Crimson Embers Chapter 25 The secret to victory is to have more friends and fewer enemies
Three days later, late at night, the captain was standing in front of a coordinate in a dilapidated area outside the City of Hope, lighting a cigarette. A bunch of Masons gathered here, chattering about what would happen next, and the Mobius chair hovering nearby reflected the ticking time on the mechanical armrest, which had reached 20 minutes.
The Doujie rift that is scheduled to appear will open at this timestamp, and that will be the last unknown area that the Mason family will set foot in this broken universe.
The Masons are in great spirits.
Perhaps it was because they had finally been "assigned a room" after following Mason for so long. After capturing the Stark ship of the Second Sequence, now renamed the "Family", they finally no longer had to stay in that damn small suitcase factory of the main body.
Everyone had an entire deck for their own use, and with the work of enough tireless Mark armors and automatic robots, just over three days was enough for them to create a prototype of the Star Sea Manufacturing Corps' headquarters ship, and use it as a basis to complete the preparation of strategic materials for the final battle.
"You said we were coming, so why did you bring a nasty little burden with you?"
The engineer complained to Mason who was smoking:
"Have you understood the situation? We are his enemies! We killed him as an adult! Aren't you afraid that he will suddenly crawl over and strangle you to death with his mechanical tentacles at some point?"
The guy was talking about little Brynia, who was emitting a faint blue light in the dark. The little guy was standing outside the crowd and playing with Harley's two dogs.
The happy light dancing on the face dotted with energy diffractors was not at all as gloomy as Old Bu's, but just like an innocent child.
Ordinary dogs would definitely not dare to approach such a strange creature, but the two Amazon war hounds were probably influenced by their mistress, causing them to have unusually strong nerves. They had a lot of fun playing with Xiaobu, and even took the initiative to run over with detonators in their mouths and let Xiaobu throw them out, and then they cooperated to detonate them remotely.
Uh, shouldn't it be a Frisbee?
Why are these two crazy dogs playing around with detonators in their mouths? Are they planning to change their glorious dog life to become disposable anti-tank dogs?
"Old Luther insisted on sending it to us. He said that we helped the rebels and he had no way to repay us. He could only let Boo follow us and participate in this action which was bound to be dangerous."
Mason flicked the ash off his cigarette and said to the engineer who was grumbling beside him:
"I think this arrangement is pretty good. This guy is much more compatible with the Universe Master Power Armor than we are. Just think of it as bringing a genius child to serve as a bipedal robot driver. At a critical moment, we can send him to crack a program or something.
how?
Are you dissatisfied with this arrangement?"
"What am I dissatisfied with?"
The engineer rolled his eyes and said:
“Anyway, you already have the Supreme Arsenal, so you no longer need to carry around a physical power armor to be ready for both conventional and unconventional battles.
I just feel sorry for that power armor... It's obviously about to give birth to a machine soul, maybe it's a girl's soul, a machine girl, who can refuse a super machine girl who can easily blow up the moon?"
" Go away, you mechanical pervert, stay away from me!"
Mason kicked the mad engineer, drove him away and started to think about the next course of action. As a result, he had just driven away one and another one came.
The alchemist came over and winked at Mason, handing him a bottle of medicine and motioning him to drink it.
Mason looked at the bottle of blood-red potion in his hand with suspicion. He asked back:
"What is this?"
"Don't ask. If you ask, it's a good thing. Just drink it. We are brothers. How can I harm you?"
The alchemist urged him fiercely. Mason threw away the cigarette butt, unscrewed the lid and put it under his nostrils to sniff. It was colorless and odorless, so it was impossible to judge the composition of this thing from this aspect.
He glanced at the alchemist, then raised his head and drank it, then licked his lips.
Mm, orange flavor, not bad.
A second later, Mason felt a ball of warmth rising from his stomach and transmitting to his limbs, making him feel as comfortable as lying in a hot spring, and he let out a groan.
Only after confirming that Mason had no rejection reaction did the alchemist breathe a sigh of relief and say:
“This is an elixir of immortality that has been fine-tuned based on your special genes and your current life form. It can replenish all your physical and mental damage and greatly enhance your vitality.
Although it has no effect on improving your combat power, it can at least allow you to withstand a few more hits when you are hit so that you won't be killed instantly."
"That sounds good, but why were you being so cautious just now?"
Mason asked suspiciously:
"Tell me honestly, is there anything else added to this medicine?"
"No! Don't think too much about it, it's just an ordinary tonic."
