Cataclysm: Undead Dragons and Zero Empire

At Howard's request, the first large-scale application of psionic energy was in materials science.

Humans discovered that by mixing a certain proportion of black stone powder into building materials, psychic energy could be conducted within them, greatly enhancing the material's performance and allowing it to be shaped by psychic awakeners.

Therefore, the semi-underground settlements used psionic-enhanced building materials to pour the outer walls. Maintenance did not require damaging the wall structure, as psionic energy could penetrate the material and directly manipulate it to seal internal gaps.

The application of materials science is also reflected in the forging furnace. Sorcerers and magicians infuse the molten metal with spiritual energy, and the cooled metal ingots have a delicate luster, as if they have been repeatedly hammered on a forging press. The shovels made from them are not easy to chip or break when digging frozen soil.

After the era of barter ended, each settlement implemented a strict quota system. People earned quota tickets through labor and then used these tickets to exchange for necessities such as food, clean water, and clothing. As productivity gradually recovered from the crisis, ordinary people began to own some consumer goods, with coffee and tea becoming very popular.

The underground greenhouse continuously produces food. Magicians come regularly to use psionic energy to catalyze crop growth, further shortening the growth cycle of crops that have already been bred using modern biotechnology. These crops are then processed into various foods, with compressed biscuits and nutrient blocks being the most common.

Although the resulting food was less palatable, the specially printed calorie labels on the food were undoubtedly the most tangible promise during the Ice Age.

The application of psychic energy in the medical field may be one of the important reasons why the population curve is gradually stabilizing. The power unearthed from consciousness has, to some extent, replaced the scarce medicines, and is particularly good at treating frostbite and fractures, which are the main culprits that take lives in the cold.

The psychic system has been continuously revised and developed through practice. When it has been studied to a certain depth, the ability to foresee the future has become apparent. The ancient identity of prophets has become a reality. From the initial prediction of blizzards to the application of psychic theory in the military and intelligence fields, humanity has gained more powerful detection methods.

With the ability to predict blizzards, the transportation system can operate more smoothly without worrying about being stranded on the road every time a trip is made. However, rail transport still relies on improved steam locomotives. Engineers have dug out designs from a hundred years ago. Without complex electronic control systems, they run on the railway through mechanical transmission and manual operation. Steam pipes are laid on the tracks to melt the snow at regular intervals.

All this is because, just a few years ago, the Awakened were seen as dangerous figures who often went out of control, making a mess of houses and even causing buildings to collapse. But now, these divine magicians and sorcerers are respected, working on the front lines of construction, and families with children encourage their offspring to learn from these admirable people.

Howard sat in the car wrapped in a winter coat, with a staff given to him by Terrence beside him. The black stone at the top was inscribed with runes personally carved by the leader of the Death Faction. However, he had never had much time to study psionic magic, so Terrence had always suggested that he offer his faith to the Lord and use his talent as a chosen one of the dragons to walk the path of divine magic.

Steam-powered railcars travel through the underground tunnels, gears turning, and dim lights casting long shadows. Every so often, there is a vent, and warm air flows through the tunnels—all extensions of the steam pipes.

Despite having become the de facto leader of human civilization on Earth, Howard still ate in the communal kitchen. Having survived the days of eating canned food on the battlefield, he could never get used to the practices of those corporate giants, who all acted as if they were ancient emperors.

The sounds of food preparation are always heartwarming, and the smoke rising from the stove draws attention, as if one has returned to a warm, happy, and peaceful era. However, the children born after the disaster do not feel this sadness. They are wrapped in thick coats and play in the makeshift playground built underground, which is a rare form of entertainment after hard work.

Whenever Howard sees these children, he feels that there is still hope for human civilization, and the vision for which he once fought and bled gradually comes into view.

As evening fell, Howard received a call from the space workshop. He took the rail transit to the constant temperature factory, where the spaceplane named "Wings of Freedom" stood quietly like a silver eagle, waiting to take off and soar into the sky.

He always encouraged the engineers in the aerospace workshop, saying that steam is how humanity lives now, but humanity must eventually emerge from the shadow of disaster, and the starry sky is a vision for the future, a direction for the future.

The aircraft gleamed with a cold metallic luster. Unlike the steam technology prevalent in the settlement, it was the culmination of humanity's remaining technology. From its alloy fuselage to its engine, it was all derived from archaeological restoration and replication from the pre-disaster era, while psionic technology became the key to breaking through the bottleneck.

The chief engineer leading the project stood beside the fuselage and patted its wings. "We still haven't been able to restore the old production line, but psionics has solved the technical shortcomings, allowing this behemoth to truly arrive before us."

At the invitation of the chief engineer, Howard boarded the spaceplane. The interior was no different from that of a commercial airliner before the disaster. The instrument panel still used the mechanical style that had been popular in recent years, without any fancy screens, only clear pointers and indicator lights.

"We take off vertically by burning propellant in the atmosphere. Once in space, the concentration of psionic energy increases dramatically. Our engines have been modified by those magicians so that they can use psionic energy to assist in propulsion, making it seem as if we are still flying in the atmosphere."

The chief engineer explained, "Psionic energy optimizes fuel efficiency, improving both range and payload. At the suggestion of the Death Faction, we also replaced some parts that required precise control with human operation. Therefore, our aircraft need to be equipped with psionicists, mages, and sorcerers."

Howard personally participated in the test flight. This experiment was originally intended to showcase the huge investment in aviation achievements to the leader and persuade him to further increase investment. In the eyes of the chief engineer, Howard saw the burning color of ideals.

The seat automatically conforms to the back and fixes the body shape. An invisible flow of spiritual energy spreads along the guiding patterns on the surface of the machine, covering the entire body like water, and emitting a faint red glow.

"In the past, when we were working on aerospace, we had to consider costs and the return on investment," the chief engineer's voice came from the side. "With your support, now all the sacrifices we make for the aerospace industry are worthwhile. Just like you said, deep space is the future of mankind, and we cannot be confined to the ground."

The launch pad was brightly lit in the night. The engines of the "Wings of Freedom" gradually started, first emitting a low hum, then turning into a sharp roar. Flames spewed out of the nozzles and condensed into white clouds in the low temperature.

Howard felt the intense vibrations of the aircraft, experiencing for the first time the acceleration and push-back sensation of taking off vertically from the ground. It felt as if he were completely trapped in the seat, unable to move.

The distant steam tower roared, its roar mingling with the howl of the space engines, gradually becoming smaller and smaller. Howard was far from the ground, looking down at the land and people he had fought for.

The significance of this spaceplane is not merely that of a technological product, but rather that it is a vessel of hope built by human civilization in the face of disaster. It sets sail towards the deep starry sky, where the unknown and possible universe lies ahead, and the vast stage for humanity's future is right before our eyes.