I Have a Job

Chapter 273 The Evolving Threat

At 7:20 in the evening.

After several hours of analysis with spiritual blessing.

Chen Yue has achieved initial results in his research on amethyst.

Successfully developed a detection device that can scan amethysts.

The device weighs more than 5 tons, has a detection radius of 100 meters on the surface, and can detect a depth of 50 meters underground.

It is both bulky and difficult to use.

But no matter what, its appearance finally gave Su Wu a professional detection device that could be mass-produced.

From now on, caravans and convoys on the surface, as well as mines, affiliated shelters and other strongholds, will no longer have to worry about sneak attacks from Amethyst.

"For now."

"The most terrifying thing about amethyst crystals to humans is their ability to hide and attack by surprise."

"After being prepared, the threat is almost zero."

In front of the console.

Su Wu browsed the analytical data of amethyst.

In addition to developing the detector.

Chen Yue also analyzed the defense, regeneration and other properties of the purple crystal itself.

The final results show.

Two shots from an ordinary electromagnetic rifle are enough to shatter its outer layer, causing it to lose most of its activity.

But the shattered amethyst crystal does not mean true death.

As long as there is a certain amount of nutrients around it.

It doesn't need to be much, just enough to reach the standard of ordinary soil before doomsday.

Just like a plant, it can develop thin threads like roots and rhizomes, and gradually repair itself by absorbing nutrients.

If you want to solve them once and for all.

Another 35 grams of ordinary military explosives or 1 gram of metal hydrogen explosive must be added.

A small-scale explosion will be needed to clear it out.

"On a chaotic battlefield, there is no shortage of accidents."

"I want to add another small grenade after smashing the purple crystal."

"It's quite difficult."

"And using heavy artillery with large yields to indiscriminately attack the ground is suspected of being wasteful."

"The best way is to redesign a special electromagnetic rifle ammunition for purple crystals."

"Let it have both penetrating and explosive properties."

"At the same time, the bullets fired by the electromagnetic rifles currently in service do not have sufficient muzzle velocity."

"If the initial velocity of the bullet could be increased to 1.5 times the original speed."

"It wouldn't take two shots to break the purple crystal."

"It is entirely possible to destroy the purple crystal shell with one strike, and then detonate the explosives hidden inside the bullet, completely erasing the activity in the remains at the same time."

At this point, the benefits of Su Wu's complete industrial manufacturing system and almost bug-level research capabilities are reflected.

Whether it is the modification of electromagnetic rifle ammunition or the upgrading of the electromagnetic rifle itself.

Give it a larger caliber and greater destructive power.

As long as he wants.

It will definitely be achieved.

The only difference is how much spiritual energy is invested in research.

"Besides, the appearance of purple crystals is not all bad."

"The remains left behind are the purple crystal fragments that have completely lost their activity."

"It is a new material that performs extremely well in many aspects."

"It is expected to be used to develop more powerful laser beam weapons, higher-powered electromagnetic cannons and engines."

"It can also replace other relatively rare materials and be used to manufacture high-end transportation tools such as biplane helicopters, ice-class land frigates, etc."

"It's just that we don't know yet whether these debris will be affected by other living purple crystals."

"Some unknown changes have occurred."

"We must continue to observe and experiment for a period of time."

Browse the latest research data on amethyst.

Su Wu called up the production interface of the super factory on the console.

Adjusted several settings.

Add special ammunition for purple crystals to the production tasks.

As for the new generation of electromagnetic rifles, which are more technically difficult and require on-site research.

Production is scheduled to start in 6 hours.

This is an upgrade of individual weapon.

It's not difficult.

It wasn't necessary before.

Now there is a demand.

The relevant research can be completed in just a few hours at most.

And wait until all this is done.

Su Wu thought about it, and then took a few minutes to upload the relevant information about purple crystal to the Internet in the name of Jianghe City officials.

A special document was even compiled and sent to the federal capital.

It's a reminder for everyone.

Let them take precautions against amethyst in advance.

"So far."

