Although it was already night, the new camera on the Red Kestrel still captured every move of the enemy.
On the electronic screen of the remote control, a warship sailed through the foggy Dead Sea.
The Accordion emitted a stern metallic feel, its iron shell painted black wrapped tightly around the hull, making its edges and corners distinct. The ship's gunwale was fixed with iron chains and four sets of giant metal hubs, while two brass smokestacks constantly belched thick black smoke. A blue flag with a white anchor emblem fluttered atop its mast.
There were three cannons on the warship, one large-caliber cannon fixed at the bow, and two smaller ones on the sides.
The screen also focused on three small boxes, each marking one of these cannons. Latest content publıshed on novel(ꜰ)ire.net
Text appeared next to the large-caliber weapon at the bow.
The data for the secondary guns on the sides were all the same, reading:
[D-class High-speed Secondary Gun]
Zhou Yi thought to himself, this upgrade and the activation of the machine bay were really worth it.
These data were a detailed battle strategy.
The main gun of the Accordion had an attack range of 125 meters and was quite powerful; the secondary guns had a range of 75 meters, but their damage was far less.
However, this range was ridiculously short, and didn't seem quite like the cannons he remembered.
Was this really the technology he was familiar with?
Zhou Yi asked the Red Kestrel, "Is there really such a big difference between D-class and C-class damage, almost tenfold?"
He recalled eradicating the long-necked crocodile, which was also C-class. Although it was oppressive to the samurai crabs, it wasn't this exaggerated.
Could there be differences even among C-class?
The drone replied, "The long-necked crocodile specializes in skill direction; its damage-dealing ability can't be compared to specialized destructive weapons."
"The cooldown period for the C-class main gun is long, and its energy consumption is high. The secondary gun can compensate for this gap in firepower."
"The cost of high firing speed is limited destructive power and short range. High destruction puts more pressure on the structure of the entire machine, needing a longer cooldown period. Even among weapons of the same rating, there is a large disparity in damage numbers."
"For large war machines, the combination of a high-intensity main gun and a high-speed secondary gun is a very classic pairing. In real combat, they can produce an effect greater than the sum of their parts."
Zhou Yi noted this silently.
His knowledge of firearms was limited to movies and games, without substantial understanding.
The Red Kestrel continued, "We currently lack long-range firepower. The samurai crabs cannot surface in the Dead Sea to launch an effective attack and cannot counter the enemy's long-range firepower suppression. Even suicide attacks would only increase casualties."
"I suggest we quickly retreat from this dangerous area and draw the enemy into the interior. Once the battlefield moves to land, we will have the initiative."
This coincided with Zhou Yi's own thoughts.
Zhou Yi immediately ordered, "Jade City, retreat to the Mushroom Forest and draw the enemy up for combat."
However, at this time, the company employee expressed opposition.
"I think we should block the enemy here."
Jade City's reasoning was, "The energy consumption for relocating is far more than that required to eliminate such an external enemy."
Zhou Yi asked, "Do you have combat experience?"
Rubbing his hands over his face, Zhou Yi said, "It's not that I don't trust you, but the enemy has long-range firepower and you can't enter the Dead Sea to fall into their trap... it's too passive. If the opponent has prepared some secret weapon and you get injured, it will be very troublesome."
The scene where Jade City directly confiscated Tong Niu's rocket launcher in the Mushroom Forest and converted it into energy was still fresh in his memory.
But whether the Absorption Star Method would be effective against a real C-class main gun was still a question.
Jade City was not a professional warrior.
If they suffered a sneak attack, the loss would outweigh the gain.
And that's why Zhou Yi had chosen the safest method: luring the enemy deeper.
Jade City still insisted.
It said, "Right now, my energy charging is at a critical moment, and if I disconnect the energy supply to retreat, it will cause all the basic support systems here to fail followed by a structural collapse, coupled with the energy expended during migration, the repair time will need to be delayed once again."
