I was just fishing, how did I become a Great Old One?

Koprulu Sector, Char Planet, High-Energy Gas Fountain - Thunder Beast Nest.

On the planet Char in the early morning, the air was filled with a suffocating smell of rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide).

Jiang Li and his group lay on the volcanic rocks at the edge of the canyon, observing the terrain below through the thick green fog.

It was a huge sunken basin.

In the center of the basin, there is a fissure vent with a diameter of more than ten meters.

"Hiss hiss hiss————"

Streams of green Vespene Gas are being ejected at high pressure from the nozzle, forming a green column of gas that shoots straight into the sky.

The concentration of that energy was so high that even a deep breath could cause a burning sensation in the lungs.

"Good mine."

Swan held the analyzer, his beard trembling with excitement.

"This is a rich mine! Over 90% purity! Once we set up the refinery, our SCVs will be running like they've drunk Red Bull!"

"but……"

Tex pulled back the bolt of the heavy machine gun, his face grave.

"The mine is good, but the guys guarding it... are even more troublesome."

……

A huge goalkeeper.

Following Tex's gaze.

Beside the geyser, there is a small hill.

Yes, it was a living mountain made of muscles, bones, and chitinous armor.

It has four thick, pillar-like thighs, and its back is covered with plate armor that is half a meter thick. On either side of its head grow two pairs of huge, scythe-like single-molecule bone blades (Kaiser Blades).

With each breath, the green smoke exhaled from its nostrils directly corroded the rocks on the ground into dust.

[Monster: Ultralisk]

[Variation: Torrasque.]

[Tier: Zerg Ground Dominator / Living Siege Tank]

[Features: Super-heavy armor, rapid regeneration, single-molecule cutting.]

……

"Torellask..."

Mohanda's figure appeared in the air, his voice low.

"This is a mutant among the Thunder Beasts."

"They possess an astonishing ability to regenerate."

"Even if you blast it down to just one cell, it can regenerate within minutes."

"During the Battle of Aiur, a single Torrelask withstood the bombardment of three of our aircraft carriers."

"regeneration?"

Jiang Li's focus, however, was somewhat strange.

He touched his chin.

"In other words..."

"If we cut off a piece of meat."

"Will it grow back?"

"Isn't this... unlimited refills of steak?"

Mohanda: "..."

……

Probing attack.

"Stop dreaming, cook."

Tex spat out the cigar from his mouth.

"Let's think about how to break through their defenses first."

"Brothers! Firepower! Test the waters!"

"Da da da da da————"

A dozen C-14 Gauss rifles and Tex Gatling heavy machine guns opened fire simultaneously.

A barrage of depleted uranium armor-piercing rounds rained down on the sleeping Thunder Beast.

"Jingle bells—"

however.

A heartbreaking scene unfolded.

Those bullets that could easily tear apart Zerglings and Hydralisks only sparked a series of sparks when they hit the Ultralisk's carapace, leaving not even a white mark.

The Thunder Beast didn't even wake up.

It just scratched itself, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

"Oh shit!"

"Tex cursed."

"This armor is thicker than that of a battlecruiser!"

……

Physical defense breach?

"Let me do it!"

Sun Wukong couldn't stand it anymore.

Holding the golden cudgel, he leaped down from the canyon.

"Take this from my old Sun Wukong's staff!"

The golden cudgel, carrying immense force, slammed heavily onto the thunder beast's forehead.

"boom!!!"

The earthquake trembled.

The Thunder Beast finally woke up.

It let out a deafening roar, and its enormous body suddenly stood up, reaching a height of twenty meters.

Although a crack appeared on his forehead and a little green blood flowed out.

But only for a few seconds.

The wound then...healed.

"roar!!!"

Thunder Beast wielded its two enormous Caesar Blades, sweeping them across Wukong.

That slash cut through the air, producing a sharp, explosive sound.

Wukong nimbly flipped over and dodged the attack.

The rock wall behind them was sliced ​​open like tofu, creating a crack a hundred meters long.

"What a sharp knife!"

Wukong didn't dare to take the hit head-on.

"This beast has thick hide and regenerates health! It's going to be tough!"

……

The chef's observations.

Jiang Li stood on high ground, not in a hurry to make a move.

His gluttonous eyes were frantically analyzing the behemoth's physiological structure.

Armor thickness: 60 centimeters.

Melting point: 3500 degrees Celsius.

Weaknesses: Abdomen, joints, and...

Jiang Li's gaze fell on the gas vent that was erupting.

"And...it's too dependent on this geyser."

Jiang Li discovered that every time the Thunder Beast was injured, it would instinctively take a deep breath of the gas spewing from the spring.

The high-energy gases entering its body accelerated cell division and regeneration.

"I see."

"This is a tanky character who relies on drugs."

