Super Mechanic: God of Superpowers!

Chapter 173 Showing Off

A deafening roar ripped through the sky—

The Space Marines unleashed astonishing combat power, instantly taking over the battlefield. The once unstoppable Hysa Alliance forces were like hitting an iron wall, their offensive abruptly halted!

The suppressive power displayed by a mere few hundred people far exceeded the combined power of tens of thousands of adventurers around them!

With the arrival of mysterious reinforcements, the chaotic situation finally stabilized, leaving only the masked man in black standing in front of the gate.

Wang Yuan leaped down the city wall and stood before his opponent, his throat tightening:

"Who are you? Where did you come from? Why are you helping us?"

He had seen the captured Godora investigator at Han Xiao's place.

At this moment, we are not yet at a loss for what to do because of extraterrestrial visitors.

But that composure didn't last three seconds.

"This isn't the expression you should have when old friends reunite, Wang Yuan."

The man in black tapped the edge of his mask with his fingertips. "Or do you think I'm really not coming back?"

The moment that familiar face appeared.

Wang Yuan was struck dumb, his lips trembling as he went from shock to ecstasy.

The players who were fighting suddenly froze, and then burst into a thunderous cheer.

That figure seemed to possess a magical power, instantly igniting everyone's blood, making the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end, their tailbone go numb, and their chests churn with an indescribable excitement!

"Holy crap! It's an alien boss!!"

Just as I returned to the old place at the perfect time, the forum was flooded with live updates of the shelter riot.

This was a godsend for him, who had been lying low for years.

The moment the spaceship pierced the atmosphere, three hundred mercenaries parachuted onto the battlefield in standard tactical formation.

Why make such a big fuss? The "Terminator" title left by version 1.0 wasn't given for nothing.

Since we're making a comeback, we naturally have to give our old friends a really good show.

This move wasn't just for showing off.

The stunning debut not only echoes the promise made when he left back then, but also deeply binds himself to the main storyline of 2.0.

More importantly, it solidifies the "golden brand" in the minds of players.

After all, attracting workers can't rely solely on benefits; brand value is also very important, isn't it?

Seeing the stunned expressions on Wang Yuan's and the players' faces, Ye Xiu made a V sign with his fingers hidden under his cloak.

Wang Yuan was interrupted as soon as he opened his mouth to say "you".

"No rush to catch up." Ye Xiu glanced at the battlefield and snapped his fingers. "Leave the professional matters to the professionals."

Dealing with a surprise attack of this scale? He could come up with seven or eight solutions even with his eyes closed.

The unstoppable torrent of steel is nothing more than an appetizer in the face of battle-hardened mercenaries.

Once the mess is cleaned up, there will be plenty of time to slowly "persuade" the rioters.

Back when we lacked strength, we thought the six nations of Aquamarine were unapproachable, but after years of navigating the interstellar world and broadening our horizons, we now see these forces as nothing special.

With his current combat power, he could easily sweep across the entire world and effortlessly conquer newbie villages.

The alien mercenaries displayed their unique abilities, with hundreds of energy rays piercing through the Haixia Allied Forces, and instantaneous flame spells delivering a carpet bombing effect.

The violent sword energy sliced ​​the tank group into scrap metal, and the explosions shook the earth, even drowning out the enemy's cries of agony.

Whoosh whoosh—

Caroline swung her ten-meter-long greatsword, spinning it like a windmill, cutting down anyone and anything in her path.

Any target that came within fifty meters was shredded to pieces; it was practically a human-shaped shredder.

Swish!

Flames danced in Xiao Huohuo's palm, instantly condensing into a giant chain of flames that swept across the land with a single sweep, leaving scorched earth everywhere.

Da da da—

Qi Peijia's cannons had twenty or thirty barrels when fully extended, and a torrential rain of bullets poured out, carving deep furrows into the battlefield.

The onlookers couldn't get involved at all; they were just watching and stamping their feet in frustration.

