The Abyss Independent Group has gone through a challenging developnt journey. Even though they are also warriors of the New Empire, due to their sensitive status and the imnse hidden dangers of their power, the Abyss Independent Group has to develop at a slow pace. Normally, the New Empire expands its forces by adding one to two large corps each year, but the Abyss Independent Group has not reached the size of a standard corps even since the first batch of Fallen Apostles were reverse-transford. Of course, what limits this group’s developnt more than its ’origin issue’ is our lack of a genuine, systematic, and stable industrial system.
Establishing a standard corps requires systematic industrial support: the production of warships, the creation of soldiers, individual equipnt, ship-borne equipnt, fortress-grade facilities, the research and manufacturing of various auxiliary units, matching technology departnts, command, engineering, logistic services... This is an exceedingly enormous system. The complexity of a real-world army operation is unimaginable to the average person, far from what you see in gas where a simple click summons soldiers, and a right-click dispatches entire armies. Whether it’s the Xyrin Empire or the Star Domain Divine Race, no matter how powerful the civilization, its military is built on a complex and precise foundation. As a war race, the Xyrin Apostles’ innovative ’Battlefield Host Technology’ has simplified this system to the limit. With just one Xyrin Host and enough ti, the entire military system, including the Industrial Mother Machine, can be created. This is an evolved Feng Neumann Robot System (of course, more complex, and its replication and self-evolution process far surpass that of a single-thread Feng Neumann-style proliferation model). Yet, even with this, the New Empire does not have even a single ’Abyss Type Industrial Production Line’ to serve as an industrial foundation, nor an Abyssalized Xyrin Host.
These two units are almost impossible to fully capture in the kind of death-defying war that the Imperial Army and Fallen Apostles conducted, making the Abyss Independent Group the only corps of the New Empire with almost no production proliferation capacity. They don’t even have the smallest starport. All we can do is supply and maintain existing Abyssalized units. Currently, there are only two ways for the Abyss Independent Group to expand, the primary thod being battlefield capture—thanks to the unlucky Lord Harlan for his support several tis before. The secondary thod, without an Industrial Mother Machine and Xyrin Host, is for Visca to concoct so small-scale forces using her chaotic modification technology and whimsical weapon design sches. However, she can only produce units that lack intelligence and cannot be cloned. Taville, with existing technology, cannot re-create another Abyss source at Visca’s level and under control, naturally unable to clone the Abyss fleet that the latter has created.
Visca’s concocted those chaotic small units making up less than ten percent of the entire Abyss Independent Group.
The awkward situation faced by the Abyss Independent Group is evident.
’Manufacturing Abyss Equipnt is not rely a technical problem,’ Harlan placed a data terminal in front of . He had already produced a plan, including the Abyss Independent Group draft and phase-one project plan, as well as accurate production cycles for various production lines, ’I’ve also visited research centers several tis recently, accessed the Xyrin Host Group, and I know you’re also researching how to mass-produce Abyss Units using conventional industrial thods. The soldiers of the Abyss Independent Group are nurous, but warships are nearly irrecoverable with the destruction of just one. Following several special operations against the Abyss Empire, losses have resulted in a people-over-guns situation.’
’Even Taville can’t handle this,’ I nodded, ’We can replicate anything material-wise as long as there’s a blueprint or a sample, but the manufactured Abyss Special Unit either quickly collapses or fails to reach the combat capability of genuine ones, even less than ordinary spacecraft models.’
’Abyssalized Xyrin Apostles can only use Abyssalized equipnt because the power emanating from us severely affects the operation of conventional devices, and only with attribute compatibility can we fully exert our combat power. But such equipnt cannot be manufactured with conventional ans. It’s not a matter of material structure; Abyss pollution alters the operational principles of a Xyrin Device from a conceptual level,’ Harlan spoke, reaching into his personal space and pulling out sothing. I saw it was a strange-looking weapon akin to a fist spike—a hand-held lee weapon. With a barely audible hum, the front of the fist spike suddenly elongated, a constraining energy blade patterned with black and red engravings lightly quivering in the air with a dangerous aura: Abyss, but in a controlled state, ’You can see for yourself, this is mutated ghost energy. Using conventional thods, no matter how you decay from the Void and mix it with the Abyss, you can’t create this kind of mutated ghost energy. It’s not a simple mixture but has beco sothing with its own unique characteristics.’
The constraining energy blade at the front of the weapon trembled slightly, and I felt it was already causing destructive effects on the surrounding space rely by being placed there: The space stability around the weapon was declining, and the normal elents in the air were turning into various bizarre substances. So black smoke-like substance emanated from the energy blade’s front, with condensed residues gently falling onto the table, making a crackling burning sound.
