radicalducati Chapter 178 The New Machine Gun Makes its Debut! Sweeping Through the Frost Mountains!
Chapter 178 The New Machine Gun Makes its Debut! Sweeping Through the Frost Mountains!
"Let's go back to the car." Jiang Ming turned and walked out.
Back in the plaza, the heavily armored fortress was already surrounded by curious court mages.
They used various detection instruments to try to analyze the optical camouflage armor on the tank's exterior, but all the instruments emitted black smoke due to energy overload.
Jiang Ming ignored the locals and got into the car.
"The deposit has been received." Jiang Ming waved to the old king. "Leave the Winter Empire to me. You just need to guard your own lines."
"May the Holy Light protect you!" the old king exclaimed excitedly.
The tank's engine roared, its tracks turned in place, and it sped away from the city.
As soon as he left the city, Jiang Ming immediately opened the system synthesis panel.
We just scavenged so many top-quality materials in the treasure vault; it would be a complete waste not to convert them into combat power.
"Marlowe, head north, full speed ahead." Jiang Ming sat in the command chair.
He first took out the [Thunder Fury Magic Core (Purple Epic)], and then retrieved a batch of high-purity mithril and deep-sea gold that he had just seized from his storage ring.
His gaze swept over the vehicle's module interfaces.
In addition to the main gun and secondary guns, the Silver-class tanks have a large amount of mounting space.
[The synthesis formula is being developed...]
[Crafting Materials: Thunderfury Magic Core + Deep Sea Gold + Mithril + Psionic Armor-Piercing Chain Gun (Original Module)]
[WARNING: This synthesis will alter the original weapon's physical structure, transforming it into a hybrid kinetic weapon combining magic and technology. Failure rate: 25%.]
"Continue," Jiang Ming said without hesitation.
Om-!
A blinding purple-blue light flashed inside the command center.
The 30mm twin-mounted chain gun on top of the tank, which had looked rather old, melted and reformed rapidly in the light.
The thick cannon barrel was elongated and covered with a dark, deep-sea gold hue.
Mithril transformed into intricate magic array patterns, deeply etched into the inside of the cannon barrel.
[Ding! Synthesis successful!]
[Obtained: Magic Energy Thunderstorm Ripper Machine Gun (Purple, Top-Tier Epic Module)]
[Type: Tank Main Firepower Network Module]
[Attributes: Rate of fire 3000 rounds/minute. No physical ammunition required; automatically extracts lightning elements from the engine and air to condense them into high-explosive armor-piercing rounds.]
[Special Effect 1: Chain Lightning (After a bullet hits a target, it will bounce off into three additional targets within a 5-meter radius, unleashing a chain of lightning strikes.)]
[Special Effect 2: Armor Dissolution (Applies the gravity properties of Deep Sea Gold, dealing 200% additional armor penetration damage to targets with physical/magical shields).]
Jiang Ming nodded in satisfaction.
This firepower, used to clear out hordes of abyssal monsters and mage groups, is an absolute mowing-down-the-grass experience.
……
The chariot left Lionheart City and sped northward.
Marlow floored the accelerator, and the Immortal Source Engine roared, the tens of tons of vehicle leaving a trail of violent dust on the official road of the Aurora Continent.
"Boss, the Frost Mountains are just ahead." Marlowe pointed to the rolling white mountains on the holographic screen. "Beyond these mountains lies the territory of the Winter Empire."
Jiang Ming leaned back in the passenger seat, looking at the scanning interface of the live radar.
On the screen, dark red patches representing abyssal energy have completely covered the other side of the mountain.
"Chen Qi, how's it going with getting familiar with the new weapon?" Jiang Ming asked without turning his head.
"Ming-ge, this is amazing!" Chen Qi sat in the gunner's seat, gripping the control lever with both hands, rubbing his hands excitedly. "This thing doesn't even need to be loaded with ammunition; it just draws in the lightning element from the air. I just tried idling it, and the energy fluctuations in the barrel almost made the pressure gauge explode."
"There's a place that will satisfy you soon." Jiang Ming tapped the screen.
The chariot drove into the pass of the Frosty Mountains.
Temperatures plummeted, and a blizzard swept in.
But the temperature control system inside the heavy fortress was working well, and Marlowe even felt hot and pulled the zipper of his tactical vest down a bit.
Less than five kilometers into the pass, the road ahead was blocked by a towering ice wall.
On the ice wall stood hundreds of soldiers clad in standard Winter Empire armor.
However, something was very wrong with these soldiers.
Their armor was torn apart by dark red muscle tissue, several waving fleshy tendrils grew from under their helmets, and they no longer held spears, but bone blades mutated from bones and flesh.
【Abyssal Assimilation - Winter Guardian (Lv.35)】
[Danger Level: Medium]
[Characteristics: Frost resistance, pain shielding, flesh regeneration.]
Behind these assimilated beings lay a dozen or so enormous frost wolves, their backs covered with golden vertical pupils.
