High Above

"I'm sorry, I didn't notice... There is actually a sniper's phantom appearing behind us, and then sneak attack on you... This situation is too dangerous!"

After all, Tres was not stupid. He quickly figured out what the previous screams and crisp collisions were about. When he apologized to Ian repeatedly: "This is because my team did not protect it well and did not confirm it." There was no timely rescue due to the surrounding situation!”

"Don't take it too seriously."

Ian was in a very good mood at this time. The growth of the frost butterflies made him feel that the gloomy woods and fields in the Avak area were much more pleasing to the eye.

In the final analysis, Tres's mistakes can be made by anyone. The opponent's tactics are indeed very unprepared. There is no need to dwell on this: "This must be written in the report - some phantoms are quite intelligent and will use sneak attack tactics." , and Sniper Phantom, this should be considered a credit."

"really."

Tres sighed - this time it was due to his superiority mentality. He only watched the Viscount's knights attack head-on, but failed to protect the key figures.

If it weren't for the protection of goblins, Ian might have died this time.

He won't make excuses for himself. Ian doesn't blame him, but he himself can't forgive.

After using the vehicle-mounted communication device to send this information to the Knights' camp, the convoy temporarily stopped in place for repairs and inspection of weapons and equipment.

After the effect of Ian's highly effective potion was verified by Tres, it immediately attracted the attention of everyone present. However, Ian himself did not have time to listen to those secretly praising voices, but focused on the one captured by Miss Hua An. 'Sniper Phantom' research launched.

Although Silver Chip Ian analyzed all kinds of information as soon as he came into contact with this virtual reality projection, he still had to pretend.

The sniper phantom that appeared behind the convoy and materialized out of thin air was also a phantom with wisdom just like Viscount Avak and the members of the Knights.

He had always wanted to commit suicide, but Hua An knew too much about psychic powers. Miss Fairy cleverly restrained a self-destruction structure in Phantom's body, then imprisoned him in a psychic barrier and sent him into the carriage. The instrument performs a scan check.

And, of course, there's the silver chip scan.

It turns out that this is indeed a very mature virtual reality projection technology.

Grand Duke Thorin most likely used the knowledge in the Abyss Sacrifice to immerse some of his subordinates in the virtual realm, and then used the power of the virtual realm as a medium to project images in the territory of Avak, which had gradually begun to unfold the Silent Abyss. , turning into an unbeatable phantom army.

This technology can be regarded as a method of warfare with considerable potential for today's empire, or for today's Terra - as long as the 'Silent Abyss' can be deployed, which can make the virtual world overlap with reality. Psychic ritual ceremony, then the party hosting the ritual ceremony will have an army and weapons that cannot be killed or destroyed.

At most, after the projection is killed and destroyed, the original owner may need some medicine and rest to recover, but it is better than actually dying.

Even if the phantom body cannot exert its full power, after all, the ants will bite the elephant to death. Who is willing to risk his life to fight with a group of phantoms that will not feel sorry for them even if they die?

"This technology is more difficult and obscure than the rituals recorded in the Abyss Sacrifice..."

Mo Feng's expression became serious at this moment. The wind fairy even took out a pair of glasses from nowhere, made a very serious gesture to observe the spiritual structure of the sniper's phantom body, and finally came to the conclusion: "Where is Grand Duke Thorin? His psychic skills are even comparable to those of fairies in some aspects!"

"Especially the technology of the phantom army is very similar to the 'Utopia Ritual' in the heyday of our goblins - at that time, we fairies could project the 'Utopia' in the virtual world onto all the major cities in reality. In Fairyland, a layer of all-round lucid shield is superimposed, and the fairies in Utopia will not die...but it is only limited to Utopia."

"But the phantom army has broken through this. If it weren't for the Silent Abyss ritual that would destabilize some areas of the virtual realm, this would be an invincible army!"

[It seems that Grand Duke Thorin really gained a lot from the psychic information left behind by his grandfather]

The Bird of Light also appeared in front of Ian at this moment. Mikael's voice was thoughtful: [The immortal phantom army, I didn't expect it to be realized in this way. It's a pity... What if? My grandfather is not dead. If my uncle hadn’t done that stupid thing... we, the Setar Empire, might have a key that can tip the balance]

[Alas, each of the legacies from those years is a masterpiece that embodies a lot of wisdom and imagination, but why is my grandfather so anxious...]

It seemed that only Ian could hear and see Mikael's voice and even his image, but Ian didn't echo a few words.

Instead he frowned.

"This isn't right."

At this moment, Ian slowly raised his head and looked around everyone present: "If this is all Archduke Thorin's plan, then why are there so many out-of-control beasts and phantoms?"