"Since that's the case..."

Jiang Li's lips curled up.

"Then we'll... use their own methods against them."

……

[Tactics: Gas-grilled teppanyaki.]

Jiang Li issued the order via the communication channel.

"Swann!"

"exist!"

"I need you to make a device."

"Stop the vent of that geyser..."

"Huh?" Swan was stunned. "Block it? The pressure will explode!"

"No, it's not completely blocked."

Jiang Li explained.

"It's about adding a diversion valve."

"Change it into... a giant gas stove nozzle."

"Then……"

Jiang Li looked at the three fire-bat chefs who were watching the show while carrying flamethrowers.

"Barbecue group!"

"arrive!"

"Wait for Swan to install the valves."

"Your job is to... light the fire."

"Since its skin is too thick, it can't be cut."

"Then we'll... roast it before cutting it."

……

Action begins: Lure the monster.

"Great Sage! Nezha!"

"Lure that cow away! Buy Swann some time!"

"no problem!"

Nezha, riding on his Wind Fire Wheels, flew right under the Thunder Beast's nose.

"Hey! You big dummy!"

Look here!

Nezha took out a piece of leftover Lurker meat and threw it at the Thunder Beast's face.

"I ate your little brother!"

"roar!!!"

The Thunder Beast was enraged.

It took heavy steps and rumbled as it chased after Nezha and Wukong.

……

Emergency repairs to the gas stove.

While the Thunder Beast was away from the air spring.

Swan drove two SCVs into the area.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

"Be quick! Be stylish!"

Swan directed the SCV to move several high-temperature deflectors removed from the Hercules engine.

"welding!"

"Increase the pressure!"

SCV's robotic arms fly.

In just three minutes.

The fissure in the ground that was originally erupting violently was forcibly fitted with a huge, circular metal nozzle.

It's like putting a mask on a volcano.

"laugh----"

The gas was compressed and ejected from the countless tiny holes in the nozzle, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

"Done!"

Swan shouted.

"Boss! This is the biggest gas stove I've ever made!"

"I just don't know... who'll light the fire?"

……

Ignition and luring the enemy.

"Ergou! Bring that cow back!"

Jiang Li gave the order.

Er Gou, who was herding cattle in the distance, fired a burst of bullets from his Gauss rifle at the Thunder Beast's rear.

"Woof! Grandson! Grandpa's here!"

The Thunder Beast, its rear end throbbing from the blast, turned around and charged back with red eyes.

Its target was that geyser.

Because it sensed that the gas concentration there had increased (it had been compressed).

"Now!"

The moment the Thunder Beast's massive body passed over the metal nozzle.

Jiang Li shouted:

"Nezha! Can I borrow a light?"

Nezha, who was in the air, suddenly spewed out a mouthful of Samadhi True Fire.

A spark landed on the nozzle.

"boom--------!!!"

The compressed, high-purity gas encountered divine fire.

moment.

A hundred-meter-high column of plasma fire, blue with gold undertones, shot into the sky.

This is not barbecue at all.

This is... the ignition site of the planetary engine.

……

"Awooo!!!!!"

The Thunder Beast, which was standing right above the nozzle, was instantly doomed.

Even if its armor can withstand a nuclear bomb.

But what about this continuous, high-energy flame, thousands of degrees high, that erupts right under his belly?

It can't withstand it either.

That instant.

The crowd even heard the cracking sound of the chitinous armor breaking apart.

There was also the sizzling sound of grease dripping into the fire.

An extremely rich aroma of meat, mixed with a burnt smell, instantly filled the entire canyon.

"It's ripe! It's ripe!"

Tex sniffled, tears welling up in his eyes.

"This tastes...like smoked tomahawk steak!"

……

A desperate counterattack?

The Thunder Beast roared in agony.

It tried to escape the huge fire pit.

But since Jiang Li had started cooking, he wouldn't let the ingredients escape.

"Great Sage! Hold it down!"

"Okay!"

Wukong transforms into a ten-thousand-foot-tall Dharma form (a miniature version, 100 meters tall).

The golden cudgel in his hand transformed into a pillar of heaven, pressing down firmly on the back of the thunder beast.

"Get down...!"

"Trying to run? Did you ask the stick in my hand first?"

The Thunder Beast was pinned down and unable to move, only able to struggle frantically within the pillar of fire.

Its regenerative ability is completely rendered ineffective in the face of intense flames.

Because the newly grown flesh hadn't had time to harden before it was instantly cooked.

……

The chef's cutting.

"It's almost done."

Jiang Li watched as the armor on the Thunder Beast's abdomen was burned to a charred black, and even began to peel off.

It revealed the inside... bright red, steaming muscles.

"Serve the food."

Jiang Li held Occam's razor in his hand.

