Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2083: Building a base

The meeting concluded with this vital declaration.

At Cloud Peak, core members possessed the right to information, but when it came to acquiring the necessary materials, their role was limited to searching and purchasing from a predefined list. The intricate technical challenges were squarely placed upon Le Dayuan, Liu Zhenghong, and their dedicated laboratory teams.

Ye Zhongming generously shared a substantial amount of knowledge during this session. Upon realizing the immense consumption of Moonspan Gold required for transmission, everyone's appreciation for these technologies deepened significantly.

The Cloud Peak King had only recently entered the grand cosmos, and his foundational standing remained quite low. He had countless areas requiring financial investment. Despite this, he utilized his hard-earned funds to transmit this crucial knowledge. With such a sacrifice, what reason would the Cloud Peak members have for not cherishing it?

Consequently, Liu Zhenghong and Le Dayuan, a couple united by their scientific pursuits, immediately commenced their respective tasks. Liu Zhenghong focused on the refinement of Moonspan Gold, the bedrock of all cosmic technological advancements, while Le Dayuan initiated a comprehensive restructuring of the laboratory. This included the recruitment of new personnel and the organization of large-scale project teams dedicated to studying and assimilating the knowledge Ye Zhongming had imparted in distinct phases.

This approach was deemed necessary. Earth's technological progress had faltered significantly in the initial years following the apocalypse. Although Cloud Peak saw some advancements later on, they were predominantly military-focused, with all technology solely serving the purpose of combat.

However, the technologies and knowledge now being introduced were entirely novel. They represented concepts unknown to Earth, possessed profound depth, and in some theoretical aspects, lacked any discernible continuity with prior Earth knowledge, necessitating a foundational approach to learning.

While evolved beings, with their enhanced physical and cognitive capabilities, found learning accelerated, yielding greater results with less effort, the sheer volume of unfamiliar concepts—ideas they had never encountered, considered, or could even momentarily grasp—demanded considerable exertion and time for thorough comprehension.

The challenge extended beyond mere knowledge acquisition. The ultimate objective of mastering this theoretical framework was its practical application, which necessitated experimentation. Conducting experiments, in turn, required a diverse array of tools, components, and apparatus, all of which needed to be procured or developed.

Initially, Le Dayuan felt completely overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. The situation gradually improved as more skilled individuals joined the team and began to grasp some of the more accessible concepts. Although they were far from being experts, a solid foundation for progress had been established.

During this interim, the substantial losses incurred from the battle at Mei City were steadily recovered. The strategic occupation of national territories started yielding significant returns during this period. Vast quantities of resources, magic crystals, and other valuable assets flowed continuously into Cloud Peak. Seizing this opportunity, Cloud Peak also began to disseminate its guiding principles and operational methodologies.

Despite Cloud Peak's ascendance to superpower status, even arguably becoming the nation's preeminent force, limitations persisted in many areas.

However, as the controlled territories expanded and the incorporated population grew, the previously established constraints on Cloud Peak's operational capacity began to diminish or vanish entirely. More accurately, these boundaries underwent continuous expansion, reaching a threshold that facilitated uninterrupted development.

Nevertheless, Xia Lei remained far from content. Approximately one month after the Mei City engagement, once Cloud Peak's initial losses were substantially replenished, she personally led her newly assembled combat contingent. Accompanied by the recovered Yellow Ball, Yangos, Cloud Peak's formidable air force spearheaded by Talking Lady, and the fearsome Undead Fish-Dragon, they launched a daring surprise assault on Resistance Zone G.

A tacit understanding had previously been established regarding the prevailing national dynamics: as long as Cloud Peak refrained from encroaching upon the territories of the Resistance Zone and the Glory Army, no direct conflict would ensue. Cloud Peak's consolidation of power within the nation was considered their internal affair.

On occasion, the Resistance Zone and the Glory Army would dispatch their own forces to seize control of certain areas. Their operations were typically minor in scale, likely a precautionary measure against potential repercussions from Cloud Peak Mountain Villa, yet they managed to reap some benefits.

Yet, who could have anticipated that this unspoken ceasefire would be so readily shattered? Resistance Zone G, despite possessing considerable strength, succumbed to the onslaught of four top-tier life forms, supported by nearly two hundred thousand Cloud Peak warriors and warbeasts, within a mere single day.

With the exception of the leadership, Xia Lei implemented a strict policy of non-aggression towards other evolved individuals, resulting in minimal casualties and, consequently, reduced losses for Cloud Peak.

This magnanimous approach prompted inquiries from the remaining two factions of the Resistance Zone and the Glory Army.

Xia Lei provided distinct responses to each.

To the Glory Army, the message was unequivocal: "We have no intention of engaging you in conflict."

To Resistance Zone C, the directive was clear: "Do not interfere."

To Resistance Zone T:... no response was deemed necessary.

Half a month later, Liang Chuyin's combat team, alongside Little Tiger's cavalry corps and the air force corps composed of Talking Lady and the Undead Dragonfish, launched a formidable assault on Resistance Zone T. This substantial force, comprising five hundred thousand Cloud Peak warriors and their warbeasts, engaged the enemy. Resistance Zone T mounted a defense for two days before ultimately succumbing to the overwhelming might of Cloud Peak.

Witnessing the might of Cloud Peak, which many had predicted would first target the coastal territories, a significant realization dawned upon observers.

It became apparent that Cloud Peak's strategy was to first eradicate all non-Cloud Peak entities within the nation's borders, excluding only the Glory Army and Resistance Zone C, before turning their attention to the formidable sea creatures. This approach prioritized securing the homeland before confronting external threats.

Initially, Xia Lei's decisions regarding this strategy were met with varied opinions. After all, a directive from Ye Zhongming had cautioned against engaging the Resistance Zone and the Glory Army. The current actions seemed to contradict this, or at least partially violate it, raising questions about how such a divergence would be explained to their leader.

However, Xia Lei silenced these dissenting voices. Her reasoning was exceptionally clear: Ye Zhongming had acknowledged the assistance provided by Ji Ruiguang and Mu Hanyi, thus exempting their subordinates from her actions. Given the unique circumstances of the Resistance Zone, she felt no hesitation in subjugating Zones T and G.

Even after these intense engagements, and with two months having passed since the Mei City battle, Cloud Peak not only replenished all prior losses but also achieved further growth and expansion.

Subsequently, having avenged past transgressions by foes like the Soul Merchant and successfully completing the comprehensive absorption of the country, save for the Resistance Zone and the Glory Army, Cloud Peak Mountain Villa entered a period of unprecedented prosperity.

In anticipation of the encroaching tide of sea creatures, Cloud Peak mobilized its forces. Cloud Peak alone dispatched over two million warriors, bolstered by an additional three million from various affiliated peripheral combat teams.

At this juncture, all forces that had pledged allegiance to Cloud Peak, aside from the main warrior contingent, were designated as the peripheral combat teams of Cloud Peak Mountain Villa.

Furthermore, over a million warbeasts and as many as three hundred thousand gene warriors joined this formidable assembly, all converging upon the Eastern Sea coastal region.

Collectively, in this critical area, more than six million evolved life forms under the Cloud Peak banner commenced the vital process of fortifying defense zones, poised to seize the opportune moment for a counteroffensive.