13: Chapter 13: Resources Exceed 100 Million! Light Frigate Unlocked! The Shipbuilding Era Officially Begins!

The Grey Fire Planet Star River Base has transformed into a silent yet menacing interstellar fortress of war.

68 defensive towers of various types pointed toward the firmament, orbital plasma sniper towers patrolled slowly in the low altitude, ground magnetic storm towers crackled with electricity, and the red dots of close-in defense cannons swept across every blind spot; inside the newly completed mecha workshop, 4 Galaxy-01 combat mechas stood ready, maintenance robotic arms operated flexibly, energy modules were fully charged, ready to be deployed for thunderous raids at any moment; the mothership and six light frigates were arrayed in synchronous orbit, with former Federation officer and fleet first adjutant Major Hu Feng commanding from the command center, where fleet coordination, firepower response speed, and tactical execution efficiency were all maxed out.

Only 3 hours remained until the arrival of the main force of the Black Crow Fleet.

The entire airspace was deathly quiet, the air seemingly solidified by the gravity before ignition.

Emperor Chen Fan stood alone on the top floor of the War Command Tower, the power of his Tier 1 Gene Warrior contained like an abyss, his gaze piercing through the atmosphere and landing on the resource panel at the center of the mothership. After several consecutive days of full-capacity mining at all three mines, ultra-high-efficiency automated extraction, plus the additional resource bonuses from salvaging pirate wreckage and analyzing technology, his total resources were soaring at a near-crazy speed.

75 mining machines roared incessantly in the main equatorial mining zone, 20 units operated at high speed at the western energy crystal sub-base, and the Arctic outpost continued to output steadily. Under the superposition of the three buffs—resource compression, engine speed boost, and double mining—the production capacity of 48,600 units per hour was pouring into the base's total reserves like a golden river that would never run dry.

[Host, current resources refreshing in real-time!]

[Total resources: 98.72 million... 99.35 million... 99.80 million...]

[Alert! Total resources are about to break the 100 million mark!]

[Detection of meeting system hidden conditions: base militarization completed, fleet formed, mechas mass-produced, population stabilized, controlled airspace expanded!]

Hum—!

A low and vast system prompt suddenly resounded deep in Emperor Chen Fan's consciousness.

The holographic screens of the entire War Command Tower lit up with golden light. The system panel, which had previously only opened basic construction, defense, and mecha modules, felt as if a brand-new door had been pushed open. Massive amounts of previously locked military technology, ship blueprints, and production line schematics gushed out like a tide!

[Congratulations, Host!]

[Total resources have officially broken through: 100 million units!]

[Milestone achieved: Foundation of a Star-Region Level Hegemon!]

[Highest authority unlocked: Interstellar Shipbuilding System!]

[Core unlocked: Blade-class Frigate • Complete Blueprints, Frigate Production Line, Ship Modular Factory, Fleet Expansion Authority!]

Golden characters filled his entire field of vision, dazzling enough to be suffocating.

Emperor Chen Fan's pupils constricted, and his heart jumped violently.

The era of shipbuilding... has officially begun!

From the moment he was stranded in the No. 7 Dead Zone and fighting for survival, to obtaining the mothership, establishing the base, recruiting the population, forming the mecha squad, appointing the fleet adjutant, and completing the militarization, he had finally crossed the most critical threshold—stepping from "using warships" to "manufacturing warships"!

This meant, he no longer had to rely on initial ships, no longer had to rely on seizing enemy scrap to maintain the fleet, and no longer had to be constrained by quantity shortages.

From today on, he could design, build, expand, and dominate the fleet scale himself!

"Zero, open the shipbuilding panel!" Emperor Chen Fan's voice could not suppress his excitement.

[Shipbuilding system fully activated!]

[Current main production line: Blade-class Frigate standardized production line]

[Unlocked ship: Galaxy-02 [Blade-class] Light Frigate]

On the holographic screen, a standard military frigate with sharp lines, silver-white coating, balanced firepower configuration, and maxed-out maneuverability was displayed in a 360° panorama. Compared to the old-fashioned frigates he had seized and refitted early on, this complete ship provided entirely by the system was a world of difference!

