Time passed again. From one year to two and two to three. That was the time for the humans and dwarves to conquer the entirety of the merfolk territory underwater.
Due to this Star Battle, the civilization learned more about underwater structures and vehicles. This development caused the Technology Tree to expand along with the Transcendent Tree.
After all, the skills of the merfolk became a part of the transcendent, at least that was how Dian saw it.
“Broadening the Technology and Transcendent Tree is highly beneficial to me as a Planet Master. After all, civilization is the backbone for a Planet Master.” Dian murmured while looking at several panels displaying numerous situations in the Star Battle.
Those who participated in the Star Battle were shown in it. Especially the biggest variable of the battle effort, Dian paid attention to him.
In the enemy’s planet, there were dozens of floating bases as well as underwater facilities for sea floor exploration.
This was the result of improving the theoretical construction method along with the increasing tools for doing that. Not even Dian could expect that such a thing had appeared.
After all, he was just responsible for tugging his race in a certain direction.
This was the result of being pushed into a Star Battle where they were unfamiliar with the battlefield environment; the humans and dwarves had to adapt as fast as possible, and this was the result.
Although the merfolk assault slowed down the expansion so they needed more time to conquer the merfolk territory.
Dian did not even actively give intelligence; he had just given them some basic information about their opponent’s race and their special skill. Other than that, he did nothing else to intervene, not even the other four.
“This Star Battle caused my Star Child to be able to develop so many things.” Dian let out a slight smile when he saw the quickly improving progress on his system panel.
Even though there was a development in terms of genetics due to the scientists and scholars sharing the results of their research with each other through their academic papers.
This caused the people to get extra longevity, at least surpassing one hundred years average lifespan for now.
[Name: Genetic Modification
Technology Level: T2
Description: The race has managed to be able to do some simple genetic modification. The applications of this can be reflected in increasing the lifespan and healing some genetic defects. It can be developed further into something more.
Further Technology Possible: Genetic Strengthening, Genetic Transformation]
Dian looked at one category in the Technology Tree and could not help but focus on it. He knew that the development from the connection his race had with the Glings. Their body tissue became the main research subject to increase the understanding at the cellular and even at the genetic level.
His Core Race had been studying this topic for a long time but only now was it possible to be able to modify the gene with their current technology level.
Meaning that the understanding of modifying genes enabled them to develop more theories regarding the change in genes.
Dian then looked at another category, which was located at the very end of the T2 Technology Tree.
[Name: Controllable Nuclear Fusion
Technology Level: T2
Description: Your race which has seen the way a star operates, is finally able to contain and utilize the energy by creating the process in a contained manner without fail or losing cost-effectiveness. This technology will cause an energy revolution in your race since the produced energy is clean and even massive enough to be used by all population.
Further Technology Possible: Artificial Star]
This was the technology that solved the energy crisis that had been the issue. The resources on the Cerulean Planet were ultimately limited, even coal and fossil fuel were limited and the scholars knew this. That was why they insisted on researching the controllable nuclear fusion reactor on the spaceship, hoping to find a way to reverse-engineer it.
And they finally did it. The result? Almost infinite energy was at their disposal, supplying the needs of electricity to the entire civilization and for research purposes.
Even Dian could see the transformation of energy capability since the energy points in his system panel showed signs of being added.
The energy points gained are quite small for now, but with time and an increase in rank, they can also increase depending on the situation.
Dian was glad to have finally reached this step. Having Controllable Nuclear Fusion was the mark of the pinnacle of the T2 Technology Tree. Meaning that Dian had to prepare for widening the Technology Tree or being promoted to Rank Three Planet Master.
Of course, Dian would choose to widen his Technology Tree since the wider it was, the better it would be for him.
Then he looked at the situation around him and found out that the opponent was frantically moving erratically. Dian knew that he was actually trying to turn the tide back in his favor.
We need to get this Star Battle done in our victory.
-
On the foreign planet, there was a battle involving the merfolk.
Underwater, 400 meters below the surface, was a battle that shook the water and changed the currents.
A sword energy slash was formed and even managed to slice through several merfolk transcendent easily, like a knife through tofu.
Other than seawater, the blood of the merfolk started to fill the underwater area.
“That’s the last of them.” Tatsumi said while floating in the water while feeling the water pressure affecting his combat.
He led his transcendent strike group which consisted of the people he knew.
“Then we should go slightly deeper into the merfolk territory. The main strike groups are already there.” Ame said from behind him.
As for why the two could communicate underwater, it was because they could use mind power to form a connection and communicate that way.