The alchemist denied it outright, and turned and walked away quickly, as if he didn't want to talk any more to Mason.
Mason wanted to ask a few more questions, but the jeweler, inscriptionist and enchanter came over again, saying that they wanted to do a final check on the durability of Mason's reusable mechanical infinity gloves that had just been inlaid with six true infinity gems.
Seeing Mason being entangled, the alchemist, who was obviously hiding something, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He hid stealthily aside, with a weird smile on his face, he took out his pipe and put it in his mouth. Just as he was about to light it, a silver-gray replica of the Ultimate Eraser lighter was suddenly stretched out from the side, and a blue flame popped out with a click, lighting the cigarette for the boss .
The alchemist was startled and turned around quickly to see Harley and Quinn blocking him on both sides. The two little cuties stared at him like little gangsters without saying a word, but used their eyes to ask the alchemist whether he had done what they asked.
"Hey, are you still worried about me personally coming here?"
The alchemist lit his pipe comfortably, and as the spicy smoke rose, he gave the two little cuties a thumbs up and said:
"According to your request, adaptive modifications have been made to his special triple helix gene. This will require a period of internal replacement to achieve a greatly increased success rate in combining his tadpoles with human female eggs without affecting his current innate abilities.
Uh, but I said that before.
Mason's physical condition is quite complicated. He is a clone and has been integrated with Isu genes, which makes him almost reproductively isolated from human females.
I can only try my best to increase the probability, but I cannot become a true 'King of Childbirth'."
The alchemist snorted, and like an old Chinese doctor who was seeing patients, he drew out his voice and calmly reminded Harley and Quinn:
"So if you want to do bad things with Mason, you have to work harder. A low probability is not a problem. It's just like no matter how bad the card pool is, as long as you draw more, you will definitely get gold.
Great strength brings about miracles.
Just do it.
At this point, do you need me to prepare some nourishing medicine for you two? At least stabilize your spirits. Your exaggerated mental fluctuations will also affect the probability in this regard.
My business empire is now well underway, and since you are my first two customers, I can give you a 20% discount."
Harley and Quinn looked at each other, then turned back to stare at the alchemist, who curled his lips, spread his hands and said:
"30% off, it can't be any lower! This is the last benefit I bring to you, after all, making medicine also costs money."
"make a deal."
Harley took out a bag of strange things from her bag. They were all items she had collected from some unknown corner while traveling around with her sweetheart. Quinn also took out something of the same nature.
The alchemist took the medicine in his hand and picked and chose, and finally made the deal with all his might. The two parties agreed on a time to pick up the medicine, and the two little cuties happily walked hand in hand to Mason again.
Before they could say anything, Mason took out a large bag of various foods from his bag and stuffed it into their hands.
There were several burgers in front of her, with various flavors, as well as fat water and various snacks, all of which were Harley's favorite things. She cheered and was about to open the package but was slapped away by Quinn.
"This is not for you to eat!"
Quinn scolded, put away the "food gift bag" in her hand, and looked up at Mason.
The captain showed a teachable smile and said to Harley and Quinn :
"This is your mission after you enter. The Mobius Chair will automatically execute a biological signal detection program. You must follow it to find a very important guy in the fighting world.
Give him this food gift package and then negotiate some terms with him.
I can't give you a formulaic answer to your specific question, but I believe that this will not be a problem for the two of you who always play by your unconventional wisdom.
Little Brainiac will go with you, too. He will be your bodyguard in the Universe's Master Power Armor. I only have one request for you, the sooner the better."
He stretched out his hands and took the two little cuties into his arms. The three of them put their foreheads together and he said:
"The speed of your actions will directly determine the degree of danger we will encounter. Just like before, I entrust this important task to you. I believe that the two little cuties will not let me down."
"Leave it to us."
Harley snorted, and said with full energy and confidence:
"Absolutely no problem. It's the easiest to deal with a guy who likes to eat junk food."
"He is dangerous..."
Mason shook his head and said:
"You can't underestimate him. If things are hopeless, withdraw from the fighting world immediately. The Mobius Chair will set up a withdrawal procedure in advance."
"We won't run away! We didn't follow you all the way here, sweetheart, just to be a coward and run away at the last moment. Leave it to us, we will handle it."
Quinn tilted her head back and kissed the corner of her sweetheart's mouth, making her own promise and assurance.
This is a guarantee made in the name of love!
"Hey, are you done with your time? It's about to open, get ready!"
