Chapter 304: Death Ray
The massive door slowly opened, revealing a gap several meters wide. “First, you concealed the fact that a fleet was visiting the orbit from me, and then you brought them here—Connor, given the mental derangement you’ve displayed, I suggest you undergo full cybernetic modification as soon as possible!”
Accompanying a male voice, a corpulent figure emerged from behind the door.
“Chief Engineer?! How did you end up like this?”
Connor looked incredulous.
The Chief Scientist of the colony before him had completed full cybernetic modification, and it was a custom-made, special version.
He was now nearly four meters tall, with two exposed mechanical legs supporting a round, bloated abdomen. Beneath his translucent polymer skin, large mechanical organs could be seen.
Of his four mechanical arms, the upper two were very thick, with unknown weapons of considerable size mounted on their forearms, while the lower two were long and slender, seemingly designed for precise operations.
His hinged metal neck extended from his chest, a full two meters long.
His oddly shaped head jutted forward, an ungraceful posture, making him look like a giant, muscled tortoise.
“What a… turtle-headed tough guy!”
Ye Xing couldn't help but blurt out.
Although they knew they should be serious, everyone still found it a bit hard to keep a straight face.
A cheerful atmosphere filled the entire cave.
This was literally a bizarre contraption, which just goes to show how important aesthetics truly are!
“A bunch of rude fellows—”
A dark red glow flashed in the Chief Engineer's cybernetic eye.
“People of cangyuan one, would you be surprised if I told you that the Super Democratic Empire’s fleet is on its way here?”
Clearly, the superluminal communication station here was not damaged and had been in contact with the Super Democratic Empire all along.
“The Super Democratic Empire’s fleet!?” Connor could hardly believe his ears. “So it was really you who first contacted the Super Democratic Empire? All of this was—”
“Connor, don't be so surprised!” The Chief Engineer chuckled twice.
“You and I have worked well together before, but there’s no need for you to know everything. Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?”
“This isn't what you promised me earlier!”
Lu Yuan interrupted them: “Was it you who previously ordered communication with us and guided us to land?”
“Oh, so you’re the commander? Yes, it was me.”
“Why? Did you know cangyuan one’s fleet would come?”
Lu Yuan still had time to confront the other party.
The Super Democratic Empire’s fleet had at least not yet appeared in the surrounding star systems, and furthermore, the ground repairs of the battleship were not yet complete.
“I just knew you might appear here,” the Chief Engineer corrected.
“I promised Emperor Constantine V a ‘small favor.’ If you landed on my colony, then I would set up clues for you, like luring cockroaches in a laboratory, guiding you step by step to discover the anomalies here.”
He looked at the bewildered Connor.
“And our esteemed Resident Representative, unknowingly, played the most important role in this drama. For this, he even impersonated Chief Engineer Varuyev, who had long been hammered to death by rioters—his improvisational talent is truly admirable!”
The Chief Scientist clapped his hands.
“I just didn’t expect you to find this place so quickly—the prize I originally prepared for you was in the cold storage behind the restaurant kitchen: a cybernetic modification device, plus a dozen or so corpse puppets.”
This mastermind behind the scenes displayed the typical mindset of an intellectual criminal, endlessly discussing his meticulously planned conspiracy, treating it as a display that brought him pleasure.
“Corpse puppets? Those… those monsters!?”
Connor erupted with the last shred of human anger within him.
“You transformed the colony residents into those things?!”
“Don't make such a fuss! They were all volunteers, just like you!” The other party narrowed his eyes, looking down at him with contempt, and shook his head.
“Why did you do this!?”
“Why?”
The Chief Engineer twisted his gigantic mechanical long neck and looked at Lu Yuan.
“Because the Emperor is aware of cangyuan one’s combat power and operational efficiency, he knew you would be able to break through the initial blockade, and even knew you would subsequently conduct boarding operations and meet those sailors on the battleship.”
“So, he wanted you to witness the interesting changes on this colony, and ideally, obtain a sample!”
The players looked bewildered.
What does that mean?
I hate riddlers in main story quests!
“Hahahahaha!”
The Chief Engineer laughed to himself again.
He truly enjoyed the sense of superiority that strategy and intelligence brought him.
“Then I’ll be kind enough to remind you again! This time, the Super Democratic Empire sent four fleets to salvage cangyuan one: one led by the Little Prince, one by powerful mercenaries hired by the Emperor from a distant, unknown starfield, and the other two are under the control of the Congress.”
“And the relationship between the Super Democratic Empire’s Emperor and the Congress, well, I don’t need to tell you, you should be able to guess.”
“The two have serious disagreements on how to govern the populace. Currently, the Congress’s voice is louder, and they have already taken action; you have already seen the result.”
“What is he even talking about?”
The players didn't quite understand.
But Lu Yuan had already understood.
The “result” the Chief Engineer spoke of actually referred to the abstract sailors on the two Super Democratic Empire battleships from before.
