Chapter 317: Biological Battleship (Patreon)

Chapter 317: Biological Battleship

"An earthquake?"

Su Wu was somewhat puzzled.

But soon.

The data transmitted by the sensors scattered across the surface dispelled his speculation.

This was less of an earthquake and more like a series of explosions from deep underground.

The exit of the Amethyst Crystal Entity's nest.

That is, the depths of the Magma Canyon, where the underground tunnel, submerged in magma and stretching for tens of kilometers.

Was continuously being widened in this unknown explosion.

It seemed as if something massive was about to emerge from there.

Out of caution.

Su Wu hesitated for a moment.

He then raised the alert level of the arsenal in the farmhouse to the highest.

Half a second later.

Accompanied by a slight mechanical whirring from the top of the core area.

A massive Rapid-setting Cement platform.

Carrying a metal turret that was 500 meters in length.

Slowly rose from the ground level.

After a dozen seconds.

It stopped at a position 100 meters above the ground.

This height.

Was not the limit of the platform.

But it was sufficient for the turret on top to ignore the terrain obstacles in between and send projectiles to most parts of the Qinling Mountains, dozens of kilometers away.

Besides the only super-large electromagnetic railgun located at the core.

As secondary artillery, 108 large electromagnetic railguns.

Also rose from various combat positions within a 3.5-kilometer radius around the core area.

Aiming their muzzles at the Qinling Mountains.

Ready to launch an attack at any moment.

The tremors in the Qinling Mountains.

Lasted for more than half an hour.

During this period.

As time went on.

The remaining Amethyst Crystal Entities on the surface became more restrained in their actions.

Later on.

They even stopped blindly attacking the farmhouse.

Instead, they actively retreated back to the vicinity of the Qinling Mountains.

This abnormal behavior made Su Wu increasingly anxious.

He did not dare to be careless and dispatched more reconnaissance drones.

To monitor the Qinling Mountains area.

At 4 PM.

A Low-Temperature Cold Wave swept over the farmhouse.

Covering the surface of this massive shelter with a layer of frost.

Reducing the surrounding temperature to below minus 100 degrees Celsius.

And at this very moment.

In the Magma Canyon, which had never stopped shaking.

A creature, comparable in size to a basketball court, covered in gray-brown armor.

Slowly emerged from the boiling magma.

Then, without any support, it gradually broke free from the magma and the pull of gravity.

Slowly, bit by bit, it floated upwards towards the canyon mouth, thousands of meters high.

"Is this a new evolved Amethyst Crystal Entity?"

A hint of tension arose in Su Wu's heart.

His gaze.

Carefully examined the images transmitted by the reconnaissance drones.

Apart from vaguely thinking that the shell of this never-before-seen turtle-like creature resembled a petrified turtle shell.

Full of traces left by the passage of time.

He didn't discern much more information.

However, this did not diminish Su Wu's vigilance.

The ability to fly without propulsion was enough to demonstrate the power of this unknown creature.

Not intending to wait passively.

Su Wu decisively assigned a squadron of sixth-generation fighter jets hovering near the Qinling Mountains.

To launch a probing attack on this massive turtle-like creature.

A few seconds later.

As five sixth-generation fighter jets flew over the Magma Canyon.

Dozens of aerial bombs began to accurately fall towards the turtle-like creature ascending in the canyon.

However, these aerial bombs, which had been invincible in past battles, mysteriously disintegrated in mid-air as soon as they approached within 1 kilometer of the target this time. The explosives inside didn’t even have a chance to detonate before the bombs silently turned into fragments and fell into the canyon below.

"It’s high-energy lasers," Su Wu concluded.

The surveillance footage alone couldn’t reveal the traces, but with cross-referencing from multiple reconnaissance devices, the Artificial Intelligence easily reconstructed the process of how the aerial bombs were destroyed. It pinpointed the source of the attack—the gray spikes on the shell of the turtle-like creature, which appeared to be mere decorations.

"Prepare the heavy artillery cluster," Su Wu commanded swiftly. "Lock onto the Magma Canyon and commence three rounds of saturation bombardment."

Unfazed, after deciphering the enemy’s defense pattern, Su Wu promptly issued the order for a second wave of attacks. Hundreds of 155mm heavy artillery shells whistled sharply as they rained down into the Magma Canyon, targeting the steadily ascending turtle-like creature.

