The thing looked like a large sphere made of silver, rolling directly out of the hall.
However, perhaps due to its material, it rolled on the ground without any sharp noise, instead having a smooth rhythm.
The surface of the sphere was extremely smooth, with no visible seams or module mounts, only an emblem of a winged Enlightener star, identical to the one at the entrance.
Overall, despite its large size, it looked like a friendly unit at first glance.
In fact, when Yu Lian met it in his “future,” it didn't show excessive hostility.
As long as he didn't touch the secret treasures it specifically guarded, it wouldn't object to him touching a few other things.
But now, Yu Lian wasn't so sure.
Back “then,” it had always stayed in the room, disguised as a large chandelier.
If he hadn't been about to pull out the crystal chip deep inside the ruins, it probably wouldn't have revealed itself.
However, this time it appeared on its own, so what was the reason?
Then, the large sphere stopped, its outer shell began to open, forming external armor plates, revealing its majestic internal machinery.
No matter how majestic, it doesn't change the fact that you're just a giant Bakugan!
I wanted to complain about this last time.
Yu Lian thought.
“Prepare for battle!” Ina shouted loudly.
Even though the security team's grunts were a motley crew, they were still professionally trained soldiers.
Although they were still in shock and confusion, they instinctively raised their weapons upon hearing the command.
Sergeant Baka, who was still kneeling on the ground, leaped up, his right hand holding a power hammer and his left a crystal war axe, looking ready to charge forward and act as a Guardian at any moment.
…Idiot, shouldn't the first thing to do be to shrink behind the black panther car!
Do you really think you're still in the cold weapon era?
Yu Lian thought again.
The black panther car's Gatling gun and the “Stitched” tank's plasma cannon simultaneously aimed at the monstrous thing that was undergoing a strange transformation.
At this moment, Yu Lian made his move.
The air around the “Super Bakugan” began to automatically solidify, turning into a fog-like cage that directly enveloped the opponent.
As a result, the “Super Bakugan”’s bursting action immediately slowed down, as if it had been pulled into a slow-motion space of its own.
This was Environmental Resonance, a principle that uses psionic energy to harmonize with the surrounding environment, used to attack or suppress opponents.
Theoretically, it was already a Three Rings psionic spell.
If he hadn't used it many times in his “memories,” being so familiar with its various psionic compositions, and knowing how to use it with the least effort, a mere First Ring would certainly not be able to “cast above its level.”
Even so, Yu Lian felt as if he had suddenly been burdened with several hundred pounds of weight, with every part of his body—muscles, bones, blood vessels, and even his brain—screaming warnings of overload.
However, even in slow motion, the “Super Bakugan” was still slowly unfolding its form.
It was, after all, a Guardian left behind by an Enlightener, and simply not something that the “greatly weakened” Yu Lian could directly destroy.
Beneath its silvery-white carapace, a dark cannon muzzle was slowly rising.
It could be confirmed that this “Large Bakugan” was a hostile target.
However, before Yu Lian could give the order, the Sergeant Major had already commanded to open fire.
The soldiers fired their guns, and the black panther car and Stitched tank unleashed their gunfire.
As for Baka and Youyou, the two barbarians who volunteered to be Guardians, after a few seconds of hesitation, they finally did not charge into the hail of bullets to fight, and instead, with expressions of disinterest, slowly joined the firing squad.
Perhaps the Enlightener's Guardian had left a huge shadow on everyone, as this shooting lasted for a full three minutes.
Yu Lian also felt like a shut-in carrying a three-hundred-pound weight in a gym, afraid to put it down, almost exhausted, but could only grit his teeth and persevere.
It wasn't until his vision, superior to ordinary people's, finally saw the opponent completely collapse in the explosion's firelight, and the indicator light on its chest dim, that he plopped down onto the tank.
“Want a cigar?” Ina asked.
“Just a chocolate energy bar will do…” Yu Lian said.
Ina looked Yu Lian up and down, seeing him panting heavily, sweating profusely, his face flushed but his eyes unfocused, looking exactly like a shut-in who had just run a full marathon.
She then said seriously, “Eating that right after exercise will make you fat.”
As a result, Yu Lian only received a cup of water, given by a plain-looking, plain-figured little nurse whose name Yu Lian had almost forgotten.
As for Ina, she had already slowly approached the pile of wreckage with a few daring individuals.
She strode with powerful steps in her power armor, and while Youyou and Baka were still a bit hesitant, she had already stepped forward, gently poking the dismantled metal wreckage with her gun barrel.
Seeing no reaction, she simply kicked it hard with her foot.
“Target quiet confirmed.” Ina shouted loudly.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Some began to celebrate softly.
