2 days later…

8th July, Year 714 A.G.

Compton District, inside Leon's caravan.

DING!

~----~

[You have constructed a new R9 Energy Shield!]

~----~

Leon picked a thick long black trench coat from on top his work table. He scrutinized it carefully for any energy leakages or shock, then he wore it.

The moment he wore it, he felt a subtle neural connection with it.

'With a single thought, I can activate the shield'.

'Activate'. He thought and instantly, a shimmering blueish white energy shield materialized around his body from the long black trench coat's surface.

Leisurely sitting on a chair at the corner of the caravan, Daren sighed. "I can't believe you can construct even energy shields now".

"Damn, your growth speed makes me feel like I'm a snail".

Leon snorted as he looked at his friend. "If you didn't care about sex and women so much, you'd be an E Rank Cyber Gladiator already".

Daren glared at him, then he cursed. "F*cking bastard".

Leon chuckled and ignored him before admiring the black trench coat again. When Sergeant Tyla went shopping for him yesterday, she bought a lot of clothes, including 2 long trench coats, 1 black and the other brown.

The 2 trench coats became the first carriers of the very first energy shields that he created.

With a satisfied look on his face, Leon looked towards the corner of his caravan where mechanical products were stacked.

On one side, there were numerous grenades of different types with multiple jury-rigged bombs among them. On another side, there were kinetic pistols, Terra Nova 71s, QX-07 Air Gun Rifles, two VX-09 Emberfist gauntlets, multiple C-5 drones and the new modified sword drones with stronger engines and batteries.

The most eye-catching construct in the corner though was an incomplete 10 feet tall humanoid robot with a square-shaped head, 2 legs, and 2 hands.

Even when incomplete with multiple components still missing, the robot already looked like the elephant in the room.

It was imposing and intimidating.

Looking at the incomplete Doom Rover v0.1, Leon felt excited but he also felt a sense of weariness wash over him.

Nothing prepared him for the difficulty of constructing such a massive, intricate, and complicated robot.

'Status'. He thought and his System's familiar HUD screen lit up.

DING!

~----~

[Name: Doom Rover v.0.1]

[Progress: 30% complete...]

~----~

Despite spending most of his time working on this project non-stop since yesterday, the robot was just 30% complete and it was the easier parts that he'd been working on. It would only get harder from here.

Leon didn't know how long it would take him to complete the project.

He frowned as his face turned solemn. 'But it's already 8th'.

He looked at the time.

[06:28am]

He slept in his caravan yesterday after a marathon work session that reminded him of the good ol' days back in Big Gig Construction Company.

'F*ck, it's just been 2 weeks but it feels like a lifetime ago'.

Despite the fact that Leon didn't want to sleep yesterday night, he forced himself to abandon his work and sleep because today was 8th July.

8th July was the deadline given by the terrorists.

Due to how much time he spent working yesterday, he was not able to spare anytime to spar with Daren which meant his Ascended Counter stayed stagnant.

Looking at the door of his caravan and thinking of the terrorists, he wondered. 'How exactly are they going to attack?' His black eyes narrowed.

Leon turned around and looked at his friend, suppressing a yawn. "Let's go back to the hotel room, I need to rest".

Daren didn't object but just as they stood up, Leon's smartphone rang.

Ring! Ring!

[Incoming Call from Lieutenant Johnmark…]

Seeing the name on the screen of the smartphone, he raised his head and told Daren to go ahead and that he would catch up later.

Daren didn't ask why as he obeyed and left. As soon as he left, Leon picked the call.

Click!

The smartphone projected a virtual projection of the Lieutenant. The moment the Lieutenant's face appeared, he looked around the caravan to confirm that Leon was alone.

The Lieutenant's actions plus the fact that he choose a video call this time told Leon that whatever he was about to say was serious.

"Good morning Lieutenant". He greeted.

Lieutenant Johnmark nodded to acknowledge his greeting, then he went straight to the point and said. "The elite assault team has been assembled".

Leon's face turned serious.

"The Major intends to meet us and unite us for the first time tonight, the specific time and venue will be sent in due time".

"Also, stay tuned for 7am, an important speech is coming".

"Yes Lieutenant". Leon nodded.

Lieutenant Johnmark finally ended the call.

Instantly after that, Leon's face became solemn. 'It's finally starting, huh?'

Having participated in a big battle before already and due to his current identity and abilities as an E Rank Mechanist, Leon wasn't exactly nervous but he knew that he couldn't compare the scale of what was happening in Leviathan Quay to the fight against the Zmer gang back in Community G.

This was far bigger.

He took a deep breath. 'I'll just take it one step at a time'.