Galaxy-02 [Blade-class] Light Frigate [Complete Version]

[Length: 128 meters]

[Engine: Standard Interstellar Fusion Engine]

[Weapons: Twin Medium Particle Cannons + Missile Launch Matrix × 2]

[Defense: Intermediate Energy Shield + Double-Layer Military Armor]

[Shipboard: Can carry 1 small reconnaissance plane / 1 mecha storage pod]

[Unit cost: 1.2 million resources]

[Construction time: Standard 8 hours, after mothership capacity acceleration: 1 ship every 3 hours]

[Characteristics: Formation combat bonus, low maintenance cost, suitable for mass production]

Major Hu Feng received the authority synchronization notification and rushed to the War Command Tower at the first opportunity. The moment he saw the [Blade-class] Frigate blueprints, this former Federation Major with nineteen years of service instantly froze in place, his eyes widened to the maximum, his face filled with shock beyond compare!

"This... is this the complete blueprint for the Federation military's new generation standard frigate?!" Old Hu's voice was trembling. "And... it's a production line that can directly mass-produce them?!"

He knew too well what this represented.

Within the Federation, an entire frigate production line was a legion-level strategic asset, the ultimate trump card that even planetary governors would covet.

And now, on this abandoned No. 7 Dead Zone wasteland planet, in their own base, it had actually been unlocked directly!

"Sir... can we... can we really build warships ourselves?" Old Hu's voice drifted, as if in a dream.

Emperor Chen Fan looked at the [Start Construction] button flashing on the holographic panel, his tone calm, yet carrying an overwhelming dominance:

"Not only can we build."

"From now on, the Star River Fleet enters the mass-production mode."

He did not hesitate at all, pressing the confirm button heavily with his fingertip.

[Command confirmed! Starting frigate production line!]

[Resource consumption: 1.2 million units!]

[First [Blade-class] Light Frigate, construction started!]

[Mothership dock synchronizing acceleration... Estimated completion time: 3 hours!]

Boom—!

In the synchronous orbit of Grey Fire Planet, the upgraded Galaxy-002 small combat mothership slowly unfolded its bottom dock hatch. The massive modular construction platform extended automatically, and alloy frames, energy pipelines, weapon modules, and shield units were precisely spliced, fused, and calibrated according to the system blueprints.

Warships that the Human Federation would take months to assemble could be formed and launched in just 3 hours under the system's super-tech acceleration!

Major Hu Feng watched the real-time construction screen, trembling with excitement, and snapped to attention to salute:

"Report, Sir! The Fleet Command Center requests to expand the establishment!"

"Requesting to build: 12 Blade-class Light Frigates, to form three assault squadrons to achieve full-area suppression of the No. 7 Dead Zone!"

"Requesting to form: Orbital fleet, near-ground fleet, and mecha wing trinity combat cluster!"

"Requesting to establish: Star River shipbuilding standards, unifying ship models, ammunition, shields, and command frequency bands!"

One professional request after another highlighted the desire of an old-school officer for a massive navy.

Emperor Chen Fan looked up at the resource panel, where the number was now steadily resting at: 103.7 million.

Over 100 million resources.

Building one cost 1.2 million, so even building 20 at once would only be 24 million, not hurting the foundation.

He spoke lightly, his voice falling like ironclad law:

"Approved."

"Phase one, build 12 Blade-class Light Frigates to form the First Star River Fleet."

"Phase two, activate double capacity for the mecha workshop, expanding the mecha squadron to 8 units."

"Phase three, open double production lines at the mothership dock to achieve 24-hour uninterrupted shipbuilding."

[Command confirmed!]

[12 light frigates, batch construction sequence has been generated!]

[Current queue: 1/12... Building...]

[Resource consumption: 14.4 million units!]

[Remaining total resources: 89.3 million units!]

The massive resource reserve of nearly 90 million gave Emperor Chen Fan the confidence to produce troops recklessly.

This was the dominance brought by resources breaking 100 million—crushing enemies with money (resources)!

Inside the base, a new round of engineering frenzy was set off, but this time, it was not defensive fortifications, but a true interstellar naval industry.

Administrative Director Guo Shouyi received the administrative deployment order and immediately activated the highest-level material support:

"All engineering teams switch to shipbuilding support! Mecha workshop coordinates with ship parts production! Energy cores all tilted toward the mothership dock! Resident logistics teams work in three shifts to ensure the production line does not stop!"

When the 57 initial residents learned that the base was building warships itself, and 12 at once, the entire base instantly boiled over!

