Chapter 523
Infiltrating the Anchor Point Core
“I can go in, enter the anchor point, and disrupt its resonant frequency with my marking system.”
Jiang Nian's words echoed in the ice cave data room, and the three-dimensional structure diagram of the anchor points on the screen swirled with a faint blue light.
Old Dao stared at him for a full five seconds, then suddenly laughed, his laughter hoarse and unpleasant: "Are you crazy? Go in? Do you even know what the inside of the anchor point is like right now?"
“Energy overload, structural instability, forced startup,” Jiang Nian said calmly. “That’s why it’s an opportunity.”
"An opportunity to die."
Ying stood up from the corner, her twin swords already tucked back into her waistband, but her hands were still on the hilts. "The temperature inside the anchor point exceeds two hundred degrees Celsius, and the pressure is thirty times that of the sea surface. If you go in with an ordinary diving suit, you'll be turned into a meat patty in three minutes."
“I have specially designed deep-sea diving equipment organized by us,” Jiang Nian said. “There should be spares on the Greenland platform.”
"Even if you have the equipment, how can you interfere with the resonance?"
The middle-aged technician adjusted his glasses. "The energy field intensity of the anchor point is theoretically sufficient to burn up any biological nervous system in an instant. No matter how special your marking system is, it is still biological tissue."
Jiang Nian walked to the control panel and pulled up a document.
That was an analysis report that Qin Lao had previously sent him, about the symbiotic reaction between the marking system and the marrow mineral energy.
“Look here.” He pointed to a waveform graph. “My marking system has formed a preliminary symbiosis with the marrow mineral energy. The marrow mineral energy can buffer high-intensity energy shocks, while the marking system can guide the energy flow.”
He pulled up another graph, which was a spectral analysis of the energy field at the anchor point.
“The resonant frequency of the anchor point highly overlaps with certain inherent frequency bands of the markings in my body. If I enter the core of the anchor point and actively release the marking energy, I can disrupt its rhythm, just like throwing sand into a precision clock.”
"And then?" the female technician asked. "You disrupted the resonance, and then got torn apart by the energy field of the anchor point?"
"If we can detonate the energy core of the anchor point at the moment of resonance chaos," Jiang Nian looked at Lao Dao, "you guys have explosives, right? High-yield ones."
Lao Dao and Ying exchanged a glance.
“Yes,” Old Knife said slowly. “Four thermonuclear fusion explosives, each with a yield equivalent to five hundred tons of TNT. They were originally intended to destroy the entire outpost in case of exposure.”
"Will we need it?"
"If placed on the four support nodes of the anchor point and detonated simultaneously..."
The middle-aged technician quickly calculated, "Enough to blow the anchor structure to pieces. But the problem is, how to place it? There's an energy barrier around the anchor now; any metal object that gets close will be ionized."
“I have a way,” Jiang Nian said. “The energy of the marrow ore can penetrate that barrier. If I replace the explosive casing with a non-metallic material and use marrow ore crystals as a fuse, I can smuggle it in.”
Silence fell over the data room.
The only sounds were the low hum of the server's cooling fans and the constantly flashing countdown on the screen.
"Do you know what the success rate of this plan is?" Old Dao finally asked.
"No more than 30%," Jiang Nian said truthfully.
"Then you still dare to try?"
"Because if you don't try, the success rate is zero."
Jiang Nian stared at the countdown on the screen. "Once the anchor point is fully activated, the three resonance fields will synchronize, and the Guixu Channel will open. At that time, not only this base, but the entire Arctic Circle may be swept up."
He paused: "Didn't you defect to prevent this from happening?"
Old Dao stared at him, the hilt of his resonant blade still trembling slightly. He reached out, gripped the hilt, and pulled hard.
Blood gushed out, but he didn't even flinch. Ying immediately stepped forward and treated the wound with quick-acting gel and bandages.
"The knife team..." The middle-aged technician hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
"Prepare the equipment," Old Knife said through gritted teeth. "Take out the organization's deep-sea combat suit from Warehouse No. 4, and those four fusion explosives. Old Chen, you're in charge of modifying the fuses using marrow ore crystals."
"But Captain Knife, that deep-sea suit is the organization's prototype equipment, and we haven't fully cracked the security system yet..."
"Then crack it now!" Old Knife roared. "One hour and forty-five minutes left! Success or we all die!"
The entire base came to life instantly.
The technicians were divided into three groups: one group cracked the deep-sea suit system, one group modified the explosive fuse, and one group continued to monitor the energy readings at the anchor point.
Jiang Nian was taken to the medical room, where Ying personally treated his wounds.
