Apocalypse: I Can See the HP Bar, Killing Monsters Drops Loot

"Awesome!"

Wang Tao exclaimed.

Compared to the previous powered armors, this one that can use abilities is entirely on a different level!

Especially after Wang Tao had tested the flexibility of the powered armor, claiming it was as natural as an extension of one's own body might be an exaggeration, but it was definitely much better than the original powered armors!

Excluding various weapons factors and speaking only of the capabilities of the powered armor itself, its combat effectiveness was at least more than five times higher than before! If some additional Crystal Cores with abilities were installed in the powered armor, then its combat effectiveness could be even higher.

"You're really amazing to be able to create such a powerful powered armor!"

After climbing out of the powered armor, Wang Tao didn't skimp on his praise for Qu Shilin.

"Haha, impressive, right?"

Qu Shilin felt a bit proud, but then she looked at Wang Tao with a serious expression.

"However, I owe a lot of this to you. If you hadn't helped me to awaken 'Spirit Insight,' I wouldn't have had the ability to research this powered armor. Plus, the mode of operation for this armor was learned from biological weapons, and the use of abilities was learned from some of the equipment you'd given me before. As for the materials used in this powered armor, some were refined from the ores you provided from the Rift... So, without your help and sponsorship, this powered armor wouldn't exist!"

"You're making me blush... Let's just say then, it's the result of our joint efforts!"

Wang Tao said with a laugh.

"Right!"

Qu Shilin obviously liked that response, and then she explained more about the combat strength of the powered armor.

"The combat effectiveness of the previous powered armors was almost equivalent to a Level 3 ability user, but now this powered armor feels like it should be comparable to a Level 4 ability user. Of course, I'm referring to ability users, not Awakeners... If we make further improvements, in theory, it could reach the combat effectiveness of Level 5 or even Level 6 ability users!"

"That's already very impressive!"

Wang Tao encouraged.

Most survivors are ordinary people; if they can obtain the combat power of Level 5 or even Level 6 ability users through powered armors, that would be very strong indeed.

"Can these powered armors be mass-produced?"

"Of course! What we lack isn't technology but materials. There are some key parts inside the powered armor that require special materials. Previously, these materials were quite scarce, which affected the production of powered armors. But now, the ores from the Rift can be refined into a new type of material, which is even better than those special materials! So, our base can start mass-producing powered armors from here on out!"

"Damn! That's really great!"

Just thinking about the whole army going out in powered armors was thrilling. Any zombie herds, Night Demon's Nests or the like could be completely bulldozed!

Of course, even if the materials are no longer scarce, production capacity can't be ramped up instantly; it has to be a gradual process. You can't equip all soldiers with powered armors in a short period of time. But from what Qu Shilin described, it seems there should be no problem assembling several powered armor teams or even a Power Armor Corps.

This was a significant upgrade for the entire Changhe Base, and Qu Shilin's time spent in seclusion was evidently well worth it.

However, Qu Shilin still seemed somewhat dissatisfied.

"Actually, I researched a lot of things during my retreat, but the only fruitful outcome was in the powered armor area... With other things, even though there were also significant breakthroughs, I was still blocked by some key issues. My awakening of 'Spirit Insight' is very suitable for research, but it's hard to cook without rice..."

Seeing the somewhat disheartened look on Qu Shilin's face, Wang Tao immediately patted her shoulder and said:

"Don't rush, just take it slow. We're not in any particularly urgent situation right now, so don't feel pressured... Besides, you've got me! Whatever you need help with, just tell me, and I'll try to solve it for you..."

Hearing Wang Tao's words, Qu Shilin was moved.

"Thank you! Don't worry, I won't get hung up on it. My current research on powered armors has come to a close for the time being, and I'll leave the rest to them. Now my main research is on potions... Specifically, I'm currently working on two types of potions. One is a potion that can completely eliminate the zombie virus, and the other is a potion that can enhance strength..."

"..."

Hearing about Qu Shilin's next direction of research, Wang Tao didn't know what to say for a moment.

It's a good direction, but it seems difficult to achieve any results!

The zombie virus, Wang Tao had already lost hope that it could be cured. He felt that it was more reliable to improve his own strength. As for potions that enhance strength, he rarely encountered such things hunting zombies, and Qu Shilin wanted to develop similar potions? It seemed as impossible as curing the zombie virus...

Qu Shilin's spiritual power was very strong; Wang Tao didn't bother to hide his expression, so she noticed it right away and glared at him.

Their relationship was very good, especially since Qu Shilin's Awakening; they had accidently experienced deep communication on a spiritual level, bringing them much closer, almost like a couple. So Qu Shilin wasn't angry, but she was still somewhat competitive.

"You think I can't do it? You're underestimating me! Actually, I've already made a significant breakthrough in the research on these two types of potions!"

Qu Shilin glared at Wang Tao.

"Oh? So which step have you reached?"

Wang Tao was curious.

"Let's talk about the zombie virus antidote first. Didn't you give me a set of Ancestral Virus research data previously? That stuff is really useful to me, especially after I awakened Spirit Insight. Through these data, I've inferred and researched many new things! Although I haven't been able to develop a real antidote potion, I have found the direction for future research! Following this direction, there is a high likelihood that we could really create an antidote!"

"No way, for real?"

Seeing how serious Qu Shilin was, Wang Tao didn't want to doubt her, but the news was indeed shocking. Could she really have a chance of developing a zombie virus antidote?

"Of course it's true!"

Qu Shilin was clearly pleased with Wang Tao's astonishment, but then she quickly shook her head.

"However, there's a big problem at the moment. What I mean is that if we continue research in this direction, we'll definitely achieve something. But I've lost the ability to continue researching in this direction..."

"Why so?"

Wang Tao asked.

Qu Shilin sighed and said:

"Because this direction is the 'Ancestral Virus'! The Ancestral Virus data you gave me before was important, but it was too little. If I had enough Ancestral Virus data for research, there would definitely be findings. But now, those viruses have mutated who knows how many times, and the Ancestral Virus is no longer present in the world, I'm unable to study it, so... this is ultimately only theoretically possible."

"Theoretically possible..."

Wang Tao unconsciously shook his head. That meant it was impossible; the apocalypse had been around for so long, where could anyone find the Ancestral Virus from the original outbreak? Even the data he had acquired last time were left by that doctor — wait a minute!

Wang Tao suddenly fixed his gaze.

"You mean if you had enough Ancestral Virus data, you might have a chance to develop a cure for the zombie virus?"

"In theory, yes, but—"

Qu Shilin had not finished speaking when Wang Tao interrupted her.

"Do you remember how the Ancestral Virus data I gave you came into my possession?"

"You said it came from a medical expert who researched the zombie virus to save his infected daughter, and thus left the Ancestral Virus data..."

Qu Shilin's memory of the story Wang Tao had told her before was rather vivid.

"So here's the question: if there's one such example, could there possibly be a second, a third, an Nth example — someone else who has studied the Ancestral Virus and left relevant data behind! Our world is so vast; even a small probability event, when scaled to the entire world, would still amount to a considerable number!"

Hearing Wang Tao's words, Qu Shilin's eyes widened.

"So you're saying, there might be other Ancestral Virus data out there in the world, and if we can find it, we might really be able to develop an antidote... It does make sense!"

But soon, Qu Shilin shook her head again.

"However, the world is so vast; even if there really is Ancestral Virus data out there, how would we know where exactly, and how do we get it?"

Thump, thump—

All of a sudden, Qu Shilin felt a tremor in the ground. Puzzled, she turned her head, only to see a massive eagle that filled her entire field of vision striding toward them.