You said mechs were going to fight monsters, but instead you're destroying stars with your bare

Chapter 142 Steel Empire, Level 0, Core Area!

When the first mech of the United Government successfully passed through the portal, transmitting the scene of the Steel Empire filled with the atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic wasteland back to the command center in real time.

The entire planet Earth was in an uproar!

A new era is dawning where everyone is running dungeons and farming for gear!
And the creator of all this is Li Zhe.

The moment the beacon was activated, it had already quietly disappeared into the light of Starfish Island through its own private, unknown portal.

Leaving that clamor and ecstasy far behind...

……

Huazhou Beidu, the highest-level strategic command center of the United Government

The air around the enormous oval conference table was heavy, almost tangible.

On the holographic projection, the steadily rotating portal in the core area of ​​the Steel Empire resembled a giant abyssal eye peering into the blue planet.

"Comrades," the leader's voice was steady and powerful, breaking the silence, "the door to the abyss has been opened by a comrade whose identity we do not yet know."

"This is both an unprecedented opportunity and a tremendous challenge..."

There is only one core issue—

"How can we make use of this one-way passage?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the old general of the East China Fleet slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, his voice booming like a bell: "An opportunity! Absolutely an opportunity! I suggest that we immediately activate the highest-level material transport plan, sparing no expense, and send our steel, cement, weapons, and ammunition in continuously! We must build an unyielding bridgehead in the heart of the abyss!"

"I object!" A refined-looking economist wearing gold-rimmed glasses immediately retorted. "Comrade General, your strategic enthusiasm is admirable, but we must consider reality! This is a one-way channel; once Earth's supplies are put in, they won't come out!"
"Every ton of steel we send over is drawn from Blue Star's limited strategic reserves."

"This is tantamount to attaching a blood bag to Earth that only drains out and never takes in! If the battle on the front lines goes badly, or if there are problems with the passage, we will face the enormous risk of our homeland defenses being severely depleted!"

"That's a woman's view!" the old general glared angrily. "The best defense is offense! Only by bringing the war to the enemy's doorstep can we guarantee the absolute safety of our rear!"

"That's assuming both sides have equal resources!" the economist retorted. "We know nothing about the total resources in the Abyss! This is an asymmetric war of attrition, and we can't afford it!"

Just as the two sides were about to start arguing, the leader gently tapped the table.

“Both comrades’ considerations are reasonable.” His gaze swept across the room. “We must seize the opportunity and dare to show our strength; we must also plan carefully and consolidate our foundation. We are currently feeling our way across the river, so ‘rules’ and ‘order’ have become our only reliance.”

He looked at the mecha pilot representatives attending the meeting: "Comrade Zhu Xingtuan, from the perspective of a front-line mecha pilot, what are your thoughts?"

Zhu Xingtuan stood up and saluted: "Reporting to the commander! I agree to establish strict control regulations."

"But I also hope that the higher-ups can consider the actual needs of the frontline soldiers. They are not only soldiers, but also living, breathing human beings. In addition to weapons and ammunition, a hot meal from home, a letter from a loved one, or even a can of ice-cold cola can greatly boost their morale. I suggest that, in addition to strategic materials, a certain amount of personal supplies should be allocated to each pilot and linked to their combat merits."

Upon hearing this, the leader nodded approvingly.

“Well said. Our soldiers are not cold machines. War is about logistics and technology, but in the final analysis, it is about the hearts and minds of the people.”

He surveyed the crowd and made the final decision: "I have decided to establish the 'Steel Empire Outpost Logistics Joint Management Committee,' jointly managed by the military and the State Council, to immediately draft a detailed and feasible management regulation. The general principles are: strategic priority, total quantity control, allocation according to need, and ensuring human resources."

"This regulation shall be named the 'Provisional Regulations on the One-Way Transport Management of Supplies to the 'Steel Empire' Outpost Base'."

……

Meanwhile, Li Zhe, who had the advantage of being there first, had already arrived at the core area of ​​the Steel Empire's 0th floor... "Commander, we have successfully arrived at the core area of ​​the Steel Empire's 0th floor."

As Li Zhe's vision cleared again, the AI ​​system's voice sounded at the opportune moment.

The sight before him made him gasp in shock.

This place is no longer the urban jungle filled with ruins and decay found in the outer areas.

Instead, it is a...

A living mechanical fortress with a more sophisticated and massive structure, filled with an oppressive and cold atmosphere!
Beneath my feet was a smooth, mirror-like black metal floor, icy cold. Above me were countless enormous gears of varying sizes, slowly turning like a series of doomsday clocks, emitting a dull "click-clack" sound.

The surrounding walls were made of writhing metal and energy pipes that flashed red light, as if they were alive and breathing slowly.

Countless mechanical eyes, flashing with scarlet light, coldly peered at this uninvited guest from every unexpected corner—from cracks in the walls, from the shadows of the ceiling, from under the grids on the ground.

The air was filled with a strong, pungent smell of ozone mixed with the metallic rust.

This is the core of the Steel Empire.

An absolute killing machine constructed from pure order and cold logic.

At the same time, a rather long introduction popped up on the panel—
-
Congratulations to the mecha pilot of Blue Star Civilization No. 42-7 for arriving at the core area of ​​the Steel Empire's 0th floor.

This place is no longer the ruins and graveyards of the outer districts.

This is the embodiment of the Empire's will, a living, breathing mechanical inferno operating with terrifying efficiency.

As far as the eye can see, there is an endless, stretching metal horizon.

The towering pillars, like the skeleton supporting the sky, extend deep into the steel dome woven from billions of gears and pipes.

There is no sky, no sun, moon, or stars here, only a cold, eerie blue light emanating from the enormous energy pipes, and a dark red glow, like hellfire, bursting forth from the underground smelting furnace.

The air was filled with deafening roars and ceaseless rhythms. It was the dull thud of each impact of the giant pistons, the sharp screech of countless mechanical contraptions rubbing against each other on the conveyor belts, and the deep resonance of the entire fortress beating like a heart. This sound constituted the sole law of this place—a cold, unquestionable order.

Within this fortress, you will find no signs of life belonging to nature.

The creatures now entrenched here are no longer the low-level monsters twisted from waste in the outer areas, but rather the fortress's "immune system" and "defenders."

The invisible "data ghosts" patrol the information deluge, hunting down any foreign consciousness; the "mechanical assassins" lurking in the shadows await to deliver a fatal blow to the intruders; and the autonomous defensive turrets extending from the walls form an impenetrable net of death.

Deep within this fortress lies the empire's "central brain"—

A cold lord constructed from pure logic and absolute malice.

It controls the operation of the entire fortress and is the only gateway to a deeper, more sinister realm...

Mech pilot, stepping into this place means stepping into the ultimate embodiment of order, and also the absolute opposite of life.

Here, every step you take is on the cold, sharp edge of steel, and every breath you take is filled with the smell of rusty iron that has been melted.

Here, steel is the only law, while flesh and blood... are merely raw materials waiting to be melted down...
-
(End of this chapter)