101: Ultimate authority activates the divine artifact; a single strike from the heavens subdues the abyss.

Chapter 104: Ultimate Authority Activates Divine Weapon, Space-Based Strike Suppresses the Abyss

Inside the command center, the screams from Zhao Shanhe's communicator stopped abruptly, and the red dot representing the command tank on the screen went out completely. In the footage from the East Sea Defense Line, the Apocalypse Tank Division's formation had been shattered, with more than twenty apocalypse tanks turned into burning wreckage. Vibranium armor fragments on the beach melted together with the magma, emitting pungent black smoke.

The Lord of the Abyss's nine tentacles waved wildly, each strike accompanied by the sound of shattering steel. Its seven crimson eyes swept across the battlefield, letting out an ear-shattering roar as a thousand-meter-high giant wave rose again, crashing toward the remaining apocalypse tanks.

"Army Commander! The Apocalypse Tank Division has suffered over fifty percent casualties! We request to abandon the defense line and retreat!" the roar of a surviving tanker came through the communicator, filled with unconcealed fear.

Lin Zhou stared fixedly at the screen, his knuckles turning white from the force of his grip, yet there wasn't a hint of panic in his eyes. He abruptly raised his hand, cutting off the signalman's shouting, his voice cold as ice: "Retreat? On China's coastline, there is no such thing as a retreating defense line! Pass down my orders: the Falcon Fighter Jet Squadron is to delay support, and the Skynet System is to run at full power to interfere with the energy signal of the Lord of the Abyss!"

As he spoke, he closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the pale blue system panel in his mind.

[Ding! Epic-level threat detected. Does the host wish to unlock the red alert system 2.0 Ultimate Authority — Space-Based Ion Cannon?]

[Unlock Condition: Consume 5 million energy points. Current energy points reserve: 8.9 million. Unlock requirements met.]

[Warning: The Space-Based Ion Cannon is a strategic-level weapon. It requires a 72-hour cooldown after a single firing and will expose the satellite's position!]

"Unlock! Fire immediately!" Lin Zhou's intent was resolute.

[Ultimate Authority unlocked! The Space-Based Ion Cannon has entered the charging sequence. Target coordinates locked — the body surface of the Lord of the Abyss at the East Sea Defense Line! Charging countdown: 60 seconds!]

Inside the command center, everyone saw Lin Zhou's eyes snap open, a faint blue light flashing within them. He stepped quickly to the holographic sand table, his fingertip landing heavily on the coordinates of the East Sea Defense Line: "All surviving units, evacuate to both sides of the defense line immediately! You must be out of the ion cannon coverage area within thirty seconds!"

The order was issued, and though the surviving apocalypse tank crews were full of confusion, they gritted their teeth and executed it. The remaining seventy-odd tanks turned their tracks and sped toward the mountains on both sides, their treads grinding over the beach and leaving two deep ruts.

The Lord of the Abyss seemed to sense the threat; its seven eyes snapped toward the high sky, and its nine tentacles slapped the sea surface frantically, the giant waves it kicked up nearly swallowing the entire coast. Dark purple mucus seeped from beneath its scales, and the energy fluctuations around its body surged abruptly, clearly gathering energy to launch an even stronger attack.

In the undersea base deep in the Pacific Ocean, Zhulong was holding a wine glass, laughing wildly as he watched the carnage on the screen. But when he saw the energy readings of the skynet satellite soaring frantically, his smile instantly froze on his face.

"What is that?!" Zhulong stood up abruptly and grabbed the Technician next to him, "Analyze the energy reaction above China immediately! Fast!"

The Technician's fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard, his face growing whiter by the second: "My Lord! It's... it's a space-based weapon! The energy level far exceeds our estimates, and the target is the Lord of the Abyss!"

Zhulong's pupils constricted suddenly, and he smashed his wine glass on the ground: "Impossible! How could they have a space-based weapon? Quick! Have the Lord of the Abyss dive into the deep sea immediately! Fast!"

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

The sound of the countdown in the command center echoed in every corner like a death warrant from the Grim Reaper.

"10! 9! 8!"

The Lord of the Abyss seemed to sense its imminent destruction, letting out a shrill roar as it turned to flee toward the deep sea.

"3! 2! 1! Fire!"

The moment Lin Zhou's voice fell, the Red Alert Space-Based Satellite, high in the sky at thirty thousand meters, suddenly erupted with a blinding white light.

An ion beam ten meters in diameter, like the Spear of the Heavens, tore through the atmosphere with world-destroying power and accurately struck the back of the Lord of the Abyss.

"BOOM—!"

After an earth-shaking explosion, blinding white light enveloped the entire East Sea Defense Line. Ten-thousand-foot waves rose from the sea, and steam shot into the sky, forming a massive white mushroom cloud. The magma on the beach was instantly evaporated, and the seawater boiled and churned with a sizzling sound.

Inside the command center, everyone instinctively covered their eyes. As the white light gradually faded, the image on the screen made everyone catch their breath.

The once-mighty Lord of the Abyss now had its body pierced through by the ion beam. Its seven crimson eyes were dim and lusterless, its nine tentacles hung limply, and its massive body was slowly dissolving. On the sea surface, nothing remained but a spreading mass of dark purple mucus and slowly falling ash.

"We... succeeded?" a Staff Officer asked tremulously.

Lin Zhou slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, his tense body finally relaxing. He looked at the now-calm East Sea Defense Line on the screen, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue but remaining incredibly firm: "We succeeded."

Through the communicator came the earth-shaking cheers of the surviving apocalypse tank crews. Those cheers echoed across the coast, pierced through the clouds, and reached every corner of the Central Hub Base.

However, Lin Zhou's gaze was cast toward a more distant place. He knew that the firing of the Space-Based Ion Cannon had exposed the satellite's position. The Skeleton Serpent would never let it go at that; an even more brutal war had only just begun.

In the undersea base deep in the Pacific Ocean, Zhulong watched the image of the Lord of the Abyss dissipating on the screen, his whole body trembling, his eyes filled with venom and madness. He smashed his fist onto the control console and roared: "Lin Zhou! I will tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

He turned to look at an alloy door deep within the base. On the door was engraved a line of blood-colored words—"Doomsday Project, The Fall of the Gods."

"Since you've brought out a space-based weapon, then it's time to play this game on a much larger scale." A twisted smile curled at the corner of Zhulong's mouth.

He slowly pressed the switch for the door.

The heavy alloy door let out a creak as it slowly opened. Behind the door was a field of incubation pods shimmering with an eerie red light. Inside the incubation pods, hideous figures were slowly opening their eyes.