The massive outline of the Ji-God Soldier slowly retreated into the depths of the wind and snow in the extreme north. From beginning to end, for the defenders of the Mushroom Fortress, it was just an awe-inspiring blurred silhouette in the blizzard.
When soldiers held the steaming mushroom stew porridge with a few shreds of precious dragon meat floating in it, the most heated topic of discussion besides the Red Dragon itself was what exactly that mysterious giant thing glimpsed for a moment was.
Unfortunately, the few insiders naturally kept their mouths shut, while the vast majority could only argue endlessly based on conjecture. In the end, that giant shadow in the wind and snow, like the legendary "D-Class Personnel," became one of the several major unsolved rumors of the Mushroom Fortress.
For the Ji-God Soldier, the power of the Ultimate Resonance Cannon was sufficient. Even the sturdy Mushroom Fortress would probably be half-crippled if it took a shot.
But it still had many shortcomings. Or rather, wanting perfection itself was impossible.
First was the terrifying consumption. Although the torso and lower limbs of the Ji-God Soldier were completely composed of specialized [Storage Puchi] units, like a huge mobile mana reservoir, just one shot of the Ultimate Resonance Cannon instantly drained nearly half of the total stored energy.
This meant that in an ideal state, this weapon could perform at most two full-power bombardments of this level in a short time. Afterward, it could only engage in close-quarters combat or stay on the fungal mat to recharge slowly.
Secondly, the contradiction between attack speed and mobility. The flight speed of the Ultimate Resonance Cannon's mana torrent wasn't slow, but for those top-tier powerhouses who required this level of firepower to deal with, the time from discovering the attack and judging the trajectory to completing evasion was more than enough.
At least compared to the flight speed of a Vampire Prince in impression, it was completely possible to escape the explosion range after discovering the Ultimate Resonance Cannon.
Even with the Red Dragon this time, if not for the Sword Saint striking first to blind its eyes and No. 4 locking the opponent's movements with its body, that shot would very likely have missed.
Not every time could such perfect sniping conditions be created.
Furthermore, strike distance heavily relied on the fungal mat network. This successful beyond-visual-range snipe was established on Lin Jun possessing global vision relying on the fungal mat.
Once out of the fungal mat's range, the Ultimate Resonance Cannon's range would shorten drastically.
Therefore, if wanting to use the Ji-God Soldier to directly hunt those top individual powerhouses on the continent, the best strategy was still righteous ambushes and sneak attacks. And one couldn't expect to succeed every time, especially after intelligence about the Ji-God Soldier's existence leaked.
However, if positioning it as a strategic-level battlefield suppression weapon, the value was completely different.
Facing immovable sturdy fortresses, or legions gathering on a large scale but lacking high mobility, the existence of the [Ultimate Resonance Cannon] was a terrifying threat that couldn't be ignored.
Of course, also because this threat was too great, unless another opportunity like this time to beat a dog behind closed doors appeared, Lin Jun didn't plan to let the Ji-God Soldier show its face for the time being.
After all, only cards not turned over could be called trump cards.
...
"Oh... Ah... Sunlight... Ravage me..."
"Ahhhhh! Hot! Let me go, please let me go ow ow ow—!"
Listening to these two howls with distinct flavors, the Mushroom Citizens who just fixed the landscaping sculptures back to calling the door stopped to listen for quite a while before returning to the city satisfied.
The Red Dragon's threat came fast and went fast, causing many people to lack a sense of reality.
Under the direction of soldiers, the Mushroom Fortress populace who hurriedly hid in underground shelters earlier returned to their respective residences one after another with some bewilderment.
Many people actually didn't figure out what exactly happened at all.
They only remembered the "wee woo" alarm sounding in their brains, the urging of soldiers, then nearly a day of apprehensive hiding, listening to the faintly transmitted rumbling.
Just when they thought they would face a long and cruel siege battle, everything calmed down abruptly, and they were told they could go home.
What made them puzzled yet vaguely reassured was that those soldiers maintaining order on the streets, although looking somewhat tired, didn't seem to have suffered any serious injuries.
Moreover, their eyes and state were different from that tense vigilance before the alarm sounded. Instead, they revealed an indescribable relaxation, even... confidence?
As if they just completed an extremely arduous yet totally victorious mission; even their backs were straighter than before.
