Wasteland

In the blink of an eye, another five years had passed for the New Dynasty.

For the New Dynasty, these five years were a period of drastic change.

The Emperor fell ill, and despite employing every method available, they could only barely sustain his life.

As his illness worsened, the Emperor's temperament grew increasingly strange, even violent.

Arbitrary, autocratic, irritable, quick to anger.

He became ever more fearsome.

If the change in temperament was a minor matter, then the near-frenzied influx of countless resources into the Western Continent Research Institute under his direction truly affected the functioning of the entire society.

To manufacture enough weapons, the national treasury was drained, a series of infrastructure projects stalled, taxes were increased, and administrative measures were used to scrape wealth in a manner akin to draining a pond to catch all the fish—plunging the entire economy into a slump.

Beneath the prosperous facade of the electrical age, a nation that should have been vibrant and energetic grew feeble within just a few years.

Some attempted to resist, but could hardly stir up any waves.

After a brief period of peak prosperity, the entire New Dynasty seemed on the verge of collapse. Countless people were baffled, unable to understand what the "brilliant and ambitious" Emperor was truly thinking.

"I just want to see what's outside."

At the edge of the Great Western Continent, the farthest reach of the Mountain Range, at the end of the Northern Mountains, by the shore of the Endless Sea, stood a tall mountain.

On the side facing the sea, the lower half was a steep, smooth cliff face, while on the upper half, "windows" had been artificially carved out and fitted with specially made glass.

This was the forefront of the Western Continent Research Institute.

The mountain was hollow inside, and the Central Laboratory was hidden within its belly.

To blast open the "Boundary," the Super Weapon—the "Annihilation Bomb" manufactured by the Institute—had to be deployed at the end of the sea.

This mountain range of the Great Western Continent was the closest land to the "Boundary."

Earlier, all the "Annihilation Bombs" produced over the past five years had already been placed at the ocean's end, with Submarine Cables laid to bring the "switch" back to this Central Laboratory.

This was nearly the limit of control.

At this moment, in the central hall of the laboratory, the aged Emperor, supported by others, stood before the window, gazing out at the sea.

The weather was excellent today, with no wind or waves on the ocean, and faintly, one could almost see the distant "Great Wall."

Behind him, in the central hall, countless people bustled about, making final confirmations.

After a moment, the Chief Scientist, who also showed signs of aging, walked over slowly:

"Your Majesty, three thousand Annihilation Bombs have been deployed, and the final adjustments are complete. They can be detonated at any time."

As he spoke, he raised a dark green metal box in his hands. Several cables connected to the bottom of the box, snaking like serpents across the floor to the instruments around the laboratory.

"Good." The aged Emperor withdrew his gaze, fixing his now-cloudy eyes on him. He barely lifted his weak right hand, but at that moment, hesitated briefly:

"You know the consequences of detonating it, don't you."

"Yes. According to calculations, detonating this many Annihilation Bombs simultaneously will release energy that alters the ecological environment of the surrounding area, and may even trigger the collapse of the global ecosystem.

For us, even with the thick rock walls as a barrier, the radiation generated will kill everyone here within a short time, without exception."

The Chief Scientist narrated in a calm voice.

He did not deliberately lower his voice, yet those around him showed no reaction.

Over the past five years, through repeated activations of the "Secret Seal," the old Emperor had deeply embedded the will to destroy into the minds of these people.

"Then do you think I should activate it?" The old Emperor suddenly asked, as if seeking confirmation.

"Your servant... does not know." The Chief Scientist's eyes were somewhat dazed.

"I understand." The old Emperor pressed his lips together, took the Detonator with trembling hands, then turned to face the sea outside the window.

At this moment, the few researchers in the laboratory gathered around, their expressions blank as they stared at the small Detonator.

No one spoke. In the hall, a pin drop could be heard.

Only the old Emperor, following the marked steps, slowly opened the casing, entered the password, flipped the safety... and finally, hovered his hand over the lever.

Outside the window, the sunlight was strong, shining on his withered face, yet carrying no warmth.

"Click." The crisp sound of the lever being thrown rang out.

Then, in a dead silence, the electrical signal passed through the Detonator into the instruments, and via the long Submarine Cable, traveled to the other end of the world.

A brief stillness.

Then, from some researcher, an exclamation of wonder: "Wow."

In the distance, a terrifying force tore through the calm sea, whipping up violent winds and towering waves, scattering the clouds in the sky.

A deafening, indescribable roar drowned out all sound. Countless cracks appeared in the special glass embedded in the mountain, shattering in an instant!

Infinite, pure, white "light" poured through the windows, piercing the retinas of everyone in that moment.

Overwhelming their consciousness.

At that moment, three thousand "Annihilation Bombs" detonated simultaneously!

Tens of miles of ocean heated, boiled, and evaporated into countless water vapors!

A terrifying shockwave shredded countless devices and detectors on the mountain peaks.

Radiation-laden dust rose into the high sky, spread rapidly, swept across the entire Atlantis, then diffused toward cities farther away.

In city after city.

On the streets, in rooms, factories, schools, hospitals, stations... countless people at this moment simultaneously raised their heads and looked toward the direction of Atlantis.

Looked toward the blaze that had ignited half the sky.

Countless men and women, elderly and children.

At this moment, felt the earth shaking.

Eyes wide, mouths agape, feeling the sting on their skin, staring at the dust storm stretching hundreds of kilometers in the high sky that blotted out the sun, they let out terrified screams:

"Ah!!!"

6 minutes 26 seconds after the three thousand Annihilation Bombs detonated, the shockwave swept across the entire territory of Atlantis!

7 minutes 21 seconds, Mingzhou Prefecture fell!

8 minutes 49 seconds, Tai'an Prefecture fell!

11 minutes 05 seconds, Jingchuan Prefecture fell!

......

18 minutes exactly, it approached the center of the continent.

22 minutes 07 seconds, the shockwave swept through the Capital!!

......

One hour later.

The Tucker Continent, three hundred thousand square kilometers of fertile land, reduced to wasteland!!!

......

......

Meanwhile, in Yangcheng City, inside a trendy hotpot restaurant.

The air conditioning was blasting cold air.

At a certain table.

Lin Tuo was holding chopsticks, stirring the spicy pot in front of him. Inside the pot, amid the tempting broth, various ingredients sank and tumbled.

To his left, an iced drink was already more than half finished.

"Phew~" Picking up a large roll of thoroughly cooked lamb, Lin Tuo subconsciously blew on it, then dipped it in sauce, stuffed a full mouthful in, and chewed with a blissful expression.

After swallowing it into his stomach, he felt his whole body warm up.

He picked up his drink and took a big gulp, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead:

"Lamb is only satisfying when you eat it in big bites."

Just as he was muttering to himself, the phone screen beside Lin Tuo suddenly lit up again.

It was a scheduled alarm.

Time to collect ether again.

"Sigh, having too much ether is a hassle too, having to absorb it every so often..." Shaking his head, Lin Tuo put down his chopsticks, leaned back against the chair, and closed his eyes.

Consciousness switch!

The next second.

In the study of Lishan Martial Arts Hall.

The main body, lying in a rattan chair and appearing to be asleep, slowly opened its eyes, stood up, walked over to the sand table, and switched it back to "Creation Mode."

After the light and shadow transition completed.

Lin Tuo looked down at the three hundred thousand square kilometers of wasteland.

Completely dumbfounded.

......

A moment later.

A heart-wrenching scream suddenly rang out from the martial arts hall study:

"What the hell... is going on?!!!"