“Let’s go then. We need to form an encirclement to prevent any merfolk from escaping.” Tatsumi relayed his mind power to all his strike group.
That feat was something only a few could do. That was why the members of the transcendent strike group respected him greatly.
And then the strike group went to the deeper territory of the merfolk.
On the frontline, there was only one thing to do. Clear the territory of hostile entities. Either it was giant sea beasts or merfolk who resisted, the transcendent strike groups had to do it.
Long Wu looked at the sight of blood mixed with the seawater, being diluted over time but it reminded him of something.
‘Blood is mostly water. That is why I can now control the blood of the living being.’
That was right. With Tatsumi using the understanding to reveal the inner workings of the water manipulation skill, Long Wu went to the extreme of creating a skill that could control the blood of living beings.
Of course, it was limited to those much weaker than him but its effectiveness was without a doubt. That was why, when dealing with cannon fodder, Long Wu just used the blood manipulation skill and killed the merfolk or sea beast with it.
As for equal foes, he could deal with them with ease despite being underwater. As if the water pressure did not affect him in the slightest.
He perceived that the resistance was over, with most of the merfolk releasing their weapons and raising their limbs high above their head.
‘Are they actually surrendering to us?’ Long Wu thought as he went in the direction where the surrendered merfolk were located.
The transcendents who saw this became confused. They did not expect that the resistance which would be fierce since they were going to occupy the merfolk territory to get the reality that the merfolk surrendered.
“What’s going on here?” Long Wu feigned and asked.
Seeing Long Wu, the transcendents finally could feel the burden was gone from their shoulders.
One of them said, “Sir, it looks like the resisting merfolk are suddenly surrendering. We don’t know whether to detain them or just outright kill them since they resisted.”
Long Wu frowned slightly but there was already a decision in his heart.
“Take them as prisoners. Along with the merfolk settlement here, place them on house arrest and don’t let them get out of their houses. Supplies will be delivered to them since we at least know how they lived their daily life.” Long Wu said through the mind power connection with a strong connotation.
“Yes!” The transcendents obeyed his words and did exactly that.
They restrained the merfolk transcendent with the transcendent restricting rope so that they could not utilize their transcendent energy. Other than that, Long Wu was investigating the relation between factions of the merfolk.
‘Hmm. Looks like my disciple has started to form an encirclement around here. Good, I need to make sure that not even the merfolk can escape.’ Long Wu thought before he went to the center of the merfolk settlement.
He was sure that there was something here that a certain faction had hidden. It was just a bit hard to find and that was why Long Wu went to this place, to verify the intel regarding another artifact like the Trident.
He then found a hidden compartment in one of the houses as he entered and moved to the place immediately.
In front of him was a huge, emerald rectangular thing. Long Wu had opened the hidden compartment which moved the stone gate and revealed the item to him.
‘From the shape alone, it is quite strange to store an artifact. But if this thing is something else…’ Long Wu then pried open the rectangular item by pushing one of its corners.
Using full physical strength, Long Wu managed to force it open. Bubbles came out from the gap as something was stored inside without water in it, probably it was full of air.
When he saw what was inside, there was a reaction coming from his spatial bag. Long Wu blinked his eyes and then let out the resonated item.
‘The Trident…’ Long Wu found out that it was the Trident that was reacting. As for the thing behind the rectangular thing, it was actually a shield. It was as golden as the Trident so Long Wu knew that they were connected.
The shield was small enough that he could hold it with one hand.
‘But why did they leave this thing here?’ Long Wu had this question when he wanted to lift the shield by his own strength.
When he tried to lift the shield, he felt a great pull downward as the shield was so heavy that he could not even lift it.
‘Well, that makes sense. The merfolk could not possibly bring this with them if it is this heavy.’ Long Wu shook his head before he let the Trident react with the shield.
The shield glowed up and started floating on its own. Long Wu only knew that there was something that could make the resonance.
Then Long Wu tried once again to lift the shield and was surprised to be able to do that. Holding the Trident with his right hand and the Shield with his left hand, Long Wu finally understood the whole thing.
‘To Sea God, we offer our faith!’
‘What was that?’ Long Wu heard something faint but it felt like an offering. Long Wu focused his mind power on both the Trident and the Shield before he heard something.
‘The waves, the sea, the marine creatures…all of it is in the dominion of the Sea God.’
Long Wu could hear it this time.
‘Ah, the Sea God. The one being the merfolk worship and believe in. Just like the humans with the Father God, they also have a figure to support them in the Star Battle.’ Long Wu thought while thinking why the Shield was abandoned and only slightly covered by a hidden compartment.
