Five battle-hardened special forces soldiers traded their previous animation for silence, shaking their heads in unison with weary sighs. They genuinely hadn't expected the team leader for this mission, dispatched from above, to possess combat prowess that could only be described as outrageously formidable.
To be so young, possessing mere fifteen-star strength was already astonishing enough, yet he also commanded the **maneuvering ability that made Ace Mobile Armored Soldiers dream of nightmares.
This was utterly a monster! Lü Han and Lü Chu looked at Qin Fen with an expression of shock greater than when they learned he was a fifteen-star martial artist. The Red Lotus Phantom on the battlefield moments ago was a true streak of crimson lightning; restraining him would likely require a dozen, perhaps even more, Ace Mobile Armored Soldiers acting in concert.
“And so?” Qin Fen smiled as he glanced towards the demolition experts, Jay and Terry, who stood nearby. “Do you two wish to test my skills in demolition as well? Regarding explosives, I have a few insights. I suppose I understand a bit of the art of demolition.”
...
Jay and Terry shook their heads repeatedly, bobbing like weathervanes in a gale.
The team had reviewed Qin Fen’s file beforehand. They had assumed that the details might have been exaggerated slightly to flatter the newly arrived commander, but the strength displayed by their captain far surpassed anything written in the documentation.
To challenge someone officially labeled a Demolition Master on the subject of demolition? Jay and Terry certainly weren't looking to experience the nightmare that Lü Han and Lü Chu had just endured.
Face, while perhaps not worth much if sold by the pound, was something one wouldn't want to see utterly dismantled for a long time afterward without suffering sleepless nights.
Now, concerning Qin Fen’s file, everyone in the squad would rather believe the documentation lacked sufficient detail than believe it contained any form of inflated praise for him.
This was a true commander sent for an operational mission, not some spoiled second-generation heir sent merely to collect merits and climb the ranks!
“I believe everyone now has a relatively comprehensive understanding of my abilities,” Qin Fen said, placing the data chip he held onto the table. “If your respective capabilities match what is recorded in these files, then I have formed a rough assessment of your skills.”
Having unleashed overwhelmingly powerful strength twice in quick succession, the five soldiers, hardened by life-and-death combat, momentarily forgot that their captain had been three months late. They listened to his address with complete focus.
“I imagine everyone is somewhat aware of the parameters of this mission,” Qin Fen continued, confidently projecting various holographic data streams related to the Martial Artist Point centers. “But I can tell you this: I understand the Bug Martial Artists better than any of you. I have engaged them directly before. Therefore, the execution of this mission must absolutely lead the enemy to believe that we cannot succeed, thereby preventing them from deploying the Bug Martial Artists against us. I assume this was also the intention from above; otherwise, they wouldn't have sent only the six of us.”
Jessica Weir nodded subtly. The military indeed had many capable individuals. If the goal was to wipe out a base, the best approach would be to dispatch massive firepower, perhaps even dropping a colossal guided missile onto the Sahara, leveling the entire area.
Though the base might be incredibly sturdy and resist one or two missiles, the military had so many missiles they didn't know where to store them—they could certainly spare a few more.
But the military had refrained from doing so, opting instead to send a special squad of only six. The purpose was clearly defined: to avoid alerting the enemy excessively, which might cause them to hastily evacuate valuable data or simply destroy it out of spite.
Even if the six-person squad was detected by the enemy base, they would more likely be perceived as a small patrol unit out on a sweep rather than a genuine threat, thus fostering complacency.
“Since our objective is to minimize the enemy's resort to extreme measures, the best approach is a frontal assault!” Qin Fen slammed his fist onto the holographic map, landing precisely on the base’s location. “When the enemy realizes there are only six of us attacking, they might not even have time to deploy many extreme countermeasures.”
Jessica Weir nodded again. A base this clandestine would undoubtedly be riddled with countless monitoring systems. The more covert an attack appeared, the more heavily they would scrutinize it. In contrast, a direct breakthrough was indeed an excellent choice.
Warfare required employing methods the enemy least expected. This time, using minimal personnel for a highly focused, frontal charge! Jessica Weir’s assessment of Qin Fen increased by several points. This young man possessed a clear mind and coherent strategy. It was no wonder the file rated his squad leadership capabilities as 'S-Class.'
Qin Fen quickly and concisely outlined the necessary combat precautions, retracted the electronic map, and strode toward the nearby Red Lotus Phantom Mobile Armor. “Everyone! Target: Sahara Desert, Bug Martial Artists!”
The Sahara is the largest desert on Earth, covering almost the entirety of North Africa. Outside of Antarctica, it is the world's largest arid region.
It contains numerous dry, waterless basins. The highlands are rocky and barren of trees, featuring steep mountainsides and constantly shifting sand dunes that stretch out into a boundless sea of sand.
