Become an Expert at Rolling Around in the Mud! / Power of Cold! Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine Strikes!

"No, not that one." Oute gestured, "It's those."

FrostNova was going to test Cold-Drive Tubeless Power Axe and Originium-Circuit Liquefied-Gas Backpack —you should know that the elite unit project of the Deepwinter Soldiers was almost designed for her and the Yeti Squad.

Large-volume, saturated, robust, and grass-resistant units are indeed very advantageous for filling in gaps in the army. However, facing the nature of warfare in Terra, Oute must prepare an elite, but not entirely elite, unit.

Even though Originium has blocked the conventional firearm route of "high temperature and high pressure gas," the electromagnetic weapon route, with the support of Terra materials science and Originium as a super energy source, is still a usable elite weapon.

But... Oute has his eye on the Yeti Squad.

He set his sights on this group of elite warriors who had already mastered a considerable level of ice and snow Originium Arts.

When FrostNova entered the room, Oute himself was still leading the "Practical New Pneumatic Gun Design Based on Civil Seamless Steel Pipe" project.

Firearms are manageable, but the large-scale production of power axes cannot be achieved by taking shortcuts such as "purchasing seamless steel pipes on the market." Its research and development and production can only proceed slowly, step by step.

In addition, the training period for melee weapons is much longer than that for firearms.

Oute's current plan is to just use Pneumatic Rifle to pass off this batch of trashy filler babies.

Anyway, even under the most optimistic estimate, the first batch of Deepwinter Soldiers will only have two weeks of training time to develop some muscle conditioned reflexes in shooting and formation, so that Oute can save some trouble when micromanaging...

However, for regular troops that can be trained long-term in the future, power axes will also need to be added.

Terra's sacred melee traditions cannot be easily abandoned!

In addition, Oute also prepared for ordinary casters and slightly more elite casters: Originium gas backpacks equipped with Originium circuits that can continuously produce liquefied gas in battle; Cold-Drive Tubeless Power Axe with pre-embedded liquefied gas production equipment that specialize in long-term combat; or Heat-Driven Tubeless Powered Axe with more flexible and powerful power slashing.

However, the specific military system still needs to be finalized before the equipment is fully standardized.

In Terra, ignoring a high-level resource like warlocks is also a crime.

Since the power axe can only be temporarily provided to a small number of operators through the workshop, and it's all handmade, Oute decided to skip the ordinary power axe and go straight to the precision-engineered power axe projects for elite units: thermal drive and cold drive.

The "ordinary sorcerers" and the "slightly more elite sorcerers" are the Yeti Squad, who will be used as the assault force of the Deepwinter Soldiers in Oute's plan.

While they can't be compared to Steam Knights or Silverlance Pegasi, this type of unit, which can be trained with just a certain level of ice- Originium Arts, is not a leader unit, but rather a veteran soldier in the armies of other countries.

With Oute's micro-management, the Yeti Squad equipped with Cryo-Driven Axe and Originium-Circuit Liquefied-Gas Backpack will become usable elite units, albeit relatively unknown.

What's encouraging is that this future Winter Assault Squad shares the same keyword with its reserves: cheap.

Because the Originium circuits of backpacks and Cryo-Driven Axe are simple and durable, the cost of a full set of equipment for a commando soldier is far less than the price of an Originium gun... but their effectiveness far exceeds that of ordinary gun users! With the support of Oute, they can even act as elite units in groups and compete with other leader units.

Moreover, currently, the cost-effectiveness of using fixed-load ammunition for pneumatic firearms is not high; they are essentially metal peas. They are relatively small in both size and weight, allowing individual soldiers to carry large quantities. Their cost is primarily due to production line wear and tear, with even the cost of raw materials being negligible.

Whether it's the Deepwinter Soldiers' line-filling babies, active duty troops, or commandos, their bullets can be fired indiscriminately as if they're free...

Their firepower density is simply not in the same league as the Terra, who specialize in crossbows. Even the Columbia's grass-covered but barely comparable fully automatic rapid-fire crossbow has to be compared to the robust and durable logistical costs of pneumatic firearms.

Finally facing these weapons of Oute, FrostNova asked, "Is it alright for me to test them?"

