The Monster is Coming

Chapter 467 Wings and Thorns

As Lan Xing and Mo Tong departed, the lights in Xinxing Valley dimmed briefly.

The passing of these two leaders who had guided the Rongling people to rise in the land of new hope has plunged the community into grief.

But the wheels of civilization will not stop turning because of the passing of any individual.

The heavy responsibility of leading the clan fell on the shoulders of the third generation, who were personally nurtured by Lanxing and Motong.

The core of the leadership team is a pair of partners.

The one in charge of war affairs is named Fierce Claw. He is the most outstanding student on Blue Star and a radical among the new generation of the Rongling tribe who has shown exceptional talent in both military and architectural fields.

Secondly, there is Huixin, who is in charge of the new technology research department. She is Motong's most outstanding student and a new generation scholar who has surpassed her teacher in the field of energy theory and application.

One focuses on external affairs, while the other focuses on internal affairs, continuing the collaborative model of the previous generation.

They all realized that the richness and tranquility of New Star Valley, in the dark forest where countless races coexist, was like a campfire in the night, inevitably attracting the attention of unknown predators.

Crisis is never far away, and the enhancement of war power is always the top priority for the survival and development of a race.

The lessons learned from Xingxing Valley serve as a constant reminder to this generation.

Driven by Fierce Claw, the "Sharp Sword" project, spearheaded by Wisdom and bringing together weapon masters and energy scholars, was officially launched.

Their goal is clear: to create more efficient personal weapons and long-range strike systems.

Given the significant drawbacks of the first-generation energy emitter, such as poor stability and the need for two-person operation, the Huixin team started with the most basic energy confinement structure.

Instead of solely pursuing the extraction of violent energy from Fire Crystals, we are attempting to combine more energy properties to create sophisticated energy circuits to constrain the release of energy.

This process took several years, involved consulting a large amount of data left over from the Dreamweaver civilization, and failed countless times.

Ultimately, by using the new ore "soft silver" with excellent energy buffering properties as the core medium, a stable energy core the size of a palm was successfully designed.

This core can safely store a large amount of energy, which can then be released instantly through the "activation runes" engraved on the energy-conducting crystal.

Shortly after the invention of this technology, the first truly individual energy weapon was created: the Crystal Energy Gun.

It has a metal stock and a metal barrel, and soldiers can carry it independently. The energy beam it fires has a large recoil, but its stability and range accuracy far exceed those of the first generation product.

More importantly, it realizes the "magazine" function of energy, and the pre-charged energy core can be quickly replaced to provide continuous firepower output.

Secondly, there is the upgrade of the long-range strike system.

The success of the personal weapon gave him a strong sense of confidence, and Claw then set his sights on something further afield.

How to attack enemies outside of sight?
How to destroy a strong defense and launch a large-scale attack?

According to the records of the Dreamweaver Civilization, they conceived of a weapon that could fly, carry enormous energy, and detonate at a designated location.

This idea is very bold.

The Huixin team once again rose to the challenge.

The three core challenges they face are: propulsion, navigation, and detonation.

In terms of propulsion, they drew on the principle of energy orbital levitation and applied it in reverse to enhance its application.

At the tail of the designed projectile, an array of propulsion runes was etched, capable of generating a directional, intense jet of energy.

By adjusting the intensity of the input energy, powerful thrust can be generated.

Navigation is the most difficult part.

They couldn't achieve precision guidance, but Huixin proposed a clumsy solution: a parabolic trajectory.

Through calculations and countless test shots, she mapped the flight trajectories of projected objects with different weights under the same thrust.

Once the target distance is determined, the required thrust and flight time can be calculated.

For detonation, they installed a small "stable energy core" on the head of the projectile, and the activation circuit was modified to be a sensitive impact-sensing rune.

It can detonate instantly upon impact with a hard object.

When the original missile, named "Citybreaker," streaked towards its designated target range several kilometers away, trailing an unstable energy tail, and rose into a small mushroom cloud with a loud bang, the entire test site fell into dead silence, followed by deafening cheers.

