Chapter 454 - 301: 12-Hour Countdown: Seizing the Ancient Giant Ruins (3)

The video feed was a little shaky, but its contents made everyone present hold their breath.

It showed a massive stone wall, tens of meters high, upon which magnificent scenes were painted with some sort of luminous mineral pigment.

In the paintings, "giants" with mountain-like bodies were forging ferocious-looking humanoid mecha in a deep-sea trench.

The design of those mecha was remarkably similar to the Titan Battle Armor, the pride of their Jiangbei City.

But they were more ancient, more massive, and filled with a savage, warlike beauty.

"My God..."

Chen Meng’s jaw dropped wide enough to fit an egg. "Isn’t this the prototype for our Titan Technology?

Does this mean the Titan’s Heart we’ve been researching all this time is a legacy left behind by this Otherworld civilization?"

Liu Dong’s breathing grew rapid as well. He adjusted his glasses, his eyes filled with shock.

"It’s highly likely! If we can find this civilization’s complete technical database,

then Jiangbei City’s technological level will take a huge leap forward. Our promotion to a Second Level Fortress City would be just around the corner!"

Zhao Heihu’s single eye was fixed on the screen. His Spiritual Energy Power Artificial Eye flickered at an unprecedented rate, clearly analyzing and recording the information at a frantic pace.

He saw, at the far end of the mural, those massive Titan Mecha locked in a brutal war with blurry, tentacled monsters descending from a rift in the sky.

"Continue exploring! I want you to find the core area of these ruins!"

Zhao Heihu’s voice held a barely perceptible tremor—a sign of extreme excitement.

"Stay safe. Report any anomalies immediately!"

"Yes, sir!"

The communication line cut, and the bridge fell silent. Everyone was stunned by the sudden, monumental discovery.

After a long moment, Zhao Heihu slowly rose to his feet, his burly frame casting a large shadow.

"Relay my orders!"

His voice, cold and decisive, echoed across the bridge.

"Order the First through Thirty-sixth formations of the Titan destroyers to maintain a full blockade of the fifty-kilometer sea zone around Broken Star Reef, under the guise of a military exercise!

Any unauthorized vessels or aerial units that dare to approach within thirty kilometers are to be shot down on sight if they ignore warnings!"

"Especially the aerial units! Watch them like hawks!"

A communications officer immediately acknowledged the order and turned to relay the command.

Zhao Heihu’s gaze shifted to Liu Dong.

"Liu Dong, you’ll oversee this personally.

Raise the Spiritual Power signal blockade Level over Dragon’s Fang Port by another level!

I want that island to be completely deaf and blind for the next twelve hours!

Not a single piece of information is to be leaked from that island!"

Liu Dong’s expression turned grim. He nodded heavily. "Understood!"

"Chen Meng!"

"Sir!" Chen Meng snapped to attention.

"Take the remaining twenty Titan Battle Armors of the Mad Shark squad and proceed immediately to Broken Star Reef to reinforce the first exploration team!

I don’t care what methods you use—dig three feet deep, use brute force to tear it open,

you must complete the preliminary exploration of these underground ruins within twelve hours!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Heihu’s eye.

"Remember, we only have twelve hours.

After those twelve hours, those East Sea City planes that have caught the scent will definitely come swarming over.

At that point, we won’t be able to stop them even if we want to."

"I guarantee the mission will be completed!"

Chen Meng gave a military salute, his face filled with bloodthirsty excitement, then turned and strode away.

As the orders were issued one by one, the entire *Titan·Jingluo*, and indeed the entire sub-fleet, began to operate like an activated war machine—efficiently and ruthlessly.

When Zhao Heihu was the only one left on the bridge, he sat back down in the command chair. The excitement and ruthlessness on his face slowly faded, replaced by a deep solemnity.

He knew he was making a huge gamble.

The stakes: Jiangbei City’s maritime supremacy for the next ten years.

The risk: a full-scale war with East Sea Fortress City, the consequences of which no one could predict.

Twelve hours.

This was the absolute limit he had calculated based on East Sea City’s reaction speed, fleet mobilization capabilities, and the patrol radius of their Aerospace Forces.

East Sea City’s fleet was no cause for concern. Those ’airships’ floating in the sky were nothing more than a pile of sitting ducks in a marine environment.

What he truly feared were East Sea City’s ridiculously skilled ace pilots and the elusive high-speed fighters they flew.

If those things broke through and saw the secrets on Broken Star Reef, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Especially... A top-secret intelligence report from the Black Wind Mountain Range front line flashed through Zhao Heihu’s mind.

The report contained only a single name and a ridiculously young face.

Han Feng.

A monster who could kill a Tier Four Grandmaster despite being of a lower rank.

Although the authenticity of the intelligence had yet to be verified, Zhao Heihu never underestimated any potential threat.

He had to prepare for the worst.

Zhao Heihu opened the comms again, connecting to the flagship’s weapons control center.

"This is Zhao Heihu.

Activate the Deep Sea Demon Eye anti-aircraft system.

Lock onto the airspace east of Dragon’s Fang Port. Set the energy reaction level to maximum.

If any unidentified flying object with an ultra-high speed and high Spiritual Power signature appears, no authorization is needed. Engage directly with a saturation strike from the Spear of the Sea God."

The Spear of the Sea God was the ace in the hole mounted on the Titan Level Cruiser, specifically designed to deal with high-mobility aerial targets.

It was also his final trump card in this gamble.

Having done all this, he slowly leaned back in his chair and closed his good left eye.

In the darkness, the phantom-blue Spiritual Energy Power Artificial Eye blinked silently.

Like a fierce tiger lurking in the abyss, patiently waiting for its prey to step into the trap.

Now, everything was ready.

All that was left was to see what kind of ’fish’ East Sea City would send to take his bait in the next twelve hours.