The Final Odyssey, the fantastical journey of a cat boy

"A surprise? I've had enough of that stuff." Ange frowned in annoyance at this. "Are you sure?"

"No, although I found some information about this arena, it's not comprehensive," Huang Yan said. "I only know that after completing the trials of the fifth and sixth levels, also known as the 'Slaughter Factory,' challengers are entitled to go to the seventh level to claim prizes, but..."

"Hmm..." Xiaoxing and Bohe both showed displeasure: having been tricked by this damn arena for several rounds, they were all too familiar with this kind of selective statement trap of "telling only half the truth".

"You mean, there might still be enemies down there?"

"No, no, no, please rest assured. Enemies belonging to the arena, whether they are autonomous weapons, hostile synthetic beasts, aggressive genetically modified plants, or 'clones' controlled by automated combat AI, do not exist on this level," Lulu Meng's image immediately popped up as soon as Fish asked the question. "Please don't worry."

"Don't worry, my foot," Fish muttered. "Who knows if there's anything else..."

"Really, there aren't any more! After all, while there used to be a possibility that the audience could manipulate the 'clones' to enter the arena, now that my lovely audience members are no longer around, so that possibility can also be ruled out," the arena's host replied immediately.

"Really?"

"Absolutely true! I can guarantee that there is no danger of any kind that can threaten you on this level, except for each of you challengers!" Lulu Meng emphasized.

"Well……"

"By the way, the weapons and equipment brought by the challengers, including the weapon systems of their smart combat armor, are automatically locked and unusable down here," Lulu Meng added. "Furthermore, there are no usable weapons or ammunition on this level."

"Sounds like a very peaceful and safe floor." Knowing that the other party was programmed to "not lie," Fish was finally speechless after hearing such a resolute statement. "Everyone, stay alert, I'm going to get our 'prize'."

Although Lulu Meng assured him that there was "no danger of any kind," he still had Huang Yan set all the sensors to their highest sensitivity level, keeping a watchful eye on any potential threats, as he believed that "anything can happen at any time." Anjie, Xiaoxing, and Bohe also formed a perimeter around him, ready to deal with any sudden attacks.

However, unlike the previous times when they were tricked, this time, Lulu seemed to be genuinely honest with them. As they cautiously approached the "podium," they indeed encountered no danger: there were no chimeras or autonomous weapons, no booby traps hidden under the floor, no pink camouflage-clad loli holding a gun hiding in a corner, and not even any "accidentally" falling rocks.

In short, Fish obtained the pretty box on the cushioned surface without any problems and unlocked it. Inside the box, a square mechanical device that looked like an old-fashioned computer memory stick lay unremarkable in the shock-absorbing foam padding.

"That's it! This is the 'Akasha's Compendium,' exactly what the Joint Operations Headquarters has been desperately searching for!" A hint of excitement flashed in Huang Yan's voice. "With this, the work of saving humanity will be much easier to begin!"

"So, how can it be used?" Anjie also came up and picked up the silver-gray strip. Huang Yan did not stop her.

"It's complicated, and we'll need some other equipment and preparations... Anyway, I know how to handle it," Huang Yan said. "Now, there's no point in us staying down here any longer. Let's get ready to leave quickly."

"Leave? How do I leave?"

"There should be a fast passage back to the ground on this floor," Huang Yan said. "That's for the arena staff and those who managed to survive the challenge."

"That's right, please follow me." Lulu's image quickly walked in front of the group. "The fast track is right here, but please be careful—"

"What are you being careful about?!" Fish suddenly had a bad feeling.

And that feeling came true the next second.

Thanks to Huang Yan, who had activated all the sensors to their highest sensitivity and remained constantly vigilant, Fish was able to detect the danger in time through changes in air pressure when the enormous shadow fell from the sky. At the last second, he pulled Xiao Xing, who was also in a dangerous area, aside, avoiding the powerful kinetic energy impact generated by the thing's gravitational potential energy conversion.