The birth of this crude and limited-range "siege hammer" signifies that the range of Nova Valley's military deployment has now exceeded what is visible to the naked eye, and the form of warfare will be completely rewritten.

Tu Hu stood on a distant hill, silently watching the rising smoke and dust, and took a big gulp from his wine bottle.

He then looked at the trail of flame left by the "missile" as it streaked across the sky, and a smile appeared on his lips.

The flame of civilization is now burning even more fiercely in the hands of a new generation.

……

On this day, the loud arguments in the newly built command center almost lifted the roof off.

"External armament is the future." Fierce Claw slammed his fist on the metal table covered with design plans, his voice resolute:

"According to the records of the Dreamweaver Civilization, a powerful exoskeleton armor can give our most ordinary soldiers strength comparable to that of a giant beast, allowing them to traverse any terrain and bear heavier firepower. This is the most direct and fastest way to improve combat power... Huixin, your biological modification is too risky and takes too long. We can't afford to wait."

Hearing this, Huixin remained unyielding. She pointed to the body meridian diagram on the table, her tone firm:
"To place all hope in external creation is itself a form of fragility. The physical body is the source of power. By exploring the essence of life, optimizing our genes, and guiding energy to directly strengthen cells, bones, and nerve responses... this is the correct path to a higher level of life, and the true power that belongs to our Rongling tribe... Fierce Claw, no matter how strong your exoskeleton is, it will be destroyed one day, and even its energy will be exhausted."

The two argued heatedly, neither willing to back down, while the surrounding management and scholars remained silent in fear.

Just then, the heavy metal door of the command room slid open silently.

A figure walked in slowly.

The quarrel stopped abruptly.

The fierceness and anger on Lie Zhao's face instantly melted away, and Hui Xin's tightly furrowed brows also relaxed.

The two turned around almost simultaneously, their faces radiating a respect they would never show in front of others, and said in unison to the newcomer:

"Tiger Lord".

Tu Hu nodded, still holding his signature glass bottle. He walked to the table, placed the bottle on it, and glanced at the two completely different planning drawings.

On one side is a concept drawing of a complex exoskeleton armor.

On the other side is a blueprint for life evolution depicting the flow of energy within organisms and the transformation of cells.

"It's quite a commotion." Tu Hu's voice was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"You two continue, I'm listening."

Fierce Claw took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone calm, but the fervor in his eyes remained undiminished:

"Tiger, I think we should concentrate our resources and prioritize the development of Project Thunder Armor, which is a single-soldier exoskeleton combat system. It can immediately form combat capability and deal with any impending threat."

Huixin immediately replied:

"Tiger Lord, Fierce Claw's plan yields high short-term returns, but its upper limit is locked and it is highly dependent on logistics. My 'Spark Project' may require a large initial investment and be slow to show results, but once it breaks through, it will achieve a fundamental leap for the race. Only the strength of the individual can support the eternity of civilization."

Tu Hu didn't speak. He picked up the armor design drawings from Lie Zhao's side, carefully examined the energy conduction part, and then looked at the life vein diagram from Hui Xin's side, his gaze lingering on the energy nodes for a moment.

He tilted his head back and took a sip of the liquor; the spicy liquid slid down his throat, easing some of the pain in his body.
“Fierce Claw wants the present, Wise Heart wants the future.” He put down his wine bottle, his gaze sweeping over the two of them:
"Armor can be repaired or replaced if it's damaged, but if bones are broken, it's difficult to reconnect them."

Hui Xin's eyes narrowed, while Lie Zhao's gaze brightened slightly.

But Tu Hu changed the subject:
"But the present and the future are equally important. It is not necessary to choose one of these two paths. The core issue is still the lack of resources."

He looked at the two young leaders and offered his direction:

"In this way, the resource problem can be solved from other aspects. We will tentatively set the Lei Kai Project as a Class A project and concentrate resources. I want to see a test model that can be put into actual combat within three years."

Fierce Claw straightened his chest, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes:

"Yes, Tiger!"

Tu Hu then looked at Hui Xin:

"Your Spark Program is a long-term project, and you are fully responsible for it without any interference. I need you to produce tangible and feasible phased results. Remember, proceed steadily and surely. We are not looking for quick success with this program, but rather for it to be flawless."

