After a brief silence, cheers of relief erupted throughout Blackrock City! People didn't know exactly what had happened, but they could feel the suffocating oppression had vanished; it was the Lord's power that had protected them!
Inside the lord's manor, the family members breathed a sigh of relief, but their hearts remained heavy. They knew this was just the beginning.
Aster emerged from the central control area and approached Lind, a bead of sweat still clinging to his forehead, but his eyes were resolute: "My lord, the defense was successful. But... this was just a test."
Linde stood in front of the observation window, gazing at the now calm night sky, his eyes cold.
“The test is over,” he said softly. “He has confirmed our ability to ‘resist,’ and he has also confirmed… Tris’s existence.”
Tiolantis must have sensed the "Source Code" fluctuations within Tris, which shared the same origin as Him. This probe was less of a warning and more of an intelligence gathering operation.
Lind turned and looked at Astaire.
"Aster, initiate the first phase of the 'Echoes of the Ark' project. Cross-analyze the non-magic network energy core data discovered in the Eternal Ice Plains with Triss's 'source code.' I need a preliminary feasibility report."
“Understood!” Astaire accepted the order without hesitation.
"Nerosh, intensify the exploration of the far northern outpost. I need to know what else is hidden there."
"Inform the Dwarven Royal Court and the Fox Lord Zahira that I have agreed to the previous cooperation proposal. It's time to find a less 'obvious' testing ground for our 'New Order'."
As commands were issued, the machinery of Blackrock Territory and its allies began to operate with unprecedented efficiency.
Linde knew very well that the war with the gods was never a simple head-on confrontation. It was about understanding the rules, competing for resources, controlling information, and even more so about... an unwavering belief in one's own path.
Tiolantis possesses power, but she is also bound by the magic net.
Lind, on the other hand, possesses limitless potential and the determination to break free from his shackles.
He looked toward the intensive care unit, his gaze sharp as a knife.
"Theolantis, your prison may also be the root of your downfall."
"This game has only just entered the middle stage."
…………
The far north, an eternally silent ice plain.
This is a corner forgotten by magic, where a freezing wind blows year-round, and beneath the snow lies an ancient, unmelting frozen ground.
The power of the magic network is so thin here that it is almost imperceptible. Any spell that relies on the magic network will be greatly reduced in effect here, or even completely ineffective.
For this reason, this place has become a forbidden zone for life, and also an ideal place to hide secrets.
Narosh personally led a squad of elite Shadowbinders, using coordinates provided by Lind and deciphered from the Zedo civilization database, to stealthily move like ghosts under the cover of a blizzard.
They wore specially made cold-weather suits with embedded temperature-regulating runes and light vein energy cores to resist the erosion of the extreme cold.
After several days of arduous trekking and precise searching, they finally discovered a metal gate at the bottom of a massive ice cliff, almost integrated with the ice wall.
The Zedo runes etched on the gate were long covered by frost, but the extraordinary nature of the material could still be felt.
“This is it.” Naraku’s hoarse voice was almost inaudible in the wind and snow.
He reached out, his withered fingers pressing on an inconspicuous recess in the gate, and a pure fluctuation simulating the frequency of Zedu energy was injected into it.
"Buzz..."
A low, rumbling sound came from inside the gate as the covering ice began to fall.
The heavy metal door slid open slowly to one side, revealing a deep, cold passage behind it. A musty smell, a mixture of metal, dust, and some unknown energy, wafted out.
The team members filed in cautiously, their illuminating crystals dispelling the darkness behind the door.
The interior of the passage is relatively well preserved, with walls made of the distinctive silver-gray alloy of the Zedu civilization, and covered with intricate pipework channels.
A strange sense of silence permeated the air, as if even sound had been absorbed by some force.
They ventured deeper into the passageway and discovered several compartments with different functions: a living area, a laboratory, and most importantly, the energy core room.
Inside the energy core, several huge, amorphous cylinders stand silently, their surfaces dull and lifeless, yet seemingly still emitting extremely faint energy reactions within.
They are completely different from any known magic cores or element pools on the continent. Their energy properties are more restrained and stable, and they have a kind of... non-magic network characteristic.
