Ling Cage: Enhanced Nanosteel Suit at the Start

Page 60

The behemoth let out a deafening howl, its massive body collapsing as it lost its support, its core shattered.

"Perfect!"

Erica cheered, and the thrusters on the back of the mech activated again, allowing her to leap back gracefully and escape.

On the HUD of the tactical goggles, her portrait is prominently displayed at the top of the kill leaderboard, followed by an exaggeratedly high number that keeps jumping up. At the same time, a new voice easter egg has been unlocked, with the mech's speaker automatically playing her energetic declaration: "All of you little beasts are now surrounded by me!"

Watching the orange-red mechs unleash devastating firepower on the battlefield, Chen Yuan, hovering in the air, nodded in satisfaction.

"The battle is over, everyone's exhausted. Let's rest at my survival base tonight!"

Mark and the others nodded, looking forward to the place where Chen Yuan used to live.

……

The heavy alloy gate of Ark Base No. 9 slowly closed, completely isolating the hustle and bustle and bloodshed of the wasteland outside.

The warm lighting, clean air, and ample food and water supplies inside created an almost luxurious haven in the apocalypse.

"Wow, Brother Chen, so you used to live in a place like this? I didn't realize you knew how to enjoy life!"

Erica looked around curiously as soon as she entered. After deactivating her mecha, she appeared even more petite and lively, chattering like a nightingale to Chen Yuan.

The way she addressed him as "Brother Chen" was at Chen Yuan's request; he felt more comfortable with it than "Lord City Lord."

Chen Yuan smiled but didn't respond to that. Instead, he invited everyone to sit down and rest.

Mark, Feixue, Mocheng, Ranbing, and other members sat around the alloy round table in the center of the base.

"Come on, everyone, let's eat first, and then take a hot shower!" Chen Yuan said with a smile.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and taken a shower, they gathered again at the alloy round table in the center of the base.

On the table lay a projection of information that Chen Yuan had compiled from the old world's database, a detailed overview of the Devouring Beast system.

After this period of intense hunting, everyone was exhausted, both physically and mentally, but their eyes showed more seriousness than relaxation.

They knew that only by gaining a deeper understanding of the enemy could they survive in this hell.

"Everyone saw it, right?"

Chen Yuan clicked on the projection, and the core Devouring Beast level system was clearly displayed. "The vast majority of the creatures we have encountered recently are these 'pan-biological' snake dogs, earth howls, and spiny eels. They are the most common minions of the Mana ecosystem."

Mark frowned, his fingers tracing the projections of the snakehounds and spiky eels. His voice was low and menacing: "Even their most ordinary minions cause the most human casualties. The snakehounds' speed and numbers, the Earth Roar's long-range artillery fire, and especially the spiky eels..."

"The bone spikes on the backs of these monsters can not only kill people, but also suck out life essence like straws. I have personally witnessed the team members who were attacked by the spiked eels and instantly withered up. I will never forget that feeling."

"These Devouring Beasts have an even more troublesome regenerative ability. If we didn't have a mecha marking their weaknesses and shattering the Spirit Seed core, it would be extremely difficult to kill them."

Feixue calmly added, as if analyzing some data parameters, "The spines of the spiny eel can absorb source matter, and the energy cannon of the Earth Roar can launch long-range attacks. These are all attack patterns derived from their abnormal life source."

"The key is efficiency. Dealing with snake-dog swarms requires area-of-effect suppressive fire, dealing with earth roars requires ultra-long-range precision strikes, and the spiny eels... should be eliminated first to avoid replenishing the life essence of other humans."

Chapter 81 Destroying the Star Vortex

Mo Cheng pointed to the image of the molted Calyx Beast on the projection, his tone tinged with lingering fear, "The basic form was already tough enough, but the molted form... it's a nightmare. I remember the last time we encountered those Calyx Beasts, our second team was almost wiped out."

"That thing is not only as hard as a fortress (bromine mist armor), but it can also release poisonous mist to cause hallucinations, and it can even emit that kind of sound that goes directly into the brain (sound wave mind control) that makes people's hands and feet disobey their commands."

"The scariest thing is that as soon as it appears, the snake dogs and thorn eels around it are like they've been injected with chicken blood, their regeneration speed is frighteningly fast, and they even know how to coordinate their attacks. At that time, if you couldn't hit the core, you couldn't kill them at all."