Occasionally, one could still hear them mocking a certain timid and cowardly deserter in the mycelial network.
A young Lizardman cub, scales not yet fully hardened, tail swinging restlessly left and right, squeezed through the crowd and rubbed up against Norris's leg, who was holding a bowl and eating by the street.
It looked up, light yellow vertical pupils filled with curiosity and some kind of longing, voice childish: "Uncle! They said... you guys killed a really big, big dragon! And... and even ate the dragon?"
Its gaze was almost glued to that bowl in Norris's hand still emitting wisps of steam, swallowing saliva unconsciously, tail swinging faster.
Norris lowered his gaze, looking at this little guy.
Uncle?
And, this little guy's eyes couldn't help glancing behind Norris repeatedly, then quickly withdrawing the gaze after a glance.
Norris rolled his eyes. He deliberately pulled a long face: "What did you call me?"
The little Lizardman shrank its neck, changing its words rapidly: "B... Brother!"
Norris didn't fuss further, handing the bowl over.
The little Lizardman immediately took it with joy, ignoring the heat to drink a big mouthful first, then revealed a puzzled expression as Norris expected.
After all, this so-called Dragon Meat Mushroom Porridge tasted no different from ordinary Delicious Mushroom Porridge. Neither did it have special flavor, nor would one gain any power after eating.
Those soldiers eating so excitedly was purely for emotional value—we won, we killed a dragon, and we even ate it!
Talking about actual effects, it wasn't as substantial as getting two more mouthfuls of the Water of Life specially provided by the Boss.
Although that stuff tasted weird, the effect was solid.
In this battle, Norris just fired a few cannons on the city wall; his sense of participation wasn't much more than ordinary soldiers.
But Norris was still very excited.
However, unlike others excited purely for the great achievement of dragon slaying, Norris's excitement point fell elsewhere. He witnessed the destructive power of the Ji-God Soldier's strike with his own eyes.
Others could only guess wildly at the giant shadow in the wind and snow, but Norris was one of the few who knew the inside story.
In his eyes, that was the ultimate form of the Ji-da he piloted daily!
After witnessing that heaven-rending strike with his own eyes, even knowing deeply that his spiritual power was far insufficient to control such a colossal monster, Norris still couldn't help fantasizing in his mind about the scene of himself sitting in the core of the Ji-God Soldier, moving mountains and filling seas with gestures.
Just imagining it made his heart beat wildly, endlessly excited.
"If I could pilot it once, even dying would be worth it..."
One Mushroom Fortress Defense Battle, Norris found a new dream; Piggy verified the reliability of the Mushroom Fortress defense system and obtained some dragon blood as wished; the Sword Saint verified his sword skills after becoming a Puchi; even No. 4 seemed to have found a new way of fighting...
Everyone had a bright future.
Even the Yellow Codex—
...
The Empire, Giant Beast Bone Field, an inconspicuous mercenary lodging house.
The night was deep. An invisible Knight Puchi slipped silently into the Horned Demon Kruma's simple residence.
It came to the pillowside, using a mycelial tentacle to gently flip open that book with dark yellow covers. The Knight Puchi used the tentacle as a pen, crookedly gesturing a few words—Not bad.
[?]
It was just about to start over here; how was it "not bad" already?
The Boss praising it suddenly and bafflingly made the Yellow Codex suspicious for a moment instead.
However, the Yellow Codex's emotion sensing ability told it that the Boss was truly praising it.
Unfortunately, the Knight Puchi slipped away after gesturing, not giving it a chance to ask. Doubts remained between the pages, making the Yellow Codex quite uncomfortable.
On the bed not far away, the Yellow Codex's new high-quality friend Kruma was unaware of everything that just happened. He was having an ambitious dream.
In the dream, he held the mysterious Yellow Codex in his hands, loyal and powerful mercenaries gathered under his command.
Not only did his big brother follow his lead in everything, but even the ruler of the Giant Beast Bone Field, the high and mighty Lord Count, had to treat him with courtesy, eyes carrying wariness and attempts to rope him in.
And this was far from his endpoint. He would obtain more...
"Will all be mine..."
Hearing this somniloquy, the Yellow Codex knew that its continuous "emotional guidance" on Kruma during this period had finally taken full effect.
It was also time to start acting!
(End of Chapter)
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