Chapter 100 – Promotion

Chapter 100 – Promotion

The way home was not easy.

The train was almost destroyed from the rough operation. In particular, the wheels, which should have received strong force, were now unable to get back on track.

But fortunately, most of the facilities inside the train were intact.

So the method we chose was to bring Minju with an armored transport plane and gradually return home by teleportation.

‘It’s a relief that the journey is a bit easier.’

Considering the hardships I’ve endured, this much was necessary.

Of course, this was also possible because the number of monsters significantly decreased after the Giant Nest disappeared.

If we had tried to come here in an armored transport plane, which is not as sturdy as a train and is cramped, we would have certainly suffered a lot, so this method was only possible now.

However, the distance from Seoul to the Middle of Siberia was by no means short. Therefore, Minju had to stop several times to replenish her mana just to transport us.

Therefore, instead of relying solely on her, I was also doing what I could myself.

For example…

The resources used to build the train, which was now scrap metal, were to be carried back by the Colossi themselves. Similarly, the troops were also to walk back.

It was a bit regrettable that my main force, which had poured all sorts of resources into it, was tied up in the Siberian Plains for a while, but for now, this was the best option.

I was getting a little greedy.

‘Minju needs to grow quickly…’

Of course, Minju had grown tremendously.

In the past, she could barely transport one or two people from Seoul to Incheon. Now, she was instantly moving me, Su-a, and Seong-jae, a distance many times greater than that.

If she continues to grow at this rate, it will surely be possible to teleport a considerable number of troops over short distances before long.

‘Let’s wait for that time.’

I looked forward to that future…

“Has your mana returned a bit?”

“Hmm… I think so. Shall we go?”

“Good.”

Whoosh- Flash!

One step closer to home.

***

After some time passed… I finally returned home and spent some time in front of the Research Facility.

[Analyzing Essence…]

[Analysis complete.]

“Essence of Production, huh…”

It seemed there was no other way it could have become a Giant Nest. Anticipating the “The Man” effect, I licked my lips.

For starters, the content was very similar to last time.

[Restoring Forgotten Knowledge of Magitech Civilization. <3/7>]

Since I had originally gone to the coordinates given by the Assistant AI to restore Forgotten Knowledge, this was to be expected.

[New facilities and machines are unlocked!]

[Essence can now be applied.]

The Essence application was also the same.

However, there was something else to look forward to besides The Man.

[Assistant AI rebooting… .]

[Error: Insufficient knowledge. <3/7>]

[Booting in safe mode.]

[Successor, greetings once again.]

The Man was none other than the Assistant AI.

***

I began to rapidly fire off the questions I had been curious about regarding The Man.

“What kind of people created the Magitech Civilization?”

[They are precisely the same type of humans as the Successor.]

“Where do these people live, anyway?”

[Insufficient Essence to restore that information.]

“Then, why did they create the Magitech Civilization?”

[The Magitech Civilization was created to counter Monsters.]

‘Created to counter Monsters?’

I fell into thought for a moment.

Indeed, the machines of the Magitech Civilization seemed to have been created to deal with something other than combat between humans.

For example, consider the tank.

When humans design tanks, they do their best to counter opposing tanks. For example, they might lower the hull to reduce the hit area, or develop ammunition with higher penetration power.

In other words, it assumes tank-on-tank, symmetrical warfare.

However, the machines of the Magitech Civilization were different.

It was as if they were designed from the start to handle asymmetrical situations, and to face an incredibly diverse range of enemies. Many designs emphasized versatility rather than specific scenarios.

“Indeed… if that’s the case, a lot makes sense.”

This also gave me considerable confidence.

If the Magitech Legion was created to fight Monsters, I could expect to be able to fight Monsters simply by continuing to collect Essence like this.

However, information about Monsters that I inquired about afterward was unavailable. For instance, the identity of the Monsters or how to prevent an Invasion.

[Insufficient Essence to restore this information.]

‘Well, it just means I need to collect more Essence.’

Having finished various information inquiries, I…

decided to get to the main point.

“What kind of machine has been unlocked this time?”

With such an excited heart, I-.

[Ark – Leviathan-Class Vessel]

“Huh, huh?!”

I was utterly surprised.

* * *

The size of a machine varies by its scale.

Worker Bugs and Observation Probes are Small-Class.

Assault Cannons and Interceptors are Medium-Class.

One-Horned Dragons and Terrain Pioneers are Large-Class.

And Colossi and Aerial Motherships were Super-Large Class.

Each machine, depending on its specialized direction, often demonstrated efficiency beyond its class, as was the case with Worker Bugs and Interceptors.

However, generally, class determined the machine’s capabilities. It’s common sense that a larger cannon shoots farther and stronger, and larger, thicker Armor provides higher Defense.

It was a kind of Big Gun Policy.

However, it wasn’t without its drawbacks. The larger it was, the more expensive it became in every aspect, such as mana consumption and resources, just like The Man.

Therefore, efficiency was also important.

For example, while the Interceptor had an overwhelmingly short combat endurance, even a mere Medium-Class, if accumulated in sufficient numbers, was comparable to Super-Large Class Firepower, limited to air-to-air combat.

This was also why an Aerial Mothership was necessary to properly utilize Interceptors… but in other words, it also meant that without an Aerial Mothership, it wasn’t a particularly efficient aircraft.

In other words, it ultimately couldn’t overcome its weight class.

