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

Chapter 160 The Final Battle of the Pre-Civilization: Chen Qi Challenges the Entire World Alone

[In the five years that everyone thought you were dead, you had actually already left Terra.]

Having reached the "Star-Breaking Realm," you've broken through Terra's isolation barrier and are well aware that the lumberjacks couldn't possibly be unaware of your presence.

Therefore, to prevent the lumberjacks from bringing disaster to Terra, you chose to seize a spaceship immediately after defeating "Year" and flee the planet as quickly as possible.

Even your subsequent treatment was completed in space.

And indeed, just as you predicted, only a few days after you left Terra, the lumberjacks' fleet found you as if they had locked onto your location.

It should be said that only when you witness the horrors of lumberjacks firsthand do you understand why a once-glorious civilization was still struggling to keep up with the lumberjacks' onslaught.

At the beginning, with only 250,000 horses, you could barely hold your own against the lumberjacks' fleet.

[If you hadn't broken through your current level and mastered the ability to rapidly heal injuries through "cell regeneration," you would have had a very difficult time escaping the lumberjacks' encirclement.]

But as you lead the lumberjacks to more distant star systems, you gradually become familiar with their tactics and adapt to fighting and battling them.

Even in the process of risking your life time and time again, you have grown stronger.

You have also set foot on many planets inhabited by life.

[And on these planets, there are many powerful beings similar to "behemoths."]

[There are even beings stronger than "age".]

Thus, amidst challenging the strongest beasts on various planets and evading the pursuit of lumberjacks, you spent five of the most brutal, yet also the most fulfilling, years, constantly dancing on the edge of life and death.

During this period, aside from eating and sleeping, you spent almost every moment in battle, which caused your strength to improve by leaps and bounds.

[Until six months ago, when you had been stuck at 490,000 power for a long time and couldn't break through through combat, you realized the problem.]

You may need other methods to break through this bottleneck.

Therefore, for the past six months, you have stopped choosing to fight recklessly.

Instead, he concealed his true self, maintained a calm and composed mind, and began to study his own martial arts and techniques, refining his ultimate skill.

As expected, after half a year of self-cultivation, you finally broke through to the "anti-gravity realm" of 500,000 horsepower!

From now on, you can travel freely throughout the universe, and no one can stop you anymore.

However, just as you completed your breakthrough and were about to continue your standoff with the lumberjacks on your own...

The lumberjack, however, completely abandoned the strategy he had used to hunt you down five years ago because of your breakthrough.

They saw through your weaknesses and knew your true vulnerabilities.

They've decided to launch a massive invasion to force you to reveal your true form and fight them to the death.

At this point, you have nowhere to hide.

The only thing you can do is stand with all your compatriots from your previous civilization and fight these sons of bitches to the last!

[Until all our compatriots have completed their hibernation and survived this crisis.]

"The sea tiger is here."

However, the lumberjacks seemed to have also sensed your soaring fighting spirit and overwhelming killing intent.

[Within the lumberjack fleet, they began exchanging tactics to counter you, their formidable adversary.]

"The first to twentieth fleets will launch a full-scale attack on Haihu and other magnetic field powerhouses."

"The remaining fleet shall continue its conquests, striving to destroy all facilities, civilizations, and even related researchers."

"It is absolutely forbidden for the force of the rotating magnetic field to continue."

"—Don't even think about it!!"

However, after five years of dealing with the lumberjacks and learning more or less their language, you've already seen through their tricks.

[You roared in fury, unleashing an unprecedented and awe-inspiring force of 500,000 magnetic fields that spread unchecked under your force!]

In an instant, both the lumberjacks and the martial gods standing with you were awestruck by your astonishing power!

At this moment, you are the most powerful martial god in the universe!

"Trying to walk around me?!"

"Let's step over my dead body first!"

"Lumberjacks! Let's fight!"

"—Sea Tiger! We're here to help you!"

Following closely in your footsteps, a group of martial gods, led by you, launched a surprise attack on the lumberjacks!

The lumberjacks also understood that without killing you, they would have a very difficult time getting around your defenses.

"—Stop Haihu with all your might."

The instructions for the logging machinery were being relayed throughout the fleets.

"Haihu is a lone tree that cannot support the whole army. No matter how strong he is, he cannot stop all of us by himself."

"Keep him occupied, eliminate the other martial gods, and deplete his physical strength and magnetic field power."

"We will definitely win and completely extinguish the magnetic field rotation."

……

Two years later, in Terra, the underwater laboratory of Project Blue Dream... has been plunged into darkness.

Two years ago, upon receiving news of a massive invasion by lumberjacks, researchers in all of Terra's laboratories immediately entered the sarcophagus and went into hibernation mode.

The researchers of the "Blue Dream Project" are no exception.

After entering the sarcophagus, everyone was transported by drone into the "Blue Kingdom" for the safest possible hibernation.