These B-level officers displayed combat capabilities far exceeding the planet's average, making it even more exciting than a holographic movie.

The orbital drop capsule that descended from the sky was absolutely stunning, like a savior descending with holy light!

Ye Xiu glanced at the battlefield and realized that he didn't need to lift a finger.

Although his actions now could have a greater impact, he decided to remain mysterious.

Sometimes, leaving blank space can elevate a style more than showing off technical skills.

What was originally a thorny crisis was resolved by the mercenary group with ease, and the enemy troops were wiped out along with their equipment.

Without the obstruction of the crazed army, hundreds of thousands of players quickly brought the rioting refugees under control.

Roughly estimated casualties are less than 100,000, which is much better than expected... at least the data is acceptable.

But looking at the mountain of refugee corpses, Wang Yuan couldn't relax at all.

The area outside the shelter was littered with debris. Wang Yuan couldn't worry about Ye Xiu for the time being, as he was busy directing the cleanup of the battlefield.

This pragmatic approach suited Ye Xiu's taste perfectly.

After the task was completed, the progress bar immediately recovered 100,000 HP, and the players who couldn't wait any longer swarmed around.

Since Ye Xiu left, only high-level players can interact with him, which has made everyone very envious.

Now that the alien mercenary group has returned to the hearts of the people, many are so excited that they want to touch and hold it.

Although the meat bun series of videos had already made the mercenary group familiar faces, this time there were clearly many new faces.

Besides familiar faces like Caroline and Arocia, there are many more handsome men and beautiful women making their debut.

After all, among a group of misfit mercenaries, a 9.5-point beauty like Sylvia and a top-tier handsome guy like Fording are practically spotlights.

"Holy crap, this armor design is amazing!"

"Look at that silver-haired lady! The modeler deserves a bonus!"

Sharp-eyed players instantly spotted Sylvia.

Meanwhile, Fording was already surrounded by female players, and the guy even gave a signature warm smile, causing some people to clutch their chests and fall backward.

"That smile is deadly, it's radiant!"

"Mom, I've met my soulmate!"

"Wow, this is amazing!"

Ye Xiu, watching from the side, raised his eyebrows, feeling as if the air was filled with pink bubbles.

Who knew Fording had such a talent for seducing women? It seems that in a world where looks are everything, even a tough guy can't compete with a pretty boy.

"Having Fordring in charge of attracting female players is definitely a brilliant move; it's incredibly helpful in boosting the faction's popularity."

Ye Xiu nodded in satisfaction, suddenly feeling that his position was somewhat like that of a nightclub manager, while Fording was clearly the most sought-after star in the club.

He doesn't usually like to overthink things, but looking at this group of active players in front of him, he couldn't help but smile.

These are all mobile whales who spend a lot of money!

Although the girls' attention was focused on Fording, Ye Xiu didn't care at all.

He never doubted his leadership charisma as long as it was beneficial to the overall strategy.

Meanwhile, the mercenary group members were also secretly observing the newcomers.

Sylvia moved closer to her teammates: "Don't you guys think the people from our leader's hometown are looking at us strangely?"

"Really? I think it's pretty normal." Fording shrugged.

The players, who had been surrounding the area in layers, suddenly parted to create a passage, and the group stepped over hundreds of wrecked drop pods embedded in the ground to enter the gate.

Looking at the familiar furnishings of the shelter, Ye Xiu sighed softly, "This place is almost exactly the same as when I left."

"Is the commander famous in his hometown?" Before Sylvia could even ask, Wang Yuan, who had rushed over, interjected:

"The Terminator isn't just famous; he's a legend on this planet."

The mercenaries exchanged curious glances, while Sylvia turned to Ye Xiu with wide eyes:

"So your nicknames have always been this unique. I thought this one was particularly awful."

"Looks like I've been too lenient with you lately? Believe me or not, I'll send you to Black Star for special training tomorrow? I guarantee you'll have a very 'fulfilling' life for the next 365 days."

