Capítulo 1586: Chapter 293: World War

The power of the planetary shield can envelop the entire Empire—this statement seems to carry some ambiguity.

After all, as the planetary shield, the Imperial Capital theoretically should be able to encompass the entire planet.

Does such a mere Empire need to construct so many, at least more than two hundred Floating Cities as relay points to spread, in order to cover the entire territory?

In reality, these are fundamentally different matters.

As a planetary shield generator, the Imperial Capital’s key function is to use the Aether field to modify the planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere, creating a special spirit energy field that can encircle the globe.

This field can block the majority of harmful cosmic radiation, as well as limit exceeding energy attacks. It can also consume incoming comet meteorites or orbital bombardment-like physical ammunition attacks.

This power has already permeated the entire Terra, even during the Lost Epoch era, when the shelter survivors of that time defeated the Lifeladder Tree and modified the planetary shield using the opponent’s power, allowing it to reform Terra’s planetary atmosphere, facilitating the appearance of an aerial ecosystem, and enabling the rapid restoration of climate and surface ecology.

This is the so-called ‘planetary ecological shield.’

But obviously, what the Guardian wants isn’t a vast, generic shield that merely protects the ecosystem.

What he wants is a literal ‘planetary shield.’

Directly using a powerful spirit energy field to manufacture a force field that blocks other Sublimators’ attacks.

Such a shield is evidently a bit challenging.

Even with the output of the Imperial Capital, without the support of Fifth Energy Level experts operating it, the combined effort of all Sublimators within the Imperial Capital can only cover around half of the Quinor Plains with the field shield—that is ‘Old Imperial Capital Shelter’s coverage range.

This is also the limit of the Imperial Capital.

However, if there are hundreds of Floating Cities using the same shield technology, with their own territory’s natural spirit energy field core as the hub and as relay points for the giant shield network, then, with an extremely complex algorithm and resonance, it could surpass the limits and establish a supermassive shield network centered on the Imperial Capital.

By that time…

“Even if the major forces of all Terra were to hurl nuclear bombs at each other and indiscriminately deploy destructive weapons, the Empire would suffer the least losses—unless all Terra’s forces banded together against the shield network constructed by the entire Empire and broke it, the Empire would definitely survive until the end of the catastrophic warfare!”

This is Ian’s judgment; a pure silver light flickered in his eyes, and the near-endless computing power quickly allowed him to perceive the Empire’s even grander plan hidden behind the massive components of the Floating Cities.

Even, thanks to the Prophet’s keen insight (from the Path of the Dao for having seen much, with a knack for world destruction), Ian swiftly conceived a possibility: “Could the Pure White Sky Tower refer to this? The defense network spanning the entire Empire, formed by the convergence of all Floating Cities.”

“If so, then concerning the Dark Key related to the Thousand-Star Beast… that plan which can destroy all of Terra, the ‘Dead Hand System,’ perhaps it’s linked to the Sky Tower.”

Ian inferred, quickly identifying a possibility.

A possibility that even startled him.

“Could the Guardian be planning to release the Thousand-Star Beast after completing the Empire’s shield network?”

Unable to restrain himself from swearing internally, even Ian found it hard to hold: “Is Axel so decisive? And then, the City of Knowledge’s research on the Thousand-Star Beast… they can even let the offspring of the Thousand-Star Beast coexist with humans… If indeed the Imperial People unleash the Thousand-Star Beast to cleanse the land, with Thousand-Star Beast technology, Floating Cloudscape Technology, and the recently exchanged Imperial Capital Shield Technology, the City of Knowledge would undoubtedly also survive the cleansing from the Dead Hand System!”

“And the Floating City, besides serving as the core for mobilizing the shield network system, could also serve as a shelter—at the very least, the Empire could preserve the most civilians!”

“The more I think about it, the more likely it seems!”

If it were in other worlds, like Earth, Ian might not have considered this possibility.

After all, even in the most perilous moments, the nations of Earth exercised restraint, using nuclear bombs only during the Federal Unification War when nuclear radiation and climate were still recoverable, which is why people dared to employ such destructive weapons.

But this truly is mutual destruction, the Terra Confederation fighting until Terra has been worn away!

Ian had some doubts; perhaps Inega II’s ‘King of Terra’ plan back then was also conceived based on this idea… He was the Imperial Emperor, so wiping out all forces outside the Empire, wouldn’t that make him the King of Terra?

No wonder, at that time, the Huai Guang Church supporting him had a constipated expression; it was indeed somewhat extreme.

Of course, these are merely conjectures.

Ian thought he might be using a Prophet’s heart to judge ordinary people’s thoughts; absolutely few individuals would instantly consider such a catastrophic outcome. Perhaps the Guardian simply wishes to construct and network the Floating Cities for a straightforward centralization.

“But one mustn’t underestimate them!”

No matter what, now, Ian’s heart is already on edge—he has a thousand alerts regarding the Floating Cities and corresponding plans.