Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 178 - 178 98 Withdrawal

178: Chapter 98 Withdrawal 178: Chapter 98 Withdrawal “Trigger mines, timed explosives, AI-determined bombs…

Basically, any explosive that doesn’t require additional commands to detonate from a distance is a Hero’s friend.”

This famous quote comes from an unnamed Hero from two hundred years ago.

Although Xiang Shan is unaware of this saying at the moment, the tactics it represents are firmly etched into his mind.

Explosives are a Hero’s good partner, especially those that can detonate by themselves from a distance.

Explosives are far more effective when used against a large group of people with “mediocre martial arts” than against a single person with “strong martial arts”.

The presence of a crowd ensures that the energy of the bomb, expanding in all directions, can be maximally transferred to the targets rather than futilely blasting air or the ground.

People with mediocre martial skills are also unlikely to dodge the most powerful blast of a bomb with supersonic speed like a martial arts master would.

And bombs that can explode from a distance are even more useful.

They can not only be used to set traps but also to distract the enemy, causing them to commit troops to an area without targets—a solid tactical move.

Moreover, they can “completely alter the terrain at a specific moment”.

Timing and terrain are also very important for the effectiveness of martial arts.

And explosives are precisely what can reverse “terrain” when necessary.

Before entering the layer above, Xiang Shan had drilled several holes in the ceiling of Layer 733 and stuffed in a few bombs.

When necessary, he could detonate them suddenly to blow a hole in the area.

This had been his plan from the outset.

If the assassination failed and he got trapped there, he would use the hole to escape.

If the assassination was successful and he withdrew in advance, the sudden explosion could temporarily distract the enemy and create chaos.

It was a no-lose situation no matter how one thought about it.

In addition, Xiang Shan also left bombs in other areas where he had stayed.

The charges of these devices weren’t large.

With some luck, they might kill one or two Martial Artists, but they wouldn’t cause significant damage.

Their greatest significance lay in “creating chaos”.

The enemy must always beware of “whether there are other lurking foes in any given area”.

They had to leave troops behind, more than just a basic defense at every strategic point.

As a result, the forces pursuing him would be reduced a bit.

—Of course, this was not absolute.

As long as the army from outside the building kept pouring in, being surrounded and killed was only a matter of time.

The government has so much power, enough to take care of every position while besieging “one” Hero.

However, the fact that Xiang Shan, “one” Hero, could stir up so much force and force the government to spend that much energy to operate those Prosthetic Bodies similar to his own was already a “strategic success”.

“Though it’s only been about ten minutes since my bomb detonated, my opportunities are dwindling.

Those gangsters are nothing but a disorganized mob; even with a stronghold, they can only last about ten minutes.”

“If the troops get desperate and start treating other gang members as ‘accomplices’, it would only take a little longer to suppress them.”

“Twenty minutes.

That’s all the time I have left.”

Upon entering the Metal Aerosol, Xiang Shan’s several hidden dharma gates opened, and steam of some solvent immediately sprayed out.

This was the coolant Xiang Shan was currently using.

The high-intensity battle had caused the temperature in parts of his Prosthetic Body to surge rapidly, pushing his cooling system to the limit.

“Damn, this coolant is a high-end item, and it’s expensive,” Xiang Shan sighed, “Feels like the lubricant needs a top-up as well…”

“Now, the high-performance explosives I swiped from that gang are almost depleted.

I’ve lost the Steel Mace.

Right, the Sonicon Blade fell up there…

Tch, the most crucial part, the sword hilt, was left there, doesn’t that mean I’m screwed with just a bunch of blade fragments?”

Xiang Shan sighed again.

Once he entered the Metal Aerosol, he naturally lost contact with the Internal Strength Master once more.

After all, his communications with the Internal Strength Master relied on signals.

And most electromagnetic signals could not penetrate through this Metal Aerosol.

He found himself isolated once again.

—Tch, this feeling…

why does it feel so familiar…

A sense of inexplicable irritation welled up from the bottom of Xiang Shan’s heart.

In his past, he must have experienced a similar scenario, which gave him very painful memories.

—Assassination…

cut off from our own Internal Strength Master…

—Failure…

I lost…

At that moment, the sound of footsteps coming from afar pulled Xiang Shan out of this emotional state.

Xiang Shan forcefully calmed his spirit.

What’s past is past.

The missing parts due to the damage to the memory carrier cannot be recovered just by “remembering”.

So, it is best to focus on the present situation.

