Sky-cracking Rider

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, with a condensation temperature of minus 78.5 degrees Celsius and a boiling point temperature of minus 57 degrees Celsius. Once it falls like snowflakes, faced with the unshielded "Atlantis," it encounters not only extreme cold but also high concentrations of carbon dioxide.

The oxygen proportion in this planet's atmosphere is already low; not only humans need oxygen, but other plants and animals do as well. The "Wall of Sighs" did not carry enough greenery; even with "Atlantis's" agricultural crops, there is still a reliance on mechanical and chemical oxygen production as essential supplements, barely maintaining supply and demand balance in "Atlantis's" underground spaces.

However, the relative density of carbon dioxide (1.97g/L) is greater than nitrogen (1.26g/L) and oxygen (1.46g/L), meaning it will flow downward like water. Humans based at "Atlantis" are now operating below the city ground level. The underground space can easily be filled with gaseous carbon dioxide after the dry ice vaporizes. When the atmosphere is invaded by large amounts of carbon dioxide, the consequences will not only add insult to injury, so there will only be one result.

A widespread suffocation disaster during the dry ice blizzard will be inevitable, all plants and animals will die, nobody will survive!!!

So when Huang Xiulun wanted to drop the ball, Chen Fei unhesitatingly prepared to split ways—this was precisely the reason.

Rather than being suffocated alive by the surge of carbon dioxide, it is better to die a swift death now to avoid suffering.

When realizing Chen Fei was not joking, Huang Xiulun finally understood; this young man became "Atlantis's" king, not just through verbal threats but with enough power to suppress all doubts and even objections.

How in the world did this damned bastard accumulate so many combat mechs? Just by sheer numbers alone, he can pile up and crush the entire "Wall of Sighs" action force, killing a thousand while losing three thousand would still be profitable.

The army's combat strategy is entirely different from that of a lone ranger. If logistics support is lost, combat effectiveness would plummet by at least half, and over 300,000 combat mechs could annihilate the "Wall of Sighs" logistics on the spot, turning insane even against their own. Humanity would have no means to fight back in the next round.

"One Man Army" applied to Chen Fei is never merely a modifier, because this is the reality. Relying on Metal Elemental Psychic Power and "Spatial Branding" to substitute for the logistical supplies this one-person army would need.

Compared to a fully equipped army, the logistical weakness does not exist for Chen Fei; he is not afraid of anyone cutting off his supply lines. Moreover, others cannot sever his logistical support, so it's better to directly deal with Chen Fei himself.

Either die at the hands of Chen Fei or from suffocation caused by the dry ice blizzard; giving up equates to a dead end. This result is indisputable.

Or manufacture ten thousand standard-compliant "Skylight" translucent panels and use the completed "Skylight" framework to completely seal the basin where "Atlantis" is located.

Death or survival, the human inhabitants of "Atlantis" can easily make a choice.

Under Huang Xiulun's constant supervision, everyone in the Scientific Research Institute put their lives on the line, moving from three shifts to four shifts. When people stopped, the experiments continued. The silicon carbide triple-layer translucent panel project was finally industrialized for mass production. The assembly line operated at full capacity, and batch after batch of compliant translucent panels rolled off the line, meeting quality standards.

The R&D team took a shortcut by stacking three thin sheets, injecting nearly transparent silica aerogel, and skipping the vacuuming procedure entirely. This not only ensured light transmission and production efficiency but its outstanding thermal insulation can keep the impending extreme cold firmly at bay.

A secret mission in the "Isolation" zone of "Atlantis's" central building is similarly making significant breakthroughs.

-

After confirming the delivery of ten thousand triple-layer translucent panels, the exhausted Huang Xiulun saw black before his eyes, nearly collapsing to the ground. However, he had no time for even a brief respite and had to muster the spirit to arrive at the City Management Committee to participate in discussions on city decision-making matters.

After sitting down, he slumped in the chair, weakly sighing, "Thank Heaven, finally all delivered. I almost thought we would screw it up."

A strong cup of coffee, yet it had no pep-up effect whatsoever.

With dark circles under his eyes, Huang Xiulun only wished for one or two hours of nap after the meeting to replenish his nearly depleted vitality and spirit.

With the "Rookie" mayor being routinely offline, someone had to do the work. This former commander-in-chief had no choice. Coordinating communication and facilitating integration work among "Atlantis's" departments was almost entirely done by Huang Xiulun.

The former military heads of the City Management Committee also had immense resentment towards Chen Fei, the young mayor. Not only was Huang Xiulun forced to work continuously, but they also couldn't escape being frantically ordered around until the production line officially commenced operation.

"Old Huang, you've worked hard these days, but this 'Rookie' is too dismissive and disrespectful towards us. Daring even to threaten everyone."

At the City Management Committee's weekly meeting, a commissioner with a military background slammed a fist on the table, causing the tea cup to jump forcefully.

