83: Chapter 83 Hawkeye's Cooperation

Hawkeye arrived on a cloudy afternoon.

Chen Mo was in the yard testing his new ability. Golden lines surged from his palm, condensing into various shapes in the air—knives, swords, shields—before dissipating and re-condensing.

He was practicing precise control.

His serialization progress had risen to 0.7%. Although it wasn't much, it increased every time he used his ability. He needed to find a way to maintain his combat power while slowing down the progress.

Just then, a dot appeared in his Time Perception.

A very distant dot, five kilometers away.

But the dot was moving very fast, heading straight this way.

Chen Mo withdrew his ability and stood in the yard, waiting.

Ten minutes later, a modified off-road vehicle appeared in his line of sight.

The car stopped at the Farmhouse entrance, and a person stepped out.

Thin, wearing camouflage gear, and carrying a long, rectangular bundle on his back.

Hawkeye.

He walked up to Chen Mo and stopped five meters away.

“I heard you’ve promoted to A-Rank,” he said.

Chen Mo nodded.

Hawkeye looked at him, a complex emotion in his eyes.

“I want to ask for your help.”

Chen Mo said nothing.

Hawkeye continued.

“There is an A-Rank Ghost Shadow called the Void Sniper. It operates at the end of Highway 23, specifically sniping lone Chosen Ones. Over thirty people have already died.”

He paused.

“I want to kill it.”

Chen Mo looked at him.

In his twenty-second Prediction, Hawkeye's next move was clearly visible—he would propose a deal, trading intelligence for cooperation. If rejected, he would leave and go alone.

“Why look for me?”

Hawkeye was silent for a few seconds.

“Because its ability is very similar to mine. Ultra-long-distance sniping with unpredictable trajectories.” He looked at Chen Mo, “Only you can counter it.”

Chen Mo thought about it.

The Void Sniper.

A-Rank.

Ultra-long-distance attacks.

Unpredictable.

Such an opponent was indeed troublesome.

But it wasn't impossible to fight.

“What’s the deal?”

Hawkeye pulled a map from his pocket and handed it to Chen Mo.

“This is a detailed map of Highway 23, marking the locations where it frequently appears,” he said. “Help me kill it, and this map is yours.”

Chen Mo looked at the map.

Highway 23.

That was the mandatory path to the deeper regions.

If he had this map, the road ahead would be much easier.

“Deal.”

Hawkeye's expression relaxed slightly.

“When do we leave?”

Chen Mo thought for a moment.

“Tomorrow morning.”

Hawkeye nodded.

“I'll wait for you at the entrance to Highway 23.”

He turned and walked toward the off-road vehicle.

Chen Mo watched his back.

“Wait.”

Hawkeye stopped.

“Are you certain of success?”

Hawkeye was silent for a few seconds.

“I'm not,” he said, “but if we don't go, more people will die.”

He got in the car and started the engine.

The off-road vehicle drove off into the distance.

Chen Mo stood where he was, watching the car disappear.

Lin Wei walked out of the Basement.

“Are you really going?”

Chen Mo nodded.

“That Ghost Shadow is very dangerous.”

“I know.”

Chen Mo turned and walked back into the Basement.

He began to prepare.

Supplies, weapons, and that perfect sequence potion.

Though he hadn't used it yet, he would bring it along, just in case.

Early the next morning, the pickup truck drove out of the Farmhouse.

Three hours later, the entrance to Highway 23 appeared ahead.

Hawkeye was already there waiting.

He stood by the roadside, sniper rifle on his back, looking out at the distant wilderness.

Chen Mo stopped the car, pushed open the door, and stepped out.

Hawkeye turned around.

“You’re here.”

Chen Mo nodded.

The two stood by the road, looking out at the distant Highway 23.

That road was different from others—the road surface was black, and the wilderness on both sides was also black, as if it had been scorched by fire. A burnt smell permeated the air.