Chen Yuan nodded and switched the projection to the Mana ecosystem section: "Mo Cheng is right, this is the symbiotic network of the Mana ecosystem. The Devouring Beasts are responsible for hunting and obtaining life essence to nourish the Mana Flower."

"The Mana Flower is like the 'heart' and 'brain' of the entire ecosystem. It absorbs source matter and transmits energy through its glowing petals, accelerating the regeneration of the Devouring Beasts. Those 'man-eating flower' forms are the nodes of energy transmission."

"'Breath Soil'... that black, living soil that devours flesh and blood is more like the Mana Flower's immune system and energy recycling station. Any threat that gets close to the core will be devoured by it and transformed back into ecological nutrients."

"However, our mechs can clear away these living soils, so there's no need to worry too much."

Mark rubbed his rough hands, looking at the diagram of the Mana Flower, the Devouring Beast, and the symbiotic relationship with the Breath of Earth, and muttered, "This...this is simply a living, gigantic predatory machine. We're not fighting a single monster, we're fighting an entire living ecosystem. This is terrible."

Erica, who was still exploring the new mecha Storm Shark, stopped smiling when she heard this and pointed to the ecological hierarchy map, saying, "So, that thing called Star Vortex is their upgrade function. All Devouring Beasts offer 'sacrifice' and then they can upgrade or evolve into new Devouring Beasts!"

"You could say that, Erica, although she's more...evil at heart."

Chen Yuan affirmed Erica's analogy and cut the scene to the most chilling part—the King-level Devouring Beast.

The projection showed a colossal humanoid beast, several meters tall, radiating a ghostly blue light, and with wings of light on its back, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

"The apex predator of the Mana ecosystem, a monarch-class predator. I've checked the Lighthouse's records, but there's not much information. Only a strategic weapon like a 'super-powerful electromagnetic railgun' can counter it."

"It can not only fly and possesses earth-shattering power, but more importantly, it can command all the low-level Devouring Beasts it encounters and integrate them into a truly commanded army."

Mark stared intently at the image of the Sovereign-class aircraft, his fists clenching unconsciously, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "The Lighthouse's electromagnetic cannon will eventually run out of energy, and our current strength... is no match for the Sovereign-class!"

Feixue's gaze was icy as she focused on the head, chest, and other potentially core areas of the monarch-level projection: "Its enormous size means it is a prominent target, but its ability to command a horde of beasts means that decapitation tactics are extremely risky, and conventional weapons are ineffective... It requires superhuman destructive power, or... a precise strike to its absolute weakness."

"Where is its energy source? How strong are its flight organs? We need more...intelligence."

Even when facing a monarch-level opponent, Feixue's thoughts are still "how to destroy it," because she now possesses a mecha.

Chen Yuan pulled up the last part: "The appearance of the monarch-level is not accidental. It seems to have integrated some kind of intelligence, but there is too little data to discuss it later. Now let's talk about gene serums."

After speaking, Chen Yuan had Long Xin display an image of an ancient potion bottle and a complex genetic map. "This is a genetic unlocking agent from the old world, which may be the key to reversing the Mana ecological infection or inhibiting the regeneration of the Devouring Beasts. It may even be the key to unlocking our own shackles or countering the Devouring Beasts, but its whereabouts... are still a mystery."

Silence fell over the base.

The amount of information projected was enormous: the level of the Devouring Beasts, the will of Mana Ecology and the oppressive power of the terrifying monarch level, and that elusive yet crucial "key"... all of this weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

Mark took a deep breath, breaking the silence. His eyes hardened again, filled with a do-or-die determination: "I understand. Whether it's for the lighthouse or for all those still struggling... we must keep going."

"Whether it's entering the star vortex or searching for the key... understanding them is the only way to defeat them. Brother Chen, thank you for telling us all this."

He looked at Chen Yuan, and naturally addressed him as "Brother Chen".

Erica waved her little fists, her eyes still showing a hint of fear of the Monarch-class mechs, but more so a surge of fighting spirit: "That's right, whatever the Monarch-class or Mana Ecosystem, we have new mechs, Captain Mark, and you, Brother Chen! Next time we see those big guys, I'll definitely give them a good 'bath' with missiles!"

Feixue simply nodded slightly, her fingers unconsciously drawing the tactical dagger from her waist, her gaze still sharply fixed on the weak point of the monarch-level projection: "Gather intelligence first, we'll definitely encounter it again..."

