# Chapter 338: Aberrant Beast Outpost

Most races in the universe lived among their own kind, and the distribution of star territories naturally reflected this.

The Human Race — encompassing humanoid species such as humans, Cat-kin, and Elves — occupied one expanse of star territories. Feral Beasts possessing advanced intelligence claimed another. Special lifeforms born from the condensation of vast elemental energies, known as the Elf Race, likewise held their own domain.

And finally, there were the Mechanical Lifeforms, who possessed a homeland all their own: the Mechanical Kingdom.

Mechanical Kingdom. Cosmic Boundary.

Just as in Human Race territory, the Cosmic Boundary stretched across the entire border. Beyond it, countless Aberrant Beasts drifted through the Chaos Space, relentlessly corroding the barrier.

At the breaches that had been eaten through, mechanical fortresses spanning several light-years stood sentinel, plugging the gaps.

Massive arrays of mechanical cannons harvested ambient Spirit Power, driving devastating attacks — beams of concentrated energy that continuously cut down Aberrant Beasts trying to pour through. Against the more powerful creatures, some cannons fired specialized particle beams or even energy spheres of compressed, torn space, annihilating their targets in an instant.

Within the fortresses, humanoid and beast-shaped Mechanical Lifeforms bustled about, maintaining basic operations.

These Mechanical Lifeforms possessed relatively weak auras — most were merely Warrior Rank or Battle Master Rank. Yet even beings this weak, when united and armed with the Mechanical Kingdom's advanced technological creations, managed to hold the breaches. It was nothing short of miraculous.

Deep within one such fortress, in its grand hall, a humanoid Mechanical Lifeform stood five meters tall. Its form was an interweaving of black and white metal, and it sat upon a towering throne.

Its eyes pulsed with a faint blue glow. Through a holographic screen spanning the hall, it gazed silently at the breach, utterly motionless, as though it had sat there since the dawn of time.

Then, suddenly, it moved. A finger reached out and tapped the air. A second holographic screen materialized.

On it appeared a humanoid Mechanical Lifeform clad in white metallic plating. It spoke:

"Your Highness, I have intelligence from the Human Race territories to report."

"Oh?"

The fortress's master nodded. Around the colossal fortress, invisible ripples seemed to dissipate. In the next instant, space within the grand hall warped, forming a perfectly circular spatial gate.

The white Mechanical Lifeform stepped through.

"What intelligence?"

The fortress master's deep, resonant voice echoed through the hall.

But then he froze, raising a hand to silence the white Mechanical Lifeform before it could speak.

He tapped the air once more. Another holographic screen appeared.

On it was a Mechanical Lifeform clad in golden metallic plating — but its body was shattered. Even its head was half-destroyed, leaving only a single eye flickering with golden light.

The sight made the fortress master shoot to his feet:

"Jin Lei?! What happened to you?!"

Jin Lei's golden eye pulsed weakly. His voice came in stuttering fragments, like a machine losing power:

"Lindbergh, watch out! McPherson and some members of Mechanical Heart have been corrupted by the Heavenly Calamity — they've defected! You must not let them into the fortress!"

"Wha—"

Before Lindbergh could finish, he whipped his head around. In the seams of the white Mechanical Lifeform's plating, tendrils of grotesque flesh were sprouting — flesh threaded with green, vein-like filaments.

Its once purely mechanical face was now laced with patterns of living tissue. Green light streamed through its eyes. Behind it, another circular spatial gate was forming.

It regarded Lindbergh with a calm gaze:

"Your Highness, times have changed. Perhaps we should embrace the Aberrant Beasts willingly."

As it spoke, a malevolent aura seeped through the spatial gate. One by one, Mechanical Lifeforms stepped out.

Every one of them radiated immense power — Saint at the very minimum — and every one bore the same grotesque parasitic flesh clinging to their frames. The sight was deeply unsettling.

At their head stood a Mechanical Lifeform encased in deep purple metallic plating. Arcs of purple and green lightning surged around its body, radiating terrifying force.

It looked at Lindbergh, its expression cold:

"Lindbergh. It's been over a hundred million years."

Lindbergh's body emitted a deep hum, as though something had activated within. Across his surface, the power of Light and the power of Darkness flowed simultaneously.

The two diametrically opposed forces did not clash. Instead, they fused, and an overwhelmingly potent aura erupted outward.

His eyes shifted — one turning black, the other white.

