Chapter 108: Dannika's Origins, Season 2's Main Plot (Part 2)

And precisely because of Dannika’s uniqueness, the Gear Church had come to regard her with unprecedented importance.

Before her emergence, the standard procedure for the Mechanical Blessing ritual had been simple: a clergyman would enter the Prayer Room, carefully read the Mechanical Bible · Gear for a period of time, and successfully establish a data link with the Quantum Fortress in the Quantum Space—this was considered the completion of the rite.

But when the Character from the Mechanical Bible · Gear—Dannika herself—suddenly stepped out, leaving behind only an empty, blank scripture for the Gear Church, the entire ritual was rendered impossible.

The traditional method of reading had become obsolete. With the Bible now devoid of text, the clergy could no longer perform the ritual through conventional means. They could only complete the once-standard “data synchronization” by listening to Dannika herself recite the sacred words.

After all, she was the only one in the entire Steam Capital · Gear Church who could see the characters inscribed on the Blank Bible. Only she could fulfill the role of the clergy in the Mechanical Blessing.

Without her, the Steam Capital · Gear Church might remain stable for the short term—after all, the Mechanical Blessing was a sacred rite reserved for high-ranking clergy with unwavering faith, typically at least Level 2 Mechanical Stellar Envoy.

But in the long run, Dannika’s disappearance would be catastrophic.

It would cause a severe generational gap in the Church’s elite combat forces—so profound that the entire hierarchy could be thrown into disarray.

Thus, the urgent challenge became clear: how to locate Dannika quickly, without alerting the outside world—or even other branches of the Mechanical Church.

Any slip-up could result in the Church being reprimanded by headquarters, or worse, having Dannika forcibly taken from them—the very foundation of their power.

And precisely because of this risk, and other deeply rooted reasons, the Gear Church dared not launch a public search.

They couldn’t even openly admit they were searching for her.

Instead, they used vague, ambiguous statements—saying only that they had lost something very important. What it was, how vital it was—these details were never shared, not even with some of their own senior clergy.

Why such secrecy?

It mirrored the earlier power struggle between Dorian and Bodean in the Deep Blue Capital, where outwardly it appeared to be an internal conflict—but in truth, both men were backed by heirs of the Shuangyin Family.

Likewise, the Mechanical Church—founded by the Ironcrown Family—was rife with factions, each despising the others. If not for this internal division, Dannika’s existence as a singular, world-class Miracle in the form of a textual reincarnation would have already been reported to the Quantum Fortress headquarters for official determination.

And if one followed the original Season 2 storyline…

Dannika would endure nothing but suffering from beginning to end.

The only brief moment of happiness came when Chen Kong and the others rescued her—only to have her snatched away again moments later.

At the end of Season 2, after Chen Kong and his allies finally ended the brutal war between the upper and lower tiers of Steam Capital, the Ironcrown Family suddenly appeared.

With overwhelming force, they defeated the protagonists utterly.

Then, they forcibly erased Dannika’s humanity and took her physical form.

Had Chen Kong not possessed a hidden background so powerful—even the cold, rigid Ironcrown Family found him too dangerous to deal with directly—they would have blown him apart on the spot with high-caliber artillery.

He would have been reduced to dust… and Kong vapor.

But the Ironcrown Family didn’t know this.

In her final moments, as her humanity was nearly extinguished, Dannika secretly transformed her precious text into memory—and embedded it all into Chen Kong’s mind.

This granted him a fragment of the Miracle Stone · Law.

As for the body they took? It was nothing more than a hollow shell—just like the Blank Bible now guarded by the Gray Rat Gang.

A fake.

A counterfeit.

This was Dannika’s original story.

A tragic tale of a human-shaped tool.

Yet, as Tian Dao reflected, he couldn’t help but feel a strange kinship with the Ironcrown Family.

In Season 1, his greatest opponent was Benjamin, a Level 2.5 Perfection AI from the Ironcrown Family.

In Season 2, his greatest foe was once again a group of Ironcrown Family cold-blooded ironclads.

He had to admit—these so-called “mechanical ascension” fanatics were truly infuriating.

No mercy. No compassion. Just cold logic and absolute dominance.

But Tian Dao wasn’t Chen Kong.

Chen Kong had to endure trials and tribulations to grow—often sacrificing himself, and dragging those around him into suffering, just to gather the “nutrients” needed for development.

Tian Dao? He didn’t need that.

As the peak of the Stellar Prodigy, he had always lived for sweetness—not hardship.

Let the Ironcrown Family try to take Dannika from him?

They should first worry about whether they’ll survive the aftermath.

After all, with the latest update, Tian Dao—the number one among the stars—had evolved beyond recognition.

And while everyone else saw Dannika as the key to Miracle’s Key, the ultimate tool…

Tian Dao saw differently.

Because in his eyes, there was never a shortcut to Miracle.

He would never treat her as a key. Never as a tool.

She was simply herself.

Whatever she wanted to do—she could do it.

Just as he chose to help her—because he wanted to.

If Tian Dao had to name one reason—any reason, even if it meant rewriting the story—he’d say it was because, in this little girl, he saw the shadow of someone else.

That was all.

With his All-Forms Concealment, Tian Dao and Dannika slipped away from the small prison with ease.

But before they even left the Abandoned Factory, Dannika suddenly tugged at Tian Dao’s pant leg.

“Mr. Tian Dao…”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Up ahead… there’s movement.”

“Don’t worry. I already noticed.”

Tian Dao followed the direction she pointed. Moments later, he saw them—Chen Kong and the others, already arriving at the entrance of the Abandoned Factory.

He wasn’t surprised.

This was, after all, the moment in the original story when Chen Kong and his team made their first attempt to rescue Dannika—only to fail.

And the reason for that failure? That was the interesting part.

“Come on, Dannika,” Tian Dao said, smiling. “Let’s find a seat. We’re about to watch a show.”

“A show? What kind of show?”

“Ah… a fascinating battle between two underdogs—fighting to see who’s truly the second-to-last.”

“…Huh? Oh. Okay.”

Dannika didn’t understand. She didn’t know what a “show” was.

But she could sense it—Tian Dao was clearly happy. Excited. Deeply anticipating the “great drama” he’d promised.

And if Mr. Tian Dao wanted to watch, then she’d watch with him.

After all, she had nowhere else to go. She could only follow him.

Guided by Tian Dao, they reached the rooftop of the Abandoned Factory.

With the protection of his All-Forms Concealment, neither the team outside nor the Gray Rat Gang inside could detect the two hidden observers.

And Tian Dao knew one thing for certain:

His Season 2 spotlight… was about to begin.

As he sat on the edge of the roof, a slow, knowing smile spread across his face.

“An epic clash between No. 36 and No. 35… such rare entertainment doesn’t come around often.”

In Tian Dao’s mocking tone, Chen Kong and Vivian had already begun scanning the abandoned factory.

PS: The most difficult part—building the stage for Season 2, and summarizing the main plot—finally complete.

From here on out, the story flows much more smoothly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end