Chapter 263: A Level 5 Divine Artifact for a Defensive-type City! |
The sky echoed with roaring engines as the Black Hawk helicopters rapidly flew toward the Petrified Giant Crab.
Suspended beneath each helicopter's fuselage was an Acid Maw Combat Mech.
As the pilots pulled the triggers, the Acid Maw Mechs sprayed countless streams of high-pressure acid onto the Petrified Giant Crab.
The horrifying sound of corrosion instantly filled the battlefield.
The moment the high-pressure acid touched the shell, thick yellow smoke billowed from its surface, and the shell's structure began collapsing like melting wax.
The acid seeped through the gaps in the shell and penetrated deep into its body, triggering violent reactions within.
Dull thunder-like explosions continuously echoed from inside the Petrified Giant Crab's massive body.
For the first time, the Wild BOSS let out an agonized scream unlike anything before.
Li Ye's eyes immediately lit up.
An idea immediately came to him.
He ordered the Acid Maw Mechs to prioritize destroying the Petrified Giant Crab's enormous limbs and deprive it of its mobility.
Over the next ten-plus minutes, the Acid Maw Mechs suspended beneath the Black Hawk helicopters continuously drenched the giant limbs with high-pressure acid.
The acid rapidly corroded the joints.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the vital joints supporting the Petrified Giant Crab's colossal weight began dissolving one after another.
Its left and right limbs snapped apart in the middle like candy sticks being chewed through.
With a thunderous crash, the Petrified Giant Crab collapsed onto the shoreline.
What surprised Li Ye was that the Petrified Giant Crab possessed astonishing regenerative abilities.
Its eyes had already begun regenerating rapidly, while its shell and limbs, which had been severely corroded by the acid, also started repairing themselves at an accelerated rate.
“Increase the firepower! Don't let it recover!”
Li Ye immediately picked up the walkie-talkie.
“Yang Zheng, use every last Earthcore Rose shell!”
Sensing the tremendous danger approaching, the Petrified Giant Crab erupted once more.
Using nothing but telekinesis, it manipulated the Stone Sea to create a petrified tsunami over a hundred meters high!
Seeing the terrifying scene, Nature H6 had no choice but to immediately abandon the fishing rod and retreat at full speed.
Meanwhile, the Mobile Cities of the Tomorrow Alliance were positioned behind it.
To stop the petrified tsunami, Nature H6's Molecular Disintegration Main Cannon fired continuously, tearing the towering wave apart.
Before the crisis had even subsided, another one arose.
The Petrified Giant Crab unleashed another devastating attack.
Using its remaining limbs, it slammed the ground repeatedly, triggering deep tectonic vibrations that released destructive seismic shockwaves.
The continuous tremors caused the ground to collapse endlessly, even forming petrified whirlpools resembling quicksand.
Even the entire supermassive cavern shook violently.
Li Ye couldn't help wiping the sweat from his forehead.
This Level 4 Wild BOSS truly wasn't an easy opponent.
After an unknown length of brutal fighting, the battle finally came to an end.
With one final mournful cry, the Petrified Giant Crab collapsed onto the ground.
Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
They had won.
At this moment, the entire supermassive cavern had become a complete ruin.
Filled with anticipation, Li Ye slowly walked toward the corpse of the Petrified Giant Crab.
It was finally time to collect the rewards.
As for the guaranteed Level 5 drop, he already had one particular hope.
He hoped it would be a completed Level 5 item rather than a Level 5 Blueprint.
That way, it could be converted into immediate combat strength.
Standing before the corpse, Li Ye excitedly reached out.
“Please give me something good!”
【87,274 Crystal Coins】
【2,642 units of Level 4 Iron Ore, 1,923 units of Level 4 Coal, 1,721 units of Level 4 Fuel】
【Tier 4 Depth Charge Upgrade Blueprint】
【Level 4 Magnetic Storm Tank Blueprint】
【Level 4 City Building — "Life Pod" Integrated Medical Pod Blueprint】
【Tier 4 Firearms Upgrade Blueprint】
【Level 4 Melee City Accessory — "Crab's Pincer"】
【Level 5 City Device — "Ripple Core" Gravitational Wave Controller】
Li Ye immediately focused on the Level 5 item.
【Item Name: "Ripple Core" Gravitational Wave Controller】
【Level: 5】
【Effect: Manipulates gravity within a one-kilometer radius. Consumes 90% of the city's energy per hour.】
【Crafting Requirements: 700 units of Level 5 Iron Ore, 300 units of Level 5 Precision Components】
【You do not possess the production project for this item and therefore cannot manufacture it.】
From its appearance, the Gravitational Wave Controller was a gigantic ring-shaped structure over one hundred meters tall.