"We still don't know about these organisms that are suspected to come from the mantle."

"After having enough food and evolving to a mature stage, what kind of combat power will it have?"

"But I think it won't be that weak."

"And it's just like the flower of the underworld."

"Since they can appear here, there is no reason why they can't appear somewhere else."

"Hopefully, it won't get out of control in the end."

The screen switched back to the Qinling Mountains area.

Su Wu's gaze rested on the shooting platforms that were hastily built on the rock walls on both sides of the lava canyon.

Sighed quietly.

All he could do was to strengthen his armaments.

Don't give purple crystals a chance to grow near him.

The rest is beyond his control.

January 24th.

The whole world did not change because of the appearance of amethyst.

From East Asia to America.

Under the endless snowfield and thick ice.

In the shelters once built by the rich and powerful from all over the world, there is still peace and prosperity.

For them, whether it is the earthquakes and high temperatures in the past or the blizzards and cold waves now.

As long as you are not unlucky enough to be hit by the center of a strong earthquake.

They have abundant supplies and powerful technology in their hands.

There is no need to worry about the impact of the surface environment.

Life is no worse than before the end of the world.

Because of the lack of supervision, there is no need to care about outside opinion and supervision.

You can also play more openly.

Few people would notice this in the remote hinterland of Dongzhou.

There is a remote place.

A war is unfolding between humans and underground creatures, one that is destined to have no end in sight.

And among ordinary civilians.

Places outside Dongzhou have blocked information channels.

They wouldn't even know the existence of amethyst.

In their eyes, just paying the living expenses including air tax has exhausted all their energy.

There is really no extra energy.

Pay attention to the various disasters outside the shelter.

Not to mention a small Dongzhou city thousands or even tens of thousands of kilometers away.

Within Dongzhou.

Because there is Su Wu's Internet coverage.

The flow of information is quite convenient.

The news about Amethyst caused a heated discussion.

But that's all.

Although it seems a bit strange that amethyst can eat people after growing to a certain size.

It can be displayed in all videos that are circulated.

They had no power to resist under Su Wu's encirclement and suppression.

And no one has ever found any trace of amethyst except Jianghe City.

Almost no one would feel fear and panic towards them.

More than that, it's just freshness and curiosity.

And as a topic of conversation in leisure time.

Occasionally, the top leaders of one or two super cities would turn their attention to amethysts.

What they focus on.

It is only the research value of this species that can survive in extremely cold climates.

After trying to ask Su Wu for some research materials without success.

There was no further action.

Just for research.

It was not worth it for them to go to war and travel thousands of miles to confront Su Wu.

"This is good news."

The outside world's indifferent reaction.

This surprised Su Wu a little.

However, for the time being, no purple crystals have appeared in other places, which is also a good thing for him.

This means that all variables are still under his control for the time being.

As long as the Qinling Mountains area is blocked in real time.

Further strengthen patrols around Jianghe City.

There would be no risk of Amethyst getting out of control.

This allowed Su Wu to gain more time to develop himself.

Finished the daily affairs.

Su Wu stood up.

Come to the metal platform of the control center.

The lava canyon in the Qinling Mountains is projected onto the platform.

As Su Wu gradually invested more defensive forces there.

Increased monitoring efforts in the Lava Canyon.

It has reached a level that is almost as good as that of a farmyard.

Any amethyst that appears there, as long as it emerges from the magma.

It will be hit by the new electromagnetic guns on the rock walls on both sides at the first moment.

And at the same time.

Whenever a certain amount of purple crystal debris accumulates in the canyon.

Express-level drones parked in bunkers on both sides of the rock wall.

They will take off and fly closer to collect the wreckage.

He glanced at the statistics next to the holographic projection.

In the past hour.

A total of 297 Amethysts were killed, and approximately 37% of the remains were successfully recovered.

"The numbers have become much smaller."

This is the time when the largest number of amethyst crystals appeared.

It was 3 o'clock this morning.

At that time, more than 17,000 purple crystals appeared in just one minute.

It is also accompanied by small-scale magma eruptions.

