At the same time, through accumulating experience over time, Gong Yi advanced once again, becoming a master craftsman and unlocking the array pattern system.
So-called array patterns can be seen as a kind of enchantment, which can be used on weapons and equipment to enhance their attributes or even add special effects. The first array pattern that Gong Yi unlocked was specifically designed to amplify ranged weapons. He inscribed the array pattern on a cannon for experimentation, and the cannon's range and destructive power were indeed greatly enhanced.
Zhang Shi finally received good news and immediately approved mass production. Whether it was cannons, muskets, or bows and arrows, everything was enhanced by Gong Yi, greatly improving the overall combat effectiveness of the soldiers.
The system never acts without reason. Zhang Shi had just upgraded the Ark and improved the weapons when the territory control module detected danger. The system interface showed that a huge shadow was moving at the bottom of the Ark, seemingly eyeing it.
Zhang Shi hadn't expected to encounter an attack from an unknown creature so soon. Deciding to prioritize safety, he ordered his soldiers to load coal, preparing to go full speed ahead and shake off the creature. However, they discovered that no matter how far the ark traveled, the creature could always find their trail and slowly catch up. Ge Dalong noticed the anomaly and speculated that the dissipation of spiritual energy from the spirit-gathering array might have attracted the mysterious creature.
The enormous shadow relentlessly pursued the Ark below, appearing and disappearing intermittently, exuding an ominous aura. Zhang Shi stood in the Ark's command center, intently watching the outside movements through the transparent observation window, his heart filled with vigilance. He realized that this could very well be a new creature born from the desolate world after the flood, or a pre-existing deep-sea behemoth forced to the surface by the floodwaters.
Faced with this relentless and enormous shadow, Zhang Shi was wary but did not show the slightest panic. He quickly gathered his partners and core members, including Zhang Dazhuang, Gong Yi, and Lao Bai, to discuss countermeasures.
"This creature is clearly no ordinary thing; we must proceed with caution."
Zhang Shi said in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces, searching for the best solution.
Zhao Feng frowned, and the large axe in his hand trembled slightly, clearly indicating that he was ready for battle.
"Should we take the initiative and test its strength with artillery?"
Old Bai shook his head; the computer's calculations made him more inclined to a safer strategy.
"We are still unclear about the creature's specific abilities. A hasty attack might alert it or even provoke it, triggering a greater crisis."
Gong Yi also offered his own perspective.
"Perhaps we can use spiritual energy to create some deceptive illusions, such as making an object containing spiritual energy to attract the creature's attention, and then take the opportunity to shake it off completely."
Zhang Shi nodded, thinking that Gong Yi's suggestion was worth a try: "Okay, let's do as Gong Yi says. At the same time, we must also prepare for the worst. If this creature really poses a threat to us, we must have a countermeasure."
Everyone sprang into action. Gong Yi led the craftsmen to set up the array according to the structure of the Spirit Gathering Array, preparing to build a small raft, install a propeller on it, and launch it in another direction.
Zhang Shi ordered his soldiers to strengthen their vigilance and be ready to deal with any possible battles.
The craftsmen were highly efficient; before noon, the propelled raft, imbued with a faint spiritual energy, was completed. Zhao Feng and Ge Dalong personally launched the raft into the water and activated the propellers, and the small raft began to drift away at a considerable speed.
Sure enough, the giant creature was attracted by the small raft and temporarily stopped following it, instead accelerating towards another direction. Zhang Shi clearly sensed the undercurrents created by the beast and gained a general understanding of its size, knowing that it was a creature that no single person could handle.
The behemoth was fast and soon caught up with the raft. It gradually revealed its true form—a huge deep-sea monster covered in thick scales, with eyes like two bright lamps, flashing a cold light in the darkness.
"How did we get involved with this sea monster?"
Zhang Shi took a deep breath and identified the monster as a divine artifact. He was glad that he had upgraded the Ark in advance, otherwise the matter would have been even more troublesome.
Just then, the giant beast suddenly launched an attack. It opened its huge mouth, and a powerful suction force came from the bottom of the raft, swallowing it up in an instant.
A moment later, the behemoth reluctantly left the waters and continued its pursuit of the ark.
Zhang Shi hadn't expected the behemoth to be so fast. The raft didn't serve its purpose as intended, and it didn't even buy them any time.
The behemoth continued to follow closely behind the ark. It seemed to have tasted the sweetness of absorbing that wisp of spiritual energy, and began to probe further. Its entire body was hidden beneath the ark, occasionally bumping into the bottom of the ark, as if testing and provoking it.
Zhang Shi realized that showing weakness would only embolden the monster, so he made a firm decision, gathered everyone, and prepared for battle.
At Zhang Shi's command, the magic cannon equipped with array patterns made a dazzling appearance. The Ark went into overdrive, accelerating away from the behemoth. After creating some distance, Zhang Shi remotely controlled the Ark, turning it sideways to face the behemoth.
"fire!"
With Zhang Shi's command, the cannons roared, and the distance of hundreds or even thousands of meters seemed almost within reach to the shells. Although the behemoth hiding underwater wasn't directly hit by the shells, the shockwaves from the explosions shattered its scales, yet it seemed oblivious to the pain, continuing to pursue the ark relentlessly. The behemoth's resilience was beyond imagination; the continuous bombardment had inflicted superficial wounds, but hadn't truly struck any vital organs. Zhang Shi knew that this protracted battle was pointless; he had to find a way to achieve a decisive victory and eliminate the problem completely.
Perhaps the continuous bombardment had enraged the behemoth, for it swam rapidly toward the ark, its intentions clearly hostile. Zhang Shi's eyes flickered; he knew his chance had come. He used two quick Shadow Steps to teleport to the giant cannon, then activated Triple Strike, instructing Wu Qing to maximize all buffs, waiting for the behemoth to reveal an opening so he could deliver a fatal blow.
Sure enough, as the giant beast approached the ark, it leaped out of the water, most of its body above the surface, and lunged at the ark. Ge Dalong tried to block it with a water wall, but Zhang Shi stopped him in time.
Zhang Shi had been waiting for this moment. This attack was either his or hers. He slightly adjusted the angle of the giant cannon and then decisively opened fire.
The giant cannonball, seemingly boosted by an immense damage buff, struck the behemoth squarely in the head, instantly tearing it apart. The massive impact shoved the behemoth back into the water, where it whimpered and turned to flee rapidly away from the ark.
At this point, everyone on the ark cheered, and Zhang Shi also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as the crisis was temporarily averted.
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