Chapter 210: Free Loot! Ringworld! War Moon!

Chapter 210: Free Loot! Ringworld! War Moon!

"The high-knight scientists have done a pretty decent job. They've managed to replicate and develop quite a few technological principles and advancements."

Reading through the work log just sent over by the science hub department, Li Ang learned that his research team had broken through multiple technological milestones.

Technologies like carbon nanofibers, quantum computer models, and antimatter shielding devices had already been added to the company's tech reserves.

But what delighted Li Ang even more was the confirmation that two generals from Pacific Rim's Defense Corps, Raleigh Becket and Mako Mori, had joined Universal LA corp's exploration department.

With these two protagonists on board, the talent pool of the corporation was replenished once more.

As professionally trained combatants with extensive experience fighting extraterrestrial threats, Raleigh and Mako would quickly fill the gap in outstanding military command personnel within the organization.

At that moment, Li Ang closed the holographic screen in front of him. As his mind drifted, memories of the past resurfaced.

He remembered his humble beginnings as a small-time arms dealer, rising to prominence with the sale of his first handgun.

From a modest start in Chinatown, he had developed his empire into the control of two Earths, guiding humanity's civilization through the Universal Megacorp.

The hardships and experiences during this journey filled him with a sense of accomplishment but also left him slightly weary.

Thankfully, with the obsessive work ethic of Paradox Interactive players, the spirit of war criminals, and the system buffs, Li Ang possessed exceptional resilience and energy recovery capabilities. He could think and act tirelessly for 24 hours straight, needing only a five-minute nap to recharge completely.

Paradox players were like that: nap for five minutes, grind for an entire day. Unlike carefree cultivation protagonists busy slaying monsters, wooing beauties, and defeating villains, Li Ang's tasks involved building megastructures, eradicating heretics, integrating power grids, unleashing viruses, and constructing fleets.

"Could this be the price of climbing toward a golden throne? Frustrating!"

At this moment, Li Ang finally understood why the Emperor of Humanity in Warhammer 40K would sometimes act erratically, making decisions that baffled everyone. It was likely due to overwork-induced burnout.

Still, this pressure was nothing to Li Ang. Even the Ming dynasty official Yan Shifan bore the weight of two capitals and thirteen provinces. As the Paradox Interactive godfather of all realms, Li Ang, a first-class war criminal, had crawled his way out of Stellaris. There was no room for complaints.

"Enough. Let's draw some rewards first."

Reinvigorated, Li Ang focused on the system panel. This time, the number and quality of his lottery draws far exceeded the previous round!

Thanks to the science hub's Singularity Power Station, which periodically provided research points, he had earned a guaranteed draw from the pool of universal prizes.

This time, the prize pool at the 10th level held technologies from Stellaris!

This meant Li Ang had a chance to obtain a new megastructure for free or some other powerful weapon—perhaps even draw a Planet Cracker device on the first try!

Looking at the 11 chances displayed on the panel, Li Ang wasted no time initiating the lottery.

"Start drawing!!"

As his thoughts activated the system, the rapidly spinning universal prize pool wheel soon stopped, distributing the items into his inventory.

**[Results of this round's 11-draw lottery:

Ringworld (Guaranteed 10th-level Legendary · Stellaris)

Space Elevator (The Wandering Earth · Earth United Government)

Hulkbuster Armor (Marvel Universe · Avengers · Stark Industries)

M-1A5 Engineer Power Armor (Starship Troopers · Human Federation)

M134-Minigun Gatling (The Wandering Earth · Earth United Government)

Quadrotor Heavy Giant Whale Transport Aircraft (Warriors of Future · Mecha Troop)

CN373 Transport Vehicle (The Wandering Earth · Earth United Government)

Pool Cleaning Robot (Love, Death & Robots · Zima Blue)…]**

"Not bad! I scored a megastructure for free—huge win!"

The moment Li Ang saw Ringworld appear in the prize pool, the other technologies and items paled in comparison.

The reason was simple: the gap between Ringworld and the rest was several magnitudes apart. They were not in the same league.

A Ringworld was akin to an ideal city—a massive engineering marvel designed for universal habitation, suitable for every species and organism. Even alien civilizations with extreme environmental needs could thrive there.

Like the Ideal City, the Ringworld had distinct functional zones such as city areas, power generation zones, research zones, agricultural zones, and industrial zones.

Once completed, this megastructure would provide Universal Megacorp with ample habitable space and numerous job opportunities.

But a new problem emerged.

"The Ideal City's habitable space is only one-fifth full, and now there's Ringworld. We don't even have enough people to fill it!"

Li Ang shook his head, torn between laughter and frustration. This was a rare moment of experiencing the luxury of "too much of a good thing."

For now, Ringworld wasn't an immediate necessity for the corporation. With the two Earths from Pacific Rim and Pandorum, Li Ang didn't need another new habitat.

Even though Ringworld was free, sparing him the resources and construction time required, his priorities lay elsewhere—megaconstructions that boosted production, advanced technology, or bolstered military power.

"Building this thing would deplete the entire solar system's resources! Even digging out all the debris wouldn't suffice!"