Its main body consisted of dozens of nested alloy rings.
Each ring slowly rotated at a different angle, while liquid flowed between the gaps like a galaxy being guided by an invisible hand, tracing elegant spiral trajectories through empty space.
Not only Li Ye, but everyone gathered around stood frozen.
Although this Level 5 item possessed only a single effect, it was absurdly simple and overwhelmingly powerful.
The basic functions of the "Ripple Core" Gravitational Wave Controller were as follows:
First, by emitting gravitational waves at specific frequencies, it could create artificial gravity fields within localized areas, increasing, decreasing, or even reversing gravity.
Second, it could cancel or redirect inertial forces acting upon objects, allowing warships, mechs, and other heavy vehicles to perform maneuvers that defied conventional physics.
Third, it could generate a gravitational shield around itself that deflected or absorbed the impact of kinetic weapons.
Fourth, it could produce a gravitational tractor beam capable of dragging enemies like an invisible giant hand.
Even Fang Ying couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
“You've really struck gold this time,” he said.
Li Ye nodded slightly.
Obtaining a Level 5 drop was essentially gambling.
If it had turned out to be something ridiculous like a Level 5 toilet or a Level 5 toothbrush, he would truly have vomited blood.
Even while feeling excited, he silently sighed inwardly.
“But then again... a one-kilometer range is really too short.”
One kilometer sounded impressive.
On a battlefield, however, it was nowhere near enough.
Li Ye immediately claimed the Level 5 item and began deciding who should receive it.
In reality, the moment he saw the item, its owner had already been decided.
It would belong to Iron Whale, the alliance's Defensive-type Mobile City.
Fang Yong was even more excited than Li Ye.
Iron Whale was only a Level 2 Mobile City equipped mostly with Level 3 equipment.
Yet now it suddenly possessed a Level 5 item.
The leap in power was simply enormous.
This was precisely one of the greatest advantages of a Mobile City Alliance.
The development of a Mobile City Alliance was never perfectly synchronized.
It was impossible for every city in the alliance to advance from Level 1 to Level 2 together, then Level 3 together.
After all, promotion resources on the wasteland were limited.
The most practical strategy was to concentrate resources and raise one Mobile City to a higher level first.
Once its higher-level Production Workshop was unlocked, it could manufacture advanced equipment to strengthen the lower-level cities throughout the alliance.
Not only Li Ye, but Zhou Xing and Yang Zheng were also filled with envy.
“By the way, Old Fang, it's probably time to retire the Titan's Grip Magnetic Device on your deck,” Li Ye reminded him.
“Huh?”
Fang Yong froze.
But after thinking it over carefully, he realized Li Ye was right.
The Gravitational Wave Controller was essentially an enormously upgraded version of the Titan's Grip Magnetic Device.
The older device had indeed become largely obsolete.
Even so, Fang Yong still looked rather reluctant.
“Don't worry. The Titan's Grip Magnetic Device won't be retired,” Li Ye reassured him. “I'll install it aboard Stardust instead and let it continue serving its purpose.”
According to their agreement, the Level 5 item belonged to the Tomorrow Alliance.
The remaining loot had nothing to do with Li Ye.
Even so, he couldn't help casting reluctant glances toward the remaining Level 4 items.
Those four Level 4 Blueprints and the Level 4 City Accessory were all genuinely valuable treasures.
His gaze soon settled upon the City Building Blueprint.
【Item Name: "Life Pod" Medical Pod】
【Level: 4】
【Effects:
Fully Automated Medical Treatment
Energy Consumption -20%】
【Crafting Requirements: 50 units of Level 4 Iron Ore】
Judging from the blueprint, the Medical Pod featured a streamlined egg-shaped design.
It measured approximately 2.5 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, with a pearl-white matte exterior.
Semi-transparent blue energy conduits were embedded along both sides.
The pod's door utilized a magnetic levitation sliding design.
Inside was an ergonomically designed treatment chamber.
Mounted outside was a curved holographic display capable of projecting real-time 3D treatment visuals above the patient.
The entire Medical Pod looked both like a precision scientific instrument and a futuristic life cocoon, perfectly combining cutting-edge technology with humanitarian care.
“What an incredible piece of equipment!”
Li Ye couldn't help but marvel.
With this, he would no longer have to rack his brains designing an entire medical system.
The doctors and nurses he had previously assigned could essentially become unnecessary.
Although all Level 4 loot officially belonged to Nature H6 under their agreement, Li Ye could still purchase it.
After learning of Li Ye's intentions, Fang Ying readily agreed.
After all, Nature H6 had hunted the Level 4 Wild BOSS specifically to generate income.