The high temperatures make the air exceptionally dry; the air shimmers in the distance, and everywhere the eye rests is a blinding, suffocating gold.
This is the Sahara Desert, Earth's greatest wasteland, formed millions of years ago—a near-forbidden zone for life. Even the Federation's ** maintains only a symbolic presence here, occasionally dispatching automated probes to search for terrorist training bases hidden within this unforgiving landscape.
Above the quiet, though not entirely peaceful, Sahara Desert, the deafening roar of a large military aircraft suddenly cut through the air. Because its altitude was less than a hundred meters above the ground, the passage of the craft kicked up a long tail of golden sand, undulating like a massive, ancient dragon that had recently awakened after slumbering for tens of thousands of years in the desert.
The five special forces soldiers aboard gripped their fists tightly, staring intently at the massive screen before the aircraft.
Ultra-low altitude flight! This was practically a forbidden tactic among ** aircraft pilots, explicitly banned over both the ocean and the desert.
The Sahara Desert was far from being a flat superplain; it was riddled with countless dunes, many of them massive, shifting mounds of sand, as well as mountain ranges composed of countless rocks. At normal flight speeds, one could easily collide if not careful.
If flying at ultra-low altitude while simultaneously maintaining ultra-high speed, even veterans seasoned in combat felt their blood run cold, their palms sweating profusely.
As soldiers, they were prepared to die without fear. But sitting aboard a plane piloted in a near-suicidal manner, as potential sacrificial offerings, Feng Lu felt a bitterness deeper than any he'd known. Such a way to die was truly an insult to diligent effort.
Mach 16! Feng Lu glanced at the instrument panel displaying the speed and felt a wave of nausea sweep over him, a cold sensation convulsing in his stomach. To fly freely among dense sand dunes at this speed—this wasn't the skill of an Ace Pilot as documented; this was the capability of a Super Ace!
Jessica Weir sat quietly beside him, observing Qin Fen, the captain parachuted in for this mission. His comprehensive strength placed him among the elite of all ** military personnel. This maneuver—ultra-low altitude sweeping flight to evade enemy radar—was the optimal method.
Of course, it was also the riskiest method; one minor slip, and they might all perish before the mission officially began.
Beep... Beep... Beep...
The aircraft's electronic map sounded a series of warning chimes. Qin Fen’s expression immediately grew sterner. After a brief period of sustained low flight, he violently pulled back on the control yoke of the large warplane, forcing the aircraft straight up!
In the next instant, the plane shot toward the heavens. Through the glass windows, the special forces soldiers could see the golden desert below churning ceaselessly, as if dozens of giant pythons were writhing beneath the sand, causing the entire golden expanse to roll and heave.
Flashes of light, distinctly different in color, soon emerged from the golden sand mass.
Heavy surface-to-air mobile armors, tactical surface-to-air missiles, and more than a dozen scrambling interceptor fighters!
This looked less like a high-tech experimental base and more like a full-fledged, integrated military installation of the Federation.
“Prepare yourselves!” Qin Fen stated gravely, surveying the developing situation. “Once I deal with these fighters that pose the greatest threat to your mobile armors, jump out and commence the assault.”
Aerial combat? Jessica Weir’s beautiful eyes flickered with renewed surprise. The take-off of the Phantom fighters from the Genesis Society had already signaled that their pilots were undoubtedly Aces, and combined with the newest Phantom models suited for various combat environments, they represented a terrifying air power.
In contrast, their side only had this single, massive transport fighter. If calculated using the latest computer algorithms, Qin Fen’s win probability was less than one percent.
Whoosh...
A dozen whistling sounds tore through the air overhead. Missiles roared from both the ground and the airborne Phantom fighters, hurtling toward the strangely large intruder aircraft.
“Cap...”
Before Jessica Weir could finish her warning, she felt the rear section of the fighter violently tumble in the air, narrowly evading the simultaneous attack of four missiles.
The sheer bulk of the massive airframe reduced its agility. More critically, due to its immense size, the surface area subjected to force was consequently increased, meaning structural integrity could not withstand high-difficulty maneuvers.
Ace Pilots had previously attempted to execute continuous rolls in large transport aircraft, only for the craft to tear itself apart during the second 360-degree rotation because the speed exceeded what the structure could bear.
Seventeen missiles had been dodged during the plane’s tumbling maneuvers. Jessica Weir began to believe her master’s words—computer simulations of human potential could never truly predict actual data! Humans were beings of infinite potential; they would not be constrained or limited by numerical values.
The giant airframe had rolled several times, yet showed no sign of structural failure. Jessica knew why: Qin Fen had perfectly accounted for external wind resistance, air friction, and the precise angles needed during the reversals.
