Even the "Koldark, the stronghold of the Protoss," that Fang Senyan spoke of was merely a flight of fancy on his part. Yet, the place name wasn't entirely fabricated; it was gleaned from a lullaby the Dark Templars would hum when bored during his time in the Lost Temple, a song containing the line, "Koldark, the radiant, adrift in eternity."

Fang Senyan spoke this way, of course, to bolster the morale of the dozen or so Marines around him with his feigned confidence. Since no one was there to expose his lie, in the context of such small-scale regional warfare, any words that could boost combat effectiveness were more than welcome.

Pantang was flung aside during the landing, scraping his arm, but since becoming a hero, his survivability had drastically increased—a Mammoth Walker couldn't outrun him in pure resilience alone—so he wasn't seriously injured. At that moment, he was spraying medical sealant onto his right arm while Jirgisna bandaged him, cursing furiously: "Those damn Zerg and Protoss sons of bitches! Once I'm back out there, I'm going to kick their asses thoroughly!"

Just as Fang Senyan was about to speak, he heard a series of tearing sounds from nearby. His heart skipped, and he immediately rejoiced: "Ronnie, you've completely recovered?"

They watched as the plaster covering Ronnie's body cracked and burst, followed by the sound of rending fabric as his bandages tore. Soon, he sat up, looking at his own hands with a feeling of near-tears: "Yes, finally recovered. I've waited for this day."

Seeing this, Fang Senyan didn't say another word. He shoved Ronnie back down, grabbed the fabric over his chest, and with a sharp shhhhrrrrip, tore it open. The action looked utterly indistinguishable from a brutal assault... Under Fang Senyan's brute strength, Ronnie couldn't resist in the slightest.

Immediately after, Fang Senyan flipped his wrist, and nestled in his palm was a brightly gleaming object. Upon closer inspection, however, it was a sphere composed of fused flesh and blood, occasionally extending pale, reddish tentacles into the surrounding air. It was the Seed of the Nightmare Imprint from Noah Space C.

Then, Fang Senyan slammed his palm onto Ronnie's chest. Ronnie let out a sharp scream, feeling as if a glowing hot iron had been pressed against his skin. They could clearly see the Seed of the Nightmare Space rapidly growing, embedding itself into Ronnie's flesh, burrowing deep and intertwining, successfully branding itself onto Ronnie to form a brand-new Nightmare Imprint.

Simultaneously, Fang Senyan received a sequence of system notifications: "Emergency Rescue Mission: 28ACD1 is now being completed..." "Mission Objective: Successfully rescue the Awakened Subject ZB419, who possesses high potential, back into the Nightmare Space... Awakened Subject has been successfully implanted with this space's Seed of the Nightmare Imprint, and their personal Nightmare Imprint has been generated. "Awakened Subject 1018, according to mission regulations, you are entitled to half of the mission rewards. Please select two options from the following rewards." Reward A: Merit Points +20. Reward B: Free Base Attribute Points +10. Reward C: Universal Points increased by an additional 100,000. Reward D: Omnipotent Elixir x1. This elixir can be used at any time to restore 1000 Health Points. Reward E: Corrosive Agent x1. Upon use, your body will gain a Rusted effect. Any attacks using metal as a medium (including but not limited to bullets, swords, knives) will be affected by corrosion, reducing damage taken by 33%. Duration: one hour. Reward F: Arbitrary Gate x1. Use of this item requires a non-combat state. Using this item will create an Arbitrary Gate visible only to you, through which you can return to the Nightmare Space. Maximum stay: one hour, after which you will return to this world via the Gate. The Gate will then collapse. Reward G: Roar of the Mad Dragon x1. Upon use, all enemies within a three-meter radius will be blown back 10 to 20 meters (if they can be blown back) and will be stunned for 1 second upon landing. If enemies cannot be blown back upon activation, you will be repelled 20 meters and gain a temporary 30% movement speed increase for 5 seconds.

Fang Senyan surveyed the list of rewards and ultimately chose Merit Points +20 and the Arbitrary Gate. While the +10 Free Base Attribute Points were tempting, the Arbitrary Gate, though not capable of instant life-saving effects, offered significant strategic utility when used correctly, introducing many variables—exactly what Fang Senyan desired.

