Chapter 38 Machine Stack Service <TOC> Chapter 40 The Beauty of Strength
Translator: SumTLMan
Though night had already fallen, Red Falcon’s new camera captured every move of the enemy with ease.
On the remote control’s electronic screen, a battleship sailed through the foggy Dead Sea.
The Organ Horn emitted a cold, metallic aura; the entire hull was coated in black paint, giving it sharp edges, with metal chains and four massive metal hubs fastened along its railings. Two large brass smokestacks constantly spewed thick, dark smoke upward. A blue flag waved atop the mast, bearing a white anchor insignia.
The battleship was armed with three cannons: a large-caliber barrel mounted at the bow, and two smaller ones along the sides.
The screen focused on three small frames, each marking one of these cannons.
Beside the large-caliber weapon at the bow, text appeared.
…
[C-Class Main Cannon]
Damage: 100-155
Cooldown: 8.4
Range: 125
…
The data for the side cannons was identical, all displayed as:
…
[D-Class Rapid-Fire Side Cannon]
Damage: 2-10
Cooldown: 0.5
Range: 75
…
Zhou Yi thought, this recent upgrade and opening of the Machine Stack Service was definitely worth it.
These stats provided a detailed combat guide.
The Organ Horn’s main cannon had an attack range of 125 meters, with considerable power. In contrast, the side cannons had a range of 75 meters, but the damage was markedly lower.
Yet the range was absurdly short, unlike the impression one usually has of cannons.
Was this really the tech he was familiar with?
Zhou Yi asked Red Falcon: “Is there such a big difference in damage between D-Class and C-Class?”
He recalled that when they’d previously taken down the Long-Necked Crocodile, which was also C-Class, it had an advantage over the Warrior Crab, but nothing this drastic.
Could there be a variance even within C-Class?
The drone responded: “The Long-Necked Crocodile’s skill focus differs; its ability to inflict damage isn’t comparable to specialized destructive weaponry.”
“The C-Class main cannon’s cooldown is long and energy consumption high. The side cannons fill this firepower gap.”
“The trade-off for rapid fire is limited power and shorter range. High destructive force puts more strain on the structure, necessitating a longer cooldown. Even at the same grade, heavy firepower and rapid-fire weapons show significant damage disparity.”
“For large war machines, combining high-intensity main cannons with rapid-fire side cannons is a classic configuration. In actual combat, the two can achieve a synergy greater than the sum of their parts.”
Zhou Yi noted this silently.
His knowledge of firearms was limited to movies and games, lacking real expertise in this area.
Red Falcon added: “Currently, we lack long-range firepower; the Warrior Crab cannot surface on the Dead Sea, making effective attacks difficult and unable to counter the enemy’s long-range suppression. Even a suicidal charge would only increase casualties.”
“I suggest we retreat from this danger zone and lure the enemy inland. Once the battlefield shifts to land, we’ll hold the advantage.”
This aligned perfectly with Zhou Yi’s own thoughts.
He immediately ordered: “Jade Emerald City, fall back to the Mushroom Forest. Lure the enemy onto land to fight.”
However, one company member expressed disagreement.
“I want to block the enemy here.”
Jade Emerald City reasoned: “The energy cost of relocation far exceeds that of taking down an external threat like this.”
Zhou Yi asked: “Do you have combat experience?”
“No.”
“…”
Zhou Yi rubbed his face: “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the enemy has long-range firepower, and you can’t enter the Dead Sea without falling into their trap… It’s too passive. If they’re hiding some secret weapon, you getting injured could be a real problem.”
He recalled Jade Emerald City’s move in the Mushroom Forest, where it had confiscated Copper Bull’s rocket launcher and converted it into energy, a moment etched in his mind.
But whether this absorption ability could handle a true C-Class main cannon remained uncertain.
Jade Emerald City was not a specialized warrior.
One ambush could lead to irreparable loss.
Thus, Zhou Yi opted for the safest strategy: lure the enemy deeper.
Yet Jade Emerald City remained steadfast.
“I can handle it.”