"What is this?!"

Fish, still shaken, shuddered as he looked at the enormous creature before him—to put it simply, it resembled a giant blind spider or sea spider.

It has eight extremely long and strong mechanical legs. Each leg has a hydraulic system for cushioning, as well as a disc-shaped foot at the end that can adhere to solid surfaces. Compared to its legs, which are five or six meters long, the torso is not very large, barely enough to accommodate the engine and an open mini cockpit.

Even so, for the group who couldn't use their own weapons and were unable to use intelligent combat armor, this thing was still an extremely dangerous existence.

"Are you kidding me?!" Fish yelled at Lulu after dodging the thing's charge. "Didn't you just guarantee this place was perfectly safe?"

"Ah, that's right, that's definitely true," Lulu said. "Compared to the previous floors, this place is indeed quite safe."

"So what's the situation now—?"

"Alright, I roughly know what this guy is going to say," Huang Yan interrupted Fish. "According to the information in my database, this device is an 'Arachne-39' engineering robot. This model was originally used for the maintenance, repair, and assembly of near-Earth space facilities, but it has also been used for the cleaning and maintenance of high-rise buildings. It is purely civilian equipment that cannot carry military weapons, so it is neither an autonomous weapon nor a weapon system."

"But even so—" Fish hadn't finished speaking when the Arachne raised a long, thin leg and stabbed at him like a spear! Fortunately, Fish reacted quickly enough and narrowly escaped the attack.

"This piece of junk is probably not controlled by AI or read-only programs," Huang Yan continued, "someone is piloting it."

"Someone's here?!" Fish asked in surprise... Then, the cockpit hatch of "Arachne" suddenly opened.

A burly man with broad shoulders and a thick waist revealed his upper body.

This strong man, who possessed many physical characteristics of a brown bear, had half his face burned, most of his mane-like hair burned off, and several conspicuous wounds on his body, which had to be wrapped in bandages with antiseptic and hemostatic properties. Even so, Fish recognized the man at a glance.

After all, he could never forget the leader of the war gang who had once kindly "mentored" and "helped" him.

If Fish hadn't accidentally stolen from Liu Gang while petty thievery in the bar, he would never have joined the "Tidal Lightning" gang, nor would he have met Xiao Xing and become one of those "young heroes" planned to be sacrificed as bait. Of course, he also wouldn't have unexpectedly met Huang Yan and An Jie's group, nor would he have ended up here, much less become the heir of the Lindenhild-Fayun family by sheer coincidence.

In a way, he even had to thank that bastard... though Fish would never say that word to Liu Gang.

"It's you?! This is impossible... You couldn't possibly have survived from a place like that..." Liu Gang was also extremely surprised upon seeing Fish. "What's that on you? Intelligent combat armor? How could you have something like that?"

"I don't need to answer you, do I?" Fish said, then turned his attention to Lulumon. "Hey, what's going on here?! Why is he here?"

"Oh, this is a hidden challenge in this arena: a revival round for the persistent," Lulu replied with a smile—based on Fish's experience, whenever the hologram of this utterly awful program showed this expression, it meant something pretty bad was about to happen. "Hope you like it."

"What the heck is this?"

"In short, anyone who chooses to challenge the most dangerous level five, also known as the 'Doomsday' difficulty, will be sent here even if they fail to complete the level, as long as they are still alive after someone successfully reaches the seventh floor—this is the final reward for those with an iron will and determination to survive."

"Hmm..." Fish glanced at Liu Gang again. The scars and wounds all over the guy's body proved that he must have suffered a lot in order to survive the first level, which suddenly became the most difficult.

"Of course, once you reach the seventh floor, as one of the challengers, those who have earned this opportunity can choose to cooperate and share with those who came here before, or they can choose to compete for the final prize—of course, whatever you choose to do, I don't care, it's your freedom," Lulu Meng continued. "By the way, as I said before, 'apart from each of you challengers yourselves,' no one can threaten you on this floor, so..."

