I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 176 The calm before the storm

"Mr. French,"

"Next, we will conduct an agile test. Please follow the route and begin—"

The mercenary, who was warming up by hopping in place, immediately swung his arms and sprinted out after hearing the command. His stride was twice as long as that of a normal person, and he seemed to be 'bouncing' forward.

Because his legs are not normal 'human legs', but instead a pair of mechanical prosthetics, especially at the ankles, there are recurved elastic components that make them look like ostrich legs: the bionic jumping prosthetic is its official name.

In a 100-meter straight sprint, the mercenary reached the finish line in just 7 seconds.

The destination is a three-meter-tall building, so:
Thump,

As you push off with your feet,

A sound of air bursting out rang out, causing the mercenary to leap 1.5 meters into the air.

Snapped,

He easily placed his hands on the roof.

Then, with a sudden burst of strength, he swung his waist and slung his leg, and a mechanical prosthetic limb was placed across the building's ceiling.

He flipped himself onto the roof of the building, then got up and began sprinting along the roof again: water tanks, railings, gaps. A normal person wouldn't care about these obstacles. But for Franky, the mercenary with two prosthetic limbs, they were obstacles that required complete concentration to overcome.

However, thanks to the built-in balance assist system in his prosthesis, he managed to complete the entire course without any major incidents: climbing slopes, going up rooftops, descending ditches, and making sharp turns.
"Wow~~"

"Cool, Franky!"

"Well done, really great!"

When he reached the finish line, the mercenaries waiting there applauded and cheered, bringing a smile to the face of the mercenary who had lost both legs.

"Thanks,"

He extended his fist and bumped fists with each of the guys in front of him.

"Don't mention it,"

"We're comrades-in-arms!"

The mercenaries responded with smiles, their friendship a testament to their shared experience of fighting side-by-side.

On the battlefield, no one can take care of everything. You must have teammates to protect you. Helping your teammates is the same as helping yourself: everyone will fall down and need someone to save them one day.

"Captain, firepower specialist Franky is requesting to return to the team!"

As he approached the last person, Franky, with his prosthetic legs, gave a military salute.

"Please grant permission."

Matthew, the tall black mercenary captain, also saluted and then patted the other man on the shoulder.

"Welcome back, Franky."

Just as the mercenaries were welcoming their teammate back, several men in white coats approached.

"The data is out,"

"The straight-line running speed is 56 km/h, the obstacle course speed is 31 km/h, and the maximum kicking force is 2760 pounds. This is 70% of the limit data, which means the integration is going very well."

“Mr. Franky, you can use these prosthetic limbs to catch up with a slow car, and you can kick a medium-sized beast to death. But:”

The leading researcher, holding a tablet computer, solemnly warned the mercenaries.

"These are mechanical prosthetics manufactured for use by 'superhumans',"

"Only by becoming a superhuman can you unleash the full potential of the data on paper. And..."

A machine is always just a machine.

How could it possibly compare to a superhuman physique that has been trained?

"Please bring your car in for maintenance once a month; it's also best to bring it in for inspection after intense combat."

"Machines are not like the human body; when they malfunction, you don't feel 'pain' until the problem manifests."

It could easily lead to complete paralysis!
The more sophisticated a technological creation is, the more difficult it is to repair.

Simply put, the maintenance costs alone for his legs will make even the so-called "middle class" turn pale.

Not to mention repairs and replacements after damage.

A typical money-burning product.

The mercenary named 'Franky' froze.
No wonder this kind of thing isn't popular; it's practically robbery.

"Hahaha, don't worry."

Kaplan, the mercenary in charge of various electronic instruments, affectionately put his arm around his shoulder.

"Leave routine maintenance to me."

"Besides, we are now a 'super mercenary team', so this expense is just pocket change."

After saying that, the white mercenary took out a stack of bright green US dollars from his pocket and slapped them onto the tablet computer held by the man in the white coat.

"Keep the change, please!"

Thank you for patronizing us!

The lab coats were all smiles at Kaplan's attitude, almost as if they were about to say, "Come again next time."

US dollars are being thrown in the face; we need more of these maintenance tasks!
"That's... the Hive Mercenary Group?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, a mechanical prosthetic limb worth millions of dollars, fed by dog ​​food!"

When the mercenary team left the 'medical zone' and arrived at the plaza of the Gojo City military base, they immediately attracted the attention of many mercenaries.

"A lucky guy"

These tattooed, bald men were wearing bulletproof vests.
With guns and grenades tucked into their belts, the mercenaries, cigarettes dangling from their lips, cast envious and resentful glances their way.

