Chapter 39 I'll Hold It Off <TOC> Chapter 41 Contradictions
Translator: SumTLMan
After the intervention from Jade Emerald City, Zhou Yi promptly confirmed with Red Falcon: “Is there any possibility that the Organ Horn could dive beneath the Dead Sea and escape?”
“The Recursion City database shows that this model of warship lacks such a function. During the previous sea confrontation, all crew members’ vital signs vanished when the Organ Horn was destroyed, confirming their deaths.”
The drone assuaged Zhou Yi’s concerns.
Red Falcon added: “I compared and captured records from the Recursion City database, simulating the previous events.”
“Jade Emerald City launched and ignited cylindrical projectiles, which collided at high speeds to trigger explosive reactions with the Dead Light Fluid, generating powerful thermal radiation and multiple shock waves that enveloped the surrounding area.”
“This drastically enhanced its lethality and destructive range. Without special defensive mechanisms, any Body Seed below B-Class would face devastating blows.”
Red Falcon asserted: “To determine the rating of Jade Emerald City’s power, skills, and Body Seed vitality, a full-spectrum evaluation using specialized equipment is necessary.”
Zhou Yi put off considering this for now.
Just reaching Recursion City was daunting enough, a distance of 1,900 kilometers, with exorbitant energy costs for a round trip.
For now, recharging was the priority.
Zhou Yi pressed his hand against the outer wall of Jade Emerald City, feeling the residual warmth.
“Are you alright?”
Jade Emerald City responded: “2% of energy has been consumed, leaving only about 15%.”
No wonder, Zhou Yi thought.
Such a massive bombardment in the Dead Sea came at a huge energy cost for Jade Emerald City.
He asked: “What kind of skill was that attack?”
“It’s a stress test.”
Jade Emerald City explained: “Under the effects of time and external conditions, different parts of my body experience wear and natural deterioration. Some sections become hazardous, requiring repairs or even replacements. New structures must be built to stabilize my body.”
“At that point, I construct walls from natural materials like sand and stone to replace heavily damaged structures. Before replacement, a stress test must be conducted.”
Once the wall structure is complete, Jade Emerald City seals it into a closed space and injects energy for impact, fire resistance, and earthquake resistance testing.
If structural flaws exist or if impact resistance is insufficient, it will explode under high-pressure tests.
Many living beings fear these stress tests.
This is also how Jade Emerald City undergoes the stress testing processes.
It repurposes unstable structures as the basis to create many high-risk buildings, which are then used for projectile and explosive deployment.
When bombarded head-on by the Organ Horn, Jade Emerald City remained motionless because it was in a large-scale synchronous construction phase.
The subsequent damage on the Dead Sea’s surface, triggered explosions, and widespread shockwaves were completely unanticipated by Jade Emerald City.
“I resisted their attacks, using the explosions of high-risk structures to repel the enemy.”
This was the initial concept of the Tower Giant.
Jade Emerald City had no knowledge of so-called “skills”; it still acted on innate functions and instincts.
Yet, it also had enormous potential for development and growth.
Zhou Yi inquired about the conditions for deploying the aerial bombing tactic.
Jade Emerald City responded: “Creating a large number of high-risk structures requires on-site material acquisition on land, with an abundant supply of sand and stone, and sufficient energy.”
Zhou Yi looked around.
After that round of aerial bombing, the sand surrounding Jade Emerald City had collapsed into a dry riverbed circling the tower.
That wasn’t an issue.
“Constructing a large batch of identical structures simultaneously can save build time. Focusing only on basic closed structures for single-use, 100 sets of high-risk buildings could be constructed within 10 minutes.”
Zhou Yi pondered.
Assuming a 10-minute attack interval, along with the time needed to convert high-risk structures into aerial projectiles, the setup time increased.
This was heavy artillery, powerful but slow in attack speed.
After consulting with Red Falcon and exchanging ideas with Jade Emerald City, they finally improved the process through a collaborative effort.