"This sniper can use his will to manifest and attack behind us. The spiritual structure in his body is very complete, and he also has a special manifestation array that allows him to freely walk in the virtual world and choose the time to manifest himself. ——He is not very harmful, but what if it is a second-level flame-wind giant owl that can burn itself and explode?"

"Then we and the two armored transporters will probably be blown to pieces."

Ian said firmly: "Even if this is Archduke Thorin's technology, he must have had an accident this time. All the most important experimental subjects in the entire laboratory lost control and escaped, and even his own subordinates were killed." Forced into the virtual realm, he became the main body of the phantom army and lost the assistance brought by perfect technology."

"It's just that a group of people headed by Viscount Avak have their own wisdom, so they can still fight with their own will and hinder our progress."

"The laboratory in the Awak area is definitely out of control." Summing up in this way, Ian was extremely confident: "The only question is, how much power can stop us from the out-of-control laboratory?"

Although he spoke very confidently, only some of these speculations were true, and the rest were made by Ian based on the identification results of the silver chip.

[Out-of-control phantom (virtual projection·sniper)]

[Incompetent Level·Physical State·Innately Intelligent Creatures·Main Intelligent Creatures in the Star Domain·Psychic Transformation]

[The product of a non-accidental out-of-control experiment, a human being was forcibly given a soul, and then converted into a virtual projection. This was an opportunity to transcend the world, and it was also a fall into the abyss]

[Body material... sublimation changes... phase transformation and sublimation in progress]

[Strength level: Normal]

[Contains source quality: 91.2055 base spiritual quality unit]

【……】

This identification result was very subtle. Even Ian couldn't tell them all. He just selected some guesses that sounded understandable.

As for the 'non-accidental runaway experiment'...

"Is it the inside job? Deliberately creating out-of-control experiments...and forcibly giving souls to humans? It's actually possible to do this, but it will definitely have extremely high negative effects."

Ian lowered his eyes, he already had a guess in his mind.

But ostensibly, he's still waiting for other people's opinions.

"really."

Hua An nodded, and what Ian said was indeed what she thought: "I also think that this phantom soldier still has many technical problems that need to be solved. For example, only those with souls can be phantoms, and most of them can't be phantoms." Even if some people become phantoms, they will not have self-awareness, but will become mindless souls who act according to their instincts.”

Mo Feng also agreed: "According to previous intelligence, the phantoms in the Awak area will attack all targets indiscriminately, which is an example of this - and this time, most of the members of the Knights do not have particularly obvious intelligence, although It’s still agile, but definitely not formed.”

[The sudden change in the Awak area this time is indeed not due to Princess Thorin being exposed automatically, but because of an accident]

Even the second prince agreed with Ian's judgment: [If it is caused by the loss of control within the laboratory, then everything makes sense... I see, I asked why all parties are preventing me from going, I'm afraid it's those old guys Would you rather Grand Duke Thorin hold my grandfather's inheritance than me collect another piece of the puzzle? 】

[A group of cowardly old guys don’t even think about whose legacy the current empire can stand on the continent of Terra is because of! 】

——It seems to be an internal struggle within the imperial capital that I cannot participate in.

Ian thought this way, no wonder Mikael couldn't reveal his identity. It turned out that there were people in the imperial capital who were unwilling to let the second prince collect all the Inaga inheritance.

——Inaga II is right, but we don’t need a second Inaga.

This is probably what most of the nobles in the imperial capital think.

The young man was noncommittal about this. He just coughed and said, "What is our next task?"

None of the goblins replied, because they knew exactly who Ian was asking.

[Continuing in depth, we go to Azure City, one of the three largest cities in the Avak region. It is right next to the central hilly area and has become a dead zone]

Mikael gave instructions: [But there is intelligence that there are "living people" and not "phantoms" of local sublimated people appearing there]

[Find them, they are the key to entering the core area]

Since the boss has given the order, Ian and Tres don't have to think about it, they just need to execute it.

After leaving ammunition casings and battle traces all over the ground, the team continued to move deeper into the Awak area.

If you look down from a high altitude, you can vaguely see that the entire Awak area is filled with artillery fire and battle light, and low roars are continuous and ringing everywhere.

Not only the empire, but also many teams with mysterious origins are also heading towards the center of this place.

And their target is naturally Grand Duke Thorin's laboratory.

The night is still long.

Everything has just begun.

I have 8,000 words today, but I feel a little uncomfortable when I write this. I have been working out recently, and my work and rest are much more normal, but I may still be a little tired, and my body has not fully recovered. I may take a leave of absence at a later date. .

I will try my best to finish a plot before asking for leave, or I will take a break in two days and give a preview in advance.jpg

Damn it, why can’t I just ask for leave as easily as Tea Leaf Du Gong!