This is an Abyss Weapon, possessing unique properties. They perform poorly in durability and energy consumption but have an enchanting allure in absolute destructive power and subsequent damage. With this property of mutated ghost energy, the Abyss Independent Group’s powerful ’instant full-firepower raid’ tactic allows devastating damages to be unleashed within seconds of engagent. Precisely because of this precious feature, Taville has been indefatigably researching how to safely produce more Abyss Weaponry, though there’s no progress yet.
’Only Corrupted Industrial Mother Machines or Xyrin Hosts that were modified tens of thousands of years ago can produce these things,’ Harlan said, handing the fist spike to , ’That pollution left a kind of ’identification code’ inside us, without it, the manufactured equipnt isn’t pure. Of course, your deranged sister is an exception. She whimsically infuses the Abyss into ordinary equipnt for her use—I suppose even the Abyss fears her insanity.’
Curiously, I examined the fist spike in my hands and cautiously extended my spiritual power into it, trying to see where exactly the mutated ghost energy began to mutate—and then there was a zap—this thing extinguished, a large crack split open on the focusing crystal, and a wisp of smoke rose from it.
Harlan: ’...This thing has been with for 127,000 years...’
: ’...The oldest thing I have is an old pair of slippers I’ve had for three and a half years, and that’s it...’
Harlan: ’...’
’Well, your plan is pretty good. I’m an outsider, and there’s nothing I can suggest, so let’s proceed as you planned,’ I laughed, trying to shift the topic since Harlan obviously didn’t genuinely care about a fist spike he’d had for 120,000 years: knowing the habits of Xyrin Apostles, I could bet he has at least thousands of identical ones in his personal space, ’Rebuilding the industrial production line will make the Abyss Independent Group truly complete. It seems I need to prepare a few more worlds for your developnt...’
’Let handle that myself,’ Harlan smiled, ’No one knows better than a forr Fallen Apostle what kind of living environnt the Abyss Independent Group needs. Just look forward to it, in half a year at the latest, I’ll have the Abyss First Fleet appear before you.’
After seeing off Harlan, I leaned back in the chair and let out a long breath, indicating there was one less thing to worry about: the Abyss Independent Group’s next steps to rebuild its industrial line, find a base in the Empire’s ’World Library’, and construct a system entirely different from the New Empire’s military-industrial system are all Harlan’s hands-on work. Sandora and I will just occasionally check on progress purely for showing up; this part of the task is on track.
’Who would’ve thought you actually work quite diligently; I thought you went to Shadow City every morning just for show.’
’You’re awake?’ I asked, having no desire to fight back against the teasing from my own soul. This female hooligan’s mouth has been this way for more than just a day or two, ’How are you feeling today?’
’No particular feeling, just as if being confined again—and I’ve been awake for a while—just didn’t want to disturb you since you were busy with proper business.’
I didn’t expect soone like Bingdisi to be so thoughtful at tis, causing to smile. I wonder if Bingdisi could feel this smile: ’Speaking of which, isn’t it nice when you’re quiet? What’s with always being noisy usually?’
’It’s okay for a short while, but long-term silence would suffocate ,’ Bingdisi’s true nature was gradually reviving, ’I say, are you seriously going to spend the whole morning staring at these reports here? I swear! You’ll suffocate .’
I righteously declared: ’This is an emperor’s responsibility.’
’Responsibility, my foot. Look at titles, look at conclusions, stamp it passed—no wonder Sandora has taken over 80% of the administrative duties, leaving you stuff where you just have to write "read" without thinking...’
I was imdiately deflated, never expected Sandora to even tell the female hooligan this stuff: the two tease each other often, but their bond is genuine, spanning tens of millions of years, what they call it, camaraderie over aeons!
’I do read the text...occasionally picking parts I can understand.’ I beca less confident as I spoke, eventually sighing: with Bingdisi awake, my office ti was probably over. It’s hard to imagine working while bantering with this female hooligan. Who would I rely on if I were labeled an emperor indulging excessively in won and neglecting duties over this?
"Oh? You’re going out for a walk?" Bingdisi imdiately said upon noticing my movent, "It’s fine, if you’re annoyed, I can keep quiet. Actually, watching you process paperwork is quite interesting..."
If I believed her, I’d share a last na with Dingdang!
Walking in the officers’ relaxation area with a goddess by my side—still sounds quite poetic—Bingdisi comnted endlessly on the place. Her evaluation was nothing more than the adjectives rigid and serious: she had criticized Sandora’s base like this before, and Xyrin Apostle military bases are essentially the sa, definitely not to the female hooligan’s liking. I ignored her, treating her as a portable radio that couldn’t be turned off, and unknowingly walked to the edge of the military zone. Not far ahead was a towering Shield Generator spire. I glanced up and surprisingly saw a familiar figure: Ancestor Anses, along with so people I didn’t recognize, standing on a platform in the middle of the spire under the company of several Royal Guards, seemingly observing the civilian zone outside.
"Look, your ancestor!" Bingdisi, sharing my line of sight, naturally saw it too and reminded cheerfully.