Jade Emerald City would manufacture a reserve of high-risk buildings for regular use. In this way, during combat, pre-made projectiles would inflict maximum damage on enemies instantly, depriving them of reaction and retreat time, while significantly reducing cooldown durations.
After manually compiling and analyzing data, Zhou Yi created a set of reference data.
[Aerial Bombardment]
Damage: B-Class
Cooldown: 10 minutes (3.3 seconds with pre-made ammunition)
Range: 225
This made it much clearer.
The crisis was averted, and Zhou Yi ordered the company to resume normal operations.
He looked out over the vast Dead Sea, feeling a deep sense of regret.
Jade Emerald City had been too heavy-handed, blowing up the Organ Horn entirely, leaving no spoils, and wasting 2% of its energy.
He’d have to remind it to prioritize safety and stability while also considering economic efficiency.
…
About 1,500 meters from the beach stood a rocky ridge.
An American heavy-duty truck lay low in the darkness.
A small, collapsible metal lookout tower was mounted on its container.
Qian Su sat on the platform, eating a piece of hard bread, her eyes pressed to an adjustable high-power telescope, closely observing the movements on the Dead Sea.
She munched on her bread, mumbling to herself.
“Good fight! If they didn’t fight, we’d be out of work.”
“It’s a shame that Zhou Yi has no plans to purchase weapons or equipment. Is it confidence or a lack of budget?”
“Was my price high? Not really, just 25% above market rate. We came out to this barren place to earn a small hardship fee.”
“Hey, partner, do you think he can withstand the Dead Sea Knights’ warship?”
An electronic voice came from the truck’s head: “He’ll win.”
“You have that much faith in him?”
Qian Su yawned: “If it’s not a light cruiser but a medium cruiser armed with main combat weapons, that unfortified coastline would be a sitting duck.”
The truck replied: “The Abomination is strong.”
Qian Su swallowed a bite of bread: “Hmm… of course, I know the Dead Sea Abomination is incredibly powerful. But that creature is still driven by primal survival instincts. As long as the Dead Sea Knights aren’t foolish, they’ll keep luring it with the Dead Sea.”
“Perhaps they won’t cause it any harm, but energy emissions will drive that creature closer to the Dead Sea. The Abomination, like a moth to a flame, cannot resist the lure of high-energy sources.”
“Once it enters the Dead Sea, it’s done for. It will fall asleep like a newborn. The Dead Sea Knights only need to confirm and mark it, call for reinforcements, and haul it through the Dead Sea.”
“If the Wasteland Development Company has no other means, that Abomination may not survive.”
The truck was silent for a moment.
“It’s a C-Class Body Seed.”
“C-Class? That’s expected. Mechanisms like these stay confined to certain levels; unless at an A-Class, the Abominations of the Dead Sea remain driven by energy-seeking instincts,” Qian Su said, crossing her legs.
“What? Your [Identification] skill has leveled up? You can scan Abominations directly? Have you finally reached peak potential? This skill could make a fortune! We’re going to be rich!”
Qian Su’s face lit up with joy.
“The Abomination’s rating is based on its destructive capability.”
The truck corrected her: “I was referring to Zhou Yi.”
Qian Su froze, then began coughing intensely, clutching her chest, and hurriedly gulped down water.
“Are you sure?”
“A human Body Seed at C-Class? Impossible… He has no Light Seal; that’s easy to recognize. He’s clearly flesh and blood.”
The truck reaffirmed: “[Identification] has reached its fifth and final tier, unlocking a special advancement effect, [Reverse Appraisal], enabling real-time skill assessments to gauge an opponent’s abilities.”
“[Identification] found nothing unusual with Zhou Yi, deeming him a normal human. However, [Reverse Appraisal] produced a different outcome. During the moment he observed me, a skill activated, registering a C-Class Body Seed.”
“But when he looked away, the signal vanished entirely.”
“Undoubtedly, he intentionally revealed this information.” The truck’s conviction was absolute.
Qian Su’s gaze grew serious and apprehensive.
“A C-Class Body Seed… no Light Seal, no extensive prosthetic replacements…”
The young woman drew in a sharp breath: “A Sky Walker!”