But there was only one exception.

In the pitch-black laboratory, only a screen remained, its white light illuminating the slightly slender figure in front of it.

"The situation at the 'Blue Country' facilities is stabilizing, air pressure is stable, and energy supplies are sufficient..."

Lu's thin, bony fingers deftly clicked the mouse. He remained steadfast, muttering the various parameters to himself to prevent himself from being swallowed by drowsiness.

Of course, Lu, who was all alone, was also worried that he would gradually lose his ability to speak in this closed environment.

When the moment arrives, the person she has been longing for returns, she will be unable to utter a single complete sentence.

Lu didn't want it to be like this.

"Warning! Warning!"

However, at that moment, a sudden alarm from the computer startled Lu, who was dozing off, into alertness.

"Numerous unidentified objects have been detected rapidly approaching outside the Terra isolation layer!"

"Warning! An extremely powerful life form has breached Terra's isolation barrier and is rapidly advancing towards the laboratory."

...Has it finally arrived?

For two consecutive years, Lu stayed alone in the laboratory, knowing very little about the outside world.

But she also knew very well that the lumberjacks could attack her planet at any time.

However, the reason why Lu did not enter hibernation with everyone was to wait for Qi here.

The moment she made this decision, she was already prepared for the fact that the lumberjack might arrive even before her prayer.

Lu was well aware that once the lumberjacks attacked, he would have no chance of resisting.

Therefore, she only prepared one pistol for herself.

...a pistol, used at the last moment to prevent the lumberjack from extracting any information from her mind for suicide.

"The target is about to arrive at the laboratory."

"three."

Hearing the clear warning from the computer, Lu sighed and silently pointed the pistol at his own head.

At the same time, I silently apologized in my heart.

I'm sorry, Qi.

"two."

I may not live to see the day when I keep my promise.

Please forgive me.

"one."

"boom!"

The moment the "one" fell, Lu didn't even hesitate, calmly facing his death and pulling the trigger.

The moment the gunshot echoed through the vast laboratory, Lu, who had not yet realized that his consciousness had left, slowly opened his eyes.

Under her watchful gaze, the pistol in her hand was somehow knocked away.

The next second, before Lu could react, she was suddenly enveloped in a strong, broad, yet exceptionally gentle embrace, feeling a sense of weightlessness.

Soon, Lu heard the voice he had been longing for ringing in his ears.

"land……"

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"……pray?"

With a slight sense of disbelief, Lu, already in tears from feeling this warm embrace, mustered her last bit of strength to respond to Chen Qi, who was so close to her.

"Qi...you're finally back."

Tears that had been brewing for so long finally streamed down Lu's cheeks and gently fell onto Chen Qi's shoulder.

Even though she was already emaciated and weak, Lu Yiran forced a beautiful smile and said softly, "I knew it, I knew it... you must not be dead."

"You will definitely come back to see me, just like we promised."

"I'm so lucky, I didn't trust the wrong person, I pray..."

"land……"

Chen Qi gently embraced the girl in his arms, who had lost a lot of weight, and gazed at Lu, who had been guarding the laboratory alone for two years, with slightly trembling eyes.

Under your exceptional eyesight, you can see that Lu's body, which was originally delicate but by no means thin, now appears sickly thin and pale.

Her once jet-black hair had been covered in snow-white hair, and even her beautiful eyes were bloodshot from years of staying up late.

All of this proves how Lu struggled to survive in this almost completely shut-down laboratory over the past two years.

The reason she persisted was simply to wait for him.

She's a fool waiting for someone.

"It's alright, Lu, I'll make you feel better."

Chen Qi looked at Lu with heartache. Just as he was about to use "cell recombination" to help Lu regain his life, Lu's weak strength grabbed his arm.

"No, Qi, don't use your power for my sake."

Even after twenty years, Lu had no idea how terrifying Chen Qi's strength had become.

But with just one look, she could understand Chen Qi's predicament and his difficulties.

"Use that power to protect yourself."

Lu's eyes were gentle yet solemn; he understood the current situation based on mere speculation.

"I bet that in the past two years, the lumberjacks must have used their numerical advantage to cause the fall of all the martial gods... Am I right?"

"Qi... you must be here because the other planets have been taken over by lumberjacks."

"You wanted to protect my safety, so you made a special trip to see me, right?"

"..."

Chen Qi fell silent.

Nearly twenty years of separation had made Chen Qi almost forget that the girl in front of him was a girl whose "astounding wisdom" was no less than his own.

Moreover, she knows herself perfectly well.

How could he possibly hide it from her?

“...I’m so glad, Qi.”

However, even without the magnetic field, Lu, who could still perceive Chen Qi's emotions, revealed a weak and gentle smile.

She gently cupped Chen Qi's face, which was so close to hers, and smiled tenderly:
"I'll be able to see you again before I go into hibernation."

"Look, Qi, it's over there..."

