nagpurpolice Chapter 161 Re-entering
Chapter 161 Re-entering
Chapter 161 Re-entering
The deeper you go into the plains, the harsher the environment becomes.
The ash layer beneath their feet varied in thickness, requiring them to occasionally avoid obvious quicksand pits or energy gusts.
The turbulent energy currents in the air became even more violent, and even with the suppression of the flame beacon, the air was constantly filled with low hissing and crackling sounds.
Visibility was poor; ash and distorted heat severely obstructed the view.
Rolin's Insight Ring continued to operate, its echo unit filtering out noise and providing real-time feedback to him and Duden on perceived terrain changes, energy anomalies, and potential dangers.
He would occasionally point out obscure quicksand zones or energy accumulation points that needed to be avoided, preventing the team from getting into trouble several times.
This accurate early warning ability earned him a greater sense of approval from the Imperial Forge Guards and priests who accompanied him.
"Your senses remain remarkably sharp even in this environment."
One of the Imperial Flamebringers walking beside Rolin spoke in a low voice in somewhat broken Common.
This Flame Purifier, named Cassan, is a woman. She is petite for the empire, but her aura is refined, and the soul fire in her eye sockets is a rare pale gold.
"I'm just more sensitive to energy fluctuations," Luo Lin replied simply, without saying more.
Cassan nodded and didn't ask any further questions, simply observing her surroundings silently.
After traveling for about two hours, the furnace guards who were scouting ahead issued a warning signal.
The team immediately stopped and formed a defensive formation.
About a hundred meters ahead, on the gray-brown ground, several huge pits, each more than ten meters in diameter, appeared as if they had been dug by a giant beast!
The pit's edges were extremely irregular, emitting a strong smell of sulfur and burnt flesh. The bottom of the pit was deep, with a faint, dark red glow visible.
Even more disturbing is that the air around these craters is distorted abnormally, and the turbulent energy flows here form visible, constantly twisting and swirling colorful vortexes that emit a low rumbling sound.
"It's an energy vortex," Commander Hector said in a deep voice.
"Geological and energy anomalies commonly found deep within the Ash Plains."
"The internal energy is extremely chaotic and has a strong suction force. Once you get caught in it, it's very difficult to escape or go around it."
However, the observation map shows that this vortex area is quite large, and it would take at least an extra hour to detour, and there are other uncertain danger markers on the detour route.
Researcher Duden looked at the map, then at the craters, and frowned, saying, "Time is tight, and there are too many variables if we take a detour."
"Is it possible to pass through quickly? I think there seem to be gaps in the distribution of these vortex pits."
Luo Lin stepped forward, concentrating his senses to perceive what lay ahead. The light from the Ring of Insight flickered slightly.
Amidst the raging energy background, he struggled to discern the suction range of each vortex and the movement patterns of the energy turbulence.
"The gaps do exist, but they are very unstable," Roland said slowly, pointing to several locations with his finger.
"Here, and here, the energy turbulence between the two large vortex pits is relatively weak, and the suction also has a brief periodic decay."
"If we can get through the decay period quickly and temporarily reinforce both sides of the channel with energy stabilization measures, we have a chance."
""
Hector looked at Roland: "How confident are you?"
"Sixty percent! Precise timing and strong, rapid, stable energy support are needed." Roland looked at Cassan and the other Flame Cleansers and Flame Priests.
"The Empire's fire energy has an advantage in suppressing and purifying chaos."
Cassan whispered among herself and the other Flamebringers and priests, then nodded to Hector: "We can give it a try. We can use the [Purifying Fire Barrier] to temporarily isolate the energy erosion from both sides, but the range is limited and the duration is at most twenty seconds. We must pass through quickly."
"Twenty seconds is enough," Hector decided immediately.
"Forge Guardians, prepare your charge formation. Use your shields to defend against potential energy splashes as you advance."
"Priests and Flame Keepers, heed Wizard Rolin's signal and prepare to release the Fire Barrier."
