"Detected 1172 abnormal vibrations."
"There is a 16% to 17% probability that a self-destructing Amethyst Crystal Entity is approaching Tower No. 7."
"Probability has reached the critical point. Commencing bunker buster missile deployment."
In the underground control center of the farmhouse.
On the terrain projection surrounding Tower No. 7.
Over a thousand red dots marked as anomalies appeared.
The dense cluster was almost dizzying to look at.
These were nodes judged as anomalies by high-precision detectors.
Most of them were invalid intelligence.
Only a small portion held any reference value.
The artificial intelligence's probability analysis was based on this mix of true and false information.
Several bunker buster missiles detached from a sixth-generation fighter jet circling the sky.
They plummeted toward the vicinity of Tower No. 7.
After penetrating 20 to 40 meters underground, they detonated one after another.
The violent explosions.
Shattered the permafrost, which had become extremely hard in the severe cold, into countless cracks.
Even the nearby Tower No. 7 shook violently from the impact.
But the result was just that.
Three seconds after the explosions.
The artificial intelligence concluded that no trace of the self-destructing Amethyst Crystal Entity had been found this time.
Meanwhile.
Nearby at Tower No. 4.
Several dull rumbles came from beneath its foundation.
The entire tower sank by several dozen centimeters.
Clearly, the target chosen by the self-destructing Amethyst Crystal Entity this time.
Was Tower No. 4, which had only a 7% probability of being attacked according to the AI's analysis.
From this point on.
The center of the battlefield.
Began to revolve around the few remaining towers of the second line of defense.
Three hours into the war.
As the heavy artillery cluster at the foot of the Qinling Mountains.
Exhausted its initial ammunition reserves.
And received its third resupply from the farmhouse convoy.
The last standing tower of the second line of defense.
Finally collapsed under the relentless blasts of the self-destructing Amethyst Crystal Entities.
Su Wu, however, managed to seize the opportunity during the final moments.
To retrieve a somewhat incomplete remnant of a self-destructing Amethyst Crystal Entity.
"Although the losses are quite severe."
"At least the outcome is acceptable."
For now, he did not organize a counterattack with the Spider Robots.
Even the Combat Drone Swarm, which had been battling the flying Amethyst Crystal Entities in the air.
Began an orderly retreat toward the third line of defense.
Su Wu calmly watched as the main force of Amethyst Crystal Entities continuously climbed up from the Magma Canyon.
He did nothing.
Until they charged into the firing range of the electromagnetic cannons of the third line of defense.
Where they were torn apart by a terrifying storm of metal.
The Thunder-class Electromagnetic Cannon.
A scaled-down version of the super-large electromagnetic railgun, the main gun of the Icebound-class Land Battleship.
On the frontlines.
No armored unit could currently withstand its power.
Sheer numbers had almost lost all meaning before it.
Apart from consuming some of its ammunition.
They could no longer have any impact.
"At a sufficient distance."
"The self-destructing Amethyst Crystal Entities clearly cannot maintain invisibility throughout."
"And without this trump card."
"The third line of defense, equipped with electromagnetic cannons, becomes an insurmountable wall for them."
"Moreover, because the battle lines are stretched wide."
"The efficiency of harvesting has actually increased somewhat."
"After this battle, the collected remnants of Amethyst Crystal Entities are expected to exceed the total from all previous encounters."
"More weapons and tools centered around Amethyst Crystals can now be officially deployed on a small scale."
Looking down at the real-time battlefield projected via hologram on the metal platform.
Although the current battle was still at its most intense.
Su Wu could already see the ultimate outcome.
However, the inevitable victory did not bring him much joy.
This time, they won, but the next time, or the time after that, might be different.
The evolution speed of the Amethyst Crystal Entities was alarmingly fast.
It felt as if, in less than a month.
The enemy had transformed from primitive beings, skipping the Stone Age and feudal era, directly into modernity.
Although the actual combat power gap between the two sides remained significant due to the presence of top-tier strategic weapons.
The difference had already shifted from qualitative to quantitative.
It was highly likely that any minor breakthrough or mutation by the Amethyst Crystal Entities.
Such as the Magma Roarers increasing the range of their magma projectiles by a few kilometers, allowing them to launch concentrated long-range strikes on the Thunder-class Electromagnetic Cannons from behind cover.
