Apart from that incident at the 3rd Sentry Base, the following journey became smooth sailing for us, in fact we were even beckoned to rest on some Sentry Bases.
Without my knowledge, my name was already known by every League member stationed in the Sentry Bases. The people from the Confederacy also started to take note of my name, the Core Pilot which humiliated their Archlight. Though it wouldn't result in bad blood between the League and the Confederacy, every soldier has their own minds that's why if someone wanted to clear that kind of humiliation, they would appear before me.
Also, at every base we passed through, someone would appear on my screen greeting me as if they found their new idol.
Is destroying three standard Metagens that much of a feat? I don't know. Maybe?
In any case, after arriving at the Sentry MC-12 whose Base Commander is affiliated with the League, we were given half a day to rest before starting the Patrol.
As the only Core Pilot level at the base, I became somewhat of a celebrity, especially to female Pilots and Operators who flocked around me everytime I appear before them.
Err… Of course, I need to maintain some kind of prestige and it's not like I'm bothered by the attention. I simply walked past them and greeted them like how a high ranking officer would do. And because of my unchanging expression due to my Adaptability, I was dubbed as the mysteriously cool Core Pilot Daisuke.
Nysia will surely have a few good laughs upon hearing it and most possibly, the other girls was well if I told them about it.
During the 12 hours of our stay, I went to the Base Commander to read on the reports concerning the place we are going to patrol as well as any strange disturbances around the base.
Though vague, I determined that there's a huge possibility that something was really happening beyond the area this Sentry Base has jurisdiction of.
In this world, despite Nysia creating the rising fourth faction, many war victims and losers still exist all around the world and of course, the Black Markets that she was utilizing before was still running well.
Though it's fairly easy to know who was running those to crack up every Black Markets that was existing, it's a necessary place for the others who still lived outside the remaining civilization.
Due to that, I contacted Nysia to tell her about my findings and get her opinion, well, I also just wanted to see her and hear her voice.
"Prioritize your safety, Daisuke! If something happened, don't hesitate to alert me!"
Nysia exclaimed on the screen projected by the holographic phone that I was using. She was lazing around in her room again while continuing to watch the drama she was watching before when I first appeared before her. I already reminded her about that habit of hers but I guess that's one of her charms.
"You know my real strength, only a Mythic-rank like you can truly threaten me. By the way, did the Confederacy make trouble for you? You received the report, right?"
"That? Don't worry about it, they won't account me for a few Moon Warriors, at least you didn't kill them. You're surprisingly soft-natured, Daisuke."
I was actually thinking not to trouble you, you know?
Ah. I guess it wouldn't really affect her if I took down even that Specialized Metagen of that Archlight Moron ah, Norom. His name fits perfectly. However, it's better this way. We still need them to fight to Invading Forces and the Alien Civilization after all.
As long as they don't betray this world, I won't find fault in them.
"Can't have a bad record at my first job. I'm building my prestige, right?"
It will truly make her happy to have me be publicly announced as her man. Nysia's life is full of hardships, I at least want to give her something that will patch that up.
"Right. Finish it and come back. I miss you."
Nysia's voice turned from the authoritative tone as the League Head to her lovely voice which she will only show me. Add the visuals of her acting bashful in front of the screen, this woman is too charming.
"You're too adorable when you're that honest."
Eventually, our conversation turned into that direction where I had to comfort her that I will be back soon. That girl, she could easily come here if she really wanted but yeah, that's her way to have me keep pampering her.
Ending the call with Nysia when she became satisfied, I used the next 10 minutes to check up on the other girls using the Dimensional Communication before going out of my room to head to the place where the Absorption Room devices were located.
Can't neglect a day of cultivation. Though they also have those Absorption Rooms here, they're not like what Nysia has up in her room.
What they have been using here was only meant for Diamond-rank and below and each room was being used by up to 5 people. However, I emptied 4 rooms to complete the 6-hour Absorption session which everyone in the Sentry Base found baffling.
My cultivation really did normalize after reaching the 3rd realm but the energy required grew exponentially. Though it looked like it would take a long time by my standards, however, if I compared it to others, my speed was still phenomenally fast.
Eh? Wait. Am I becoming more and more like Y*n Che in cultivation? The exponentially high energy requirement to advance a stage. He was just always presumed dead for a training montage that would last for years before saving his girls on the last possible second.
Ugh... I don't need that kind of training montage. I'll diligently cultivate, okay?
