[Bala Little Wizard Boy]: Holy hell, these devs are ruthless. They actually wiped the entire second test server?
[Deathwing]: The whales are probably crying right now. They dumped insane amounts of money into the game and it all vanished overnight. They even shut down the cash shop.
[Pig Rider]: We're crying too. I finally unlocked a mech and now it's gone.
The forums exploded into chaos.
None of it affected Alan.
At this point, he had accepted reality.
Krypton Empire was simply too addictive to quit.
Then players discovered something new.
A new mission category had appeared.
Players were now responsible for leading the Krypton Empire's vassal races in mining operations, infrastructure construction, and combat missions.
Yes.
Even within Kryptonian territory, threats from deep space occasionally appeared. Drex Valen had no intention of personally handling every single problem. These attacks were perfect opportunities to sharpen both the players and the subordinate alien species under the Empire.
After all, if thousands of inhabited worlds filled with alien laborers still performed worse than a few hundred million players at most, then what was the point of keeping those species alive?
He might as well exterminate them all.
So this update fundamentally changed the gameplay structure.
Players had become instructors, commanders, and supervisors for the Empire's countless subordinate races.
The novelty of the system instantly transformed the furious playerbase into ecstatic addicts.
[MightyMan]: HOLY CRAP. I've got thousands of alien workers under my command and every single one looks different. The character models in this game are insane.
[JJhenying]: I take back every insult I threw at the devs. This is way more fun now. I've got thousands of subordinates too, and I can command them directly. Is this basically lord simulator mode?
[ButterflyBlue]: Why are starter weapons so expensive though? Both the electromagnetic machine gun and explosive machine gun cost fifty copper. That's brutal. My workers spend an entire day mining, building, and killing monsters just to earn fifty copper.
[Demon Lord Fischl]: Ammo costs one copper per round too. These devs are evil.
[Alan]: Why close the recharge system? I'm willing to spend ten million dollars right now!
[ShuangGegge]: A wild mega-whale has appeared. Everyone bow.
…
Watching players lead massive groups of assigned alien workers, Black Queen found herself unable to understand Drex's reasoning.
"I'm training large-scale command talent," Drex explained calmly. "Most players naturally fight on the front lines themselves. If I occasionally get one capable of strategic command, that's already a profit."
He glanced at the projected data streams floating in front of him.
"And more importantly, there are simply too many subordinate species. Leaving them unused would be wasteful."
At first, each player controlling thousands of combat-capable aliens turned into complete chaos. Most players panicked constantly while marveling at how realistic the AI behavior was. Every subordinate seemed to possess independent thoughts and personalities.
But once they adapted…
things became dangerous.
Because the system was effectively mass-producing military officers.
Drex himself wasn't even certain whether traditional officers would remain useful in full-scale interstellar warfare.
Still, training them in advance cost him nothing.
And the results quickly proved worthwhile.
During the first few months, the players caused far more destruction than actual development. But after countless strategy discussions on the forums, they gradually became more efficient.
Construction speed across many inhabited worlds increased dramatically.
Resource extraction efficiency rose as well.
After all, inhabited planets still contained plenty of usable resources. More importantly, Drex wanted players leading those subordinate races toward dedicated resource planets for large-scale mining and harvesting operations.
Now they were finally beginning to achieve that.
At the same time, players discovered another system.
Their military rank could increase.
And once it did, the Empire assigned them even more subordinates.
[Meichuan Kuzi]: This is literally warlord gameplay and I love it.
[MidnightBellOnGuestBed]: Everybody's only Third-Class Private right now. How does the rank system work exactly?
[Phoenix Satan Anderson]: Lowest rank is Third-Class Private, then Second-Class Private, First-Class Private, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Senior Colonel, Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, General, and finally Marshal. So yeah… grind slowly.
[LivingExistsForMaiSakurajimaKilledMaiSakurajimaWithAnAK]: So eventually we can become planetary governors?
…
Alan scratched his head in frustration.
He was used to solving every problem with money.
Now he could only grind daily missions slowly, saving up enough currency to buy weapons for his subordinates and eventually purchase a mech for himself.
According to the Empire's current classification, players belonged to the Machine Gun Infantry branch.
The only available equipment consisted of machine guns and basic exoskeleton armor.
The suits resembled War Machine's armor somewhat…
although their defensive capabilities appeared vastly superior.
The second test after the wipe had also brought in many new players.
But their numbers were still far too low to satisfy the Krypton Empire's massive labor demands.
Drex Valen had already begun considering additional solutions.
Artificial land expansion through ocean filling had limits. Excessive new continental mass would alter sea levels, disrupt ocean currents, and trigger large-scale environmental consequences across the entire planet.
Fortunately, Drex possessed another option.
Weather Controllers.
Kryptonian science already possessed related technologies.
The original Kryptonian gravity engines that could terraform Earth into a Krypton-like environment were one example.
Planetary-scale climate manipulation was entirely achievable.
With sufficient control, Drex could regulate monsoons, ocean currents, rainfall, hailstorms, and even solar exposure.
Only that level of precision could prevent catastrophic ecological imbalance.
"Umbrella Corporation is holding another technology expo?"
"What did Drex Valen invent this time? After becoming the father of new materials, new weapons, and new elements, what's left for him to revolutionize?"
Despite the complaints, enormous crowds still rushed to attend.
Nobody wanted to miss the next world-changing invention.
Drex himself did not appear publicly.
Instead, he arranged for Urd to handle the presentation of the new technology concept.
The title displayed behind her was simple:
[Weather Controller]
Representatives from the world's major powers, the Divine Sword Bureau, and delegates from hundreds of nations all froze momentarily.
Surely it wasn't…
actual weather control?
Even Tony Stark looked stunned.
"Umbrella Corporation will launch one hundred satellites into orbit," Wanda announced from the stage.
Urd remained behind the scenes this time.
Wanda, now fully adapted to the role of a corporate executive, displayed a composed confidence that captivated the audience effortlessly.
"These satellites will coordinate and regulate global climate systems, including monsoons, ocean currents, sunlight cycles, rainfall, and extreme weather patterns."
She paused slightly, allowing the room to absorb the implications.
"We will also accept requests from governments and private organizations seeking weather modification within specific regions."
Then Wanda smiled.
"Ladies and gentlemen… humanity's era of surrendering helplessly to nature is officially over."
Tony Stark stared at the stage with visible envy.
"How does Drex keep surrounding himself with ridiculously attractive women…"
Of course, he already had Pepper now.
So unlike before, the complaint carried more irritation than genuine intent.