Chapter 702 - 441: Holy Shit, a Weapon

Chapter 702: Chapter 441: Holy Shit, a Weapon

The Adaptive Evolution Array is the absolute core of the Godslaying Weapon project.

Its fundamental concept is to enable a mechanical creation to rapidly adapt to extreme environments, Extraordinary Abilities, extraordinary Rules, and even Authority, evolving corresponding "immunities" and ultimately achieving complete insight and control.

The most straightforward interpretation is "survival of the fittest."

This was a true miracle of creation. If applied to even a common, low-tier nanny bot, it could allow it to grow and evolve into a powerful mechanical Warrior. When used on the Godslaying Weapon, the culmination of countless people’s wisdom, the sparks it could create would be beyond imagination.

Even in its incomplete state, the Adaptive Evolution Array allowed Tang Ling to reach the Demigod Tier. She distinguished herself in numerous battles, even becoming one of the Abyss’s dreaded Battle Angels. If the Evolution Matrix were fully perfected, "Godslaying" would no longer be mere fantasy.

Unfortunately, despite the Star Association investing massive resources and nearly a century of research, they had yet to perfect the Evolution Matrix.

After integrating the Authority of "Transformation," it was still missing one final component.

—The Authority known as "Creation."

Without this Authority, which symbolized infinite potential and creativity, the Evolution Matrix could never achieve perfect adaptability or break through its inherent limitations.

Even with the Star Association’s capabilities, they had been unable to obtain the corresponding Authority Object. The world’s only two "Creation" Authorities were in the hands of Fallen Paradise, and they had them hidden away so securely that there was no chance of acquiring them.

This stalemate was only broken when "Hermes" discovered the Hammer of Forging in [Zone 014].

Forging, Fire, Creation, Destruction...

The Hammer of Forging symbolized not one, but four different Authorities, one of which was the "Creation" needed for the Adaptive Evolution Array.

In fact, Tang Ling had already scanned the Hammer of Forging and evolved these four Abilities through her Adaptive Evolution Array. However, they were only at the Rule Level, not the Authority Level.

That was why she needed Zhou Chen’s help to complete the ascension.

Zhou Chen arrived alone in a vast central server room.

Tang Ling sat in a chair, a dense web of cables extending from her back to the equipment in the central server room. Torrents of data streamed across her eyes. She was not only directing the war outside but had also assumed complete control over all the cities, meticulously monitoring everyone and keeping everything running in an orderly fashion.

"Don’t be nervous. This would be difficult in the outside world, but it’s very easy to implement within the game-ified Gaia."

Tang Ling gave Zhou Chen a playful wink, trying to ease his pressure. "All you have to do is use a Skill."

She stood up from the chair, and the cables behind her automatically disconnected. She would be going offline for a while.

With a faint clicking sound, Tang Ling’s chest opened up. The mechanical structures hidden within unfolded layer by layer, revealing the core of her being.

It was a heart that pulsed with a brilliant crimson glow, beating slowly. It looked like a work of art exquisitely carved from a Ruby, magnificent and dazzling.

"It’s beautiful."

Zhou Chen muttered, completely entranced. ’So magnificent, such Celestial Craft, so... utterly flawless.’

It was like a work of art created by the Gods themselves, with not a single flaw to be found. Besides "perfect," no other word could describe it.

"You staring at my heart like that is making me feel a little embarrassed."

Tang Ling coughed lightly. "Hurry up. Time waits for no one."

"Oh, right... Sorry."

Zhou Chen snapped out of his daze and summoned the Hammer of Forging.

"You just need to hit it once with Creation of All Things."

Tang Ling told him, "I’ll handle the rest myself."

Zhou Chen nodded. He gripped the Hammer of Forging, walked over to Tang Ling, took a deep breath, and exhaled. "I’ll count down from three," he said seriously. "Get ready."

"Three... two... one!"

The moment his voice fell, Zhou Chen struck the magnificent Mechanical Heart with the hammer, activating Creation of All Things.

At the same time, he made a wish in his heart for 100% success.

[Wish Value -1000]

In that instant, a crisp sound rang out. A dazzling, brilliant crimson light erupted, engulfing the entire central server room like a tidal wave. A powerful shockwave sent Zhou Chen flying, slamming him hard against a wall. His Blood Volume instantly dropped by half, and he was inflicted with the Stunned status.

As soon as he managed to shake off the stun, Zhou Chen hurriedly looked over at Tang Ling.

Tang Ling lay on the ground, her face expressionless. Her body convulsed violently, thick smoke pouring from it as sparks erupted from various parts. She looked like a severely damaged machine, and a loud noise emanated from within her—the sound of her systems overloading.

A few seconds later, a plume of superheated smoke billowed out, and Tang Ling instantly burst into a human torch.

’Holy crap, the overload pushed her temperature to the point of combustion...’ Zhou Chen stared, dumbfounded.

Tang Ling had become like a furnace, madly radiating heat. The raging Fiery Fire dyed the entire central server room red as the temperature skyrocketed, triggering the fire alarm.

The sprinklers on the ceiling activated and began spraying water. However, the temperature was so high that the water evaporated almost instantly, turning into scalding steam that filled the air. In no time, the entire central server room had turned into a high-temperature sauna.

Fortunately, with his physical fortitude and Defense Power, Zhou Chen didn’t lose much Blood Volume even when enveloped in the hot steam.

The air circulation system continuously extracted the hot steam, but it was a drop in the bucket. In just over ten seconds, the entire area was completely shrouded in thick smoke.

Thankfully, the server room’s equipment was specially made and protected by an Alchemy Matrix, so a little heat like this wasn’t enough to make the servers go on strike.