"Commissioner, I request we engage in combat right here. I will repel them."
Zhou Yi paced back and forth on the spot then hardened his heart, "I'll ask one more time, can you withstand the 'Accordion'?"
Zhou Yi fell silent for a moment, "Okay, I believe you. This time, let's do it your way."
Jade City emphasized again, "I will hold it off."
Plans cannot keep up with changes.
Zhou Yi began to make adjustments according to the current situation.
He positioned the samurai crabs along the retreat path, to ambush and blockade the pursuing Dead Sea Knights, creating time and space for their retreat.
At the same time, Zhou Yi also ordered employees Ajin, Gong Zheng, A Feng, and Ye Zhao to evacuate Jade City immediately and take refuge in the Mushroom Forest to the rear.
Finally, he instructed the samurai crabs to dismantle three sets of Light Blockers first and move them away from the battlefield area, to avoid being destroyed by the bombardment.
The Accordion arrived faster than expected, reaching the seas in just 40 minutes.
The night raid was clearly calculated with precision.
After nightfall, visibility around was extremely low, making it difficult to discern movements in the Dead Sea, and the living buildings could not access the daytime Death Light for replenishment.
The amplified voice traveled over land.
"This is the Seventh Fleet of the Dead Sea Knights, the 'Accordion.' We are now apprehending the murderer who killed the knight guard Luan Zou and others—that is, this Dead Sea Alien. Everyone listen, immediately evacuate from around the Alien, or you will be considered accomplices of the murderer and be exterminated by us."
"The final warning, leave this place or you will be our enemy!"
The Accordion made no secret of its purpose.
It was here to capture the Dead Sea Alien.
At this time, Zhou Yi understood as well.
The appearance of Jade City, with its life-like characteristics, was enough to persuade Ji Zhang to mobilize the Dead Sea Knights.
The warning lasted less than a minute.
Suddenly, a white light shone from the Accordion followed by a thunderous explosion.
Fire erupted from the Main Gun at the bow.
An explosive cloud formed on the surface of Jade City.
The two secondary guns on the ship's side also swung their muzzles and fired simultaneously, spewing out oval globes of light toward the lower half of the giant on the shore, unleashing a barrage.
A torrential bombardment hit Jade City continuously, raising large clouds of dust.
The high-rise building swayed slightly under the intense barrage.
However, observing from a distance, Zhou Yi felt something strange—that even if Jade City could not absorb the bombardment, it should not be completely unresponsive.
Did those shells have special effects like paralysis?
Just as he puzzled over this, the ground beneath his feet suddenly began to tremble.
Shockwaves, like seismic waves, spread out in all directions.
The source was Jade City ahead.
Around the building, large rectangular stones rose from the ground and into the air, being lit one by one as if they were artificial stars.
These objects covered the surrounding waters densely and swept toward the sea surface below, leaving sharp tails of fire behind.
Upon touching the light fog of the Dead Sea, they exploded, creating an endless series of bright orbs in huge booming echoes.
The drones recorded the final precious images of the Accordion.
As the suspended objects were illuminated, the Accordion realized the danger and attempted to turn around to retreat swiftly, but compared to the fiery rain of projectiles falling from the sky, it was far too slow.
A vast rain of man-made meteors instantly destroyed the lone ship, sparking a nocturnal firework display within the Dead Sea that lit the nearby area as bright as daylight.
The bombardment actually lasted only 10 seconds.
Then all was calm again.
The light fog atop the Dead Sea still flickered unceasingly, and the aftermath still rippled.
The resolute and deep voice of Jade City entered his mind, "Commissioner, I held it off."
If you had this ability, why didn't you say so sooner!
I would have been lying in bed watching your performance by now, was there really a need to be so racked with anxiety?
Zhou Yi suddenly realized.
He seemed to know too little about Jade City.
And he had perhaps only thought of it as a living house.