Mountain City, ground level.

The laser array composed of four laser emitters has been assembled, and the final traction device installation is underway.

Since suitable materials couldn't be found within Mountain City, they had to resort to airdropping tires and bearings, barely managing to put together a mobile launch system.

Next, they must continue with the installation and connection of the power lines.

This task is also not simple, but fortunately, Mountain City is not lacking in electrical equipment, allowing them to source materials locally.

Because of this, the progress on the power line installation is swift.

So far, the team led by Ji Xing has completed 80% of the work.

The remaining 20% will be finished within the next hour.

Standing on the pre-cleared turret platform, Chen Jian gazed at the distant monster, a strange thought suddenly popping into his mind.

"So this monster... was it cultivated or selected?"

After he spoke, Lei Jie, standing nearby, frowned as well.

Cultivation, or selection?

Theoretically speaking, these monsters shouldn't be produced through artificial cultivation.

But from the current intelligence...

The peculiarity of this creature is extraordinarily strong.

Despite still being a carbon-based life-form, it has nearly gathered the strongest attack characteristics of natural selection.

A massive physique, resilient external exoskeleton, a venom sac capable of producing corrosive liquid, parasitic spores, ultra-high decibel vocal organs—even capable of lethal sound pressure, agile and flexible tentacles, sharp skeletal spikes...

This single monster almost embodies the traits of all monsters encountered before.

Moreover, all these biological characteristics are harmoniously and fittingly fused in this one monster.

It's a perfect creation; without humans and their manufactured gunpowder and bullets, no matter how many thousands of years pass, it's seemingly impossible for other creatures to dethrone it.

It will permanently sit on the throne at the food chain's apex until regarded by other creatures as some "Ancient God" from an unnamed place.

----So, how could such a thing be the result of natural selection and mutations?

Chen Jian's suspicion is quite reasonable.

Maybe this monster is indeed a new species sewn and pieced together by the Mountain City People through research on the biological traits of monsters.

They should possess such capabilities.

And indeed, they have such motivation...

Lei Jie shook his head, pondered for a moment, then replied:

"Actually, it's not important."

"At least from the current information, the so-called 'Level 1 monster' isn't as fearsome as we imagined."

"No matter how a creature evolves, it cannot surpass the 'delivery range' barrier."

"Long-range delivery ability is exclusive to intelligent, social species."

"And as long as we master this ability, no matter how 'invincible' the monster may seem at close range, we'll still be able to take it down."

"Even if it means slowly grinding it to death."

"I understand."

Chen Jian slowly nodded.

"So, that's where the problem lies."

"If we can think of it, the Mountain City People certainly can too."

"They will definitely try their best to thwart our cleanup operation----and this might be the greatest threat to us."

"For operations against Level 1 monsters, our main enemy isn't outside the city but inside it."

At this point, Chen Jian paused slightly and then asked:

"What's the status of the underground entrances in the vicinity?"

"Most discovered ones have already been blasted shut----the Mountain City People haven't reacted yet."

Lei Jie replied:

"However, given their engineering abilities, no matter how we block tunnels, we'll likely only delay them for mere seconds."

"Once the real battle begins... it'll be head-on confrontation."

"Understood."

Chen Jian nodded again, then turned his gaze to the battlefield status map on his smart visor.

Only a few hundred meters remain for the power line setup, and he can already see Ji Xing and the others moving along the air track from afar.

"We can prepare to start traction on the laser array."

"Let's go, we'll head back first."

"We have to escort it throughout the journey----these two Nezha exoskeletons are currently our strongest defensive force."

"Understood."

Lei Jie responded succinctly, and the two quickly jumped off the platform, heading back into the city across the staggered rooftops.

Chen Jian felt the full capability of this exoskeleton for the first time and finally understood why it's called the "urban warfare weapon."

----No kidding, with this thing, most times you won't need to enter the dangerous streets at all.

The high mobility grants the wearer the ability to navigate high variations in terrain, maintaining excellent visibility, making the most dangerous ambushes almost impossible.

After half an hour, the two returned at maximum speed to the temporary sortie base.

By now, the laser array had been loaded onto a vehicle, powered by an extremely rudimentary engine, beginning its transfer toward the turret.

"Everyone, prepare for incoming threats."

Chen Jian ordered:

"Ji Xing, Li Shi, occupy high ground, establish aerial fire points, accompany the convoy's advance."

"Guo Xu, Zhang Chao, Liu Hao, explore the frontline route with me, clearing suspicious threats ahead."

"Lei Jie, Yu Qian lead the Volunteer Company squad for close-quarter protection."

"Attention, the entire operation route is 11 kilometers and is estimated to take 1 hour and 40 minutes."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.