"Welcome back, Sir," Isabelle Mower greeted, her voice a blend of urgency and respect as she approached the figure emerging from the shimmering [PORTAL].
Joshua stepped out of the portal, the swirling lights dissipating around him like mist in the early morning.
"Isabelle," he acknowledged with a nod, "what's the situation?"
Her expression grew more serious as she began her report.
"We've detected an increase in spy activity, sir," she said, her eyes scanning the documents in her hand.
"They seem to be targeting our research facilities. The intel suggests that they're particularly interested in the 'Blood Knight', power armor projects and your true identity."
Joshua's gaze sharpened. "Deal with them directly," he instructed firmly. "We need to keep our focus on growing and learning. But don't counterattack, that would only alert them to our capabilities. Handle the situation quietly and effectively. We don't want a war we can't win yet."
Isabelle nodded, her eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation.
"Understood, sir. We're working on enhancing our security protocols and identifying potential insider threats even without the help of [Bio Chip] and Nexus."
Her words reminded him of the limitations of his current power. He was a Core-level martial artist, but that was only within the confines of this world. To truly protect Terra from the dangers lurking in the cosmos, he needed to become stronger, capable of standing against any threat.
Because just one nuclear missile could decimate a city, and they hadn't yet figured out how to stop them, let alone fight back.
Joshua's thoughts grew grim as he considered the implications. The enemy's somehow knew and grew interest in the 'Blood Knight' and power armor was alarming, but not entirely surprising as few of his own people have not been implanted with [Bio Chip].
These technologies were the foundation of his strength in Terra. If they fell into the wrong hands, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Keep me informed," he said, his voice a low rumble of authority.
"But remember, our priority is to advance, not to engage. We're not ready for that kind of confrontation."
Isabelle nodded, understanding the delicate balance they had to maintain.
"We'll handle it with discretion," she assured him.
With the immediate crisis addressed, Joshua turned his attention to the larger goal. He needed to break through another level of power and he needed to create his own cultivation art, and the [VOID] was the only place that could provide the necessary challenge and knowledge.
"Nexus," he said, "I'll be going to the [VOID] for a while. I need to push my boundaries, and there's something there that can help me. Inform Mei and Isabelle of my leave."
[Understood, master. I'll have already informed them] Nexus, responded in his mind.
Joshua took a deep breath, steeling himself for the perilous journey ahead. He had brought everything he needed, including his trusty armor and a selection of advanced firearms that could stand up to the most formidable opponents. The 'Noble Knights' followed close behind, a stoic group of 50 clones genetically altered to perfection.
Touching the [Black Hole], he had open a new world.
Upon landing on a new world he knelt to the ground, he had felt his body is rearranging and evolve to adapt this place. He was already use to the pain and instead observed the new place.
Looking around he saw his 'Noble Knights' are also undergoing adaptations to this new world. This was the first time he saw his clones are also evolving and adapting, but he knew the reason as they are his clones.
Shaking his head he focused on the environment he landed.
This time, the scene that greeted him was starkly different from the lush lands he was familiar with. He found himself in the middle of a raging snowstorm, the flakes whipping around him with an icy fury.
The world was cast in a monochrome palette of white and gray, and the visibility was so low that he could barely see his hand in front of his face.
Joshua's breath came out in white puffs, the cold biting through his armor. The wind was relentless, a howling beast that threatened to freeze him solid. He knew that he had to find shelter quickly.
The 'Noble Knights' formed a tight perimeter around him, their movements precise despite the blinding conditions. Their enhanced senses, a byproduct of their genetic alterations, allowed them to navigate the storm with uncanny ease.
"We need to find shelter," Joshua yelled over the wind.
"This storm isn't going to let up anytime soon."
Joshua's voice was barely audible over the deafening roar of the wind. The snow was now knee-deep, and each step was a battle against the elements. His 'Noble Knights' remained unfazed, their mechanical precision allowing them to move through the blizzard as if it were a gentle breeze.
Suddenly, one of them pointed into the distance. Through the squall, a shadowy outline of a cave emerged. It was a beacon of hope in the frozen wasteland.
"This way," Joshua bellowed, breaking into a run despite the deepening snow.
The 'Noble Knights' followed swiftly, their heavy footsteps echoing through the desolate landscape. The cave's entrance grew larger with every step, a gaping maw in the side of the mountain that promised shelter from the relentless storm.
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Once inside, they found themselves in a vast, dimly lit chamber. The air was colder than outside, but the reprieve from the wind was welcome. The space was surprisingly dry, with only a dusting of snow that had blown in from the storm.
"Secure the area," Joshua ordered, his breath misting in the frigid air.
The 'Noble Knights' spread out, their movements silent despite the thick snow, sweeping the cavern with their heightened senses for any signs of life or danger.
Joshua went back to Terra, the cold seeping into his bones from the weather of this world. He knew what he had to do; he needed supplies. Using a [PORTAL], he returned to his base, the warmth of the lights and the hustle of his people a stark contrast to the desolate ice world.
He quickly gathered a tent, heaters, and other necessary equipment that could withstand the extreme conditions of the snowstorm.
Once back in the icy world, he worked swiftly with his 'Noble Knights' to set up the shelter. The fabric of the tent was a tough material, impervious to the storm's fury. It took only moments to inflate and expand, offering a stark contrast of warmth and light in the frozen abyss.
The heaters hummed to life, casting a comforting glow and spreading warmth through the enclosed space. The snowstorm raged outside, but within the tent, it was almost serene.
Joshua watched the storm through a transparent window, his mind racing with thoughts of the trials that lay ahead. The 'Noble Knights' remained on high alert, their eyes never leaving the swirling chaos beyond their shelter.