"Those who remain, follow closely!"
The order was quickly relayed.
The team was reorganized, with elite Forge Guards at the forefront, their shields linked together, their soulfire burning fiercely.
Priests and purifiers gathered on both sides of the procession, their staffs or magical implements glowing red.
Luo Lin stood at the front of the group, staring intently at the distorted area between the two huge vortex pits ahead.
The echo unit acts like the most precise timer, capturing every subtle fluctuation in the energy turbulence.
It's now!
"Left side barrier! Three, two, one, release!" Rolin shouted in a low voice.
The priest and the Flame Purifier on the left acted simultaneously, and crimson flames with a hint of gold erupted from their hands, forming a solid, slightly concave arc-shaped wall of flames at the edge of the vortex on the left, temporarily forcing back and isolating the raging energy turbulence on the left.
"Right-side barrier! Deploy!"
A barrier of flames also rose up on the right side.
Between the two flame barriers, a narrow passage about five meters wide and relatively "calm" was formed.
"Charge!" Hector roared.
The forge guards at the forefront immediately set off at full speed, their heavy boots treading on the soft ashes, kicking up clouds of dust.
The entire team shot into the temporary passage formed by the barrier of flames, like a sharp arrow.
Luo Lin also sprinted through the group, while maintaining his senses and monitoring the stability of the barriers on both sides and the changes at the end of the passage.
Ten seconds — Fifteen seconds —
Just as the team was about to rush out of the end of the passage, the energy inside the vortex on the right suddenly fluctuated violently, and a thick energy turbulence mixed with dark purple spots slammed into the fire barrier on the right!
The barrier shook violently, and the light quickly dimmed!
One of the Flamebringers who released the barrier groaned, a trickle of blood, still tinged with sparks, spilling from the corner of his mouth.
The right side of the passage instantly became unstable, and chaotic energy began to erode inward!
"Reinforce the right side!" Roland shouted immediately, and at the same time he took action.
With a flick of his left hand, several pre-prepared, improved energy-stabilizing powder projectiles shot towards the right side of the barrier and exploded. The pale blue mist clashed violently with the chaotic energy that was invading, temporarily slowing down the erosion.
At the same time, he pointed his right hand like a sword and shot out a condensed ray of star power with the characteristics of order and organization, precisely hitting the most active nodes of the dark purple energy turbulence.
Chi Chi!
The stellar energy ray, like a red-hot iron, pierced the ice and snow, causing the dark purple energy turbulence to pause slightly and its ferocity to decrease somewhat.
The priest and the Flamebringer on the right gritted their teeth and increased their energy output, barely managing to stabilize the crumbling barrier.
Eighteen seconds — Twenty seconds!
The last furnace guard, bringing up the rear, rushed out of the passage.
Almost simultaneously, the fire barriers on both sides shattered and were swallowed up by the violent energy turbulence.
The passage vanished instantly, and the area between the two vortex pits was once again filled with terrifying energy vortexes.
The group stopped in a safe area, and many people were still shaken, especially the priest and the Flamebringer on the right, whose faces were pale.
Hector walked up to Rolin, his golden soul flame flickering: "Accurate judgment and adaptability."
"You not only have strong perception, but you are also very decisive in handling unexpected situations."
"It's because everyone cooperated well." Luo Lin calmed his breathing. That burst of star power just now required extremely high control precision and consumed a lot of energy.
Cassan wiped her mouth, her gaze towards Rolin now filled with curiosity and inquiry: "Your last move—it wasn't fire, nor was it ordinary elemental energy, yet it managed to disrupt that chaotic energy—"
"A little special trick," Rowling said vaguely, changing the subject.
"We've been delayed a bit; we need to speed things up."
After navigating the vortex-filled area without major incident, the rest of the journey proceeded relatively smoothly.
After advancing for another hour, based on the map and Rolin's perception correction, they finally arrived at their target area.