【Mutated Frost Giant Wolf (Lv.40 Elite)】
"Ming-ge, these bastards have even mutated their own people." Chen Qi spat as he looked at the scene outside.
"Just standard procedure for the Abyss." Jiang Ming pressed the communication button. "Marlowe, keep up the speed, just ram them. Chen Qi, clear the area."
"Okay!"
Marlow floored the accelerator, and the golden source material tentacles beneath the chariot's chassis suddenly shot out, plunging into the underground rock strata and forcefully increasing the chariot's speed even further.
The assimilated creatures on the ice wall noticed the approaching steel behemoth and let out roars that sounded inhuman.
Dozens of mutated mages who still retained their spellcasting abilities raised their bone staffs, and a large number of pale green ice spikes condensed in mid-air, which rained down on the war chariot.
Ding ding ding!
The ice spikes struck the [Phantom Adaptive Optical Camouflage Armor], but didn't even leave a white mark. Instead, they were deflected by the properties of the poison anti-armor, turning into pools of highly corrosive acid that fell to the ground.
"My turn!" Chen Qi roared and slammed the fire button.
On top of the vehicle, the [Magic Energy Thunderstorm Ripper Machine Gun] instantly erupted with a blinding purple-blue light.
There was no roar of gunpowder, only an extremely sharp tearing sound of electric current.
Da da da da da—!
With a terrifying rate of fire of 3,000 rounds per minute, what spews from the muzzle is not bullets, but a straight, thunderous whip.
The moment the high-explosive armor-piercing round hits the ice wall, the [Thunderstorm Chain] effect is triggered.
boom!
Thick bolts of lightning exploded on the ice wall, then, as if they were alive, ricocheted wildly in all directions.
The three assimilated entities within a five-meter radius were instantly struck by lightning, their bodies convulsing as they turned into charred remains.
And this is only the effect of one bullet.
In one second, fifty bullets were fired.
The entire pass instantly transformed into a thunderous inferno.
The purple-blue lightning webs intertwined, and the level 35 assimilated beings were completely vaporized by the plasma before they could even scream.
A dozen or so level 40 mutated frost giant wolves attempted to pounce on the chariot, their bodies glowing with thick frost shields.
However, this shield is as fragile as paper when faced with a machine gun that has the [Armor Dissolve] property.
The bullets pierced the shields and entered the giant wolves' bodies, where lightning elements exploded, blasting their massive bodies into pieces of flesh.
"Damn! That firepower is insane!" Chen Qi exclaimed excitedly, slapping his thigh as he watched the red dots on the radar disappear in an instant. "Brother Ming, this cannon is a lawnmower's dream!"
Jiang Ming watched as the chariot smashed through the remaining ice wall with unstoppable force, his expression remaining largely unchanged.
It's just an appetizer.
The chariot burst out of the frost-covered mountains, and the basin below suddenly opened up.
What should have been the capital of the Winter Empire is now completely unrecognizable as a city.
The entire basin was shrouded in an extremely dense layer of black fog.
Within the black mist, one could vaguely discern a colossal nest composed of countless dark red fleshy walls, blood vessels, and massive skeletons.
The nest was over 300 meters high, resembling a giant heart that was slowly beating on the earth.
[Core of Overlapping Area Discovered: Abyss Hatchery - Winter Capital (Lv.45-Lv.60)]
[Regional Characteristics: Extreme Corruption, Spatial Lockdown, Mother's Will Descends.]
The storage ring on Jiang Ming's wrist began to vibrate violently.
The resonance frequency of that [Unknown High-Dimensional Mechanical Core] reached its peak, even emitting a dazzling blue light within the folded space of the storage ring.
"Boss, the radar is being heavily jammed." Marlowe patted the control panel. "There's some kind of energy barrier in the black fog ahead; the detection waves can't get through."
Jiang Ming activated the Living Mind Radar.
A semi-physical, semi-mechanical radar probe rose from the roof of the vehicle, its dark red tentacles connecting to the abyssal energy network in the air.
On the screen, the scene inside the black fog gradually became clear.
At the very top of that enormous fleshy nest, there was an extremely dazzling blue light source, which was being enveloped and eroded by endless dark red energy.
[Discovery of a high-level energy source: the Spark Source Cube (incomplete)]
[Quality: Gold - Legendary]
[Status: Being corrupted by abyssal energy (85% progress).]
[Note: This is the essential core for activating high-dimensional mechanical creations, containing an infinite energy matrix. If the contamination progress reaches 100%, it will trigger a dimensional energy explosion.]
"The Spark Source Cube." Jiang Ming squinted.
It's like getting exactly what you need.
With this, the high-dimensional mechanical core in my hand can be fully activated.
With a legendary mechanical core and a legendary spark source, Jiang Ming couldn't even imagine how high this silver-class heavy fortress could be pushed.
"Marlow, keep the Immortal Source Engine at full power." Jiang Ming pulled the seatbelt over and fastened it, then casually inserted the [Fire and Thunder Prison] greatsword into the slot beside him. "Chen Qi, charge the main cannon. Let's go give these monsters a brain surgery."