This time, due to the sheer volume of simultaneous attacks, the high-energy lasers on the creature’s body couldn’t perfectly intercept all the shells. Several shells inevitably struck the creature. However, these shells still failed to inflict any real damage.

A layer of dark red light suddenly unfolded 5 meters outside the creature’s body, like an invisible yet tangible barrier. It completely blocked the flames and shockwaves released by the exploding shells.

"Energy shield," Su Wu thought, his heart sinking.

Flight, laser weapons, and an energy shield—these three elements, encompassing mobility, offense, and defense, were integrated into a single combat unit. It was almost akin to a fully-fledged warship, the kind that only existed in science fiction.

Though Su Wu couldn’t fathom how the Amethyst Crystal Entity, which had always seemed technologically inferior, had suddenly developed such a futuristic biological warship, he knew he had to face this reality head-on.

Taking a deep breath, Su Wu pushed aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind. He directed the heavy artillery cluster to remain in position and launch another round of attacks while using the Artificial Intelligence to conduct a more detailed analysis of the Amethyst Crystal Entity’s biological warship, calculating its defensive limits.

Deep within the Qinling Mountains, the second wave of hundreds of heavy artillery shells once again targeted the biological warship in the Magma Canyon. The scenario repeated itself—most of the shells were intercepted by the warship’s lasers, while a few collided with its energy shield, creating faint ripples on the surface with the light and heat they released.

The two consecutive waves of attacks seemed to thoroughly enrage the biological warship. Amid the smoke from the second wave of artillery shells, it began to accelerate its ascent. Meanwhile, the Amethyst Crystal Entity gathered near the Qinling Mountains started organizing its long-range evolved units to counterattack the heavy artillery cluster’s location.

Su Wu ignored all of this, focusing instead on the results of the Artificial Intelligence’s analysis. The findings gave him a slight sense of relief.

The data generated from the two waves of attacks indicated...

The energy shield strength of the biological battleship was approximately two to three times that of the electromagnetic shield generator equipped on Su Wu's Miniature Mech when activated.

Although this level of strength was still considerable.

It was at least within an acceptable range.

The large electromagnetic railguns on the farmhouse, or even ordinary electromagnetic railguns, were sufficient to pose a real threat to it.

"The moment it exits the Magma Canyon."

"That should be the best opportunity for a sniper shot."

The thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Time was running out for Su Wu.

He dared not delay.

Nor did he have time for further verification.

He immediately ordered the 108 large electromagnetic railguns on the farmhouse.

To lock onto the airspace above the Magma Canyon.

And launch an attack.

After a ten-second charge.

Hundreds of electromagnetic cannon projectiles, exceeding ten times the speed of sound.

Transformed into straight streaks of light.

Covering a distance of several dozen kilometers in just over ten seconds.

Colliding head-on with the biological battleship that had just exited the Magma Canyon.

The massive collision sound.

Turned into a nearly tangible shockwave.

Sweeping across the snow layer on the Qinling Mountains, leaving large, visibly sunken marks.

As for the biological battleship at the center of the collision.

Its dark red shield lasted only 0.01 seconds before collapsing.

Subsequently, the main body of the biological battleship was pierced through by the still supersonic projectiles.

Without eliciting any further resistance.

It completely lost power and fell back into the depths of the Magma Canyon.

"The firepower was somewhat excessive."

"Actually, about 52 large electromagnetic railguns focusing their fire would have been enough to destroy this biological battleship."

After successfully destroying the biological battleship.

Su Wu obtained more detailed information.

The Artificial Intelligence instantly reverse-calculated the upper limit of the biological battleship's defense value.

This was good news.

It meant that Su Wu still held a certain advantage in terms of high-end firepower.

He ordered a reconnaissance drone on the battlefield to lower its altitude.

To observe the situation in the Magma Canyon.

Su Wu planned to send a robot squad down to salvage the wreckage of the crashed biological battleship.

He was very interested in its laser weapons, energy shields, and hovering flight organs.

Based on their moderate performance.

The success rate of Su Wu's reverse engineering was likely to be higher than that of using Survival Points to enhance Miniature Mechs, base vehicles, and other black-tech creations from across the ages.

In terms of value.

