— Sultanate of Aqaba —
Daniel arrived at the revitalized, techno-futuristic landscape of the Sultanate of Aqaba, where traditional ways harmonized with the convenience brought by New Atlantis's advanced technologies.
Though so adjustnt was required, the younger generation adapted swiftly to the new environnt, pressuring the governnt to keep pace. Leaving security and administration in the hands of a foreign company's AI, regardless of its demonstrated integrity, would not be a wise choice for long-term sovereignty.
Daniel and his entourage were received as honored guests at the Sultan's Palace, where they were warmly welcod. From there, Daniel used the rail line connected to the weapons testing and research facility, located beneath the palace, to reach the test site.
Maliq Al-Nasir, the Sultan, accompanied Daniel's group along with Azis, the Supre General. They both wished to witness the weapon testing firsthand to assess whether an expansion of the desert's restricted zone might be necessary or if renegotiations were warranted should the weapon's effects prove too destructive to the surrounding environnt.
In the midst of the desert. The vast land of concrete filled with adamantine reinforced ground was all to see as this is the testing range for all kind of weapon, So Daniel direct his subordinates and Nexus Pri to ensure the safety of the ground since the test site and the Weapon research laboratory are nearing each other to prevent any damage to the weapon research laboratory and of course, the subway underground that connect to the palace.
Daniel allowed Old Yuan to rest for a day, as it coincided with the arrival of a God Slayer Cannon, relocated from the vicinity of New Atlantis to this location. During this ti, Daniel visited the laboratory to oversee the test preparations and review the security protocols to be implented on the following day.
He also took the opportunity to issue directives and assign key projects, including the developnt of a new God Slayer Cannon, as he planned to partially shift the space program's operations to this site.
The night passed uneventfully, and the test day finally arrived. Daniel provided Old Yuan with a special suit designed to monitor his physical condition and, most importantly, his vital signs, ensuring that the test would be safe for him—or at least, as safe as possible.
Under the scorching desert sun, Old Yuan stood on the adamantine-reinforced test field. Markings were painted on the ground to asure the beam's width, distance, and other critical data required during the testing process.
"Okay, Old Yuan. Are you ready?" Daniel's voice echoed through the speakers from the observation tower situated near the testing field.
"I'm ready. You can start now, Lord Emberweave," Old Yuan replied with a nod.
From the observation tower, where staff busily monitored various terminals and consoles, Daniel nodded to one of the operators, signaling the comncent of the test.
—
Card Na: God Slayer Cannon
Illustration: An imposing, gigantic cannon the size of a ten-story building. Its long and massive barrel, fueled with vibrant magical energy, is intimidating.
Rarity: Legendary
Type: Artifact
Mana Cost: 2 Fire, 3 Non-Elent
Description:
Tap: Put a Charge Counter on God Slayer Cannon.
Pay 1 Fire, 1 Non-Elent, Tap: Remove all Charge Counters on 'God Slayer Cannon.' Deal 5 damage for each Charge counter removed this way. If more than one Charge counter is removed this way, you can choose more targets equal to the Charge counters removed this way. If there are multiple targets, distribute the damage equally to each target, rounding down.
Flavor Text: The hope of Atlantis to end the Tyranny of Poseidon.
—
(Author's Note: If you recall from the earlier chapters in Volu 1, one turn is equivalent to one hour in the real world.)
"Start with one hour's worth of charging..." the operator instructed, relaying the command to the firing team stationed at the God Slayer Cannon. The team prepared to fire as the countdown began.
"Begin countdown... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Fire!"
A focused blue beam shot down from the sky, descending upon Old Yuan. Standing motionless, he smirked as the beam struck him directly. Yet, to everyone's astonishnt, he remained unscathed. The monitors detected a form of energy shield surrounding him, absorbing the impact entirely.
The Sultan of Aqaba and Azis, watching the test alongside Daniel in the observation room, were left speechless. The sheer power of Old Yuan was staggering—this was a man who could withstand a blast capable of lting the Black Ziggurat without so much as a scratch.
