The massive silhouette of the Ji Divine Soldier slowly retreated into the depths of the Far North’s wind and snow, always a formidable and awe-inspiring shadow in the blizzard to the fortress’s defense forces.

When the soldiers held steaming bowls of mushroom porridge with a few strands of precious dragon meat, the most heated topics besides the Red Dragon itself were what exactly that mysterious massive creature was—a fleeting glimpse.

Unfortunately, the few who knew the truth naturally kept their mouths tightly shut, while the vast majority could only rely on speculation and debate endlessly. Ultimately, that giant shadow in the snowstorm, like the legendary "D Level personnel," became one of the many unsolved rumors at the fortress.

For the Ji Divine Soldier, the power of the Ultimate Resonance Cannon was certainly enough, even a sturdy fortress would be mostly destroyed by a single shot.

However, it still had many shortcomings, or rather, achieving perfection itself was impossible.

First was the terrifying consumption. Although the torso and lower limbs of the Ji Divine Soldier were composed entirely of specialized [Magic Storage Puki] units, resembling a huge mobile magic power reservoir, just a single shot of the Ultimate Resonance Cannon instantly drained almost half of the total stored energy.

This means, under ideal conditions, this weapon can only perform such level of full-force attacks twice in a short time, afterwards it can only engage in close combat or slowly recharge on the Fungal Mat.

Secondly, the contradiction between attack speed and mobility. The flight speed of the magic power torrent from the Ultimate Resonance Cannon is not slow, but for top experts who require such level of firepower to deal with, the time from detecting the attack, judging trajectory to completing evasion is more than ample.

At least compared to the flight speed of the Blood Race Prince in memory, it is entirely possible to escape the explosion range upon detecting the Ultimate Resonance Cannon.

Even in the case of this Red Dragon, had not the Sword Saint preemptively blinded its eyes, and No. 4 immobilized its actions with his body, that one shot likely would have missed.

Not every time can one create such perfect sniping conditions.

Moreover, the strike range heavily relies on the Fungal Mat network. This successful beyond-visual-range sniping was based on Lin Jun gaining a global perspective relying on the Fungal Mat.

Once out of range of the Fungal Mat, the shooting range of the Ultimate Resonance Cannon drastically shortened.

Therefore, if wanting to directly hunt those top individual experts of the continent using the Ji Divine Soldier, the best strategy is still a strategic ambush and sneak attack, and cannot expect success every time, especially after the existence of the Ji Divine Soldier gets leaked.

However, if it’s positioned as a strategic-level battlefield suppression weapon, the value is entirely different.

Faced with immobile sturdy fortresses, or large-scale assemblies lacking high mobility capabilities, the presence of the [Ultimate Resonance Cannon] becomes an unignorable threat.

Of course, since this threat is so great, unless another opportunity like this arises, a "closing the door and beating the dog" opportunity, Lin Jun temporarily does not plan to let the Ji Divine Soldier appear.

After all, only what’s not revealed can be truly called a trump card.

...

"Oh... ah... Sunshine... ravage me..."

"Ahhhhh! Hot! Spare me, please spare me woooo——!"

Listening to these two cries of varying distinctive flavors, the Fungus People who had just fixed the landscape back to the gate stopped to listen for a good while before returning satisfied to the city.

The threat from the Red Dragon came quickly and went quickly, causing many to feel somewhat lacking in realization.

Under the soldiers’ command, the fortress’s populace, previously hurriedly hiding in the underground shelter, returned to their residences with a bit of confusion.

Many people hadn’t actually understood what exactly happened.

They only remembered the "diwu" alarm sounding in their heads, the soldiers’ urging, followed by a day of anxious hiding and listening to the vaguely transmitted rumblings.

Just when they thought they were facing a long and brutal siege battle, everything suddenly calmed down abruptly, and they were informed they could return home.

What puzzled them and subtly comforted them was that those soldiers maintaining order on the streets, although somewhat fatigued, seemed not to have suffered any severe injuries.

Moreover, their gaze and status, unlike the tense vigilance before the alarm sounded, instead carried a kind of indescribable relaxation, even... confidence?