Leon left his caravan for the first time since yesterday and instantly, he felt that the atmosphere in the city was different.

The atmosphere felt slightly subdued.

With his black face cap hung low, partially covering his face, he walked towards his hotel while staying alert for any terrorist attack but none came.

By the time he arrived at his hotel room, time was already close to 7am. He quickly brushed his teeth and had his bath before waiting for the scheduled time.

He kept his Oynx-05 Computer on the desk in the hotel room and sat in front of it, waiting for the update.

And then, 7:00am on the dot, the computer screen suddenly showed static.

BZZZT!

When it stabilized, it no longer showed the computer wallpaper and theme, instead, a live video started being played.

[LIVE VIDEO=]

A single woman occupied the live video.

She had normal brown hair and sharp dark-brown eyes. She wore the familiar brown military uniform of the Geneforge Clans with a matching brown military face cap. On the left side of her chest was her name and military rank.

[Major Roshfield]

She radiated quiet but oppressive military strength.

She sat in a chair in a simple but neat brown-themed office. On the brown wall behind her, there were 2 framed pictures showing 2 men- the 2 Sovereigns of the Geneforge Clans.

Directly behind her, the flag of the Geneforge Clans gently fluttered.

Her sharp dark-brown eyes looked directly into the camera lens, and then she started.

"My name is Major Roshfield".

"I sit here representing the Gene Army. My speech is not just directed to the citizens of Leviathan Quay, but also to the cowardly terrorists who are hiding in the shadows beneath the glow of our beautiful city".

Her face was stern as she looked at the camera lens. "5 days ago, the Extremist Movement attacked Compton District in a cowardly manner".

"Hundreds of lives were lost".

"5 days ago, the Demon of the Extremist Movement made a live video just like this addressing the whole city. He gave instructions, warning and threatening us of the consequences if we didn't comply". She smiled darkly.

"First, I want to use this avenue to say that no harm came to all the Synths we arrested in the past few days".

"That is just a part of deep investigation measures to fish out the terrorists".

"Leviathan Quay is a city under the protection of the Sovereigns. We've never bent to terrorists," her sharp dark-brown eyes glowed in a menacing orange color. "We won't start now".

"I want to use this avenue to tell all citizens of Leviathan Quay to go about your day normally. Do not panic, do not be afraid," she patted her chest confidently. "We shall protect you".

"I'm also using this avenue to talk to the Demon behind the terrorists," her dark-brown eyes gleamed with murderous intensity.

She smirked. "You said if we don't follow your instructions in 5 days we should get ready to see worse from you, right?"

She leaned towards the camera, her sharp dark-brown eyes gleaming, then…

BZZZ!

Orange ADE suddenly flared erratically around her body as she looked straight into the camera lens, sending a chill into the heart of everyone who was watching the live video.

She laughed humorlessly. "I dare you".

"Lucian, I dare you". She repeated, her voice echoing like thunder. "If you have the guts, attack my city again and show me your worst".

"Attack if you dare".

Still sitting on her chair, she leaned back on the chair and crossed her arms in a nonchalant manner. "If you dare show yourselves, I'll cut you down".

"I'll make you history".

With that, the video finally came to an end.

Click!

…

At the same time that the live video came to an end, the 6 Megabases of the Gene Army across Leviathan Quay stirred as the mobilization order was given.

From the massive dome-shaped megastructures, military transports stirred.

Over a hundred military air transports were mobilized, ranging from Assault Helicopters to military Fighter Jets, massive Aerodynes, and 2 Destroyers.

Destroyers were the pinnacle of the Geneforge Clan's air force. They were not just military transports, they were bonafide warships.

They were heavily armored 100 to 150-meter sky Behemoths equipped with dozens of weapon compartments from Rail Cannons to Bio-engineered Missile Launchers, Pulse Cannons and Plasma Cannons, Laser Cannons, and automatic Gatling Guns.

This was a show of power from the Gene Army in Leviathan Quay, but they were just one part of the military deployment on the morning of 8th July.

On land, hundreds of military patrol trucks drove to strategic locations around the city, trying as much as possible to not disrupt the regular traffic while positioning themselves to intercept any attack at the fastest possible speed.

Like Major Roshfield said, they dared the terrorists to attack.

…

Compton District, Grand Deluxe Hotel.

'Lucian?' Leon's eyes gleamed. 'That's the name of the Demon of Ozempic?'

...

[dannyboy9311, Khelendros26, viperfox711, thanks for the Golden Tickets. Thanks for the gift too viperfox711, I truly appreciate it. Every form of support is appreciated.]

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