I started with a portal, then turned around and handed it over to the nation.

Lin Mo stopped looking at the pile of herbs and equipment and turned to walk towards the corner.

Raine was squatting there, rubbing his hardwood longbow with a tattered deerskin.

Hearing footsteps, Renn looked up.

The scar on his face moved slightly in the firelight.

"Raine".

Lin Mo's voice came through the translator, carrying a metallic chill. He didn't beat around the bush, pointing directly to the north, the forbidden area in the villagers' eyes.

"You know where we're going."

Lin Mo crouched down, bringing his line of sight to Renn's:

"The Misty Forest is too complicated; we need a guide, a guide who is familiar with the area."

Ryan stopped what he was doing.

He lowered his head, looking at the longbow that had been with him for over a decade, his fingers unconsciously tracing a mark on the bow's shank. It was left by his father.

Raine looked up and glanced at Long Fei, who was standing guard at the door.

The black pipe in the big guy's hand was gleaming with a cold, icy light.

Ryan's Adam's apple bobbed.

"That place..."

Raine's voice was a little hoarse. He slung his longbow back over his shoulder, stood up, and dusted off his knees.

"That's a death trap. Only the bravest hunters used to dare to venture near it."

He took a deep breath, looked past Lin Mo and at Long Fei, who was directing the moving of things. The hesitation in his eyes slowly turned into determination.

"But if we had your stuff..."

Renn gritted his teeth and pounded his chest with his right fist:

"I'll lead the way."

Lin Mo's tense shoulders relaxed, and he reached out and gave Raine's calloused hand a firm squeeze.

Thank you.

"Raine!"

An old, low shout came from the head of the long table.

Village Chief Haimer, leaning on his cane, stood up shakily.

The old man's eyes were cloudy but sharp as he looked at the child he had watched grow up.

"Have you thought this through?"

Haimer's cane thumped loudly on the wooden floor:

"Those are shadow cat demons; they can't see them or touch them."

"I know, village chief."

Renn turned around without backing down.

"I was there when my father died. I only had a small knife in my hand, and there was nothing I could do."

He pointed to the special forces soldiers:

"But this group is different. They can kill minotaurs, so they can kill cat demons."

"Even that girl Arya dares to go to the hunting grounds to gather herbs alone. If I, as the hunter captain, am afraid and cower behind the wall, how am I supposed to lead the team in the future?"

Haimer fell silent.

He looked at the silent black-armored warriors, then at the resolute-looking Renn, and finally sighed and waved his hand weakly.

"You're the leader of the hunter team, don't die there."

The old man's voice lowered, carrying the concern only an elder could offer:

"There's nothing shameful about running away from a large group of cat demons."

Renn nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk out of the longhouse.

"Where are you going?" Lin Mo reached out to stop him.

"Go home and get your gear."

Raine pointed outside the door: "My leather armor is still under the bed, made of hard-horned deer hide, it can protect against scratches and bites. And my bone blade..."

"No."

Lin Mo shook his head, interrupting him.

He pressed his earpiece and whispered, "Eagle Three and Four, bring the stuff in."

"Yes."

The two soldiers wearing exoskeletons immediately lowered their guard and turned to run towards the supply pile at the village entrance.

After a while, two people carried in a long, black plastic box.

"Bang!"

The box slammed heavily onto the wooden floor, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Raine was stunned, and the villagers around him craned their necks to watch the spectacle.

Blacksmith Forging Stone pushed his way through the crowd, staring wide-eyed at the strange black box.

"Click".

A soldier pried open the latches on both sides of the box and lifted the lid.

hiss--

A collective gasp filled the air.

It was a mechanical skeleton, composed of countless precision hydraulic rods, servo motors, and composite armor plates.

"This is……"

Raine instinctively reached out to touch it, but stopped in mid-air, afraid of soiling the treasure.

"An exoskeleton just like ours, the T-70 model."

Lin Mo took the breastplate out of the box and handed it to Raine:

"Wearing this, you can carry 200 pounds and run faster than a wolf, and you can smash a goblin's head with one punch."

"For...for me?"

Ryan pointed to his nose, his voice trembling.

"Give it a try." Lin Mo tilted his head.

Two special forces soldiers immediately stepped forward and skillfully picked up the leg armor.

"Lift your leg."

One of the team members knelt down and fastened the mechanical leg guards to Rennes' calves.

"Sizzle—click!"

The magnetic lock closes automatically with a crisp sound.

Raine stood stiff, letting the cold metal cover his body.

Forging Stone had already pounced on the box, his face, covered in black ash, almost pressed against the armor plate.

"How...how did you type this?"

The blacksmith stretched out his trembling, rough fingers and repeatedly stroked the smooth armor:

"No hammer marks...not a single hammer mark!"

Duan Shi suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Lin Mo:

"What kind of iron is this?!"

"Composite titanium alloy".

Lin Mo replied casually, his hands not stopping as he helped Rein fasten the last clasp on his breastplate.

"Buzz—"

As the battery on the back was inserted into the slot, the exoskeleton emitted a soft buzzing sound.

A blue indicator light lit up behind Rennes.

Renn felt a lightness in his body.

The originally heavy metal armor suddenly became lighter.

"Take a few steps." Lin Mo took a step back.

Ryan tried to step out with his left foot.

"Thump!" The wooden floor made a dull thud, and wood chips flew everywhere.

His kick was incredibly powerful, cracking a thick wooden board.

Renn was startled and almost fell over.

"Don't use force," Long Fei said coldly from the side.

"Relax, let the machine move you. It will be like your shadow."

Ryan swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and tried to relax his thighs.

This time, the motor made a slight buzzing sound, carrying his legs to a smooth landing.

Renn clenched his fist, the metal glove making a clicking sound.

He turned around abruptly and looked at Duan Shi.

"This is too much..."

Renn's face turned bright red, and he could barely speak: "This...this is the power of God!"

The surrounding villagers were dumbfounded.

In their eyes, Raine was encased in a steel shell. The familiar hunter captain was gone, replaced by a warrior radiating blue light and exuding a metallic aura.

The timid children cried loudly and burrowed into their mother's arms.

Arya covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling.

"Set off."

Long Fei glanced at the terminal on his wrist; it was getting late.

"Everyone, check your equipment."

Click click click.

A series of synchronized cocking sounds rang out.

The murderous aura instantly dispelled the villagers' astonishment.

Renn dared not move again and awkwardly straightened his back, imitating the special forces soldiers.

"Raine, stay close to me."

Lin Mo put on the helmet, the mask slid down, covering his face, leaving only a pair of electronic eyes that flashed cold light.