“Five hundred thousand Crystal Coins, and the blueprint is yours,” he said.
“Five hundred thousand?”
Li Ye was astonished.
“Of course. As the Lord of a Level 4 Assault-type Mobile City, surely you understand its value?”
After a round of bargaining, the two finally settled on a price of 450,000 Crystal Coins.
Li Ye then looked at the Depth Charge Upgrade Blueprint.
“If you want that one, 150,000 Crystal Coins will do,” Fang Ying said.
After thinking for a while, Li Ye purchased the blueprint as well.
As a result, he had accumulated another debt of 600,000 Crystal Coins.
“I don't have the money right now. Can I owe it for the time being?” he asked.
Fang Ying nodded without hesitation.
“The Tomorrow Alliance has a fairly good reputation. We'll let you owe it.”
He then turned toward the corpse of the Petrified Giant Crab.
“I suppose the corpse belongs to Nature H6 now.”
Li Ye slowly nodded.
The Level 4 Wild BOSS was essentially a Mutant Creature.
Its crab meat and secreted slime were both valuable resources.
His own gains this time had already been enormous.
He naturally didn't mind doing them this small favor.
Looking at the corpse, Fang Ying stood with both hands on his hips, clearly delighted.
“This time we'll finally meet the ten-ton slime quota... and probably exceed it!”
After returning to Tomorrow, Li Ye brought the two Blueprints into the Production Workshop.
He first upgraded the existing Tier 2 MK6 Depth Charge directly to Tier 4.
【Item Name: MK6 Depth Charge】
【Level: 4】
【Effects:
Explosion Radius +100%
Damage increases by 100% depending on diving depth.
Automatic Magnetic Tracking】
【Crafting Requirements:
5 units of Level 4 Iron Ore
2 units of Level 4 Gunpowder】
Li Ye nodded with satisfaction.
He was quite pleased with the upgraded effects.
Back at Tier 2, its bonuses had merely been Explosion Radius +25% and 5%–20% increased damage depending on diving depth.
Now, after reaching Tier 4, not only had both effects been greatly strengthened, but it had also gained Automatic Magnetic Tracking.
Next came the Medical Pod project.
Li Ye planned to spend 1,000 units of Level 4 Steel to manufacture twenty Medical Pods aboard Tomorrow in one go.
However, the new batch of Level 4 Steel was still being produced.
Should enemies attack, that steel would have to be prioritized for military equipment instead.
After leaving the Production Workshop, Li Ye unexpectedly received another piece of good news.
While mining resources inside the supermassive cavern, Enlightenment had discovered a medium-sized Level 4 Thunder Ore Vein.
528 units of Level 4 Thunder Ore.
One accompanying Level 4 Thunder Crystal.
“A Level 4 Thunder Crystal... That alone could sell for quite a fortune.”
Following the standard requirement of 300 units of Level 4 rare ore and one Level 4 rare crystal, Tomorrow now possessed enough materials to manufacture a Level 4 Thunder Cannon—or rather, a Thunder Main Cannon.
Unfortunately, Li Ye didn't possess the blueprint.
He quickly made his decision.
All of the Thunder Ore would be used to manufacture Electromagnetic Pulse Grenades for the Special Forces.
The Level 4 Thunder Crystal would be kept for the time being.
Later, Li Ye visited Tomorrow's middle level to inspect the progress of the small city under construction.
Ever since obtaining the production project for Level 4 Construction Gel, construction speed had increased dramatically.
The City Committee had organized workers to gather water, gravel, and soil directly from the supermassive cavern before sending them to Li Ye to manufacture Construction Gel in the Production Workshop.
With Engineer's assistance, more and more residential buildings sprang up like mushrooms after rain.
Tomorrow's residents showed tremendous enthusiasm toward building the small city.
However, just as Li Ye had planned, both construction materials and housing projects required large amounts of Contribution Points to purchase.
Not every resident possessed enough Contribution Points.
To earn as many as possible, the residents enthusiastically threw themselves into work.
Some even volunteered to become combat personnel.
As a result, the City Committee reported a problem to Li Ye.
Aside from positions within the land, sea, and air forces, the number of available jobs aboard Tomorrow was actually quite limited.
Slightly surprised, Li Ye silently reviewed every available occupation within the city.
City sanitation.
City maintenance.
Maintenance and servicing of land, sea, and air vehicles.
Public Security Bureau personnel.
City Committee staff.
Steel Mill workers.
Water Treatment Plant workers.
Power Plant workers.
Shipyard workers.
Textile Factory workers.
Satellite Control Station personnel...
After counting them one by one, there were already quite a few jobs available.
But the problem was...
Tomorrow now had over fifty thousand residents.