In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 157 I am the "Sea Tiger Martial God"!
[The 7th year of the "Blue Dream" project.]

You have to admit that your project may have been flawed from the very beginning.

You initially thought that with the aid of technology, you could empower everyone in the world to control the rotation of magnetic fields, uniting the strength of millions to jointly resist the lumberjacks' offensive.

However, after you single-handedly passed through the brutal trials and successfully broke through your limits using the power of "love," becoming the world's only person with a strong magnetic field, you finally realized the truth.

Not everyone has the aptitude to become a strong magnetic field user.

[Perhaps, in the entire pre-civilization, you alone could become a master of magnetic fields, dedicating your strength to resisting the lumberjacks' offensive.]

But now that things have come to this, having made up your mind, you are fearless.

To prevent your loved ones from being destroyed by loggers, and for the continuation of civilization, even if you are alone on the road ahead, you will bravely enter hell!

However, you also know very well that you have more important things to do before you step into hell.

The day after you exchanged feelings with Lu, you locked yourself away, not inside the magnetic field reactor, but in your private office.

[You've issued an ultimatum to all researchers, even Lu, that you need to go into seclusion with full focus for a period of time.]

Before he leaves, apart from regularly delivering water, food, and essential necessities, no one should disturb him unless there is an emergency.

All the researchers were baffled, but now, everyone in the lab has no doubt about your abilities.

And so, you spent an entire year in the office.

[In the eighth year of the "Blue Dream" project, Lu, as usual, was preoccupied with the busy work at his office.]

After eight long years, President Lu has finally established a decent relationship of trust with those giant beasts in the ocean through communication and explaining the pros and cons.

This is much faster than Lu expected.

[Now, the attitude of the behemoths is no longer a major issue. And the life forms Luna envisioned, capable of purifying the land and repelling loggers, are already developing within these behemoths.]

Lu believed that it wouldn't be long before he would be able to obtain his first batch of test subjects.

However, just as Lu was agonizing over what name to give to the life form he had created...

[With a knock on the door, you, who had been secluded in your private office for a year, suddenly appeared in Lu's office carrying a thick stack of planning documents.]

Before Lu could even speak, you explained your purpose and the results of your year-long seclusion in just one sentence.

"Lu, here are the blueprints for the 'Blue Dream Project,' a design for the next 100 years."

You stepped out of the office looking incredibly disheveled. You hadn't even shaved, and the dark circles and bloodshot eyes from staying up all night hadn't faded.

However, when you laid out the detailed construction drawings and specific plans for the "Blue Dream Project," which you had compiled over the past year, in front of Lu...

Throughout the year, all the blame and complaints I wanted to say to you have turned into tender concern.

Because she now understands that this past year, you haven't had it any easier than her; on the contrary, you've shouldered most of the burden of the "Blue Dream Project" all by yourself.

After reviewing your proposal in detail, I was truly impressed by your remarkable wisdom, especially considering that you even accurately predicted the current progress of the "Blue Dream Project."

"This is really... I've lost to you again, Inori."

"With this plan, there is no doubt that the progress of the 'Blue Dream Project' will be accelerated many times over!"

This blueprint contains not only many solutions that Lu Yuan had been considering but had not yet implemented.

[You've also added a new solution that Lu hadn't even considered before.]

The proposal is titled "Blue Country".

This plan is somewhat similar to a marine version of the Survivor Plan.

[You will establish an underwater nation completely isolated from the outside world by a protective shield, containing numerous sarcophagi for hibernation, to evade the logging crews.]

However, unlike the Preservation Project, the "Blue Kingdom" can not only serve as a sanctuary for people from the previous civilization, but also accommodate a large amount of their technology.

Once the lumberjacks' crisis is over and the people awaken from their slumber, they can rely on the technology of the "Blue Kingdom" to quickly rebuild their civilization on Terra.

Lu believes that this more advanced version of the Protector Plan alone is enough to rival the scale of the "Blue Dream Project"!

And you have proven to those who doubted you that even disregarding the "magnetic field rotation," you still have a way to ensure the continuation of civilization.

Based solely on your "astounding wisdom," you are an absolutely indispensable figure in the continuation of the previous civilization.

However, after a brief period of elation, Lu seemed to realize why you, who had previously shown little interest in the "Blue Dream Project" and only wanted to study magnetic field rotation, had suddenly become so passionate about your work.

"Qi, do you want to leave?"

"……Um."

[Faced with Lu's slightly trembling voice, you simply nodded listlessly.]

"It's not that I'm leaving 'Blue Dream,' it's just a temporary departure from the laboratory."

"The prophet was right. The lumberjacks could come at any time. Before that happens, I must seize every second to improve my strength."

Your gaze is drawn to the underwater landscape beyond the glass, where you see a colossal beast lingering nearby, conversing amiably with the land, unwilling to leave.

Gazing at the colossal bodies of the beasts, spanning several kilometers in size, you already have a plan in mind for your next training session.