"Take off your clothes," she said coldly, holding a first-aid kit in her hand.
Jiang Nian unbuttoned his tattered combat uniform, revealing a deep, bone-revealing wound on his side. The blood had congealed, but the edges were beginning to swell and become inflamed.
Ying cleaned the wound with disinfectant, her movements professional yet rough. Jiang Nian gritted her teeth, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
"Why did you help Lao Dao?" Jiang Nian suddenly asked.
Ying paused for a moment, then continued sewing: "It's none of your business."
"He saved you?"
“I saved him.” Ying cut the stitches with scissors. “Three years ago, the organization was purging traitors, and he was ambushed. I charged in and dragged him out, taking two bullets in the back.”
She lifted the back of her clothes.
Two hideous scars stretched from his shoulder blades down to his waist, as if he had been cleaved open by some sharp weapon.
“I’ve followed him ever since.” Ying put down her clothes. “He said he wanted to stop the organization from opening the Void, and I believed him. As for the method, I don’t care.”
She gave Jiang Nian an antibiotic injection: "This injection will last for six hours. If you're still alive after six hours, the infection will kill you."
"That's enough." Jiang Nian put her clothes back on.
One hour later, at Warehouse No. 4.
The deep-sea combat suit hung on the frame; it was entirely black with a fine, scaly surface.
The helmet is fully enclosed, with a dark composite glass visor and an augmented reality display interface inside.
"The organization's Poseidon series prototype."
Old Chen explained that he is the base's chief technology officer, "The design depth is 3,000 meters, with a built-in life support system for 12 hours. The outer armor is made of biomimetic materials that can adapt to changes in water pressure."
"What about the marrow energy interface?" Jiang Nian asked.
"Here it is." Old Chen pointed to a circular groove on his chest. "It was originally for backup energy, but we modified it to connect to the marking system inside your body. But this is theoretical; we haven't actually tested it."
How do I start it?
"Just stick it on."
Old Chen said, "Your marking energy will automatically activate the interface. But remember, once activated, the deep-sea suit will form an energy cycle with you. If your marking system goes out of control, the deep-sea suit may also overload."
"Where's the explosives?"
Old Chen walked to another workbench.
Four cylindrical objects are placed on top, each about 30 centimeters long and 10 centimeters in diameter.
The outer shell is made of some kind of dark gray non-metallic material, and it feels cold to the touch.
"Thermonuclear fusion explosive has a boron carbide ceramic shell that can penetrate energy barriers."
Old Chen picked one up and pointed to the transparent crystal on top. "The fuse is a marrow ore crystal, 97% pure. You need to activate it with the marked energy. It will detonate 30 seconds after activation."
"Thirty seconds, is that enough time for me to evacuate?"
"Theoretically enough."
Old Chen pulled up the anchorage structure diagram. "There's an emergency escape route inside the anchorage that leads directly to the sea. But it takes at least twenty seconds to get from the core area to the entrance of the escape route. You only have ten seconds of redundancy."
Jiang Nian nodded and began to put on his deep-sea diving suit.
The inner layer is made of soft, smart fabric that conforms to the body's curves while monitoring vital signs. The outer armor pieces snap together with a soft clicking sound.
Finally, I put on the helmet, and the visor lit up, displaying rows of data.
"Try marking the connection," Old Chen said.
Jiang Nian closed his eyes and guided the energy deep within his chest.
A pale golden light surged from his heart, flowing along his meridians to his chest. The circular groove on the chest of his deep-sea suit glowed blue, resonating with the golden light within his body. "Success!" Old Chen exclaimed excitedly. "The synchronization rate is only 21%, but it's enough. The higher the better, but exceeding 50% might be risky."
"How much is considered safe?"
"Below 40 percent".
Old Chen said seriously, "If it exceeds 40%, the deep-sea suit's energy system may not be able to handle it. If it exceeds 60%, you will melt down along with the deep-sea suit."
Jiang Nian wrote down this number.
Shadow walked over, holding a tactical belt with four grooves, just enough to hold four explosives.
“The belt is magnetically attached, so you can release it with a thought,” she said. “But remember, once the explosives are released from the belt, the thirty-second countdown starts automatically. There is no pause, no cancellation.”
"clear."
Jiang Nian fastened his belt and attached four explosives to his thighs, two on each side.
Old Dao also came in, having changed into a combat uniform with thick bandages wrapped around his shoulders.
“I’ll go down with you,” he said.
"What?" Jiang Nian frowned.
"There are guards outside the anchor point, part of the organization's automated defense system." Old Knife checked his equipment.
“You need someone to provide cover. Shadow stays up there to monitor and provide backup.”