"Sir... there's an energy shield protecting him. Should we request he deactivate it?" one of the operators hesitantly asked Daniel.
"No," Daniel responded firmly. "In a real battle, no god would willingly lower their shield for us to shoot them. They'd also try to evade. We need to test the cannon under realistic conditions, not just its charging power but also its accuracy and power against a shielded target."
"Yes, sir," the operator acknowledged, turning back to the team. "Resu the test! Increase the charge to two hours' worth!"
This ti, the cannon's beam intensified significantly. Old Yuan glanced up, watching as the brighter, more powerful blue beam descended toward him.
BOOM!
With a swift motion, Old Yuan slapped the beam aside, redirecting it into a nearby section of the test field. The deflected blast scorched the area, leaving behind a glowing, hot surface. Only the adamantine-reinforced floor prevented the field from being lted entirely.
The test continued as the team ticulously recorded the data. Researchers eagerly took notes, analyzing every detail. This was a rare opportunity to study a divine being in real-ti. If the God Slayer Cannon could harm Old Yuan, it was a strong indicator that the weapon could live up to its na and truly slay a god.
"Next shot! Four hours' worth of charge!" The operator's voice echoed through the observation tower, tension rising with each test.
This ti, the beam grew exponentially stronger. Old Yuan's calm deanor faded, replaced by a serious expression as he raised his guard and prepared to et the attack head-on.
BOOM!
The beam struck Old Yuan squarely, forcing him to grit his teeth as he channeled his power to resist the imnse energy. When the blast dissipated, he stood his ground, but his condition had visibly worsened. The monitors tracking his vitals showed alarming signs—his energy levels had been significantly depleted, and his body was under considerable strain. The energy readings confird he had used a substantial amount of power to withstand the four-hour charge.
"This level of charge... I recall the station reporting that it's the sa amount used to completely obliterate the Black Ziggurat," the operator remarked, his voice filled with awe.
"This ans divine beings are clearly stronger than the Archlich Talassar," Daniel added, his tone analytical. "From what we know, even Talassar seed wary of the four-hour charge."
The test continued.
"Eight hours' worth of charge! Fire!"
The beam that descended from the sky this ti was overwhelming, its intensity unmatched. Old Yuan wasted no ti—he imdiately dodged the incoming blast.
BOOM!
The beam struck the adamantine-reinforced test field, leaving behind a massive crater. The impact created a ten-ter radius, two-foot-deep indentation that glowed with searing heat. The surface of the field was molten, visibly distorted from the sheer power of the blast.
"Are you trying to kill , Lord Emberweave?!" Old Yuan roared, his voice a mix of frustration and anger. Despite promising Daniel he would help with the testing but a sudden death on the testing field was not part of the deal!
"An eight-hour charge can clearly kill Old Yuan in a single shot. We now have a baseline to work with. Begin testing for accuracy and determine a charge range that can reliably hit him. Start again with a one-hour charge and increase increntally," Daniel commanded.
After a brief but firm effort to calm Old Yuan, Daniel managed to persuade him to continue with the testing. The process resud, focusing on finding the optimal balance between power and precision.
Through rigorous trials, it beca clear that a three-hour charge was the maximum power that could be effectively used to hit a target as capable as Old Yuan. Even this is also a stretch as it needs Nexus Pri to accurately predict Old Yuan's movents after two feint shots.
Old Yuan, with minor injuries like bruises and cuts, panted heavily on the field. He sat down, using a breathing technique to recover and heal himself. This was supposed to be the final test, and he had survived, albeit with so minor wounds.
"Thank you, Old Yuan, for your cooperation. Now, onto the last test. I need to determine the exact charge required for a God Slayer Cannon to effectively neutralize a target's combat capability without killing them," Daniel's voice bood from the observation tower's speakers.
The words nearly made Old Yuan spit blood.
In other words, his lord-in-law intended to find the precise amount of energy needed to maim him effectively. Now, as he felt a little bit regret on how he had pulled the wool over Daniel regarding his young lady.
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