The railgun Drake unleashed from his maw bore no relation to magic; it was a manifestation of pure science. During his evolution powered by AI's residual energy, his dragon genes were optimized for speed and strength surpassing that of an average juvenile dragon, with his principal enhancement being the 'railgun.'
The biotechnology of the Teyron civilization was formidable. Without any mechanical augmentations, Drake underwent a biological transformation. An organ evolved within him at the site meant for breathing fire, capable of generating a powerful magnetic field. This organ utilized the Lorentz force within the electromagnetic field to accelerate metal projectiles, creating an advanced kinetic weapon that was still a novelty to Earth's modern civilization.
Though railguns were under development and had been test-fired by Earth's nations, they were not yet mature enough for combat deployment. This form of kinetic weaponry boasted incredible range and destructive force; in Drake's view, nothing on Earth could withstand it—not even the mightiest warships.
By the standards of the Saint Soren world, the destructive power of a railgun could rival that of legendary-level spells. Unprotected dragons could be torn asunder by its might. Against those below deity stature, even the most formidable beings, a single hit could be lethal.
Excluding deities, if the Saint Soren world were to wage war against Earth's civilization, Earth's mass destruction weapons could obliterate legends, while the soul and mind magic of Saint Soren could exact a devastating toll on Earth. The focal points of magic and technology were entirely distinct.
Drake now embodied the convergence of these two systems' strengths. He harnessed unimaginable spells from the magical realm and wielded the lethal force of technological civilization as his trump card against foes. Only now did he fully grasp the Teyron civilization's term 'Final Strategic Weapon.'
By pairing dreadful technological weapons with the already formidable body of a dragon, and then ascending to godhood, he could counteract divine powers with his own godly essence. In a domain where rules couldn't be changed and opposing gods were stripped of their greatest strength, technological armaments could easily finish them.
This was Drake's ultimate evolutionary path.
However, since the railgun was powered by his internal organs, its energy supply was his own. As a juvenile dragon, he only had enough energy for a few shots. Firing the railgun required significant biological energy and necessitated rest afterward.
During his wanderings in the Amazon, Drake didn't idle away his time. He sought out ample metals to break down into elemental forms for storage within his body. These elements were assembled into metallic projectiles when firing the railgun, as its primary lethality came from the projectile's kinetic force, with the electromagnetic field merely serving as a catalyst.
'For weaker, numerous enemies, magic breath will suffice. Against a powerful individual, catching them off-guard with a railgun could be a lifesaver.'
Such were Drake's thoughts. While becoming a demigod was his ultimate ace, he needed sufficient deterrent power in the meantime, and this evolutionary gift of a railgun was precisely what he needed.
Just the thought of unleashing a 'legendary spell' with a mere breath in the magical world could probably terrify hordes to death.
'Pity that with my current stamina, I can only manage three or four shots before needing to rest.'
Drake lamented this limitation, but he was not disheartened. He had just begun his evolutionary journey. As he ascended through the evolutionary ranks, his strength and energy would only increase, possibly allowing for rapid-fire railgun use. Moreover, who's to say that with further evolution, he couldn't wield even mightier technological weapons?
Imagining the thrill of blasting a plasma cannon, capable of bringing down even spaceships, brought a surge of excitement. But for now, though Drake had gained a potent offensive capability, his defenses had not seen much improvement. Even if he could pierce through aircraft carriers, he still needed to tread carefully on Earth, where artillery and missiles posed a threat, not to mention Earth's experimental railguns.
If one were to apply gaming logic, Drake's attack strength was immense, but his other attributes were yet to match his offensive power.
Regardless, whether in the magical realm or on Earth, Drake's odds of survival had significantly improved.
After dispatching the three Apache helicopters, Drake glanced towards Professor Johnson and his students, a hint of a smirk appearing on the corner of his mouth, a spark of wisdom in his draconic eyes. With a powerful flap of his wings, he flew into the distance.
"He's gone... The dragon has flown away."
Seeing Drake fly off without concerning himself with mere mortals, the students collapsed to the ground, hands clutching their chests as they gasped for air. The terror of feeling like ants before a dragon nearly shattered their hearts.
"Professor, let's get out of here... I want to go back to America... I want to go home... The Amazon is too terrifying."
One student spoke in a tearful voice to Professor Johnson, who remained motionless.
"Did you get everything on video?"
Suddenly, Professor Johnson asked, his voice eerily calm, devoid of the fear and tension he'd shown facing the dragon. His students, still overwhelmed by fear, failed to notice something was amiss with the professor.
"We got it all, Professor!"
Lucy gasped for air and nodded hastily. As a field research team, they always had personal recording devices on.
"Good. Send the footage to me now. We're posting it online... Before we leave this jungle, it must go up. Otherwise, the American government will surely confiscate it," Johnson directed. "The existence of the dragon is a monumental discovery. We cannot let others remain in the dark. If we don't spread the word, the American government will surely suppress the news and covertly seek out the dragon."
With his back to his students, Johnson's expression was unrecognizable from before, as though he had become a different person altogether. This was the effect of another spell from the Dominion Crown—
Dominate Humanity!
...
At the same time, pandemonium erupted within the Pentagon.