The heavily armored fortress rolled over the frozen soil on the outskirts of the basin and headed straight for the winter capital shrouded in black mist.
The closer you get to the nest, the more rotten the ground becomes.
The once smooth soil turned into a sticky, dark red fleshy substance, and the tracks made a sickening "smack" sound as they rolled over it.
The chariot had just touched the edge of the black mist.
[WARNING: High concentration of Abyssal Mental Pollution detected!]
A very slight stinging pain came from Jiang Ming's mind, and then the passive skill [Iron Will] was instantly triggered, forcibly erasing the negative energy that was trying to distort his mind.
Ma Luo and Chen Qi let out a muffled groan, their faces turning somewhat pale.
"Stay calm." Jiang Ming casually took out two bottles of the [Clarity Potion] he had synthesized earlier and tossed them over. "Drink it."
The two pulled out the stoppers and drank the contents; their complexions then returned to normal.
"Boss, this fog is poisonous! I thought that wall of flesh looked quite handsome just now," Marlowe said, shaking his large head with lingering fear.
"Focus on driving." Jiang Ming stared at the screen of the live radar.
The chariot broke through the black fog, and the true face of the Winter Capital was fully revealed to the three of them.
The once magnificent city walls are now entangled by countless thick, fleshy blood vessels, and the city gates have become a gigantic maw full of fangs, constantly spewing out green poisonous gas.
Above the city wall, countless dark red calluses hung densely.
As the roar of the tank's engine drew closer, the fleshy cocoons began to throb violently.
puff!puff!puff!
The fleshy cocoons burst open one after another, and monsters with bodies over five meters long and bony wings on their backs emerged from them.
【Abyss Gargoyle (Lv.45 Elite)】
[Danger Level: High]
[Characteristics: High-altitude dive, petrifying gaze, hard outer shell.]
Hundreds of gargoyles circled in mid-air before suddenly folding their wings and crashing down on the chariot like meteorites.
"Chen Qi, take off the air defenses," Jiang Ming ordered.
"Leave it to me!" Chen Qi controlled the [Magic Energy Thunderstorm Ripper Machine Gun], raising the muzzle directly.
The purple-blue lightning roared once more.
Dense armor-piercing projectiles intertwined in mid-air, forming a deadly electric grid.
The gargoyle's prized hard shell is no match for the machine gun with its armor-dissolving properties.
A gargoyle charging at the front was hit in the chest by a bullet. A chain of thunderstorms erupted instantly. A thick bolt of lightning not only blew through its chest cavity, but also electrocuted three gargoyles next to it, causing them to freeze and fall straight down from the sky.
boom! boom! boom!
The tanks, weighing tens of tons, ran directly over the fallen monsters, their source-material tentacles flailing wildly beneath the tracks, instantly draining their flesh and crystal cores.
[Tank Energy Reserve +500]
[Tank Energy Reserve +500]
"Ming-ge, this new weapon is so good! We don't even have to worry about ammo consumption!" Chen Qi became more and more excited as he fought, the machine gun sweeping a blank area in mid-air.
But there were just too many monsters.
The cocoons on the city wall continued to hatch, and more gargoyles and Abyss Devourers crawling on the ground surged over, trying to overwhelm the steel behemoth with sheer numbers.
"Don't waste time with these grunts." Jiang Ming looked at the increasingly bright high-level energy source on the radar. "Marlow, just ram the city gates!"
"Alright! Kinetic Shield, maximum output!"
Marlowe slammed the joystick.
The golden shield on the surface of the chariot suddenly expanded, and the tens of tons of vehicle, carrying violent kinetic energy, slammed into the city gate full of fangs.
Boom! ...
The violent impact echoed throughout the basin.
The fangs on the city gate were broken off on the spot, and dark purple blood splattered all over the optical camouflage armor of the tank.
The heavily armored fortress tore a gap in the solid, flesh-and-blood walls and stormed into the inner city of the royal capital.
The scene inside the city was even more nauseating.
All the buildings had melted into some kind of semi-fluid, fleshy structure, and knee-deep acid flowed through the streets.
In the very center of the city, the original royal palace has been replaced by a blood altar that is hundreds of meters high.
At the top of the altar, the dazzling blue light source was tightly bound by several thick, dark red tentacles, and abyssal energy was being continuously poured into it.
Pollution progress: 88%.
"Ming-ge, there's a big thing up there!" Chen Qi pointed to the area below the altar.
On the steps of the altar stood a monster over eight meters tall, its entire body covered in heavy black armor.
It dragged a giant bone-chopping knife burning with green flames in its hand, and beneath its helmet was only a swirling cloud of black mist, within which two ghostly blue soul flames flickered.
【Abyss Executioner - Garr (Lv.40 - Warrior)】
[Danger Level: Extremely Lethal]
[Characteristics: Soul Harvest, Abyss Armor, Undying Body.]
[Description: A high-ranking demon guarding the hatchery, immune to 50% physical damage, whose attacks inflict a soul-tearing effect.]