94: Using the fog to build a defense and research barrier, a natural barrier stretches across the sky to protect the land.

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Building Defenses with Mist, a Heavenly Chasm Across the Sky Protecting Huaxia

The news of the energy mist in the Northern Bear Country and the Vacuum Forbidden Zone in the western border caused a massive stir within the Research Team of the Central Hub Base. Initially, everyone was still shocked by that invisible barrier capable of turning the human body into ashes, but before long, a wave of excitement swept through the entire laboratory—if Bear Country could create such a powerful energy shielding system, why couldn't Dawn City do the same?

"This energy barrier is by no means a simple physical blockade!" The leader of the Research Team, who was also a top energy physicist before the apocalypse, pointed at the energy residue data on the screen, his voice unable to hide his excitement. "Judging from the samples brought back by the Reconnaissance Squad, it can distort space, isolate detection, and even swallow all physical matter that approaches it. If we can crack its principles, we can create an indestructible 'invisible shield' for the Five Great Bases!"

After hearing the report, Lin Zhou immediately made the decision: "Approve the project! Call it the 'Sky Curtain Project'! Allocate thirty percent of the military industrial capacity of the Northern Steel Base, and mobilize the country's top physics, materials, and military industry experts to go all out in developing our own energy shielding system!"

Once the military order was issued, the entire scientific research force of Dawn City converged in one direction.

In the laboratories of the Northern Steel Base, the lights burned brightly all night. Experts repeatedly disassembled the energy residue samples brought back by the Reconnaissance Squad using high-precision analyzers. They discovered that the core of Bear Country's energy barrier lay in a 'spatial resonance crystal'—this crystal could trigger resonance at a spatial level at specific frequencies, thereby forming an invisible barrier. As for that Vacuum Forbidden Zone, it was merely the 'life vacuum zone' accidentally caused by the energy dissipation during resonance.

"To replicate this barrier, the first step is to create a spatial resonance crystal!" The Old Professor stared at the crystal structure on the analyzer, his brow furrowed. "The synthesis conditions for this crystal are extremely harsh, requiring a high-temperature and high-pressure environment, and it must be infused with a special metal extracted from the bones of deep-sea Mutants."

When the news reached the East Sea Barrier Base, the fleet immediately set out, heading deep into the trenches of the Pacific Ocean. Magneto Shock Troopers wearing Deep-Sea Battle Armor dove a thousand meters under the sea to engage in fierce battles with the deep-sea Mutants entrenched there, eventually bringing back a sufficient amount of the special metal.

At the same time, the power plant of the Western Granary Base transmitted half of its power to the crystal synthesis furnace of the Northern Steel Base. The temperature of the furnace soared to tens of thousands of degrees Celsius, and the pressure in the high-pressure chamber broke through the critical value as the special metal and various rare elements reacted violently inside.

After dozens of failures, when the first spatial resonance crystal, the size of a fingernail, emitted a faint blue light in the synthesis furnace, the entire laboratory erupted in thunderous cheers.

With the crystal in hand, the next step was to build the barrier generator.

The Research Team drew inspiration from the energy conduction structure of the magnetic storm coil and used the spatial resonance crystal as the core, installing it in a specially made generator. This generator was named the 'sky curtain generator,' and each one required ten technicians to operate simultaneously, capable of amplifying the crystal's resonance frequency by tens of thousands of times.

The first experimental site was chosen on the periphery of the Central Hub Base.

Ten sky curtain generators were arranged in a ring. The moment the technicians pressed the start button, the faint blue light emitted by the crystals suddenly surged. A visible transparent barrier spread out from the generators as the center, eventually forming a giant dome covering the entire base.

The detection beam of the skynet satellite swept over the dome and was instantly distorted and bounced back; on the screen, the Central Hub Base completely vanished from sight!

"Success!" The Old Professor was so excited that tears filled his eyes. "This sky curtain can not only block satellite detection but also withstand missile bombardments and Mutant assaults!"

To test the sky curtain's defensive capabilities, the Research Team used the latest heavy armor-piercing shells. The shells whistled as they slammed into the dome, but at the moment of contact, they were swallowed by the barrier's energy without even causing a ripple. Subsequently, several Level Six Mutants were driven to the front of the barrier; they crashed and bit frantically, but that transparent wall remained indestructible.

Lin Zhou stood on the command tower, watching the sky curtain enveloping the base, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Pass down my order!" His voice was powerful and resonant. "Deploy fifty sky curtain generators to each of the Five Great Bases to construct a global energy shielding network! For the defense bases of the First Island Chain, install an additional twenty units to bring the entire East Sea defense line under the sky curtain!"

Just one month later, five massive energy domes rose from the land of Huaxia. Looking down from space, the Five Great Bases that were once clearly visible had completely disappeared from the skynet satellite's images, replaced by 'blank areas' that blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

When the sky curtain of the East Sea Barrier Base was activated, it happened that a Skeleton Serpent reconnaissance submarine was sneaking into the East Sea waters. The submarine's sonar system suddenly lost all targets, and the previously clear base signal vanished into thin air. The captain thought it was an equipment failure and ordered to surface for reconnaissance, only to be locked onto by a patrolling falcon fighter jet the moment they broke the surface and instantly blown to pieces.

In an undersea base deep in the Pacific Ocean, Zhulong watched the signal of the Huaxia bases disappear from the screen, his face so dark it looked like it could drip ink.

"Sky curtain system?" He crushed the wine glass in his hand, a hint of alarm flashing in his eyes. "Lin Zhou, you really do always manage to bring me 'surprises'."

The adjutant behind him spoke cautiously, "Sir, our reconnaissance satellites can no longer lock onto any of Huaxia's bases. Next..."

"What are you panicking for!" Zhulong shouted sternly, then gave a cold laugh. "So what if they are shielded? The sparks in Africa have already been lit, and the layout in Europe and America is complete. When our 'Abyss Legion' emerges, a mere sky curtain will be nothing more than a paper window!"

He turned to look at those increasingly hideous Deep-Sea Behemoth in the incubation pods, a flash of madness in his eyes.

Meanwhile, under the sky curtain of the Central Hub Base, Lin Zhou was looking at the latest report submitted by the Research Team. The upgrade plan for the sky curtain system had been released; the next generation of generators would be capable of mobile deployment and could even be installed on warships and fighter jets.

His gaze crossed the sky curtain and settled on that gray-purple mist to the north.

The secrets of Bear Country, the conspiracies of the Skeleton Serpent, and the mysterious organization hidden behind the One-Eyed Insignia... all the mysteries would be revealed one by one in the near future.

And Dawn City was already prepared.