Step into the Instant Step.

He charged straight into the high-temperature zone (he had the protection of the Gluttony God, which gave him extremely high resistance to this kind of "cooking fire").

Facing the still struggling giant beast.

Jiang Li only had eyes for that perfect piece of meat.

[Part: Thunder Beast - Ribeye]

[Date: Medium Rare]

[Characteristics: Because it was directly smoked by the gas flames, this piece of meat absorbed the energy of the gas, and was repeatedly pounded by the Great Sage's staff, making the meat extremely firm.]

……

[Sword Technique: Butcher's Skill - Modified - Fiery Slash]

"brush!"

A blade of light, ten meters long, flashed by.

It precisely cut into the crack in the Thunder Beast's back armor.

"Sizzle—"

A huge, bone-in steak, as big as a truck, was cut off completely.

The Thunder Beast let out its final mournful cry.

The loss of core muscle support, coupled with brain shock caused by high temperature.

This arrogant Torreirask finally collapsed.

It turned into a... giant mountain of cooked meat.

……

The spoils were divided on the battlefield.

The battle is over.

Swan rushed over immediately and shut off the gas valve.

"Quickly! Take control of the geyser!"

"SCV! Build an automated refinery!"

"We're rich! This gas will last us a year!"

Jiang Li then directed Tex and the Marines to deal with the mountain of flesh.

"Don't just stand there!"

"While it's hot!"

"Cut off all the cooked parts!"

"Don't touch the living part yet; let it regenerate on its own for a while (even though it's dead, the cells are still active)."

……

[Dish: CharStar Gas-Grilled Thunder Beast Tomahawk Steak.]

At the camp.

The huge campfire (actually a small gas stove) was lit again.

That truck-sized "ribeye" was cut into dozens of thick-cut steaks.

Each piece is as big as a shield and five centimeters thick.

The surface is an enticing dark brown, and when cut open, it reveals tender pink flesh with golden fat flowing between the grains.

Not many seasonings are needed.

All you need to do is sprinkle a little bit of the mineral salt extracted from the Lurker's Bamboo Shoots.

Sprinkle on some black pepper (made by Alice).

……

"Try it."

Jiang Li handed Mo Handa a piece.

"This is... an energy steak."

Mohanda took the steak.

He had no mouth, but he could feel the terrifying energy contained within the flesh.

That is a perfect fusion of gas and bioenergy.

He placed his hand on the steak.

"Buzz—"

A green light appeared.

Just a few seconds.

Mohanda's previously somewhat ethereal figure instantly solidified.

The curved light battle blade in his hand actually changed from green to light purple (void energy upgrade).

"this……"

Mohanda was shocked.

"The energy provided by this piece of meat... is equivalent to the energy I've accumulated through ten years of meditation!"

"Is this... the pleasure of eating?"

……

Tex, on the other hand, wolfed down his food.

"Waaaah...this meat really smells smoky!"

"And this strength... it feels like chewing steel bars, but you can actually chew them!"

"I feel like I have enough strength to kill a bull!"

……

Jiang Li's discovery.

Jiang Li also cut a small piece for herself.

Put it in your mouth.

As the meat juices burst in your mouth.

A surge of heat rushed straight to my head.

[Ding! High-energy gas bio-meat ingested.]

[Gain temporary buff: Gas Overload.]

[Effect: Increases movement speed by 30%, attacks deal minor plasma damage, lasts for 1 hour.]

"nice one."

Jiang Li's eyes lit up.

"This is more than just food."

"This is... a natural alternative to stimulants."

"And there are no side effects."

……

Crisis in the shadows.

Just as everyone was enjoying this hard-won "whole cow feast"

Over the canyon.

The thick layer of green clouds suddenly dispersed.

A huge shadow obscured the brilliance of the red giant star.

That's not a cloud.

That was a... biological warship.

It stretches for several kilometers and resembles a giant, floating jellyfish and whale hybrid.

Countless tentacles hung in the air, each one adorned with strange dragons and corrupted creatures.

【warn!warn! 】

Alice's voice became sharp and shrill.

[Leviathan-class biological reaction detected!]

[It's the flagship of the Queen of Blades!]

It's... here!

……

Jiang Li put down the knife and fork in her hand.

Looking up at that colossal thing that blotted out the sky.

The immense pressure instantly silenced Tex and the others who had just been cheering.

"Has it finally arrived?"

Jiang Li wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth.

There was no fear.

instead……

His gaze fell on Leviathan's drooping, still wriggling tentacles.

"that……"

Jiang Li pointed to the sky.

"It looks like..."

"It looks like... a thicker bamboo shoot?"

"Or perhaps... squid tentacles?"

"I wonder if I could make it into... grilled squid..."

"How much gas do you need to grill it?"