Industrial Cthulhu doesn't believe in the end times.

Chapter 100: Already fortified with strong defenses (4.8k)

To Su Xun's surprise, they waited until nightfall.

The moon was already high in the sky, but fortunately, countless people were keeping a close watch on this place at all times. The artillery positions would also continuously fire flares in the fog-covered area, and the superhumans could even use the faint moonlight to see the slightest movement on the battlefield.

After a long period of preparation, the cannons pointing at that mist are no longer the same as when Su Xun first arrived. Hundreds of cannons of all kinds raise their dark muzzles, and tank groups are scattered in various places, like a vast expanse of steel reefs.

Even Su Xun himself was stationed at the command post observation post, and the communication equipment was also placed there. Therefore, they were able to respond immediately when unusual activity occurred in the secret realm.

In the dead of night, the fog that hangs over the earth is like a giant beast. At this moment, it begins to surge, and towering shadows, as tall as buildings, are gestating within it, like evil spirits descending from another world.

No, it's not just like that; it's a fourth-tier alien species manifesting from the depths of the secret realm. It has broken through the barrier of cognitive illusion, and its immense spiritual power is surging, shaping a more realistic form for this lucky one that has arrived in the real world first.

This is one of their purposes. In the reflected secret realm, no matter how real these distorted alien species may be, they are ultimately illusory in essence. They are nurtured by this equally illusory environment. They are born in the illusory realm of water mirror, like flowers in the mist and the moon in the water. Only when they arrive in the real world can they have the opportunity to turn from illusion to reality.

This was not without cost, but all the alien species flocked to it. Fortunately, the stronger they were, the further away they were from the real world. Even a sixth-order being took so long to cross the boundary. As for what price it paid, that remains unknown.

Su Xun had always believed that these alien species were not very intelligent, which was probably due to their long-term living in the secret realm. Perhaps only by getting away from that bizarre environment could their minds become clearer.

However, the secret realm of the past life appeared much later than it does now, and these alien species arrived in the present world a step later as well, making it difficult for them to gain a foothold in the present world. Instead, they were constantly hunted by high-level superhumans from all over the world as a resource.

This life is early enough, but...

If these alien species also had memories of their past lives, they would probably find that this world is quite different.

"coming."

As the giant beast let out a strange roar, Su Xun's eyes turned cold.

"Position One, fire!"

The order had been relayed, and the communications officer at the command post seemed quite nervous.

This is understandable; those colossal beasts that defy common sense and are no longer within the scope of carbon-based life can bring many people an indescribable sense of awe.

People often have no concept of size. In peacetime, a two-meter-tall camel can bring a strong sense of oppression when it comes to you, let alone these alien species that are tens of meters tall and completely beyond our comprehension.

The cars parked on both sides of the road are smaller than toys in front of them, and the tall buildings are nothing more than their armrests and beds. Even from a great distance, they can evoke an indescribable fear.

However, Su Xun looked at the alien species that had overturned the high-rise building with disdain in his eyes. He patted the communications officer on the back to encourage him.

"Rest assured, we have made ample preparations, and this time, victory will surely belong to us."

“They came to hear the Way, and they are not as terrible as you imagine. Now that they have heard the Way, it is time for them to die.”

As Su Xun had said, the artillery group on the other side of the battlefield took action immediately upon receiving the order.

"Target confirmed, loading, ready, fire!"

"Boom——!"

In an instant, the entire plain roared in fury.

The roar of heavy artillery tore through the night sky, and artillery pieces distributed in different positions fired in tiers. Even at a distance of ten or twenty kilometers, these artillery pieces were much more accurate than sniper rifles.

Over the past few days, the artillery has set up a considerable number of targets throughout the fog-filled area. The artillery has already been calibrated in advance, so when they actually fire now, it's basically like hitting a stationary target.

Due to the great distance, some shells even flew for dozens of seconds in the air, but under the barrage of fire, where could one find shelter?
Moreover, this alien species was completely unable to dodge. The shells were faster than sound. It only saw incomprehensible flashes on the ground in the distance, and moments later, the shells accurately hit its body.

Under the barrage of artillery fire, the fourth-tier mutant that had just stepped into the real world immediately let out a miserable wail and died on the spot in no time.

Su Xun was watching the battlefield when his communicator suddenly started beeping urgently.

"Commander-in-Chief, Taimon Base requests to speak with you."

Su Xun nodded and took the headset: "This is Su Xun, please speak."

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, zombie hordes have broken out in Licheng, Binhai, and Dengzhou!"

"I understand. Notify all departments to carry out the defense mission as planned. Other areas should continue to strengthen their defenses and remain vigilant."

"Yes!"

The widespread arrival of the zombie horde was also expected, it just so happened that the timing coincided with their operations here.

However, they had nearly ten more days to prepare than Haiqu, and in those ten days, the situation would take a completely different turn.