That's right. On two occasions of crisis, extraordinary beings passed by, and not only did they suffer few casualties, they also picked up a bunch of high-level loot.

That's not all. After their captain drank a level-three extraordinary potion, he underwent a one-in-a-million mutation, awakening his own 'extraordinary organ'. This made the other mercenaries want to kill him and take his place.
Unfortunately, given the opponent's current strength, if they all rushed at them, they would only be killed.

With the addition of superhumans, the other party was even able to equip disabled team members with million-dollar-level technological prosthetics, which was so extravagant that it made people drool.

"Captain, we'll soon have enough merits to exchange for the second extraordinary potion."

In the marching column, the white mercenary Kaplan rubbed his hands together like a fly.

"This second bottle."

Go play with your drone!

"Exactly, you're a tech guy, why would you drink any kind of medicine?"

Before the mercenary captain Matthew could speak, the other mercenaries started jeering, making Kaplan blush.

"What's wrong with the drone?"

"Before the captain had his superpowers, didn't you guys rely on my drones to escape many crises?"

As their captain grew an eye on his shoulder, possessing unscientific 'ultra-long-range vision' and 'danger perception' abilities, his status as a technological reconnaissance soldier plummeted.

Seriously, they're actually discriminating against technology!

at this time,

A commotion arose from the direction of the base gate.

?

Everyone turned to look, and then they all gasped in shock.

The members of the Hive Mercenaries saw a bunch of demons strung together like skewers. At the very top, through the chest, was a 'Demon Warrior'!
This is an extraordinary monster that appeared after the 'Battle of Koyasan'. It has a strong defense, and ordinary firearms have almost no effect on it. In addition, the skeletal horse it rides is also very fast. Once it charges close, it is a massacre.

It is the second type of monster that mercenaries least want to encounter, the first of which is of course the 'assassin' who can move underground.

On the contrary, those 'elemental mages' are easier to deal with.

"My God, what terrifying power!"

These demons and oni warriors were impaled by a long spear.

The six-meter-long weapon was carried on the shoulder of a girl wearing heavy, sky-blue armor.

The armor was half a palm thick, looking like some kind of tank armor. Combined with the spoils of war she was carrying, the visual impact was considerable.

“No, that’s not right,” mercenary captain Matthew frowned.
As he moved his eyes over his shoulder, he noticed that the ground where the girl had walked was spotless.

Judging from the opponent's appearance, the armor and spoils must weigh at least several tons.

Such weight, when it hits the ground, doesn't even leave a footprint.
Excluding the possibility of 'props':
"Don't provoke her; she possesses unknown supernatural abilities."

"Don't worry, Captain."

The mercenaries behind him all said:

"We don't want to be impaled on guns by that girl."

"That's really exaggerated,"

Takagi Mikazu, who was a disciple of Miyamoto Musashi, walked over with two swords, one long and one short, hanging at his waist.

He looked up at the string of spoils that 'Honda the Second' was carrying: many of them were still twitching slightly, proving that none of them were completely dead.

"You've already mastered the 'breathing technique'?"

"Um,"

The girl nodded casually.
It was a blow to the heart of the middle-aged samurai.

So fast!
Could it be that I haven't fully mastered the 'breathing technique' yet?

“You also show signs of breathing techniques on you,”

Honda the Second, clad in heavy armor and carrying a string of spoils, fixed his gaze on Takagi San and the two swords at his waist.

Want to have a spar?

"No, I don't fight battles I'm not sure I can win."

As a disciple of Miyamoto Musashi, Takagi Miwa was a 'strategist'.

That is, the means don't matter as long as victory is achieved: the founder, Miyamoto Musashi, once deliberately stood Sasaki Kojiro up to disrupt his opponent's mindset.

"What a shame,"

Since the other party didn't want to fight, Honda didn't force the issue and carried his spoils into the base.

They were also accumulating merits to exchange for extraordinary potions for their families and subordinates.

"I need to work hard too,"

With his hand on the hilt of the sword, Takagi Mikazu strode out.

Whether it's for camaraderie, family honor, mentorship, or simply a thirst for power, these extraordinary individuals are all diligently grinding monsters and improving themselves on Mount Koya.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Higashi-Izumo Mountains,
Inside a forest cabin belonging to a 'forest ranger'.

Squeak,

The wooden door was pushed open, and the young monk Shang Zhixiong came out.

Judging from his appearance, he looks like a young man who has just graduated from school; who would have thought that he is actually the master who is so admired by the Buddhist community of the entire island nation?

