Steel torrents pioneering a different world.

Chapter 372 Schrödinger's Cat! The pioneering team once again feels the fear of insufficient firepower! (Bonus Chapter)

In another world, at the Time-Space Gate Base, in the Central Conference Room for Operations and Overall Planning.

On the large electronic screen, the blue dots representing our side began to shrink, while a large number of scarlet dots appeared in the forest.

That was the point of engagement after humans discovered and attacked the enemy!

The battle between humans and the invading dark creatures has been ongoing, but humans hold absolute initiative and the battlefield is firmly under their control.

"—With the contraction of the defense network and the modification of tactics, our side has increased its enemy killing efficiency by 300 percentage points compared to before by controlling the main channels and supplementing it with high-altitude reconnaissance and the coordination of reconnaissance and strike drones." The operations staff officer's voice was clear and steady, revealing little emotion.

Sitting in the main seat, Su Mingjin's gaze never left the electronic screen as she asked directly, "What are our casualties?"

"The advantages of non-contact warfare are obvious, reducing the casualty rate by 95%. In the past few days, the number of casualties has been effectively controlled."

"very good."

A barely perceptible sigh of relief filled the conference room.

For these decision-makers, every reduction in casualty figures relieves the pressure on everyone.

Because behind these cold, hard numbers is a living, breathing person, a family.

However, this relaxed state of mind did not last long before it was shattered by the logistics minister's sour face.

"General Su, our weapons and ammunition reserves are becoming increasingly insecure! Our high-tech ammunition consumption is growing exponentially!" He moved the equipment and pointed to a shocking graph on another screen.

"General Su, esteemed commanders—we're expending over 1,500 sorties a day just on missiles and various types of drones! And those damned things are like weeds in a field, they just keep growing back after you cut them down, it's endless!"

Has the equipment department updated its reconnaissance capabilities?

"Report: Updates unavailable for the time being. The enemy's counter-reconnaissance capabilities, as well as their ability to conceal themselves against infrared and various energy sources, are outstanding. Individual reconnaissance equipment is not as efficient as large-scale reconnaissance equipment!"

"We need to continue enhancing our technological capabilities! Put even more pressure on the logistics and equipment team!"

"yes!"

Su Mingjin rubbed her throbbing temples and continued, "Has the enemy's attack frequency changed?"

"The frequency has indeed decreased slightly—" the enemy intelligence chief continued, his expression grave, "but the scale of the attack has increased dramatically. We have reason to believe that the enemy's initial reconnaissance phase is nearing its end, and a true large-scale invasion could begin at any moment."

After these words were spoken, the meeting room fell silent.

A sharp glint flashed in Su Mingjin's eyes: "It's good that the main force is coming. I'm just worried they'll continue with their piecemeal tactics. Can our supplies hold up?"

Commander Man blinked and looked at the logistics personnel.

The other party noticed the brigade commander's gaze but replied expressionlessly, "Report: Current stockpiles are sufficient. They can sustain low-intensity operations for nine months. However, considering we are dealing with a global power, to be on the safe side, our weapons and ammunition reserves should ideally be doubled."

Su Mingjin pursed her lips: "Commander Man, is the consumption of ammunition and weapons really that high?"

"Report, indeed. Reducing casualties requires the use of high-tech weaponry; this is the price of high-tech warfare!"

Su Mingjin rubbed her temples again, nodded, and asked, "Have our various defensive weapons and trump card weapons arrived yet?"

"Although our weapons of truth have been replenished, they are still insufficient! Our mysterious friend lent us dozens of individual and strategic weapons, leaving us with only 150 in stock. We cannot afford to fight to the death right now, and we are very anxious!"

Su Mingjin pursed her lips: "Don't worry, the logistical support from the rear is constantly being strengthened!"

"We will continue to increase the stockpiling of various supplies here, continue filling multiple warehouses, and categorize them to ensure the armory is dispersed and not destroyed by the enemy! Also, the spacetime rift in the southern forest of the Mysterious Friends Club is almost complete; shouldn't our reinforcements arrive by now?"

"Yes, President Su, President Li has secretly dispatched another 5,000 elite troops to assist in the defense of the spacetime rift in the southern forest."

"Also, General Li just sent a notification saying that the organization will mobilize another 200,000 industrial personnel with various military training within three months to stabilize our land reclamation operations—we must also ensure the safety of our base!"

After these words were spoken, many people breathed a sigh of relief.

