The batteries within the power armor were transformed into energy engines, enabling them to store greater amounts of energy and gradually restore it.
This automatic energy regeneration did not arise from any physical distortion applied to its components; rather, it absorbed energy from the surrounding environment, such as residual heat from laser guns or the lasers fired by enemies.
The original energy coating was abolished, replaced by a capturing field integrated into the gravity shield. The current gravity shield possessed dual capabilities: it could generate a force field capable of crushing kinetic weapon projectiles while also absorbing energy from incoming laser attacks and transferring that energy into the energy engine.
The weapons on the hands of the power armor were redesigned, shifting from multi-barreled laser guns to laser shotguns, which would compress energy into light projectiles before releasing it, yet maintaining the firing speed characteristic of multi-barreled laser guns.
In addition to ranged weaponry, close-combat weapons were designed as heavy hammers, their surfaces coated with a gravity field, requiring only a slight swing to inflict devastating damage on any struck target.
However, these weapons served merely as a means of self-defense for the power armor.
The true offensive weapon was the transformable shoulder cannon.
The shoulder cannon could be reshaped to function as a mortar, heavy artillery, a cannon, or a rocket launcher. While it could not employ physical ammunition, the devastation it unleashed far surpassed that of conventional projectiles.
For instance, in mortar mode, it launched a sphere of light that detonated one hundred meters above the target area, showering the ground below with laser beams akin to raindrops.
Nevertheless, regardless of their potency, these weapons lacked efficiency, failing to achieve Qin Mo's ideal of decisively winning a battle with just two individuals donned in power armor.
To further enhance the combat effectiveness of the personnel equipped with power armor, Qin Mo also designed advanced drones.
These drones featured a greater variety and larger sizes.
They connected to the power armor, supplying energy to the energy engine, allowing recharging before the power armor's energy was depleted, or enabling the armor to unleash a full burst of firepower via energy drones for a limited time.
There were fire support drones equipped with immense energy weapons and transport drones capable of ferrying soldiers to any location.
Based on these groundbreaking weapon systems, Qin Mo devised new tactical approaches.
On the battlefield, a mere three individuals clad in power armor would be deployed. These three would arrive via transport drones, and in the absence of friendly forces in the operational zone, they would coordinate with energy and fire support drones to engage in long-range bombardment, annihilating the enemy's armor and fortifications before transitioning to close-quarters combat.
The rapid deployment and combat capabilities of this three-person team surpassed those of any conventional army.
Qin Mo felt a swell of pride and joy for his designs and creations; this was the masterpiece he had tirelessly sought to create.
Yet, he overlooked one critical point.
While these weapon systems were indeed formidable, their costs were exorbitant, with some components only manufacturable using the powers of celestial beings.
Having completed the design within three days and subsequently spent four days creating the central AI for logistical machinery and fabricating three sets of weapon systems, Qin Mo resolved to find a suitable location to test his masterpiece.
That opportunity soon presented itself.
The outpost stationed east of Fortress 47 provided intelligence, claiming that they had been discovered by another group of surviving allies, whose position lay ninety kilometers directly east. They requested support.
Without hesitation, Qin Mo agreed.
…
The remaining soldiers at the outpost were holed up within a large bunker, as the position was on the verge of collapse, with enemies swarming everywhere except the bunker itself.
The encircling foes occasionally hurled grenades into the bunker, which would be thrown back whenever possible; those unable to react in time would sacrifice themselves to shield others from the blasts.
With time passing, the dwindling number of defenders was becoming increasingly evident.
After struggling for half an hour, two spheres of light suddenly appeared above the dark pit, illuminating the nearby area like suns.
As the spheres descended to a height of one hundred meters, they exploded, unleashing torrents of light beams that swept across the bunker's surroundings.
Then came the drone of engines as a hovering aircraft loomed above the outpost, and three figures clad in power armor descended from it.
Qin Mo had arrived to offer support.
The two individuals accompanying him were Grey and another veteran who had chosen to remain with Qin Mo to battle the insurgents.
Grey and the veteran wielded heavy hammers, while Qin Mo, having exchanged his chainsaw sword for a heavy hammer, retained his staff, a symbol of his identity.
"Staff!"
"He's one of the Emperor's chosen!"
The soldiers within the bunker exclaimed, recalling what the earlier messenger had said about being saved by a staff-bearing individual from the western outpost.
"Summon the fire support drones," Qin Mo instructed over the communication channel, "and let us eliminate these insurgents."
Upon receiving the command, Grey and the veteran promptly called forth their designated fire support drones.
Two anti-gravity aircraft swiftly arrived above the battlefield, their sizes comparable to transport ships. As they hovered and halted, numerous weapons extended from their undersides, firing live ammunition and lasers at the insurgents below.
"Grey, engage the enemy as much as possible."
"Grotto, take out that aberration."
Qin Mo directed orders towards Grey and the veteran Grotto, indicating the aberration within the enemy ranks.
"For the Emperor!" Grotto roared as he charged forward, his speed augmented to its utmost limit by his jetpack, crushing every foe in his path beneath the weight of gravity until he confronted the aberration.
The aberration immediately retaliated with a fierce howl, prompting Grotto to activate his gravity shield and deliver a powerful blow to the aberration's head.
The gravitational field of the heavy hammer crushed the aberration the moment it made contact.
"Ah…" Qin Mo sighed in exasperation; he hadn't intended for Grotto to recklessly charge in and bludgeon the enemy to death.
Although a new tactic was in place, the combat style of those adorned in power armor had not evolved…
However, Grey maintained a clear understanding of the power armor, having absorbed explanations while delivering meals during its creation.
Tasked with engaging the enemy, Grey summoned the energy drone. Once the drone linked with the power armor, he raised his right hand and unleashed a barrage upon the enemies directly ahead, simultaneously firing the shoulder cannon.
Before the shoulder cannon overheated and drained heat from the energy engine, it could execute a three-round burst.
The firing mode of the shoulder cannon was altered to function as a mortar against infantry, dispersing the projectiles evenly.
Three spheres of light were launched into the sky in the blink of an eye, each separated by a hundred meters, scattering as they descended. The insurgent soldiers below, whether hiding behind cover or standing in the open, found themselves unable to escape their demise, with even the metallic ground beneath them pockmarked by the lasers.