From Abyssal Invasion to Bursting Stars with a Single Sword

Gordon Jacob's expression froze for a moment, as he hadn't anticipated such a vast disparity in combat power.

He had originally thought that even if Lu Heng's combat strength far exceeded expectations, the two sides could at least have an exchange of blows.

But it ended with a single move.

After all, a Superpower Potion could only enhance Source Energy Level.

However, combat power for a Superpower User isn't just about level.

Level, Skill, Class Ability, Martial Skill, Talent, and basic fighting techniques—each one influences combat power.

The Superpower Potion only addresses one of the six basics of combat power; having just the level is like having an empty shell.

And at this stage, powerful Martial Skills like the Wind Dragon Breathless Slash were mastered by only a handful of people.

Lu Heng only used half the power of his Martial Skill and defeated the super soldier from Ilemavi in mere seconds.

When Gordon Jacob looked at Lu Heng again, his eyes were full of excitement and fervor, "You're far more powerful than I had imagined. If you're willing, I will cultivate you with all my might, to turn you into a true super soldier... no, a War God!

"The SPA-4 type is about to begin human trials, the closest thing to the potion of gods. If you're willing, this staircase to divinity is yours!"

Without hesitation, Lu Heng rejected the offer, "I don't need it."

Gordon Jacob pressed, "Why don't you want it? A nobody like Rodrick, originally just a Level 30 cannon fodder, became a super soldier surpassing all other Superpower Users in just two months.

"If it were you, using SPA-4, you could become god-like. Don't you wish to possess such strength?"

Lu Heng countered, "Haven't the pharmaceutical experts researching the Superpower Potion explained to you the reason for the formation of side effects? They're irreversible."

Gordon Jacob was unconcerned, "Every drug research is a process of iterative improvement. If side effects occur, then we solve them.

"I have an endless supply of research funds to invest, and in the future, we will certainly find a way to resolve the side effects.

"In less than half a year, SPA evolved from type 1 to type 3, and type 4 is soon to enter human trials.

"Science and technology are endless. Issues that can't be resolved now will surely be solved in the future.

"With the current rate of human technological development, it would be enough for SPA to iterate tens of generations within two years.

"Trust me, you will become the mightiest War God of humanity. By then, nobody will dare defy your will."

In this chaotic era, combat power equated to authority.

Of course, there were many ways to change the rules of authority.

Like Superpower Potions.

If Lu Heng were to accept the Superpower Potion injections, theoretically, he could maintain peak combat power for two years, a crushing peak over other Superpower Users.

During these two years, Lu Heng could indeed do whatever he wished, but it wasn't complete freedom.

Once injected with the Superpower Potion, there was no escaping it.

In other words, whoever held the Superpower Potion would command obedience.

Sure, one could control the entire Ilemavi Biopharmaceuticals through combat power, but even so, it would only last for two years.

After two years, one would face an irreversible decline in combat power.

Lu Heng smiled and asked, "Have you ever injected yourself with the Superpower Potion?"

This question silenced Gordon Jacob.

The mockery on Lu Heng's lips became more pronounced, "You want to persuade me to use something you haven't even injected yourself with. When you start injecting it, then come find me to talk about this."

Gordon Jacob had become a world-class capital controller, not by being foolish.

He was well aware of the side effects of the Superpower Potion, having even seen the bloody scenes where Superpower Users who were injected with the potion and experiencing withdrawal responses tore at each other, feasting on each other's blood.

Hence, he knew better than anyone what the side effects of the Superpower Potion were.

Such side effects might be bad for Superpower Users, but not necessarily for him.

As long as he held the Superpower Potion, he could make those who were injected with it submissive and obedient.

Having realized that controlling Lu Heng with the Superpower Potion would not work, Gordon Jacob did not feel disappointed and immediately changed the subject:

"Fine. When SPA research develops a version without side effects, we'll talk about this again."

"Let's discuss another topic," I have another plan in mind: Kate Capital has led the initiative to establish a mercenary organization called 'Delegate.'

"I hope to invite you to serve as the Delegate's chief warrior, and from now on, this mercenary force will be under your command."

Upon hearing this topic, Lu Heng's brow immediately furrowed.

The name "Delegate" was not unfamiliar in later generations.

It was a very famous superpower mercenary force in the White Eagle Federation, even more powerful than the Ghost Warrior Mercenary Group in Fusang.

The Delegate Mercenary Organization had appeared two months ago, and now hearing about it from Gordon Jacob was somewhat surprising to Lu Heng.

If the Delegate was financially backed by Gordon Jacob, didn't that mean this mercenary organization was also under the control of the Creator Organization?

Due to his lack of access to the core of the Creator Organization in his previous life, many secrets remained unknown to him.

In this life, numbered amongst the early ranks within the Creator Organization, he even had contact with the real core members and was privy to more secrets than in his past life.

The Creator Organization even controlled a mercenary force of Delegate's caliber, which indicated a strength far greater than he had anticipated.

This was the effect of combat power.

Lu Heng had demonstrated formidable combat power, and almost immediately, someone offered him leadership of one of the top ten global mercenary organizations, the "Delegate."

This incident once again confirmed a truth: in this chaotic era, having combat power meant having authority.

However,

Lu Heng had more to consider, because taking over the Delegate Mercenary Organization meant that his identity would undergo a significant change.

Would Da Xia allow such a thing to happen?

Lu Heng was currently the Honorary Group Leader of Dragon Power, a status incompatible with that of a chief of the Delegate Mercenary Group.

There was no doubt about it.

The Daxia Military would absolutely not permit one person to hold both these statuses at the same time.

If Lu Heng were to accept the position of chief of the Delegate Mercenary Group, it would mean that he would have to develop ties with the White Eagle Federation in the future.

Even setting aside nationalistic feelings, Lu Heng could not possibly choose the White Eagle Federation.

To forsake the world's largest industrial nation and become a mere enforcer in a financial nation was not a decision to be made lightly.

In this chaotic era, an industrial system was the true symbol of strength.

Once the anchoring commodity of a financial nation lost its value, those financial data would be reduced to a pile of meaningless numbers.

In fact, since the descent of the Abyss, the world's financial framework had been continually changing.

The financial system of the White Eagle Federation was initially anchored by gold, but later on, their currency could no longer be exchanged unconditionally for gold, so they switched the anchoring commodity to oil.

However, as technology advanced and new energy sources emerged, the finance system's anchor was once again shaken.

Following the Abyss Descent, the appearance of mysterious fog made the extraction and transportation of oil problematic.

A crisis in human civilization's energy resources emerged, and the financial system of the White Eagle Federation also began to falter.

In fact,

During the year of the Abyss Descent, the White Eagle Federation had been searching for new anchoring commodities to keep its financial system running.

The first choice of anchoring commodity was the Crystal Core.

In the Abyss Era, choosing Crystal Cores as the financial system's anchor was a logical idea.

However, Crystal Cores were consumables and could also be continuously produced from the Abyss World.

This posed a huge shock to the financial system.

Furthermore, another analysis suggested that the White Eagle Federation wanted to use Superpower Potions as the financial anchor.

If a side-effect-free Superpower Potion could truly be developed, this plan had the potential to succeed.

However, Lu Heng was all too aware of the nature of Superpower Potions; using such things as the anchor for a financial system would only push human civilization deeper into the Abyss.