Chapter Thirty: Hold the Line!

Under Li Qingsong’s command, the thousand-plus clones who had just completed the firearms research, supplemented by another 500 drafted from other sectors, were rapidly deployed to various metal foundries and processing plants, bringing the total workforce to over 1,500.

While maintaining their original production quotas, these facilities began crafting custom equipment under the operation of the new arrivals. After two days of intensive work, hundreds of specialized devices were completed—ranging from boxy enclosures and multi-drill rigs to specialized stamping presses, forging units, conveyor systems, and acid-dipping tanks.

These devices were transported to a vacant factory building nearby, where they were systematically installed and calibrated. Simultaneously, the smelting plant, following Li Qingsong’s instructions, produced and delivered the necessary quantities of alloy steel, copper, tin, and other metals. The chemical plant, operating under strict fire-prevention protocols, supplied vast amounts of gunpowder.

With machinery installed, power connected, and raw materials readied, the newly constructed firearm factory immediately went into operation. The clones assembled 26 production lines from the array of equipment. One line served as the final assembly point, while the other 25 were dedicated to manufacturing individual components.

One line was specialized for bullet production. Here, alloy steel, copper, and tin were processed and cast into standard casings, then fitted with primers and filled with gunpowder to complete the cartridges. They flowed off the end of the conveyor like water. At the end of the line, two clones used mechanical devices to group 80 bullets at a time, securing them into plates with a special plastic material. This meant that when clones loaded magazines, they no longer needed to press bullets in one by one; they could simply snap in an entire plate in seconds.

Other lines were dedicated to magazine production. Metal components were machined, welded, and assembled through several stages by dozens of busy clones. The finished magazines were designed to perfectly accommodate one plate of ammunition and were standardized to fit any firearm.

Beyond these, there were production lines for barrels, springs, triggers, and more. Dozens of lines collaborated in an orderly fashion. Every part underwent quenching, acid-dipping, painting, stamping, casting, and assembly before converging on the final production line.

Like tributaries flowing into a great river, parts streamed toward the assembly line. The first clone performed the initial assembly, placing the semi-finished piece onto the conveyor for the next station. At the second station, another part was added, and so on. Every subsequent clone followed this process until a complete firearm emerged. After a final inspection, each rifle was placed into a large crate.

The first day was spent in a blur of installation, calibration, and trial production. Yet, even with these constraints, 100 rifles, 300 magazines, and 80,000 rounds of ammunition were produced.

A small truck screeched to a halt, and before it had even fully stopped, the clones loaded it with the day’s entire output. Without a word or a glance—like two precision gears meshing—the truck executed a sharp U-turn and roared toward the front line.

At the reserve base, 100 clones stood ready. Although another 100 had fallen in battle, Li Qingsong had held off on replacements. He had been waiting for this moment: the deployment of the first firearm-equipped unit.

The crates arrived, were opened, and the 100 clones moved with practiced efficiency, each claiming a rifle and three pre-loaded magazines. Within minutes, the transition was complete.

They marched toward the front line, rifles held at the ready. They moved with the natural, seasoned grace of veterans who had trained a thousand times, despite this being their first contact with firearms. It did not matter; the shooting experience gained from the target range tests had already been synchronized into their minds by Li Qingsong.

Under the glare of massive searchlights, the brutal battle raged on. Hideous, giant avian monsters clashed with warriors clad in armor, wielding blades and spears with suicidal resolve. Clones were frequently snatched up by the creatures and torn apart, their blood raining down to form a layer of crimson ice on the battlefield. Even with their desperate courage, the clones could only hold the monsters at bay, unable to drive them back.

But now, the guns had arrived.

The 100 riflemen rushed to the weakest point of the defense line, relieving the melee fighters. Sensing a breach, a swarm of monsters surged forward. But before they could reach their target, the 100 clones opened fire simultaneously.

Silent flashes erupted across the cold, dark landscape of Luoshen Star. As flames spat from the barrels, the 100 rifles unleashed a combined average of 400 rounds per second. The monsters, whose thick hides had previously required multiple clones to pierce with blades, were suddenly riddled with gaping holes. The hail of bullets shattered their defenses and tore into their bodies. The lead monsters collapsed instantly.