Chapter 319: Separate Paths (Patreon)

Chapter 319: Separate Paths

"Looking at it this way."

"In terms of technological level."

"It should be on par with biological warships."

"Just on a larger scale."

Having made this judgment.

Su Wu felt slightly more confident, and his thoughts became clearer.

He reviewed the various data presented on the battlefield, silently calculating for a while.

One minute before the space-based weapon truly reached the Magma Canyon.

He activated the super-large electromagnetic railgun at the farmhouse.

Based on the current speed.

The mountain-like monster would be hit by the Eden Satellite before it could emerge from the Magma Canyon.

The attack from the super-large electromagnetic railgun would miss.

But there's always a chance of the unexpected.

If something unforeseen happened.

This pre-charged electromagnetic cannon could serve as a backup safeguard.

More than half a minute passed quickly.

Inside the Magma Canyon.

The explosion caused by the third long-range rocket once again forced the mountain-like monster to retreat further.

At this moment, the meteor streaking down from the sky.

Was clearly visible in the night sky.

Not just the mountain-like monster.

Even the ordinary Amethyst Crystal Entities still lingering on the Qinling Mountains sensed the impending disaster.

Instinctively feeling uneasy.

But in the end, they did nothing.

Not because they didn't want to, but because they had no other means left.

In the last second before the meteor descended.

The mountain-like monster, aware of the danger, once again manifested a dense crimson energy shield.

Enveloping it completely.

The next moment.

A purifying white light.

Became the only color captured by all lenses observing the direction of the Qinling Mountains.

Centered on the Qinling Mountains.

The surrounding mountains began to tremble and roar.

As if struck by a super earthquake of magnitude 8 or higher.

A few seconds later.

Through the reconnaissance drone's scanning.

Su Wu discovered that the central area of the collision had been flattened by immense force.

Forming a basin-like terrain.

Where the mountain-like monster had been in the Magma Canyon.

There were no longer any rock walls or mountain bodies to block the view.

Exposing it to the attack range of the super-large electromagnetic railgun.

"The target is still there."

Without further investigating the detailed information there.

Upon confirming that the mountain-like monster had survived the collision and was still hovering in place.

Su Wu immediately activated the fully charged super-large electromagnetic railgun.

A blue beam of light.

Pierced through the air along its path.

Crossing tens of kilometers in two seconds, hitting the mountain-like monster still enveloped in the aftermath of the explosion.

This time, there was no earth-shattering spectacle.

But half a second after the electromagnetic cannon hit.

The mountain-like monster began to slowly slide into the depths of the Magma Canyon.

Success, or failure?

In Su Wu's uncertain hesitation.

The massive body of the mountain-like monster, which had endured two consecutive strikes and still maintained its basic form.

Finally plunged completely into the magma lake.

"It's still sinking."

"It must be trying to escape."

Looking at the data tracked by the reconnaissance drone.

The mountain-like monster submerged in the magma.

Was still sinking at a slow but steady speed, heading deeper into the earth.

Su Wu couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret.

Having used the two most powerful super weapons at his disposal, he still failed to eliminate the target.

The next time, the enemy would be on alert.

The battle would likely become even more difficult.

And just then.

Deep within the magma lake, an explosion erupted without warning, almost as powerful as the one that had created the basin on the Qinling Mountain.

The mountain-like monster that Su Wu had thought was about to flee.

Could no longer maintain its complete form.

In this explosion, it completely disintegrated.

Turning into ashes.

Then.

The aftershocks of the explosion triggered a chain reaction of collapses and earthquakes.

As a result.

The entire massive Qinling Mountain began to shift as a whole.

Centered on Qinling Mountain, the intense tremors continued for more than ten hours.

When the night passed.

The long and vast Magma Canyon within Qinling Mountain.

Had disappeared without a trace.

Buried under billions of tons of soil.

"It's over."

Su Wu, who had stayed up all night.

Let out a long sigh of relief after receiving the combat report from the Spider Robot army in the Qinling Mountain area, stating that the last Amethyst Crystal Entity had been eliminated.