It could very well become the most valuable trophy Su Wu had obtained since his battles with the Amethyst Crystal Entity.

However, just as the team of Spider Robots assigned by Su Wu approached the Magma Canyon.

A new biological battleship, almost identical to the previous one.

Emerged once again from the magma lake.

Then, the second and third ones appeared simultaneously.

They spaced themselves several kilometers apart.

Maintaining the same level as they rapidly ascended towards the exit of the Magma Canyon.

The moment they exited the Magma Canyon.

Two of them, like the first biological battleship, were immediately targeted and destroyed by the concentrated fire of the large electromagnetic railguns.

The third one managed to break through.

After escaping into the sky.

The third biological battleship immediately launched its retaliation.

Su Wu opened his mouth, aiming it from a distance at the location of the farmhouse courtyard.

A crimson beam shot out.

The beam arrived in an instant.

It immediately melted the turret base of a large electromagnetic railgun in the farmhouse courtyard.

Then it pierced through the rapid-setting cement ceiling below.

Penetrating into the interior of the ground floor.

Next, the extreme heat triggered a violent explosion inside the assembly workshop.

Turning the surrounding area within nearly a hundred meters into ruins.

At this moment.

The electromagnetic defense array deployed in the farmhouse courtyard was just activated.

A massive amount of electricity.

Flowed through cables and wireless transmission channels.

From the ball lightning control chamber, continuously injecting into the electromagnetic protection array inscribed on the shelter's outer walls and the isolation panels between the ground floor and the underground level.

Combining the weak protective force field it generated with the rapid-setting cement.

Enhancing the defense several times over.

Preventing the crimson beam from continuing to penetrate into the underground level.

"Consumed 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity."

Glancing at the energy consumption.

Su Wu felt a pang of distress.

Just that brief moment of collision.

The electromagnetic protection array of the farmhouse courtyard consumed the equivalent of hundreds of tons of coal in electricity.

Truly a bottomless pit.

Without looking at the other losses caused by the crimson beam.

Su Wu quickly directed the heavy artillery cluster near the Qinling Mountains, the sixth-generation fighter jets assembled near the Qinling Mountains, and the Spider Robot army.

To launch a siege on the third biological warship.

Not aiming to destroy it.

Only seeking to briefly divert its attention.

Until the large electromagnetic railgun's one-minute cooldown period was over.

At the same time.

Several Pioneer-class Land Destroyers that had previously served as the backbone of the blockade.

And several merchant convoy trains.

Su Wu did not activate them.

Even intentionally had them quietly retreat from the frontlines under the cover of the robot army.

The disparity in combat power between the two sides was too great.

There was no need to meaninglessly lose these precious mobile forces that Su Wu currently had in limited numbers.

A dozen seconds later.

Hundreds of heavy artillery shells, aerial bombs, and piles of rocket-propelled grenades fired by the robots.

Engulfed the third biological warship suspended in mid-air in a dense explosion and black smoke.

This time.

Even before the shockwaves from the explosion subsided.

A crimson beam once again pierced through the black fog, first sweeping towards the most threatening heavy artillery cluster.

Then, after a 10-second interval.

Sweeping again towards the sixth-generation fighter jets in the sky.

The two rounds of attacks, totaling just over a dozen seconds.

Over half of the 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzers in the heavy artillery cluster, and a squadron of 10 sixth-generation fighter jets.

Were instantly destroyed without any resistance.

"Enemy weapon threat level extremely high."

"Attack interval 10 seconds."

"Air combat units, begin executing decoy tactics."

On the heavily damaged battlefield.

The Artificial Intelligence decisively abandoned the original group combat mode.

Breaking up the formation of over a hundred sixth-generation fighter jets circling in the air.

Letting them continue to engage the biological warship in single-unit combat.

The robot army on the ground.

Continued to focus their fire.

Even to ensure they had some value as targets to attract the biological warship's fire.

The ground robot army intentionally gathered into temporary large positions.

In this all-out, no-holds-barred dogfight.

As numerous sixth-generation fighter jets continued to fall one after another.

The Spider Robot legions on the ground were being wiped out in swathes.

Finally, a minute had passed.

Fifty-two large electromagnetic railguns, having completed their cooling and maintenance.

Launched their attack once more.

Without any suspense, they instantly brought down the third biological warship.

(End of Chapter)