons out of any intention to negotiate peace. He's simply waiting to seize the moral high ground before engaging in battle with the Dawn Army.
Right now, residents across the major cities still cling to the hope of a peaceful resolution.
Whoever makes the first move will be condemned by public opinion and branded the aggressor.
And if that happens, even the domain-infiltrated factions hidden within the cities might be pressured into joining the suppression against the Dawn Army.
But I know you don't care about any of that.
From the moment you set out with the Dawn Army, you already cast aside any path of retreat. The only way forward is to keep advancing.
As the one who once held authority over Future Research Institute, there is little I can do to assist you now.
Before the war even began, Black Shadow had already seized complete control.
Even if I remained at his side, I would no longer be able to influence the course of this battle.
The southern gate of Future City is the first obstacle in the Dawn Army's advance. It is also where I have chosen to make my final stand.
For so many years, I endured. So many times, I wanted to summon the courage to resist.
But every time, I remembered my teacher's dying words, and I chose patience instead. I waited.
Endless waiting.
Mistakes upon mistakes.
But in the darkness, I never saw the dawn of hope—only my own descent into further corruption.
Until I met you.
A lifetime is fleeting, like a white steed galloping past a narrow crack—gone in an instant.
But your lifetime is long, like mountains and rivers, stretching endlessly.
Humanity has you. That is humanity's fortune.
Hearing you recount the sacrifices made across countless timelines—the struggles, the failures—somehow made my once-distant dreams of war and vengeance seem dim and pale in comparison.
I once asked my teacher: what kind of person is truly worthy of being called a great figure in history?
He smiled and told me:
"To carry the past forward and pave the way for the future. To shine upon the ages, leaving an everlasting light."
You know the flower will wither, yet you bloom without fear.
A flower buds, blooms, flourishes, withers… only to bloom again.
An endless cycle, repeated over and over, just for the sake of a final, eternal bloom.
Qi-xiaozi, sharing an era with you has been my salvation.
You pulled me back from the abyss, away from my hopeless descent, and showed me that redemption is possible.
Don't laugh at me—but back when we first spoke in Star City, I had an overwhelming urge to cry.
Humans are strange creatures.
We can endure immense suffering in silence, yet the moment we hear words of understanding and comfort, the tears come flooding out.
My lifetime of sin and regret—it's time for it to end.
Don't grieve for me. You should be happy.
At least, I am choosing to die with a battle cry, fighting like a warrior—rather than continuing to live a life of humiliation.
I have already installed the energy core my teacher personally crafted. In this fight, he will be with me.
And finally—catch this baton, Qi-xiaozi.
Wait for the fireworks I'll light for the Dawn Army.
Gazing at the brilliantly illuminated Future City, Feng Qi understood that Li Xingchen had already made peace with his fate. He knew exactly what was coming next.
Li Xingchen intended to seize control of the city gates and use the defensive weaponry against the Dawn Army.
This was the fireworks of assistance he had spoken about in his message.
If he succeeded, Black Shadow's plan to claim the moral high ground would be completely shattered.
The illusion of righteousness Black Shadow had constructed would collapse.
Without public opinion backing him, he would no longer receive support from the citizens of other cities.
Feng Qi turned his gaze eastward, then westward, piercing through the heavy darkness. He faintly made out figures emerging from the shadows.
These were spies—either from other cities or domain-affiliated infiltrators.
They were here only to gather intelligence. Some even deployed drones into the sky, transmitting real-time footage back to their superiors.
Feng Qi looked up at the sky. The cold raindrops struck his face, sliding down his cheeks.
His expression hardened with resolve.
The campfire in front of him crackled and flickered. Mu Qing handed him a food container, and he accepted it without hesitation, eating in large bites.
The coming battle would be brutal. There would be no more chances to rest.
Seizing the outer gates of Future City was only the first step. The Dawn Army's true objective lay within the city itself—the Institute of Technological Research.
After finishing his meal and allowing the troops a few final hours of rest, Feng Qi stood up.
"All units, prepare for battle. We attack Future City immediately!"
Upon hearing his command, the soldiers rose to their feet, their sharp eyes gleaming with anticipation for the battle ahead.
"Mu Qing, if Li Xingchen fails, breaking through the gates will be your responsibility."
Standing beside him, Mu Qing nodded solemnly. A boundless fighting spirit burned in her eyes.
This battle would have no elaborate tactics. No complex strategy.
Strategy was meant to minimize casualties while maximizing damage to the enemy.
But strategy was only effective in drawn-out wars.
Wars that stretched over years, dragging both sides into a back-and-forth struggle.
The situation outside was too chaotic. The Dawn Army's supply lines were stretched dangerously thin. A prolonged battle would only lead to their ultimate downfall.
Just as he had told Qin Shikong before—
This war had no strategy. There was only one principle: Take Future City as fast as possible, no matter the cost.
"Form ranks!"
As soon as he spoke, the soldiers began to arrange themselves into a long battle line, stretching across the field in perfect coordination.
"Advance!"
Their synchronized footsteps sent tremors through the ground.
Among them were many young faces—fresh graduates from the academies.
When they had first joined the Dawn Army, these new recruits had considered themselves veteran warriors, their confidence built upon their impressive performances in the game Dawn.
Even though they had never stepped onto a real battlefield, they believed themselves to be experienced fighters.
But reality was not a game.
In a game, there were countless chances to retry. You could analyze failures and learn from them.
On the battlefield, failure meant death.
There would be no second chances. No opportunity for regret.
Now, as they marched toward war, they finally felt the crushing weight of it.
Uncertainty about the future.
The creeping fear of death.
Countless emotions churned in their hearts.
But their eyes remained unwavering.
Because their conviction surpassed all fear.
Many of them recalled Feng Qi's speech at their graduation ceremony.
"Our world has been swallowed by darkness. But I believe that as long as we move forward, there will always be light. History may not remember you. But you will have no regrets for the nights spent studying tirelessly at the academy. This world will be better because of the youth who dared to step forward."
Their youthful faces held firm as they advanced.
Their determined gazes were fixed on the man at the front—Feng Qi.
Just then, flashes of fire erupted along Future City's outer walls.
A barrage of missiles launched skyward, streaking toward the advancing Dawn Army.
Seeing this, Feng Qi smiled.
Li Xingchen had succeeded.
The missiles struck the ground ahead, detonating with deafening explosions.
The shockwaves surged forward, whipping the Dawn Army's banners into a frenzy.
Through the billowing smoke and dust, Feng Qi's gaze locked onto the city gates.
They were opening.
And on the walls above, a lone figure stood with a cigarette between his lips.
Li Xingchen.
His entire body was drenched in blood.
Half of his cybernetic frame had been torn apart, electricity crackling wildly from exposed circuits.
He leaned against the wall, his posture slanted, gazing at the advancing army.
A bright, unrestrained smile stretched across his face.
"Li Xingchen, soldier of the Dawn Army… Mission accomplished… Lastly, I wish you all—glorious victory!"
As he murmured his final words, the red energy core in his chest flickered—then dimmed.
The ember at the end of his cigarette burned to its final speck of ash.
His brilliant smile froze in time, forever etched onto his face.
Feng Qi's lips trembled slightly as he took in the sight.
Then, he let out a thunderous roar:
"Charge!"
At that moment, countless battle cries erupted behind him.
The Dawn Army surged forward, storming the gates of Future City.