This battle, which was originally intended to use the formidable firepower of the farmhouse to clear out the excess Amethyst Crystals on Qinling Mountain at the lowest cost.

After experiencing initial smooth progress and heart-stopping moments in the middle.

Ultimately had a relatively ideal outcome.

It could be foreseen.

With the disappearance of the Magma Canyon.

The farmhouse, as one of the main battlefields between humans and the Amethyst Crystal Entities.

Would also come to an end.

In the short term.

The entire Jianghe City, and even the entire Eastern Continent.

Would enjoy a period of relative peace.

"Let's sleep first."

"We'll deal with the rest after waking up."

His gaze swept over the control screen.

Where numerous communication requests and messages popped up.

And on the surveillance screen, the remains of the biological warship were being orderly transported to the laboratory.

Clearly, the end of the battle was just the beginning.

There were still many things waiting for him to handle.

But at this moment.

Su Wu had no mind to deal with other matters.

The fatigue and drowsiness that surged in his spirit.

Made him want to bury his head and sleep without a care.

Outside.

While Su Wu was resting.

The earth-shattering battle that had taken place in Jianghe City.

Was just beginning to spread its influence.

Although on Su Wu's internet.

There was almost no related news.

Even the residents living in the farmhouse closest to the battlefield.

Had no idea that they had been just one step away from death.

But many super cities with well-established intelligence departments, the capital of the Eastern Continent, and major forces outside the Eastern Continent.

Had already turned their attention here.

And thus triggered a series of intense discussions.

North America.

The New Capital of the Federal Government.

Federal President Cotton, accompanied by senior advisors and others, hurried to the conference room of the Department of Defense.

He glanced around the room, where many military figures, including the Secretary of Defense, adorned with the ranks of generals and marshals, were seated.

With his humorous yet serious tone, he made his opening remarks.

"Alright, gentlemen."

"I interrupted an important discussion with the captain of the colonial ship to be here on time."

"Now, it's your turn to explain to me."

"What exactly has happened."

The generals in the room exchanged glances.

One of them opened a document and projected it onto the screen in the conference room.

"Your Excellency, we may need to reassess the biological group originating from the mantle layer."

West Continent.

Villar Holy City.

West Continent Joint Autonomous Council.

117th Meeting Post-Apocalypse.

"It is with regret that I bring you unfortunate news."

"According to the intelligence we received from the East Continent just a few hours ago,"

"the subterranean creatures that have been ravaging our West Continent, causing at least tens of millions of casualties,"

"their actual combat capabilities may far exceed their current performance."

A council member with an ancient noble title

played a 3D modeling demonstration animation on the conference stage.

It strikingly included mountain monsters, biological warships, and simulation data of the damage caused by various active weapons of the federal military.

"The energy shields and high-energy laser beams controlled by these monsters"

"significantly surpass the offensive and defensive capabilities of the strongest land tanks and naval warships currently available to the Federation."

"They are almost on par with the performance of the Ark we are building."

"But it must be emphasized that"

"the size of the Ark is at least a hundred times larger than the former."

"Such equal combat power under such a huge size difference means our technology may be at a comprehensive disadvantage."

"To ensure safety,"

"we must prepare plans in advance."

"We cannot rule out the possibility of large-scale use of hydrogen bombs in the future."

Black Continent.

This vast and resource-rich continent before the apocalypse

has now completely become a world without people.

The billions of people who once inhabited here have silently turned into nutrients for the growth of another species.

The relatively fewer shelters compared to other continents

have now either become ruins or nests of the Amethyst Crystal Entity.

And on the deserts, Gobi, and ice fields outside the shelters,

a layer of white flowers has unusually covered the surface, bringing a strange vitality to the land.

Amethyst Crystal Entity.

This ancient race that has slept in the mantle's asthenosphere for countless years,

while facing setbacks on multiple battlefields elsewhere,

has still managed to secure a land in the Black Continent where they can peacefully multiply and thrive.

East Continent.

West Wasteland Plateau.

Yi Nengjing and several high-ranking officials of the East Continent government gathered in a small conference room.

