Chapter Forty: Activating the Planetary Engine

Two months after entering the Transformers universe, the Star Engine Activation Program in the Wandering Earth universe was officially completed.

The activation process was actually quite straightforward: all planetary engines were linked together, allowing the energy of the Matrix to flow through these conduits to every planetary engine. This eliminated the need to activate each engine one by one with the Matrix.

To better control all planetary engines after activation, the United Government of Wandering Earth specially built a control room, from which every planetary engine could be managed. This was also the site for the Matrix activation.

On this day, Wang Jing, Song Guohua, Liu Peiqiang, Optimus Prime, and others gathered in the Earth Control Room to witness this sacred moment.

The person responsible for activating the Matrix was Wang Jing, who possessed the ability to traverse between universes. At first, Wang Jing had no idea he would be chosen, but he was informed of this only after entering the Earth Control Room.

Holding the square Matrix in both hands, his fingers could clearly feel the dense ancient Cybertronian script etched onto its surface.

He stepped up to the activation platform and gently placed the Matrix into the recess, which fit it perfectly.

Retracting his hands, Wang Jing took a deep breath and slowly placed his right hand upon the Matrix. A wave of nervousness washed over him; if the activation failed, it would spell another disaster for humanity in the Wandering Earth universe, and he would be the architect of that catastrophe—even though the United Government would not blame him.

He could not imagine what he would feel in such a moment.

After calming himself, Wang Jing struck the Matrix with determination.

Immediately, a brilliance brighter than ever before erupted, quickly spreading across the entire Earth Control Room.

At that moment, the voice of Moos came through, sounding more human than ever before.

“Matrix energy transmission normal. Four hundred planetary engines have been successfully modified. The number is still rising—six hundred, eight hundred, nine hundred…” As Moos continued the broadcast, the numbers on the surrounding walls jumped rapidly.

More than twenty minutes passed before the numbers finally halted at twelve thousand. “All planetary engines have been successfully activated.” With Moos’s announcement, a wave of enthusiastic cheers erupted within the Earth Control Room.

“Moos, let’s see the transformation of Antarctic Engine One,” Zhang Beihai said from the side.

“Understood!”

In the next instant, the walls and floor of the Earth Control Room transformed into a wintry landscape. “This is the holographic projection technology from the Resident Evil universe. We’ve upgraded it so the Control Room can instantly experience any corner of the globe,” Zhang Beihai explained.

Immediately, everyone’s attention was drawn to the distant planetary engine. The engine, towering as high as Mount Everest, suddenly ceased its jet stream, then began a complex and intricate transformation.

The original nozzle extended upward by twice its length, and the eight massive supports that once held the planetary engine became three segmented pillars, raising the entire engine hundreds of kilometers higher.

One of the support legs extended a gigantic excavator bucket, scooping a huge chunk of rock from the mountain nearby and feeding it into the intake. Instantly, the newly extended nozzle expelled a blue plasma stream, even more intense than before, shooting straight into the sky.

“Let’s check the space station!” As soon as Zhang Beihai spoke, the scene shifted, placing them in orbit, with the Navigator Space Station behind and Earth before them. In a flash, all eyes were drawn to the long blue tail flame above the Antarctic, unmistakably belonging to Antarctic Engine One.

“Moos, what’s the current thrust of Antarctic Engine One?” Zhang Beihai asked.

“Initial calculation: twenty-one billion tons, sixty billion tons higher than before. It’s likely due to the elevated nozzle, but more data is needed for a precise explanation,” Moos replied.

“Then quickly have all planetary engines transform! This way, you can leave the solar system sooner and reach Proxima Centauri faster!” Wang Jing exclaimed with excitement. If not for everyone knowing he was from the primary universe, anyone else would have mistaken him for a native of Wandering Earth.

“No! It’s too early to give such an order. We should wait until we thoroughly understand the transformed planetary engines before making such decisions,” Zhang Beihai rejected Wang Jing’s suggestion.

Wang Jing considered it and did not insist, knowing safety was paramount.

With the activation completed, as Wang Jing touched the Matrix intending to remove it, a surge of energy flooded into his body like a torrential river.

Everyone watched as Wang Jing’s body trembled uncontrollably while holding the Matrix, panic spreading through the crowd. Optimus Prime immediately intervened, grabbing Wang Jing.

During this process, a portion of the immense energy flooding into Wang Jing also poured into Optimus Prime, causing him to cry out in pain as if losing an arm.

Once his hands left the Matrix, Wang Jing’s convulsions stopped and his consciousness returned.

Instantly, everyone crowded around him. “Wang Jing, are you all right?”

“Wang Jing, do you feel any discomfort?”

“Should we get a doctor for you?”

Seeing their anxious faces, Wang Jing raised his hand and waved them off. “I’m fine. The planetary engines are charging the Matrix now—it can’t be removed yet.”

Upon hearing this, everyone simultaneously looked at the Matrix on the activation platform.

“Let’s leave the Matrix here for now. We’ll assign heavy security,” Zhang Beihai stated.

Recovering, Optimus Prime nodded and squatted down beside Wang Jing. “I felt a powerful surge of energy enter my body. I think it’s best for both of us to have a thorough check-up.”

Wang Jing nodded in agreement. “I think so too. It feels like my energy has increased considerably.” He clenched his fists, and in the silent Control Room, everyone could hear the knuckles crackling.

After a comprehensive examination in the primary universe, Wang Jing and Optimus Prime sat together. “How are you feeling? Any changes?” Wang Jing asked.

“Ratchet said my Matrix has more than doubled in size. I could consider adding a flight module,” replied Optimus Prime.

“That’s great! Not only can you fly now, but your combat power has also increased significantly,” Wang Jing said.

Optimus Prime smiled, then looked at Wang Jing. “And you? How’s your body?”

“I can carry more things now and store a certain amount of energy in my body—enough for a round-trip traversal.” In truth, Wang Jing’s abilities were far more complex than he let on.

He could now transport up to three hundred tons at a time, and move about a thousand people in one go—essentially the equivalent of a battalion. With the ability to call for support from the primary universe and Wandering Earth at any time, plus the power to traverse universes at will, Wang Jing had become nearly invincible in ordinary universes.