When everything was calculated correctly, the aircraft could indeed avoid disintegration. However, Jessica’s computer models had once stated that no such human existed in the world.
Did they? Jessica Weir could only manage a wry smile as she looked at the small supercomputer in her hand. If this device possessed emotions, would it short-circuit from smoke upon witnessing Qin Fen’s capability?
Feng Lu stared with wide eyes at the spectacle unfolding. His initial anxiety had morphed into boundless excitement! Inside this colossal metal bird, Qin Fen, using only the limited missiles and the twin Vulcan cannons equipped, had destroyed seven of the enemy’s Ace Pilot-manned interceptors in a short span.
Lü Han and Lü Chu were equally stunned, knowing this was an experience they might only witness once in their lifetimes—blink, and they would regret it forever.
The number of aerial fighters gradually decreased, replaced by dozens of surface-to-air missiles. These homing missiles acted like a pack of relentless hounds, clinging fiercely to Qin Fen’s tail.
Creak... Creak...
Qin Fen’s ears twitched slightly, listening to the faint sounds emanating from deep within the fuselage. After all, this was a transport-focused large aircraft, not a dedicated combat machine; it had reached its limit just by holding on this long! The only pity was that one enemy aircraft remained airborne.
The final Ace Pilot of the Genesis Society put up a commendable show. Qin Fen frowned slightly, then shouted with appreciation, “Prepare! Egress!”
The five soldiers instantly activated their systems, propelled by the inertia of the transport plane, surging rapidly into the Mobile Armors whose hatches had already been opened.
Two more missile shrieks pierced the air from the side. Qin Fen manipulated the controls rapidly, causing the massive aircraft to sharply pivot toward the Phantom fighter that had fired the missiles. Simultaneously, he vacated his seat and leaped out without looking back into the Red Lotus Phantom.
The crimson Mobile Armor body emitted a light as if truly alive. Its twin rear thrusters instantly ignited, coordinating with its extreme forward momentum as it charged toward the open hatch.
Boom!
The transport plane Qin Fen had been flying finally turned into a massive fireball in the sky. The crew of the Phantom fighter cheered, their hair standing on end—they had finally shot down that terrifying enemy!
“You’re celebrating too soon...”
A cold voice echoed in the pilot's headset. It was Qin Fen, chastising them from above. From within the fireball, a red silhouette emerged—the Red Lotus Phantom Mobile Armor didn't bother using missiles; it simply extended its robust metal arm and slammed heavily into the Phantom 3000 cockpit, which had paused mid-air in over-excitement.
“Goodbye!”
Qin Fen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the Phantom 3000, which the Red Lotus Phantom had just turned into a ball of fire above him. A satisfied smile touched his lips. That last aircraft was finally destroyed. The bothersome cluster of missiles was also drawn toward the two large fireballs in the sky, swarming them like moths to a flame.
Qin Fen’s aerial display was too dazzling. The Mobile Armor soldiers watching from the ground nearly missed the descent of the five Mobile Armors from above.
“Enemy attack! Take them down!”
A sharp, piercing command echoed through the comms of over fifty Mobile Armor warriors. As the order was given, overwhelming, crisscrossing firepower rained down upon Qin Fen and his four companions.
The Red Lotus Phantom, encased in red metal plating, instantly became the most conspicuous target on the battlefield, drawing more than half of the concentrated fire.
Surface-to-ground anti-armor missiles rapidly adjusted their firing angles, weaving a targeting net that made anyone looking at it dizzy.
Qin Fen didn't even have time to gasp. This was a real battlefield; a direct hit meant death. The base’s actual firepower configuration was far superior to the simulated one Jessica Weir had created.
In that instant, Qin Fen’s mind sharpened to its absolute peak, and his maneuvers accelerated simultaneously. The red lightning once again initiated its brilliant waltz across the battlefield.
Charge, fire! Retreat, launch missiles! Sidestep, use a fist to destroy a missile launcher! Qin Fen’s red streak was visible everywhere on the field!
At that moment, whether it was the commanders hidden behind the scenes or the Mobile Armor warriors on the ground, everyone was stunned by the performance of the Red Lotus Phantom.
Doesn’t this Mobile Armor’s power core ever overheat? Almost everyone in the enemy ranks harbored the same question.
One minute remaining... fifty-five seconds... Sweat beaded on Qin Fen’s forehead. The frontal assault was more difficult than anticipated; the enemy's firepower exceeded expectations by far. The Red Lotus Phantom’s power core was overclocked to its absolute limit. He had to constantly calculate the lifespan of the core, aiming to end the battle before it failed.
Over twenty Mobile Armors had been eliminated on the field, and virtually all of the base’s ground-to-air missile launchers were completely cleared.
Qin Fen’s Mobile Armor suddenly ceased its lateral movement and lunged at high speed toward the nearly thirty assembled Mobile Armors.