"The magnetic field reactor is no longer sufficient to support my cultivation."

"During this year, I have been working hard to plan the 'Blue Dream Project,' but the magnetic field rotation has not yet broken through 10,000 horsepower."

"The rate at which our strength is increasing is far too slow. If the lumberjacks find us now, even as the only magnetic field expert, I will still be powerless to fight back."

"Therefore, I must go to a wider land, a harsher environment, and fight stronger creatures to increase my strength."

"Fortunately, this world should have enough giant beasts to help me improve my strength."

However, no sooner had you finished speaking than the colossal sea monster seemed to sense your killing intent and determination. Its tentacles, which had been reluctantly clinging to the glass, quickly retracted.

Noticing the behemoth's wariness, you finally broke free from your solemnity and whispered, half-laughing and half-crying:

"Don't worry, I won't hit you. Lu still needs friends like you."

"I will go to land and fight some blind or rampaging behemoths."

[I don't know if it's because you've awakened your magnetic field power, but now your every word and action seems to be conveyed to these beings who don't understand your language through the rhythm of your magnetic field.]

After receiving your response, the giant sea monster seemed somewhat relieved, but remained wary and dared not approach your location.

[And Lu also knows your wishes.]

She knew that the only hope for the survival of civilization might lie on the shoulders of her soulmate.

Now that things have come to this, how could she let her own personal feelings interfere with her pursuit of a higher realm, thus delaying her only soulmate?

"...Yes, go ahead and do your best, Qi."

"I will wait for you to come back here."

Lu Qianqian smiled faintly, her moist eyes gazing at you tenderly, as if trying to etch your image deeply into her memory.

"But you have to promise me one thing."

Lu Qing grasped your hand, his expression solemn.

"Even if stars die, magnetic fields go out of control, the oceans churn, and the land is torn apart."

"You must come back to see me alive."

"Even if the end of the world really comes, I will never go into hibernation until I see you return to my side. Even if the 'Blue Kingdom' has been built, even if we can escape this disaster."

"I don't want to live in a world without you."

Hearing Lu's slightly heavy instructions, you paused for a rare moment.

But at this moment, Lu's words didn't put much pressure on you. On the contrary, you only felt that power called "love" surging into your body once again.

This will make you capable of anything.

"……I see."

Having said that, you, having made up your mind, released your lover's hand and no longer turned to look at Lu behind you.

You stepped out of the laboratory alone, relying on the power of the magnetic field to swim to the surface of the sea without any vehicle or safety measures, beginning your brutal training.

[Year 9.]

Using technology from a previous civilization, you have discovered numerous colossal beasts on the land of Terra.

Because of the devastating impact of the previous civilization, these colossal beasts, who once lived a peaceful, lawless existence on the land of Terra, have all disappeared.

[Since the previous civilization was only here to conduct experiments and did not intend to carry out a large-scale extermination of the creatures on this land, they didn't pay much attention to their existence.]

However, these behemoths never imagined that humans would actively seek them out. Moreover, this strange human's reason for seeking them wasn't to drive them away or use their territory as a new testing ground.

[It's for war!]

[With the frail bodies of humans, we fight against their powerful and enormous forms!]

Although even giant beasts vary in strength, those that have survived to this day in this cruel jungle law—who among them truly lacks a unique skill?

Even powerful behemoths have cultivated their own unique "powers," enough to be called "conceptual gods" of this land.

[Without a doubt, your challenge is a blatant provocation in the eyes of these behemoths!]

At first, these intelligent behemoths would avoid you because you were human and feared offending the civilization behind you.

But as time went on, the behemoth could no longer tolerate your provocation and began to respond to your challenge!

And that's exactly what you wanted!

Within a year, using the power of your magnetic field, you have already defeated three relatively weak behemoths.

[And your magnetic field, rotating rapidly, surged through countless life-or-death battles, reaching a power of 30,000 horsepower!]

But you know, that's far from enough!

[In the 10th year, you have accumulated 70,000 units of magnetic field power.]

[Now you are absolutely certain that combat is the best way for a magnetic field expert to enhance their power, bar none!]

[This year, with your increased strength, you are no longer content with challenging a single behemoth.]

Sometimes, you might deliberately provoke a giant beast, letting it relentlessly attack you, then lure it to the territory of another giant beast you've long challenged, forcing the two beasts to join forces and fight you!

The stronger your magnetic field, the more you will feel it, and the more difficult it becomes to break through its limits.

You must use these suicidal tactics to increase the difficulty of your battles in order to ensure that your strength continues to improve.

[In the 11th year, with the power of 100,000 magnetic fields, you can now easily fight three colossal beasts simultaneously.]

At this point, you sense that your power has reached a bottleneck again; continuing to fight weaker behemoths will no longer provide you with any significant improvement.

You've stopped targeting smaller behemoths and are now setting your sights on higher-level ones.

[In the 12th year, you still haven't broken through the 100,000 horsepower bottleneck, and in a bloody battle with a medium-sized behemoth, you achieved your first Pyrrhic victory.]