All members vividly recall the scene where all mechs suddenly became ready for combat without warning. No one expected this "Rookie" mayor to be so brazen, without even a trace of concealment.

Communication, placation, coordination, negotiation, dialogue, there was none of this, only crude and harsh demands - either do it or die - no matter who would tolerate such an arrogant guy.

Outside the venue's floor-to-ceiling windows, since receiving the first batch of translucent panels, countless mechs filled the entire "Skylight" framework like ants attaching, beginning to install the "Skylight" translucent panels delivered on schedule.

The plan might not require all ten thousand "Skylight" translucent panels with a side length of three meters, but it cannot be short of even one.

"After all, it's understandable emotions and considerations for everyone. Look, the temperature outside has already started to drop. Without these translucent panels, we might not survive this winter."

Another committee member joined the discussion, offering a reasonable justification. The current snow powder melting into merely acidic freshwater paled in comparison to the potential devastation of dry ice snow. The production of the "Skylight" translucent panels was indeed an urgent top priority.

One crystalline translucent panel after another was hoisted onto the "Skylight." Outside, the sky was overcast, occasionally sprinkling some fine snow powder. The temperature had already dropped to minus 2 degrees Celsius, and it was expected to fall below minus 10 degrees Celsius within 12 hours.

Polar cold fronts from both the north and south had already reached the equatorial regions, poised to attack the area where "Atlantis" was situated.

The production of ten thousand units entirely depended on the power of modern industry. Thousands of mechanical beings worked like ants in the construction, and it was estimated that it would take only four hours to fully install these hexagonal translucent panels with sides of three meters.

The committee member who had thumped the table before shouted loudly, "Does 'Rookie' really think he's a king with power over life and death? We must let him know that being a king isn't easy!"

Every committee member present was a former military leader of sovereignty. When they raised their arms, there truly would be a response.

"What's the need? In the end, if this escalates to a massacre, it will be our people dying, while 'Sagali' outside laughs at us!"

Not everyone agreed with the enraged committee member's view.

Even the City Management Committee had naturally divided into three factions: the backing faction led by The First Sovereign, who believed that since Mayor 'Rookie' was one of their own, they should support him; the opposition factions of the American Federation and Europa; and the numerous minor sovereignties of Africa, who were fence-sitters, siding with whoever held the advantage, rarely speaking up, only acting as voting machines to add the finishing touch.

In chaotic times, heavy measures were needed. Although The First Sovereign's faction was also dissatisfied with Chen Fei's rough style, they understood there was really no other choice in this critical moment.

"I propose that after the 'Skylight' is completed, the City Management Committee impeaches 'Rookie' and elects a new mayor. Old Huang, I think you should be the mayor! Let the young 'Rookie' gain some experience for a few more years. Those in favor, please raise your hands. I support impeachment!"

A committee member from the Europa sovereignty was the first to raise their hand, preparing to oust the unreliable Rookie Mayor.

"I support it too!"

"I!"

"And me..."

Once the first hand was raised, the second, the third... Soon many hands were held high in the hall.

The committee members of the numerous minor sovereignties in Africa also hesitated but eventually raised their hands, even though the committee members from The First Sovereign's circle collectively remained silent, staunchly opposed. However, the number of hands raised inevitably swayed towards the "impeachment" resolution.

Two minutes later.

"87 votes in favor, 3 abstentions, 39 votes against. The 'impeachment' resolution is passed. Contact with the mayor will occur 12 hours later, and the initiation of the 'impeachment' procedure will be publicly announced."

The president of the City Management Committee was a person from The First Sovereign,

but had no choice but to announce the voting results of the temporary proposal with reluctance.

-

When the last panel was installed in place, the gentle snow powder transformed into palm-sized snowflakes, each hexagonal in shape; the polar cold currents from the north and south finally officially arrived.

The clouds weighed heavily, and the area outside the "Skylight" was dark and gloomy.

Inside, the "Skylight" filled with translucent panels lit up with lamps, making the entire basin of "Atlantis" as bright as day.

At the center of the umbrella-shaped structure on top of each supporting pillar, a large SEG Core Unit was installed. Connecting the repulsion shields released while counterbalancing part of the "Skylight's" own weight, it effectively added a long-term invisible physical protective barrier to the outside of the "Skylight." As the snowflakes descended, they were naturally repelled and slid towards the edges of the "Skylight." The electricity generated by the SEG Core Units conveniently powered the lights on the inside of the "Skylight."

The translucent panels embedded in the beehive structure of the "Skylight" shimmered under the light, with the faint glow of magic arrays faintly visible.

The SEG Core Units, the "Skylight" structure, plus the translucent panels with magic arrays, this was the complete form of the "Skylight" project.

It's not just the upper "Skylight" that was enclosed; the entire basin was covered with slightly lower quality silicon carbide material, like a giant silicon carbide basin, completely containing the seawater and "Atlantis" within.