Therefore, it was perhaps natural that I had enormous expectations for the Behemoth-Class, a higher tier of Super-Large Class, which I had never summoned before.

I thought that even a Behemoth-Class would be enough to clear up a planet like Earth.

However, the weight class unlocked this time was Leviathan-Class.

It was an even higher tier, one level above the Behemoth-Class.

But… this time it was a little different. After understanding the true nature of the Leviathan-Class, I felt a little uneasy rather than excited.

‘An ark… ‘

Building a large ship to escape disaster.

It was a common theme in legends and myths worldwide.

The most familiar version is that claimed by Christian religions, but in fact, this story was popular long ago, even recorded in Sumerian myths.

But the reason I was uneasy was why a machine called an ‘ark’ existed in my list.

The Assistant AI said that Magitech Civilization was what humans needed when dealing with Monsters. So, the existence of the ark meant that it was needed, didn’t it?

‘This… I’ll have to start making it slowly.’

Opportunity comes to those who prepare.

And survival was a privilege granted to those who had opportunity.

‘By any means necessary… I will survive.’

I clenched my fist.

* * *

I quietly examined the production conditions for the ark. This was because the production conditions became more complex as the size increased.

For instance, even for the Behemoth-Class, dozens of Super-Large Class parts, which could only be made in Super-Large Class facilities, had to be assembled to create Behemoth-Class parts.

Since the parts for “The Man” had to be made multiple times, the production process for “The Man” required significant resources and, furthermore, an execution plan from the start.

This was because, as this was reality and not a game, these intermediate parts all occupied actual space and had weight.

The resources going into each Production Facility. Furthermore, to put the products back into a larger Production Facility, a complex Water-type system as intricate as “The Man” was needed.

“This won’t be easy as it is right now.”

However…

The Man’s point was, ‘as it is right now’.

“The new machine that just opened will be very helpful.”

I grinned.

The goal was to prepare an ark of Leviathan-Class, but among the machines newly unlocked with Production Essence, there was one I really liked.

Its name was, [Facility Construction Machine].

It was a Behemoth-Class, one step below Leviathan, but it was a Water-type that could construct facilities on my behalf.

“It’s finally here.”

Thanks to this machine, I could now freely expand mana facilities and Production Facilities without having to build them myself in each area.

Just as the number of machines exploded thanks to the Production Facility.

The facilities themselves could also be expanded exponentially.

If that were the case, the facilities would in turn exponentially increase the machines, and with the secured resources, further expand the facilities… a kind of virtuous cycle would begin.

“First… shall I try building a Behemoth-Class Production Facility?”

I grinned.

* * *

Meanwhile, around the time Production Facilities were rapidly increasing in Incheon.

China, Shanghai.

Wang Wei, the leader of the Divine Merit Party, was giving a propaganda speech to his entire faction in the middle of a large stadium.

The stadium, which would normally require tens of thousands of people to fill, was packed, so it was by no means a small number of people.

But even that wasn’t enough; in major cities within his territory, his face was displayed largely on giant screens and broadcast.

However… his face was different from usual. He was wearing a black eye patch, as if he had lost an eye.

Nevertheless, the Man’s expression seemed resolute.

“We are at a crossroads right now.”

When the Man briefly raised his hand and opened his mouth, the cheers instantly vanished, replaced by a quiet silence.

Everyone was listening intently to the Man’s words.

“There are many factions in the world that have not inherited a nation.”

The Man, emphasizing his tradition of having inherited a nation, began by saying-.

“For example, Japan is like that, and Korea is like that.”

He disparaged his opponents.

“They have no principles, no justice, no discipline. They are merely a slightly larger faction. They are no different from Looters who prey on Humanity.”

And he said it very explicitly.

“Until now, with Monsters at our doorstep, it was somewhat tolerable. Because we were fighting Monsters as fellow humans. But… but look at this.”

Then Wang Wei opened his eye patch.

Thump-

Beneath it, a horribly disfigured eye, hit by shrapnel from a Worker Bug’s Self-Destruct, was hidden. It was natural that the eyes of everyone in the stadium and watching the screen widened in shock.

“They attacked us first.”

Facing the astonished crowd, Wang Wei calmly reported.

“That was… a terror attack no one expected. Two of my old friends and comrades who were there with me died. But, this is something beyond that.”

Bang!

And then, striking the podium-.

“This is… a declaration of war against Humanity.”

He, in fact, declared war himself.

“We will never disregard this act.”

Just as he finished speaking, that was when.

Rumble-

CRASHHHHHHH!

With a strong tremor, thousands of Missiles flew into the sky.

“The men will pay for their sins.”

Water theory, towards Incheon.

***

[Observation Ship (Unit 3): Anomaly detected. Verification requested.]

[Observation Ship (Unit 6): Anomaly detected. Verification requested.]

[Observation Ship (Unit 7): Anomaly detected. Verification requested.]

Suddenly, notifications popped up one after another.

“What is it?”

I, who had not anticipated anything, tilted my head. An anomaly detected only by the Observation Ship, but not by the Observation Probe. This was unusual.

‘This… isn’t an ordinary occurrence, is it?’

With that thought, I looked at the Observation Ship’s screen… and could confirm the Ballistic Missiles flying at high speed, emitting a bright light.

Their starting direction was China, Shanghai.

“Oh, so you’re going to play it this way?”

My heart grew cold.