The organization's stance is firm, and support from the rear is absolutely essential!

That way, they can keep spending money to beat those guys up!

The modern world is filled with rows of rooms.

Lin Li was leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, seemingly dozing, but in reality, he was more alert than ever before.

Deep within his consciousness, that long-silent void suddenly lit up without warning.

That interface, visible only to him, was also frantically refreshing information, with lines of golden characters popping up one after another, almost blinding his mental body.

[A new world has been discovered; world exploration progress: 30.1%]

[Gained 2000 points of Spacetime Essence]

Lin Li's breath hitched suddenly.

30.1%?

It's confirmed to be a surge in price, you read that right!

Prior to this, his exploration had almost come to a standstill, like a middle-aged or elderly person with a gun that can no longer be lifted.

Even though he repeatedly deployed various beacons and anchors and tried all sorts of covert methods to explore more areas of the other world, the exploration progress was only changed by a meager 0.0001%.

The progress bar was so slow that he questioned his existence.

Lin Li often overlooked this, thinking that his cheat system had malfunctioned.

He also wondered if there was something wrong with his approach to exploration.

But I still can't figure out the pattern!

But now—with just one nuclear bomb, a batch of bizarre biological weapons have been cleared out, and the exploration progress has increased by several percentage points?

It felt like the membrane of difficulty in scientific research had suddenly been torn apart.

It's like when anglers, who have been immersed in fishing for three to five years and have wasted hundreds of tons of bait, only to catch a few dozen kilograms, suddenly catch a fish weighing several hundred kilograms!

This is the greatest achievement of my life.

Besides this, there are others!

He continued reading.

Laplace the Cat Demon has undergone a certain level of enhancement, allowing you to obtain the answer you desire at a lower cost!

Laplace the Cat Demon has become even more powerful!

In the corner of the screen, the cat that had been keeping its eyes closed and could only be seen by Lin Li suddenly opened one eye and winked at him playfully.

Before Lin Li could recover from the cat demon's seductive gaze, a new notification popped up.

You've got a new pet assistant!

[You can spend 2.5 points of Time-Space Essence to unlock a new pet: Schrödinger's Cat]

[Note: A cat that's both dead and alive might help you solve some problems, but it could also cause some trouble.]

Lin Li's eye twitched.

Laplace's demon is free, but he needs to provide spacetime resources for each consultation.

Schrödinger's cat has such strict activation conditions.

Perhaps this is a one-time payment, and I won't have to pay again in the future?

And the pet that his cheat system found is really—a serious pet lover!

As for the exchange price of 2.5 points of spacetime essence!

Lin Li only obtained less than 5,000 points of spacetime source matter in that year.

It's ridiculously expensive.

But this note really piqued his interest.

Can it help solve problems? Or could it create trouble?

Want to open blind boxes?

But now is not the time to think about that; the last message was what really cheered him up.

[You have interfered with the spacetime rift, averting the risk of destruction to this universe. You have gained 500 Spacetime Source Matter!]

Does it mitigate the risk of the universe being destroyed?

Lin Li instantly remembered the previous hint.

"Which entities behind these spacetime rifts are extremely dangerous?"

So, does that mean that the truth weapon you deployed not only cleaned up the pollutants, but also indirectly saved the world?

Even though it was just a minor obstruction, it was still a great act of kindness, wasn't it?

His original plan was simply to find a place after the bombing to study the equipment he had taken from those Western fantasy races, to see if he could analyze any advanced technology, or to give the less dangerous items to the pioneering teams in the rear.

It seems the plan needs to be revised.

Lin Li opened his eyes. The room was quiet, with only the faint sound of traffic outside the window.

"If we destroy the world behind the spacetime rift, we can also obtain spacetime source matter —"

He muttered to himself, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

The old, cautious approach was too inefficient.

As it turns out, there's no room for bluffing when dealing with these invasions from other worlds.

To increase exploration progress quickly, you need to make a big splash.

To gain global recognition, we must eliminate those risks.

"So, is this actually part of the increased exploration?"

Lin Li stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the myriad lights of Shanghai.

A smile played on his lips, and his eyes gleamed with a dangerous yet excited light.

"It seems we need to make significant adjustments, and also—the utilization of spacetime source matter needs to be properly organized!"

This amount of spacetime essence is far more than the capital he used to enhance himself personally.

With a deeper understanding of spacetime origins, it can also become the strongest support for the pioneering team fighting bloody battles on the front lines of another world.

