Chapter 373: Destroying the Citadel

The machine raised one arm, and a concentrated beam of energy began gathering at the weapon mounted above its wrist.

"Laser?!"

Kai’s expression changed the moment he saw the weapon fully charge.

He immediately activated Neural Acceleration, and his perception heightened as the machine finally fired.

Whom~

A brilliant beam of energy tore across the chamber.

Kai’s body moved almost instinctively as he activated Shadow Dash.

The laser passed through the space where he had been standing an instant earlier and continued toward the opposite wall, where it struck the reinforced metal with enough force to make the entire chamber tremble.

BOOM!

A large section of the wall was instantly melted.

Kai reappeared several meters away and stared at the damage with widened eyes.

"That’s not a normal laser."

[ Confirmed. The weapon is utilizing concentrated energy with an output significantly higher than standard Sentinel weaponry. Direct contact is not recommended. ]

Kai smiled bitterly.

"I wasn’t planning to touch it."

The security machine immediately turned toward him.

Several weapons unfolded from its shoulders, and another beam of energy began gathering.

Kai didn’t wait for it to fire.

He activated Titan Step...

His body surged forward with explosive force, and he crossed the distance between them almost instantly.

Then, his fist slammed directly into the machine’s chest.

BOOM!

The machine was pushed backward several meters, but its heavy armor barely showed any damage.

Kai frowned.

"So it’s tough too."

The machine stabilized itself and immediately swung one massive arm toward him.

Kai ducked beneath the attack before activating Shadow Dash again.

His body disappeared and reappeared behind the machine.

"Spirit Lance!"

A spear of condensed Spirit shot toward the exposed section of its back.

BOOM!

The attack struck the machine, but the result was far weaker than Kai had expected.

A small crack appeared across its armor, but the machine continued moving as if the attack had barely affected it.

Kai’s expression became serious.

"Chamber, how strong is this thing?"

[ Its defensive capabilities exceed those of the previously encountered Sentinels. Estimated combat capability is comparable to a high-level Ascendant Unit. ]

Kai’s eyes widened slightly.

"Comparable to an Ascendant Unit?"

That wasn’t good.

He had already seen twelve Ascendant Units descend from the Citadel, and fighting one of them inside the fortress was the last thing he wanted to do.

Especially since he could already hear the sounds of heavy mechanical footsteps approaching from the corridors behind him.

More machines were coming.

Kai glanced toward the map displayed by Chamber...

The security unit had already delayed him, and if he stayed here for too long, the machines outside would eventually surround him.

He needed another option...

The machine fired again and Kai immediately activated Shadow Dash.

The laser swept across the chamber and struck the floor, leaving a glowing trail of molten metal behind.

Kai reappeared near one of the large mechanical platforms and quickly looked around.

Then his eyes landed on several thick energy lines running beneath the platform.

"Chamber."

[ Yes. ]

"Is this connected to the Citadel’s main energy network?"

There was a brief pause.

[ Confirmed. This chamber contains several high-capacity electrical wires. They appear to distribute energy toward multiple sections of the Citadel. ]

Kai’s eyes lit up as he heard this.

"How important is this area?"

[ Significant. Damage to the energy distribution network would cause instability across several internal systems. However, destroying this section alone would not be sufficient to critically damage the Citadel. ]

Kai smiled.

"Then where would I have to attack?"

The three-dimensional map displayed by Chamber immediately changed.

Several sections of the Citadel became highlighted.

One particular area began flashing.

[ A major energy distribution junction has been identified 214 meters from your current position. It connects the primary energy core to several critical systems, including propulsion, defensive barriers, weapons, and internal power distribution. ]

Kai’s eyes lit up.

"That sounds important."

[ It is. ]

Kai looked toward the security machine that was already preparing another laser attack.

He then glanced toward the corridor where more machines were approaching.

He suddenly had a much better idea.

"Forget the Central Command."

[ Clarification? ]

"I’m not going to take control of this thing."

Kai smiled as he reached into his inventory.

"I’m going to destroy it."

His hand closed around one of the remaining Aetherium Cannon Balls.

He had originally planned to save them for something truly important, but the situation had changed.

The Citadel had brought an entire army to Cameron City.

If he could destroy the fortress from the inside, not only would he cripple the machine civilization’s invasion force, but he could also eliminate the threat before the twelve Ascendant Units had a chance to find him.

He didn’t doubt that he would get huge experience points or even a title from this!

Kai looked at the Aetherium Cannon Ball in his hand.

"I still have a lot..."

[ Twenty. ]

[ You currently possess twenty Aetherium Cannon Balls. ]

Kai paused before counting them again in his mind.

"Right. Twenty."

A grin appeared on his face.

"Then let’s use all of them."

The security machine suddenly fired.

Kai immediately activated Shadow Dash and disappeared from the chamber.

The laser struck the floor behind him, but Kai had already entered the corridor.

He didn’t stop as he needed to hurry.

With Chamber guiding him, Kai rapidly moved through the Citadel’s interior while avoiding the machines being deployed throughout the fortress.

The deeper he went, the more chaotic the Citadel became.

Warning alarms were now echoing through the corridors, and red emergency lights flashed repeatedly as the fortress attempted to respond to the breach in its defenses.

Several security machines appeared along Kai’s route, but he didn’t waste time fighting them.

Whenever something blocked his path, he used Shadow Dash to pass through.

When the distance was too great, Titan Step allowed him to accelerate forward.

And whenever a machine managed to predict his movement, Neural Acceleration gave him enough awareness to change direction before the attack could reach him.

He wasn’t trying to win a battle.

He was racing against time.

[ The Ascendant Units have entered the Citadel. ]

Kai’s expression changed.

"They’re already inside?"

[ Confirmed. Their current location is approximately 600 meters behind you. ]

Kai glanced backward.

"Then I really need to hurry."

He accelerated and a few moments later, Chamber sent another notification.

[ The primary energy distribution junction is thirty meters ahead. ]

Kai turned the corner and immediately saw a massive chamber.

Unlike the previous areas, this section was filled with enormous conduits carrying glowing energy throughout the walls. Several mechanical structures surrounded a central distribution system that appeared to be connected directly to the Citadel’s deeper energy network.

Kai’s eyes lit up.

"This is it."

[ Confirmed. ]

Kai immediately opened his inventory.

One after another, Aetherium Cannon Balls appeared around him.

Five... Ten... Fifteen... Twenty.

Of course, Kai didn’t place them randomly.

Following Chamber’s calculations, he positioned the cannon balls around the central distribution junction, placing several near the main pipelines and others around the reinforced support structures connecting the energy system to the surrounding sections.

Kai stepped backward.

"Will this be enough?"

[ Based on the destructive output of the previous ten Aetherium Cannon Balls, the resulting explosion should critically destabilize the primary energy network. ]

Kai smiled.

"That’s exactly what I wanted to hear."

Suddenly, a powerful vibration traveled through the floor.

Kai looked toward the entrance.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor outside.

The Ascendant Units had arrived.

Kai could already see several enormous silhouettes approaching through the flashing red lights.

He didn’t hesitate.

"Chamber. Trigger them."

For a brief moment, nothing happened.

Then the first Aetherium Cannon Ball detonated.

BOOM!