Chapter 257 Reaching for the Stars

Chapter 257 Reaching for the Stars

Although a misunderstanding, Daniel had prepared out of curiosity. After learning from Envy about the Hightower's theory on why humans from the Era of the Gods, such as Penthesilea and Odysseus, were stronger due to the difference in mana concentration in the environment, Daniel immediately arranged such an environment for training his soldiers to test the capabilities of the Spartan Battalion Commander card that he had actualized.

Card Name: Spartan Battalion Commander

Illustration: A high-ranking soldier in Greek armor commanding Spartan soldiers in the background, carrying weight on their bodies.

Rarity: Rare

Type: Creature - Human Spartan Warrior

Mana Cost: 1 Fire, 1 Light, 3 Non-Element

Description:

Your creatures with the Spartan trait get +1/+1.

Your creatures with the Warrior trait get +1/+1.

Create a 1/1 Spartan Warrior Token with the 'Spartan Warrior' trait each turn.

Power: 2

Toughness: 2

Flavor Text: A backbone of the Spartan army against the gods. Just one of him can transform a battalion of wimpy Athenian soldiers into a formidable force of Spartan Warriors.

He merely wanted to see if such an environment could give rise to humans with power equal to or surpassing the 3/3 in both power and toughness. The result: Li Xian, equivalent to 4 in power using the same card measurement standard, while Jonathan was about 3.5 in both stats in physical capabilities.

Daniel's experimentation could be deemed a success, and he would soon implement that training for any regular human wishing to join his service as a soldier. This way, he wouldn't always have to rely on using the power of his card, as he needed to conserve his merit points for actualizing key assets from the card, such as gods, heroes, or powerful creatures like dragons.

Following that, the cleanup crew worked efficiently in gathering all the usable weapons they could find on the field, along with all the valuables on the bodies of those spies and mercenaries. This included checking their identities and preserving their blood samples in the archive in case they needed to compare DNA and determine the origin of these spies after destroying their corpses.

Odysseus then turned to Viper and said, "The first job is finished, and our financial department will settle the bill with you shortly. Don't forget the second job; that one is more important than this. Don't mess it up."

"Don't worry; you're hiring the best here," Viper said with a carefree smile before standing up and heading home after learning from Odysseus that his first job was finished.

"The second job? What's that?" Penthesilea asked.

"Oh, it's nothing special," Odysseus replied without going into detail.

Penthesilea nodded in acknowledgment before returning to the VTOL, as the cleanup crew had finished their job, and she prepared to go back to the base to get some sleep, knowing they still had a lot of things to do in the coming week.

Two days before the launch, the behind-the-scenes struggle persisted as some countries refused to give up on acquiring technology from Astral Tech company. They even enlisted local gangs and ambitious individuals who dared to oppose Daniel and the Veneziale gang.

The result was the elimination of numerous small and some medium-sized gangs that dared to cause trouble. Their turf and properties were absorbed by the Veneziale gang, and the special "tour of forever sleeping with the fish and admiring coral under the sea" gained a lot of new customers.

Ambitious individuals, such as mercenaries, professional thieves, and hackers, were targeted by Viper, Silencer, Jonathan, and Li Xian. The city underwent a thorough cleanup during these two days, with a considerable number of body bags used.

—

Time passed, and today marked the day of the launch. Anticipation worldwide reached its peak. This marked the first time a space program of such magnitude had started since Neil Armstrong's moon landing. Enthusiasts in science, space, and technology globally engaged in discussions about the Astral Tech space program with great excitement.

News channels worldwide began reporting on the event since it had been more than 60 years since the last space program with such ambition. The lack of progress in space development was attributed to the ongoing skirmishes between the USA and the Confederacy, which repeatedly erupted after signing ceasefires. For more than 60 years, the cycle persisted, hindering the USA's ability to allocate budgets from the military to space programs or technological development.

This strategic move by the Confederacy aimed to impede USA's technological development until the emergence of the Golden Empire Group five years ago, leading to an economic and technological development boom. This shift gradually tilted the scale of war more in favor of the USA.

— Alpha Space Center —

In the VIP room at the Alpha Space Center, Daniel sat engrossed in a game of Monopoly with his daughter Sylvana, Michaela, and Envy. As expected, given Envy's nature, she emerged as the wealthiest among the four, while Michaela found herself consistently landing on other players' properties, making her the poorest.