‘Oh, right. Maybe the merfolk assumed that there is no way to find the Shield. Well, too bad that our transcendents can sense their surroundings with precision.’
Long Wu could only assume as such. Then he extended his mind power to expand and form a detailed scan with a one-hundred-meter radius due to the difficulty of penetrating water.
‘Wait a moment, that…’ Long Wu was still grabbing the Trident and the Shield so the two artifacts increased his range and surprised him.
But more than that, he was surprised to find that there was a group of merfolk trying to escape. They were using the same essence as the Trident and the Shield, causing them to be temporarily undetected even with a mind power scan.
Long Wu moved with amazing speed underwater, directly to them.
He had to hurry because the merfolk group was about to penetrate the encirclement, meaning that they could injure, if not straight up killing, the people there.
Because those people were his disciple’s so he felt responsible and increased his speed further.
There was already a battle involving the strike group and the merfolk who were under the protection of the essence of the artifact.
The merfolk overwhelmed the two people who stood guard there.
“We are outnumbered. Call the others!” one of the transcendents said.
“Already done!” the other said.
The signal was actually a certain frequency of mind power burst and they already did that. The problem was that the merfolk tried not only to kill them but to bypass them.
“Hold them…off!”
The transcendents then worked together to form a current that hindered the merfolk. They quite overexerted themselves since the usage of their transcendent energy increased but they had no choice.
This was the only way to hold the escaping merfolk as well as creating a safety barrier.
Then they sensed someone powerful had come to them. They also recognized the Trident but not the Shield he wielded.
But one thing was for sure: the reinforcement had arrived.
The merfolk were still in the middle of penetrating the current by manipulating the current available to them when one of the merfolk realized that someone was attacking them from behind.
They smelled the blood that was spreading and saw that one human was killing the merfolk using the very artifact they previously had.
Long Wu thrusted the Trident infused with his transcendent energy, causing the Trident to darken while letting out black-colored water. The sharp part of the Trident went into the head of a merfolk, causing blood and brain matter to splatter into the water.
Long Wu did not stop as another merfolk attacked him. This time, he bashed the Shield at the attacker before pulling the Trident and thrusting it to the temporarily stunned attacker, killing that merfolk too.
Because of this, the merfolk spread and tried to escape since they saw Long Wu killing two of their own so easily. But the current created by the two transcendent made it hard for them to escape.
The two transcendent used their full output to create a big current and could not expend more to attack the escaping merfolk. But they did not need to do that since Long Wu was attacking and eliminating the merfolk.
Long Wu then channeled his transcendent energy and thrusted the Trident to a slightly far-off target. Strengthening the transcendent energy, when the thrust happened, there was a black line formed and penetrated the merfolk right in its chest, causing a hole to appear and blood to spray out.
Long Wu quickly went to the other merfolk and started killing them as fast as he could.
For the merfolk, seeing their artifacts being used by the enemy was the nightmare material they vehemently denied. They increased their effort to try to run away from that place but Long Wu did not give them even that.
The water nearby turned red because it was mixed with the sprayed blood from the dead merfolk. Long Wu went to the last one who was barely coming out from the current, almost free.
Long Wu swiped the Trident, causing the current to change as well as causing a flying crescent energy to hit the merfolk.
The merfolk in question screamed in agony because the undead element had invaded its body, making it experience decay and rot.
That caused the merfolk to pause for a brief moment, which Long Wu exploited immediately. Long Wu went closer and then extended his hand and poured out his mind power when the hand touched the forehead of the merfolk.
“What is the Freetide faction doing? They just left their territory to be occupied by the enemies!”
“Silence! You are not to speak about their action.”
“But!”
“There is no but. We have lost the Trident artifact from the Sea God. This is an unforgivable shame but sadly we cannot retrieve it. That is why we resort to the defensive maneuver.”
Long Wu read the experience of the merfolk in front of him using his mind power. The mind power of the merfolk was below even the standard transcendent of the humans and dwarves, so Long Wu could easily read his memory.
Then he moved to the next.
“Deepsea faction has stored the Shield in this territory. But our presence has been detected by the enemy. We can’t just leave the Shield here!”
“What are you thinking!? We cannot even lift the Shield. Only the royal lineage of our king could possibly use it!”
Long Wu got the important memory and also some details regarding the factions that exist in the merfolk.
Then Long Wu plunged the Trident into the chest of the merfolk, killing him.
The two transcendents who were holding on with the water manipulation skill finally ended their energy flow and the current returned to normal.
“Thank you, sir.”
The two of them said simultaneously while coming near Long Wu.
Long Wu looked at them by turning his head and said, “No need for that. I am just doing my duty here.”