Chapter 025: Battle Beyond Limits - Part 1

Reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance have always existed in a relative relationship. In theory, the more powerful an Overlimit Warrior, the greater their control over their own energy, and the lower the probability of being detected by a surveillance radar. Conversely, the higher the precision of the detection radar, the more detailed the information it can obtain, and naturally, the higher the level of Overlimit Warriors it can detect.

The detection radar, while capable of sensing the "multidimensional highly active bio-energy" and "multidimensional zero-point energy particles" carried by extraordinary individuals, is primarily used to detect zones of anomalous force fields in space and to scan the concentration of X particles in the environment. Its actual detection accuracy and energy sensitivity are not as refined as one might imagine, serving only as an auxiliary supplement to the extraordinary perception abilities that such individuals possess.

The members of the Seventh Squad were equipped only with the standard civilian version of the domestically-produced "Silver Eagle" personal information terminal, commonly used by extraordinary individuals within the country, so the precision of their detection radar was quite limited. Therefore, if members of the opposing team could be detected by such a low-precision radar, it indicated that their overall strength was not much higher than that of the Seventh Squad.

After all, according to the unspoken conventions of the extraordinary world, members of the same Overlimit Squad are usually individuals whose strength does not differ greatly from one another. This not only facilitates mutual cooperation but also makes command and combat more effective.

The extraordinary world roughly gauges an individual's combat level based on their "Active Energy Level" and "X Energy Level." With each rise in rank, an Overlimit Warrior’s maximum "Active Energy" and "X Energy" increase to approximately four times that of the previous level. This means that four Overlimit Warriors of a lower rank can barely stand against one of a higher rank; if the disparity in power levels becomes too great, cooperation becomes practically meaningless.

This overwhelming hierarchy of strength is not especially obvious when the difference in physical data is just one or two levels, but once the energy readings diverge too much, the gap becomes tenfold or even dozens of times greater. Thus, low-level members not only fail to enhance the team's overall fighting power but actually become a burden to the strongest fighters, who must split their attention to protect them—hardly conducive to effective teamwork.

The Seventh Squad was a prime example: both their leader, Loffey, and deputy leader, Drumstick, had reached level 4 or above in combat strength. The other three—Xia Youyou, Maya, and Willy—were still at level 3, but their Active Energy Levels were already nearing level 4. So, as long as the enemy's overall combat strength did not exceed level 5, they stood a fighting chance.

It was precisely because of this understanding that Loffey could deduce the number and strength of the opposing team from a vague radar signal. Overlimit squads in the extraordinary world typically operated in units of four, making it relatively easy to estimate their numbers.

Loffey’s seasoned analysis made the group tense, but not panicked; they simply adopted a combat formation in vigilant anticipation of an ambush.

Bai Yuxi, instinctively shielded by the group, was somewhat perplexed by their tension but knew this was not the moment to ask questions.

“Bai, let me explain,” Loffey said without turning her head, aware that Bai Yuxi was still unfamiliar with the extraordinary world. “The relationships between extraordinary individuals are far less harmonious than you might imagine. Conflicts often erupt between Overlimit Warriors from different organizations. I can’t explain all the details now… just think of underground extraordinary organizations as the mafia of this world. Teams like ours, registered with the ‘LDH Overlimit Management Department,’ are akin to official auxiliary police or support officers.”

Willy, twirling a dagger nonchalantly, chimed in, “Or you can see us as volunteer patrol officers from the city management bureau—either way, we’re the good guys, and they’re the bad guys.”

Bai Yuxi thought: How do I know who the good guys really are?

But before he could speak, the opposing team, apparently realizing they’d been discovered, dropped their energy concealment and accelerated sharply, appearing before the group in seconds.

Just as Loffey had surmised, all five of their opponents were Overlimit Warriors around level 4. Their overall strength was somewhat greater than that of the Seventh Squad, but fortunately, there was no overwhelming level 5 among them.

The five stopped a dozen meters away. One of them glanced at his personal information terminal and nodded, “Boss, it’s them.”

Loffey called out warily, “What do you want?”

As an LDH-registered team, their identification signals were public on the detection radar. For the other team to approach stealthily despite this could only mean ill intent.

Ignoring Loffey’s question, the group conferred quietly before their leader—a middle-aged man—spoke with force, “No nonsense! Here’s the deal: hand over your combat records from the ‘N30°32′E114°21′’ multidimensional spatial rift, and we’ll leave immediately!”

The members of the Seventh Squad looked at each other in surprise.

Every extraordinary individual carried a personal information terminal equipped with a variety of auxiliary functions. The built-in camera typically recorded the Overlimit Warrior’s detailed combat process and environmental information during each mission. These records served as material for post-action reviews, mission verification, and research into extraordinary events—an invaluable source of data.

The spatial rift—a so-called “anomaly point”—that Maya and Jason had previously encountered in the residential alley, with its anomalous force field fluctuations, was a particularly rare case in the extraordinary world. Many unconventional research institutes were willing to pay handsomely for such data in hopes of understanding the patterns behind the formation of “convergence points” and “anomaly points.”

Moreover, instances where the force field structure of an “anomaly point” collapsed and annihilated itself were almost unheard of in past extraordinary event cases.

Therefore, the combat record Maya and her teammates possessed could not only be submitted to the LDH Overlimit Management Department in exchange for extraordinary resources to enhance their own strength, but could also be sold to research institutions for a substantial sum of money.