A private chat?!

What could we possibly have to discuss privately?

(.;

ﾟ;

:frustrated:;

ﾟ;

.)

Heaven and earth bear witness! Although he did indeed wonder whether he could invite Little One over to help resolve this current crisis... Official source is NoveIＦire.net

He swore he harbored absolutely no malicious intent!

Because for a guest as adorable and friendly as Little One, who could possibly hold any unhealthy malice toward her?

But looking at her parents' unsettling, sinister smiles, this was absolutely some massive misunderstanding!

"Come along—sweetie—you haven't eaten your fill yet—since we have this opportunity today—eat to your heart's content!"

Little One (✪ω✪) said: "Mmm-hmm—"

……

Meanwhile.

Across a vast wilderness, the earth began to rumble and tremble.

"Emergency Protocol Zero—activated—undergoing comprehensive activation—"

Accompanied by waves of piercing mechanical friction and surging flesh sounds.

The ground slowly cracked open with fissures one after another, vaguely revealing the structure leading underground to the Hanging Tower creaking and cracking its way through the surface.

Anyone present would have been shocked to witness...

That several-dozen-meter-tall structure slowly rising upward, ground breaking apart, earth fissioning, accompanied by massive earth-shattering sounds as one enormous mechanical arm after another, each hundreds of meters long, burst forth from the surrounding terrain.

Rumble—

Amid tremendous noise.

A massive construct composed of fused flesh and mechanical structures slowly emerged from underground, rising to the surface.

Vaguely recognizable as an inverted mechanical tower, its surface now covered with constantly expanding and contracting hardened flesh masses.

"Protocol Zero fully activated... highest defense mechanisms engaged... experimental Colossus Unit 012 completely operational... entering emergency combat status—"

Deep within the underground sealed chambers.

The President of the Demonkin Association, the Heart-Devouring Demon, coldly smirked while watching the Hanging Tower rising from below on the monitor.

Countless data points flickered across screens, displaying various metrics of the massive Colossus.

"President! Protocol Zero perfectly initiated! All operational parameters functioning normally!"

The Heart-Devouring Demon displayed an icy expression, smirking with a twisted mouth:

"Good! Excellent!"

This represented the Demonkin Association's ultimate defensive measure established since its foundation.

Once Protocol Zero activated.

The entire Hanging Tower would transform into a Colossus, becoming an unparalleled weapon of war.

Over centuries of successive modifications and upgrades by the Demonkin Association's top personnel, the current Hanging Tower had become completely incomparable to its former self.

More importantly.

With the gradual recovery of various Colossus components, he personally directed a comprehensive upgrade and transformation of the Hanging Tower ten years ago!

One could say the current Hanging Tower represented their most successful research approaching true Colossus capability.

Its destructive power and defensive capabilities could truly be described as catastrophic!

"President, what exactly has happened?! Why are we so urgently activating the experimental Colossus?"

The association's senior leadership gathered in the core area asked with grave concern.

The Heart-Devouring Demon said profoundly:

"We've attracted attention from three root-level entities. If we don't immediately initiate Protocol Zero, we'll have no chance once they arrive!"

These words caused everyone present to pale dramatically.

"What?!"

"Root-level entities?! Three of them?! How is that possible!"

"Sir! You must be joking! What fool would dare provoke beings of that caliber?! Are they insane?! If they want to die, they shouldn't drag us down with them!"

The Heart-Devouring Demon said deeply: "I provoked them. Got a problem with that?"

The surrounding people immediately fell silent.

The Heart-Devouring Demon raised his head, eyes glinting coldly: "The Hanging Tower contains all our association's research data from all these years. We absolutely cannot abandon it lightly!"

"Immediately arrange for evacuation of all Colossus Project research materials first, followed by other advanced biological weapon data!"

He gazed deeply at the screen displaying the Hanging Tower piercing through the clouds, narrowing his eyes:

"But I maintain confidence in my ultimate creation. Even if those three root-level beings come together, so what? Even if we cannot defeat them, we can certainly buy several hours!"

……

Desolate Wastelands, Demonkin Association territory.

Bloodsaw and the Doll Mistress's figures leaped up from beyond the black mist-shrouded mountains, the entire wilderness suddenly spreading out before them.

Almost instantly, Bloodsaw spotted the flesh-encased tower piercing the clouds at the wasteland's edge.

His expression immediately turned grave.

"Indeed! Protocol Zero activated! What does that Heart-Devouring Demon think he's doing?! How dare he activate that creation!"

Such a terrifying Colossus resembled nothing less than an apocalyptic giant, making it impossible to believe it was man-made!

Judging by its massive scale, it could probably hold its own even against root-level entities!

"What exactly is that?" the Doll Mistress asked in astonishment.

Bloodsaw narrowed his eyes, flexing his explosive muscles, and said grimly:

"This represents our Demonkin Association's highest research achievement, our first-generation experimental war machine modeled after the Colossus!"

"It incorporates virtually all our association's cutting-edge technology across generations, the largest construct we can currently produce!"

"It utilizes technology from a technological civilization that crashed into our Dark World!"

These words made the Doll Mistress shudder throughout her body.

She had some understanding of the Demonkin Association's research.

Within the Dark World, the Demonkin Association specialized as a massive organization focused on mechanical and flesh modification, achieving unique expertise in these areas!

The flesh is weak, machinery ascends!

This formed the Demonkin Association's founding principle!

"Immediately arrange for evacuation of all Colossus Project research materials first, followed by other advanced biological weapon data!"

Thus they reached unprecedented heights in both flesh and mechanical domains within the Dark World.

The Doll Mistress questioned doubtfully: "A technological civilization?"

Bloodsaw said profoundly: "Yes, though it's more accurate to call it that civilization's lost legacy. Our acquisition of that legacy initiated what became known as the 【Colossus Project】."