Sky-cracking Rider

Chen Fei said with an apologetic tone, "I owe Squadron Leader Chekhov an original AK-47."

This was a private debt, and apart from the pilots of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron, not many others knew about it.

After all, it concerned an antique worth a million; nobody could afford to be so generous as to write it off, especially since their relationship wasn't that close yet.

Fortunately, Squadron Leader Chekhov wasn't in a hurry to collect the debt, and in the end, whether Chen Fei chose to return the rifle or pay compensation, it was fine, which greatly relieved his pressure.

Each person participating in the reconnaissance mission could receive material supplies worth 500,000 Star Yuan, and if expenses exceeded that amount, they had to pay the difference themselves. In fact, 500,000 Star Yuan was already more than enough, particularly since the focus of the mission was reconnaissance.

Upon encountering danger, they could choose to retreat immediately and didn't need to engage in a major battle, so they didn't require too much equipment.

As per Chen Fei's request, obtaining an AK-47 automatic rifle that, apart from being of a recent make, had the same material and craftsmanship as the original was not a problem for the formidable Blue Star Global United Defense Committee.

Since it was a high-fidelity replicate, it was worth at most 10,000 to 20,000 Star Yuan.

Hanna Gagar scrutinized the AK-47 in Chen Fei's hands from top to bottom.

"That one in your hands isn't original, right?"

Shiny and reeking of gunpowder smoke, without even a hint of wear and tear, it was clearly a new rifle. Pretending to be a decades-old original was something even a blind person would not be fooled by.

The original factory had long since closed down. If it could have lasted till now, it definitely would have been a centennial manufacturer. In the wheels of history, there aren't that many "ifs"...

"Of course not, I'm using it as a template," Chen Fei replied.

Chen Fei had a different idea than Manager Hanna had expected.

System: Ding! Absorbed one AK-47 automatic rifle, weighing 3.85 kilograms, composition ratio: Iron 70%, Chromium 18%, Nickel 8%...

In the blink of an eye, only the wooden parts of the rifle, including the handguard assembly, grip, and stock, remained in the AK-47 automatic rifle in his hands.

Physical Evolution Database (443), Categories: Cold Weapon (7), Firearms (2), Tools (95), Accessories (339) | Search.../Manage...

Alloy Database (8553): A, B, C...Z | Search.../Manage...

The continuously improving Dog System brought new discoveries with each access.

Chen Fei had an original, partially damaged rifle at hand and had just the necessary skills from the Dog System, including "Alloy Database," "Elemental Decomposition," "Elemental Synthesis," and "Metal Shaping," allowing for full repair and replication.

The real difference between a new and old rifle is the test of time. Beyond the visible wear and oxidation, there's also the release of internal stress from the metal parts.

Rifles that haven't endured the years need recalibration after being in storage for some time to restore shooting accuracy (like the Type 63 automatic rifle, which can't even last overnight), but old rifles that have fully released their internal stress don't have this issue—they are ready to fire accurately right out of storage.

"Eh?!" Hanna Gagar expressed surprise as she looked at the wooden parts in Chen Fei's hands and asked in confusion, "What is this all about?"

The sudden move from Chen Fei thoroughly confused her.

"This way, I can fully understand the measurements of this AK-47," Chen Fei explained.

Chen Fei spread his hands and began to extract the AK-47 automatic rifle from the Firearms category in the Physical Evolution Database. The body of the rifle "grew" out in his hands, and he timely placed the wooden parts on it, melding them back into one piece.

Half a minute later, an AK-47 that looked identical to the previous one reappeared in Chen Fei's hands, as if it had never been absorbed in the first place.

Then he extracted it again.

Another AK-47 appeared in Chen Fei's hands, but this time without the wooden components, looking somewhat incomplete.

However, since the Physical Evolution Database and Metal Shaping formed the parts in one go without various machining processes, there was naturally no internal stress, and even the old rifles that had gone through years could not match this level of perfection.

Compared to the amount of metal Chen Fei had "eaten," "spitting" out a little now was not an issue at all.

"Is that even possible?" Manager Hanna wondered.

Special Abilities are weird and varied. Even among those of the same element, the executive manager had never seen a Metal Elemental Psychic Power like this.

How to put it... wasn't this the real definition of a handyman?!

Chen the Handyman Fei.

Setting other things aside, he was quite suitable for his job at Aircrew Base 911, where he could make use of all these abilities.

But the downside of this power was also clear—it couldn't create non-metal parts, not to mention bullets. There were quite a few restrictions; he couldn't just create anything he wanted.

Blake, the Dark Elemental Psychic leader of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, checked the surveillance records and said, "Alright, we can go in!"

He led the way into the narrow cave entrance, and the lights on his helmet and waist immediately illuminated the cavern ahead.

