Chapter 81: Scenario XII

The researchers continued examining the crystal structure.

After recording its external arrangement, they began measuring the spiritual energy circulating through its connections. The readings were weak, but the energy seemed to follow a repeating pattern.

One of the researchers adjusted his instrument.

"Research Guardian Lorian, I’ve detected something unusual."

Lorian approached him.

"What is it?"

"The energy inside the crystal isn’t circulating continuously. It rises for a few seconds, then decreases before rising again."

"Is it following a regular interval?"

"Yes. The pattern repeats every thirty-seven seconds."

Ryan looked toward the crystal.

A repeating energy pattern wasn’t unusual in ancient spiritual constructs. However, the fact that the crystal was still following a fixed interval after remaining dormant for so many years was interesting.

He examined the connections again.

"Could it be sending signals?" Ryan asked.

Lorian turned toward him.

"What makes you think that?"

"The energy doesn’t seem to be circulating randomly. It gathers inside the crystal before spreading through the surrounding connections. If this structure is connected to other chambers, perhaps it’s sending something through the network."

Orven nodded.

"That would explain the repeating intervals. It might have been designed to transmit information at fixed periods."

Alden looked toward the crystal.

"Can we determine where the signals are going?"

"Not from here," Lorian replied. "We can only observe the energy entering and leaving the structure. We don’t know which connections lead to the other chambers."

Ryan studied the arrangement.

There were six main connections extending from the crystal, each leading toward a different platform. However, only four of the platforms showed signs of receiving energy.

The remaining two appeared completely inactive.

He pointed them out.

"These two connections aren’t responding."

One of the researchers checked his instrument.

"That’s correct. There’s almost no energy passing through them."

"Are they damaged?" Ryan asked.

The researcher examined the readings again.

"I’m not certain. The connections themselves appear intact, but they’re not receiving energy."

Orven crouched near one of the inactive platforms.

"Perhaps the structures connected to them have been destroyed."

Lorian considered the possibility.

"That would explain the lack of response. We should record their positions and compare them with the facility map."

The researcher marked both platforms on the diagram.

Ryan looked at the remaining four.

If each connection led to another chamber, then the crystal might have been communicating with several different sections of the facility.

Perhaps it wasn’t simply a receiving station.

It could be a communication hub.

He wrote down the possibility but didn’t share it immediately. They still needed more evidence.

After completing the measurements, Lorian instructed everyone to move away from the crystal.

"We’ve collected enough information for now. Don’t attempt to activate it or interfere with its connections."

The researchers began packing their equipment.

However, just as Ryan was putting away his notebook, the crystal produced another pulse.

A faint silver light spread across its surface.

This time, the light was slightly stronger.

The four active platforms responded almost simultaneously.

"Wait!"

One of the researchers raised his instrument.

"The energy output has increased!"

Alden immediately looked toward the Combat Guardians.

"Everyone, maintain your positions."

The silver light gradually spread from the crystal toward the surrounding platforms. Several engravings on the floor became visible, forming a circular pattern around the central structure.

Ryan stepped back with the others.

He watched the light carefully.

The energy didn’t appear unstable. Instead, it followed the same repeating pattern they had observed earlier, although its intensity had increased.

Then the light disappeared.

The crystal returned to its previous state.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

One of the researchers checked his instrument.

"The energy output has returned to normal."

Lorian examined the readings.

"Did anyone notice what triggered the increase?"

The researcher shook his head.

"We didn’t activate anything."

Orven looked toward the platforms.

"Could it have responded to our instruments?"

"That seems unlikely," Lorian replied. "Our equipment only measures the energy. It doesn’t interfere with the structure."

Ryan glanced at the crystal.

He had another possibility in mind.

The fragment.

It was currently secured in the expedition’s storage equipment, carried by one of the researchers. The crystal might have responded to it in the same way the sealing formation had reacted outside the facility.

"Research Guardian Lorian," Ryan said, "could we compare the crystal’s reaction with the fragment?"

Lorian looked at him.

"You think they’re connected?"

"The fragment reacted to the entrance formation and the first chamber’s engraving. Since this structure appears to be part of the same network, it might respond as well."

Lorian considered the suggestion.

"That is worth investigating, but we won’t bring the fragment close to the crystal without taking precautions."

He turned toward Alden.

"Captain, I’d like to conduct a controlled observation."