The planet Sacred Star is a world of opportunity, but also fraught with danger.

The initial idea of ​​crushing the other world with a steel torrent has gradually faded as we explore this world.

Cultivate the land, develop it, and then expand the territory.

As for the rest, we'll think about it later!

It is no exaggeration to describe this world as riddled with holes.

The laws of different worlds collide, living beings coexist, high technology and low-level life coexist, there are individuals as powerful as gods as well as incomparably powerful civilizations, all of which enter this world through spacetime rifts.

The friction between the people was very intense.

This is the cosmic umbilical cord, like a sieve that has been repeatedly pierced. Countless spacetime rifts are like festering wounds, pouring in uninvited guests from all dimensions.

Perhaps some are simply trying to survive and seeking new habitats; they are still communicable.

But many more are pure predators, treating the Holy Star as lambs to the slaughter, trampling it at will, and regarding life as worthless.

The emergence of chaotic Western fantasy races during this period, their bloody dark priestly rituals, and their unbridled slaughter have put immense pressure on the pioneering team.

Even worse.

This world has many sealed forbidden areas, where mutated creatures that distort the laws of physics reside. If they were to break free, they would undoubtedly cause catastrophic destruction to this world.

These indescribable horrors from another universe are the real headaches plaguing the native civilization of the Sacred Star.

The pioneering teams under Industrial Cthulhu believed in order and reason, and even when faced with the unknown, they tried to build bridges of communication.

Unfortunately, the dark creatures are completely incommunicable.

When communication fails and rationality fails, their methods descend into the belligerent instinct ingrained in their genes.

With his God-like perspective, Lin Li witnessed firsthand the changes in the decision-making levels of many pioneering teams.

Despite suffering over 300 casualties on the front lines, the pioneering team's leadership did not back down, even under immense pressure.

Instead, they mobilized resources even faster, supply lines became busier, new equipment was transported to the front lines like an assembly line, and even some new mobilization orders were quietly issued.

This is not blind revenge, but rather an instinctive defense of one's own land, one's own living space, and the right to order, deep within the genes of an industrial Cthulhu civilization.

Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; when civilization is calm and peaceful, one should simmer it slowly over a low flame until it is naturally successful.

But once the ingredients in the pot start to jump around, or even if some enemies try to overturn the stove and prevent Industrial Cthulhu from eating, then it's no longer cooking, but about completely crushing the enemy.

Those dark creatures, whose minds have been warped by fel energy, cannot understand human speech.

In that case, let them listen to the call of the soil, let their remains nourish the land they tried to destroy.

Well, this can be considered making use of waste.

Behind the scenes, Lin Li, who narcissistically sees himself as the biggest asset of the pioneering team, also needs to work hard to become stronger.

When the spacetime rift in the Warhammer world was sealed last time, the meager amount of spacetime essence was almost depleted, and it took a long time to accumulate just over two hundred points.

Now, with the arrival of thousands of source essences, his resources can increase exponentially.

In particular, the sentence "[Interfered with the spacetime rift, hindered the risk of the destruction of this universe, and obtained 500 spacetime source matter]" was like a beacon, illuminating his path forward.

Peace and mercy are luxuries built upon absolute power.

Now, what he needs to do is to use his absolute strength to solidify his foundation!

"Spending 200 units of spacetime essence to further enhance myself!"

As this thought arose, Lin Li could feel the spacetime source material beginning to emerge in his consciousness space. A small portion of it then flowed to his limbs and bones, while a large amount of spacetime source material merged into his head and lower abdomen.

These spacetime source substances will steadily enhance Linliu's physical body and its abilities.

Lin Li is very powerful now, but his control over energy particles and various microscopic physics is not yet strong.

After finishing these tasks, Lin Li spent another 200 units of spacetime essence to enhance his projected clone.

Another world, the Devil's Sea, Sausage Island!

Lin Li's figure appeared here once again, the salty sea breeze brushed against his face, and a familiar feeling washed over him!

He didn't rush to do anything; he simply closed his eyes.

He felt that he could perceive the world more clearly!

In his current perception, air is no longer a simple gas, but a noisy ocean composed of countless active energy particles that vibrate and collide according to specific rules, forming the most fundamental operating logic of this world.

He used to be able to vaguely perceive it.

But it felt like looking at something through frosted glass, slightly blurry.

Now, the frosted glass is much clearer.

He began to perceive the movement of every particle and the exchange of energy.

"Is this... a deeper level of control?"