"Your injury..."
"I won't die." Old Dao grinned, then tugged at his wound and winced in pain. "Besides, if the plan fails, being blown up down there is better than waiting to die up here."
Ying glanced at Lao Dao, said nothing, but placed her hand on the hilt of the knife.
"Let's get ready to go," Old Chen said. "The energy reading at the anchor point is already at 85%. Once it exceeds 90%, the energy barrier strength will double, and then we won't be able to get in."
At the base pier, two small underwater vehicles are ready.
Jiang Nian and Lao Dao boarded the first ship, while Ying was on the second ship to provide support.
"Communication test." Old Chen's voice came through the headset.
"it is good."
Old Chen said, "The submersible will take you to a depth of 100 meters directly above the anchor point. Then you swim there and enter through the maintenance entrance. The entrance location has already been sent to your mask displays."
"What's the situation with the guards?" Old Knife asked.
"Six automated defensive turrets are distributed within a 50-meter radius around the anchor point."
Old Chen pulled up the thermal image, "But we've jammed their sonar system. As long as you don't fire first, they won't detect you. The key is not to touch the energy barrier, that will trigger an alarm."
Where are the entrance guards?
"There are two, but you should both be monitoring the internal condition of the anchor point. You can just remove them from behind."
The submersible's hatch closed, and it began its descent.
Through the observation window, you can see the fjord's waters gradually change from deep blue to pitch black.
The searchlight illuminated the way ahead, and occasionally strange-looking deep-sea creatures swam by.
"Have you ever done something like this before?" Old Dao suddenly asked.
“Blow up the anchor points? No,” Jiang Nian said, “but we’ve experienced similar situations several times.”
"for example?"
"South China Sea base, Greenland platform."
Jiang Nian checked the resonant blade; it still had 17% energy left, barely enough for one full-power attack.
"I heard you single-handedly wiped out an entire patrol team in the South China Sea."
“The rumors are exaggerated,” Jiang Nian said. “They’re just creating chaos to sneak in.”
Old Knife laughed: "You're too modest. The organization has a file on you; your threat level is S. We recommend killing you on sight and not trying to capture you alive."
"Then shouldn't you kill me now?"
“You’re more useful than me now,” Old Knife stared at him. “But after this is all over, if we’re both still alive…”
He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was clear.
The submersible shuddered and stopped at the predetermined depth.
The hatch opened, and icy seawater rushed in.
Jiang Nian adjusted his breathing and swam out of the submersible. Lao Dao followed closely behind, holding an underwater assault rifle.
The anchor point is directly below.
The energy barrier formed a visible distortion field around it, blurring the seawater as if it were seen through frosted glass.
"Look over there," Old Dao pointed in a direction.
On the side of the anchor point, there is an inconspicuous protrusion with a circular sealed door on it.
Two guards in deep-sea diving suits stood by the door, monitoring the instruments.
"What should we do?" Old Dao asked.
“Solve it silently.” Jiang Nian drew his resonant blade. “I’ll go to the left, you go to the right. Attack at the same time.”
The two approached each other silently, clinging to the seabed.
When they were 20 meters apart, Jiang Nian accelerated.
The disturbance of the water flow caught the attention of the guard on the left, but it was too late.
The resonant blade pierced the visor of the deep-sea suit, penetrating the brain through the eye socket. The guard's body stiffened, then slowly sank.
Almost simultaneously, Lao Dao grabbed the guard on the right from behind and twisted his neck forcefully.
A soft cracking sound like a cervical vertebra breaking.
The two dragged the body to the shadows, and Lao Dao searched the body for the access card.
"Luckily, it's a high-level access card." He affixed the card to the recognition area of the sealed door.
The door slid open, revealing an upward-sloping passageway with lights.
"Go in."
The passage was narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time. Jiang Nian went first, followed by Lao Dao, and the two quickly climbed upwards.
After climbing about thirty meters, a platform appeared ahead.
There is a control room on the platform, and through the glass you can see three technicians inside, staring at the screens.
"We can't leave any survivors," Old Dao said in a low voice.
Jiang Nian nodded and gently pushed open the door.
The three people in the control room turned around when they heard the sound, but before they could react, the resonant blade had already drawn a streak of blue light.
The first man's throat was slit, the second's chest pierced. The third tried to press the alarm, but Old Knife's dagger had already flown over and pierced the back of his neck.
Five seconds later, all three of them collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Nian looked at the screen.
The above displays the real-time status inside the anchor point.
"Thirteen minutes until we're over ninety percent." Old Dao glanced at the time. "Where's the entrance?" (End of Chapter)