To put it bluntly, Xiang Shan was now facing a choice.

With the little time he had, he could either retreat directly.

Or, he could figure out a way to replenish his combat power and then fight his way back.

Xiang Shan quickly reviewed the intelligence he had at hand.

As he evacuated, the mysterious expert had sent him a complete set of architectural plans for the building.

“There are no weapon and ammo supply points ten floors up or down.

That’s to be expected, these floors are either for personnel’s offices or core research areas.

Ammunition definitely wouldn’t be stored in such locations.

Whether it’s being detonated in one fell swoop by the enemy or taken over by outsiders to establish a stronghold, it could cause massive damage.”

“And after breaking through the blockades of several floors, there won’t be enough time to come back up.”

“That is to say, it’s time to go.”

As Xiang Shan quickly moved through the metal aerosol, he dropped the remaining small speakers on the ground to play “footsteps” and distract the enemy’s tracking.

There were only a few of these speakers left.

——It seems I am indeed out of ammo and supplies.

Xiang Shan thought with regret.

“Following the route recommended by the internal strength master…

Elevator shaft B3 was severely damaged for some reason, with all of its defense mechanisms disabled, leaving only the purely mechanical structure still operational.

That could be tried for descent to the bottom floor, then using the sewers to escape.”

Just then, Xiang Shan suddenly heard the faint footsteps in the distance diminish by one.

“It’s the fifth speaker…”

Xiang Shan quickly changed direction and headed toward the stairwell.

Suddenly, a roar erupted.

Xiang Shan had just enough time to stop himself.

With a ‘boom,’ a shadow flew out from the aerosol, grazing him as it passed, then plunged back into the aerosol again.

Given the location on the map and the noise of the impact, he must have burst through a wall.

A voice roared at his side, “Here!

Here!”

——It’s that Siege Hammer with grasshopper-like legs!

At this time, the footsteps from afar faded once more.

Xiang Shan quickly mapped out the enemy’s possible paths based on their relative positions and started running in another direction.

But just then, a series of roars were approaching from afar.

——That big guy…

he’s bursting through walls in quick succession!

An alarm went off in Xiang Shan’s mind.

In that instant, a pair of huge fists broke through the invisible metal fog and charged straight at him!

……………………………………

Bengel looked at the devastated ground, almost collapsing on the spot.

“It’s over, all is lost…” he murmured.

The unfinished thesis was taken, and a nearly completed set of data was ruined.

To start over would take years of hard work.

But, this “years of hard work” may not necessarily fall to him anymore.

His Excellency Ashur would not forgive such a mistake.

Compared to that, the damage to the site seemed insignificant.

At this moment, his gaze at Mr.

Tai’a was even more eager than before.

“Mr.

Tai’a…”

Mr.

Tai’a seemed to be still distracted by something below.

When he heard Bengel call, he responded, “What is it?”

“The matter I mentioned before…”

“Ah, compared to that…” Mr.

Tai’a smoothly moved on from the topic.

He had no desire to hastily appoint an official knight.

He pointed below and said, “Truly a Hero adept at using explosives.

It seems he must have calculated the use of such means to escape before even coming in.”

Thinking that he might have to seek favor with this noble person in the future, Bengel immediately nodded and said, “Indeed…”

Mr.

Tai’a pointed to the Sonicon Blade that Xiang Shan had discarded: “Your Excellency, I think, everything that Hero has thrown away might be problematic.

That high-frequency vibration knife might explode as well.

Or, it could have a Gu embedded in its control system, becoming hazardous upon integration with one’s prosthetic body.

Such a Hero will stop at nothing.

That weapon should also be disposed of with caution.”

Bengel nodded.

Although he thought this might be making a mountain out of a molehill, considering Mr.

Tai’a’s extensive field research and frequent dealings with Jianghu, such paranoia wasn’t surprising.

He promptly stopped Ya Pining Zhao from picking up the weapon and called a bomb disposal team to handle it.

Mr.

Tai’a nodded.

At least he now had a few more minutes to consider how to dispose of the Sonicon Blade.

If the local bomb disposal team could treat it as a bomb and take it to explode in the open field, that would be ideal.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t count on such luck.

Suddenly, Mr.

Tai’a felt something and looked up.

Where his gaze landed was a screen.

A half-second later, the screen activated.

The virtual image of the Holy Knight Ashur appeared on it.

“Bengel,” Ashur said, “it’s only been a few minutes and you’ve managed to turn this place into a disaster…”

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