“Hmm…”

Jubian stared at the data collected on the pad and quickly understood what was going on.

He turned off his translator and approached the Executive Officer.

“Sir, the research Infinite Deep Space is conducting here is quite strange! They seem to be doing some kind of bionics research, trying to find inspiration for warship and weapon designs from living organisms.”

“What’s so strange about that?” Black Smoke said dismissively, “I think Emerald Star is a genetic treasure trove, a pure Gu-raising planet!

“Look at those Whip Wielders; they aren’t even top predators yet, but they’re already starting to break through the limits of carbon-based life. There must be many things about them worth learning from.”

Lu Yuan nodded, also finding sense in his words.

“Where do you think it’s specifically strange?” he asked Jubian.

“The research era! And the input-output ratio!” Jubian said, “At the year 2750, humanity should have already entered the golden age, and technology should be very advanced. However, the scientific achievements here are still at a level we can understand and imitate!”

Oh…

Lu Yuan understood his confusion.

The technology currently mastered by Cangyuan is roughly at the 2300 to 2350 level.

Individual technologies, such as warp drives and kinetic shields, are exceptions because they were samples obtained through seizure, and are significantly more advanced.

On this basis, the technologies that players can digest at the engineering level should not exceed a century forward, which means up to about 2450.

Beyond that, there would be a clear technological gap, just like the universal scanner, 3D printer, and stasis pod initially from the store. Even now, Jubian still can’t fully comprehend their mysteries, and can even be said to have no clue at all.

And between 2450 and 2750, there’s a full three centuries gap.

This is equivalent to the difference between World War II and the Qing Dynasty’s entry into the Shanhai Pass.

Would modern people build a super-large research institute and then re-develop flintlock muskets inside?

And through a convoluted path like bionics?

Unless they were bored out of their minds, there would obviously be no need.

So this matter is definitely not as simple as it looks.

Lu Yuan shook his head, deciding not to overthink this for now.

“I believe the final answer lies deep within the ruins. Let’s talk about the recovered data itself. You just said it could be leveraged, meaning it can assist our current military-industrial research and development?”

“Yes, Sir! And the help is significant, mainly concentrated in the fields of intelligent missile path planning, swarm drones, armor, electromagnetic weapons, and plasma weapons.”

“That’s enough.”

Lu Yuan felt delighted; with these gains, even if there were no other profits later, the mission had already paid for itself.

“But hold on about electromagnetic and plasma weapons. Can such technology also be obtained through bionics? Are there species on Emerald Star that have evolved biological railguns?”

Jubian nodded heavily.

“From the research logs, there definitely are! At least organs that can project metal bone spikes using biological electromagnetic fields. As for whether the creature with this ability is the super creature we first encountered, it’s still hard to say.”

How exciting…

Although there was no direct evidence, Lu Yuan always felt that the super creature they first encountered was quite different from other species on Emerald Star; its massive size was just one aspect.

The team continued forward, almost reaching the central grand dome. At this point, Rita pulled Lu Yuan from behind.

“Executive Officer, our crossbow bolt consumption is already almost halfway.”

All team members’ data was displayed on Lu Yuan’s helmet screen. Currently, ammunition reserves were at 59%.

“My people are about the same.”

“Then I suggest we return the way we came. There’s a possibility of ambush on the way back, so we must save enough ammunition. Furthermore, the amount of data recovered from this operation is astonishing, equivalent to our total from the previous century. I truly feel it’s already plentiful enough.”

Rita’s suggestion was very reasonable.

But now they were only a few hundred meters from the grand dome; turning back like this felt a bit regrettable.

“Can we explore a little further? We can move stealthily and try to avoid opening fire.”

Cao Yuan suggested.

“Yeah, as long as we don’t open fire, we can keep pushing forward. If we encounter obstacles, we can immediately turn back. Be flexible.”

Ye Xing also felt there was no harm in exploring more of the map; at least it would save time when they came back next time.

But Rita frowned, shaking her head with a serious expression.

“That place is extremely dangerous.”