Despite his excitement, Li Ang understood the massive commitment required to construct Ringworld. Its astronomical costs and impractical return on investment made it a project for the future, not the present.

For now, he'd focus on reviewing the other prizes and upgrading the corporation's strength. The path to glory was forged step by step.

"Fourth phase of the Universal Megacorp template: unlock War Moon! But first, I need more resources… or a miracle draw."

"Using company coins to dismantle other megastructures? What kind of nonsense is this? For a second, I thought this was another predatory system crafted by that infamous corporation!"

Glaring at the "Recharge" option, Li Ang was momentarily reminded of the fear that those games from certain companies used to instill in him. Fortunately, this system didn't seem to include other pay-to-win mechanics.

As a staunch Paradox Interactive fan, Li Ang would rather grind Infinitely than spend even a single cent on microtransactions.

Especially when it involved dismantling the Ringworld he had just acquired to exchange for company coins and unlock the War Moon. He'd never do something so foolish.

"Still… the fact that this refresh brought out the War Moon—a planetary-class megaship—is amazing!"

Li Ang was overjoyed. This was his first megastructure-level superweapon. Unlike previous projects like the Ecumenopolis, Science Nexus, or Matter Decompressor, the War Moon was a true heavy hitter.

The so-called War Moon was essentially a planetary battleship outfitted with various weapons.

Its primary feature was a colossal "Particle Beam Lance" serving as its main cannon, powered by a massive planetary core reactor, with enormous thrusters mounted on the other side of the planet.

In simpler terms, it was about transforming an entire planet into a warship capable of traversing the galaxy and subjugating alien civilizations.

In terms of firepower, according to Stellaris, this massive megastructure could obliterate any fleet formation.

Such an insane engineering feat, once completed, would undeniably showcase the ultimate might of his interstellar megacorporation, exemplifying the concept of "Open the door—it's time for free trade!"

"If the Orks from Warhammer 40K saw this megaship, they'd probably drool with envy."

Li Ang chuckled.

In fact, the concept of the War Moon bore a striking resemblance to the Orks' starship designs from Warhammer 40K.

The Orks, with their mysterious "WAAAGH field" technology, could hollow out a small asteroid, slap on random cannons, plasma engines, targeting systems, and other cobbled-together junk.

These crudely assembled "Ork Rocks" could float and fly in space, serving as makeshift starships for the Orks.

In comparison, these crude Ork creations were like the ultimate budget version of the War Moon.

However, to Li Ang, the War Moon felt more like a combination of the Earth Cannon from Gurren Lagann and the planetary thruster concept from The Wandering Earth.

"It's like my dreams are coming true!"

At this moment, Li Ang could only laugh out loud. He had been worrying about his interstellar megacorporation lacking a pivotal superweapon, but now the next refresh had brought him the War Moon.

While it's true that building the War Moon in Stellaris wasn't the most cost-efficient option compared to other megastructures, its immense firepower and versatility made it worth it.

Until he obtained the Scourge-class super dreadnought, the War Moon would serve as the perfect strategic weapon for his corporation!

"This is going to be fun—another reason to enjoy Stellaris even more!"

Li Ang immediately accessed the War Moon system interface to carefully review its specifications.

[Ernes-Class Battleship: War Moon (ISS Attack Moon)]

Rarity: Legendary

Core Weapon: Omega Annihilation Lance

Internal Systems: War Moon-class AI, Planetary Reactor (Customizable with any weapon systems!)

After going through the detailed specifications, Li Ang learned that apart from its primary annihilation lance, the War Moon could also be equipped with other colossal main cannons.

Its planetary cannon axis could carry lightweight long-range missiles or other plasma laser weaponry.

The planet's crust could be repurposed into a massive hangar, accommodating a vast array of fighter jets, reconnaissance drones, cruisers, and even carriers like the Infinity-Class ships.

At the planet's thruster section, additional missile silos, point-defense barriers, or anti-aircraft cannons could be installed.

Most astonishingly, the War Moon's standard cruising speed was already sub-light, and at full throttle, it could achieve faster-than-light travel!

Imagining a planet drifting through space and slingshotting around black holes, Li Ang couldn't help but envision the epic scene.

"Absolutely magnificent!"

Suppressing his excitement, Li Ang proceeded to assess the costs associated with unlocking the War Moon.

While acquiring items from across the multiverse was satisfying, most rewards from the prize pool weren't all that impactful for his corporation at this stage.

Exceptional items like the Matrix, the Manticore Virus, or Genetic Seeds, which could drive technological breakthroughs, were rare exceptions.

To truly progress his corporation, Li Ang needed to put in the grind.

He quickly opened the War Moon's unlocking requirements, only to discover that his accumulated company coins were far from sufficient to redeem the megastructure.

Based on rewards earned from completing missions in universes like Ghost in the Shell or Pacific Rim, Li Ang estimated he'd need to complete at least two more system missions to unlock the fourth-stage corporation template and acquire the War Moon.

In other words, he needed to conquer two multiversal worlds or tackle a higher-difficulty conquest mission!

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