“Take him down! Take him down!!”
The commander of the Genesis Society’s Mobile Armor squad shouted repeatedly. A small missile suddenly erupted from the sand.
This missile emerged too subtly and unexpectedly; Qin Fen couldn't react to evade it. His right mechanical thigh was violently blown apart, causing his speed to instantly stutter. The small, speed-focused missile finally achieved its goal and struck the Red Lotus Phantom’s chassis.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
Towering flames mixed with golden sand, causing the heat rising from the air to surge in waves.
The Genesis Society Mobile Armor warriors simultaneously breathed a collective sigh of relief. Some even raised a hand to wipe the sweat from their brows. Such an enemy was terrifying. Once this bizarre Red Lotus Phantom was destroyed, the remaining Mobile Armors, while powerful, would still be defeatable...
The thought hadn't fully formed in their minds when, from the cockpit of the Red Lotus Phantom, which had been carefully bombed into a charred wreck, suddenly erupted a violent explosion!
This explosion was not from gunpowder, but a massive force erupting from within, blasting open the cockpit hatch!
What just happened...?
Before the word 'It' could fully register in their minds, a piercing dragon’s roar echoed from the pulverized Red Lotus Phantom. A streak of green human-shaped light shot out at incredible speed toward the Genesis Society’s Mobile Armor ranks.
The crushed Red Lotus Phantom, after sinking into the golden sand, plunged further down.
In the scorching air, everywhere Qin Fen passed seemed like a miniature aircraft flying ultra-low, kicking up a continuous, sky-obscuring plume of golden sand in its wake.
Things happened too fast; Qin Fen’s speed was overwhelming! No one expected that the pilot of the destroyed Mobile Armor could escape unharmed! Furthermore, no one could have conceived that the martial arts strength of a Mobile Armor pilot could reach such a terrifying level.
The roar, like a dragon yet not a dragon, pierced metal and stone, striking the ears of those hiding within the Mobile Armors! Qin Fen’s True Qi surged, and amidst the roar, he utilized the golden sand as a springboard to leap wildly into the air, causing the sand beneath his feet to explode and churn as if he were stepping on hidden infantry mines.
Two ascents! Three hundred meters! Qin Fen's figure was no longer that of a dragon soaring through the heavens, but more like a Golden-Winged Great Peng soaring through the sky! Under everyone's gaze, he plunged into the formation of Mobile Armors in the blink of an eye!
Divine Fist Way! Golden Peng Descent!
After two months of intensely absorbing knowledge from the vast collection in the Martial Arts Hall of the Sacred Martial Academy, Qin Fen had created a true martial arts movement technique belonging only to himself: the Divine Fist Way, Golden Peng Descent!
In mythology, a monkey could travel 108,000 li in a single somersault, but this was inferior to the Golden-Winged Great Peng, which could cover 54,000 li with one flap of its wings, and overtake the monkey with two flaps, surpassing it with three!
Qin Fen integrated numerous movement techniques, adopting the form of the Golden-Winged Great Peng, finally perfecting his own martial technique, Golden Peng Descent! This technique contained no profound evasions; it emphasized only one word: Speed!
In all martial arts, only speed is unbreakable!
How could a movement technique be this fast? As the crowd registered their shock, Qin Fen slapped his left and right palms onto the chassis of the Mobile Armors. Before anyone could react, he twisted his waist and slipped between two Mobile Armors, moving to strike others.
What was he doing? All members of both sides froze simultaneously. The force behind that palm strike was far too light; it wouldn't even begin to penetrate the armor! If he dared to stop and strike with full force to kill, the other mechanized suits would immediately unleash missiles and artillery fire upon his unprotected body.
"No, watch out! He's sticking C4 charges!"
A shout of terror pierced the ears of the mechanized armor warriors. They finally realized the exact spot Qin Fen had struck—precisely where their respective mobile armor defenses were weakest, yet most critical. If those spots were hit...
Boom boom boom...
Fires erupted amidst the mechanized armor formation, the explosions sounding like thunder. Qin Fen, a streak of green, had already blasted clear of the encirclement, cautiously surveying the results of his gambit.
Although none of the mechanized armors were completely destroyed, the blasts effectively rendered them unable to fire, evade, or do anything at all for a significant duration—they were like statues cast in scrap metal.
In such a state, facing five mechanized fighters armed with devastating firepower, their fate was already clear to foresee.
Deep within the desert base, in a dark room, a colossal bathtub was housed, emitting a foul, pungent odor.
A man lay naked within it, watching the projection hovering just above and slightly in front of his eyes, and spoke slowly, "Qin Lei, truly formidable. Let me see the full extent of your power. Attendants! Prepare the Insect Warrior units!"