"Collect samples and record all runes and structures," Naraku ordered. The Shadowbound immediately sprang into action, like the most efficient worker ants.
On the laboratory terminal, they were fortunate enough to find a data storage device that was not completely damaged.
Naraku carefully removed it and placed it in a specially made shielded box. This was probably the biggest gain of the trip.
Meanwhile, deep underground in Blackrock Territory, in a highly confidential experimental field.
Based on preliminary data and energy core samples transmitted from the Eternal Icefield, and combined with in-depth research on Tris's "source code," the technical team coordinated by Astaire has made initial progress on the "Ark Echoes" project.
He approached Linde with a thick report in hand, his face showing the weariness of days of hard work, but his eyes were bright:
"My lord, the preliminary analysis is complete. This non-magic network energy core seems to operate on a principle closer to directly drawing energy from the world's foundational level, completely bypassing the magic network system. Although its efficiency is far lower than the magic network's utilization at its peak, its stability and independence are irreplaceable."
He flipped to the back of the report and pointed to a complex energy circuit diagram: "As for the 'source code' inside Triss's body, our chief runemaster believes that it is not a simple backdoor, but more like a fragment of a 'authority key'. It does not have control capabilities on its own, but it can act as a 'beacon'. When combined with specific devices or environments, it may gain 'advanced access' to local areas of the magic network."
A glint flashed in Linde's eyes: "In other words, if we can reproduce this non-magic network energy and find a suitable 'interface device,' perhaps we can temporarily 'cover' or 'block' Tiolantis' control over the magic network in a specific area?"
“Theoretically, it’s possible, sir,” Aster confirmed, but then his expression turned troubled. “However, the technical difficulty is extremely high. Energy output, interface compatibility, and how to deal with Teolantis’ countermeasures are all enormous challenges. According to the joint assessment of several masters, the probability of success… is probably less than 10%.” He reported truthfully, without concealing the difficulties involved.
"One-tenth... is enough." Lin De's tone remained unchanged. In the war against the gods, even the slightest hope is worth investing all one's strength in.
Just then, he received encrypted communications from the Dwarven Royal Court and the Fox Lord Zahira.
The Dwarf King's voice came through a specially processed communication channel, carrying a metallic clang: "Lord Lind, we agree to your proposed 'Starfire Base'! The location will be that abandoned ancient fortress near the Howling Abyss. The geological structure there is stable, and... there seems to be a faint energy pulse, different from the magic network, which perfectly matches your requirements!"
Zahira's voice carried a hint of excitement and nervousness: "Lord Linde, His Majesty the God of Beasts has tacitly approved our cooperation. The Fox Clan and some other willing tribes will provide manpower and resources. Within the Royal Court... although there are still dissenting voices, they are beyond our control."
“Very good,” Linde replied. “Begin the base infrastructure construction immediately. I will have the first batch of materials for the non-magic network energy core and protection matrix delivered by Steel Sky as soon as possible.”
"Spark Base" is the first true "enclave" in the Linde Project that is built without relying on the Magic Network energy.
It will be a testing ground for new technologies, a bridgehead for future wars, and a declaration to Teolantis showcasing the wisdom and power of mortals.
After arranging everything, Linde looked at Astaire. "How's the upgrade plan for 'Sky Armament' progressing?"
Astaire immediately replied:
"Based on the partial rule interference model extracted from the 'source code,' we have begun rune etching modifications to the main cannon system of Steel Sky. Next time... if that one dares to descend with their will again,"
He clenched his fist, a warrior's resolve flashing in his eyes, "We can at least knock out a few of his teeth!"
The spark has been ignited in the north, burning fiercely on the frozen wasteland, though faint.
The epic tale of mortals fighting against gods has opened a new chapter written in steel, runes, and unyielding will.
At the eye of the storm, Lind Truk, like a calm helmsman, is steering his territory and allies toward the realm of the gods, a land fraught with unknown dangers.
His loyal lieutenant, Aster, was like his strongest arm, turning his will into concrete actions and forging a strong shield and sharp spear against the wrath of the gods.
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