Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Electromagnetic Cannon Research Is Complete!

I think the explosive power and destructive force are nowhere near enough. Any new weapon has to be deadlier than Solar Flame and the laser cannon!

And what if it fails? It is dangerous. It is not some weapon that can be called truly safe. Electric current could very well turn back on mankind itself; if a human were struck by such a high voltage, I fear survival would be impossible!

Walker’s words were not without reason.

That, too, was the view of those who opposed it.

Chu Xiao nodded. “I believe everyone understands the saying about cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. Are we really going to avoid doing this simply because of so many uncertain dangers?”

“Impossible. Ask yourselves: when have we ever done anything without difficulty? Back when Hades had not yet awakened, were we not acting under the belief that he might never wake? Or were we certain from the start that he would?”

“We did not know. And yet we still did it. As it turned out, we placed our bet correctly. Is this electromagnetic cannon not the same? Whatever the outcome, we should try it now. Besides, there are many materials that can insulate against electricity. We can make protective clothing from them and shield our soldiers!”

“Of course Hades will think of that too. But if he truly dares to use anti-electric materials, then we will use fire and burn everything away. In short, we fear nothing now. All we need to do is boldly and decisively go forward, because all that remains to us is this!”

When he finished, flames seemed to blaze in Chu Xiao’s eyes.

At that moment, there were no more voices of objection.

Those who had spoken against it earlier, ashamed, lowered their heads.

And those who had supported Chu Xiao from the beginning burned with the same fierce light in their eyes.

“Good. Then I declare the research on the electromagnetic cannon officially begins!”

“Yes, sir!” everyone answered in unison.

Whatever the result, the electromagnetic cannon would one day appear upon the land of the Nine Provinces.

“Also, remember to apply electricity and magnetism in tandem. Magnetism can better concentrate electrical force,” Chu Xiao reminded them before leaving.

From afar, Ren Boyuan watched Chu Xiao’s retreating figure, feeling a strange current flowing through his heart. It was vivid and intense, perhaps what one called passion.

“Professor Ren, may I ask you something?” Hall came up beside Ren Boyuan and said softly.

Ren Boyuan nodded. “What is it?”

“What does ‘cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face’ mean?” Hall asked with a look of pure eagerness.

Ren Boyuan looked down and realized it was not only him; even the researchers from the three superpowers, including Walker, were staring at him. Those eyes, full of curiosity, made gooseflesh rise all over his body.

It seemed this would require a long explanation again.

Once the idea had been grasped, it was simple for such elite minds from every country. In just a few days, they would be able to build the electromagnetic cannon.

Three days after Chu Xiao put forward the hypothesis, he received an exciting piece of news.

The electromagnetic cannon had been built.

“What did you say? The electromagnetic cannon is finished?” Chu Xiao sprang to his feet, his face filled with disbelief.

Ji Kaicheng was just as excited. This had truly exceeded their expectations.

“Yes, absolutely true! They are going to test it now. Would you like to come see?” Ji Kaicheng pointed outside and asked loudly.

Chu Xiao immediately dropped the work in his hands, pushed back his chair, and headed outside, not even having time to put on his coat.

Seeing Chu Xiao stride away, Ji Kaicheng quickly followed.

He, too, wanted to witness this historic moment.

At the test site, a crowd of all kinds had gathered, all watching the result of this endeavor.

Ren Boyuan stood before the electromagnetic cannon with excitement. The experiment was about to begin; success or failure would be decided in this moment.

Ren Boyuan had volunteered to conduct the test.

In truth, because of how dangerous this experiment was, very few people had been willing to take part.

Ren Boyuan put on the electricity-insulating suit, donned his mask, and came to the target of the cannon: a massive humanoid machine modeled after Hades’s war machine, though without any intelligent systems installed.

Chu Xiao watched all this from afar.

Aim, then flip the switch. Two movements, smooth and decisive.

With a bang, nothing unexpected happened. A surge of powerful current struck the machine instantly, and it collapsed to the ground at once.

A few minutes later, people stepped forward to inspect the machine’s interior, only to find that it had been charred black throughout.

There was no doubt that the experiment had succeeded. Moreover, the weapon was light and convenient, and extremely easy to manufacture. In a short time, it could be produced in large quantities.

Solar Flame and the laser cannon could be used as heavy firepower, while the laser rifle and the electromagnetic cannon could serve as personal weapons.

Of course, the electromagnetic cannon was far more powerful than a machine gun.

And compared with a machine gun, it was also slightly larger in size.

The size of the electromagnetic cannon mainly depended on the size of the perpetual engine.

If greater electrical output was desired, the perpetual engine would need to be more powerful, and its size would increase accordingly, causing the electromagnetic cannon itself to grow larger as well.

Later, Ren Boyuan also built three electromagnetic cannons of different sizes, in order to adapt to warfare.

At this moment, the entire scene was electrified with excitement.

The electromagnetic cannon had succeeded. Its power was in no way inferior to the first generation of Solar Flame. The difference was that it destroyed from within rather than from without.

“Amazing! Looks like Chu Xiao was right!”

“That’s right! I don’t see any danger at all. Besides, we have ways to protect ourselves. As for Hades, once he sees this, he can only wait and cry!”

“What’s there to cry over, with just a broken machine?”

“This Nine Provinces really is something else. Good thing we came along this time!”

“That’s right! And it only took three days to build! The strength of our four nations is truly formidable!”

Chu Xiao stood far beyond the crowd, watching with excitement blazing in his eyes.

This time, Hades would probably never again be able to destroy any country at will.

The leaders of the various nations returned home with the blueprints and models in hand; now was the time to gather manpower and greatly increase production.

Production in the Nine Provinces was the fastest of all, after all it had never lacked people.

This time, Hades did not launch an immediate attack on humans.

Instead, he waited for more than half a month. In the blink of an eye, summer had quietly arrived.

Yet now there were no old men enjoying the cool shade beneath the trees, no children running about naked, and no chorus of noisy cicadas.

In the dead of night, who had not once longed for the peace and harmony of those earlier days?

The cruelty of reality forced everyone to steel themselves and face disaster.