"We can build warships?!"

"We won't have to be afraid of pirates anymore!"

"Following Sir, we really are going to build an empire!"

"The Black Crow Fleet is coming, let's show them our new fleet!"

Resident loyalty skyrocketed across the board, morale broke through the critical point, everyone worked with great enthusiasm, and the base's operating efficiency increased by another 20%.

Emperor Chen Fan stood on the command tower, watching the outline of the first frigate in the mothership dock become clearer and clearer, watching the stable and massive numbers on the resource panel, watching Major Hu Feng frantically formulating fleet expansion tactics in the command center, watching the entire base step into a brand-new stage of industrialization, militarization, and shipbuilding, his heart was clear.

From today on, he was no longer just a powerful figure in the No. 7 Dead Zone.

But a star-region level hegemon with independent shipbuilding capabilities, over 100 million resources, formed mecha squads, and united military and civilians.

Black Crow Fleet?

They were just stepping stones used to sacrifice the flag before his new fleet launched.

"Old Hu." Emperor Chen Fan spoke.

"Subordinate is here!" Major Hu Feng turned immediately.

"After the first Blade-class Frigate is launched, name it 'Star River' and use it as your flagship." Emperor Chen Fan ordered lightly, "The subsequent 11 ships will be listed in order to form three assault squadrons. Once the Black Crow Fleet arrives, surround them for me."

"Yes! This subordinate guarantees they will not return!" Major Hu Feng's voice was firm, his confidence exploding.

The current Star River force was no longer the small force that could only defend passively.

Defensive tower groups, mecha wings, combat mothership, self-produced light frigates, 100 million-level resources, militarized fortress, professional command, loyal population...

Comprehensive with no shortcomings.

Crushing level across the entire system.

[Host! Major update!]

[First [Blade-class] Light Frigate construction progress: 57%!]

[Total resources stably maintained at: over 89 million!]

[Base officially upgraded: Star River Military Industrial Fortress]

[Unlocked title: Star-Region Shipbuilding Overlord]

[Fleet combat power comprehensive evaluation: Increased by 400%!]

[Win rate against Black Crow Fleet: 99.7%!]

Time passed second by second.

3 hours arrived in a flash.

Boom—!!!

In the mothership dock, the light surged!

The first Galaxy-02 Blade-class Light Frigate, completely self-built, with system standard blueprints and super-tech accelerated formation, slowly sailed out of the dock. The tail engine ejected dark blue flames, completing its first perfect turn in the orbit of Grey Fire Planet!

The silver-white hull was as sharp as a knife, the twin particle cannons flashed with cold light, the shield energy was stable and full, and the side of the hull was painted with a black Star River emblem—that was the force symbol set by Emperor Chen Fan himself.

Star River Fleet, the first self-produced warship, officially enlisted!

Major Hu Feng roared in the command center: "Flagship Star River! Welcome back to the team!!"

The entire base, the entire fleet, and all channels erupted in earth-shattering cheers!

Emperor Chen Fan looked at the brand-new, powerful warship that belonged to him, his eyes cold, his fighting spirit soaring.

He spoke slowly, his voice spreading to every corner:

"From today on, Star River officially begins the era of shipbuilding."

"We will build our own fleet day and night."

"We will trample all enemies and unify the No. 7 Dead Zone."

"We will rush out of this star region, return to the Federation, and sweep across the stars."

"Now—"

"All combat units, enter final positions."

"Welcome the Black Crow Fleet."

"Let them see our true power."

"Let them know who the master of this starry sky is."

The words fell.

In orbit, the Star River frigate's engines were fully opened;

The mothership's main cannon charging light pierced the darkness;

4 mechas entered the launch channel;

68 defensive towers locked onto the same direction;

Hundreds of millions in resource reserves lay dormant, ready to explode into an invincible fleet at any time.

At the end of the distant deep space, the huge shadow of the Black Crow Fleet finally revealed its hideous outline.

They did not yet know that what they were about to face was not a weary exile force on the defensive.

But a nascent empire that had stepped into the era of shipbuilding, possessed an infinite future, and was destined to dominate the stars.

The ultimate decisive battle had finally arrived.

And this battle would also completely declare—

The No. 7 Dead Zone, renamed Chen!

The era of shipbuilding, has arrived!