Alden looked at the crystal before answering.

"Can you ensure it won’t destabilize the chamber?"

"We can maintain a safe distance and monitor the energy output. If anything unusual happens, we’ll immediately move the fragment away."

Alden thought for a moment before nodding.

"Very well. But nobody is to make direct contact with the structure."

The researcher carrying the fragment was called over.

He placed its secured container on the floor several meters away from the crystal.

At first, there was no reaction.

Lorian instructed him to move it slightly closer.

The researcher followed his instructions.

A faint silver light appeared inside the container.

Ryan immediately recognized the reaction.

It was the same pulse they had observed outside the facility.

The crystal responded a moment later.

Its surface began glowing, and the four active platforms produced faint lights.

One of the researchers stared at his instrument.

"The energy pattern has changed!"

Lorian leaned closer to examine the readings.

"Record everything."

The crystal produced another pulse.

This time, the energy spread through all six connections.

Even the two previously inactive platforms responded.

However, their light was much weaker than that of the other four.

Ryan watched the arrangement carefully.

’So the fragment can establish a connection with this structure as well.’

The energy continued circulating for several seconds before gradually weakening.

Then something unexpected happened.

A faint silver line appeared on the floor between the crystal and the nearest platform.

It extended toward the eastern wall before stopping.

Ryan immediately noticed its direction.

"That connection..."

Lorian followed his gaze.

"What’s wrong?"

"The light isn’t spreading randomly. It’s following one of the connections."

The researchers examined the floor.

After removing some of the dust, they discovered a thin engraving extending from the platform toward the eastern passage.

It was almost invisible beneath the accumulated dirt.

Orven crouched beside it.

"This connection was hidden beneath the floor."

Lorian looked toward the eastern wall.

"Does it lead to another chamber?"

One of the researchers took out the facility map.

He examined the marked passage before answering.

"According to the surviving records, there should be another room in that direction."

Alden turned toward the Combat Guardians.

"Check the eastern passage. Don’t proceed too far until we’ve confirmed its condition."

Two Guardians moved toward the passage while the researchers continued examining the newly revealed engraving.

Ryan looked at the fragment’s container.

The connection had appeared only after the fragment was brought closer.

That suggested the fragment wasn’t merely compatible with the network.

It might have been capable of restoring some of its original functions.

However, the reaction had been temporary.

Perhaps the fragment needed to be placed in its original position to establish a stable connection.

Or perhaps the network itself was too damaged to maintain one.

Either way, they had gained another important clue.

A few minutes later, the Combat Guardians returned.

"The eastern passage is clear. It leads to another chamber. We haven’t detected any immediate threats."

Alden nodded.

"Good. We’ll inspect it next."

Lorian looked toward the crystal.

"We should leave this structure untouched for now. The fragment’s reaction has already given us enough information."

The researcher carefully secured the container again.

The team gathered their equipment and moved toward the eastern passage.

As they entered, Ryan glanced back at the crystal one last time.

The faint silver light had completely disappeared.

Yet he couldn’t help wondering what would happen if they managed to restore the entire network.

If the structures were still capable of communicating after centuries of neglect, then the ancient facility might contain knowledge far beyond anything the modern League had discovered.

And the mysterious fragment could be the key to understanding it.

Ryan followed the others into the next chamber.

Unlike the previous rooms, this one contained several large stone panels arranged along the walls. Each panel had numerous engravings, and some appeared to contain symbols rather than ordinary spiritual thread patterns.

Lorian stopped near the entrance.

"Interesting. These might be records."

Orven examined the nearest panel.

"They look like instructions for constructing something."

Ryan approached another panel.

The engravings were damaged, but several sections remained intact.

He carefully examined them.

At first, the symbols appeared unfamiliar. However, after comparing their arrangements, he noticed that some of them resembled the markings found around the spiritual constructs.

There were also several repeated patterns.

Ryan took out his notebook and began copying them.

Lorian noticed his activity.

"Have you recognized something?"

"Not yet. But these symbols seem to be related to the structures we’ve found."

Lorian approached the panel.

"Then record everything you can. We might be looking at the original documentation of the network."

The researchers immediately began inspecting the remaining panels.

For the first time since entering the facility, they had discovered something that might directly explain how the ancient system was designed.

And Ryan intended to examine every surviving record carefully.