Bizarre Realm

A piercing alarm jolted Ritchie awake.

He almost instantly flipped upright, his right hand clutching the ’Beheader’ hand half-sword next to the bed, a standard weapon forged by a Dwarf Artisan. It was a hybrid sword, usable as both a one-handed and two-handed sword, inscribed with the ’Purgatory Fire’ rune, which could attach fire damage when activated. Naturally, Ritchie’s ideal was to one day wield the Interstellar Battle Group’s ’Plasma Sword’. Although he didn’t know the principle behind such a weapon, he had witnessed the Owl decapitate a powerful Legendary Evil Object with it, the ethereal blue flame was quite striking.

Ritchie quickly donned the Purgatory Roar Type III, along with Power Bracelet, Constitution Talisman, Agile Gloves, and other gear, completing the process in less than five seconds.

"Emergency assembly!"

Outside the camp gates, the instructor’s gruff roar echoed. He was a bearded Dwarf, reportedly a renowned Adventurer in Abyss City, who had been converted near a brothel called House of Nightmares by a Mechanical Priest of the Divine Terra Church, becoming a member of the Martyr Battle Group and their instructor as part of the Star Realm Army, primarily teaching high and middle-tier Combat Specialization on the Warrior Side.

The instructor was a Dwarf Heavy Defender nearing Legendary Power; Ritchie had seen him take on the heavy blow of a Giant Mutant without flinching, like a mountain unmoved.

As he walked out the gate, Ritchie caught sight of a fleeting Shadow.

"Darkwalker." Ritchie’s pupils slightly contracted.

Darkwalkers belonged to a special department, most of them Transcendents from the Wandering Path or Assassin Path; among them were some oddities from the Devil Path. Living next door was a devil named Brand, once seemingly a noble servant from the remote outskirts of the Dagon Region. This ambitious guy rose rapidly, and it was rumored that he had seen his Excellency personally officiate the devil’s promotion ritual. No one had seen Brand’s true form, but rumors described it as a kind of ’Bone Demon’ form; usually, he appeared as a young, handsome, slightly melancholic man.

"Level 1 combat readiness?" Ritchie’s expression suddenly grew serious.

The Mechanical Heart Half-Plane had never entered Level 1 combat readiness; even during the campaign against Mendor, the Lord of the Old Swamp, here only reached Level 2 readiness, pulling some warbands to the fringe battlefield.

"Captain!" A burly man completed the assembly.

Private - Ryan.

This was a recruit Ritchie personally promoted and trained, selected for their talent from the natives of the Dagon Region. Each batch had only a hundred people; failures were eliminated to the Defense Army, and those who passed the trial joined the Star Realm Army, typically Professionals of Extraordinary Level 6-12. The best among them would be incorporated into various warbands, with the devout having the chance to enter the Church of Divine Terra.

Ryan aspired to join the Far Traveler Battle Group, which mainly explored uncharted territories, opening the dark zones surrounding the Bizarre Realm.

Usually, after the Far Traveler Battle Group surveyed the situation, the Pioneer Battle Group would enter to clear out mutant creatures.

If a powerful Evil Object was entrenched nearby, they would seek help from the Martyr Battle Group, and in specific circumstances, even dispatch high-tier transcendents near Legendary Power.

"Far Travelers, Pioneers, Martyrs and all other warbands have assembled!"

Ritchie saw Owl, clad in full Magic Energy Armor, an old powerhouse from Abyss City who had been a tough character even before joining the Mechanical Heart, once crossing the ancient battlefield of the Dark Era alone.

Behind Owl stood another burly man, rarely seen due to his orc-like features.

—— Champion Gladiator - Andre.

One of Abyss City’s Champion Gladiators, belonging to an unknown order of the Church of Divine Terra, a warband outsiders knew nothing about but was no less powerful than the Martyr’s Order.

Due to his orc bloodline’s power talent, Andre’s weaponry and armor were much heavier. His seemingly small Warhammer was said to weigh over three tons, made of a material known as ’Annihilation Material’. Its surface bore an Anti-Gravity Rune, allowing it to swing like a Siege Hammer, easily breaking through thick walls.

He was equipped with Beast II Magic Energy Armor, featuring a small Elemental Melting Furnace internally. This type of power armor was very rough, with spikes on the shoulder and arm guards to puncture the armored skin of Evil Objects upon impact. It used a large amount of Refined Gold Exoskeleton, offering invulnerable defense while extremely heavy.

Without the Anti-Gravity Rune’s assistance, this armor weighed almost fifteen tons, almost impossible for anyone to wear and move in.

The number of people in the Mechanical Heart Half-Plane equipped with Legendary Level armor was fewer than one hand’s count, and now nearly all had assembled. Ritchie even saw a uniquely equipped mobile unit, mostly in light armor and emanating faint vibrations of Spiritual Energy. They were not as strong as others but had more luxurious gear.

—— Beheader’s Sharp Blade Squad.

These were psychic warriors promoted since the sixth entry group, numbering fewer than thirty, selected from millions in the Dagon Region, some of whom underwent surgical transformation by a monster doctor. They usually received resources far exceeding others.