"No, it’s Sandora’s ancestor..."
"Oh, I forgot you’re a newcor—hurry over, hurry over, I want to see you chat with the ancestor!"
I now have to humor this slightly lancholic female hooligan. As long as it doesn’t violate basic morality, I have to go along with her wishes. So, with a short-range teleport, I appeared on the spire.
This kind of spire is common on the outskirts of the base and is an extension of the fortress Shield Generator. However, Anses obviously used it as a watchtower. When I arrived, he was curiously peering in the direction of the World Tree—a shadow stretching like a mountain range, leaving anyone who sees it for the first ti utterly incredulous. Ancestor was no exception: he had never seen such a colossal plant before. Behind Anses stood several unfamiliar individuals, male and female, clearly not Xyrin Apostles, lacking intense energy reactions. These people’s attire resembled Anses’, giving a rough guess about their identity.
The Royal Guards sensed my arrival imdiately, turning to salute. Only then did Anses, hearing the commotion, turn around, looking at with slight surprise: "Emperor?"
"Uh... It’s kind of awkward for you to call that," being addressed as "Emperor" by an ancestor multiple generations removed felt rather strange. I beca awkward imdiately, but considering that the average age of people around is counted in billions of years, I decided not to dwell on it. "And these people are..."
"So old folks who just woke up," Anses seed in a better mood than in recent days, still gloomy but with a smile, "We are observing this bizarre city... it’s truly eye-opening."
"Captain, don’t include when you say old folks, I’m still quite young." A woman, looking under thirty, glanced slightly discontentedly at Anses. I knew she was one of the ancestors, like the others, retaining her appearance from when she was frozen—a mature and beautiful woman. I’m aware that calling her "ancestor" could be catastrophic today, so I offered an apologetic smile: "Sorry, I’ve been a bit busy the past couple of days. I should have been there when you all woke up."
"I know, I know," Anses waved his hand dismissively, introducing the people beside him, then turned around, filled with anticipation while gazing at the magnificent Shadow City, with its air traffic, the Military Integration Departnt’s Floating Fortress, and Gaia Mother Star in the sky—scenes already familiar but seemingly more vibrant today, "They are all quite confused right now. It took a while to explain the current situation, and we ca here curious about what the capital of the Empire looks like now. Truly eye-opening."
"It’s a pity we can only look," comnted the woman from earlier with so frustration. Through introductions I learned her na is "Lu," a brief and simple na. "I used to be a technical manager on a spaceship, but now I feel like a koala in a human city (perhaps an animal native to the Hotown World?), utterly disconnected..."
It’s more than just being disconnected; Lu’s comnt prompted the other ancestors to sigh as well. Seeing the atmosphere turn cold, I suddenly had an idea: "Well, since I’m free at the mont, why not take you out for a bit of sightseeing?"
A Royal Guard stepped forward: "Your Majesty, Sandora instructed that the ancestors should receive protection within the military zone..."
Hearing this, Anses, whose eyes had just brightened, showed a dimr gaze again.
They have restricted movent, requiring Royal Guard accompanint whenever they leave their rooms. For Anses, the first to be resurrected, this life has continued for so ti.
I know Sandora has an extre "protectiveness" towards the ancestors; to her, Anses is probably more fragile than porcelain dolls. But this is Shadow City, the very core of the Empire! What accidents could possibly happen here?
"It’s fine, I’ll personally take them out. What could go wrong?" I waved dismissively at the guards, "I’ll inform Sandora about it."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The Royal Guard retreated, and one of the ancestors couldn’t help but mutter, "Oh, finally we can go out..."
"Do you usually confine the ancestors in this lifeless place as if under house arrest?" Bingdisi couldn’t help but complain. I didn’t know how to respond, ultimately choosing silence as I waited: she’s not wrong, after all.
No matter how courteous we are, eting all material needs, not allowing them to leave the military area, requiring Royal Guard escorts for everything... this is, indeed, house arrest.
Seeing the few ancestors behind , their faces full of excitent like they’ve been released after a long house arrest, I couldn’t help but shrug: it seems it’s ti to discuss with Sandora and convince her not to treat the ancestors as relics to be enshrined in a temple.
After leaving the military area, I found myself at a loss. There are so many places to visit in Shadow City, a "city" that’s grown to an unbelievably large size. Without convenient air transport and short-range teleport networks, walking from the south to the north of the city would be akin to crossing a small European country. Now, the aerial land where Shadow City sits continues to expand, seemingly destined to join with Gaia as a binary star system. Considering such a vast area, where should I take the ancestors for their first stop of sightseeing?
I’d like to show the ancestors sothing more interesting, sothing that could help them understand the current state of the New Empire, and preferably far from the Empire’s military facilities, which they’ve seen enough of.
Let’s head to where the Clan and Macro World residents are most concentrated. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian (qidian) with recomndations or monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.)
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