"You know, even though I'm joining Rhodes Island, I'm still part of the Reunion Movement."

Huang instinctively wanted to take action, but after carefully considering the cause and effect, and glancing at Oute's calm face, she felt relieved.

"That 'Talulah,' she's already sent you and your daughter away, hasn't she?" Oute asked rhetorically.

FrostNova wasn't surprised at all, and said, "W told you, didn't she?"

Do we even need her?

Chapter 106 To Become a Master of Rolling in the Mud!

"No, it's easy to understand if you think about it for a moment," Oute replied. "Black Snake probably wants to continue using Draco's body. So, she will most likely choose to send away all potential enemies who could kill that body."

"..."

Potential enemy?

FrostNova remained silent.

She is indeed a potential enemy. Now, she has even truly turned against them.

Even before they learned the truth and completely removed their psychological barrier to attacking "Talulah," FrostNova and Patriot, father and daughter, each made a separate and independent decision in their hearts to eradicate this evil flower.

Regardless, faced with such analysis, FrostNova still had the illusion that "she really betrayed Talulah" and that "Talulah's precautions were very reasonable."

Seemingly sensing FrostNova's inner turmoil, Oute, without looking up, continued calculating data for the pneumatic weapon on his manuscript paper, saying to FrostNova, "Black Snake is Black Snake, Talulah is Talulah; their operational logic is completely different."

"Black Snake claims that crashing into Lungmen is just a smokescreen, but since she made such a claim, she needs a plausible excuse to convince the other leaders of the Reunion Movement."

"Whether she needs it or not, she will send you to find two items: a way to start Chernobog and a way to stop Chernobog."

The method to activate Chernobog is ostensibly the key held by Misha, Sergei's daughter. Black Snake claims the method to stop Chernobog lies with the escaped Boris.

In reality, in the original timeline, everything that happened in the "Chernobog Ruins" was a pretext to distract Patriot and FrostNova from their mission of "finding the Chernobog Key."

This special "Chernobog Ruins" is the "Abandoned Mobile City Plot - Facility 14" - a plot of land that was secretly moved away by Chernobog's high-ranking officials, including Mayor Boris.

In the original timeline, aside from Ace and others who stayed behind during the breakout, the reconnaissance team consisting of Frostleaf, Meteorite, and Jessica met FrostNova for the first time here.

"And you and Patriot will naturally be sent by Black Snake to missions furthest from her—just like when they attacked Chernobog."

Admittedly, assigning the most elite soldiers the most difficult tasks is indeed a sound military strategy. However, Black Snake's deliberate decision to entrust the most challenging missions to the guerrillas was merely a part of her machinations...

"... The certainty with which you spoke of these things was as if you had witnessed them firsthand," FrostNova sighed.

"I don't like to boast, but Black Snake isn't actually that talented in these areas. Her millennia of longevity have only made her better at getting by in the mud." Based on Huang's test, Oute finished his calculations and handed the paper to another Engineering Department officer.

The operator was an Aegir, and she stood out as extremely aloof among the Engineering Department operators. Even when she had to participate in public activities, she still tried to minimize contact with others.

She very carefully took the manuscript with her gloved right hand and read it carefully.

Then, Oute looked directly at FrostNova, his cold eyes flashing with indifference.

"She's a little better than those Ursus people who only use strokes as an excuse... but only a little."

Even after marrying Sophia, the last princess of Byzantium, and introducing advanced Greek court intrigue techniques, the Russians were still incredibly crude when it came to scheming and plotting.

Historical researchers often blurt out. "Is there something wrong with your Slavic court? Why is everyone suffering from strokes?"

Those who lose in court intrigues, whether they ultimately die by poisoning, murder, or honor execution... if there is a need to put it on paper, in the end, seven or eight out of ten will suffer a stroke when they finally put pen to paper.

Some strokes can be determined to be homicides through various means such as autopsies. However, many more strokes lack effective methods of identification and remain unsolved cases in history.

This might... cause those unfortunate people who actually suffered a stroke to be unjustly accused.

Black Snake's skills are slightly better than these Slavic abstract studios, but only by a little.

"She did send us to a pre-separated, mobile site, with the objective, as you said, to retrieve the Chernobog Key." FrostNova gently stroked the blade of the Cryo-Driven Axe.

