The New York headquarters had been irradiated for a long time, and all Honkai energy cores had been exhausted. The Sea Abyss City was still under construction, and this war had disrupted the construction schedule.
The Earth was still standing firm, but the Fire Moth felt a sense of homelessness. Fortunately, the second aerial battleship was completed in time, providing a relatively stable foothold.
As for the Minerva, it was badly damaged. Even many of its metals had entered their half-life. It didn't look damaged on the outside, but in reality, it was full of holes.
"I plan to tow it to Sea Abyss City and use it as a cannon turret. The Honkai energy array cannon should still be able to fire a few shots."
Ryan was looking at the giant ship being towed on the sea, and Mei quietly walked to his side. Everyone still had feelings for this battleship that they had seized from the Firemoth Council.
"No wonder you didn't cherish it at all. It turns out you had a backup ready a long time ago." Ryan patted the gray metal. Current spread along the metal, and the overall framework of the second ship was fed back into his mind.
It was even bigger, more than four hundred meters long, and two hundred and eighty meters wide. The weight was insignificant. Under the action of the anti-gravity engine, it could float in the air like a feather.
The shape had also changed slightly. The Minerva was roughly like a spindle, while this one was more like a cuboid. The bridge protruded upwards for a better view, and there were two pairs of wings on both sides of the hull.
Twenty-four 240mm electromagnetic railguns were stacked on the deck, and there were three turrets at the front, with nine 500mm Honkai energy array cannons arranged in a staggered manner.
Nine launch tracks with electromagnetic catapults were connected to the hangar, which was loaded with dozens of heavy drones. At the same time, it could also release Fusion Warriors.
Big is beautiful, and many is handsome. It was a perfect fit for the multi-turret cult.
"The construction work started last year. The relevant data report should have been sent to you for approval a long time ago." Mei looked at him coldly. This boss really didn't care about anything. "Otherwise, why do you think Vil-V's presence has been so low? She's been busy."
What a black-hearted foreman. That's right, Vil-V had almost never left the workshop and the Golden Court. Even as a magician, she was well-fed with sufficient funds.
"Was it? Oh, I think I have some impression. I didn't expect you to go this big." Ryan nodded shamelessly, stroking his chin. "I don't care about these minor things. This battleship came in time. We almost had nowhere to stay."
With a larger hull and stronger power, it could struggle strongly even against the Herrscher of Binding.
"I didn't make it as a foothold. It was prepared for the Finality. This battleship is equipped with a quantum computer and the most advanced command system. The central area is even equipped with a laboratory and has space combat capabilities..."
Mei immediately began to introduce it. Even with the most concise sentences, she said a lot. This was not a battleship at all, but a flying fortress. It was the crystallization of human civilization and Vil-V's wonderful ideas.
Ryan was not a follower of the multi-turret cult. He had no interest in how much the Honkai energy shield was increased or how many percentage points the living comfort was increased. He just felt more and more strange as he listened.
Skynet, underground fortress, aerial battleship. How many giant projects did Mei lead? He really wanted to remind her that "magnificent projects can ruin a country."
But he didn't need to do his duty. After all, as a hands-off boss, how could he blame his most reliable subordinate? Not to mention, Mei's oppressive power was also quite amazing. Mobius didn't say it out loud, but she was also very wary of her. Plus, she was already taken, so she could be a 'neutral' party and discuss things as they were.
"Hey, are you listening?" Mei seemed to have noticed that Ryan's mind was wandering.
"I am, I am. You mean the space at the bow is prepared to accommodate the 'Moonlight Throne' system?"
"Yes, I said it. This ship was prepared to cross the Finality. I even added interstellar navigation capabilities. If we really can't win..."
"Then we'll run." Ryan snapped his fingers. The aerospace data was undoubtedly obtained from Kalpas, which meant that the Ark Project was also incorporated into it.
This woman is so scheming. She's always prepared for a retreat.
"It's more dignified to call it a strategic retreat." Mei corrected him, and then she didn't want to talk nonsense with Ryan anymore. "You are the commander-in-chief. Go back and think carefully about something as simple as naming it."
Oh, this ship doesn't have a name yet. Then there's no need to think.
Ryan already had an idea during his 'tour', and he said directly: "Let's call it 'Hyperion'. It's a good luck charm."
Mei didn't say anything for a long time. She didn't know what was so lucky about this ship name. Her mind automatically came up with three naval battleships named Hyperion, all of which sank to the bottom of the sea. It didn't sound very auspicious.
But she knew that Ryan was sometimes mysterious. Since he said so, there must be a reason.
"Okay, I'll have Prometheus enter it into the database immediately. Take a tour around. Don't be completely ignorant of your own flagship, not even knowing where to launch from."
Can't I just blast a hole in the armor and go out? Does it have to be so troublesome?
Ryan complained in his heart, but he knew that doing so would result in an exorbitant repair fee. He simply pointed to the idle Kevin next to him.
"Then lend me your boyfriend."
"As you wish, but you're not allowed to use Kevin as a shield." Mei warned him, and then walked away with the sound of her high heels, leaving Kevin with a constipated expression. Seeing his unwilling look, Ryan became annoyed.
"I'm your Salvation, after all. You can't be this loyal to your girl over your friends, can you? Or are you saying you dare to harass Mei when she's working?"
"Pah, you're much happier than me, you know how much hatred that attracts!?" Kevin pretended to be jealous, but he saw that Ryan was not touched at all, just looking at the endless sea of clouds as lonely as a snowflake.
"You don't understand. This is a good ship, but it might turn into a 'NICE BOAT' if we're not careful."
"What do you mean??"
"Can a five-part commander-in-chief understand?"
Kevin thought seriously for a moment and walked over sympathetically to pat Ryan on the shoulder. Happiness and pain are on the same line. Of course he could understand.