Ye Xiu squinted and grabbed the girl's tender face, pulling it back and forth, causing her to gasp in pain.

Despite the playful banter, Ye Xiu didn't forget the important matter: "What's the current situation?"

"The disaster you predicted has indeed happened. Let's discuss the details in the conference room."

Wang Yuan hesitated, then asked, "But... what happened to you?"

"Oh right! I almost forgot!"

I've been waiting for you to ask me!

Ye Xiu pretended not to remember, and then immediately took out his communicator and started operating it.

A deafening roar descended from the sky, and a gale-force wind whipped up sand and gravel that lashed at our faces.

Suddenly, the entire sky was obscured by a colossal object, with more than a dozen giant starships looming over the shelter like a suspended mountain range.

This spectacle is a million times more impressive than the previous airdrop capsule!

Hundreds of thousands of players on the ground craned their necks, their chins almost dropping to the ground.

My goodness, this is way too much!

The suspended steel behemoth cast a large shadow, and the anti-gravity devices covering its hull glowed with an eerie blue light.

Although this wasn't the first time players on Aquamarine had seen a spaceship.

However, the sense of oppression from the entire fleet was completely different from that from a single spaceship back then.

Amidst gasps of amazement, countless cameras were pointed at the sky.

Ye Xiu's displayed power has players itching to get started.

Just how strong is he to command a fleet of such size?

Countless detection spells were cast, but the feedback was still a screen full of question marks and a glaring "Deadly Threat" message.

"Is it alright to leave the fleet here for now?"

Ye Xiu turned to look at the dumbfounded Wang Yuan, his tone as casual as if he were asking if he wanted afternoon tea.

Wang Yuan shook his head vigorously, cold sweat trickling down his temples.

Faced with such a display of force, who would dare to have any objections?

Ye Xiu turned to look at Wang Yuan, "Shall we find a place to talk first?"

"Alright then." Wang Yuan subconsciously swallowed. After two years apart, the shock brought by the other party was one after another.

He couldn't help but wonder what the Terminator had experienced in interstellar space over the past two years.

A glimmer of hope welled up in his heart. Back then, Ye Xiu said he was looking for a way to solve the disaster. Could his return mean that things had taken a turn for the better?

Weaving through the crowded people, the group headed deeper into the shelter.

Ye Xiu temporarily left the players aside.

Since chives planted in the ground can't grow legs anyway, it's better to let the news of their return spread among the players first.

This principle is similar to the aging process of winemaking; being too hasty will prevent you from tasting the best flavor.

Inside the meeting room, the mercenaries were left outside, while only the core members sat around the long table.

Wang Yuan took a deep breath and spoke first: "The disaster you predicted back then has indeed occurred; we call it the Disaster of Alienation."

"Currently, the entire planet Aquamarine is helpless; they can't even detect the virus itself."

"I know." Ye Xiu interlaced his fingers.

Under his intervention, the evolution of this disaster was indeed different—for example, the Terminator Vault appeared earlier than expected.

But no matter how things change, the core principle remains the same: as long as we grasp the core issue of alienation, the situation is still under control.

After listening to Wang Yuan spend ten minutes explaining the current situation, Ye Xiu nodded: "It's better than I expected. We returned in time."

"Your interstellar journey..." Wang Yuan finally couldn't help but ask the question he had been holding back for a long time.

He had so much curiosity about the formation of his faction, the changes in his identity, and all those thrilling stories.

"Now we're considered interstellar mercenaries, and these are all brothers."

Ye Xiu gestured to the side, where Caroline and Qi Peijia were arguing heatedly over a card game.

These guys have always been carefree; they figure the commander will take care of things no matter what.

Even as Ye Xiu casually recounted his experiences, Wang Yuan was still awestruck by the vastness of the interstellar world.

Although staying on Aquamarine Star was out of a sense of responsibility, who doesn't harbor a longing for the stars and the sea?

