Hunter of Mysterious Creature-Chapter 631 - 165: "Chengyuan" (Resentful Thralls)_2

After recounting the details observed by Shinkata Misaki to Yang Qi, Sun Hang said, "I suspect these human faces are not part of Chimera 17, but rather a type of 'parasitic entity' that resides on its surface."

For some reason, a name intuitively popped into Sun Hang's mind.

"I named them 'Chimeran Resentment'," Sun Hang said.

"Chimeran Resentment?" Yang Qi was taken aback on the other end of the phone.

"Chimera's pawn of resentment," Sun Hang explained, "all these people either directly or indirectly perished due to Chimera 17, yet their post-mortem resentment is utilized by Chimera 17, isn't that the essence of a pawn?"

"Sounds... quite fitting," Yang Qi said, "I'll report this temporary codename up; if 'Chimeran Resentment' is confirmed as a separate entity, this temporary codename is likely to become official."

"There's an urgent problem facing us now," Sun Hang said.

"What is it?"

"The surface of Chimera 17's cocoon is covered with Chimeran Resentment, and these entities will inevitably interfere with Shinkata Misaki's abilities—just like the situation earlier, Shinkata Misaki could see nothing but the flaws of the overwhelming multitude of Chimeran Resentment, whereas the flaws of Chimera 17 itself were obscured, essentially crippling her ability," Sun Hang explained.

"So you mean, before the actual operation begins, we must first launch a facade attack to eliminate these 'Chimeran Resentment' from Chimera 17's cocoon surface?"

"Yes."

...

...

Celestial City Mysterious Creature Research Institute, Operations Command.

"Attention all units, the operation content of codename 'Barnacle Clearance Operation' has been transmitted to each level of the commander's personal terminal, remaining time is twelve hours starting now."

"The operation is divided into two phases; the first phase involves various attempts to determine effective clearing methods!"

"The second phase entails comprehensive, seamless clearance two hours before the final operation begins!"

...

...

Longquan Air Force Base.

A flying unit of four air-to-ground bombers and eight escort fighters took off urgently, heading towards the restricted area where Chimera 17 is located.

These four bombers carried a large number of laser-guided missiles, nearly a tenth of which were equipped with tactical nuclear warheads... although the institute believed that nuclear explosions might provide additional energy for Chimera 17, there's now less than seventy-two hours left before the final operation begins, and the energy generated by these tactical nuclear warhead explosions is negligible.

The immediate task is to find an effective, efficient way to clear the "Chimeran Resentment" attached to the cocoon surface.

...

...

In another direction, within an unknown valley.

A large modular steel structure is slowly being assembled by dozens of engineering power armors; a heavy crane hoisted a massive cylindrical device onto the top of the steel structure, and two engineering power armors quickly bolted the cylinder to the steel frame.

"Mr. Wang, will this thing really work?" A military officer wrapped in an army coat looked worriedly at the man beside him, who wore a down jacket and a white safety helmet.

"You ask me, I don't know either," the man called Mr. Wang shrugged. "This was initially industrial equipment, forcibly amplifying its power thirtyfold to use as a weapon, I even doubt if it'll explode when irradiated..."

"Explode?" The officer was surprised.

"Just joking, the probability of explosion is low, but the muzzle will definitely melt... we don't have any materials that can withstand such high temperatures for so long; if this temporary creation can achieve half the expected effect, we'd be fortunate."

"How long do you think this thing could continuously illuminate now?"

"Not more than twenty seconds," Mr. Wang said, "I've seen the institute's analysis of the Chimera 17 cocoon shell's strength, at most it can only give it a photon skin treatment... fortunately, the task this time is just to clear what's adhered to the shell... what's that called again? Chimeran Resentment, right? If it's just clearing these things, then maybe there's at least a 60% chance."

"Well, back in the day when we and the Hezhong States were in an arms race, laser weapons were one of the top priorities for both high-levels... but alas, with the outbreak of the Mysterious Creature War, laser weapons development got shelved along with various space projects," the officer sighed, "Otherwise, we wouldn't be so embarrassed now."

"It's not completely canceled though; miniaturized laser weapons have always been in development, and as far as I know, significant progress has been made," Mr. Wang shook his head, "Though the development of giant laser weapons used to attack satellites and other space spacecraft has indeed been put aside... when people can't even handle enemies on the ground, who's going to care about space?"

"True..."

...

...

Celestial Development New Area, the largest industrial-grade liquid nitrogen production company in Shuzhou — "Heng'an Gas Chemical Co., Ltd."

"What did you say, provide thirty thousand tons of liquid nitrogen in four hours? And pack all this nitrogen into shells? Is this a joke?"

"Eighty percent of the workers are under quarantine lockdown, and my plant has only half a production line barely operational, where do I conjure up thirty thousand tons of liquid nitrogen for you?"

"Stock? What stock? Now, the little bit produced by this half production line is all supplied to the Disaster Response Committee; my warehouse is cleaner than my face... don't believe me, feel free to search!"

...

...

Restricted area edge, hidden camp.

"How's it going, does Yang Qi have a solution to handle those Chimeran Resentment?" Shinkata Misaki asked.

"Where there's a will, there's a way... she has already mobilized all available resources," Sun Hang said, "Since these Chimeran Resentment have a physical form, physical means should be effective... the only concern is whether they will regrow once cleared."

"What do we do now?"

"Wait," Sun Hang said, "The 'Barnacle Clearance Plan' is divided into two phases; the first phase is a facade attack, the second phase will be a full-force assault, clearing all Chimeran Resentment from Chimera 17's cocoon surface. However, we can't miss the opportunity provided by this facade attack; if some Chimeran Resentment are successfully cleared, you should immediately use your ability on the cleared area, if by chance you directly locate the flaw of Chimera 17, that would be ideal. If not, then you have only one more chance left."

"The one before the final action starts?"

"Correct, the window then will be no more than ten minutes," Sun Hang nodded, "You must identify the flaw of Chimera 17 within ten minutes... if the flaw is dynamic, you'll also have to figure out its changing pattern... the success of the pesticide plan rests on your performance during those ten minutes."

"I mean... honestly, the pressure is intense," Shinkata Misaki took a deep breath and put away her previous playful attitude, and said earnestly, "I can only promise to do my best."

At this moment, Yang Qi called again.

"All units participating in the first phase of the Barnacle Clearance Operation are ready, expecting facade attack in twenty minutes," Yang Qi said.

"Got it," Sun Hang looked at Shinkata Misaki, "Let's go."

"Where to?"

"To the top of the mountain, the view is the most expansive there."