The blacksmith who had been on alert guard in front of the coordinate point turned around and shouted, and the other Masons immediately responded and stepped forward.
The particular ones have already equipped themselves with all kinds of outfits. For example, the engineer has put on a single-person combat suit modified from the Tyrant Armor, and the jeweler has put on mechanical gloves adapted for disposable infinite gems.
But there are also some that don’t care.
For example, a collector with severe social anxiety only received a set of Demon Hunter Master Leather Armor made by a tailor, and his combat belt was filled with various tools and weapons for gathering and skinning, and that was enough to complete his preparations.
As for Mason himself.
He was wearing his windbreaker and hat, with two pistols inserted on the left and right sides of his belt. The special belt on his chest was also filled with various potions. Apart from that, the most conspicuous weapon was the red mechanical armor on his left arm.
Six genuine infinite stones are inlaid on it, and it can unleash endless power with just a slight movement of the mind.
This is enough to deal with most situations.
As the Masons waited and whispered to each other, the final three-minute countdown began. Late at night, a group of strange guys in various attire hid in this deserted ruined city area, surrounding an empty space and waiting intently. Among them were small floating aliens and a crazy beauty with a dog holding a detonator in its mouth.
If the background is changed, this scene would be a complete cult scene.
"Twenty seconds countdown!"
The engineer shouted, activating the energy source of the Tyrant Armor, causing a halo to flicker on the silver suit.
The night grew quiet, and soon a breeze with energy shock blew up in front of the Masons, flowing out from the invisible place and blowing their hair. A dim black light, like a crack of shattered glass, suddenly appeared in the space in front of everyone's eyes, and one could even hear a clear shattering sound spreading and echoing along the crack.
It was just a point at first, but it quickly extended to the surroundings, and after a short period of accumulation of power, it shattered outwards with a bang.
It was like an invisible fist beating from the inside out. The shattered fragments of space fell like flying glass shards and disappeared in mid-air, leaving behind a dark passage that was allowed to be stepped into.
"To the second."
Mason glanced at his watch, and the countdown completely returned to zero at that moment.
"Quick! Go in."
Engineers reminded:
"This tunnel has shown signs of collapse since its appearance. Its energy level is constantly decreasing. This is a temporary phenomenon and will not last more than three minutes."
"Walk!"
Mason rushed in first at the command, followed by Harley and Quinn, and the dogs followed with whimpers, but the other Masons took out something like a diary and threw it out.
Don't ask.
The question is, this group of idiots planned to leave behind a "suicide note" that no one would care about, so as to avoid the embarrassment of never being able to return.
So, amid the flying papers, the members of the Mason family disappeared one by one into the black crack. But when they really passed through, they saw Mason squatting on the ground, picking up a khaki detective hat from the ground on the other side of the crack.
This thing looks a bit old, and must have been used for a long time. There is a crack on it caused by radiation, which looks quite miserable.
But the most important thing is that this thing is still emitting gun smoke.
"It will take no more than five minutes for it to be penetrated."
The engineer came over and expressed his opinion in a professional manner, while the collector next to him poked Mason with his finger, pointing to a blood-stained glove under a rock in front of him.
“Bloodstains…”
The gatherer whispered:
"There are bloodstains extending out continuously. Very fresh bloodstains. The stranger was ambushed as soon as he entered here. He fled in front of us."
"But who is that?"
The tailor grabbed his flying needle in his hand, looked around vigilantly and said in surprise:
"The rift should have just opened! How could someone get here earlier than us? Did a speedster rush in before us?"
"No, not the Speedster!"
Mason put the detective hat in his hand in front of his eyes, squinted his eyes, and a rather horrifying conclusion flashed through his mind. He said:
"It's Rorschach!"
"How is that possible?"
The other Masons exclaimed:
"Didn't that bastard die more than a decade ago?"
“It’s true that we are more than ten years behind him, but we entered the same place at different points in time and landed at the same point on the timeline, and Skynet confirmed that the entire Doujie has been in some kind of strange time loop.
Do you know what this means?"
Mason took out the pistol from his waist and said to the people around him:
"Rorschach just got here! He was probably less than ten minutes ahead of us. The guy who disappeared and died in the outside world more than ten years ago is still alive here!
Well, time...what a wonderful thing.
Let's split up, everyone, and let's resolve this matter today. By the way, that bastard who threw his diary around and forced everyone to look for it everywhere must also get the justice he deserves!
How can a guy who can't even take care of his own personal belongings be qualified to be a superhero!"
