147: Chapter 147 Energy Pulse Cannon

Several black, specially-made vehicles moved forward.

Not even an hour after leaving the Seventh Safe Zone, the road began to change.

At first, the road surface was relatively smooth, and one could occasionally see road signs and warning facilities set up by the Federation on both sides.

But as the distance increased, cracks on the road became more and more frequent.

In many places, it had even completely fractured, revealing pitch-black ravines below.

The black all-terrain vehicles did not slow down in the slightest; their heavy wheels crushed the gravel, emitting a low roar.

Lin Yan looked outside through the car window; on both sides of the road, there were traces of battle everywhere.

Trees dozens of meters high were snapped in half, huge claw marks remained on the ground, along with some dark red bloodstains that had long since dried.

Occasionally, one could see the weathered skeletons of monsters, half-buried in the soil, and a faint smell of blood permeated the air.

This place no longer belonged to the Federation's control zone in the true sense.

Captain Zhao, sitting in the front, noticed Lin Yan staring out the window and explained with a smile:

"Have you noticed the road is getting harder to travel?"

Lin Yan nodded.

"Yes."

"The further out we go, the more severe the damage to the roads."

Captain Zhao smiled.

"This is normal; the Federation's manpower is ultimately limited."

"The roads near the Safe Zone have specialized maintenance teams responsible for repairs."

"But the further away from the Safe Zone, the higher the maintenance cost."

"And..."

Captain Zhao pointed ahead.

"These roads are destroyed by monsters almost every day."

"Repaired today, gone again tomorrow."

"So, the Federation can only prioritize maintaining a few important areas; further out, it just has to be left to nature."

Lin Yan followed his gaze; the originally straight road ahead had completely disappeared.

It was replaced by a bumpy, uneven mountainous terrain, yet the black all-terrain vehicles seemed unaffected, charging straight up with a low roar.

The vehicles pitched violently, yet always remained stable.

Afterward, they easily crossed a river over ten meters wide.

A flash of surprise appeared in Lin Yan's eyes.

"This vehicle..."

Captain Zhao laughed:

"The Federation's third-generation all-terrain armored transport vehicle."

"Designed for field missions, climbing mountains, fording waters, crossing rivers, and overcoming obstacles are just its most basic capabilities; it can even fly for short periods."

"Otherwise, there would be no way to operate outside the Safe Zone."

Lin Yan nodded.

It seems that the Federation hasn't just been relying on the Awakened all these years.

Technology is also constantly advancing.

Several Federation soldiers in another vehicle were gathered on the roof, wiping down a massive weapon.

It was a silver-black barrel about four meters long, the muzzle glowing with a faint blue luster, with energy still faintly circulating inside.

Just after passing through some hills, they encountered a surprise attack from a group of monsters. Over a hundred monsters hidden in the woods had just poked their heads out, and before they could even reach the convoy, they were wiped out by the Energy Pulse Cannon on the roof.

The barrel was still warm; one young soldier wiped it while clicking his tongue in admiration.

"The Energy Pulse Cannon is still the best."

"Those monsters were blasted into dust before they could even charge over."

Another person laughed:

"It's just a shame this thing can't be taken into a Dungeon."

Lin Yan recalled the deafening sound of gunfire when the vehicles had briefly stopped earlier.

Several dazzling blue-white beams of light tore through the sky, and the next second, the distant forest exploded in succession.

Over a hundred monsters were covered almost instantly.

A veteran soldier nearby couldn't help but sigh.

"If we could use these things in Dungeons, it wouldn't matter if it's a five-star or six-star Dungeon."

"A volley of fire, followed by a nuke, and I bet the Boss wouldn't even have dust left."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone nearby scolded with a laugh:

"Keep dreaming. Dungeon rules forbid anything not produced within the Dungeon from entering, otherwise humanity would have already flattened the Dungeons."

Captain Zhao picked up the conversation:

"Forget the Energy Pulse Cannon; anything not produced in a Dungeon, even a single screw, can't enter."

"Dungeons automatically reject anything that doesn't comply with the rules; only items made entirely from materials produced within the Dungeon can be brought in."

"So, in the outside world, technology and the Awakened fight together, but inside a Dungeon..."

"You can only rely on the Awakened themselves."

Lin Yan nodded thoughtfully.

Rules...

They are the things that truly limit human development.

Escort Leader Wang Qianshuo sat in the passenger seat of the lead vehicle, tapping his finger on the communication device. His voice was clearly transmitted to the communicators in every vehicle:

"It's getting dark. There's a highland three kilometers ahead; we'll rest there for the night."

The driver responded immediately.

"Understood."

Several all-terrain vehicles changed direction simultaneously, heading toward a natural highland a few kilometers away.

The area had a wide field of vision, with only one gentle slope leading up to it, clearly a natural defensive spot.

Over ten minutes later, the vehicles pulled to a stop one by one. Just after Lin Yan and the others got out,

the scene before them left them all stunned.

Hum—

Accompanied by the sound of machinery, the black all-terrain vehicles actually began to automatically transform. The sides of the vehicles slowly unfolded, heavy alloy armor extended, and steel structures pieced themselves together.

In less than a minute.

Several armored vehicles combined into a silver-black mobile fortress, with alloy defensive walls several meters high rising around it, and several reserved gun emplacements automatically opening.

The Energy Pulse Cannons from earlier were quickly mounted.

The muzzles rotated slowly, locking onto the surroundings.

At the same time, on top of the mobile fortress.

The detection radar began to rotate, and several reconnaissance drones slowly took off.

The internal lights turned on; communication Systems, medical facilities, a kitchen, a rest area... everything was fully equipped.

Lin Yan watched this scene, unable to help but stare in amazement for several seconds.

"It can do that?"

Captain Zhao laughed.

"This is the mobile fortress newly developed by the Federation; as long as there are enough vehicles."

"A temporary stronghold can be established within fifteen minutes."

"When carrying out long-term missions in the wild, this is a life-saving tool."

After the mobile fortress was established.

The wilderness, originally full of danger, instantly gained a sense of security.

Lin Yan walked inside the mobile fortress and found that the space inside was even larger than he had imagined.

It didn't look like a temporary camp at all, but rather a mobile war base.

"This thing must be very expensive to build, right?"

Lin Yan couldn't help but ask.

Captain Zhao, standing nearby, smiled.

"Of course."

"In the entire Federation, only teams carrying out important missions are equipped with it."

"However..."

Captain Zhao glanced at the armor outside.

"Compared to the dangers outside the Safe Zone, these investments are worth it."

Lin Yan nodded silently; this place was completely different from the inside of the Safe Zone.

Inside the Safe Zone, humanity possessed complete cities, order, and life.

But once one left that huge alloy barrier, all safety had to be fought for by oneself.

The Federation's technological development was stronger than he had imagined.

Human wisdom had never ceased because of disasters.