"That's all for now, everyone take a rest," Chen Yuan instructed.

“Okay.” Mark and the others nodded and each chose a room to rest.

The next day, the alloy gate of Ark Base 9 opened again, but instead of warm air, it blew in the cold, icy air of the wasteland, mixed with blood and dust.

The Shadow Squad was fully prepared, with six mechs flying out of the base entrance, followed closely by Iron Guard, Hellhound, and Mechanical Black Hawk.

"The Loongson detection target is in the core of the old industrial area, where there is a suspected small 'star vortex' energy fluctuation point that attracts and annihilates all the surrounding Devouring Beasts and collects high-concentration life essence samples."

Chen Yuan's voice came through the communication channel, calm and clear, "Action plan: I'll be responsible for 'luring the monsters,' you'll be responsible for 'clearing the area,' and you'll take command of the Mark Squad. Execute according to the plan we've discussed."

"understand!"

Mark responded in the communication channel, his visor scanning his teammates: "Ranbing, left flank defense node; Feixue, right flank high ground; Mocheng, roam freely, provide fire support, keep cover; Erica, follow me into the middle, provide fire coverage."

"Roger that!"

A resounding, orderly response filled with high morale.

Iron Guard, Hellhound, and Mechanical Black Hawk also maintained high-altitude vigilance, marking high-threat targets.

Chen Yuan and the others took their positions, conducting self-checks of their weapons and equipment before attacking. Their arrival had already attracted the attention of the Devouring Beasts, as the Life Source Mechs could not completely shield themselves. (Further upgrades are needed to shield life information.)

Chapter 82 Life Essence Crystal

In the heart of the old industrial zone, in the center of an abandoned building, a dark purple energy vortex floats in mid-air, a "star vortex" with a diameter of thirty meters slowly rotating, like a wound tearing through reality.

The viscous, scarlet life essence flowed into it from all directions, and the accumulated flesh, soil, and bones below had formed a small hill.

The air was filled with a sweet, putrid stench and a high-frequency humming sound.

"Roar!!!"

Hundreds of snake-dogs, under the radiation of the star vortex, had their eyes turn blood red, and sharp bone spurs grew on their bony armor.

The earth roared, its sacs bulging like lava lanterns.

Spiny eels stealthily slithered among the wreckage, dripping venom from the tips of their bony spikes.

Even more deadly was the molting giant calyx beast beside the star vortex. Its purplish-black fleshy body swelled to fifteen meters tall, its flower bud head spewing out bromine mist, and its tentacles thrashed wildly like a giant python.

"Swoosh... Boom!"

Chen Yuan flew at incredible speed, like a silver comet swooping down over the heads of the beast horde.

"Eat my dick!"

The palm cannon bombarded the ground repeatedly, sending up columns of flames and dust tens of meters high.

"Little beast, look here!" Chen Yuan's mecha amplified the provocative voice tenfold through its loudspeaker.

The calyx beast's head suddenly turned, and a shrill, twisted shriek pierced straight at Chen Yuan.

"Loongson, anti-psychological interference."

"Command confirmed, activated..."

A blue light suddenly shone inside the helmet, and the shriek was filtered into a distant buzzing sound.

Instead of retreating, Chen Yuan advanced, unleashing the pulse cannons on his back wings at full power. Dozens of scattered energy beams, like a shower of flowers, precisely struck the sonic sacs of the beast horde.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

In the chain of explosions, the three-headed earth roar turned into a fireball.

The beast tide erupted completely, and the snake-dog pack abandoned the star vortex, transforming into a black tsunami that rushed towards Chen Yuan in the air.

"We've succeeded! Now's the time!"

Mark's voice echoed through the channel, "Launch a mission, target... Star Vortex!"

The black mech crashed into the flank of the beast horde like a heavy tank. Mark swung his chainsaw greatsword in both hands, sweeping across the battlefield and unleashing a storm of blood.

"Ran Bing, activate the shield to hold off the Flower Calyx Beast and buy some time."

"learn."

The silver-blue figure ruthlessly pierced between the Flower Calyx Beast and the Star Vortex. Ran Bing's giant ice-blue shield instantly solidified, forcefully resisting the three giant python tentacles that came out.

"boom!!"

Ice shards and slime flew everywhere, and the shield trembled violently but remained unmoved.

"Mocheng, clear the area with firepower."