This technological weapon also consists of two parts: the handle and the axe head. The Cryo-Driven Axe has an integrated Originium circuit inside, which can be used without pipelines and Originium liquefied gas backpacks. In addition to being more flexible, its power can also be slightly adjusted by the user's own Originium Arts.

The more basic power axe requires a cable to be connected to the backpack to activate its power function.

But seriously, in general applications, it's hard to imagine it being used in scenarios where additional liquefied gas needs to be pumped in.

"How do I use it?" FrostNova didn't want to continue that topic.

"Its internal Originium circuit has two functions. One is to enrich air, converting your idle physical strength into liquefied gas for storage," the Aegir woman interjected.

She explained, "The Cryo-Driven Axe is relatively powerful, but also more complex, so it requires the user to be proficient in ice-related Originium Arts. The Thermal-Driven Axe's ability to generate liquefied gas is relatively weaker, but it doesn't require as much Originium Arts from the user."

"Another function of the Cryo-Driven Axe is to pump out liquefied gas in stages, quickly boosting the axe's strikes. In contrast, the Thermal-Driven Axe's axe head has a more sophisticated function, allowing for flexible adjustment of the pumped gas speed and mass, resulting in greater power for high-powered strikes and less power for low-powered strikes." She added softly, "This principle is a bit... but actually, I can use it to my advantage."

FrostNova asked, "Why is that?"

"Yes, because Doc Otter wants to lower the barrier to entry for Originium Arts as much as possible," Engineer Aegir replied. "If we make both very complex, the training costs will increase."

No, training costs are a minor issue.

Oute shook his head.

The biggest problem is the limitation of Originium Arts, which is far more troublesome than the limitation of physical ability.

Even if it's just a simple trick that's easy for anyone to learn, as long as it's Originium Arts, it will naturally remove a large number of people from the list of potential recruits.

Although the numbers have long been reduced, even if the numbers are increased, it's impossible to "sweep across Terra and be yourself again".

Is it really worth sacrificing 50% of the army's size cap just for a slight performance improvement in the power axe?

No! No! Absolutely no!

As FrostNova was used tentatively, a gentle breeze stirred up inside.

"I suggest you test it outdoors."

Oute pointed to the door.

Outside the gate, in the center of the town square, stands a half-carved stone pillar against a withered tree trunk. This is the heart of the town; from here, you can access almost all the functional buildings.

However, for some reason, swarms of mosquitoes, flies, and all sorts of other pests swarmed around the stone sculpture. As if they had a grudge against it, they charged toward the half-sculpture with a death-defying courage.

Chapter 107 The Power of Coldness! Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Sections!

Do these pests and diseases have some kind of grudge against that statue?!

Hey, believe it or not, there really is.

FrostNova passed by this statue on her way from the tavern to the blacksmith's shop. And she also took a liking to this square when she began testing the Cryo-Driven Axe.

At first, it was just a faint breeze and whistling sound, so subtle as to be easily overlooked. Then, as FrostNova unleashed her power, a fierce storm, accompanied by a piercing shriek, caused the branches of the withered trees to tremble wildly. And with the Originium circuit within the axe handle working frantically, the overflowing chill caused the plague-ridden insects to shiver and leave the place.

The annoying buzzing that had been lingering in everyone's ears vanished in an instant.

Operator Aegir chased after FrostNova, noting. "The storm caused by the Cryo-Driven Axe preparing liquefied gas is even more intense... It may trigger..."

Due to the distance, the others couldn't see in time that the handle of FrostNova's axe had developed cracks.

Huang was somewhat dumbfounded. He shook Oute's shoulder, pointed at FrostNova, and asked, "Is the difference between hot-drive and cold-drive really that big?"

With a crisp sound, FrostNova subconsciously activated her Originium Arts, freezing the entire Cryo-Driven Axe in black ice.

In Hamlet Town, even without the accessories equipped by Oute, she still had to follow the rules... The pressure gauge rose another notch.

It's hard to say whether what's happening now is due to the Originium circuit of the Cryo-Driven Axe Originium overloading under the violent drive of the White Rabbit "standing up and kicking," or the liquefied air produced in a short time exceeding its limit.