"After some time, once the spacetime source matter has enhanced me in every way, the effects will be even more intense!"

Lin Li murmured to himself, with the pure joy of a child receiving a new toy.

He extended his right hand, a thought flickering in his mind.

Without incantations or rituals, he simply issued a command in his mind, following the laws of physics, to accelerate and violently rub the surrounding energy particles.

The air in front of him began to distort and emit a faint hum. A small cluster of orange-red light appeared out of thin air and then rapidly expanded.

A ball of blazing flame hovered quietly in his palm, the scorching heat causing ripples in the surrounding air.

The flames, reaching hundreds of degrees Celsius, were as docile as a kitten.

Lin Li's playful nature was aroused. With a pinch of his five fingers, he transformed the ball of flame into a lifelike firebird, poised to take flight.

"go."

With a flick of his wrist, the firebird let out a clear cry and plunged headfirst into a boulder taller than a person in front of it.

Then, the spot where the firebird struck the rock instantly shattered!

"It's quite destructive, but it takes a lot of mental effort."

Lin Li made a comment and then turned his gaze to the surging seawater at his feet.

Flames are a release of energy, but what about the reconstruction of matter?

He made a grasping motion towards the sea.

An invisible force drew water from the sea, suspending it in front of him.

"solidification."

The movement of water molecules is instantly slowed down, and the water flow makes a crackling sound as it quickly freezes into ice.

But this is only the beginning.

"Compression and recombination of the crystal lattice structure."

Lin Li's consciousness sank into the microscopic world of the ice, like a highly precise engineer, adjusting the arrangement of the ice crystals, expelling all the impurities and bubbles inside, and applying high-frequency resonance to make its structural density increase geometrically.

The originally ordinary ice block gradually became transparent under his control, even showing a deep, dark blue color, with a texture comparable to the finest sapphire.

Finally, a simple ice sword with fine inward spiral patterns on its blade was completed.

Lin Li gripped the sword hilt; it was cold and hard to the touch, with the feel of ice and the weight of an alloy.

He weighed it in his hand, then casually swung it at the rock next to him.

"laugh."

With a crisp sound, the hard rock in front was instantly sliced ​​open by the ice sword.

Although the cut wasn't perfectly smooth, it showed the power of the ice sword in his hand.

The ice sword had not a single nick or nick on its blade.

"That's impressive."

Lin Li couldn't help but chuckle, and casually tossed aside the ice sword he had just painstakingly crafted!

Without its own controlled energy support, it will quickly degrade like natural matter, although it may take a very long time.

It wasn't that the ice sword he made was extremely powerful, but rather that Lin Li was too strong. Even if he were given an ordinary steel sword, with the help of the ubiquitous energy particles in this world, he could slice through mountains as easily as cutting tofu!

The feedback from the spacetime source matter is truly captivating. This feeling of gradually being able to manipulate the laws of physics at will is far more exhilarating than simply possessing superior strength.

However, he quickly calmed down.

"But a lot of the stuff they make is too flashy. If it really comes down to a fight, it's much more satisfying to just use your fists!"

Just now, it took him several minutes to condense this ice sword.

In a battle between experts, life and death hang by a thread. Who would give you time to leisurely craft equipment on the battlefield?

unless----

He can solidify this process.

Like magicians in Western fantasy worlds, they need lengthy incantations and complex magic circles to guide the elements of heaven and earth to complete a forbidden spell.

But what if you prepare a semi-finished version of this forbidden spell beforehand, and only need a thought to activate it when you want to use it?

That's where the equipment's advantage lies.

Lin Li's gaze fell on the dark blue ice sword he had thrown into the ocean, which was gradually disappearing. Suddenly, a thought exploded in his mind.

wrong----

That's the wrong approach!

His idea has always been to strengthen himself or use spacetime essence to exchange for finished equipment for the pioneering team.

But now, he can perform these powerful physical miracles by hand.

Does that mean—

"I'm that production line, aren't I?"

A bolder, even crazier idea came to mind.

Since we can manually create one, could we use spacetime source matter to create a template for this process and then mass-produce it?

Lin Li's heart suddenly raced.

If this idea can be realized, the pioneering team will not only receive a few pieces of equipment, but also a complete portable factory that can manufacture super weapons anytime, anywhere!

This is what an Industrial Cthulhu civilization should look like, isn't it?!

His inherent passion for standardization, assembly lines, and large-scale production—a passion rooted in industrial civilization—was reignited.