"Let's get down to business," Wang Yuan said, rubbing his stiff cheeks. "Is there really a way to solve the catastrophe of mutation?"

Ye Xiu tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, and smiled as he met the intense gazes of the crowd: "Yes."

"Really?!" Wang Yuan almost jumped up from his chair.

"However, it will take time to prepare, and we'll need to hire some outside help," Ye Xiu said, changing the subject.

"What you call a virus is actually a special bioweapon called a mutant progenitor."

"Its appearance on Aquamarine was no accident—it was deliberately released by someone."

The meeting room erupted in chaos.

Wang Yuan's pupils dilated in shock; he never imagined that this disaster was man-made!

"Stop guessing, we're just unlucky to have stumbled upon a battle between interstellar powers." Ye Xiu raised his hand to quell the commotion.

"What's even more mind-blowing is that the alienated entity is not a mental virus at all."

Seeing the blank expressions on everyone's faces, he posed a seemingly unrelated question: "When you're hungry, is it your brain that wants to eat, or your stomach?"

"Of course it's the body," Wang Yuan suddenly stammered, vaguely grasping a shocking truth.

The latest novel is first published here!

"That's right, our 'thoughts' are often signals from the microbes in our bodies."

Ye Xiu tapped his temple. "The alien entity indirectly rewrites the host's behavior by manipulating microbial communities—like using a remote control to command a puppet."

Many imbalances in bodily functions actually stem from the needs of the body's microorganisms; the state of the human body is essentially a reflection of the state of its microbiome.

As long as these microorganisms remain normal, there will be no problems with the body.

Although the microbial community itself has no autonomous consciousness, the host's behavior can affect their balance.

Excessive suppression of instinctive desires may actually lead to a deterioration of health, so the two are in a mutually restraining relationship.

You are not only an independent individual, but also a dynamic micro-ecosystem.

The alien entity controls these microbial systems.

By stimulating them to secrete hormones at levels dozens of times higher than normal, they directly affect the host's central nervous system.

This influence does not involve thought control, but rather amplifies primal impulses such as destructive desires, lust, and appetite at the physiological level.

This misleads the brain into believing that these are amplified forms of self-awareness.

When not in action, the host is no different from a normal person, but once activated, their temperament changes drastically.

The reason why the virus cannot be detected in infected individuals is quite simple.

So-called "viruses" are actually essential symbiotic bacteria in the human body!

The microbial network that exists in every living organism has become the medium through which alienating agents manipulate.

In Ye Xiu's view, consciousness itself can exist independently, but the physical organs that carry consciousness always have weaknesses.

To achieve complete immunity?

Only by transferring consciousness into a mechanical carrier, abandoning the physical body and sensory experience, can the mind live forever in the electronic brain.

After all, metals are not affected by microorganisms.

This statement left the people of Aquamarine Star astonished.

Ye Xiu continued, "The alien entity itself does not spread; its true form can hide in any corner, covering a vast area like a supernatural domain."

"Whether it's land or sea creatures, as long as they are within the range of its consciousness radiation, their internal flora will be manipulated."

"Although superhumans possess a certain degree of resistance, as the mutated progenitor continues to evolve, its influence range and intensity will increase exponentially."

"Essentially, the manipulated areas have formed a completely new ecosystem, and each individual is an extension of the whole."

"The current global chaos is just the unconscious agitation of its infancy. When it matures and develops a clear purpose, even I will be helpless."

"We are racing against time."

A tense silence fell over the meeting room. Wang Yuan asked in a deep voice, "What is your action plan?"

"Prioritize increasing inhibitor production capacity." Ye Xiu pointed to the holographic map.

"I need to take over the raw material cultivation base and allow my mage team to optimize the production process."

"As for those millions of comatose refugees, I know you can't bear to leave them behind."

"As expected, you understand me best." Wang Yuan smiled with relief.

