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Chapter 437: The Value of a Planetary Ship (3)
『...A mistake?』
“Hurry! Didn’t you say Jupiter already entered orbit?”
As Yeongwoo urgently pointed to the ceiling, Earth nodded.
『Th-that’s what I mean…! How are we supposed to hit Jupiter when it’s already that close to our orbit?!』
“What are you talking about? The Jupiter we’re supposed to shoot is the one out there in space.”
『...What?』
Earth finally realized what Jeong Yeongwoo07 was intending and gaped in shock.
Well, it was a planetary-scale bombardment weapon, after all.
So what Yeongwoo was suggesting was to hit a distant orbiting planet using a main cannon with a power output of 4100.
“Anyway, isn’t that Voltu guy heading this way and the Jupiter out there basically the same entity?”
『I-I guess?』
“Then if we blast Jupiter to bits, what happens to the ‘Jupiter’ that’s supposed to show up here?”
『Well…』
What would happen?
Obviously, both Jupiters would be destroyed.
Of course, Earth had never been directly hit by a bombardment before, but this was basic common sense.
『But damage to a planet’s physical structure isn’t something that can be restored.』
In other words, if a powerful cannon erased part of Jupiter, the lost mass and volume wouldn’t come back.
Unlike Yeongwoo, who could regrow a severed arm if given some time, celestial bodies like Jupiter were unique entities that didn’t regenerate.
“What? Planets don’t just bounce back after getting smashed? Then you should’ve been more careful.”
Yeongwoo said this as he grabbed Earth’s collar even tighter.
“Install it now—the Planet Hunter. We’ve got plenty of money.”
「Planet Hunter」 - Legendary cannon
【Output: 4100】
【Max charge: 4】
【Firing time: 3 seconds】
【Energy Requirement: 1700】
【Manufacturer: Toma】
<If there was a misfire due to a coordinate error, quickly eliminate the witnesses.>
*Price: 6.3 billion karma
Planet Hunter.
A dominant weapon capable of erasing four planets in just 12 seconds.
It cost a whopping 6.3 billion Karma, but if that price could allow them to threaten planets, it was worth every bit.
『……』
After glancing at the insane specs of the cannon Yeongwoo held out, Earth asked with a pale face,
『Where... where should I install it? Planetary main cannons are huge.』
“How huge?”
『About the size of a continent.』
Well, that was only natural, considering the amount of energy required to wipe out an entire planet in one blow.
“What.”
Naturally, Yeongwoo was shocked.
He had expected the cannon to be big, but not continent-sized big.
“I thought I could just clear out a city... but if that’s the case, there’s really only one spot.”
Yeongwoo’s chosen installation site, without much deliberation, was none other than the Pacific Ocean.
“If it’s a planetary weapon, it’s basically a forbidden facility to have on Earth. So we build it in the middle of the Pacific where no one lives.”
『Pacific Ocean… Got it.』
As Earth’s eyes glowed blue upon receiving the order, a system message popped up in Yeongwoo’s view.
「|l||I—Earth is requesting payment of 6.3 billion Karma to install the 'Planet Hunter'.」
「Would you like to approve the transaction?」
‘Of course. Do it fast.’
As soon as Yeongwoo approved it, 6.3 billion Karma was withdrawn from his account in an instant.
Flaaash!
Then, a holographic image of Earth appeared on the ceiling.
“What’s that?”
『It’s a visual of the cannon you just bought.』
“What?”
And then, a massive hole appeared on one side of the holographic Earth.
“There’s no barrel?”
Yeongwoo blinked in confusion and muttered, and Earth explained.
『There aren’t many barrels that can withstand a power output of 4100. Planet Hunter draws in energy from outside, refines it internally, and then blasts it out directly.』
“Draws energy from outside?”
『I mean solar energy. Did you seriously think we’d be generating all that power ourselves?』
As Earth said this, the hologram changed again.
Shzzzzzt!
A layer composed of countless hexagons formed on the surface of the planet.
『Seems like the high price tag came with some nice features.』
“What is that? Don’t tell me those are solar panels?”
『Surprisingly, that’s basically what they are.』
“Insane.”
Yeongwoo stared blankly at the energy panels enveloping Earth.
It was finally starting to feel real.
Earth was no longer just a simple planet—it was beginning its transformation into a planetary ship.
“So then, can those panels power the entire planet?”
『If we become a full-fledged planetary ship and secure propulsion using solar energy, powering Earth would be no problem.』
Then Earth added a caveat.
『But every time we fire the main cannon, the entire planet’s power will go out for a moment.』
“That’s fine. The planetary ship’s propulsion remains active, right?”
He was basically asking if a moving shot was possible, and Earth nodded.
『Technically, the propulsion engines will shut down during firing, but if we accelerate powerfully beforehand to account for it…』
In that case, inertia would allow for a moving shot—at least, that was Earth’s assessment.
And around that time, Svera, jumped in with a horrified expression.
『Y-you’re planning to move and shoot?! What the hell are you two planning…?!』
Especially since this crazy plan included Svera herself.
If Earth really began roaming space as a planetary ship, Pluto would naturally be dragged along with its orbit.
But before Svera could get any kind of answer, the sky collapsed once again.
KWA-A-AAM!
