81: Spending money on in-game purchases is the most basic respect you can show to a warrior.

[Holographic Operations Cabin]

The lighting inside the Holographic Operations Cabin was dimmed to perfection.

Li Cang leaned back in the commander's chair, a light blue light curtain of the settlement panel floating before his eyes.

The air conditioning system exhaled cold air, carrying the characteristic dry scent of metal pipes.

His fingers rested on the armrest, tapping the alloy surface rhythmically, producing muffled thuds.

The fires of war at the Bridge of Sighs had just been extinguished.

Battlefield noise still lingered in the communication channels outside the cabin—the dull thuds of mechanical arms clearing debris in the distance, occasionally mixed with a few binary prayers from Tech-Priests.

Those sounds filtered through the cabin walls, turning into a low, blurred hum.

The wreckage of the Void Crusher was still emitting blue smoke.

Thermal imaging returned from the battlefield showed that the center of that twisted metal ruin was still over four hundred degrees, the molten armor plates emitting sharp cracking sounds as they cooled.

The lives of seventy-three Thunder Warriors had bought the final ticket to the Mariana Deep Palace.

Was it worth it?

Li Cang narrowed his eyes.

The accounts had to be calculated clearly.

His fingers stopped on the armrest, then lifted, tapping lightly on the void in front of him.

[Campaign Settlement: Bridge of Sighs Offense and Defense]

The settlement panel expanded.

Data began scrolling from the top of the screen, rows of golden characters flashing past his eyes before finally settling into a clear list.

[Basic Output]

GP (genesis points): +4,200

BP (Blueprint Points): +380

Material Resources: Refined Steel × 1,200 units, High-Energy Batteries × 340 units

[Special Drops]

[Void Crusher Wreckage] × 1 (Large Mechanical Wreckage / Reversible)

[Pacific Empire Tactical Data Core] × 1 (Intelligence Type / Damaged)

[Gravity Weapon Fragments] × 3 (Tech Material / Rare)

Li Cang's gaze lingered on the "Void Crusher Wreckage" for a few seconds.

That thing was Nathan Doom's trump card.

Six mechanical legs supported a spherical core cabin, with that Gravity Compression Cannon mounted on top.

During the battle, it had rolled over the positions, crushing the Thunder Warriors in its path into flat chunks of meat, the wreckage of their power armor embedded in the soil, mixed with flesh and blood.

Now it lay on the battlefield, waiting to be stripped for parts.

Li Cang's finger moved toward the "Reverse Engineering" option.

Just as his fingertip touched the light curtain, a pop-up window he had never seen before suddenly jumped out, blocking his view.

[System Notification]

[Civilization scale threshold breakthrough detected (Active Combat Units ≥ 50), [Comprehensive Evaluation Module] unlocked]

Li Cang's finger hung in mid-air, stopped.

Evaluation module?

He scrolled down and saw the detailed explanation—

[Function Unlock Description]

The Comprehensive Evaluation Module is a unit quantitative assessment system based on battlefield big data.

Previously, due to your civilization's insufficient sample size (Combat Units < 50, Large-Scale Campaign Data < 1), the system could not establish an effective assessment baseline and could only provide qualitative descriptions.

Now, you have completed the first large-scale campaign settlement, and the system has accumulated enough data samples to provide a precise combat power rating for each unit.

[Rating Level Description]

SS-Rank (95+): Legendary unit, rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns

S-Rank (85-94): Top elite, ace combat power

A-Rank (75-84): Core main force, battlefield pillar

B-Rank (60-74): Qualified mass-produced, standard combat power

C-Rank (45-59): Barely passing, consumable

D-Rank (30-44): Inferior product, cannon fodder

F-Rank (< 30): Scrap / Recycling recommended

Li Cang slowly leaned back.

His back pressed against the soft padding of the chair, making a slight friction sound.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a bit of his teeth.

"Finally..."

Before, he could only judge whether a unit was "strong" or not with the naked eye, relying entirely on experience and intuition.

When mass-producing soldiers, the quality was uneven; the good ones could take on ten others, while the poor ones couldn't even reach the standard line.

He had no way to screen for quality during the production stage and could only wait until they saw real action on the battlefield to know who was useful and who was trash.