"What about Haixia and Ruilan's problems?"

"Someone always has to pay for their mistakes." A cold glint flashed in Ye Xiu's eyes.

……

Meanwhile, satellites from six countries have captured images of the space fleet's arrival.

When the intelligence department repeatedly confirmed that the figure was indeed Ye Xiu, who had left Earth two years ago, all the high-ranking officials were collectively shocked.

They replayed the images with trembling hands: the Terminator, who should have disappeared from the universe, was now returning to its homeland with an interstellar fleet.

"He not only returned alive, but he also mastered the power of interstellar civilization?!"

Inside the emergency meeting room, world leaders stared at the projection screen, their shirts soaked with cold sweat.

This entity, which they once considered a threat, has now become humanity's last lifeline.

They didn't even know how to cope with this dramatic turn of events.

Two years ago, after leaving Earth, Ye Xiu completely lost contact. No one expected that he would not only return alive, but also possess such unimaginable power.

The strength displayed by his mercenary team directly shocked the high-ranking officials of the six countries.

In the eyes of these people, the Terminator's combat power back then was already at its peak.

As a result, Ye Xiu brought back hundreds of formidable characters who defied expectations, along with more than a dozen interstellar warships!

This lineup alone is enough to crush the six kingdoms!

When Ye Xiu set foot in interstellar space, it shocked all the countries. In fact, they had long coveted the resources of the universe, but unfortunately they could neither build spaceships nor connect with the Godora civilization, so they could only stare in envy.

What worries them even more now is that no one knows what Ye Xiu went through in interstellar space.

But one thing is clear—the Terminators of today are no longer in the same dimension as them!

Although the six countries valued the Terminator in the past, they essentially considered each other to be competitors in the same arena.

For example, in the top class, Liu Guo is a top student who consistently scores 90 points, while Ye Xiu is the academic genius who always gets full marks.

But now the situation has completely changed. They are directly admitted to top laboratories to work on cutting-edge technologies. This gap can no longer be bridged by hard work alone!

The most panicked people have to be the senior executives of Haixia and Ruilan.

Other countries' previous talk of taking control of the shelters was just empty rhetoric; they actually intend to take action!

Now look what's happened, they've walked right into the line of fire.

Meanwhile, Vault players had already spread the video of the incident throughout the forums.

The Aquamarine Star section was instantly flooded with posts, and the Alien Mercenary Group dominated the trending topics.

Do you all still remember the perks Ye Xiu gave out in version 1.0?

He just returned from interstellar travel with the release of version 2.0, and who knows how many new resources he brought with him.

Just thinking about the new equipment that aliens might distribute is exciting.

Many players didn't even have time to complete their current tasks, rushing to the shelter overnight, and the forum servers were almost overwhelmed.

Bystanders from other planets also flocked to watch: "This spectacle is definitely worthy of being in the latest version's promotional video!"

"The Star Sea Times was right after all; there must be a big story behind this NPC."

"By the way, is it possible for us to switch sides and join a mercenary group?"

During the discussion, someone suddenly suggested: "Could Alien be the guide that led players from Aquamarine into the universe?"

Looking at the dozen or so starships in the sky, more and more players felt that this statement made sense.

Meanwhile, in the core area of ​​the shelter, Ye Xiu was arranging for mercenaries with magical abilities to accelerate the cultivation of inhibitor raw materials.

Although the alien progenitor is currently in its infancy, the demand for inhibitors will increase exponentially once it enters the next stage.

Considering that resettling refugees could help players increase their mission progress, Ye Xiu shared the mission with the players.

However, the shelters have limited capacity, and he considered that it would be more reliable to have the refugees distributed among the six countries.

Looking at the movements of various countries on the monitor screen, Ye Xiu understood perfectly:

"With such a commotion, the six nations will definitely come to me to negotiate these next few days. I can take this opportunity to promote the Sprout Organization and recruit more superhumans."