『It-it’s here!』
Unlike when Pluto arrived, Earth now looked utterly terrified, curling in on itself.
Almost at the same time, a booming voice, characteristic of a planet, echoed throughout the arena.
『Lord Moro will soon arrive! Kneel, you lowly creatures! I, Voltu of the Thunder Sea, shall bear witness...!』
“Thunder Sea? So that's what his title means?”
As Yeongwoo mulled over Jupiter's moniker, black waves began to ripple through the air.
Fwaaah!
From the center of the pitch-black waves, a vaguely human silhouette started to take shape.
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“...!”
Eyes wide, Yeongwoo finally realized—
The sky-filling waves were, in fact, Jupiter's cloak.
『Earth, you insolent one. What have you done?』
Jupiter, cloaked in a garment vast enough to engulf the heavens, slowly descended in altitude.
As he did, what had looked like a tiny figurine began to grow in size.
‘So the planets of the solar system all appear in human form. This is getting interesting.’
Of course, like Svera, Jupiter wasn’t exactly human in appearance.
His skin was ashen gray, completely devoid of hair, and his body—though naked—lacked any reproductive organs.
Worse yet, his eyes were entirely white, with no pupils in sight, which made him even more unsettling.
RUMBLE!
A loud thunderclap roared from within Jupiter’s cloak, causing Earth to nervously bend and straighten its knees, stealing glances at Yeongwoo.
Earth was torn—should it kneel before Jupiter in accordance with the solar system’s hierarchy, or follow this insane human representative and cross a line from which there’d be no return?
“……”
Sensing Earth’s hesitation, Yeongwoo spoke.
“Hey, Earth. You can peek at Jupiter's coordinates, can’t you?”
『…What?』
Earth looked even more terrified now than when Jupiter had appeared.
And that’s when Yeongwoo dropped a chilling line, right into Earth's ear:
“When are you gonna stop living like a spineless little punk? Fire the damn shot and start a new life.”
And of course, everyone present heard him say it.
Svera, who had already knelt early on, and Voltu—Jupiter—looming above the sky, glaring down at Earth.
『So you're the root of this chaos, huh.』
Voltu turned his head, his blank eyes fixed on Yeongwoo.
Yeongwoo met his gaze and replied:
“You dumbass. Keep posing in midair like that, and you won't be able to dodge.”
『What did you say?』
“Summon—Twenty Sword Mountain.”
『……!』
No sooner had Yeongwoo summoned the sword formation than the air cracked open, unleashing a storm of blades.
Earth let out a shriek at the sight.
『You... you psychooooooo!』
Jupiter was the strongest of all the solar system's planets.
To launch a preemptive strike on someone like that—it meant total war was now inevitable.
『If you strike Jupiter, you'll have to fight every other planet too! Are you out of your mind?!』
Even as Earth screamed, Yeongwoo was already executing an evasive maneuver, raising the divine shield, Aratubank.
“Then I’ll just beat Jupiter so hard none of the others will dare try anything.”
Peaceful negotiation?
Such a concept didn’t exist in Yeongwoo’s brain from the beginning.
And indeed, black lightning began to crash down on Aratubank’s surface as he raised it.
『Today, the order will be restored!』
Enraged, Jupiter began his attack on Earth's representative.
KRA-KRA-KRA-KROOM!
The divine shield Aratubank screeched as it absorbed the brunt of the thunderstorm.
But at that moment, Yeongwoo realized something.
Jupiter couldn't kill him.
‘What the… this bastard’s "dignity effect" isn’t kicking in.’
He noticed he wasn’t being forced into any kind of submission or reverence.
Which meant—he was now close enough in stature for it not to apply.
Even so, he still needed Earth to recite Jupiter’s coordinates.
“You already bought the planetary cannon, you bastard. What the hell are you waiting for? Give me Jupiter’s coordinates!”
Yeongwoo, who had crossed countless lines, now wanted Earth to cross its own planetary line too.
Not just to declare rebellion against the solar system, but to commit outright planetary overreach.
“Hurry! Chant the incantation that will rebirth you as the solar system’s new center!”
As Yeongwoo swung Aratubank, the lightning raining down on him deflected in all directions.
SHWAAASH!
And then—
『|lI|-Voltu!』
Earth shut its eyes tight and uttered Jupiter’s true name—Voltu.
『W-What?!』
Stunned, Jupiter looked down at Earth with wide eyes.
Then, Earth's voice rang out with a series of numbers.
『020, 497, 3354... 02.』
Suddenly, a holographic projection of Earth appeared before Yeongwoo, displaying the planetary cannon, which extended a dotted targeting line toward a specific location.
FWAAAAH!
“This is…”
Reflected in Yeongwoo's now-dilated pupils was another planet.
None other than Jupiter.
〔|lI|-Voltu-020-497-3354-02〕
The moment Earth recited the coordinates, the Planet Hunter locked on to its target.
「Cannon ready. Please issue the firing order.」
The planetary cannon system requested launch authorization from Yeongwoo.
Sensing what was about to happen, Jupiter suddenly reached out with his arm and shouted.
『W-Wait! Hold on!』
But Yeongwoo was already grinning from ear to ear.
“Accept it. This is the fate of a planet locked into its orbit.”
Then, pointing his finger into the air, he shouted:
“Planetary execution, commence!”
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