Would immediately increase the threat to Su Wu severalfold.
Of course, there was some good news.
After this large-scale battle.
The spoils of war Su Wu obtained, the remnants of Amethyst Crystal Entities.
Were enough to allow his armed mechanical legion to partially equip itself with more powerful specialized weapons and ammunition.
In the next battle, they wouldn't have to rely solely on the Thunder-class Electromagnetic Cannons.
But could instead employ a wider range of tactical options.
Overall.
The Amethyst Crystal Entities were rapidly evolving.
Su Wu, supported by Spirituality and the remnants of Amethyst Crystal Entities, was also continuously and rapidly iterating his technology.
It was foreseeable that, barring any accidents, this competitive marathon would continue for quite some time.
Turning off the battlefield projection.
Su Wu connected to the mechanical laboratory.
While the deployment of special weapons was mentioned.
It was not the most urgent task at hand.
Su Wu needed to first upgrade the Spider Robots and Combat Drones.
Otherwise.
These numerous basic combat units.
Would become mere cannon fodder in the upcoming battles with the Amethyst Crystal Entities.
A waste of the resources used to manufacture them.
A prototype projection of a Spider Robot appeared on the metal platform.
Su Wu pondered for a few seconds.
First, he modified its weapon modules.
According to the current configuration.
The standard Spider Robots had only three series models.
The long-range assault type equipped with rocket launchers, the main battle type equipped with electromagnetic rifles, and the support type outfitted with various electromagnetic interference grenades, smoke grenades, and other functional combat equipment.
For the long-range assault type.
Su Wu divided the rockets they carried into two entirely new categories.
One was a short-range, armor-piercing, individual rocket.
The other was a blast-type rocket with a range of over 5 kilometers, containing a warhead with special metal fragments.
Due to its smaller size.
A single Spider Robot could carry up to 30 of the former, allowing it to serve as the primary weapon during combat.
The latter had immense destructive power, capable of creating a 30-meter kill zone upon detonation.
Based on the speed at which the internal metal fragments were ejected upon explosion.
It was enough to inflict fatal damage on all flying Amethyst Crystal Entities within the kill zone.
On the ground.
It could also deal effective damage to the Magma Roarers.
Though it might be ineffective against the Rock Scorpions.
However, the Rock Scorpions had strong defenses but relatively weak attacks.
They could temporarily remain on the battlefield, to be dealt with by the individual armor-piercing rockets later.
As for the main battle and support types.
The latter required no changes for now.
The electromagnetic rifles of the former.
Were partially retained in their original form, using pure metal bullets to enhance their armor-piercing capabilities.
This way, by not filling the bullets with metallic hydrogen explosives, the cost of ammunition could be reduced.
Yet, with enhanced armor-piercing performance, they could still inflict some damage on flying Amethyst Crystal Entities and the relatively weak Magma Roarers.
At the same time, they could also serve in missions against other shelters.
They were versatile, cost-effective main battle weapons.
Another portion of the electromagnetic rifles was converted into multi-barrel light electromagnetic machine guns.
Limited by the standard Spider Robots' mass of only 500 kilograms.
They could not carry heavy weapons.
The light machine gun was already the largest weapon they could mount.
When equipped with light electromagnetic machine guns.
The standard Spider Robots' rate of fire would reach 10,000 rounds per minute.
Although their damage output was generally low.
They could quickly weave a dense anti-air network in a very short time.
Overwhelming the flying Amethyst Crystal Entities with sheer numbers.
Concentrated fire on the Magma Roarers.
Could also achieve a slow but steady erosion effect.
It was estimated that 10 to 15 seconds of continuous fire would take down a Magma Roarer.
However, this meant.
A standard Spider Robot could only sustain full firepower for about a minute and a half.
Before running out of ammunition and having to retreat for resupply.
The final portion.
Su Wu decided to completely abandon electromagnetic firearms for them.
Instead, they would use laser weapons and Annihilation-class sniper rounds made from Amethyst Crystal remnants.
Compared to electromagnetic weapons.
Laser weapons had stronger continuous penetration capabilities.
Given enough time to accumulate energy.
Not only could they pierce the defenses of the Rock Scorpions, currently the toughest among the Amethyst Crystal Entities.
