The violent electromagnetic storm generated by the World Beast swarm was far beyond what human vehicles could withstand. While a temporary short-circuit in the operating systems of the warships on the surface was manageable, for the aircraft in the sky, just a few seconds of engine and control system failure meant a fatal disaster!
In just a few moments, many of the aircraft had already entered death spirals, plummeting toward the sea like tragically beautiful autumn leaves.
In the sea, the World Beasts emitted a low hum, arcs of electricity coursing over their bodies. They continued to maintain the intense electromagnetic pulse environment as they accelerated their charge toward the human fleet.
"Fire! Keep firing!" an officer beside him roared. He rushed to the gunnery station, pushed Pan Jianguo aside, and resumed firing the Electromagnetic Railgun.
Pan Jianguo then realized that certain critical parts of the warship had electromagnetic shielding. But that was the extent of it; shielding the entire vessel was impossible, as it would prevent their own electronic equipment from functioning.
The fleet’s communication systems were completely down. Each warship could only fight on its own. The few weapon systems that were still operational began firing at the World Beasts.
Even focused fire hadn’t been very effective; now that they were fighting individually, their efforts were even more futile.
Soon, the lead World Beast charged into the fleet. Waving its massive tentacles and limbs, it tore human warships apart as if they were toy boats!
Now, seeing it up close, Pan Jianguo finally understood just how enormous the World Beast was.
They were fighting against living mountains!
The air squadrons had been completely wiped out. Even the missiles streaking in from a distance were either jammed into premature detonation or rendered completely useless.
The annihilation of the fleet was only a matter of time.
A sense of despair welled up in Pan Jianguo’s heart.
’If these World Beasts are really this powerful, then is human civilization doomed?’
’Will the real human civilization be destroyed by these monsters, too?’
As he was thinking, the Electromagnetic Railgun before him fired again, blasting off one of a World Beast’s tentacles.
This finally drew the World Beast’s attention. It immediately turned toward the warship Pan Jianguo was on.
The World Beast raised a tentacle, and with a simple twist, it lifted Pan Jianguo’s frigate from the sea into the air. It opened its giant, lamprey-like mouth, lined with spiraling teeth, and was about to shove the frigate inside!
To the beast, this human warship was no more than a small biscuit.
It was all far too real; Pan Jianguo could even see the plaque on the World Beast’s enormous teeth.
’Is this the end?’
’Is it Game Over?’
Just as he was thinking, a tremendous splash erupted from behind him. A colossal, humanoid figure thousands of meters tall burst from the sea, seized the World Beast’s tentacle, then drew a massive metal Battle Blade hundreds of meters long. With a single, fierce slash, it severed the tentacle and saved the frigate!
Pan Jianguo stared in shock at the colossal figure. It was a Super Giant War Armor, thousands of meters tall and iron-black in color. Upon its basic humanoid frame were four thick arms and a dense array of cannon barrels covering its entire body.
A blinding light pulsed from its chest—a Fusion Reactor operating at full power.
Two large Chinese characters were also spray-painted on the chest of this Super Giant War Armor:
Chiyou.
On its left arm was the number "6."
This was a human-made Super Giant War Armor!
’Was this a product of the *Giant Combat Robot and Mechanical Armor Initiative* recently proposed by Germany!?’
’Judging by its flawless mechanical structure, nimble movements, and immense power, this was clearly a highly mature technology!’
’Far beyond humanity’s current technological level!’
Pan Jianguo was shaken. Just as he was about to get a closer look, a tentacle a hundred meters thick shot up from the water and slammed down on his frigate!
The sturdy hull, forged from special-grade metal, was like paper-maché before the tentacle. It was instantly crushed, and the impact ignited the ammunition stores!
Before Pan Jianguo could even react, he was completely engulfed by the explosive flames.
’Is this it?’
Pan Jianguo was waiting for the "Game Over" screen to appear, but instead, his surroundings changed. He found himself in a place resembling a cockpit.
In the center of the cockpit was a biological pod. Inside, a naked man was hooked up to countless tubes, an electronic visor over his eyes. He appeared to be controlling something.
Looking out, he saw that this was the cockpit of the Super Giant War Armor from before—the "Chiyou"!
The scene before him was that of the "Chiyou" Super Giant War Armor locked in a fierce battle with the World Beasts.
’What’s going on?’
’Logically, if I’m a game character, shouldn’t I just die and reload a save?’
"This must be spectator mode," a gentle voice said beside him.
Pan Jianguo turned his head and saw two other people in the cockpit.
They were also wearing military uniforms, but they were clearly different from the other NPCs in the game.
"Hello." Pan Jianguo nodded. "Are you guys... players, too?"
He glanced at a nearby screen and saw his reflection. It was vastly different from his real appearance, which made him sigh in relief.
"That’s right. We are all recently selected players, entering the True Apocalypse Game for the first time," said the speaker, a Westerner with a hooked nose, white hair, and round glasses. "I’d only heard rumors about this game before. I never imagined they were actually true! There really is a mysterious being secretly saving the world!"
He then extended a hand to Pan Jianguo.
"I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Charlotte."
Pan Jianguo shook his hand and replied:
"Mr. P."
Both understood the other was using an alias, and they exchanged a smile.
"Saving the world? If he really has this technology, why not just release it to the world instead of doing things this way? Don’t you find that strange?" the third man, who was bald and had a big beard, said with narrowed eyes. "This feels more like a selection process, as if he’s choosing specific people for some strange purpose... Please, call me Cain."
Pan Jianguo nodded slightly.
"I also believe he’s selecting people from specific fields, but not for any strange purpose. The ultimate goal should still be saving the world... If I’m not mistaken, you must be Professor Kaven from Princeton University, right? And you, sir, you must be Professor Patrick Hayden from Stanford University."
He directed the last sentence to the man who called himself Charlotte.
Hearing Pan Jianguo’s words, both men were stunned. Kaven quickly asked:
"How did you recognize me? Aren’t we using virtual appearances in this game? Who are you?"
Pan Jianguo shrugged.
"Bald, big beard, naturally suspicious, and loves to argue. The characteristics are a little too obvious. Besides, at the reception for last year’s international academic conference, you mentioned your private hobby was studying vampire culture. Cain is the progenitor of Western vampires. Your alias gave you away."
"Hahaha, you’re Pan! God, how do you Hua Country People’s brains even work?" Hayden roared with laughter, stepping forward to give Pan Jianguo a big hug. Kaven also came over, smiling, to shake his hand.
Even though revealing information didn’t seem very safe, meeting an acquaintance from his field in such a strange place felt surprisingly good.
"So, the creator of this game needs physicists this time?" Kaven said, clicking his tongue.
Outside the cockpit, more Super Giant War Armors had appeared on the sea, locked in a chaotic battle with the mountain-like World Beasts. The magnificent, sweeping scene was breathtaking.
But for all the human Super Giant War Armors, the number of World Beasts was also steadily increasing. On top of that, the sea level seemed to be rising rapidly!
In the distance, a land-like shadow floated on the surface of the sea. A single tentacle, hundreds of thousands of meters long, shot toward the sky!
Though he couldn’t tell how far away it was, he could feel the terrifying menace of the creature from here. It couldn’t be called a living thing at all; it was more like a living asteroid!
"What the hell is that thing!" Kaven yelled, dumbfounded.
Pan Jianguo stared at the creature, a being beyond human imagination, and said slowly:
"It seems it’s not the game’s creator who needs physicists... it’s human civilization."