As if having just completed an extremely arduous yet victorious mission, their backs were straighter than usual.

Occasionally, one could still hear them mocking a certain cowardly, timid deserter on the Fungal Network.

A young Lizardman child, scales still not fully hardened, tail restlessly swaying left and right, squeezed through the crowd, and nestled against Norris at the street corner, who was eating his meal.

It raised its head, its pale yellow vertical pupils filled with curiosity and a certain longing, its voice innocent: "Uncle! They say... you guys killed a really big dragon! And... ate the dragon?"

Its gaze almost glued to the bowl in Norris’s hand, still steaming, unconsciously swallowing saliva, tail swaying even faster.

Norris lowered his gaze, looking at this little one.

Uncle?

Moreover, this little one’s gaze kept involuntarily glancing behind Norris, quickly retracting after each peek.

Norris rolled his eyes, deliberately frowning: "What did you call me?"

The young Lizardman shrunk its neck swiftly, changing its address: "Big... brother!"

Norris didn’t pursue further, handing over the bowl.

The young Lizardman immediately joyfully received it, not caring about the heat, took a big sip, and then predictably showed a puzzled expression.

After all, this so-called dragon meat mushroom porridge tasted no different from regular delicious mushroom porridge, had no special flavor, nor did it grant any power upon consumption.

The soldiers ate so eagerly purely for the emotional value—we won, we killed the dragon, and we ate it!

In terms of actual effect, it’s not as practical as receiving a few more spoons of the boss’s exclusive life water.

Though its taste is weird, its effect is solid.

In this battle, Norris merely fired a few shells from the city wall, his sense of participation no greater than ordinary soldiers.

But Norris was still very excited.

However, unlike others who were simply thrilled by the dragon-slaying feat, Norris’s excitement was centered elsewhere. He personally witnessed the destructive power of the Ji Divine Soldier’s strike.

Others could only guess wildly about the giant shadow in the snowstorm, but Norris was among the few who knew the truth.

In his eyes, that was the ultimate form of the Jida he drove daily!

Having personally witnessed that earth-shattering strike, although he fully understood his spiritual power was far from enough to control such a colossal entity, Norris couldn’t help but fantasize about sitting at the core of the Ji Divine Soldier, able to move mountains and fill seas with a mere gesture.

The mere thought made his heart race, filled with excitement.

"Being able to pilot it once, even if to die, would be worth it..."

From a single fortress defense battle, Norris found a new dream; Little Pig validated the reliability of the fortress defense system and joyfully obtained some dragon blood; the Sword Saint verified his sword techniques post-Puki transformation; even No. 4 seemed to have found a new method of combat...

Everyone has a bright future.

Even the Yellow-covered Book—

...

Empire, Giant Beast Bone Field, an unremarkable Mercenary Lodging House.

Night had grown deep, and Knight Puki, its body outlined in ink, silently slipped into the simple quarters of horned demon Kruma.

It reached the bedside, and gently flipped open the book with the dark yellow cover using its mycelium tendrils, Knight Puki used the tendrils as a pen, sketching a few crooked letters—Well done.

[?]

It had only just begun, how was it already well done?

The boss suddenly praised it inexplicably, leaving Huang Pi suspicious.

However, Huang Pi’s emotional perception ability told it, the boss was genuinely praising.

Unfortunately, Knight Puki slipped away after finishing writing without giving it a chance to inquire, leaving questions within the pages, making Huang Pi feel quite uncomfortable.

Not far away on the bed, Kruma, Huang Pi’s newly made superior friend, remained completely unaware of everything that just happened, in the throes of a grand dream.

In the dream, he held the mysterious Yellow-covered Book, with loyal and powerful mercenaries gathered under his command.

Not only did big brothers all follow his lead, but even the rulers of the Giant Beast Bone Field, including the revered Earl himself, had to treat him with respect, eyes filled with wariness and enticement.

And this was far from his end point; he was going to get more...

"Everything will be mine..."

Hearing this murmur in sleep, Huang Pi knew that its continuous "emotional guidance" on Kruma was finally completely effective.

It’s time to start taking action!