Now with quantitative ratings, quality control could finally achieve precise screening.

This was true industrialization.

He clicked on C-19's unit file, wanting to see what level his ace actually was.

[Unit Rating Panel: C-19]

[Base]: Thunder Warrior Mk.II (T2 Rank / Potential Base Score 50)

[Affixes]

[Berserk Gland] (Rare/Green): +10 points

[Power Armor Adaptation - Mars Upgraded Edition] (Uncommon/Blue): +20 points

[Chain Weapon Mastery] (Rare/Green): +10 points

[Battlefield Intuition] (Uncommon/Blue): +20 points

[genetic collapse - Stabilizing] (Negative/White): -5 points

[Affix Bonus]: +55 points

[Synergy Bonus]: +8 points (Partial Link: Berserk Gland + Battlefield Intuition form a buff)

[Comprehensive Rating]: 113 → SS-Rank

[System Note]: This unit has reached the theoretical upper limit of the T2 base.

If further improvement is needed, it is recommended to perform a base upgrade (T2→T3) or add Epic-tier plug-ins.

Li Cang looked at that glittering golden "SS".

The light from the panel reflected in his eyes, his pupils contracting slightly. He nodded with satisfaction.

It was not in vain that he had poured so many resources into this unit.

But immediately after, his finger swiped across the edge of the panel, opening the casualty list.

Those seventy-three IDs that would never return were neatly arranged on the screen.

Each ID was followed by a rating, cause of death, and the coordinates of their final position.

[Casualty Unit Statistics (Sample)]

`TW-044: B-Rank (62 points) — Cause of Death: Gravity Compression / Chest Cavity Collapse`

`TW-057: C-Rank (51 points) — Cause of Death: Shrapnel Penetration / Blood Loss`

`TW-089: A-Rank (78 points) — Cause of Death: Gravity Field Compression / Remains Not Recovered`

`TW-112: B-Rank (67 points) — Cause of Death: Explosive Impact / Multiple Internal Organ Ruptures`

...Among the seventy-three people, there were twelve A-Ranks, forty-one B-Ranks, and twenty C-Ranks.

Li Cang's finger stopped on TW-089's file.

A-Rank.

78 points.

Core main force level.

Died in the Void Crusher's gravity field.

System records showed his final position was less than thirty meters from the mechanical core, within the effective killing range of the Gravity Compression Cannon.

His power armor had been flattened, flesh squeezed out of the armor seams, mixed with soil and metal fragments.

Not even a complete corpse was left behind.

Li Cang stared at that line of data, silent for a few seconds.

Then he closed the list.

The dead cannot be resurrected.

But the living can become stronger.

His finger moved back to the Reverse Engineering panel.

The 3D model of the Void Crusher slowly rotated in the air, the outlines of its six limbs, spherical core cabin, and Gravity Compression Cannon traced by light blue lines.

The technological level of this thing was clearly above the average of the Pacific Empire.

Nathan Doom had obtained this technology from somewhere; perhaps it was a legacy of pre-war civilization, or perhaps a blueprint excavated from some ruin.

Regardless of the source, the threat of this thing was real.

[Reverse Engineering Target]: Void Crusher Wreckage (Large / Integrity 68%)

[Estimated Consumption]

BP: -450

Material Resources: Refined Steel × 800 units

Time: 72 hours (Can consume GP to accelerate)

[Possible Outputs]

[Gravity Weapon Schematic] (Blueprint / Uncommon): Success Rate 12%

[Hexapedal Mechanical Platform Design] (Blueprint / Rare): Success Rate 34%

[High-Energy Core Fragments] (Material / Uncommon) × 2-4: Success Rate 58%

[Scrap Metal]: Success Rate 100%

12%.

Li Cang stared at that number.

His brow furrowed, two shallow lines appearing on his forehead.

Gravity weapons were one of the few things in Nathan Doom's hands that could threaten Thunder Warriors.

The compression field of that thing could crush power armor into scrap metal and squeeze the person inside into a pile of meat.

If it could be reverse-engineered, it would be equivalent to directly cutting off the opponent's technological advantage.

But 12%... He calculated the accounts.

Current BP: 1,340 points.

Each Reverse Engineering attempt consumes 450 points.

Even if it fails three times, there would still be a remainder.