He fixed his gaze on the purple-clad Mechanical Lifeform, his voice low and trembling with barely contained fury:

"McPherson! You dare betray us! Betray the Mechanical Kingdom! Betray our very universe!"

Spirit Power surged around McPherson as he replied evenly:

"Lindbergh, I don't have time for your lectures. Our guests should be arriving right about now — let's not keep them waiting."

The moment McPherson finished speaking, a piercing alarm shrieked through the hall. A mechanical voice followed:

"Your Highness! Aberrant Beasts with Divine Grade energy signatures are approaching! There are... there are three of them!"

Lindbergh stiffened. A holographic screen flared to life before him. Deep in the Chaos Space, three impossibly massive Aberrant Beasts with slime-coated green skin roared toward the breach. Writhing tentacles lashed the void. The countless eyes covering their bodies blazed with sinister green light.

Lindbergh whipped around to face McPherson:

"McPherson! This is your doing?!"

McPherson simply smiled, saying nothing, and gestured toward the screen.

Lindbergh turned back. Behind the three Divine Grade Aberrant Beasts, an endless tide of lesser creatures surged through the churning chaos like a flood, following in their wake.

Every last one of them was charging toward the breach.

"No..."

The color drained from Lindbergh's face.

McPherson threw back his head and laughed. "Don't even think about calling for reinforcements. Everyone else is busy right now. How long do you think we've been planning this? Starting today, the Mechanical Kingdom will be embraced by the Heavenly Calamity."

"Never! *Die!!*"

Lindbergh roared and hurled himself at McPherson.

**Boom—**

The thunderous impact shook the entire fortress.

Before long, devastating waves of Spirit Power erupted in all directions — Light, Darkness, Lightning, and more. Within moments, the mechanical fortress, spanning several light-years in its entirety, disintegrated into cosmic debris beneath the onslaught.

Simultaneously, a wave of malevolent energy poured through the breach. Aberrant Beasts flooded into the universe. The three Divine Grade Aberrant Beasts surveyed their surroundings and roared — a sound that reverberated across every nearby star territory.

A declaration of their arrival.

The battle raged on for over ten days before finally subsiding. In its aftermath, Aberrant Beasts began spreading in every direction. At the breach, a massive nest of accumulated flesh took shape.

Human Race territory. Cosmic Boundary.

Within a vast palace, three figures had gathered: the dinosaur-headed powerhouse Kro, the gentle-mannered Ruoshui, and a slender War God with purple skin.

Ruoshui's expression was grave. The other two wore looks of puzzlement.

Kro and the purple-skinned War God, Bu Chang, watched Ruoshui expectantly. Kro spoke first:

"Ruoshui, you called us here in such a rush — what's happened?"

Ruoshui drew a deep breath.

"Something has happened at the Mechanical Kingdom. One of their breaches has been torn open, and Aberrant Beasts have poured into the universe."

Kro and Bu Chang both froze. The atmosphere plunged into deathly silence.

After a long pause, Kro slammed his fist on the table, his features twisted with rage:

"What the hell were those rust buckets doing?! They can't even hold a single breach?! Useless scrap heaps!"

Bu Chang was marginally calmer. He looked at Ruoshui and asked:

"What exactly happened?"

Ruoshui explained:

"The main cause appears to be McPherson of Mechanical Heart. He was corrupted by the Heavenly Calamity at some unknown point — most likely through prior contact with Mechanical Blood, who worship the Aberration. After his Corruption, a faction of Mechanical Heart under McPherson's command joined forces with Mechanical Blood to pin down the other Mechanical War Gods while they concentrated their assault on the breach Lindbergh was guarding. Lindbergh fought to the bitter end, ultimately falling to the combined onslaught of McPherson and three Divine Grade Aberrant Beasts. Only then did the remaining Mechanical War Gods break free. They've launched several counterattacks since, but none have reclaimed the breach. The Aberrant Beasts have already established a nest there — it will likely serve as a forward outpost for their invasion of our universe. The Mechanical War Gods have begun evacuating inhabited worlds and have sent us a request for reinforcements."

Kro and Bu Chang listened in grim silence, their expressions darkening with every word.

"If they've already established an outpost, the Aberrant Beasts will defend that nest with everything they have. Retaking it will be extraordinarily difficult," Bu Chang said, brow furrowed.

Kro's voice cut sharp with anger:

"Difficult or not, we have to succeed! Otherwise, Aberrant Beasts will keep pouring through that breach endlessly! Holding one breach is manageable enough, but defending against an invasion across an entire star territory? That's pure fantasy!"