“It's deep inside,” Hawkeye said, “about fifty kilometers from here.”

Chen Mo activated Time Perception.

Within a fifty-meter range, everything was normal.

But further ahead, his perceptions became blurred.

Something was interfering.

“Let’s go.”

The two got into their cars and drove onto Highway 23.

The pickup truck was in front, with Hawkeye's off-road vehicle behind.

After driving about forty kilometers, Chen Mo suddenly slammed on the brakes.

In his Time Perception, a dot was moving.

Very fast.

Coming straight this way.

He pushed open the car door and stepped out.

Hawkeye also got out, sniper rifle in hand.

The dot got closer and closer.

Finally, it appeared in his field of vision.

A humanoid thing stood on the highway five hundred meters away.

It was very tall, at least three meters. Its body was translucent, and one could see golden lines flowing inside. It had no hands, only two gun-barrel-like things extending from its shoulders.

[Target: A-Rank Ghost Shadow 'Void Sniper']

[Status: Locking On]

[Ability: Ultra-long-distance sniping, unpredictable trajectory]

[Weakness: Weak melee capability]

[Threat Assessment: Lethal]

Chen Mo stared at it.

In his twenty-second Prediction, its movements were clearly visible—

It would aim at Hawkeye first, as Hawkeye was the greater threat. Then it would fire, and the trajectory would bypass any obstacles.

The Prediction time was sufficient, but the trajectory was unpredictable.

This meant he could only rely on his reflexes to dodge.

Hawkeye had already raised his rifle.

“I'll distract it,” he said. “Find an opportunity to get close.”

Chen Mo nodded.

Hawkeye fired.

The bullet flew toward the Void Sniper.

But at the moment it was about to hit, the creature disappeared.

The bullet hit the ground, blasting a crater.

It reappeared in another position, even closer.

Its 'gun barrels' aimed at Hawkeye.

Fire.

Chen Mo saw a beam of light shoot toward Hawkeye.

It was too fast.

Faster than any bullet.

Hawkeye tried to dodge, but it was too late.

Chen Mo activated Rule Creation.

[Create Temporary Rule: Trajectory Deflection]

[Duration: 3 seconds]

The moment the light beam was about to hit Hawkeye, it suddenly deflected.

It shot into the nearby wilderness, blasting a large crater.

The Void Sniper froze for a moment.

It hadn't expected someone to be able to deflect its attack.

Chen Mo didn't give it a second chance.

He activated Eerie Power Burst, increasing all attributes by 50%.

Thirty seconds.

He only had thirty seconds.

He charged toward the Void Sniper.

His speed was so fast that its aiming couldn't keep up.

It fired repeatedly, but every shot was dodged by Chen Mo's Prediction.

Twenty seconds.

Chen Mo reached it.

He slashed down with his blade.

The blade cut into its body.

Those golden lines snapped.

It let out a roar, trying to flee.

But Chen Mo was faster.

Second strike.

Third strike.

Fourth strike.

Its body began to disintegrate.

The golden lines scattered into the air.

[Killed A-Rank Ghost Shadow 'Void Sniper']

[Obtained: Void Core × 1]

[Obtained: sequence fragment × 50]

[Current Fragments: 820]

Chen Mo stood where he was, gasping for breath.

Eerie Power Burst ended.

He looked down at his hands.

serialization progress: 0.8%.

It had risen by 0.1%.

It was worth it.

Hawkeye walked over and looked at him.

There was something indescribable in his eyes.

“You... you really did it.”

Chen Mo didn't speak.

He just looked into the distance.

At the end of Highway 23, something was waiting for them.

But he didn't want to go there now.

He needed rest.

The two returned to their vehicles and started the engines.

The pickup truck drove back the way it came.

In the rearview mirror, the black wilderness grew more distant.

Chen Mo gripped the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the road ahead.

The cooperation with Hawkeye was complete.

Who would be next?