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Chapter 169 Long-Range Strike
Chapter 169 Long-Range Strike
The tidal observation model has been updated to its third version, with higher accuracy and the predicted weak points have been narrowed down to three.
The joint reconnaissance teams of the Holy Tower and the Empire have begun to secretly infiltrate and deploy forces in these areas.
The Cornerstone Project's research on the stele is progressing steadily. Luo Lin has successfully triggered several more information projections at different levels, mostly more basic mathematical, geometric, and energy structure descriptions. Although fragmented, they are invaluable. He recorded them one by one and input them into the echo unit for learning and integration.
He could sense that his understanding of energy and rules was becoming more profound and systematic in a subtle way.
That day, while Luo Lin was in a secret room, trying to combine a new symbol obtained from the stone tablet to optimize the calculation formula of a certain parameter in the tide model, the communication crystal suddenly began to flash rapidly.
It was an urgent communication from researcher Duden.
"Rolin! Proceed to Briefing Room Three of the War Affairs Department immediately!"
"Emergency at the front! Large-scale disturbances in the Ash Ring!"
Luo Lin immediately stopped his work, gave a brief explanation to the other members of the team, and then quickly left the analysis department, heading towards the affairs office.
The atmosphere in the briefing room was somber. Besides Duden, there were several senior officers from the War Affairs Office, as well as remotely connected images of the grim-faced Wizard Horn and Commander Hector.
Upon seeing Luo Lin enter, a peak-level second-ring officer who was presiding over the meeting nodded, gesturing for him to sit down, and then got straight to the point.
"Half an hour ago, a secret monitoring point we set up on the southern outskirts of the Burning Mountains lost contact after transmitting its last video."
The officer pulled up a blurry but noisy energy image.
The video shows a secluded valley with a simple but sizable campsite, where many figures dressed in Ash Ring attire are active.
Above the camp, a complex magic array core, emitting an ominous dark purple light, was under construction.
Even more unsettling is that, deep in the valley, one can vaguely see the entrance to a naturally formed cave with dark red magma churning inside. The ground and rock walls near the entrance are covered with traces of artificial excavation and energy reinforcement.
"Based on image analysis and energy signature comparison," the officer said in a somber voice.
"It can be confirmed that this is a medium-sized outpost under construction in the Ash Ring, and—they seem to have found an active small lava lake connected to deep ley lines."
"They are using the geothermal energy of this lava lake, combined with that corrupting energy, to construct some kind of large-scale ritual array."
"Before the monitoring point lost contact, it captured strong spatial fluctuation readings—they may have been conducting preliminary spatial localization or summoning tests."
Commander Hector's image appeared on the screen and he said in a deep voice, "That location is on the edge of the territory claimed by the Empire, but the terrain is complex and difficult for our regular patrols to cover."
"They have a good eye for location."
Wizard Horn interjected, "What's more troublesome is that our informants have confirmed that the Ash Ring has recently obtained a number of ancient data fragments about tides and weak points from other sources, the origin of which is unknown."
"They are likely also anticipating the next downturn and trying to establish a foothold in advance."
"This outpost might be part of their plan."
Duden looked at Rowling: "Rollling, the coordinates of that stronghold have a high degree of overlap with the second high-probability weak point area predicted by our model."
All eyes in the room were on Rowling.
Luo Lin quickly recalled the model data and nodded: "That's right! In that area, the model predicted that the probability of a weak point appearing was the second highest."
"It was no accident that the Ash Ring chose to establish its base there."
"They may have somehow identified that location as one of the potential weak points."
"We cannot allow them to build that magic circle, much less allow them to gain a foothold there," the officer presiding over the meeting declared resolutely.
"This nail must be removed."
"But the enemy has the advantage of terrain, and the magic array may have powerful defensive and counter-attack capabilities, so a direct attack would be too costly."
Hector: "The Empire can send elite squads to infiltrate from the mountainous flanks, but it requires precise maps of the strongholds' internal defenses and information on the energy nodes of the magic arrays."
Horn: "The Holy Tower can cooperate, providing ranged spell support and targeted defense-breaking methods."
"But we still need more detailed information."
The problem has returned to its starting point:
How to obtain crucial intelligence from inside a heavily fortified enemy stronghold?
Luo Lin pondered for a moment, then slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"Perhaps—we don't need a direct assault or a large-scale infiltration."
All eyes were once again focused on the scene.
Rowling's voice was calm and clear: "They're harnessing the energy of the lava lake."
"And the energy of the lava lake is connected to the network of ley line energy across the entire fragment of the scorching hell."
"If—we can remotely and with extreme precision disrupt the energy output balance of that lava lake, or even trigger a small-scale but controllable energy disturbance or eruption—we don't need to directly destroy the stronghold. Just disrupting the energy supply stability of their magic array construction, or even triggering a backlash from the magic array, would be enough to disrupt their plans, force them to expose their defensive weaknesses, or—force them to relocate or suspend construction."
"Remote and precise interference with deep ley line energy nodes?" Hector's golden soul flame flickered.
"This requires an incredible perception and control over the flow of energy."
"And it's so far away—"
"We have telescopes and communication arrays, so why can't we have remote energy conduits?" Rowling asked Duden.
"Researcher Duden, the energy tidal conduit model and nodal resonance principle that we extracted from the observer data may be worth learning from."
"We don't need to transmit massive amounts of energy; we only need to send an extremely precise induction signal that resonates out of tune with the specific energy frequency of the target magma lake."
"It's like shattering a glass with a specific tone."
Duden's eyes lit up, and he immediately began mental calculations: "Theoretically feasible! But we need to know the precise energy spectrum of the target lava lake, and the design of the resonance signal must be absolutely accurate; even a slight error can lead to disastrous consequences."
"Furthermore, the signal transmission point must be within the effective range and cannot be detected or interfered with by the other party."
"The target energy spectrum can be deduced by analyzing the energy background of the last image transmitted back from the monitoring point, combined with our general model of the energy of the ley lines in the Scorching Hell."
"I can try designing a resonant signal," Rowling said.
"As for the launch site—since they are on the southern outskirts of the mountains, we can choose a relatively safe location on the other side."
"Even—using the remains of a small, abandoned observer site with a relatively stable energy environment that we discovered earlier as a relay or launch point."
The plan is bold and meticulous, fraught with technical challenges and uncertainties.
But if successful, the effect will be revolutionary.
The briefing room was silent for a few seconds.
Wizard Horn and Commander Hector quickly exchanged opinions.
"How much preparation time is needed?" Horn asked.
Rowling and Duden quickly estimated: "If we go all out, mobilizing the necessary resources and personnel, to build models, design signals,
Selecting and testing the launch site — as fast as five days.
"Five days—" Hector pondered.
"Sure. The Empire will intensify aerial reconnaissance and perimeter blockade of the area to create pressure, draw their attention, and provide cover for your operations."
"But five days from now, regardless of success or failure, we will need a clear action plan."
"Understood." Rowling nodded.
Once again, he will stand at the forefront of technology and tactics.
The objective this time is to conduct a precision strike beyond visual range in the enemy's most proficient energy domain.