Simultaneously, in the observant room, international spectators eagerly anticipated the launch. Scientists, dignitaries, and enthusiasts from around the world had gathered to witness this groundbreaking event at the Alpha Space Center.

In stark contrast to the carefree atmosphere in Daniel's VIP observant room, the control room exuded tension. Employees meticulously ran numbers and tested processes repeatedly to ensure a flawless launch. The room buzzed with urgency as the countdown clock ticked away. The pressure was palpable, and heated discussions echoed through the control room.

As the tension mounted, moments of frustration surfaced. Mistakes in calculations led to someone getting yelled at, underscoring the high stakes of the event. Despite the stress, the team pressed on, fully aware that the success of this launch would mark a significant milestone in space exploration and their future carrier.

"Cough... Ahem..." A simulated cough echoed through the speakers in the control room, breaking the tense atmosphere. The voice belonged to Aryan Sharma, the CEO and spokesperson of Astral Tech.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's maintain a civil and professional demeanor. I bring good news: our ingenious founder, Mr. Daniel Emberweave, has graciously decided to reward us with a bonus of ten times our current salary if the launch succeeds without any hitches. So, let's stay professional and keep our composure, everyone." Aryan's lighthearted and carefree announcement had an immediate calming effect, encouraging everyone to approach their tasks with a cooler and more professional mindset.

His timing was impeccable, diffusing a significant amount of stress and preventing potential issues that could arise from an overly tense atmosphere.

As the seconds ticked away, the auspicious moment for the rocket launch arrived. Every preparation had been meticulously completed, and the status of the rocket was optimal—it stood ready for launch with just a push of a button. At this crucial juncture, Aryan Sharma's face appeared on screens around the globe as he began his prepared speech. n(/O)(V)-e--l.-B--1-(n

"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and fellow enthusiasts of space exploration from around the world,

Today, as we come together to witness this momentous event, it is only fitting to reflect on the intricate journey that has brought us to this pivotal juncture. Over 60 years have passed since the monumental achievement of the moon landing program—the greatest space program in the history of humanity. This historic endeavor, marked by Neil Armstrong's indelible footsteps on the lunar surface, symbolized our collective ability to transcend earthly limitations and reach for the stars.

Throughout the post-lunar landing era, our shared pursuit of space exploration has faced unprecedented challenges, including the prolonged skirmishes between the USA and the Confederacy. Regrettably, these conflicts, driven by human greed over limited resources on our very planet, have hindered the progress of humanity's exploration beyond our home world, diverting our focus and resources that could otherwise have propelled us further into the cosmos.

However, today, The Astral Tech Corporation stands on the brink of a new chapter in our cosmic odyssey—a chapter dedicated to the creation of a space station. This space station will not only serve as a testament to human ingenuity but also as a platform for studying the moon's invaluable resource, Helium-3. This initiative reflects our commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and harnessing the untapped potential of the cosmos for the betterment of our shared future.

Thank you, and may God bless us in this endeavor, illuminating a brighter path for all of humanity."

As the speech concludes, the room erupts in thunderous applause, the sound reverberating through the space center. The standing ovation continues for about five minutes, a collective expression of excitement and support. The celebratory atmosphere permeates the room, and as the applause gradually subsides, a hushed anticipation takes its place.

With the fading applause, the room buzzes with anticipation as the countdown begins. All eyes are on the large screens displaying the numbers ticking down. The control room is a mix of hope and excitement, the culmination of years of effort about to unfold.

As the countdown reaches its climax, the rocket ignites, flames and smoke billowing as it soars into the sky. The ground shakes beneath the control center. Spectators, including Daniel in the VIP room, watch in awe as the rocket ascends, leaving Earth behind on its journey to space.

The atmosphere is electric with exhilaration and pride, marking a significant leap for humanity. The rocket breaches the atmosphere, breaking free from Earth's grasp. The control room follows its trajectory meticulously, ensuring a smooth transition into space.

As the rocket enters the cosmic expanse, carrying the first batch of building materials and 200 kilograms of metal scarab constructor bots, a profound sense of accomplishment fills the space center—a testament to human ingenuity reaching for the stars.