Ruoshui nodded:

"Exactly. Once inside the universe, the Aberrant Beasts can use those among them with spatial abilities to transport others anywhere they please. Right now it's the Mechanical Kingdom's problem, but if this continues, our territory will be next. And as you both know, even when Aberrant Beasts die, they corrupt the surrounding area. Over time, our universe will only grow more unstable — Spatial Rifts will multiply, and eventually, the Cosmic Boundary itself could collapse prematurely."

A heavy silence settled over the three of them.

Bu Chang exhaled slowly, a sharp gleam entering his eyes.

"You're both right. No matter how difficult, we have to seal that breach."

Ruoshui continued:

"Chiyan and the others need to remain at their posts guarding our own breaches. That leaves just the three of us free to move. We'll go to the Mechanical Kingdom and bring a contingent of Battle Saints and Battle Emperors."

Kro and Bu Chang both nodded.

Then Kro paused, as though something had just occurred to him. He looked up at Ruoshui, his expression turning peculiar:

"Wait... we're not the only available War Gods in Human Race territory right now. There's one more — someone who also qualifies as a War God."

Ruoshui and Bu Chang blinked.

Then recognition dawned on both their faces.

Bu Chang's eyes flashed. "That human — Lu Yuan?!"

Kro bared his teeth in a grin:

"That's the one. The kid already had War God-level combat power not long ago, didn't he? I've had people keeping tabs on him this whole time. He was only a Battle Emperor before, but now he's already a Battle Saint. Must've inscribed another Divine Grade gene. For all we know, the brat might be stronger than any of us. He'd be a powerful ally!"

His words made Bu Chang and Ruoshui exchange a glance. Interest sparked in both their eyes.

Ruoshui spoke up:

"You're right. Lu Yuan is already at the Battle Saint level — his strength must be formidable. This is a crisis, and we truly need his help. Let's bring him in!"

But then she paused, a thought striking her. Her brow creased with concern.

"No, wait. That won't work."

Kro and Bu Chang turned to her.

"What's wrong?"

Ruoshui's gaze swept over them both:

"Have you forgotten about the Heavenly Calamity Cult? If all of us leave and the Cult makes its move, who holds the line? They have War God-level fighters among their ranks."

The other two opened their mouths, then fell silent, at a loss for words.

The earlier news had been so staggering that they'd momentarily forgotten the threat lurking within their own borders — the Heavenly Calamity Cult, an organization analogous to Mechanical Blood.

If the Cult seized the opportunity while they were away and pulled the same maneuver, Human Race territory would plunge into its own nightmare.

And if two breaches fell in succession, there wouldn't be enough War Gods in the entire universe to mount a counteroffensive. They would be forced to watch helplessly as Aberrant Beasts devoured their cosmos piece by piece.

Kro's brow furrowed deeply:

"Then what do we do? Just leave the Mechanical Kingdom to fend for itself?"

Bu Chang considered for a moment:

"Beidou and Nuxing are currently taking turns guarding one of our breaches. We can pull one of them off rotation for a short period. If we also leave one of us behind, plus Lu Yuan, that's three War Gods holding Human Race territory. That should be enough to deter the Heavenly Calamity Cult. Of their three Bishops, only the Grand Archbishop is truly formidable. The other two may be War Gods, but they're not particularly strong."

Ruoshui thought it over, then nodded:

"That could work. Two War Gods go with the reinforcement party."

"Agreed. So who goes?"

Bu Chang looked between Ruoshui and Kro.

Kro didn't hesitate: "I'll go."

Bu Chang weighed it briefly: "I'll go too. Ruoshui handles intelligence across all sectors — deploying her to the front lines wouldn't be ideal."

Ruoshui nodded:

"Fine. You two go. I'll hold the fort here. Between myself, Lu Yuan, Beidou, and Nuxing, the Heavenly Calamity Cult won't dare make a move."

Her tone was calm, but her expression radiated quiet confidence.

Among the War Gods, her strength was considerable. She had crossed paths with the Cult's Bishops before, and she had no doubt that those three were no match for this defensive lineup.

Kro and Bu Chang shared her assessment. Both nodded.

"Then let's not waste time," Bu Chang said. "Kro, we gather a force of Battle Saints and Battle Emperors and move out."

Kro nodded. "Let's do it."

Ruoshui paused in thought, then added:

"In that case, I should contact Lu Yuan and brief him on the situation. We can't afford to be caught off guard if something happens."

"Agreed!"