inspire-indiana Chapter 185 Search
Chapter 185 Search
Chapter 185 Search
"Could it be another wizarding organization, or—from another world?" an officer suggested.
"We cannot rule out any possibility," Master Veranika said slowly.
"The fragments of the Scorching Hell have experienced turmoil, and there may still be subtle weaknesses in their spatial structure that we have not yet noticed."
"Although the Ring of Ashes has been destroyed, it's hard to guarantee that no other forces won't be drawn to it."
"The immediate priority is to strengthen surveillance and at the same time accelerate in-depth research on observer legacy networks."
"If the legacy network is indeed self-healing, we must take the initiative and not let it fall into the hands of unknown forces."
Commander Hector's image appeared in a deep voice as he said, "The Empire will also strengthen border patrols and garrisons in the ruins area."
"We can share some of the external monitoring data."
"But a more in-depth investigation requires a more elite team and more specialized knowledge of historical sites."
The meeting ultimately decided that the Shadow Raven Tower and the Molten Empire would each select elite personnel to form a joint reconnaissance team to conduct a secret investigation of the area around the fragment where abnormal traces appeared, with a focus on confirming the identity, purpose, and activity patterns of the visitors.
Because of his extensive knowledge of ancient ruins and energy environments, Rolin was appointed as a technical advisor to join the reconnaissance team.
"Wizard Rowling," Master Veranica's projection looked at him.
"Your experience and abilities are crucial to this reconnaissance."
"However, the risks of this trip are unknown, and you have the right to refuse."
Rowling did not hesitate at all.
The fragments of the Scorching Hell have consumed too much energy and carry too many secrets and potential value; they cannot be lost.
Moreover, he also wanted to see for himself what traces those mysterious visitors had left behind.
"I'm willing to join."
After the meeting, Luo Lin had two days to prepare.
He first went to Laboratory 7, found Researcher Murphy, and obtained a batch of new energy detection and jamming equipment.
When Murphy heard that he was going to the Fragment World again, he muttered, "Young people just can't sit still," but he still gave him a few gadgets he had just made, including a [rift sensing patch] that could detect extremely weak spatial disturbances.
Next, he returned to the analysis department and reviewed all the data and images of unusual traces provided by the intelligence department. Combining the tidal observation model and the relic network map, he tried to deduce the possible activity paths and goals of the visitors.
He discovered that although these traces appeared in scattered locations, they all seemed to vaguely revolve around areas where energy eruptions or spatial fluctuations were relatively intense during several overload decompression events.
Is the visitor investigating that incident?
Or were they attracted by the unusual energy phenomena triggered by the event?
Two days passed quickly.
The joint reconnaissance team assembled at a secret teleportation point at the headquarters of Santa.
On the Shadow Raven side, besides Rowling, there's the wizard Horn, Ella, and two second-circle wizards, Nightshade and Rock Lizard, who excel in stealth, tracking, and environmental survival.
On the Empire's side, Cassan led four of the most elite Forge Guards and two Purifiers skilled in energy tracking.
There were eleven people in total, with a clear objective:
Secretly infiltrate the target area outside the debris, detect visitor traces, assess threats, and avoid direct confrontation as much as possible.
"Check your equipment and prepare to teleport," Wizard Horn said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"Remember, we are the eyes and ears, not the fists."
"Target located. Prioritize recording and observation; avoid engagement unless absolutely necessary. Move out!"
A teleportation beam illuminated the area, sending this elite team to a land that still burned, yet harbored new mysteries.
As Luo Lin's figure disappeared into the light, he felt little tension, but rather a long-lost calm and sharpness in the face of the unknown.
The dizziness from the teleportation subsided, and hot, dry air carrying the smell of sulfur and ash rushed towards me.
Beneath my feet was a charred, solid rocky ground, and above me was an eternally dark red sky.
This area is located on the northern edge of the Burning Mountains, a rugged region filled with weathered rock pillars and narrow rift valleys.
According to intelligence, two faint energy anomalies were detected in the vicinity.
The team quickly dispersed and formed a defensive formation.
Wizard Horn and Cassan exchanged a few words in hushed tones to confirm their location.
Ayla and the furnace guards warily scanned the surrounding jagged rock pillar shadows.
Nightshade and Rock Lizard, like ghosts blending into their environment, silently glided forward to explore the path.
Rowling took out the Rift Perception Patch given to him by Murphy and distributed it to everyone.
These transparent patches, about the size of a fingernail, can be applied to the wrist or side of the neck and can sense extremely subtle spatial fluctuations and emit imperceptible vibrations as a warning.
He activated the Insight Ring, which, in conjunction with the Echo Unit, allowed him to slowly expand his perception range.
The environmental energy was more stable than the core area of the Scorching Hell in my memory, but it was still chaotic and inert, like a sticky swamp, severely hindering conventional perception spells.
The free fire element energy in the air is also much thinner than in the plains.
"The energy environment is highly interfering, limiting the range of visual and conventional mental detection," Wizard Horn whispered through the internal communication crystal.
"Nightshade, Rock Lizard, watch out for ground markings and unusual rock faces."
"Rolin, focus on sensing residual energy and spatial anomalies."
"Everyone else, maintain formation and stay concealed."
The group began to move forward cautiously.
The heavy Forge Guardian Boots should be worn with firm footing to avoid making unnecessary noise.
The flames at the tip of Ella's staff were reduced to a minimum, maintaining only basic energy sensing.
Rowling focused most of his attention on the feedback from the insight ring.
In the chaotic energy background, filter out the natural, ceaseless energy turbulence and ley line pulsations, and look for any unnatural remnants with artificial or foreign characteristics.
After advancing about a mile, no obvious abnormalities were found.
The only sounds were the wailing of the scorching wind blowing through the cracks in the rocks and the occasional hoarse cries of a scorched-feathered vulture flying overhead.
"Stop." Nightshade, who was walking at the front, suddenly sent a signal through the communication, his voice extremely low.
The group immediately stopped and used the rock pillars to conceal themselves.
"At the two o'clock position, on the left side of the entrance to the rift valley, about eighty meters away, there are unnatural scratch marks. They are very new and cover some of the natural wind erosion patterns."
"The trail leads downwards, into the rift valley," Nightshade reported quickly.
Wizard Horn made a gesture that said, "Be on guard and approach slowly."
The group moved again, this time with even greater caution.
As Roland approached the rock face, he also saw the traces that Nightshade had mentioned.
There were several parallel scratches of varying depths, as if left by some object with angular edges or claws that had quickly scraped away the dark red oxide layer on the rock wall, revealing the lighter-colored fresh stone underneath.
The scratches have sharp edges and no obvious wear, so they don't seem to be caused by natural wind erosion or biological activity.
Cassan crouched down and lightly pressed her finger above the scratch, causing the pale golden soul flame to flicker slightly.
"The remaining energy traces were extremely faint, almost completely dissipated."
"Attributes — difficult to discern, seemingly intentionally mixed with various common energy characteristics to conceal it, but at its core there is one — a cold, non-flame quality."
77
A cold quality?
In the scorching hell environment, it stands out as particularly out of place.