They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 267 Gazot

In the K4 area, night had long since fallen.

It wasn't because dawn arrived early, but because hundreds of high-intensity searchlights illuminated this normally deserted wilderness as if it were daytime.

One after another, Type 90 main battle tanks adjusted their gun barrels, locking their guns firmly onto the horizon.

Further away, rows of self-propelled anti-aircraft missile launchers stood tall.

TPC ground forces have laid a tight net in this area.

At the heart of all the defenses, the massive 300-meter-tall radio tower, like a solitary lighthouse, was constantly emitting powerful electromagnetic signals into the sky.

This is a decoy, a decoy for the Lightning Man.

They deliberately suspended network communications in this area and set up a high-intensity transmission device there.

The purpose is to lure the monsters in...

"All units, please report the situation!"

Zongfang took a deep breath and then picked up the walkie-talkie.

"First Tank Regiment, ready!"

"Rattlesnake air defense positions, target lock system activated!"

"All ground personnel are in position and ready to fire at any time!"

Reports rang out one after another. Their strategy this time was simple: since the monster fed on electromagnetic waves, they would lure it here and tear it to shreds with the firepower that humanity was most proud of.

Of course, it's not these conventional weapons that decide the outcome...

Zongfang's gaze passed over the layers of defenses and finally landed on the enormous structure standing silently beneath the radio tower.

【Evol Project Unit 1】.

Its body is thicker and heavier than when it last went into battle, thanks to the added equipment designed to deal with Lightning Man.

Because its main body is constructed from Ebron cells that can absorb and convert electricity, it is theoretically almost the natural enemy of the monster "Gazort" formed by the aggregation of the Lightning Man.

Inside the cockpit, Horii took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

Shinjo and Daigo are still receiving treatment in the hospital after the plane crash, so the heavy responsibility of piloting Unit-01 fell on his shoulders.

This was his first time piloting a real mech, not in a simulator.

"Horii, are you ready?"

Zongfang's voice came through the communication channel.

"Reporting to the deputy captain, self-inspection complete, everything is normal!"

"Unit-01 is ready for deployment at any time!"

Horii took a deep breath, his expression hardening.

On one hand, his performance in simulated battles was second only to Xincheng in the team, making him the undisputed best candidate.

But more importantly, he himself wanted to make contact with the Lightning Man...

He wants an answer.

He wanted to try to see if there was any possibility of talking to the Lightning Man before pressing the attack button.

……

Inside the makeshift defense command center on a small hill a few kilometers from the battlefield.

Dr. Mizuno held a cup of hot coffee, gazing at the enormous mecha standing like a god in the distance, his expression complex.

"I never expected that in the end, my students would teach me a lesson..."

He let out a self-deprecating sigh.

At the meeting, when Horii suggested trying to communicate with the monster, he was the first to stand up and object.

"That's too dangerous! That's no longer the Lightning Man; it's a monster that only knows how to devour and destroy!"

This was his view at the time, and also his judgment as a researcher of lightning.

He was afraid, afraid that Horii, this excellent young man, would be sacrificed in vain because of this naive idea.

However, Horii simply looked at him calmly and refuted him with the words he had once said.

"Dr. Mizuno, you once said that daydreaming is wonderful. So, before completely annihilating the enemy, I want to try other possibilities."

Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I want to try and see if there's a peaceful solution.

At that moment, Dr. Mizuno saw a reflection of his younger self in Horii's eyes—a younger version of himself who had devoted his entire life to the elusive theoretical biological research of "Lightning Man."

Yes, when did I become so timid and so calculating?

Thinking of this, Dr. Mizuno turned his head and looked at the man beside him who had remained calm throughout.

"However, Dr. Masaki, do you think Horii can succeed?"

"I'm afraid it will be difficult."

Electromagnetic waves are indispensable to modern human civilization. Like air and water, they have permeated every corner of our lives.

Humanity cannot abandon these things. On the contrary, in order to solve the increasingly severe energy crisis, TPC is pushing for an even grander plan—a sky elevator.

Once completed, it will efficiently convert the inexhaustible solar energy in outer space into electricity, which will then be precisely transmitted to ground-based receiving stations via high-power microwaves.

Masaki Keigo shook his head and explained.

According to his proposed plan, this space elevator will be the foundation for space development and global defense systems.

However, correspondingly, high-power microwaves will inevitably affect the lightning strikes of the ionosphere...

"Hey……"

Dr. Mizuno sighed heavily and placed his coffee cup on the table.

Modern human civilization, especially long-distance communication, relies heavily on the reflection of the ionosphere.

The ionosphere, however, is the home on which the Lightning People depend for survival.

This is a fundamental contradiction...

He had also considered whether, like protecting endangered animals, a "nature reserve" with absolutely no electromagnetic interference could be designated for the Lightning People, allowing them to thrive and multiply there.

But he soon realized that the plan was not realistic.

The reasons are realistic, and also cruel.

Because this is an investment that offers virtually no return.

At the very least, until he can prove that the "Lightning Man" species has a clear and quantifiable "use" for human civilization, it is impossible for any country or organization to invest massive amounts of resources in a group of invisible and intangible "theoretical creatures" that may even turn into monsters.

Moreover, the most troublesome problem is that the life forms of humans and lightning people are too different.

One is a carbon-based life form, and the other is an electromagnetic energy life form.

Horii's so-called communication may have been a false proposition from the very beginning.

The best outcome he could imagine was that humanity would manage to capture some samples before completely eradicating them, then confine them in specially designed Faraday cages and study them like rare animals in a zoo…

That would be their victory, but a tragedy for civilization.

"Giving up before even trying is not the proper attitude of a researcher."

Masaki Keigo said upon seeing this.

Dr. Mizuno suddenly looked up and stared at him in surprise.

"Horii's choice may be naive, but it is not foolish."

Even if our generation cannot find a way to coexist with them, this failed attempt, the data from this battle, and even the mistakes we might make...

Everything will be recorded, becoming the experience and foundation for those who come after.

"Human science has progressed step by step to where it is today."

As Masaki Keigo spoke, he slowly turned around and looked towards the horizon.

There, a dark cloud, deeper than the night itself, swept in from the sky.

Before we even got close, strong electromagnetic interference had already struck.

Fortunately, TPC was able to take targeted measures in advance based on the data from the Flying Swallow-1 satellite.

A moment later, the dark clouds landed, and countless violent lightning bolts gathered and compressed within them. Finally, with a roar that tore the heavens and earth apart, a ferocious figure broke free from the vortex!

It's Gazort, the shapeshifting monster!
　I accidentally posted the wrong thing; I put 268 at the beginning. How do I fix this?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)