Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 912: Chapter 18: The Real and Fake Star Thieves

Although players had already become accustomed to various ’CG scenes’ since entering the cosmos, when that starship measuring tens of thousands of meters in length fell from outer space, burning with flames, surrounded by Star Thief Ships lurking in the darkness like wolves, the players still felt a shock. Floating Cannons kept shooting Energy Light Pillars around the giant ship, thousands of beams piercing through the thick iron plates, blossoming into cruel flames in the soundless vacuum. The head of the giant ship impaled the surface of the dwarf planet, instantly creating a huge Ring Mountain. A massive dust explosion rolled along the direction of the ship’s head, directly sweeping away dozens of unlucky players, turning them into white light.

At the same time, capsules descended from the sky, with some exploding open even before landing, releasing Interstellar Pirates who jumped out.

As for the Exploration Ship, the space inside occasionally distorted, and with each distortion, hundreds of Star Thieves appeared, drilling into the cabin through gaps between various large plates. Their actions were so skillful, it was clear they were experienced hands.

’Ding’ ’Ding’ ’Ding’...

On the player system, a Tier 2: Difficult level task popped up almost simultaneously.

Star Thief Eradication Operation

[Tier 2 Task: Star Thief Eradication Operation]

Difficulty: Tier 2: Difficult

Task brief: For unknown reasons, your coordinates have been exposed to a small Star Thief Gang in Holt Inner Star Spin. Holt Inner Star Spin has a saying: one thief exterminated not exhaustively; ten thousand thieves arise again. Before these Star Thieves cause greater harm, eradicate them.

Task goal: Eradicate all Star Thieves (including all elites, cadre, group leaders)

Task rewards:

Kill an ordinary ’Vervi Star Thief’ (Level 40), reward...

Kill a Vervi Star Thief (Elite) (Level 45), reward...

Kill Vervi Star Thief (Cadre) (Level 50), reward...

And almost simultaneously, Gao Gong also received a task.

However, his task content differed from the players, and it was not Tier 2; it was Tier 3.

[Tier 3 Task: Vervi Eradication Battle (Player Segment)]

Difficulty: Tier 3: Ordinary

Task brief: Under your meticulous maneuvering, the players finally collided with a worthy opponent. Now, as both sides encounter each other, let’s see if they’re up to the challenge.

Task goal: With you personally, and Du Gao Group’s advanced NPC (above Level 60) not stepping in, repel the enemy.

Task reward: Experience +1 Million, Star Thief Prestige +1000 (Holt Inner Star Spin), Specialization Points +30, random Tier 3 Implant Equipment.

Note: Don’t think you can be both referee and player; it’s impossible.

Tier 3 Task indicates that within the enemy camp, there is either a Tier 3 Weapon or a Tier 3 character.

But the difficulty is quite low; a task of ordinary difficulty is just slightly stronger than simple, simply incomparable to those Planet-level or Hell-level Tasks, even if it’s of Tier 3 strength.

Gao Gong touched his chin, suddenly realizing, according to the task system, he violated the rule from the start, wasn’t Gao Yuanyuan already taking action? Or did his little sister settle things so quickly?

Gao Gong focused his gaze on a Star Thief Ship, faintly sensing a notable species presence onboard. The aura was chaotic and slightly twisted, clearly a product of Genetic Engineering.

Well, it’s passable, I guess.

...

Meanwhile, as Gao Gong was contemplating, numerous ’Vervi Star Thieves’ had already infiltrated the interior of the Exploration Ship, and what they faced first was none other than the Defense System of this modified Exploration Ship.

The Cybertron-specialized Laser Cannon suddenly emerged, shooting Energy Light Pillars at least twice as thick as those of the Floating Cannon, directly blasting open a dozen floating cannons nearby. The shockwave continued, penetrating the starboard of a Star Thief Ship.

Simultaneously, the Spark Pod inside illuminated, the cooling doors opened, and the Star Thieves newly flipped up from the floor hadn’t even had time to survey their surroundings before being swept away by a wave of Energy Flame behind the door.

As for those sliced into pieces by Energy Light Gates or critically injured by Cybertronian Defense Machines, there were indeed quite a number.

Despite reinforcing the Engine System and Exploration Modules and weakening the Weapon System to modify the Exploration Ship, it’s still a Tier 3 top-configured starship of a Level 7 Civilization Mechanical Species (albeit the lowest level soldier species). The internal Defense System alone was enough to give these Star Thieves a headache.

Moreover, numerous Spark Robots descended from the sky, wielding various Hunter Weapons, fighting against the Star Thieves, or rather, massacring the Star Thieves.

Name: Spark Mechanical Life (Du Gao Group) (Defective Version)

Species: Advanced Mechanical Life (Under Biological Transformation)

Profession: Cybertron Guardian, Biomechanical Knight

Level: Level 51

Mechanical Energy: 4 Million (Lack of Mechanical Components)

Biological Energy: 1 Million

Biological Attributes: Power 1100, Agility 1200, Endurance 800, Intelligence 940, Perception 1000

Skills: Reproductive Greatsword Level 6 (Tier 2 Elite), Cybertron Energy Armor Level 4 (Tier 2 Elite), Biochemical Grip (Tier 2: Expert...

Although with the manufacturing scale and level of an Industrial Ship, it cannot temporarily restore Cybertron Robots to their peak mode. In peak state, a Cybertron Spark Life can have Mechanical Energy reaching 10 Million. However, after becoming part of Du Gao Technology, they still acquired the support of Alliance Technology. Such as the newly developed Reproductive Greatsword, nearly five meters in length, the sword blade ends could grow jagged mouths at any time, causing ’Heavy Strike’, ’Injury’, ’Poisoning’ and a series of damages.

This biotechnology can be traced back to the Reproductive Life originally developed by Gao Gong, but after the Xiao Family’s Reproductive Technology was obtained by Du Gao’s biologists, they took a different approach by developing Reproductive Weapons instead.

The minimal level of these Reproductive Weapons is B-level, with several Reproductive Greatswords even reaching A-level.

If placed against Radiation Beasts, these are at the Beast King level!

This is also a different path developed by Du Gao’s biologists after acquiring the Xiao Family’s Reproductive Technology, developing Tier 3 Radiation-type Reproductive Weapons.

These Reproductive Weapons can temporarily increase the user’s Personal Attributes during combat; they are truly essential weapons for interstellar plundering and interception.

While the internal offensive is hindered, externally, the Vervi Star Thieves similarly realized that these beings emerging from the dwarf planet’s interior were tougher than imagined. These individuals displayed seamless coordination, had rich combat experience, utilized dangerous and sinister methods, and were fearlessly courageous.

In fact, not all Tier 3 forces consist solely of Tier 3 species. Especially within a small Star Thief Group, their internal combat power is composed of Tier 2 species, which is totally normal; Tier 3 is merely the ceiling, not the standard configuration. Since everyone is Tier 2, then those emerging from the Cyber Test Field as part of the 4th Celestial Calamity can surely teach them a lesson.

So, in the end, who exactly are the Star Thieves?