"Gamble."

His finger clicked the confirmation button.

A progress bar began to display on the panel, a blue light band moving slowly from left to right.

[Reverse Engineering Initiated]

[Estimated Completion Time: 72:00:00]

[Consuming GP × 500 can complete immediately, confirm?]

Five hundred GP for seventy-two hours.

Li Cang's finger hung over the "Confirm" button for a second.

Then he shook his head.

No rush.

The general assault on the Mariana Deep Palace hasn't begun yet; there's plenty of time.

These 500 GP are more cost-effective if saved for creating people.

He waved his hand to close the Reverse Engineering panel and brought up the plugin warehouse interface.

Densely packed icons covered half of his vision.

Each icon represented a plugin, neatly arranged in categories ranging from Common-grade in greyish-white to Rare-grade glowing with blue light.

The battle at the Bridge of Sighs was tragic, but there were many byproducts.

Those combat instincts that erupted under extreme pressure were automatically captured by the system and condensed into small "Logic Plugins."

Each plugin was the crystallization of a warrior's experience, forged through struggles on the brink of life and death.

[Plugin Warehouse (Current)]

[Common/White]

[Basic Tactics] × 14

[Melee Instinct] × 9

[Pain Suppression] × 7

[Uncommon/Green]

[Gravity Environment Adaptation] × 3

[Firepower Suppression] × 2

[Burst in Extremis] × 1

[Rare/Blue]

[Combat Experience Against Gravity Weapons] × 1 (Newly Acquired)

Li Cang's gaze stopped on that blue plugin.

[Combat Experience Against Gravity Weapons]—this was something bought with seventy-three lives.

C-19 had led the remnants to struggle for survival in the gravity field.

Every roll, every jump, and every time they used their bodies to withstand compressed shockwaves had been recorded by the system.

That data was compressed, refined, and solidified into this tiny blue speck of light.

Now, these memories could be replicated and implanted into the neural circuits of new warriors.

From the moment they opened their eyes, they would already possess the instinct to counter gravity weapons.

[Plugin Synthesis Options]

The system provided two plans—

[Plan A: Direct Implantation]

Implant [Combat Experience Against Gravity Weapons] into a single unit, granting the permanent trait [Gravity Environment Adaptation].

[Cost: None]

[Limit: 1 person only]

[Plan B: Diluted Diffusion]

Dilute [Combat Experience Against Gravity Weapons] into [Gravity Environment Adaptation] × 3 (Green), available for use by multiple people.

[Cost: BP -80]

[Limit: None]

Li Cang's finger moved between the two options for a moment, finally stopping on Plan B.

A blue plugin was precious, but it was useless if only one person carried it.

Better to dilute it into three portions so more people could benefit.

Eighty BP in exchange for three lives.

Worth it.

He clicked confirm.

[Plugin Synthesis Complete]

[Obtained: [Gravity Environment Adaptation] × 3]

He casually organized the other low-level plugins in the warehouse.

Fourteen [Basic Tactics] were dragged into the synthesis slot, and after a few seconds of calculation, they turned into two [Tactical Coordination] (Green).

Nine [Melee Instinct] synthesized into one [Chainsaw Mastery] (Green).

After the synthesis was complete, he glanced at the remaining resources.

[Current BP]: 1,340 - 450 (Reverse) - 80 (Synthesis) = 810 points

Still enough.

Next was replenishment.

Seventy-three vacancies had to be filled.

Li Cang opened the Targeted Gene Forging panel.

Familiar options surfaced once again: base models, configuration options, and price tags were neatly arranged on the screen.

[Targeted Gene Forging]

[Base Selection]: Thunder Warriors Mk.II

[Unit Price]: GP 120 + Material Resources (Refined Steel × 50)

[Default Configuration] :

[Berserk Gland] (Green)

[Power Armor Adaptation] (Green)

[Chain Weapon Mastery] (Green)

[Default Rating]: Grade B (65±5 points)

[Optional Enhancement Plugins] (Extra Cost)

[Battlefield Intuition] (Blue): GP +200, Rating +15~20

[Gravity Environment Adaptation] (Green): GP +80, Rating +8~12

[Firepower Suppression] (Green): GP +80, Rating +8~12

Seventy-three vacancies.

