Chapter 548: Testing the missile (failure)
The supposed upgraded missile, Song II, turned out to be weaker than the original Song missile created by the system, mainly due to the fact that system-created missiles have 100% energy conversation while the one he currently built only had like 45%.
Hence, while Alina focused on upgrading the missile, he was focused on the warhead.
The factory, which was upgraded to the maximum level before the exit of the system, has already the necessary equipment to create every type of weapon he could. The only problem is with the procurement of materials now that the mining system, unfortunately, didn't materialize with the factory.
Hence, Mark could only recycle the existing warheads lying in his inventory, increase the quantity of fissile materials, improve the efficiency of the implosion mechanism, and eventually increase yield. But, that also decreased the energy conversation rate in the process.
Without any assistance from fellow researchers, it was a tough job even for someone like Mark. But then again, since he wasn't in a hurry before, he was taking step by step. But, Lu Shan's birth has changed everything for him. Mark suddenly decided on increasing the time on research, to prepare against even Saints.
Once this is completed, he will start working on the Song-II (A) variant, which will have a lighter payload, increased range, and speed, so that he could deploy anti-matter warheads.
With a few anti-matter warheads in his inventory, Mark knew that it was a surmountable task. Hence, he had to master the antimatter attribute staying dormant in his veins.
But first, making Song-II Missile resisting to extreme conditions is important.
As a part of it, he sought his sister's help, who was glad to help him out in any way she could.
As the red skies returned to normal in the testing zone of the factory, Shang Jiao used her ice manipulation to first create a powerful snowstorm in the surroundings.
Mark's Rank-9 robots manually inserted the missile in one of the barrels of the launcher, which was placed near the edge of the testing zone. This missile doesn't have any warheads. Hence, Mark was not worried about firing at Shang Jiao, at all.
She was standing around 2 km away, near the edge on the opposite side.
Alina placed one of her forelimbs on something that looked like a USB port. A wire extended from her paw and inserted into the port; the screen lit up in red.
"Access granted. Auto mode on"
"Alina, Lock the target."
With her control, the launcher automatically moved and the screen showed that it locked onto some dot. As an android, she was quite fast and accurate in locking the target.
"On the count of 3." Mark counted, "3, 2, 1, fire…"
A missile fired from the launcher, generating a loud sound enough for Jingwei to momentarily close her ears in startle. Mark stayed on the spot as if he wasn't affected. He looked quite serious, based on his expression.
The missile fired through low visibility snowstorm, under -15 degrees Celsius temperature; in a couple of seconds, it reached its peak height of only 100 meters from the ground and cut through the wind at supersonic speeds, traveling in a straight line for two more seconds, before changing start descending with an increased speed.
Shang Jiao, who was standing there, was startled when the missile appeared before her eyes. Her body moved before her mind. "Ice wall." A gust of cold wind erupted from her palms, freezing on the spot and creating a wall of ice within a second.
The missile collided with the ice wall and exploded.
The wall conjured by her managed to block the explosion but cracked all over. "F**k. It hasn't even been five seconds." She couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
However, Mark's facial expression darkened. Putting away the telescopic gun, through which he was watching the scene, he shook his head with a sigh, "This idiot…"
"Hmm? What happened, papa?" Jingwei asked him in curiosity.
"She was supposed to freeze it before the collision, not protect herself. The missile was destroyed and we have to make it once again," Alina answered her instead of Mark, who placed the weapon back into the inventory and turned around to walk away in disappointment.
After a while, Shang Jiao caught up to her brother who was sitting at a beach and looking at the sea in order to calm down his emotions; she apologized to him.
Mark could only sigh in response and slowly slapped the sand beside him, gesturing to her to sit beside him.
As the little princess sat down, Mark opened his mouth, "I know that it is not your fault, but I was just frustrated. That's all. Manufacturing this new weapon is a time-consuming process." After a brief pause, he patted her head, "Not to worry, I will think of a solution eventually. Anyway, your parents are missing you. Don't you want to return shortly and meet them?
Xiao Shan's first-month celebration is coming up and he still has yet to see his aunt."
"Well…" Shang Jiao went silent, averting her gaze away as if she didn't want to answer to that, for some reason. "I want to attend but I don't think I could make it. Because of my promise with the guardian beasts, I can't step out, until I defeat one of the guardians."
"C'mon, it was just an oral promise, not an oath you made to the heavens or applied a blood/soul oath. Moreover, defeating any of those guardian beasts is next to impossible, when you aren't even in the same realm."
Mark tried to convince her but Shang Jiao seemed adamant on fulfilling the promise, even if she had to miss the event of her nephew.
Not having any choice, he left the island, returning home through his teleportation portal.
Once he was gone, Shang Jiao's icy wings erupted from her back and she flew into the sea, traveling to a nearby island located just about fifteen kilometers away.
Unlike the Fujian island, this one was quite green and was full of vegetation. As she neared the island, the sight of a majestic beast appeared in her eyes.