But they could also penetrate any future heavy-armored units.
The downside was their high energy consumption and heavy reliance on Amethyst Crystal remnants for manufacturing.
Unless wireless charging devices were deployed on the frontlines to ensure a constant power supply.
A standard Spider Robot equipped with laser weapons.
Could only emit a total of 60 seconds of laser fire.
Even less durable than those equipped with light electromagnetic machine guns.
Additionally, their scale was directly tied to the number of Amethyst Crystal remnants.
Only with a certain number of remnants could a corresponding number of laser weapons be produced.
From this perspective.
Even if Su Wu wanted to, he couldn't make them the main force.
At best, they could serve as supplementary and special forces for critical moments.
Compared to laser weapons.
Annihilation-class sniper rounds were even rarer.
They were one-time consumables made from refined essence materials extracted from Amethyst Crystal remnants.
Each Annihilation-class sniper round fired.
On average, cost 2 to 3 Amethyst Crystal remnants.
However, such a high price tag.
Also brought unique advantages.
They could be launched over two kilometers with a simple and compact device.
At the same time, the Annihilation-class sniper rounds themselves possessed absolute destructive power.
Any part of an Amethyst Crystal Entity hit by one.
Would be effortlessly shattered, creating a half-meter-wide gap.
In other words, a single Annihilation-class sniper round.
Could instantly kill any evolved Amethyst Crystal Entity currently known.
Given the precious nature of these Annihilation-class sniper rounds.
Su Wu did not plan to assign them as a standalone main battle weapon for concentrated use.
Instead, he intended to equip each of the standard Spider Robots armed with laser weapons, which had the highest combat and survival capabilities on the battlefield.
With one round each.
So that during critical moments in assault missions, they could unleash a devastating strike.
After all, given the cost of Annihilation-class sniper rounds.
Each use was a loss-making venture.
If they couldn't play a decisive role, there was no need to deploy them.
Distributing them also reduced the risk of a total loss.
Preventing a single catastrophic wipeout.
"Besides weapons."
"The body materials, joint structures, batteries, and power systems of standard Spider Robots."
"Anything that can be enhanced should be optimized."
"Strive to maximize performance."
"They need stronger defenses, more agile movements, and greater power reserves and carrying capacities."
The prototype of the standard Spider Robot.
Was born in an earlier era.
Compared to the farmhouse, which had acquired a wealth of new technologies from other supercities and achieved numerous technological breakthroughs through long-term Spirituality enhancement, it was somewhat outdated.
Considering the significant threat posed by the current Amethyst Crystal Entities.
It was necessary to conduct a systematic integration and optimization to improve overall performance.
With the overall approach determined.
Su Wu immediately plunged into research.
Soon, he discovered.
Some of these new technologies could be directly applied to optimize and upgrade the existing standard Spider Robots.
While others involved fundamental structural issues.
They could only be implemented in newly produced Spider Robots.
Moreover, the performance gap between them was not insignificant.
Su Wu simply added a "Gen 2" prefix to the Spider Robots that needed to be newly produced.
To distinguish them from the older models.
According to Su Wu's plan.
The newly produced Gen 2 Spider Robots would first be used as Laser Spider Robots.
Then gradually extended to other models.
As for the existing older Spider Robots.
Su Wu would still try to upgrade them as much as possible.
While prioritizing their deployment as frontline troops.
"Scrapping the older Spider Robots directly would be a shame."
"After all, after upgrading their weapon modules, their combat capabilities aren't bad."
"They can serve as cannon fodder, gradually depleting their numbers in battles with the Amethyst Crystal Entities."
"Making the most of their remaining value."
After completing the upgrades for the standard Spider Robots.
Su Wu turned his attention to the Heavy Main Battle Spider Robots.
For these already formidable war machines, comparable to main battle tanks.
His upgrade approach.
Remained largely the same as before.
Piling on various new technologies, replacing old frameworks with more advanced Gen 2 ones.
And further enhancing the specifications and penetration capabilities of the electromagnetic sniper rifles as their main weapons.
However.
Given the Heavy Main Battle Spider Robots' greater carrying capacity.
Su Wu also equipped them with laser weapons and Annihilation-class sniper rounds as secondary weapons and trump cards.
(End of Chapter)