Huixin nodded solemnly:
"I understand, Tiger Lord, I will never let you and the clan down."

"Go." Tu Hu waved his hand.
"The road must be walked step by step. There is no absolute distinction between internal and external power. Power that can be used, is easy to use, and is sufficient to protect the people is good power."

The two bowed respectfully again, then exchanged a glance.

Despite their shared goal, the rivalry between them did not diminish because of Tu Hu's words; they quickly left the command room to carry out their respective missions.

After all the clansmen had left, Tu Hu stood alone in the empty hall, looking out the window at the ever-burning lights of New Star Valley.

The flames of civilization are burning along different paths.

At this stage, he couldn't distinguish which path was better; all he could do was walk both paths and then choose the optimal one.

His choice has set the tone for the future development of New Star Valley.

In the days that followed, resources, like blood, were precisely pumped in two completely different directions, and the entire race was like a highly efficient dual-core engine, running side by side on the tracks of the present and the future.

Thanks to Liezhao's efforts, the "Thunder Armor Project" is progressing rapidly.

The workshops roared day and night as new alloys were forged and complex energy circuits were etched into the inside of the armor.

Just two and a half years later, the first practical "Thunder Armor Type 1" exoskeleton armor rolled off the assembly line.

It covers the warrior's main torso and limbs, with a streamlined dark gray body. The joints are connected by flexible energy-conducting materials, and on the back is an integrated micro energy core that provides power to the whole body.

When activated, fine blue energy patterns flow across the surface of the armor.

In wear tests, the Thunder Armor Type 1 can significantly enhance the user's strength, speed, and load-bearing capacity. The arms are equipped with interfaces that can carry the "Crystal Energy Gun," and there are also pre-set attachment points on the shoulders, leaving room for loading heavier weapons in the future.

When an ordinary soldier wearing Thunder Armor Type 1 easily lifted a boulder that would require several people to move, and could maneuver through complex terrain at a speed far exceeding that of ordinary people, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

Fierce Claw stood at the edge of the testing field, arms crossed, his face radiating undisguised pride.

This is the power he desires—power that can immediately arm the army and form an effective fighting force.

In contrast, Huixin's "Spark Program" seems somewhat quiet.

Her laboratory is located deep within the archives, in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment filled with various observation instruments and petri dishes.

There was no hustle and bustle of a workshop here, only the hushed discussions of researchers and the faint hum of instruments. Following Tu Hu's instruction to "work steadily and not seek quick results," Hui Xin broke down the research into countless small steps.

Starting with the most basic research on cellular energy affinity, we analyze individual differences among different ethnic groups and screen for safe energy-guiding media.

Failure is commonplace in research; even a tiny parameter error can cause the entire batch of experimental samples to die.

After years of dedicated research and optimization, the first generation of safe "basic gene optimization agents" has been developed.

Its effects are mild and gradual, primarily by slightly enhancing cell vitality and metabolic efficiency, and slightly increasing the user's perception and adaptability to free energy in the environment.

Long-term use can slowly improve physical condition, prolong peak performance, and lay the foundation for further gene optimization.

As per Tu Hu's instructions, the medicine was to be rationed, with priority given to researchers, elite soldiers, and outstanding young people.

This is a process of sowing seeds, with the expectation of reaping the rewards in the future.

Unlike the first and second generations, there was a close cooperation between the leaders.

Although they share the same goal, a subtle competitive relationship always exists between the third-generation Fierce Claw and Wise Heart.

Lie Zhao believes that Hui Xin's research has involved huge investments but yielded little result, which is "too much of a good thing to solve an immediate problem." He often expresses his dissatisfaction with the long-term occupation of the Spark Project at resource allocation meetings, and tries to allocate more resources to the iteration and mass production of the Thunder Armor Project.

Huixin scoffed at Liezhao's over-reliance on external resources and somewhat hasty development approach.

She believes that no matter how powerful the "Thunder Armor" is, it cannot break through its inherent physical limits and logistical dependence. Only by seeking a breakthrough from the essence of life can the Rongling Clan truly stand among all races.