A large number of purple crystals are riding on the gushing lava flow.

It broke through the blockade in the canyon at an extremely high speed and rushed into the sky outside the canyon.

But that didn't allow any of them to survive in the end.

In the Qinling Mountains outside the canyon.

There are also firepower points arranged by Su Wu.

There are also more than tens of thousands of spider robots and thousands of drones.

Set up patrol checkpoints in a wider surrounding area.

Amethyst crystals gushed out.

It didn't even wait to fall from the sky.

They were all destroyed.

This allowed Su Wu to harvest a large amount of materials at one time.

And since then.

The number of amethyst crystals began to decrease significantly.

Until now.

On average, only three to five purple crystals appear in one minute.

Call up the combat log.

Including text data and videos recorded from multiple angles.

Su Wu read it carefully.

As I watched, I couldn't help but frown.

He found that something seemed wrong.

These are the amethysts that appear later.

No matter how you look at it, there is a strong sense of temptation.

The number, location and size of each appearance are different.

If Su Wu was the other party.

Just based on the combat data of these ten hours or so.

Basically, we can make a rough guess about the blockade situation in the entire canyon.

"Could there really be some intelligent creature behind these purple crystals directing them?"

Su Wu was guessing with some uncertainty in his heart.

And just at this moment.

A warning message appeared in his field of vision.

Then a holographic map of the entire Qinling Mountains area was projected.

Then it began to gradually turn a large area of light red.

Those areas where Su Wu had used heavy artillery to blow away a layer of the soil not long ago.

I don't know when it started, but a dense field of underworld flowers has grown again.

"here we go again."

Su Wu sighed with a headache and gave orders skillfully.

"The courier-level drones are starting to return."

"Replace the incendiary bombs."

"The spider robot records the relevant coordinates and avoids the area that is about to burn."

Compared to amethyst.

The flower of the underworld is more difficult to prevent.

Before they actually sprout.

They blend perfectly into the surrounding environment.

At that stage, all means of detection are ineffective against them.

Even through the most primitive view observation, close search.

Nor can they be found.

And elimination is even more difficult to achieve.

It's easy to simply remove the part where they grow.

Just light a fire.

But I want to go further.

Not to mention lighting fires and using conventional poisons.

That is to use heavy artillery to turn the entire area into dust.

There is no 100% guarantee that no seeds will be missed.

Let them be splashed by the shock waves of the explosion and the cold wind in the sky.

Drifting further away.

Deal with these flowers of the underworld.

Su Wu could only use the most stupid method, which was to burn it every time he found it.

Until there is no more nutrients available for growth in that area.

A few minutes later.

The courier-class drone clusters, reloaded with incendiary bombs, began to take off in batches.

The flames spread over an area of dozens of square kilometers around the Qinling Mountains.

Burning those in orange flames and black smoke.

The flower of the underworld appears exceptionally white and fragile.

12 o'clock at night.

In addition to the workers who are still working in shifts digging and expanding the shelter underground in the farmyard.

The entire Jianghe City.

Most people fell into a deep sleep.

And in the silence.

A strange rustling sound quietly sounded.

The sound was so soft that it was almost inaudible.

With the same frequency and intensity.

Ignoring distance and obstacles, it appears in every corner of Jianghe City.

Whether it is the safest underground control center in a farmyard or deep in the distant mountains.

Or it could be the urban area of Jianghe City and the lava canyon in the Qinling Mountains.

There are traces of it.

Artificial intelligence that monitors the farmyard and the entire Jianghe City.

This faint sound was detected.

But because it is not destructive, it does not bring any other impact.

Therefore no warning in the program is triggered.

It was only marked as abnormal noise and recorded in the operation log.

Wait for Su Wu to wake up the next day and then let him read it.

And at the same time.

Large patches of flowers from the underworld once again broke out of the ground in the Qinling Mountains.

Just this time.

They grow only a few millimeters.

Before triggering the AI's warning and fire strike.

It has already stopped growing.

Then it just silently absorbs nutrients from the soil.