Thinking of this, he casually sent a message to Han Xiao:

"I'm leaving Aquamarine Star to you. I'll be going to other planets to deal with the alienation crisis in a few days."

Glancing at the star map, Ye Xiu suddenly remembered that Godora's expedition team should be arriving soon.

Once they arrive, players can earn new currency by completing interstellar missions, which can be used to buy medicine and complete refugee missions.

Most importantly, this move will upgrade the entire planet's monetary system.

The local currency used by players on Aquamarine is worthless in the StarCraft universe.

Ye Xiu desperately needs Inar, which can only be obtained by completing NPC quests.

Players are not yet familiar with the interstellar economic system, so they don't have this kind of hard currency.

The Godora faction is Ye Xiu's key target.

As the faction that distributes Inar's quest rewards, players can accumulate funds without purchasing Godora's potions.

Faced with Ye Xiu's dazzling array of supernatural ability cards and advanced knowledge.

Furthermore, spending money can also increase favorability with the faction, so players' spending tendencies are self-evident.

Before the arrival of Godora's forces, Ye Xiu decided to temporarily suspend the sale of supernatural cards and focus on imparting skills and knowledge to gain experience points.

"Godora is currently unaware that the mutated Primarchs are part of Dark Star's conspiracy. If I reveal this information, they will definitely send people here immediately."

He observed the magicians' movements as they transplanted the materials, repeatedly refining his plan in his mind.

Dark Star's deployment of the alien prototypes clearly has a strategic purpose, and Dark Star will not act rashly without Godora's appearance.

If a conflict between the two factions is triggered prematurely, they will both become competitors for player resources.

Instead of waiting, we should use this buffer period to enhance our faction's appeal to players.

As he predicted, the discussion on the forum shows that the regression effect is continuing to intensify.

After careful consideration, Ye Xiu decided to temporarily withhold the intelligence and wait for the best opportunity to negotiate with Godora.

After all, they possess the truth and original samples of the alienation disaster, and they must wait for the right price to sell them.

"Recruiting players cannot be done indiscriminately; reasonable entry requirements must be set. We need to ensure a sufficient number of players while making joining a faction a competitive and rewarding experience."

In a flash of inspiration, a brilliant plan came to mind.

However, before implementing the plan, there is something even more important—harvesting a massive amount of experience points.

Looking at the total level of 116 on the panel, which had been stagnant for nearly a year, and the hundreds of supernatural abilities that were eagerly awaiting synthesis, Ye Xiu could no longer contain himself.

The shelter plaza was bustling with activity, as hundreds of thousands of players eagerly awaited its arrival.

On the makeshift stage, a figure draped in a gray cloak slowly made his entrance, surrounded by mercenaries.

The crowds automatically dispersed wherever it passed, creating an aura as powerful as Moses parting the seas, which awed everyone present.

The next second, a clone transformed into a throne with its own background music under Ye Xiu's seat, and then rose into the air and hovered with an electromagnetic hum.

At the same time, when the three holographic projections appeared simultaneously, the scene instantly erupted in excitement.

"That's so cool!"

"This spectacle is even more extravagant than a dragon throne!"

Amidst the rising and falling gasps of surprise, Ye Xiu looked down upon the masses of people beneath the circular fleet formation.

"I'm back."

The four simple words sparked a thunderous roar of cheers.

As the creator of the shelter, his reputation has long been deeply rooted in people's hearts.

As the noise subsided, a steady voice resounded through the loudspeaker, echoing across the sky:

"When I foresaw this disaster two years ago, I chose to venture alone into the perilous sea of ​​stars."

"The hardships involved need not be elaborated upon; the important thing is that I have returned with a solution."

The deliberately blurred interstellar experience only fueled endless imagination. Players stared at the figure bathed in a deep blue light in the sky, their eyes gleaming with intense passion.

This meticulously planned return is gradually incorporating the entire shelter into his scheme.

(End of this chapter)