Based on the default configuration, that would be 120 × 73, which is 8,760 GP.

Li Cang glanced at his account balance.

[Current GP]: 12,925 (Remaining before battle 8,725 + Battle output 4,200)

Enough. But if he went with the default configuration for everyone, they would all be Grade B fodder.

Next time they encountered something like a Void Crusher, they would have to fill the gap with lives again.

His finger tapped twice on the armrest as he thought for a few seconds.

Then he laid out two batches on the panel.

[Forging Plan]

Batch One: Sharp Knife Squad (×10)

Configuration: Default + [Battlefield Intuition] + [Gravity Environment Adaptation]

Unit Price: GP 400

Total: GP 4,000

Expected Rating: Grade A (78~85 points)

Batch Two: Standard Replenishment (×63)

Configuration: Default

Unit Price: GP 120

Total: GP 7,560

Expected Rating: Grade B (65±5 points)

[Total Cost]: GP 11,560

With his finger hovering over the confirm button, Li Cang calculated once more.

12,925 - 11,560 = 1,365 GP.

1,365 points remaining. Barely enough for emergencies, but not much.

"Fine."

He pressed confirm.

The production progress began to scroll on the panel.

The progress bar advanced slowly, and every few seconds, a new serial number was born from the void. TW-128, TW-129, TW-130... ten Grade A, sixty-three Grade B.

The newly forged warriors, carrying implanted memories and unworn genes, awaited the next battle.

One last thing.

Li Cang pulled up C-19's unit file, his gaze falling on the glaring red text.

[Gene Collapse Degree]: 34% (Stabilizing)

[Estimated Remaining Lifespan]: Approximately 180 days (Surface Standard Time)

One hundred and eighty days.

Less than half a year.

This was the fate of the Thunder Warriors.

Their genetic sequences began collapsing from the day they were born.

The higher the combat intensity, the faster the collapse. No exceptions.

C-19 had given his all on the Bridge of Sighs.

His body had survived the gravity field, the barrage, and the deaths of seventy-three comrades.

His power armor bore thirty-seven bullet marks and six laser ablation scars, and the inner lining's life support system had issued overload warnings three times during the battle.

But his genes couldn't hold out much longer.

Li Cang rummaged through the inventory and found something he had been reluctant to use.

[Item: Gene Stabilizer (Prototype)]

Grade: Rare

Source: Mars Tech Trade

Effect: Reduces the target unit's gene collapse rate by 50% for 90 days.

Stock: 1

There was only one.

Without hesitation, he clicked use.

[Usage Confirmation]

[Target: C-19]

[Effect: Gene collapse rate -50% for 90 days]

[Estimated Remaining Lifespan Extended to: Approximately 225 days]

Seven and a half months.

Li Cang stared at the number, his expression calm.

Seven and a half months was enough.

Enough for him to finish the Unification War and advance to the next stage.

As for afterward... the Astartes blueprints would be unlocked soon.

By then, the fate of the Thunder Warriors would no longer be an issue.

With all operations complete, he took one last look at the financial panel.

[Resource Overview (Updated)]

GP: 1,365

BP: 810

[Material Resources: Refined Steel 420 units, High-Energy Batteries 340 units]

[Thunder Warriors (Active): 127]

[Grade SS: 1 (C-19)]

[Grade A: 22 (Including 10 newly forged)]

[Grade B: 98]

[Grade C: 6]

Ongoing Projects:

[Void Crusher Reverse Engineering]: 71:43:22 remaining

Next Objective:

[General Assault on the Mariana Deep Palace]

[Kill Nathan Doom]

[Complete Phase One of the Unification War]

Li Cang closed the panel and leaned back against the chair.

The operations cabin fell into dimness.

Only the hum of the ventilation ducts continued; cold air blew down from the overhead vent, carrying a hint of metallic chill.

Outside, the flames of war had not yet been extinguished.

Nathan Doom was still hiding in his deep-sea palace, and the Pacific Empire's final line of defense had not yet been breached.

But those were matters for tomorrow.

Now, he just wanted to calculate carefully—

Seventy-three lives in exchange for one SS-grade, twelve A-grades, and a path to final victory.

Was it worth it?

He closed his eyes.

"Worth it."