It stated: “I’m at a critical point in charging right now. Disconnecting to retreat would lead to structural collapse here after all basic setups fail, and the relocation energy cost would push back the repair timeline even further.”
“Chairman, I request to fight on the spot. I will repel them.”
Zhou Yi paced back and forth, finally steeling himself: “I’ll ask one last time, can you withstand the Organ Horn?”
“I can.”
Zhou Yi paused, then said: “Alright, I trust you. This time, we’ll go with your plan.”
Jade Emerald City reiterated: “I will hold it off.”
Plans changed with circumstances.
Zhou Yi began adjusting to the current situation.
He positioned the Warrior Crabs along the retreat path to ambush and block the pursuing Dead Sea Knights, buying time and space for their retreat.
Simultaneously, he ordered A Jin, Gong Zheng, A Feng, and Night Claw to evacuate Jade Emerald City, relocating them to the rear Mushroom Forest for safety.
Finally, he instructed the Warrior Crabs to dismantle three Light Blockers and move them from the battlefield to minimize damage from the bombardment.
The Organ Horn arrived sooner than anticipated, reaching the coastline in only 40 minutes.
The night raid was evidently meticulously planned.
After nightfall, visibility dropped drastically, making it hard to discern any movements within the Dead Sea, and the constructed lifeforms couldn’t recharge from sunlight.
A voice, amplified by a loudspeaker, reverberated toward the shore.
“This is the Seventh Fleet of the Dead Sea Knights, Organ Horn, currently apprehending the suspect responsible for killing Knight Guardian Luan Zou, the Dead Sea Abomination. All individuals, heed this warning: vacate the area around the Abomination, or you will be regarded as accomplices and eliminated.”
“Final warning: leave now, or you are our enemy!”
The Organ Horn made its intentions clear.
It had come to capture the Dead Sea Abomination.
Zhou Yi now understood.
The presence of the life-bearing Jade Emerald City was enough to prompt the Dead Sea Knights into action.
The warning had barely passed a minute.
A white light flashed on the Organ Horn, followed by a thunderous explosion.
The main cannon at the bow unleashed a burst of fire.
An explosion cloud blossomed over Jade Emerald City.
Both side cannons swiveled to fire simultaneously, each releasing an oval burst of light toward the lower section of the shoreline giant.
A storm-like bombardment continuously struck Jade Emerald City, sending up clouds of dust.
The high-rise trembled slightly under the concentrated barrage.
Observing from a distance, Zhou Yi felt something strange, if Jade Emerald City couldn’t absorb this firepower, it shouldn’t be this unresponsive.
Could those shells have a paralyzing effect?
As he puzzled over this, the ground beneath him suddenly began to quake.
The vibrations spread outward like seismic waves.
The source was Jade Emerald City.
Around the main building, large rectangular stone blocks rose from the ground, ascending into the air, each one lighting up like artificial stars.
These objects densely covered the surrounding waters, descending toward the sea’s surface with sharp trails of light.
The moment they touched the Dead Sea’s mist, explosions erupted, creating clusters of light amidst booming sounds.
The drone captured the Organ Horn’s final, invaluable footage.
As the airborne objects lit up, the Organ Horn sensed danger and attempted a quick retreat, but it was too slow compared to the onslaught of fire-rain from above.
The vast meteor-like rain obliterated the isolated warship in an instant, igniting a nocturnal fireworks display over the Dead Sea, illuminating the surrounding area as if it were daytime.
…
The bombardment lasted only 10 seconds.
Then all fell silent.
The glow from the Dead Sea’s mist flickered intermittently, with aftershocks still resonating.
Jade Emerald City’s steadfast, powerful voice echoed in his mind: “Chairman, I held it off.”
Zhou Yi fell silent.
No way.
If you had this power, why didn’t you say so earlier?
I’d have just laid back in bed and watched your show, no need to wrack my brains!
Zhou Yi suddenly realized.
It seemed he still didn’t truly understand Jade Emerald City.
He had mostly regarded it as a living building.
Chapter 38 Machine Stack Service <TOC> Chapter 40 The Beauty of Strength