"Don't worry, it won't be that exaggerated, it's just some minor issues."
"Of course. I never do things without certainty. The few of them will have to be obedient sooner or later." Ryan's white windbreaker fluttered, and he exuded a sense of pressure like a BOSS. Just as he was starting to show off his class, he was hit hard in the back.
"Damn, I just tried to comfort you a bit, and you're already acting cool!"
At an altitude of ten thousand meters, the two of them were frolicking on the deck of the Hyperion. They only stopped after entering the ship. They were now one a commander-in-chief and the other an elite captain. It was impossible for them to be as free as they were in school.
If they were to calculate their age, they were both about twenty-five or twenty-six. It was about time to be corporate slaves.
The Golden Court was the most relaxed place. It was a pity that they couldn't go back for now.
Ryan sighed with some emotion. He also wanted to go back to his small underground villa to slack off, but he had a duty to fulfill. At such a critical moment, he couldn't just go into seclusion.
He walked from the bow to the middle, nodding and returning salutes countless times along the way. He found that Mei had really spent a lot of money. The Hyperion was big enough to hold all the Fusion Warriors and form a mobile force to go everywhere. It also had complete living facilities, enough to support a long journey.
This was very important. After the 'Wandering Human' plan was completed, there would be no need to stick to a certain place. Only by moving could they seize the initiative.
"How's Mei's downsizing going now?" Ryan suddenly asked. Kevin, who was in the cafeteria thinking about what to eat for dinner, didn't react for a moment and was elbowed in the ribs, which made him grimace.
"Ouch, why didn't you just ask Mei about this? I'm not your secretary." Kevin rubbed his ribs and mumbled: "And you always look like you have everything under control and are full of confidence. Do you still need to ask about this kind of thing?"
"Since I'm going to see it through, confidence is better than a face full of worries, right? Determination can't accomplish many things, but without determination, nothing can be accomplished." Ryan habitually lectured him, squinting and looking away: "If you keep being sarcastic, believe it or not, I'll transfer you here to follow me around all day?"
"You're using public power for private revenge, aren't you? Fine, I'll tell you." Although Kevin wasn't good at learning, his memory was okay. He immediately said: "[Symphony] is canceled. Dystopia is assigned to Su. [Rectification] and [Scarlet] are merged. Hen is the captain, and Coleman is the vice-captain. Owl has passed the probation and is temporarily assigned to me."
The thirteen squadrons of the Fire Moth have now become eleven. Of course, the size of each team has been reduced, but fortunately, the core members haven't been shaken much. As long as people like Andrei and Joshua are not dead, they can slowly recover.
Now the technology of the Fire Moth is very advanced. Even if they become disabled, it won't affect their combat power too much.
The core members are not damaged. That's about right.
Ryan breathed a sigh of relief. The Herrscher of Binding was never the problem. The problem was how much damage she could inflict on the Fire Moth. Just like in the original worldline, where only the Thirteen Flame-Chasers were left, the cards in hand would be greatly reduced.
One must know that the Thirteen Flame-Chasers were not necessarily the strongest. In terms of combat power alone, 'Ice Fist' Andrei could crush Mobius or Vil-V. There were also people like Weiner, whose combat power was average but who had exceptional command ability.
He stopped, closed his eyes, and a list of names appeared in his mind.
First [Trailblazers] team, captain Ryan, vice-captain Sakura.
Second [True Self] team, captain Elysia, vice-captain Himeko.
Third [Discipline] team, captain Aponia, vice-captain Joshua.
Fourth [Ice] team, captain Andrei, vice-captain Weiner.
Fifth [Infinity] team, captain Mobius, vice-captain Vil-V.
Sixth [Salvation] team, captain Kevin, vice-captain Kosma, Owl.
Seventh [Annihilation] team, captain Kalpas, vice-captain Ludicyna.
Eighth [Scarlet] team, captain Ato, vice-captain Coleman.
Ninth [Floating Life] team, captain Hua, vice-captain Freya.
Tenth [Gold] team, captain Eden, vice-captain Pardofelis.
Eleventh [Divination] team, captain Su, vice-captain Dystopia.
In addition, there are 871 ordinary Fusion Warriors.
If nothing unexpected happens, he would have to use this team to deal with the Finality. He wouldn't say they were a powerful army, but they still had some trump cards, and he felt a sense of relief.
"Ryan, why are you spacing out?" Kevin walked several steps away before turning back.
"I'm thinking about crossing the Finality. The Herrscher of Binding was a hurdle. If we had used too much strength on her, we would be done for in the next step. But she was also a peak. After crossing her, there shouldn't be any authority more terrifying than Binding."
The consumption wasn't big? Mei was almost worried to death.
Kevin didn't quite understand Ryan's thought process, but he was no longer that plank. He put on a thoughtful look: "Is it too early to consider Finality now? The Sixth and Twelfth Herrschers are still here. There's no evidence that the Fourteenth Herrscher won't descend."
His words represented the common doubts within the Fire Moth and what everyone was most afraid of. The war was endless. Even if one died each time, they would be exhausted sooner or later.
Passive defense was never a good solution, but they couldn't find a target to take the initiative against. The information about the Cocoon of Finality had already been spread, and even Mei could only scratch her head.
Because it doesn't exist in the real world, it's like a ghost, isolated from all means of attack. They can only wait for it to come down on its own, which leads to the final question.
"We have to push the progress to the Finality, so we can face it directly. But it's hard to make that decision." Ryan, for once, discussed serious matters with Kevin.
"Huh? How do we push it?"
Ryan adjusted his glasses and lowered his voice.
"If nothing unexpected happens, after we kill all the known Herrschers, the Finality will descend."