Err… but thinking about it, those I encountered also sped up in their cultivation. Ophelia even got two breakthroughs after two months and she's not even connected to me.
Haa... There's probably an explanation to that.
Time passed and our 12-hour rest ended by dawn. With the sky still dark, I led the team to start our Patrol to the target location. For the next three days, we'll be outside the protection of the securities in place and will be camping in various ruins of the previous thriving civilization.
"Sir Daisuke. Should we scout ahead?"
When we're a few kilometres away from the target location, the face of the three light-armored Metagen Pilots appeared on my screen. They all looked like they're eager to show off their mettle in front of me.
"Alright. Scout ahead in three directions. Report back in five."
I ordered the three which they answered in unison, enthusiasm filling up their faces.
"Roger!"
"You two, stay close be wary of our rear."
I also ordered the two balanced Metagen units behind me which were also met with the same enthusiasm.
"Roger!"
According to the reports, the Darkgens seen here were all standard units which should be compared to the Primeval Knights, however, apart from having the same make as Metagens, the Darkgens were empowered by the Dark Energy of the Dark World which gave them an edge over our standard units.
Just like how the Corrupted Barbarians were a step ahead than those at the same stage as them.
Opening the radar screen which scanned up to 200 meters around my Metagen, nothing seemed off. If a lifeform or something with heat signature was scanned, it will show in it.
However, I felt it when we entered this area, my Adaptability which never failed yet was triggered about a nearby danger or something that could possibly threaten us.
"This is Dali. Nothing in our 10 o'clock."
"This is Oni. Nothing in our 2 o'clock."
"This is Pasuta. Suspicious movements in our 12. I-I'm going back!"
Three reports came back to back after five minutes. With the 12 o'clock the only one with suspicious movements, the tingling sensation about the danger was heightened. His voice also seemed hurried as if he was spotted which was immediately confirmed when his face appeared on my screen again.
"I was spotted! One Darkgen was aiming at my back!"
"You three. Go back quickly. Nell and Sen. Prepare for combat ahead."
As soon as my command fell into their ears, an explosion sounded ahead where Pasuta should be coming back.
From that direction, I saw his Metagen flying towards here while exuding smoke that was from part damaged by the explosion.
The two behind me tensed up as they put the add-on guns on their Metagen's shoulders.
"Receive Pasuta. I'll go on ahead."
With how swift they attacked Pasuta, I decided to see who was it that we encountered.
"R-roger!"
Though tensed they swiftly followed behind me to receive the stumbling light-armored unit of Pasuta which received damage on its back. All these Elite Members continuously trained inside the Virtual Simulation and sometimes they would have live combat training outside the city that's why handling this kind of situation is something they have knowledge on.
When the Purple Haze passed by Pasuta's Metagen, I saw how much damage that explosion made.
Well, since it's light-armored. It couldn't sustain that firepower too well. It would repair itself given time so I looked ahead and locked onto the Dark Metagen-like mecha on the distance which still has smoke coming out of its gun muzzle.
That's a Darkgen which I also had an experience fighting inside the simulation. It's the same light-armored unit which prioritizes mobility.
When it saw my Metagen which left a purple trail behind me, it quickly started retreating.
I don't know why it opened fire but it was surely a scout put in this place.
With the commands continuously being recognized by the Metagen, I inserted my free hand on an aperture which was connected to the Meta Energy-powered engine. Running my Flux Energy inside it, the Metagen started utilizing my abilities. The Purple Haze was now an extension of my body or should I say a part of my body where my own Flux Energy circulated.
Just like how I did it back then during the conflict against the Confederacy idiots, I inputted the Elusive Steps command instead of the simple Flash Steps.
The Purple Haze zoomed and immediately appeared at the retreating Darkgen's blindside.
Along with the huge outburst of wind brought by my Knight Skill, the Darkgen almost stumbled forward and failed to take off.
Using that opportunity, I pulled out the pistol gun attached to the Purple Haze's waist and shot at its foot which tripped the Darkgen and had it fall with its back on the ground.
With the Pure Regenium Sword in hand, I quickly stabbed the fallen Darkgen where the cockpit should've been and forced it open revealing a grunting pilot whose arm was cut off by the sword when it passed through its thick armor.
When the Darkgen was subdued, the danger my Adaptability was picking up was abated.
Was the threat only this guy? Or the possibility that he could possibly report our existence?
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m