Chapter 2: Slow Activation Speed, Increased Power and Range, Becoming the Type with Harsh Prerequisites, but Once Used, the Enemy Will Be Vaporized by Solar Flame.
Nothing can be absolutely perfect. Between the two development paths, Su Xiao preferred the latter. In his view, Apollo was a strategic weapon—either not used at all, or once deployed, everything would be reduced to nothing under the Solar Flame.
As for how to hit the enemy with it, that depended on Su Xiao's personal ability. He would not let Apollo degrade into a conventional explosive. Although that might make Apollo powerful for a time, after its peak period, it would be phased out, rendering his long research achievements worthless. So he wouldn't develop Apollo in that direction.
Su Xiao glanced at the remaining assembly time, then stepped toward the door of his exclusive room.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang's bark came. Su Xiao looked at Bubu Wang.
"Arrive at the assembly point within 30 minutes."
"Woof?"
Bubu Wang's eyes were full of confusion. It showed Su Xiao a notification. Seeing this, Su Xiao's mind raced. After a moment of thought, he realized many things.
"You two wait here for the teleport. Barring any surprises, you'll arrive at the Ten Thousand Beast Continent first."
Su Xiao pushed open the door of his exclusive room and walked toward the assembly point designated by Reincarnation Paradise. He guessed that this so-called assembly point was only for him—or rather, temporarily only for him.
Following the coordinates, Su Xiao crossed the Trade Market and arrived at an open space. An iron-black spaceship was docked there. The ship was over eight hundred meters long, a behemoth. On one side of its hull was a massive, blood-red 'ф' mark.
The tail hatch of the ship was open, and no one was nearby.
As soon as Su Xiao stepped into the tail compartment, a gentle wave spread over him.
[Checking... Hunter has no physical injuries. Will not receive the healing effects of the Healing Crystal.]
[Healing Crystal: Creates a 'Healing Aura X' in the assembly point area, restoring 1% of max health per second.]
[Note: This healing aura is free. However, because the aura is not fully activated, recovery from injuries is slow, and it cannot heal severed limbs, brain damage, etc.]
...
Undoubtedly, this ship would definitely arrive at the Ten Thousand Beast Continent. Its landing point would be the base of Reincarnation Paradise, commonly known as the Base Camp.
The Base Camp had a healing aura. The other four factions should have similar setups. This meant that fighting near one's own Base Camp offered a huge advantage.
However, there was also a scenario: if a faction was routed and fled into their Base Camp, they might be trapped inside the ship by the enemy.
Imagine being killed by the enemy inside your own Base Camp. How despairing would that be? Especially with the healing aura inside the Base Camp—it wouldn't just be despair, but also extremely embarrassing.
Su Xiao walked through the tail passage. After passing a biometric scan, the pressure door ahead opened, revealing the main cabin. The area was over a thousand square meters. On one side was a self-service restaurant, on the other a bar counter, behind which was a liquor rack stocked with various drinks and beverages.
At the far end of the main cabin, a pressure door was open, revealing an alloy corridor about five meters wide. Metal doors lined the walls on both sides—likely rest cabins for contractors.
Further ahead was the captain's quarters. How did Su Xiao know? Because he had seen a similar ship before. During his last invasion of Apocalypse Paradise's world, he had infiltrated a ship like this, blocking the corridor to the captain's quarters and killing enemies.
Self-service restaurant, bar counter, various supply storage rooms, energy supply room, control room, and numerous rest cabins—that was the general structure of the entire ship.
A faint snoring came from behind the bar. Hearing this, Su Xiao approached the counter and saw a 'young man' in a waiter's uniform, leaning back in a chair, drool trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Dong, dong, dong~
Su Xiao tapped the counter. The 'young man' jolted awake, a dazed look on her face as if asking, 'Who am I?'
"S-sorry! Have we arrived at the Ten Thousand Beast Continent already? Oh no, oh no, I overslept! Please, take your time, guest."
The 'young man'—no, this androgynously dressed girl was probably still half-asleep. She placed one of her shoes on the counter, picked up a bottle, and was about to pour wine into it.
"S-sorry!"
The bartender girl was startled by her own actions. She knew very well that the contractors here had bad tempers, and some crazy ones might ignore warnings and attack her.
"..."
Su Xiao glanced at the shoe on the counter, then at the bartender girl. After a moment, he found a chair, sat down, unbuckled the longsword at his waist, and began maintaining Dragon-Slaying Flash.
Bubu Wang, Amu, Baha, and Beini were not with Su Xiao. They would arrive at the Ten Thousand Beast Continent in the usual way—teleported. The other contractors should be the same.
Su Xiao, however, was entering the Ten Thousand Beast Continent by ship. So far, he hadn't seen any other contractors. The bartender girl was a worker.
"Luo Luo, you're so noisy. Go back to sleep. It'll be at least another hour before we reach the Ten Thousand Beast Continent."
A very familiar voice came from the restaurant area.
"But... a guest has arrived."
"How is that possible? The ship hasn't taken off yet, and the captain hasn't arrived. How could a contractor be here?"
A figure walked out from the kitchen. A moment later, the person stopped.
"Huh? Bai Ye, why are you here? Did you... become a worker? How is that possible? You're so strong."
Xia looked at Su Xiao with confusion. Please don't misunderstand—Xia wasn't here for the World War. She was mainly in charge of food and drink. Some outstanding workers received special tasks, including Xia and the bartender girl, Luo Luo.
"Are people already here?"
A somewhat hoarse voice came, followed by a squelching sound.
A toad the size of a washbasin hopped into the main cabin. It wore a crown on its head and exuded a very strong aura.
Behind the toad was a man in black armor. His entire body was encased in the armor, which seemed to have been burned and fused with him. He had no name; those familiar with him called him No. 1045.
The toad and No. 1045 had arrived. The Saber-haired girl who usually followed them was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, it's you. Thanks for last time."
The toad leaped onto the counter and grinned at Su Xiao.
"Did your little cutie die?"
Su Xiao sheathed Dragon-Slaying Flash and hung it back at his waist.
"Don't even mention it. That little cutie isn't cute at all anymore. She's even learned to swing her sword at me. How gratifying. She's become a qualified Arbiter. Probably in the Fifth Rank war zone now."
The toad picked up a cocktail, sizing up the bartender girl, Luo Luo.
"Girl, do you desire power?"
"Not... really. I'm afraid of pain."
"What a shame."
The toad downed the cocktail in one gulp and then hopped toward the captain's quarters. It looked ridiculous hopping along, but it was a heavy hitter on the same level as Violent Rat.
Inside the ship, the toad served as captain, Luo Luo as bartender, Xia as chef, and the taciturn No. 1045 as vice-captain.
Su Xiao had a special mission. If nothing went wrong, his opponents this time were not weak. Otherwise, he wouldn't be entering the Ten Thousand Beast Continent this way.