The defenses were already formidable, and the people were now united in their resolve!
The battle in the distance has already begun, and the great battle right now has just started.

The battlefield's artillery fire never ceased, and iron rain drew long arcs across the sky. The area shrouded in the secret realm was no longer visible with any intact buildings. The first fourth-tier alien species had only just begun the battle; one after another, giant beasts appeared and fell.

The fiery lotus blooms, and the God of War bursts forth!
As if knowing that such deaths were meaningless, the battle fell into a brief silence. Then, several more towering figures appeared, like mountain peaks emerging from the mist.

"Roar--!"

A deep, tiger-like roar pierced the long night, and a twisted creature, four hundred meters tall, with two tiger heads but a body like an ox, emerged first from the mist.

The two-headed behemoth was still surrounded by clouds and mist, and its body was not even fully solidified, but with each step it took, the earth groaned in pain.

A series of sparks exploded on its body, and the behemoth let out a deafening roar. A huge gash was blasted open on its rock-like skin, revealing the dark red substance inside. There was no blood scattering or flesh and bone flying, only more and denser smoke gushing out, demonstrating that it did not belong to this world.

However, these artillery blasts, enough to destroy a city block, were more like a dense sting of bees to it. It was too huge. After stabilizing itself, its ferocious eyes locked onto the distant artillery barrage, and it strode forward with an aura of destruction.

And this is just the beginning; behind it, even more indescribable and twisted entities have emerged one after another.

A second, a third, a fourth... a total of five giant beasts appeared. They were all different in shape, but all as large as mountains. The thick clouds writhed uneasily, and the constantly falling shells illuminated their figures.

Watching the behemoths rushing toward the artillery position, Su Xun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. These intelligent but few powerful individuals had acted as he had predicted. After being suppressed by the artillery for half a day, they already knew where the threat came from.

Instead of fleeing, they hoped to resolve these threats. This secret realm was their lair. Even though they had come to the mortal world, it did not mean they could leave. Only here could they obtain the spiritual power they needed to survive.

This is why the strategy of using artillery to attract attention was effective; the real trump card was hidden behind the battlefield, in another direction of the secret realm.

"Continue the bombardment, saturation coverage!" "Haiqu artillery positions, missile launch sites, open fire at will!"

Commands were relayed one after another, and in the next instant, another flash of light appeared in a more distant place.

Those were the artillerymen of the Haiqu headquarters, who had been silent for a long time, and they joined the battle.

Hundreds of heavy artillery pieces simultaneously spewed deadly flames! Countless missiles also soared into the air, raining down on the beast horde as if they were free.

A mournful cry rang out, and the leading two-headed behemoth crashed to the ground. At this moment, it was less than two kilometers away from the first artillery barrage. Its massive body fell to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Several tanks that were close to it were unable to dodge in time and were buried in the dust.

Sacrifices did occur. After this battle, new tombstones will inevitably be erected in Haiqu's cemetery. I wonder who will offer them a bouquet of artificial flowers this time?
But this is the price of facing the behemoth head-on. Compared to the size and threat of the behemoth, the losses have been minimized. The artillery positions have held these monsters firmly in place, and the route from the fog to the positions has been cleared, leaving only massive landmines.

It was less a landmine and more an underground arsenal. The first alien creature was too big to dodge it, but a worm-like creature triggered this incredibly powerful trap.

With a deafening roar, the powerful shockwave caused artillerymen several kilometers away to almost lose their hearing. The earth trembled, and countless windows in neighboring cities were shattered instantly.

Earth and rocks shot into the sky, and the front half of the worm's body arched upwards suddenly, then slowly drooped down, before lying prone on the spot, no longer making a sound.

The battle ahead was fierce and dangerous, but Su Xun's gaze never left the fog.

At one point, his eyes narrowed, and he patted the shoulder of the communications officer beside him, saying, "You can go down now, just leave the equipment here."

The messenger realized what was about to happen and his face paled with anxiety: "But..."

"Don't worry, at this distance, that thing can't hurt me anymore, but you're still at some risk here. Go down first."

Seeing the other person's worried look, Su Xun had no choice but to raise his voice and say, "This is an order."

"Yes!"

The messenger walked away, turning back every few steps, and just as he turned around, something unusual happened on the battlefield.

The entire fog began to boil, and immeasurable spiritual energy was gathering. Even the sky changed color, and a faint blue light appeared high in the sky. The originally stable gale layer had been disturbed, and thus revealed its form.

The next moment, the mist that had been lying between the buildings rose higher and higher, like a bubble being blown up.

No, that's not mist. It's a gigantic, grayish-white beast, the same color as the mist, raising its head!
An indescribably enormous shadow, slowly and with an overwhelming force, emerged from the depths of the mist.

How tall is it?

