Outside the secret realm, Ashspire City.

UUUUURRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!!

A deafening siren blared across Ashspire City, a sound that tore through the air and spread across every sector in the city.

"This is an automated emergency broadcast from the Ashspire City Defense Network. Hostile entities identified as High Order units have breached outer defenses. All citizens are to evacuate immediately to designated shelters Alpha through Delta. This is not a drill. Repeat: This is not a drill."

Bzzz-VRMMMM-!

Hundreds of drones and helicopters buzzed over Ashspire City, their engines humming like a swarm of metallic wasps.

Among them were defensive drones and powerful combat-ready helicopters. Following right behind them were heavily armored law enforcers in mecha suits and members of several corporations.

Clank! Boom!

In the streets of Ashspire City, several grey- and black-robed figures moved with astonishing speed and clashed against groups of evolvers. Some wore the insignia of prominent families, some the combat suits of smaller corporations in Ashspire City, and some were law enforcers.

"You High Order bastards!" one of the evolvers shouted, enraged as he charged. "You will die today!"

He closed in with great momentum and went straight for a grey-robed High Order member's head. The High Order member merely sneered and waved his hand. Instantly, a powerful mental ripple emerged from him and the nearby evolvers were directly eliminated.

"Run!" The nearby normal citizens of the city were horrified at the sight. They scattered like rabbits being hunted, screaming and shouting.

The High Order member licked his lips and sent out another ripple, this time targeted at the citizens.

"Where are you guys running off to?"

However, upon using his mental attack, a powerful presence descended upon him and the nearby High Order members.

Their expressions changed.

All of them turned to the sky and saw a girl floating in the air. She looked to be around twenty to twenty-two years old. She had a beautiful face and a well-endowed figure, but right now she wore an angered look.

"You evil creatures!" The girl who was none other than Valeria, shouted. "What did those innocent evolvers do to you?!"

As she spoke, a golden light erupted from her. All the High Order members saw was a blinding light before they were vaporized to the ground.

Behind her several AVs descended, and out of them poured an army of evolvers in the combat suits of Azrael Corporation.

They landed one by one and waited for Valeria's commands.

...

Far away, in the headquarters of the Interwire Company, on the highest floor inside what appeared to be a lab, a group of lab-coated individuals stared at a large screen. On the side stood Marcius, looking anxiously at a huge mecha beside them.

This was precisely the war-armor designed for Orin.

The war-armor stood like a metal giant. Its body was made of dark alloy with faint red lines glowing across its surface, as if blood flowed beneath the armor. Every part looked sharp and powerful, built perfectly for battle.

Its shoulders were wide, its arms thick and heavy, and its chest had a glowing core that pulsed like a heart. The armor looked alive—tiny mechanical parts moved slightly with every hum from deep inside.

On its back were two large thrusters shaped like wings, releasing a low vibration that filled the room. The helmet had a narrow red visor, sharp and menacing.

Right through that visor, Orin's head could be seen. His face was calm but pale, eyes completely closed. Wires and energy streams connected to his neck and temples—his whole body had merged with the machine.

Only his head remained human. The rest had become part of the war-armor itself.

[Neural Chip Activated]

[Large-Scale ByteRipper Chip Activated]

[Integration Sequence: 97%... 98%... 99%... 100%!]

[Machinery Law fully linked.]

[Core circuits of the war-armor activated!]

[Core Synchronization Established]

[Subject: Orin: Light Saber - Online]

As soon as the message came, the mecha called Light Saber twitched. The wires connected to it broke apart and slowly rose up.

Buzzt!

The technology in the room began to flicker massively, everything in the vicinity going static. This was the power of the Law of Machinery.

The lab door opened and Varyn entered the room.

Seeing him, Marcius turned and immediately greeted him. "Lord Varyn."

"Marcius." Varyn nodded and examined Light Saber. "Looks complete."

"Yes, Lord Varyn." Marcius nodded. "The mecha and City Lord Orin have reached 100 percent synchronization. He can fully utilize the Law of Machinery with the mechanical parts of the mecha being reshaped by the power of law. He has stepped into the late stage of Second Rank."

"Very good." Varyn spoke calmly, then waved his hand. A pill and a grey robe appeared. "You have been doing great for a while. After I spoke with the higher ups, they decided to grant you a place in the ranks."

Marcius's expression changed. Elation appeared on his face. "Thank you! Thank you, Lord Varyn!"

Varyn nodded. "Use that pill. It will directly help you reach late stage."

"Yes!" Marcius replied. Then, as if thinking of something, he asked, "Lord Varyn, what should we do with Grey Lockhart?"

"You do not need to worry about him," Varyn said calmly. "I've already dispatched two middle-stage Second Rankers there. They will make sure he never lives another day."

Saying that, Varyn made his way to Light Saber. Orin, now fused with the armor, looked around his new body with a hint of madness on his face.

"I've reached late stage!" His voice, more mechanical now, came from inside the helmet.

He began laughing like a madman.

"Hahaha! I'm invincible! Invincible! Hahahaha!"

"Stop laughing." Varyn said calmly. "You are not invincible yet. There is still a factor you need to deal with, remember?"

"That's right!" Orin froze and an enraged expression crossed his face. "That bastard city lord of Three Guards Province! He will pay! Pay! Pay!"

The technology around the room distorted even more sharply and Light Saber rose from the ground.

"I'm going to kill him!"

"Good." Varyn nodded calmly. "Now go. There is no time to waste. Go and eliminate him. For the High Order!"

Orin let out a terrifying energy and, after destroying the ceiling, shot off into the air amid the gazes of everyone.

"You have his controller, right?" Varyn asked.

"Yes." Marcius said, producing a small circuitry device that looked like a phone. "This can be used to completely control the mecha, Lord Varyn."

Varyn took it in his hands. This was a precaution for when Orin went rogue; they could terminate his thoughts and make him appear forever as a puppet.

Varyn then took his phone and dialed a number. "He's off. Everyone, begin moving to the Three Guards Province."

Then he dialed another number and spoke, "Unleash the Corruption Fields. The plan is in motion."

With that, he put the phone away and turned. "Now, we will take Valeria into custody."

"The higher ups told me to place great importance on her," he added.

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