At that moment, various legends of exploring Enlightener legacies floated into their minds; they felt as if they had become part of those legends, enough to boast about until the next century.
It's only temporarily dismantled, but this thing is made of active metal, it will restore itself after a while.
Yu Lian thought.
But there's no need to pour cold water on everyone now.
“I thought all Enlightener Guardians were very powerful,” Miss Belinda said faintly.
Yu Lian smiled without answering, secretly rolling his eyes, thinking, do you think all Guardians are like the Star Dragon King I encountered, who can fight through the main fleets of the Alliance and the Empire seven times in and out?
Enlightener ruins have levels, and the abilities of their Guardians naturally also have levels.
This “Large Bakugan,” according to the Guerrilla Association’s classification method, is what is called a company-level “wild monster,” capable of countering a well-equipped army company.
However, this is when it has fully “burst open,” deploying its anti-matter shield, that honeycomb missile, two blast cannons, and those two cutting lasers.
We have 30 armed soldiers here, five black panther cars plus one “Stitched” tank, and a saturation bombardment for three minutes only managed to dismantle it.
But wasn't I fighting with all my might just to create an opportunity for everyone to conduct a saturation bombardment?
Otherwise, what?
Let it truly deploy all its weapons and shields, and we all fight it for hundreds of rounds, half of us dead and half wounded, and finally, I, the protagonist, unleash my aura and deliver the final blow?
Yu Lian jumped off the tank and walked forward, carefully sifting through a section of metal skeleton.
“Huh? It’s truly incredible, our firepower was so fierce, but the opponent seems to have only sustained structural damage, oh my…” Uncle Karl was about to speak but felt as if someone had kicked him hard in the backside.
He turned around in a rage, only to see Yu Lian standing a few meters away, gesturing with his eyes for him to shut up.
The latter was slightly startled, then seemed to realize something, his face filled with solemn respect, and he nodded in acknowledgment.
So what did you think of, old man?
“See if there’s anything usable,” Yu Lian said.
Since it was only overall structural damage, it meant the parts weren't broken, so there should be a lot of good things to salvage.
Yu Lian believed the old Engineer should understand what he meant.
Sure enough, the latter suddenly understood and dove back into the pile of mechanical parts, his face filled with happiness and excitement, as if he had stumbled into a mountain of gold.
Yu Lian also walked up and started sifting through them with his hands.
“What are you looking for?” Ina asked, seemingly with an ulterior motive.
“Can’t it just be simple scavenging?”
“Heh heh, do you guess if I believe it?”
“…Alright, as far as I know, the spontaneous activation of all Enlightener ruin Guardians has a reason.
For example, sensing something, resonance, or a response.
If it’s not responding to me, then it can only be responding to you.”
“Why can’t it be responding to you?”
Because last time, no, when I came “later,” nothing happened, but can I say that?
“…Because you were possessed just now, but I wasn’t.”
Ina thought that made a lot of sense.
“So, if you search carefully here, you might find an awakening item that is particularly suited to you, or even a treasure…”
“Sir, this thing is still usable!” Uncle Karl ran over excitedly, his expression so elated it was as if he had dug out a gallstone from a universe spirit’s excretion in a junkyard.
“This… usable?” Yu Lian was a bit skeptical.
The other party was holding a large chunk of iron, which was confirmed to be a heavy blast gun that had fallen off the Guardian.
Yu Lian wasn't doubting that the thing was broken, after all, weapons made by the Enlightener with active metal were quite durable.
But not broken doesn't mean it's usable, right?
If you throw a perfectly intact tank to primitive people from the Stone Age, can they drive it?
“I’ve checked it, actually, the internal structure is very similar to the products of my old factory.” Seeing Yu Lian’s skeptical gaze becoming more obvious, the old Engineer chuckled, “…Uh, well, actually, I only understand bits and pieces, but at least the energy transmission structure is very similar.
As long as we load a reliable energy source, we can use it.
Hmm, let me think, yes, using the energy packs from the black panther car or this tank will do, I just need to connect a wire!”
“…Which factory were you at before, exactly?”
At this question, an indescribable sense of vicissitude and sadness visibly appeared on the old Engineer’s face.
In his silence, he seemed to have already narrated a multi-million-word realistic epic.
“It was Lian Zhu Huo…”
“The one that used to specialize in designing broadside cannons and close-in weapon systems for the navy? Uh, I’m sorry… Alright, then I’ll leave it all to you.”
The old Engineer nodded.
Although his thoughts had been stirred and he remained sad, he had at least regained some spirit and vitality.
After all, tinkering with all sorts of “bang-bang-bang” super weapons was the lifelong passion of his career.
