stjorthotic Chapter 150
Chapter 150
Chapter 150
In addition to tactical preparations, the supply of materials also needs to be carefully selected.
With his remaining battle merits, Luo Lin exchanged them for a batch of high-energy compressed food, specially made anti-interference agents, several powerful flame protection and energy shield scrolls, and some materials for temporary repairs of equipment and tools.
He also prepared several small bottles of specially made energy-stabilizing powder, which was modified from an experimental byproduct from Researcher Murphy's lab. It might be useful in calming small areas of chaotic energy at critical moments.
Ella and Gorson also prepared their respective preferred equipment and consumables.
Duden brought with him a large number of research tools and recording equipment.
Three days before departure, the four-person team conducted two joint drills at a simulation training ground in Santa Maria delle Grazia.
The focus of the practice is on simple communication within a barrier that shields perception, using the resonant crystal suggested by Ella, and identifying and tracking the energy markers released by Rolin.
The cooperation progressed from unfamiliarity to gradual understanding.
Rowling also took some time to visit the Seventh Laboratory and explain the situation to Researcher Murphy.
Although Murphy grumbled about the experiment being delayed again, he still gave Rowling a few newly made gadgets:
A filter patch that can absorb and temporarily store trace amounts of chaotic energy, and several improved, more sensitive warning runestones.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the day of departure, the four arrived at the wasteland outpost via a teleportation array, and were then led on foot by the outpost's guide to the rendezvous coordinates agreed upon with the Empire.
This time the journey was longer and the environment was more desolate.
The ground beneath our feet was no longer solid scorched earth, but a layer of soft ash. With each step, we sank a little deeper, making walking quite strenuous.
The sky was a perpetual dark red, the sun was nowhere to be seen, only a faint light emanating from the distant Burning Mountains.
The air was filled with the smell of ash and a faint odor of decay, and the background noise of energy was like a continuous low rumble, interfering with concentration.
After walking for most of the day, we finally arrived at the meeting point, the edge of a relatively solid plateau made of black rock.
The imperial forces have arrived.
Twenty elite Forge Guards, fully armored, stood in silent ranks, their soulfire burning steadily beneath their helmets. Leading them was a high-ranking officer whom Rowling had seen before, one who had stood guard at the entrance to the Fortress Appraisal Center, named Renekton, whose imposing presence rivaled that of Gorson.
In addition, there are four Imperial priests, dressed in simple crimson robes, who are responsible for carrying and maintaining an Imperial energy device called the Flame Beacon, which is said to be able to dispel chaotic energy within a certain range and provide stable directional guidance.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Rexton officer succinctly stated, "The target area is to the northeast, approximately three hours' journey away."
"The journey will pass through two known active quicksand zones and a zone of turbulent energy flows."
"Please stay close to the group and do not act on your own."
"Upon arrival at the outer perimeter, as per the agreement, we will be responsible for establishing a perimeter. Your reconnaissance time will be limited to a maximum of six hours. Regardless of whether you find anything, you must withdraw."
"Understood," Duden replied as the team leader.
The group set off again, this time with the Imperial Forge Guards leading the way.
Their heavy boots pounded the ashes with a dull thud.
Four priests walked in the middle of the procession, carrying a device that resembled a portable furnace. At the top of the device was a fist-sized red crystal that emitted a warm and stable red light, forming a halo of light with a radius of about ten meters.
Within the halo, the omnipresent chaotic energy noise was significantly reduced, and breathing became easier.
Luo Lin walked in the middle of the group, observing the continuous operation of the observation ring and sensing the changes in the surrounding environment.
Outside the halo of the flame beacon, the chaos of energy was truly astonishing. Residual energy of various attributes churned and collided like boiling mud, with almost no orderly pattern to be found.
The response unit has to allocate more computing power to filter out noise and maintain basic early warning functions.
They encountered several small-scale quicksand surges and energy turbulences along the way, but thanks to the Imperial team's skillful avoidance and the stabilizing effect of the fire beacons, they passed through them without incident.
They also encountered several attacks from native monsters called Ash Raiders. These monsters resemble enlarged worms covered in ash and are adept at stealth attacks, but their combat strength is average. They were quickly dealt with by the Forge Guards, Ayra, and Gorson.
More than three hours later, the group stopped at the edge of a relatively open area, but the ground was covered with irregular pits and cracks.
Ahead, as far as the eye could see, the earth presented an unnatural sense of distortion, and the energy turbulence in the air became even more violent, even forming visible, multicolored, tiny arcs of electricity that jumped among the ashes.