But now, this 'master' looked somewhat bewildered as he chopped wood, started a fire, and cooked.
It's like a video of someone enjoying life in the wild, a typical online blogger.

But the Buddha testified that he had absolutely no intention of enjoying anything.

On the one hand, Master Zhixiong understood that since he possessed extraordinary powers, he should take on this 'responsibility';
On the other hand, a series of failures made him realize that he was not some 'demon-slaying warrior,' but a weak, ordinary person.

Hiding in this deserted hut, he cuts down dead trees to cook every day and drinks stream water to quench his thirst, which is quite like the life of an ascetic. It is both Master Zhixiong's self-exile and his escape.

"Hey buddy, cooking?"

A greeting came from afar, causing Monk Zhixiong to look up.

“Mr. Ishikawa, and Mr. Fujiwara.”

"Want to eat together?"

Although Monk Zhixiong's mentality has declined, his strength has not.

He had already seen the two old hunters when they were still at the foot of the mountain, so he specially prepared rice for three people.

"OK,"

"We brought some fish to grill and eat."

The two old hunters didn't stand on ceremony: in fact, there was no need to stand on ceremony, this was originally their resting place.

It's just a temporary loan for a young superhuman who's having a mental breakdown.

"Come,"

"This is the sauce my husband made."

"The taste is still as delicious as ever. I really should have pursued my sister-in-law back then—"

"shut up!"

The two old men casually pulled over two wooden stakes to use as benches, eating and bickering at the same time: such a warm scene brought a rare peace to the uneasy heart of Monk Zhixiong.

However, this peace was only temporary.

"Two old gentlemen,"

Do you know anything about the situation at Mount Koya?

Master Zhixiong flew so fast that he even lost his cell phone.

I'm too ashamed to go out and make up for anything now, so I've been staying in this deep mountain forest to "cultivate myself." My mindset has gradually become more stable, and I can't help but start to care about the situation in my "hometown" again.

"I know,"

Ishikawa dipped the grilled fish into the sauce made by his "sister-in-law," then popped it into his mouth and answered while chewing.

“The situation is very good!”

"Well, we know what kind of people the island nation's government is."

Another elderly man named Fujiwara took over the conversation. Of the two, he was the calm and composed leader.

Deceiving superiors and subordinates, and various forms of "going it alone" are characteristics of island nations; there were even absurd cases where the army believed the navy had won the war until the defeat.

"Battle reports can be deceiving, but the front lines can not."

"The front line at Mount Koya has indeed advanced by more than half. Many fearless young people have even gone to the front line to become 'bloggers'."

What has the largest traffic volume in the entire island nation, or even the entire world?
Without a doubt, it's extraordinary!

Where are the most extraordinary beings found?
Without a doubt, it's Mount Koya!
Extraordinary information from other places is hard to verify, and by the time you get there, it has mostly been dealt with by the government.

Only Mount Koya is teeming with extraordinary beings: by capturing these beings and using technological means, extraordinary potions can be created—this is no secret, after all, many countries are watching the island nation closely. If it weren't for the strength of the American navy, peacekeeping forces from multiple countries would have already landed on the island nation.

As for ordinary people, they have even less of a chance to go to the island nation.

In addition, inspired by the extraordinary blogger 'KYG', many fearless online bloggers have flocked to Mount Koya to start live streaming.

While the live stream of the extraordinary blogger 'KYG' is certainly high-end, it's too high-end: it's all top-tier extraordinary individuals flying around, and ordinary people can only watch the spectacle without even being able to make out the figures.

These ordinary bloggers' live streams focus on introducing how to capture demons, how to team up to ambush chimeras, and how various modern weapons perform in the face of extraordinary beings. Although some unlucky bloggers are often killed, the remaining ones still gain a huge amount of traffic.

In an instant, they became millionaires and multi-millionaires!
This spurred many more people to join in and roam the battlefield.

Therefore, the Japanese are quite clear about the "front lines" at Mount Koya. Furthermore:

"With Kafka Lu in charge, what could possibly happen?"

"Dude, haven't you seen the recent news?!"

When Kafka was mentioned, the old hunter Ishikawa became very interested and talked on and on.

"Kafka Lu could lift a building with his sheer strength! The so-called 'demon tide' is utterly insignificant in front of him."

As he listened to the old man's story, Master Zhixiong smiled.

Even without me, the world will still keep turning; the situation hasn't gotten any worse, and that's good, that's good.
Unfortunately, how could the 'supreme will' that controls all the extraordinary beings in this world sit idly by and watch him languish here?
No, it's not a disaster, but rather a test that's about to come crashing down.

Sweeping across the entire island nation!

(End of this chapter)