Blake was fully equipped—from hunting bows and crossbows to daggers, machetes, automatic rifles, pistols, and grenades. He was armed with both cold weapons and firearms, akin to a mobile armory, and if they encountered any mutants, these weapons would surely come in handy.

Before this, the Global United Defense Committee had already sent people to scout ahead and left relevant surveillance equipment, wires, and lights in place, to prevent the incoming official reconnaissance personnel from running into mutants active inside the entrance.

A humming sound spread through the air.

A quadcopter drone took off from the hands of Cecilia Danbers, the electronics expert with number 76, flying past Blake, the front-runner Dark Elemental Psychic, and deep into the pitch-dark depths of the cave. It projected a rapidly flickering thin beam of light, mapping the area it flew over.

"Cave Dragonfly" possesses a certain level of intelligent functionality and autonomous capability, so it doesn't rely heavily on remote control. It can return along its original path every fifteen minutes to recharge its electric energy and transmit the surveyed information.

Just this one "Cave Dragonfly" alone consumed one-fifth of the resource allocation for Cecilia Danbers, and with other auxiliary components, a total of at least 150,000 Star Yuan was spent on this drone.

While Squadron Leader Blake was reviewing the surveillance records, Cecilia Danbers had already sent a "Cave Dragonfly" into the cave once, collecting preliminary survey data.

Now, every time she ventured a certain distance, she'd stick a reflective arrow sticker with a number on the cave walls.

The smaller the number, the closer to the cave entrance, to prevent getting lost in the depths of the cave. Although it was a low-tech solution, it was very effective. The stickers were neither heavy nor thick, and one roll could last a long time.

"The path ahead is clear!"

Executive manager Hanna Gagar used her Wind-type Psionic Ability to collect the air vibrations returning from ahead, which were sounds.

Besides the buzzing sound of the "Cave Dragonfly's" rotors, no other sounds were heard.

She would issue an immediate warning if there were any signs of movement.

The team's person who most resembled a stay-at-home geek, Seventh Rank Earth Mage Andy Brian, number 75, opened his perception to remain alert to the geological structures around him, both to prevent collapses that could threaten the reconnaissance squad and to detect hidden forks and caverns, ensuring control over the full terrain.

Number 77, Sixth Rank Wind-Type Battle Profession User and Great Swordsman Sahar Ignatius, had already slung his sword over his shoulder and was walking at the rear of the group, responsible for covering their backs.

All members of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad had their specific roles.

Chen Fei's task was to protect the only non-combatant, electronic specialist Cecilia Danbers; his AK-47 had long been switched out for a White Steel Crowbar.

In the cave, a Physics Holy Sword was evidently more practical than firearms.

"Chirp!~ Chirp!~"

The calls of the Pure Light Sparrow echoed within the cave.

Two ping-pong-ball-sized Light Orbs formed in front of Little Bird and drifted upwards, floating above the 13th Reconnaissance Squad's front and rear.

The First Rank Light-based Spell "Illumination Technique" found its place in the pitch-black cave. Each Light Orb, as bright as a 30-watt LED bulb, illuminated a ten-meter radius around it as if it were daylight.

For a moment, all other lighting equipment paled in comparison.

This Spell was no burden for Little Bird who could maintain it indefinitely.

"Pure Light Sparrow is a Light-element Magical Beast! I think we should add a slot for Xiao Jiu," said Dark Elemental Psychic Blake, who turned around and dutifully switched off his headlamp and belt light.

The brightness of the Light-based Spells had surpassed his own lighting equipment, so it was better to conserve some precious electricity.

With their more acute senses, magical beasts served as another layer of security.

As far as he knew, there were only two teams in the entire Camp 2 that included a magical beast in their reconnaissance squads.

"I second that!"

The female electronic specialist Cecilia heartily agreed.

"Let's call it 74.5 then!"

Chen Fei scratched Little Bird's chin.

"Chirp!"

Little Bird didn't protest, seeming to accept the designation.

A number with a whole, a zero, and a decimal point - such an identifier was…well, it's the participation that counts! Don't sweat these trivial details.

After walking for about an hour, the air grew humid, the temperature plummeted, and the cave opened up, with the sound of dripping water faintly audible nearby.

"This is a carbonate rock structure with stalactites, watch your feet and head, and be careful not to step into a hole or hit your head," said Earth Mage Andy Brian, whose voice wasn't loud but echoed in everyone's ears due to the surrounding environment.

The Illumination Technique's light reflected off the clear stalactites, casting a hazy, multicolored glow.

"Chirp!~"

Little Bird seemed to be enjoying it and released another Illumination Technique Light Orb.

The 13th Reconnaissance Squad's path became even brighter, illuminating a much wider area of this carbonate rock structure's cavern, comparable in size to a football field.

Glittering reflections dotted the entire space, as if inside a crystal palace, resplendently luxurious.

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