Chapter 424: Laboratory Security Forces — Ancient Metal Beast Pack
Ever since it was taken over by a certain individual, NESTS' organizational philosophy completely changed.
They manipulated genes, disregarded ethics, modified bodies, and spied on fighters. Although their actions weren't as ostentatious as Shadaloo's, they were all birds of a feather.
The reason NESTS appeared to retreat during the day was simply due to an inopportune moment, insufficient manpower, and the deterrence brought by Cheng Tian himself.
However, everyone knows the saying, "it's easy to fish in troubled waters," so it was no surprise that NESTS chose to intervene precisely when Shadaloo attacked the laboratory.
Cheng Tian had already considered this when Maxima left earlier, so he wasn't too surprised to see Maxima now.
Maxima was a heavily cybernetically enhanced human, but because Cheng Tian hadn't used the valuable "Reputation Change" authority on him, he theoretically only had a dormant, pre-programmed puppet master protocol installed.
As long as he was outside of Cheng Tian's mental scan radius, or if Cheng Tian didn't activate the program, Maxima would continue to act according to his original behavioral logic.
Upon discovering the big guy, Cheng Tian quietly activated the built-in puppet program and began to read Maxima's memory in its entirety.
Their objective for this operation differed from Shadaloo's. Shadaloo aimed to make Cheng Tian and his group pay a heavy price while also reclaiming Juri Han's left eye. NESTS' objective, however, was not only the Feng Shui Engine but also the laboratory's psychic gene reserves!
Therefore, among the personnel dispatched this time, in addition to Maxima for brute-force breaching, the modified humans chosen were highly agile and mentally acute individuals skilled in deciphering codes and plundering resources.
Even the supervisor responsible for current regional affairs decided to join the attack.
After all, there was still a possibility of encountering Shadaloo here. Relying solely on Maxima would be insufficient in terms of combat power, and in case of an unexpected situation, they wouldn't be able to buy more time for evacuation.
It didn't matter if people got into trouble; the data and the Feng Shui Engine absolutely had to be brought back!
Furthermore, even without reading Maxima's memory information, Cheng Tian could tell from the silhouette alone that the NESTS middle-management cadre accompanying them was the man named "Gouki Kirishima."
A guy who believed himself to be K's original body, but was actually a clone of K'.
Gouki Kirishima's appearance genuinely surprised Cheng Tian, who then realized that the Gouki Kirishima of the '97 timeline was already toiling as a middle-management cadre in NESTS.
At this time, K' and Kula were theoretically also in the cultivation and modification stages, but due to the lack of Kusanagi flame genes, they were currently paused at the superpower bestowal stage.
However, due to the significant expansion and changes in the worldview, with fighters from different works and planes arriving one after another, NESTS had developed a certain degree of choice paralysis. At the very least, the Kusanagi flame was no longer the only option.
The bait that Cheng Tian deliberately exposed through the live broadcast, namely the psychic genes that should have only been usable on dinosaurs, naturally entered NESTS' field of vision.
NESTS was utterly unconcerned about the restriction of "only usable on dinosaurs," reasoning that deaths during human experimentation were necessary sacrifices on the path to creating perfect life forms.
However, while they were coveting the laboratory, Cheng Tian was also coveting them.
"To come wearing reinforced suits, knowing full well I need reinforced suit technology... then prepare to go home naked."
Cheng Tian, stationed in the laboratory, rubbed his hands like a fly, his eyes burning with fervor.
Because Gouki Kirishima was wearing a reinforced combat suit containing NESTS technology... the most basic kind.
One must eat one bite at a time, and do things one step at a time. Gouki Kirishima's combat suit was indeed the lowest-tech NESTS combat suit currently available. Not only did it lack any attribute bonuses, but it couldn't even unleash "Super Special Moves" without fighter data input.
But precisely because it was the most basic, it meant there was potential for further expansion, and its encryption was not high, making it easy to replicate or mass-produce. In contrast, those high-combat-power suits might have restrictions like gene-lock binding.
And according to Heaven's Chosen Space's usual style, those high-combat-power suits would most likely only be obtainable through treasure chest drops for those without the relevant technology.
However, with NESTS appearing in the chaos, Cheng Tian's manpower was somewhat stretched thin.
"I'm counting on you, Utan."
Cheng Tian patted Utan's shoulder, to which Utan simply returned an OK gesture, then began to fly across both keyboards with both hands and feet.
"[Detecting 'Portable Laboratory' currently under hostile invasion —]"
"[Portable Laboratory 'Security Contract' activated, Security Department Supervisor 'Utan (Part-time)' authorized to activate laboratory defense mechanisms.]"
"[Security Guard Beasts 'Ancient Metal Beast Pack' are activating —]"
The Hammond Innovation Lab's construction included the expansion of underground storage areas. The moment the security contract was activated, a row of lights illuminated the dark underground storage area, and the ground, hidden beneath verdant green, slowly opened.
To the sharp ears of the invading fighters, a series of crisp and heavy footsteps could be faintly heard.
Utan's creation of Ancient Metal Beasts was somewhat akin to "goblin engineering." He could produce unique metal dinosaur-shaped combat vehicles that could be driven and sold within regulatory limits.
Since they were combat vehicles, they naturally couldn't escape the basic rule of "only one auxiliary combat summon at a time."
However, Cheng Tian chose a different approach, thrusting the identity of "Security Supervisor" upon Utan.
This way, Utan could utilize the security contract to embed his manufactured Ancient Metal Beasts as "security personnel," "guard beasts," or similar identities.
Doing so would mean these Ancient Metal Beasts could only exist in conjunction with the laboratory's establishment, and would only activate when danger was encountered or when guard duties within the area were required.
But the advantage was —
These Ancient Metal Beasts were not restricted by the rule of "only one auxiliary combat summon at a time"!
Before Utan officially started tinkering with himself, he naturally practiced on dinosaurs first. Consequently, Cheng Tian's Hundred Dragon King became Utan's practice template.
One after another, a total of 15 colorful metal raptors, metal pachycephalosauruses, and metal pterodactyls surged from the underground vault, quickly marking all friendly and hostile entities currently within the laboratory's perimeter.
Agility, strength, air superiority, and cost were Utan's main reasons for choosing these three types of dinosaurs.
Under Cheng Tian's guidance, these dinosaurs charged headlong towards the NESTS members' location.
"Dinosaurs!?"
Gouki Kirishima looked at the ancient giant lizards before him with immense surprise, but he quickly noticed the metallic sheen on their bodies.
However, the next sight made his eyes widen even further.
The leading metal raptor, noticeably larger than those around it, actually transformed right before NESTS' eyes—
After a dazzling series of intricate changes, the metal raptor had transformed into a humanoid figure wielding a whip-sword!
"Humans, get out! This is the boss's private territory!"
The Raptor Warrior, made primarily from precious Cleria ore, bared its teeth and issued a stern expulsion order to Gouki Kirishima and the others.