Chapter 111: Electromagnetic Cannon

After handing over the current tasks to Vanke and his son, Jiang Ning led Wang Jing toward the armory while explaining.

"Not long after the United Government was established, it drafted a contingency weapon program, primarily aimed at avoiding the lack of firepower encountered when facing threats like the Tyrant."

"To this end, the United Government issued a weapon tender to major global arms dealers. There were no restrictions on the type or size of the weapons; the only requirement was that they must be combat-ready."

"Among the results was an electromagnetic railgun that had just been produced. Thanks to the Arc Reactor, its power is far greater than before, with the most significant improvement being the rate of fire."

As he spoke, Jiang Ning led Wang Jing to the front of a large warehouse. To Wang Jing’s surprise, entering the facility required strict security checks, and even he was no exception.

Once inside, even Wang Jing, who had seen his fair share of grand operations, couldn't help but gape. The entire warehouse was filled with a vast array of weaponry, from aircraft and cannons to handguns and submachine guns. Wang Jing even spotted various non-lethal weapons, such as rapid-fire stun guns and freeze guns that looked like small radar dishes.

However, the most eye-catching item was a massive railgun mounted on a row of gun racks.

Calling it a "gun" was a serious understatement; the barrel alone was two meters long. It had a boxy, industrial design with a silver-white metallic finish, immediately evoking the aesthetic of a high-tech electromagnetic weapon.

Jiang Ning pointed to a railgun behind the first one—which had a slightly shorter barrel but was otherwise similar—and said, "That one behind is the railgun for you. The one in front with the longer barrel is an older, unmodified model."

"The one in the back is the version equipped with an Arc Reactor. Because the energy issue was resolved, this railgun is slightly shorter than the original, yet its power has increased rather than decreased."

"This railgun has an 80mm caliber and can fire depleted uranium armor-piercing rounds or high-explosive shells."

"There were plans to develop small hydrogen bomb shells, but considering safety concerns—and the fact that hydrogen bombs can be launched directly via missiles—the idea was shelved. However, after seeing that even a direct hit from your railgun didn't kill that Abomination last time, the tactical nuclear railgun shell has been put back on the agenda. We are currently working on overcoming the safety issues."

Listening to Jiang Ning’s explanation, Wang Jing couldn't help but exclaim, "You guys are insane! You’re even coming up with nuclear artillery shells!"

"This isn't actually a new idea. During the Cold War, the US and the Soviets developed a nuclear mortar, though it was eventually abandoned due to its short range," Jiang Ning explained.

As he spoke, Jiang Ning tapped a few times on a screen on the weapon cabinet. A robotic arm extended, retrieved the railgun from the top of the rack, and placed it on the floor.

Looking at the railgun, which was more than half as tall as he was, Wang Jing bent down to lift it. Only when he got his hands on it did he realize how heavy it truly was. He could only manage to lift the front support by gripping the barrel. Jiang Ning explained from the side, "The vast majority of this railgun's weight is concentrated in the capacitors and the coils on the barrel. It weighs over half a ton. You can only lift it while wearing your combat suit."

"Furthermore, I don't recommend firing it while holding it. The recoil generated would send you flying into the sky. Only someone with a physique like Optimus Prime could fire it while holding it with both hands."

"Then how am I supposed to use it? Do I have to lie on the ground every time I fire?" Wang Jing asked, frowning.

"Of course not. We considered the issue of individual use during the design phase. Your armor only needs minor modifications to carry it while firing. Naturally, you can also choose to use the 'turret mode,' securing it to the ground with a dedicated mount," Jiang Ning explained.

Wang Jing nodded, examining the silver-white metallic body of the gun, and asked curiously, "You said it’s powered by an Arc Reactor, but I don't see one."

"It’s currently in storage, so the reactor hasn't been installed yet." Jiang Ning bent down, opened a cover above the trigger, and revealed a slot inside.

"How long will the modification take?" Wang Jing asked.

"Two hours," Jiang Ning said confidently.

Two hours later, the combat suit, carrying the massive railgun, appeared before Wang Jing.

Wang Jing donned the suit and traveled to the sparsely populated Resident Evil dimension. He deployed the leg stabilizers and fired a shot toward a large mountain.

At the moment of firing, the light from the Arc Reactor mounted on the railgun dimmed slightly as a massive amount of power was transferred into the railgun's supercapacitors.

After a brief three-second charge, a deafening blast tore through the mountain in front of him, leaving a hole the size of a human head in the rock face.

As for Wang Jing, who was bracing the railgun, he was pushed back by a full centimeter despite the stabilizers. Fortunately, the recoil was transferred directly from the mechanical arm to the stabilizers, so Wang Jing felt nothing inside the suit, save for the sensation of his body being pushed back slightly.

Looking at the punctured mountain, Wang Jing became even more curious about what would happen if he used this shot against the Destroyer Armor.

Returning to the main dimension, Wang Jing removed the railgun and its auxiliary support system.

That night, S.H.I.E.L.D. had already erected a makeshift base around Mjolnir. One had to admit that having money is useful; based on the efficiency of ordinary American construction workers, such a temporary base would usually take three or four days to complete.

It was also this night that Thor, having learned his hammer had fallen here, snuck into the temporary base. Under the watchful eyes of Hawkeye and a group of agents, a powerless Thor knelt on the ground, roaring in grief, before being tackled and pinned down by the agents.

Taken to the interrogation room, Thor was interrogated by Phil Coulson, only to be told by his brother, Loki, that their father had died because of him. He then plunged into total despair.

The very next day, he was bailed out by his new girlfriend, Jane Foster.

Meanwhile, Wang Jing arrived at the temporary base and, after being announced by the guards, met with Phil Coulson. "Is there something you need, Mr. Wang?"

"You had better evacuate all the residents in the nearby town as soon as possible. A major battle is about to break out there," Wang Jing said.

"What kind of battle?"

"You'll know when the time comes. If I told you now, you wouldn't believe me anyway."

"I need to know what's going on before I can request an evacuation from my superiors," Coulson said, frowning.

"Remember that muscular blonde man you captured yesterday?" Wang Jing asked suddenly.

"I remember. He said he was Thor, the God of Thunder. Seems like he has some mental issues."

"He was telling the truth. Soon, his brother will send a suit of armor to finish him off. You know how it is with succession disputes—ruthless and bloody."

With that, Wang Jing patted Coulson on the shoulder and said earnestly, "I’ve said what I needed to say. If many people die, I won't have any burden on my conscience."

Hearing Wang Jing's words, Coulson’s face darkened. Wang Jing was clearly shifting the responsibility onto him; if people died, the blame would fall on Coulson. If there were no casualties, Wang Jing could take all the credit.

Wang Jing left with a mischievous smirk, leaving a bewildered Phil Coulson behind.