Further away, one can vaguely see a huge, slowly flowing gray-brown area, like a whirlpool—that is the core of the quicksand zone.
"This is it," Officer Renekton pointed ahead.
"According to the reconnaissance, the top structure of the suspected ruins is located about 30 meters below that vortex of quicksand."
"We can only escort you this far."
"Further ahead, the effectiveness of the flame beacon will decrease dramatically, and the quicksand activity will become unpredictable."
"Six hours, remember that."
Duden nodded, then turned to look at Rolin and the other two: "As planned, Ella and Gorson, you are responsible for dealing with potential energy and physical threats."
"Rolin, you and I will be in charge of reconnaissance and recording."
"Keep the Resonance Crystal active and check its status every ten minutes."
"Rolin, prepare to release the first mark."
Luo Lin took a deep breath and walked to the front of the line.
He extended his left hand, observing the ring glow faintly. The echo unit in his mental sea condensed and compressed the simulated fluctuations of the stable frequency of star power and observer energy through the ring, ultimately forming a fist-sized ball of light at his fingertip, radiating a soft, milky-white glow.
The sphere of light has a stable internal structure, which is out of place with the violent and chaotic energy around it, like a bright pearl in a turbid stream.
With a flick of his finger, Luo Lin sent the ball of light flying slowly forward to a point about fifty meters away, where it hovered in mid-air, its light flashing steadily.
"Marker 1, already set."
"The effective radius is about 30 meters, and the expected duration is two hours," Luo Lin reported.
"Okay, let's go."
"Maintain the triangle formation. I'll be in front, Rollin in the middle and slightly behind, and Ella and Gorson will cover the flanks," Duden ordered.
The four-person team left the Imperial forces and the range of the Flame Beacon, stepping into the area ahead where energy was raging.
In an instant, it was like being plunged from a calm harbor into a raging storm.
The chaotic energy flow lashed at my body like an invisible whip, and the runes on my protective suit lit up automatically, crackling and buzzing.
Breathing became difficult, and my ears were filled with shrill energy and whispering noises.
Even the ashes beneath their feet seemed to be wriggling slightly.
Rowling immediately felt a surge of pressure.
The perception range of the Insight Ring was compressed to less than fifty meters, and the information flow was filled with interference noise.
He had to concentrate all his energy to barely discern the faint energy pulses in the quicksand and the energy bodies that might be hidden within.
They carefully followed the direction marked by Rolin, avoiding obvious cracks in the ground and areas where energy turbulence was particularly concentrated.
After walking about a hundred meters, Rowling set up a second marker.
"Seventy meters to the left front, the ground energy structure is unstable, possibly indicating a hidden quicksand pit," Rolin warned.
The group immediately turned around.
Just then, a seemingly peaceful patch of ashes on the right suddenly exploded!
A dark red energy vortex, more than two meters in diameter and formed from ash, dust, and chaotic energy, suddenly rushed towards Ella's flank!
The whirlwind had no fixed shape, and it emitted a hissing shriek from within, carrying a powerful suction force and energy corrosiveness!
"Energy Body! Attack!" Ella reacted extremely quickly, waving her staff, and several condensed crimson fire snakes collided head-on with the whirlwind, emitting a hissing and burning sound.
Gorson stepped forward, his broadsword slicing through the whistling wind with a solid sword aura, creating a gap in the whirlwind.
But the whirlwind only paused slightly, and the cleaved part was quickly replenished by the surrounding ash and energy, and its volume seemed to expand a little!
"Physical attacks have limited effectiveness! It's absorbing the chaotic energy around it!" Gorson said in a deep voice.
Roland stared intently at the whirlwind, focusing all his energy on analyzing the Insight Ring.
Beneath the chaotic exterior, he spotted several relatively bright, constantly moving energy nodes inside the cyclone, which appeared to be its core.
"Attack its energy nodes! Top left, bottom right, and slightly behind the center!" Roland quickly reported the locations.
Ella's eyes narrowed, and the flames at the tip of her staff suddenly contracted, then burst forth with three hair-thin, yet extremely condensed, deep red flame rays, precisely aimed at the three nodes that Rolin had pointed out!
laugh!laugh!laugh!
When the ray hit the node, the whirlwind suddenly froze, emitting a sound like shattering glass. Its rotation abruptly stopped, and the ash and energy that made up the body instantly lost their cohesion, collapsing with a crash and turning back into ordinary ash scattered on the ground.
"Beautiful!" Duden exclaimed.
"Rolin, well done!"