Because they had long been wary of Jianghe City and paid close attention to the situation there,

compared to the Federation and the West Continent Joint Autonomous Council,

the intelligence they obtained was more detailed.

"The performance of Jianghe City's space-based weapons in actual combat is overwhelmingly strong."

"The repulsion field being tested in our capital shelter group"

"is basically incapable of withstanding its attacks."

Looking at the battle report,

Yi Nengjing felt a great headache.

Originally, to escape the disaster,

the dignified capital of the East Continent was forced to relocate to the thin-air West Wasteland Plateau,

which was already quite a mess.

Now, within the jurisdiction, two forces with explosive combat power and hostile intentions have emerged,

making things even worse.

"Then let's temporarily find a way to show goodwill to them."

"The apocalypse is coming."

"There's no need to clash with them now."

The Minister of Armed Forces suggested.

He was even more reluctant to confront Jianghe City head-on.

While others might not be clear, as the Minister of Armed Forces, he understood very well.

The relocation of the Eastern Continent's capital to the Western Wasteland Plateau might not necessarily guarantee victory in conventional battles against Jianghe City.

After all, at this time, the Eastern Continent's capital, while still nominally ruling over the entire Eastern Continent, actually controlled no more than the area of the Western Wasteland Plateau. At most, it had stockpiled some finished resources from other regions, making its material supply relatively abundant.

Moreover, in response to the super disaster codenamed "Doomsday" and an even harsher future, most resources had to be allocated to the construction of the space fleet. The resources left for the military were extremely limited. If they were to engage in a real fight with Jianghe City, which had already produced hundreds of sixth-generation fighter jets, the outcome would be hard to predict.

"That's the only way," Yi Nengjing hesitated for a moment before finally sighing in resignation. Compared to acting on impulse, survival was a more important theme. He didn't want the construction of escape tools to be affected by a war with Jianghe City.

As for the Amethyst Crystal Entity, given Jianghe City's active hunting across the Eastern Continent, it was unlikely to grow to a level that would threaten the Eastern Continent's capital. It seemed they didn't need to worry about it.

In Fuhai Province, Shuitian City, Chai Zeyang, who had received the latest intelligence from Jianghe City, didn't say much. He silently reviewed the troops assembled in the shelter through surveillance footage. These were his past and present pillars, the foundation of his rule. Yet, in the face of the earth-shattering war that had just occurred in the heart of the Eastern Continent, they seemed somewhat overshadowed, like relics from an old era. They still appeared mighty and inspiring, but in reality, they were increasingly powerless.

"The times have changed," a hint of weariness and confusion unknowingly sprouted in Chai Zeyang's heart.

In the afternoon, Su Wu, who had just awakened from his slumber, first enjoyed a hearty lunch prepared by Chen Xin before heading to the control center to deal with the backlog of post-war affairs.

First and foremost was the sorting of the spoils of war. Although the Magma Canyon and the passage deep into the earth within it had been leveled, this did not mean the threat of the Amethyst Crystal Entity was completely eradicated. Sooner or later, they would clash again. Therefore, while there was still time, they needed to quickly start researching the enemy's technology to narrow the gap between the two sides.

"Good luck," Su Wu found a small surprise in the preliminary statistical list processed by the Artificial Intelligence. Among the wreckage salvaged was a complete set of laser weapon components. Replicating them shouldn't be too difficult.

The structure of the anti-aircraft laser weapon components in the list wasn't complex and was not incompatible with Su Wu's technological system. It didn't require special modifications. With an adequate supply of electricity, they could reproduce the high-energy laser that the biological warship had used to destroy heavy artillery shells.

Moreover, this high-energy laser was almost identical in principle to the crimson energy beam displayed by the biological warship's main cannon. Once the former was thoroughly understood, subsequent breakthroughs would follow naturally, without requiring much effort.

However, the energy shields and levitation flight systems on the bio-warships were not so easy to study.

This was not only because the retrieved wreckage was incomplete and lacked complete reference samples, but also because their underlying principles represented an almost entirely new technological path.

To conduct research, they would have to start from scratch.

(End of Chapter)