The technology used to install brain implants in them, while simultaneously brainwashing them with individual heroism, was in the same vein as the cybernetic modification technology in this cave.
“If you truly understand my words, you should realize that just one small action can immediately halve the difficulty of this expedition!”
“So, if we have now achieved your plan, can we leave here?” Lu Yuan looked at the surrounding players.
He was chatting with the Chief Scientist here to buy as much time as possible for his employees.
Currently, the scanning work was over eighty percent complete.”
“Originally, you should have been allowed to leave safely, or at least a portion of you.”
The Chief Engineer said in a deep voice.
“But later, I accepted a commission from another group of people, and they very much wish for you to die here!”
“Who?”
“Azrael!!”
He deliberately made his electronically synthesized voice hoarse, as if anyone hearing that name should immediately tremble.
I knew it, they're truly persistent…
Prairie immediately initiated team communication.
“Calling landing zone, calling landing zone! Red alert! You may be attacked by cybernetic forces at any moment, prepare yourselves!”
“Re—received!”
“What’s the progress on battleship repairs?”
“Engine integrity has increased to 16/28. If we install the engines currently being assembled, we can get 19 intact engines!”
“Good, then hurry! Notify everyone to get online, establish defenses all around. The factory probably won’t be bringing any new components anymore!”
“Understood!”
The Chief Engineer dragged his corpulent body back a few steps.
“You see, I’ve accepted commissions from both sides. As for which one I ultimately fulfill, that depends on how hard you try to survive.”
He spread his hands slyly. “It’s just business, nothing personal, please forgive me.”
“What did Azrael promise you? Don’t tell me it was star alliance credit points?” Lu Yuan seized the last chance to press the question.
The Chief Engineer shook his head.
“Of course not! They promised the most precious thing in the universe, a ticket to the ‘Promised Land’! You lower beings will never understand.”
“Fire!”
As Lu Yuan gave the order, the Chief Engineer’s head quickly retracted into his body cavity.
Truly a turtle!
However, the kinetic energy solid projectiles and superheated plasma clusters fired by cangyuan one were blocked three meters away from him, as if shooting into an abnormally thick transparent gel.
Only the beams from a few laser rifles were unaffected, but they also couldn't cause immediate fatal damage.
Lack of explosive power was a drawback of this weapon.
Clearly, the Chief Engineer's corpulent belly concealed a kinetic energy shield, whose principle seemed somewhat different from the one held by cangyuan one, and it was much more miniaturized.
Ugh ah ah ah ah!!!
The next second, a large number of corpse puppets rushed out from behind the giant door.
The back of the corpse puppets’ heads and backs were deeply invaded by mechanical parasites; metal tentacles plunged into their bodies, wrapped around their original skeletons, and then broke out from their elbows, ankles, and other parts.
While greatly enhancing their movement capabilities and resistance to damage, these also served as melee weapons.
This was arguably the most hideous form of cybernetic modification.
They had also undergone 100% cybernetic modification, only the specific process differed from the Chief Engineer's self-use version, being more cruel, more “cheap,” and more brainwashing.
This caused the corpse puppets to lose not only all humanity but also intelligence, turning them into utterly bloodthirsty monsters.
Connor was completely stunned.
He recognized the faces of those corpse puppets!
Those were once his compatriots, volunteers who had willingly gone to the deepest part of the cave to help the Chief Engineer conduct “more important research.” “You bastard!”
Connor wasn’t lying; he had lost all sense of fear. Facing the surging tide of cybernetic zombies, he, along with those equally angry and still retaining some personality, rushed towards the Chief Engineer who had betrayed them.
However, these cybernetically enhanced residents were only slightly stronger than ordinary humans, far inferior in physical strength and lethality to the corpse puppets, and were quickly engulfed in the tide of corpses, their bodies pierced and torn apart.
Nevertheless, these cybernetically modified residents bought valuable time for cangyuan one. The scanning was finally complete, and at Prairie’s command, everyone activated their flight packs.
Stunned, right? I can fly!
The enormous cave chamber provided ample space for three-dimensional maneuvering.
High ground advantage, easily defeat the fools.
“Fire at will!”
Immediately, rifles and cannons opened fire, and a large number of smart missiles and suicide drones also launched from the backpacks of the heavy combat power armor, mercilessly bombarding the densely packed corpse puppets behind the front line.
In just a few seconds, nearly half of the corpse puppet army fell, leaving behind charred, shattered cybernetic parts.
Players rarely had the opportunity to unleash such a concentrated barrage on so many targets, and their destructive urges were greatly satisfied, making them exclaim with pleasure.
So exhilarating!
Lu Yuan had brought down the 50 strongest fighters from the expedition team. Although their combat power was inferior to the First Battle Group, they would certainly not be stumped by a small group of zombies.
The battle line began to retract.
The Chief Engineer was somewhat flustered and kept retreating.
At this moment, some corpse puppets with special body configurations appeared. They were more intelligent, and their right arms had been transformed into weapons.