Of course, the twenty Merit Points, combined with his scattered existing points, were already enough for Fang Senyan to finally activate the Typhoid ability on his viral skill tree!!!

Ronnie cautiously touched the brand-new Nightmare Imprint on his chest and couldn't help but curse: "Damn it, implanting this thing felt like fire in my body!"

Fang Senyan smiled faintly: "Nothing comes without a cost. Take a look and see if you've suffered any losses?"

Ronnie grumbled: "I already checked. My base abilities dropped by two tiers, Agility was deducted by five points, and Health was cut by two hundred. Because I lost the team synergy boost, my Critical Hit Rate and Evasion Rate both dropped by 5%—damn it, my survivability is lower again. This Noah Space C promised me so many wonderful things when it tempted me, but it looks like they were all lies."

Fang Senyan chuckled grimly: "No, no, Ronnie, you're misjudging the space. Do you know why it prioritized finding me to carry out your rescue mission?"

Ronnie looked surprised: "Isn't it because you're stronger, or perhaps because we're more familiar with each other?"

Fang Senyan shrugged: "No matter how strong I am, I can't compare to the power of an entire team. As for being familiar enough to get priority for a mission, that idea is clearly quite absurd."

"...Then why?" Ronnie couldn't help but press.

Fang Senyan sighed dramatically: "Let me ask you first, what promises did the space make to lure you?"

Ronnie said sullenly: "Nothing more than Merit Points, Universal Points, and most importantly, it promised a massive qualitative change in my survivability—a complete transformation! But now, none of it is here!"

Fang Senyan laughed heartily: "Then that's it. The reason it sent me to meet you is because I am the simplest, most convenient, fastest, most economical... and cheapest crucial link to fulfilling its promises, without exception."

Ronnie shook his head, confused: "I still don't understand what you mean."

Fang Senyan looked at Ronnie with an expression that implied, "You just got a massive bargain," and let out a slight sigh: "Fine."

Then Ronnie received a notification: "Silver Tier Team 'Ace' invites you to join... Eligibility check in progress." "Silver Tier Team 'Ace' is currently not full and meets the admission criteria." "You belong to Noah Space C and are not currently affiliated with any team, therefore you meet the admission criteria." "Do you wish to join Silver Team: Ace?" "Silver... Team??" Ronnie's eyes widened instantly. He had previously encountered a Black Iron-grade team and felt that team was unbelievably formidable. Even his former team, before he left, was something he was reluctant to abandon because it naturally possessed an extra 5% critical hit chance.

But Ronnie never imagined that a Silver Tier team would appear before him, inviting him to join proactively! He immediately selected 'Yes' without hesitation, much like how any man, upon spotting a beautiful woman's skirt being lifted by the wind on the street, acts before considering if the tigress at home is watching...

Only after confirming did Ronnie realize something: since there were only two contractors present, himself and Fang Senyan, usually only the team leader had the authority to recruit members. This meant... if he wasn't the leader, then Fang Senyan was the leader of this Silver Tier team!

"Uh, Boss, you really gave me a surprise," Ronnie exclaimed. "But why didn't I notice any increase in my personal stats?"

Fang Senyan sighed: "Look at your Health Points and Mana Points."

Ronnie checked skeptically: "Nothing... WHAT?! How is this amplification so terrifying!!"

Fang Senyan replied calmly: "Hmm, you should also have an extra active ability. Look closely at your attributes; use it at the most opportune moment... Hmm?"

Suddenly, a huge impact slammed against the steel door, sounding like something incredibly sharp violently striking it, followed by a continuous series of heavy blows! The interior of the door showed significant indentations... "Prepare for battle!" Jirgisna shrieked, grabbing the weapon nearest to her. Several Marines immediately stood up; one even struck a thick steel pauldron heavily, where a noticeable red button existed. An integrated syringe immediately pierced his body, injecting the correct dose of stimulant. Immediately, muffled sounds of suppressed ecstasy rose from them, their eyes beginning to fill with red veins.

Behind them, two medics clad in specialized white armor moved swiftly, utilizing their psychic energy to release a misty drug into the Marines' systems, rapidly restoring their health.