The storm raged for what felt like an eternity, the howling wind a constant reminder of the perilous world outside. But gradually, the sound began to fade, the frenzied dance of snowflakes slowing to a gentle waltz before finally coming to a halt.
Joshua and his 'Noble Knights' emerged from the tent, their armor coated with a thick layer of snow. The silence was deafening, a stark contrast to the cacophony they had endured. The storm had left the world a pristine white canvas, untouched by any trace of color.
He sent the 'Noble Knights' to explore as he waited for their reports. The quiet was soon broken by the static of a radio transmission. One of the knights reported a small, distant village under attack by an unknown enemy.
[We've detected signs of combat, master] Nexus said.
[The villagers are in distress, and we're moving in for assessment]
Joshua nodded thoughtfully and order the 'Noble Knights' to form up.
---
On the small Village of White Wind, the serene silence of the snowstorm was shattered by the distant cries of terror and the clangor of steel against steel. The village, nestled in the heart of the frozen wasteland, was under siege.
Through the freshly fallen snow, a desperate battle raged. The villagers had formed a makeshift barricade around the town hall, their eyes wide with fear as they watched the demonic goblin hordes close in. The men of the local militia fought with everything they had, their crude weapons flashing in the moonlight as they tried to hold the line against the relentless tide.
"HELP!"
"Demons are heading this way!"
"Kill these demons!"
The cries of the old and the young, huddled together in the town hall, pierced the cold night air. The smell of burning homes and the acrid scent of blood hung heavy in the atmosphere, a grim reminder of the price of their struggle. They knew and had seen this demons before, they were the manifestations of some dark power that seemed to revel in the chaos they brought.
The men of the militia, a ragtag group of men, farmers and blacksmiths, stood their ground with a fierce determination that belied their fear. Their makeshift weapons clashed against the gleaming swords and spears of the demonic goblin horde, each impact resonating through the frozen ground. The creatures were grotesque, a twisted parody of humanity, with malicious grins and eyes that burned like embers in the night.
"Hold the line!" the village elder, his face etched with lines of age and determination, bellowed from the town hall's ramparts. His words were met with gritted teeth and renewed vigor from the exhausted militia. The men, a mix of villagers, knew the fate of their loved ones rested on their shoulders.
"Sir there are too many of them!" A desperate voice called out from the barricade. The villagers' makeshift shields of wood and metal were being torn apart by the goblins' relentless onslaught.
"Hold on! The reinforcement are on their way!" The voice of hope cut through the desperation of the villagers' cries.
But the villagers watched in horror as their defenders were slowly overwhelmed, their numbers dwindling with each passing minute. The town hall, a bastion of hope, was surrounded by the relentless demons.
"Noo!"
"I don't want to die!"
"Back off demons"
The screams of the injured and dying mingled with the cries of the terrified children, trapped within its wooden walls.
Suddenly, a golden figure emerged from the blizzard, cutting through the demonic goblin hordes like a hot knife through butter.
The 'Noble Knights', moving as one, struck fear into the hearts of the monsters with their synchronized and precise movements. Each blow from their swords sent a spray of goblin blood into the snowy air, staining the pure white drifts a dark, gruesome crimson.
"Who are these people?" One of the villagers whispered, his eyes wide with hope and fear.
"Are they the reinforcements?" A trembling voice whispered from behind the barricade as the golden-armored knights descended upon the demonic horde.
The Village Chief did not know who are these golden-armored knights but he knew one thing for sure, they were not from the reinforcements he ask. They were an answer to their prayers. The demons, which had once seemed unstoppable, were now falling like leaves before a storm. The knights moved with a grace that defied their heavy armor, each swing of their swords leaving a trail of light in the darkness, cutting through the goblins as if they were mere shadows.
The villagers watched in awe as the golden knights fought alongside the remaining members of the militia, turning the tide of battle. The goblins, once so confident, now retreated in fear, their eerie cries of victory morphing into shrill screams of terror as they were pushed back.
There they saw him, at the forefront of the battle, a vision in white knight armor. The gleaming metal was unmarred by the frost, reflecting the moonlight like a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. It was none other than Joshua, his sword a blur of silver as it danced through the demonic horde. Each swing and thrust of his blade was executed with a precision that belied his human form. The goblins fell before him, their dark blood spattering the pure snow beneath his booted feet.
After all the demons manifestation were killed, the villagers of White Wind stared in disbelief at the carnage before them. The village square, moments ago a battleground, was now eerily quiet, the only sounds the whimpers of the injured and the crackling of dying fires.
"Sir, we thank you for saving us," the village elder gasped, his breath coming in ragged pants. He approached Joshua, who stood tall, his white armor unblemished by the battle's chaos. The 'Noble Knights' had formed a protective circle around him, their eyes vigilant despite their victory.
But he was met with silence as the Knight's stared at him, their expressions unreadable.
Joshua could have cast the [Spirit Talk] to communicate with them, but he was busy with something else. Nexus on the other hand, the ever the diligent AI, was busy decoding the dialect as fast as it could. In the meantime, the villagers waited with bated breath, unsure of what to make of their mysterious saviors.
Joshua ignored their bewildered stares, his focus instead on the dissipating bodies of the demons. The sight was unlike anything he had encountered in other worlds. The creatures had vanished into the air, leaving no trace of their existence behind. It was as if they were never there, except for the chaos they had wrought.
[Master] Nexus spoke up in his mind.
[I've decoded the local dialect. It appears these beings are known as the 'Demons'. They are said to be the manifestations of evil and chaos to the reality]
"Nexus, upload the language into my mind so that I can speak with these people," Joshua thought as he did not want to rely on [Spirit Talk], his gaze never leaving the villagers.
He needed to learn what secrets this world held, to understand the nature of the 'Demons' that had just been defeated. He hope that perhaps this harsh and unyielding place could offer him a breakthrough in his quest for power.