“Watch out and dodge!”
Prairie had just issued the warning when these artillery-type corpse puppets opened fire, shooting bright blue-white beams of light into the air.
The two weapons mounted on the Chief Engineer also fired similar beams, only thicker and more dazzling.
Core temperature exceeding 70,000K…
Lu Yuan looked at the readings on his helmet display, realizing this was a plasma weapon.
And unlike the “Dragon Breath” shotgun, it could focus the superheated plasma within a very narrow range, further increasing its energy density.
The legendary terrifying “Meltgun”!
Fortunately, Prairie's warning was timely, and the team members scattered in time.
Otherwise, with the power of such a plasma beam, it would be at least a critical hit to the power armor.
“Be sure to capture any new weapons that appear on the battlefield.”
Lu Yuan shouted in the squad channel.
Since they were here, they might as well get one.
“I’ll do it!”
Prairie immediately swooped down.
A very clumsy single-shot electromagnetic cannon was wielded by him like an assault sniper rifle. In the blink of an eye, he took down several ambushing artillery-type corpse puppets, then smoothly picked up a corpse puppet with an intact arm cannon, executed a low-altitude 180-degree turn, and gracefully retreated to the main force.
“Awesome, awesome!”
The crowd cheered.
As a former professional soldier, Prairie usually didn't show off much, always striving for the most efficient completion of tasks as his operational standard, prioritizing coordination and cooperation with the overall legion's combat, rarely using his full strength.
But when there was something that required him to step up, he was truly incredibly fierce, with overall combat power definitely not inferior to Guo Li Cheng.
“Damn you, cangyuan one, damn you!” In a flash, the Chief Engineer’s corpse puppet forces were almost wiped out, and he himself retreated into the giant door.
Suddenly, from an unknown depth behind the door, a series of tremors echoed, as if something had been awakened.
“Hahahaha!”
The Chief Engineer was ecstatic.
“I succeeded! The threat level here has finally risen high enough, the Guardian Colossus has been awakened by me!”
Accompanying his cheers, a bizarre green beam of light shot out from the crack in the giant door. Any corpse puppets it swept over immediately vanished, turning into extremely fine dust.
Even the Chief Engineer himself, and three players who failed to dodge in time, met the exact same fate.
In the face of this beam, so-called physical defense seemed to be completely nonexistent.
Shields and armor were useless.
Whatever terrifying thing the Chief Engineer had painstakingly awakened, it now appeared to be completely beyond his control.
Wise in one moment, foolish in the next.
No! “Retreat! Be careful to dodge the green ray’s firing axis!”
While others were still stunned, Lu Yuan had already decisively given the order.
The gains from this exploration were already sufficient.
As for the true BOSS behind the door, its level was clearly too high for the current players.
They would settle the score another time!
“Retreat, retreat, retreat!”
“Wait—wait a minute!”
Suddenly, amidst a pile of cybernetic corpses, the dying Connor called out to the retreating cangyuan one.
“Please save the children here! Promise me, and I’ll tell you a secret that can help you defeat the Super Democratic Empire’s fleet!”
“Okay! I’ll try my best to take as many children as possible!” Prairie agreed to him.
“Thank you—northwest course, eight jumps away, a—a red giant star system. According to the decrypted information, there is a taboo of the cybernetic device builders there—”
Before he could finish, Connor turned to dust in a ghostly green light.
“Damn it!”
“We have to go! Prairie!”
“Okay! Five people, come with me to find the children here!”
Since he promised, he would do his best.
Prairie thought so.
Even if the other party was just an NPC.
Ten minutes later, the intense search and retreat ended.
Everyone remaining escaped with their lives, bringing out many technological samples. Ye Xing also led a four-person squad to retrieve their initially discarded power armor. After running back to the landing zone, everyone found that this area was indeed also under siege by corpse puppets that had appeared from who knows where.
Fortunately, the enemy numbers were not large, and the defenses were solid. “Board! Everyone board the ship!”
The moment the last person stepped into the hatch, all landing engines ignited at full power, the fleet ascended, and quickly accelerated to supersonic speeds.
Since the armor hadn't been repaired yet, supersonic air shockwaves continuously impacted the hull, causing the battleship to vibrate violently.
Quite exciting!
At this moment, looking down from the sky, Lu Yuan noticed that the remaining corpse puppets were all gathered on the front plaza of the residential buildings.
They looked up at the fleet, occasionally waving their claws and letting out meaningless roars.
The ground trembled and cracked. Beneath the bottomless fissures, something seemed to be moving, and faint specks of light could be seen. This colony was doomed.
“Fire two nuclear missiles down there.”
Lu Yuan ordered.
“Executive Officer, our nuclear warheads are a non-renewable resource, and in terms of yield, they probably can’t destroy facilities too deep underground.”
Prairie reminded him.
“It’s fine, I know. Fire them.”
“Yes!”
It was just for an achievement, Lu Yuan thought to himself.