Chapter 530: You Should Keep the Cold War Going
Chapter 530: You Should Keep the Cold War Going
Fang Cheng stood motionless, letting the enormous fire phoenix crash into him.
The terrifying impact and high temperature instantly bounced off Vector Control, scattering in all directions.
Some flames kept hitting the ground, melting the steel-like blood coating its surface.
This destructive power far surpassed A+ level.
The fire phoenix shattered by Vector Control didn’t disappear—it reformed from the blazing sea of fire, circling before charging at Fang Cheng again.
This attack wasn’t weaker than the previous one—it grew even stronger.
Fang Cheng made no move to counterattack, standing like a perfect target.
The fire phoenix crashed, vanished, then reborn to strike again, each rebirth boosting its power by another step.
After nine consecutive rebirths, the fire phoenix reached its complete form, its massive body barely fitting within the football-field-sized space.
It let out a piercing cry as it dove from the air toward Fang Cheng like a falling sun, blazing with endless light.
The blood coating the training ground’s walls began melting under this radiant glare.
The fire phoenix struck Fang Cheng, engulfed in blinding light.
White light flooded his vision, leaving nothing visible.
Vector Control’s bounce reached its limit—scattered forces shook the entire training ground violently, threatening to collapse.
Just as Fang Cheng thought Vector Control would break, the impact force dwindled until it vanished completely.
His sight returned quickly. The surrounding sea of fire faded, and the fire phoenix didn’t regenerate.
After all, Phoenix Flames were merely a monster born from phoenix fire, not the real deal—eternal nirvana remained beyond its reach.
Yet reaching this level already exceeded Fang Cheng’s expectations by far.
This was undeniably ace-level power.
As Fang Cheng gauged its limits, Kanzaki Rin’s figure suddenly burst from the dying flames.
Her clothes had burned away, but flowing flame tendrils now covered most of her body.
Kanzaki Rin leaped at Fang Cheng through the air, one slender thigh arched over her shoulder as she chopped downward like a battle-axe.
Fang Cheng dodged sideways. Her bare foot smashed the steel-hardened blood coating the floor into fragments.
“Damn, trying to kill your own husband?”
Kanzaki Rin’s lips curled slightly as she pressed her assault.
Fang Cheng had no choice but to spar with her.
Kanzaki Rin’s combat style had stripped away flashy techniques, focusing purely on speed, precision, and steadiness.
She channeled flames mid-attack to amplify her strikes.
Fang Cheng refrained from using Vector Control’s cheap tricks, meeting her with Heart Body Technique instead.
His surprise grew with each exchange.
Kanzaki Rin’s original physical strength hovered around A-rank, yet the drug had pushed her beyond A+.
If one could become an Ace, it meant achieving both superpower and physical strength at the highest level.
The Divine medicine affected Kanzaki Rin unexpectedly, far exceeding its effects on other recipients.
Had it triggered some strange reaction with her Level 4 enhancement?
Since Level 4 enhancement was a project led by the Area 11 Government while Divine medicine came from Dr. X’s private research, perhaps the two complemented each other.
Fang Cheng got distracted during their sparring session, letting Kanzaki Rin suddenly pin him to the ground.
She sat directly on top of him, smiling faintly. “Well?”
“Impressive.”
His hands slid along her smooth, toned thighs, sensing the raw power beneath.
These legs could snap steel bars like twigs now.
“Have you reached Ace level?”
“My abilities meet the standard, but physical strength needs more testing.”
Kanzaki Rin evaluated herself, pleased beyond expectation. She’d never imagined becoming an Ace.
“Stronger individuals usually get weaker effects from Divine medicine. Why did you react oppositely?”
“Not sure. Let’s ask Dr. X later.”
Kanzaki Rin considered, “If he finds answers, rebuilding his research institute might enable mass-producing Aces someday.”
Fang Cheng grinned. “Planning to conquer Area 11 as empress?”
If she truly wanted it, their martial power alone could achieve it.
Mechanical City now boasted two Aces – siblings Kamikawa Takumi and Kanzaki Rin.
Proxies Asaka Akihime and Ye Yuqing matched Ace-level strength.
Sato Hayato neared Ace-level, alongside A-ranked Takeda Masumi and Nangong Saye, plus Sato Mai commanding drone swarms.
Topping it all stood Fang Cheng himself – a disaster-level lethal device.
In island-bound Area 11, Mechanical City’s martial power now surpassed both the Area 11 Government and Iron Fortress.
Kanzaki Rin had no imperial ambitions – managing one city already overwhelmed her.
She sought strength to prevent repeating that helplessness when Isis came knocking.
Avoiding unpleasant memories, she tapped Fang Cheng’s chest. “Returning tonight?”
He blinked, then sighed. “How long will your cold war with Akihime last?”
Since their phone-call accusations, Kanzaki Rin and Asaka Akihime maintained frosty distance –
rarely speaking, avoiding home encounters, living parallel lives while competing to monopolize Fang Cheng’s time.
Nights found him watching night scenery with Kanzaki Rin, days jogging with Asaka Akihime –
leaving zero privacy. Nangong Saye struggled stealing moments between.