Like a powerful magnetic field, each leap of this behemoth represents a qualitative leap. You seem to have underestimated this chosen behemoth, and nearly paid a heavy price.

In terms of capabilities, aside from its larger size, this behemoth isn't significantly more diverse than the smaller behemoths you've encountered.

However, its strength has improved significantly, the power of its attacks is more terrifying, and even its judgment in battle and control over destructive force are several times stronger than any of the smaller behemoths you have encountered.

Looking at the colossal beast that lay defeated and unwilling before you, you seemed to receive an inspiration.

If you stop focusing on increasing your magnetic field power and instead begin refining your control over it...

[Perhaps, we can unexpectedly break through this bottleneck?]

[In your 13th year, although you haven't yet broken the 100,000 mark, your strength has improved significantly, and you no longer fear any medium-sized behemoth!]

You define your control over magnetic field power as "perfect."

The higher the level of mastery a magnetic field expert reaches in their "Perfect Realm," the more they can concentrate their destructive power on a single point, achieving victories against stronger opponents through complete control of their strength.

Now that your control over power has reached several levels, you can easily overwhelm your past self, who possessed 100,000 units of magnetic field power two years ago, even using only "electric current propulsion."

[...In the 15th year, you finally reached a magnetic field strength of 130,000 horsepower!]

Having broken through the long-standing bottleneck, you rediscovered the exhilarating effects of your cultivation and began a vigorous search for medium-sized and even large-sized behemoths.

[...the 20th year.]

Having reached a power level of two hundred thousand horsepower, you are now fearless against any behemoth on this land.

[You have cultivated on this land for over ten years. During this time, you have slaughtered countless colossal beasts of varying sizes, your hands stained with the blood and curses of these terrifying beings.]

Every time you defeat a giant beast, you will be met with its dying curses and questions.

They hate you, so why make them die for no reason?

They despise you. You were the ones who descended from the sky, broke the rules, and seized this land. Why do you still want to exterminate them?

You never spoke of any of this, only relentlessly fought and killed.

You know everything these behemoths say is true, but you feel no remorse.

Just like the principle that predated civilizations followed—survival of the fittest.

Now, you're simply following the rules they set.

Moreover, you know better than anyone that if these behemoths don't become the souls of those who perish on your path of cultivation, it will be the people of the previous civilization who die, and the loved ones you wish to protect.

However, your near-exterministic approach to the behemoths finally alerted the most powerful beast on this land.

"Boom——!"

"How dare you, a mere mortal, do such a thing?!"

The moment the talking behemoth appeared, black mist blotted out the sky, and a chilling wind swept across the land, the wind sounding like the weeping of wronged souls, and thunder like the wailing of a hundred ghosts!

Beneath that thunderbolt, you see only a colossal, furious dragon head in the sky, as if its tranquil slumber has been disturbed, its eyes blazing with malevolent light, black clouds churning beneath its feet, and a stench of blood filling the air behind it.

[By merely appearing, this colossal beast seemed to be the sole ruler of this land! Dominating all others!]

Just by standing still and looking up at that behemoth, you know that it is the behemoth among behemoths, the strongest among the strong!

After eleven years of spiritual practice, for the first time you truly understand what it means to tremble and what fear is.

But beneath that fear lies a surging fighting spirit within you!

At this moment, even with "astounding wisdom," you are blinded by the behemoth before you, and nothing else can be considered in your mind.

All you want to do right now is fight!

[Fight the strongest behemoth!]

"Hmm——!!"

[You roared, fearlessly launching an attack on the colossal beast that reigned supreme in the heavens!]

In that instant, it was like a mortal launching a counterattack against a god!

Your actions have thoroughly angered this most powerful beast, the true "god"!

"Good! You ignorant and fearless mortals have guts!"

The behemoth stared at you with disdain and indignation as you flew towards it, and with a roar, decided to accept your challenge in its strongest form!

"Remember this, mortal! The beast that will tear you apart is the monstrous 'Sui'!"

"I do not kill nameless people. State your name!"

"—I am, the Sea Tiger Martial God!!"

In your excitement, you roared with wild laughter, uttering the words most fitting for the moment and place to respond to "age."

Even at the very end, you still clung to the name "Blue Dream," rarely using that code name in public.

If you had to choose, would you feel that you are more like a "Sea Tiger" than a "Blue Dream"?

Therefore, witnessed by "Sui" and the countless behemoths of this land, you roared out the title you had chosen for yourself!

Meanwhile, fueled by your surging fighting spirit!

Three blood-red battle markings, like shark teeth stained with blood, appeared on your forehead with your furious roar!

"Sea Tiger?!"

The years murmur your title, yet, though a murmur, it resounds like a thunderclap.

"I will remember your name, mortal!"

"The first strongman to dare challenge us gods with a mortal body!"

"Let me show you my power! It is something you mortals can never shake!"

"war!"

(End of this chapter)