Lu laboriously raised his finger and pointed to the "Deep Blue Tree" in the incubation chamber in front of him.

Twenty years have passed, and the incubation chamber, which was originally used to test the purification effect on new life, is now full of vitality.

Chen Qi could clearly see all sorts of beautiful marine creatures swimming happily in the culture chamber, adding vitality to this "deep blue tree".

"...That is our achievement, our 'child,' Qi."

Lu's eyes sparkled with a light like the stars and the sea, and he said:

“I have nurtured new life that can save our civilization… I have named them ‘Hai Si’ according to the requirements in your blueprints.”

"But, I nurtured them a little too late..."

Lu's tone was filled with a hint of regret and a touch of helplessness.

She leaned gently against Chen Qi's chest, her breath growing weaker, but she still smiled contentedly:
"I'm sorry, Qi... I still couldn't help you."

"I...I'm so tired, I want to rest for a while."

"Can you help me... move... my sarcophagus?"

"……Um."

You nodded gently and lifted Lu's body into your arms.

Over the past decade or so, you have fought against various powerful enemies, giving your all. Your perfect realm has allowed you to reach a level of unparalleled control over your power.

But this time, you were exceptionally careful.

You were afraid that if you exerted even the slightest bit of strength, you would disturb the sleeping beauty in your arms.

[You moved Lu Qingrou to the stone coffin she had prepared for herself long ago, and personally set a timer for her to rest.]

Just as the stone coffin was about to close, Lu mustered his strength and slightly opened his eyes.

She wanted to look at you one last time.

"Pray...don't forget me."

Lu smiled, laborious yet happy.

"Even as the last warmth of the stars dissipates, time itself falls into complete chaos."

"We must all live well, until the day we meet again."

"This is our... agreement."

You didn't respond, you just nodded slightly.

Watch as the stone coffin slowly closes, allowing your soulmate to drift into slumber.

Once you confirmed that Lu Zhen had truly fallen into a deep sleep, you silently lifted the stone coffin with your immense power and stepped towards the edge of the ocean.

The closer you get to the sea, the louder you can hear the loggers' frantic bombardment of the containment layer and the destruction of all infrastructure on land.

But you don't seem to care.

[And the moment you stepped out of the laboratory carrying the stone coffin, a colossal sea monster several kilometers long seemed to sense your presence and appeared before you.]

You recognized it.

This is the ocean behemoth with the best relationship and the most frequent communication with the land.

"—Protect her for me, my friend."

You slowly lowered the stone coffin, and the giant beast seemed to understand your intention, using its enormous tentacles to hold the coffin within its own body, where it carefully guarded it.

Having witnessed the beast's every move, you felt relieved and calmly explained your contract to it.

“Friend, you may not have a name, but you have protected the most important person in my life, and I will be one of your most important friends.”

"I've already chosen a name for you."

"Your name is Isamara."

Upon hearing the name you gave it, the giant beast paused slightly, then its tentacles began to dance joyfully, expressing its delight.

The next second, you grabbed one of Isamara's tentacles and transferred a portion of your magnetic field power into the behemoth's body.

[Not only that, but you also told Isamara about your plans for "Blue Dream" and everything about "Blue Kingdom."]

"This is my strength, and also the shared wish of Lu and me."

"Isamara, I will fight to the death against a powerful enemy, and I don't know if I will be able to return."

"So... I beg you, carry on Lu's wish, and continue this 'Blue Dream'."

You released Isamara's tentacles, gazed into the giant beast's eyes, and solemnly said:

"If one day neither of us dies, and Lu also wakes up, please tell her."

"Lan Meng is always in a place we all know, waiting for her return."

Having said that, you only conveyed the message "Run!" to Isamara, watching as the giant beast swiftly swam deeper into the ocean.

And you, silently relying on the power of the magnetic field, burst forth from the ocean—

"boom!"

Emerging from the ocean! Your appearance has once again captured the attention of countless loggers!

In an instant, all the ship's cannons and killing machines were aimed at your body!

The lumberjacks are fighting with all their might, determined to eliminate you, their greatest threat, right here!

"Sea tiger spotted! Sea tiger spotted!"

"Annihilate them! Annihilate them!"

"—Hahahaha! Fine! If you want to kill me, then come and try!"

[You laugh arrogantly, and a magnetic field force far exceeding the limit of 500,000 horsepower is unleashed upon you!]

[On your forehead, the crimson battle markings reappeared, along with many more battle markings of different colors and shapes!]

[Your fists, in addition to their ferocious power, have conjured two enormous hand blades out of thin air!]

This means you will give it your all!

You will unleash all your martial arts skills here!

"Let's fight to the death, you bastards!!"

[You roared, charging alone into the sky, challenging the siege of countless mechanical gods with your own flesh and blood!]

At that moment, the image of "Sea Tiger" and "God of War" was forever frozen in time.

(End of this chapter)