For a moment, it was even difficult to judge. Those fifth-order aliens that were hundreds of meters tall before seemed like children in front of it. Its mere existence exuded a terrifying pressure that could freeze one's soul.

The entire battlefield seemed to freeze for a moment, and even the artillery fire paused briefly under its shadow that obscured the sky.

Since its appearance, it has not rushed to charge, but seems to be enjoying the turmoil that has been stirred up in the real world. Its huge, abyss-like eyes coldly scan the human defense line, which is as small as an ant, and its struggling kin.

However, in places it hadn't been paying attention to, several gazes, which should theoretically pose no threat to it, were fixed on it.

"Target spotted, locked." This was the voice of the observation post behind the secret realm.

"Launch approved." This was Qin Chang's voice from the base.

"Launch approved." That was Su Xun's voice.

All three parties confirmed that a signal, insignificant compared to the entire battlefield, was emitted from the Taimon control center and transmitted at the speed of light to the rear of the battlefield hundreds of kilometers away.

There, on a well-camouflaged and fortified launch site, a dazzling white flame suddenly appeared. It was the tail flame of a long and sleek missile. With a deafening roar, it tore through the air and shot straight toward the distant behemoth!
No one dared to look at the beam of death shooting into the sky. Even Su Xun immediately turned around and prostrated himself on the ground. Only a few giant beasts turned back with a slightly bewildered look at the seemingly unusual flash of light.

They did not understand that it was the pinnacle of human civilization, a technological marvel left over from the old era, and the heaviest fruit hanging from an entire tree of technology.

It was a weapon created by the most powerful nation in the age of civilization, yet it had not been used in a real battle for decades.

Since its first cry on the Gobi Desert in the 1960s, the sword has been hidden for nearly a century, its frost-covered blade never tested.

Where are the people who created it now? Perhaps they are gone, but the weapon they left behind will now truly show its power, tearing apart this formidable enemy that threatens the lives of tens of thousands of people!

The sixth-tier mutant seemed to sense the deadly threat as well, and it made a sound for the first time—a low-frequency hum that seemed to come from the depths of the earth, carrying a hint of... doubt?
It raised a limb that could barely be called an arm, seemingly trying to intercept.

too late.

The missile launch site was not far away, and given the size of this behemoth, it was practically the same as having a gun pointed at its head and firing.

In just a moment, the sharp blade, trailing a long flame, thrust into the core of the behemoth with the unstoppable force of a master swordsman raising his hand.

At such close range, the warhead, designed specifically for attacking targets, cannot perform to its full potential.

But that doesn't matter anymore.

A tiny, bright white light appeared, and in that instant, there was no sound, or rather, in that very first moment, all sound was silenced.

Only light, pure light to the extreme, domineering and tyrannical light that devours everything! It instantly expanded, enveloping the entire dim entrance to the secret realm, the giant beast over a thousand meters tall, and the fifth-order alien species that had not yet run far, all in an indiscriminate, absolute, blazing white.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely. In this absolute white light, everything was frozen in time. The enormous beast became a huge and ugly silhouette in the face of this world-destroying scene.

Then, the shockwave, powerful enough to pierce through mountains, finally arrived!
boom------! ! !
An indescribable roar finally arrived! It was like billions of thunderbolts exploding in your ears at once!

The earth undulated and tore apart like ocean waves!
If those aliens who dared to face the nuclear explosion could still see with their burned visual organs, they would be horrified to discover that the visible ring-shaped wave of destruction spread violently outward from the blast point, ionizing the air and tearing apart the clouds wherever it passed!
That sixth-tier mutant, with its enormous and despair-inducing body, was as fragile as a sandcastle in the face of this world-destroying power.

The thick shell, strong enough to withstand heavy artillery fire, was instantly vaporized by unimaginable heat in a fraction of a second! Then came flesh, organs, bones… it couldn't even utter a complete cry of pain as its entire upper body vanished in the extreme light and heat! The remaining lower half of its body was slammed into the ground by the ensuing shockwave!

The illusion seemed to have been erased, and the immeasurable, rampant spiritual power, the continuously burning giant fireball, and the billowing smoke eventually intertwined to form a mushroom cloud that stretched from the sky to the earth, symbolizing absolute destruction.

It churned and expanded, eventually touching the layer of swirling blue-green winds, like a massive pillar connecting heaven and earth.

After the powerful impact subsided, Su Xun slowly stood up and looked back at the deathly land where flames were still rising. At this distance, his enhanced perception, granted by his supernatural ability, allowed him to still feel a bit of the scorching radiation energy.

Thanks to the communication equipment designed with almost ancient technology, produced by the pre-apocalyptic research institute, the communicators around us can still be used normally in this environment.

"Target cleared. All combat units, take stock of casualties and calculate equipment losses. Chemical defense troops enter the field to monitor radiation levels. We... have won."

(End of this chapter)