This competition spurred both sides to produce more dazzling results to prove the correctness of their path, thus driving rapid technological development.

On the other hand, this also occasionally leads to inefficiency and internal friction in the high-level decision-making of Xinxing Valley due to differences in ideas.

Tu Hu saw all of this.

He did not choose to force a reconciliation.

He would even welcome the outcome as long as the competition is kept within a certain range and does not damage the foundation of the community.

The growth of civilization requires exploration of different paths and diverse voices.

What he needs to do is to act as a stabilizing force, to grasp the overall direction at critical moments, and to ensure that this ship of civilization does not drift away in the turbulent currents.

In his eyes, the contemporary Rongling tribe, under the influence of internal competition, is like steel being constantly forged, becoming increasingly resilient along the two paths of external forces and internal seeking.

But an unexpected crisis quietly arrived at this stage.

In order to seek a breakthrough, especially under the invisible pressure brought about by the ever-changing achievements of the Fierce Claw "Thunder Armor Project", Huixin's research became increasingly radical.

Due to the scarcity of test subjects, she secretly conducted many high-risk gene-chimerism experiments on herself without telling anyone.

In an experiment attempting to fuse with the genetic fragments of an ancient ferocious beast known as the "Shadow Beast" discovered in ancient ruins, hoping to gain super regeneration and energy perception abilities, disaster struck.

Aggressive genes, like a vicious plague, instantly backfired, disrupting Huixin's life balance.

When the laboratory's emergency alarm was forcibly triggered, it was too late.

When Claw led his guards to smash open the reinforced laboratory door, they found a scene of utter chaos, and a... monster.

The scales on Huixin's body turned black and twisted, with sharp edges like knives.

Her body swelled unnaturally, her joints twisted, and she let out a roar that was a mixture of pain and bloodlust.

The rationality that belonged to Huixin was being invaded by pure madness. Sometimes she would be clear-headed for a moment, revealing endless pain, and then she would be swallowed up by violent emotions.

Even more terrifying is that a kind of bio-polluting field emanating from her body is affecting nearby researchers, causing them to also begin to show signs of scale mutation and mental derangement.

"Seal off the area, isolate all contacts, quick!" Claw reacted quickly, but his voice trembled slightly, without him even realizing it.

It personally led the team and swiftly subdued Huixin, who had become half-monstrous, and the other infected, imprisoning them in the quarantine zone using energy binding devices.

But pollution is still worsening.

The imprisoned infected individuals became increasingly mutated, gradually losing all reason and turning into destructive beasts.

All attempts to reverse the effects of the treatments failed.

The genes of the evil beasts are like maggots clinging to the bone, irreversibly rewriting the life form of the host.

Several days later, in the cold isolation observation room, Tu Hu stood silently in front of the main isolation ward.

Through the thick, transparent crystal cover, one can see Huixin, whose original form is no longer recognizable, tightly bound in the center by countless energy chains.

She was still struggling, letting out low growls.

Lie Zhao stood beside Tu Hu. This commander, who had never wavered in the face of thousands of troops on the battlefield, now had his hands clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

He looked at the figure inside the cabin who had once argued and competed with him, yet together they had supported the future of their people. His heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

He still couldn't accept that the wise, calm scholar who would occasionally give him a helpless smile had turned into this.

"Tiger Lord." Fierce Claw's voice was dry and hoarse, carrying a hint of pleading that even he himself loathed:
"Let's think of another way... There must be another way... Aunt Mo Tong left behind so much knowledge, we..."

Tu Hu didn't turn his head; his gaze remained fixed on the isolation chamber. His voice was calm and cold, carrying an undeniable resolve:
"No, we've tried everything. Continuing to delay will only increase the risk of the pollution spreading. The mutation of Huixin is still ongoing and will soon reach a level that we cannot handle."

“But…” Fierce Claw abruptly turned to look at Tiger Slayer, his eyes bloodshot. The bravery he had displayed in front of his people had completely crumbled, revealing his utter vulnerability.
"Tiger Lord... I... I can't do it."