Thankfully Uka Mirai’s egg-form prevented another dark transformation candidate.
Fang Cheng used to think having a harem seemed wonderful after reading too many small yellow books.
Now he truly understood the pain – just managing their emotions gave him constant headaches.
Yet the little tricks Kanzaki Rin and Asaka Akihime employed to keep him close also filled him with indescribable joy.
His current existence balanced both agony and delight.
Kanzaki Rin’s face hardened at Fang Cheng’s words. She plucked a peanut from his chest with her fingers and sneered, “You expect me to play nice with my romantic rival?”
For someone who stole her man, Kanzaki Rin considered it mercy enough not to have this rival permanently erased.
This restraint only existed because she and Akihime were supposedly friends.
“Akihime feels the same.”
“Then go lecture her instead!”
“I tried. She told me to convince you.”
“Make her back off or shut up.”
Fang Cheng sighed. “How long will this standoff last?”
Kanzaki Rin pinched his cheek sharply. “You caused this by dating multiple women! Dump the others and I’ll make peace with Akihime.”
Not wanting the flames to scorch him, Fang Cheng hastily replied, “Maybe continue your cold war a bit longer.”
“We’ll settle this later.”
Kanzaki Rin snorted and yanked at his clothes. “You’re staying tonight.”
Watching her wolfish intensity, Fang Cheng groaned, “So young, yet already forced to pay marital dues.”
Her punch silenced him.
After completing his “duties”, Fang Cheng gathered Kanzaki Rin’s hair and nails before visiting the spaceship.
The survivors’ permitted range had expanded, now including deck access for sunlight and fresh air.
Though supplies were ample and the ship could easily sustain hundreds, Fang Cheng’s doppelganger still confined them like livestock.
Fang Cheng ignored the crowd, seeking only Dr. X.
The elderly workaholic mirrored Kanzaki Rin’s philosophy – idleness wasted timeline and Life. Every moment should fuel scientific progress.
While drifting across the Pacific Ocean, Dr. X had repeatedly complained to Fang Cheng about “rusting from inactivity”, claiming work deprivation would kill him.
Fang Cheng suggested games for entertainment and longevity.
Dr. X dismissed this – old men like him scorned youths wasting timeline on games.
Though admiring such dedication, Fang Cheng lacked tasks for the scientist. Making an elder clean bathrooms seemed cruel.
Kanzaki Rin’s abnormal reaction to the Divine medicine finally offered Dr. X purpose.
Entering the survivor’s area, Fang Cheng found a boisterous crowd.
They were playing competitive VR games through the spaceship’s local network – advanced immersive systems limited only by lacking internet access.
A cheer rose from the crowd as someone apparently won.
The player in the center removed his gaming headset, revealing gray-streaked hair.
Dr. X, face flushed with triumph, held out his hands to others. “I won! Pay up!”
Fang Cheng rubbed his eyes to confirm what he saw.
After collecting his winnings, Dr. X finally noticed Fang Cheng and cleared his throat, dismissing the group.
“Mr. Fang, I can explain…”
Fang Cheng waved him off. “Save it, Doctor. Basic human nature.”
Dr. X blinked before nodding. “Exactly! Exploring the unknown defines humanity. I used to underestimate gaming – truly revolutionary…”
_Even when gambling?_
Fang Cheng spared the old man’s dignity, instead reporting Kanzaki Rin’s post-injection abnormalities and their possible connection to her Level 4 enhancement.
Dr. X turned serious, accepting the hair and nail samples.
“Plausible theory, but I need proper facilities.” He met Fang Cheng’s gaze. “We must rebuild the research institute.”
A loyalty test. Fang Cheng didn’t blink.
“Budget’s unlimited. Build it.”
…
Mechanical City’s expansion continued, outer districts taking shape. The first residential blocks would open this year if construction stayed on schedule.
Few understood why the Area 11 Government lifted trade restrictions. Those in the know watched Hokkaido’s entire map.
Monsters needed goods, creating markets and profit opportunities. Kanzaki Rin’s relaxed foreign investment policies swelled the population until housing shortages hit.
Property deals remained restricted, sparing citizens from skyrocketing prices – for now. With new districts developing, prices would keep climbing unless Fang Cheng’s regime faltered.
Qingxue returned to find cranes dotting the skyline and streets choked with traffic. Five months of combat training – two with Fang Cheng, three alone – had sharpened her ice-cold demeanor and boosted her power to monster level.
Now stronger but stagnant, she’d returned to a transformed city teeming with humans and disguised monsters.
Shifting to cat form, she rode a truck cab into town before resuming human shape unnoticed, her presence-dampening spell keeping attention away.
Two disheveled white men caught her eye near her apartment district. Common sights since Isis’ defeat, these smelled different – like the foreign monsters creeping into Hokkaido from Southeast Asia and Europe.
She trailed them through streets, noting their strategic photo-taking of government buildings and infrastructure. Their path ended at a three-story house exuding faint bloodscent – detectable only by upper-tier monsters like herself.
Qingxue’s paws touched the balcony silently as she shifted forms again, slipping through cracked glass.