"Kid, hand over what you have," Liu Gang said, driving the giant spider-like engineering machine closer to Fish. "I'm your superior! Anything you find must be turned over to the authorities; that's the rule of 'Tidal Lightning'."

"Unfortunately, you're now the only one left in the 'Tidal Lightning' faction. You'll have to uphold the rules yourself," Fish said, taking a step back. "From the moment you abandoned us, Xiaoxing and I were no longer part of 'Tidal Lightning.' And it seems none of your companions who came in with you survived."

"Kid, I still have the 'Wave'..."

"Ah, I'm sorry," Fish smiled slightly—this topic certainly pleased him. "We already took care of that ship... along with everyone on board. And the important person you're looking for is right here." He pointed to Ange.

"What? Impossible... Hmm... No wonder Moore hasn't been contacting me..." Liu Gang's expression looked like he'd been force-fed a mouthful of flies, extremely unpleasant. "...Kid, I never expected you to actually find a usable set of smart combat armor, and even take down Moore and his henchmen all by yourself..."

Fish shrugged—in fact, it was Xiao Xing who quietly eliminated most of the crew of the "Wave" and seized control of the ship; his main role was merely to distract them. However, Fish didn't feel the need to tell them the whole story.

"Fine, since that's the case, do you want to continue cooperating with me?" Liu Gang sighed, sitting in the cockpit of the "Arachne-39." "People in our line of work admire absolute strength. With a powerful armored warrior like you, I can establish a new 'Tidal Lightning' in a few months. At that time, you can sit in the second-in-command position of the war gang and get the largest share of commissions and spoils..."

"Sure," Fish said without hesitation.

"That's wonderful! Let's shake hands and celebrate this new collaboration!" Liu Gang extended a hand.

"How fortunate." Fish walked up with a relaxed expression, seemingly intending to shake hands... but suddenly raised his other hand, which was hidden behind his back, and threw the multi-functional combat knife that he had been carrying at his waist at the other person!

If Phoenix Flame could still provide a normal power boost at this moment, this strike would have severed Liu Gang's trachea and carotid artery, killing him instantly.

Unfortunately, because intelligent combat armor and various military weapons and equipment are prohibited on the seventh floor, Fish's knife-throwing speed was slightly slower without the assistance of Phoenix Flame.

Relying entirely on instinct honed over years of conspiracies, betrayals, and murders, Liu Gang slightly tilted his head the instant he sensed the murderous aura emanating from Fish—this narrowly saved him from a doomed end.

Then, under his control, Arachne's mechanical limbs thrust out again, but Fish successfully dodged it—the latter had anticipated his opponent's move and was prepared to evade the moment the attack was launched.

"Not bad, kid. It seems you've become less... naive and cute these past few days," Liu Gang said.

"After all, real-world experience is more useful than any education," Fish replied coldly. Just as Liu Gang said, he was no longer as trusting of others as before. When Liu Gang proposed cooperation, he realized that it was absolutely impossible.

After all, Liu Gang knew very well that he had already betrayed Fish once, and Fish was almost certain to never trust him again. Once he left, Fish's power as a Master Armorer would be overwhelming for Liu Gang, who had already lost all his wealth. If Fish wanted, he could easily squander all of Liu Gang's connections and fortune, and then suddenly turn on him and take his life.

Therefore, for Liu Gang, the only option to safely leave with the "Akasha Compendium" was to betray Fish while he was unable to use the power of the Phoenix Flame... and Fish himself was aware of this.

"What a pity, kid. I really want that thing you have... because some big shots specifically asked me to bring it back," Liu Gang said. "If I succeed, I'll have a lifetime of comfort. But if I fail, I'll be doomed... do you understand? I have no choice."

"Oh, well said," Fish assumed a challenge stance, "I'm sorry, I don't have any either."