Through her narration, Lu Yuan learned that the grand dome, this prominent landmark, was actually the area Emerald Life Science first began exploring. It was incredibly sturdy, with reinforced concrete nearly 10 meters thick, so much so that they had to use a tactical nuclear bomb to blast an opening.

After blasting it open, they initially thought subsequent exploration would be smooth. However, the first three teams sent there completely lost contact shortly after entering the building, and in the end, only two people returned alive.

The survivors said they saw gigantic monsters inside the dome.

The team hadn’t even had time to get a clear view before they were massacred.

Later, Emerald Life Science mustered the courage to send several more exploration teams to the grand dome, but each time the personnel disappearance rate was over 80%, and there weren’t even enough survivors to clearly describe the specific appearance of the monsters inside.

And each failed expedition caused the outpost to be hesitant to launch similar operations for at least the next 10 years.

It could be said that the central grand dome was the physical manifestation of the field team’s inner fear.

“Even now, all we know is that it’s a top predator, much larger than the Whip Wielders, capable of flight using its elytra. So it should understand how to use zero element to reduce its own gravity through mass effect, and its manipulation of zero element is extremely skilled. We don’t know how it first managed to burrow into the grand dome to nest.”

The six players exchanged glances. If this information was true, then a “large BOSS battle” awaited them ahead.

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment and came up with a compromise.

“How about this: we leave a reconnaissance drone here, then retreat, and remotely control the drone to scout the central grand dome. If the drone is shot down midway, then we’ll just consider ourselves unlucky.”

This plan was safe enough, and Rita approved.

“Okay!”

Cao Yuan took a fiber optic drone from his power armor backpack and left it in place.

“Wait a moment.”

Black Smoke stepped forward, making on-the-spot modifications, installing a handheld scanner beneath the drone.

After the modifications were complete, everyone retreated 500 meters along the original path.

Lu Yuan personally operated the drone to take off, and indeed, they didn’t encounter any more dangers along the way, nor did they see any other local species.

It seemed that not only humans, but all other animals on this planet were also afraid of the top predator under the dome.

Soon, the drone entered the giant dome, nearly 400 meters across, maintaining a height of less than one meter from the ground. It used the debris of various scientific equipment for cover and concealment, slowly and stealthily inching forward.

Eerie golden bioluminescence gradually appeared in the camera feed, and the heart rates of the players and live stream viewers quickened. Suddenly, the area ahead opened up, and everyone saw the source of the golden light on Lu Yuan’s pad screen.

In the center of the vast area, a creature at least 50 meters long was resting on the ground.

It had four arms, two legs, a long neck and tail, a sturdy head, and a narrow mouth. Its physique strongly resembled an ultimate, enhanced version of a Whip Wielder.

The difference was that this monster also had enormous, translucent elytra, extending from its spinal column on its back, longer in the front and shorter in the back, totaling dozens of pairs. They were currently draped over the monster’s body, bringing to mind the feathered serpent god from South American mythology, possessing a captivating beauty while simultaneously instilling an instinctive sense of dread.

“That’s it. Oh my god, it’s even bigger than we imagined—”

Rita gasped, finally seeing the nightmare that had long terrified the Emerald Outpost.

“Is this an ancient dragon species!?”

Ye Xing stared, wide-eyed.

There’s even a realistic Monster Hunter to play, who would have thought!

Due to its entire body being covered in biological armor, it was impossible to tell if the monster was more similar to mammals, reptiles on Earth, or if it belonged to Emerald Star’s unique giant insect species.

However, given its size and physique, setting aside strict biological classification, calling it a giant dragon was not wrong.

“Is it dead? Why is it motionless with its eyes closed, I can’t even see it breathing.”

Seeing this giant BOSS, Guo Li Cheng once again dreamed of Elden Ring, her eyes shining.

Lu Yuan gently shook his head, already realizing the seriousness of the problem.

“It probably doesn’t need to breathe.”

This was likely the legendary Emerald Star hero that had evolved a biological nuclear reactor.

It no longer needed the outdated energy supply method of oxidation-reduction reactions, so it naturally didn’t need to breathe. Hunting and eating meat was only for continued growth in size.