He looked at Tu Hu, almost pleading:

"That's Huixin... Tiger Lord..."

Tu Hu slowly turned his head to look at Lie Zhao.

His eyes carried a weight that Lie Zhao could not comprehend.

This is a decision that has been made after witnessing the rise and fall of civilizations and the departure of close friends:
"Because she is wise, she is even more unwilling to see herself become the source of destruction for her people. Ending her suffering and stopping the disaster is the only thing we can do for her now: to preserve her last dignity."

Fierce Claw slowly raised the controller in his hand, which had a bright red button on it.

His body trembled violently. He looked at the button, then through the crystal cover at the distorted figure inside the isolation chamber. What came to mind was the young scholar from many years ago, who had been holding a pile of scrolls in the archives and earnestly told him, "Your exoskeleton is ultimately an external force."

Lie Zhao closed his eyes, and two streams of scalding liquid uncontrollably slid down from the corners of his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, when she opened her eyes again, though pain remained, there was also a hint of resolute determination born of being forced to grow up.

His finger hovered over the red button, pausing for a long time.

The screams inside the isolation chamber seemed to vanish, and time seemed to freeze at that moment.

"Huixin, I'm sorry."

Finally, he used all his strength to press down.

A powerful surge of energy instantly filled the isolation chamber, and a blinding white light engulfed the distorted figure.

When the light faded, the isolation chamber was empty, leaving only the still-swaying energy chains.

As if all his strength had been drained, the terminal slipped from his hand and made a crisp sound on the ground.

He staggered a step, bracing himself with one hand on the cold observation window, head down, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Tu Hu silently placed his hand on his shoulder, conveying strength without a sound; at this moment, any words seemed inadequate.

Only after Lie Zhao barely suppressed his surging emotions did he say in a hoarse voice:
"Tiger, I...I'll go and handle the aftermath first."

Then the heavy metal door slowly closed behind Fierce Claw, isolating it from all outside noise.

Once he realized he was alone, Tu Hu's straight back hunched slightly.

He slowly walked to the observation window and looked at the isolation chamber, which still retained the lingering smell of burning energy.

The mask of composure that had been maintained was shattered inch by inch.

He raised his hand and gently pressed his calloused palm onto the cold crystal cover.

Images flashed uncontrollably through my mind.

It was Xiao Motong, who was carefully holding his homemade fruit wine by the campfire, looking at him with bright eyes and softly calling him "Uncle Tiger".

She was a clever little girl who always quietly followed Mo Tong in Xinxing Valley, diligently recording everything she saw and heard.

He was a young scholar who argued fiercely with Liezhao until his face turned red, arguing his point based on reason, on the choices of civilization development.

It was that leader in the lab, whose eyes shone with the same insatiable thirst for knowledge as Mo Tong's when he reported on the progress of the project...

Every image was like a red-hot steel needle, piercing his already riddled heart.

Huixin was also a child he watched grow up and poured his heart and soul into.

He has been watching every step of his growth, from being naive and inexperienced to becoming capable and independent.

I witnessed Huixin inheriting Motong's will and continuing the exploration on a thorny path, and... ultimately watched her lose herself on this path in the most tragic way.

"Child." The almost inaudible call was squeezed out with difficulty from his dry throat.

He had always taught them to be cautious and prudent, but in the end, he could not prevent this tragedy from happening.

He thought he could control everything and protect them, but the cruelty of fate once again destroyed the "seedlings" he cherished.

He closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and took a trembling deep breath.

I wanted to forcefully suppress the overwhelming grief that was overflowing into my heart.

When I opened my eyes again, the turbulent emotions had subsided.

After taking one last look at the empty isolation pod, Tu Hu turned around and staggered away from this sorrowful place.

He remains a solitary guardian of civilization, continuing to measure the endless journey of civilization.

　Some readers pointed out a bug in the time scale. After careful consideration, I decided to change the time scale from 133 times to 13300 times. This was an oversight on my part. A difference of 133 times would speed up time in the monster world too much.

　　The current time setting is that 1 day equals 13300 days, which is equivalent to one day in the Monster World and 36.43 years in the Dream World.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)