Chapter 17: Shards of Knowledge and Aether Alloys
As Tian Heng finished temporarily bandaging his wound, the core responded to his query about repairing the damaged organizing node.
[Searching the database (Level 1)... Maintenance fragments for Class 4 organizing nodes found (partially similar). Records are incomplete and damaged. Estimated basic requirements for recalibration and superficial repairs include: (1) A stable and precisely directed power source (Level 'Core Forger' or higher, or a specialized calibration device). (2) A low-resistance, ether-conducting alloy for repairing damaged circuits (Example: Iridium-Arcanite alloy, or a manufactured substitute). (3) Precision manipulation tools (partially available to the user). (4) Basic understanding of ether flow principles and energy field calibration.]
Tian Heng analyzed the response with focus, the pain in his side just background noise.
A precise power source at the "Core Forger" level? He was still at the beginning of the "Aether Collector" level. A barrier. A special conductive alloy? He didn't have it, nor did he know where to find it. Manufacturing it required vault-level capabilities that were not yet activated. A major barrier. Precision tools? He had some tools now, they might be sufficient. Partial capability. Understanding ether flow and calibration principles? His current knowledge was rudimentary at best. The fragmented records might help, but they'd need to be deciphered and studied first. A knowledge barrier.
The outcome was clear: repairing the organizing node was impossible for now. He was trapped in a feedback loop: he needed the node repaired to transmit ether efficiently and boost the core's energy, but repairing the node required a higher level of energy or knowledge that he couldn't access without sufficient core power.
Accessing the data plates, which might contain the necessary knowledge or blueprints for alloy manufacturing or even better training techniques to accelerate his progress, was the key to breaking this loop. But that required 15% core energy.
What to do? Continue training here until reaching the "Core Forger" level? That could take months, and during that time, the central core's condition could worsen or run out of its scarce resources completely. Searching for alloys deep within the vault? Another perilous expedition into the unknown with no guarantee of success.
Reaching the data plates remained a top priority. Perhaps he could find a way to temporarily boost the core's energy?
He turned to Lilith, who had been watching his rigid expression with disturbing concern. "This 'ether-conducting alloy' the core mentioned, do you know anything about it or places where similar materials might be found within the vault?"
Lilith tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly as if she were searching through old, dark memories. "Alloys... they drank the ether coldly..." she murmured softly. "The first builders used them... in the deep veins of this place... where other machines sleep and dream metal dreams. Dangerous places, my lord... distant, cold, and silent."
So, the alloys existed, but they were in dangerous depths. This confirmed his suspicions that they were not a quick solution. He must focus on the data first. He decided to try something risky: attempting to feed the core directly from one of the crystals using a resonator, hoping to reach the 15% threshold, even if only for a few moments, enough to pull a larger portion of data.
"Lilith, step back a little. Watch for any signs of acute energy instability." He ordered firmly.
Lilith complied immediately, stepping back to the edge of the cave, her eyes fixed on him and the crystal he had chosen – one of the largest and most resonant with power.
Tian Heng stood before the crystal, holding the ether resonator with both hands. He summoned the mental instructions from the core about directing it to its maximum capacity, despite the inefficiency and risks. Taking a deep breath, he began channeling his internal energy as an "Aether Collector" toward the resonator, using it as a catalyst and guide to attempt drawing a dense stream of raw ether from the crystal and directing it through the invisible mental link toward the distant central core.
The resonator glowed with brilliant blue light, brighter than ever before, and the crystal in front of him vibrated violently, sending out waves of energy that were palpable in the air. Tian Heng felt a massive drain on his internal energy, and the core energy indicator in his mind rapidly rose at a dizzying pace, but it remained completely unstable.
[7.8%... 8.5%... 9.7%... 10.9%... 12.1%...]
The pressure was immense. It felt as though his mind were being crushed, and the ether pathways in his body groaned under the strain of the current. The resonator in his hand shook violently and nearly slipped from his grasp.
[13.0%... 13.5%... Warning! Overload imminent on the central core! Warning! Ether resonator nearing structural collapse!]
He couldn't reach 15%. Maintaining this level any longer would destroy the resonator or cause irreparable damage to the central core. With great effort, Tian Heng cut the flow of energy abruptly.
He staggered backward, gasping for air, his face pale, the resonator in his hand uncomfortably hot but still intact. The core energy indicator dropped quickly, stabilizing at around 8.0%.
He felt a moment of frustration but quickly suppressed it. The attempt hadn't been a complete failure. During those few seconds of high flow, the core, which had been attempting to access the data plate based on his previous command, had managed to capture and decode a small additional piece of information before the high-energy connection was cut off.
The new data flowed into his mind. It wasn't the full "Icy Star Fusion" technique, nor the alloy blueprints. It was something else: a partial blueprint and an explanation for a simple device called the "Primary Aether Condenser." A small device, seemingly able to be crafted with basic materials (some of which might be found in the deactivated guardian?) and his current tools, designed to slowly draw ether from the surroundings and condense it into a more stable crystalline or liquid form, easier to transport, though in very small amounts at this initial level.
It wasn't a magical solution, but it was a new thread. A possible way to gather and transport ether slowly but steadily, or at least provide a concentrated energy source for other operations.
Tian Heng glanced at the partial blueprint in his mind, then toward the deactivated guardian in the corner of the cave, then to Lilith, who was approaching him again, her distorted concern clearly visible in her crimson eyes.
The road was still difficult. But now, he had a tangible manufacturing goal, a concrete step that might help break the stalemate. Rest, study the new blueprint, attempt to salvage any useful materials from the guardian, and then begin trying to construct the condenser. That was his new plan.