Chapter 875: Station Fifty-Three · Level 10 Hunting Platform · Day of Escape

Armed Fear didn't understand.

Was it really that weak?

That dragon, that Mechanical Girl, that mech-soldier.

Each time one appeared, it had been confident it could win.

So why did the results always end in such misery?

It had originally believed it would become its Master's strongest machine. From the very moment of its creation, it had considered itself the strongest one, and in the future, it would become the only trustworthy existence by the Overlord's side.

But...

No, perhaps it was just that those three were strong?

Perhaps it wasn't actually weak to that extent?

It resolved itself in its heart. Next match, it absolutely had to win.

So once again, it applied to the Overlord for a new opponent.

Originally, Ye Qiyan had planned to send Lancelot up with the Wuzhong Legion, just in time to test the military formation they had obtained from the Golden Tribe knights.

But behind him, Lisette very rarely volunteered on her own.

"Master, may I?"

Lisette had never proactively come to the Training Grounds to fight anyone.

It seemed that Armed Fear's phrase "garbage machine" had angered even Lisette.

Lisette stepped onto the Trial Ground.

Her tiny figure seemed like nothing more than an ant before Armed Fear.

Armed Fear looked down at Lisette. Although it knew she was the Maid by the Overlord's side, according to its data analysis, it had found nothing dangerous about her.

Only the spike on her back was worth noting.

Could it be that the Overlord was deliberately going easy, which was why he had sent her to fight?

Armed Fear's heart was filled with shame.

"I won't hold back."

"Mm~"

WALL-E hopped up and struck the gong to start the battle.

To avoid being unable to land a hit, it very cautiously activated its [Armor Restriction - Miniaturization] module ability, shrinking its body down to the thirty-five-meter limit.

It raised its Fangtian Halberd and launched an attack at Lisette.

Yet its attack missed entirely.

"?"

Armed Fear sensed that something had appeared above its head.

Shifting its view upward, a colossal Skull-Piercing Thrust was quietly rotating overhead.

"!"

Armed Fear wanted to dodge, but the sudden Time Acceleration caught it completely off guard, sending it crashing to the ground.

Immediately after, the Skull-Piercing Thorns descended, about to pierce through its core.

The Reactor on Armed Fear's chest suddenly blazed.

[Mode - Full Armor Release]

It could not endure the thought of failing yet again.

So it chose a near-suicidal attack.

However...

[Tick-tock]

The hour hand of the clock rippled forward, and the Time Acceleration within the area was briefly isolated from the outside.

All the exploded armor was blocked outside by the differential energy generated from the discrepancy in time flow.

Though it only lasted a mere few seconds, it had still perfectly evaded Armed Fear's attack.

Immediately after.

Another Skull-Piercing Thrust appeared above Armed Fear's core and Mind Magic Cube.

Accompanied by a crisp sound.

Ten seconds.

From the start of the battle to its end, only ten seconds had passed. Armed Fear had met its fourth consecutive defeat.

The Trial Ground returned to its original state, and Armed Fear was restored as well.

At this moment, it no longer had any arrogance. Its massive body, compressed to thirty-five meters, stood in place as if it had shut itself off completely, not saying a word.

Lisette elegantly patted off some dust that had gathered on her skirt, then smiled as she returned to Ye Qiyan's side and gave a slight bow.

"Master~"

"Well done."

Ye Qiyan reached out his hand and rubbed the top of Lisette's head.

He looked at Armed Fear, still withdrawn into itself, and did not continue sending Lancelot and the others onto the stage.

Instead, he leaped up and landed on Armed Fear's shoulder.

"Phew, come, turn into your biggest form."

"Yes, Overlord..."

Armor released, Armed Fear once again returned to its eighty-meter state.

"You fought well. Keep working hard next time, and remember to hold out a few more seconds."

Ye Qiyan patted Armed Fear's face, his tone filled with genuine satisfaction.

"...But I..."

"Don't get one thing wrong."

He interrupted Armed Fear's words.

"My machines are all the strongest. Even if they aren't right now, they will be in the future. Right now, you're only the beginning.

But no matter when, always remember this: you are mine, and the other machines are the same."

"Overlord..."

"Alright. Strive to become stronger, and hold onto hope. One day, I will make you stand alongside them on a path that is higher, longer, even one with no end."

Armed Fear's Mind Unit kept stirring restlessly. The intelligence it had possessed since the moment of its manufacture was filled with fervor and desire, the desire to become the strongest machine by the Overlord's side.

Whether it was that dragon, that Mechanical Girl, or that black mech-soldier, it would definitely defeat them all.

Only... that smiling Maid...

Armed Fear felt an inexplicable fear toward her.

The matter in the Armament Hangar came to a temporary close.

Ye Qiyan stayed in the Wasteland for another two days, and finally, it was once again time to depart.

————

【Time: 12:59:11】

【Today's Weather: Overcast】

Inside the locomotive section.

Ye Qiyan's eyes were filled with excitement.

He pressed the option to enter a station on the Light Screen.

The Train's broadcast also began to sound at this moment.

【Ding-dong! [Exclusive Module - Crossroads of Fate] activated. Please select one of the following three platforms to become your fifty-third Station World】

【Platform One: Blood Grand Duke's Lavish Blood Banquet (Level 9 Slaughter Platform)】

【Platform Two: Public Slaughter Day (Level 10 Slaughter Platform)】

【Platform Three: Day of Escape (Level 10 Hunting Platform)】

Finally!

After [Crossroads of Fate] had completed its enhancement, this was the first time he would be entering a random Station World.

Three worlds for Ye Qiyan to choose from was simply more flexible and easier compared to when there were only two.

Otherwise, he probably would have definitely chosen Platform Two. After all, that Station World called Public Slaughter Day looked incredibly thrilling.

But...

The third one was a Hunting Platform!

Ye Qiyan's favorite type of platform, bar none.

Become involved in a big battle.

As long as he found the target that needed to be hunted within the platform, he could complete the entire platform's mission.

No need for any superfluous matters. A single battle would be enough.

Even if the targets in a Hunting Platform were considerably stronger than its normal level would suggest, he didn't care about that in the slightest.

As long as he entered this Station World, found the target, and completed the hunt, it would be an absolutely perfect station adventure.

So why hesitate and waver?

Hunting Platform! For the first time, the Crossroads of Fate had presented a random Station World option.

The void appeared directly ahead.

The familiar black track extended endlessly forward.

No accidents, no obstructions.

There was only the Train's steam whistle echoing across the Wasteland.

And when the Train fully entered it, the scenery outside the train window changed, and the System's broadcast continued to sound.

【You have arrived at your fifty-third station · Level 10 Hunting Platform · Day of Escape】

【Current Station: Low Danger ~】

【Dear Train Conductor, we wish you success in your conquest】