195: Chapter 195 Sharpening the Sword, Hidden Dangers

Cold light flickered in Ling Ye's eyes. He did not hesitate any longer and immediately began executing the "Accelerated Recovery and Pre-battle Preparation" plan.

Step One: Resource Optimization and Maximum Recovery.

He designated the two cans of military meat and one pack of compressed rations he had found as "Combat Rations" and decided not to use them for now. He continued to eat the small amount of compressed biscuits and high-energy chocolate he had previously found to maintain basic metabolism. He provided himself with plenty of water to accelerate metabolism and detoxification.

He took a painkiller, not for pain relief, but to utilize its mild sedative and focus-enhancing effects to assist in entering a deeper state of meditation. Then, he swallowed the remaining scraps of high-energy nutritional supplement and drank a large amount of fresh water.

He sat cross-legged in the most hidden corner of the safe zone, his back against the cold wall. He closed his eyes, and his consciousness sank into the "Star Visualization," but this time, it was no longer just gentle nourishment. Following the "Star Burning Method" (to be used with caution, as it carries a risk of overdraft) recorded in the Legacy for stimulating life potential and accelerating wound healing in emergencies, he began to guide the light of the "Star Power" he visualized, using a hotter, more concentrated, and more aggressive method to flush and cauterize the major wounds, damaged Meridians, and accumulated hidden injuries within his body!

"Urgh!"

Agonizing pain! It felt as if a red-hot iron was repeatedly searing his wounds, and as if countless fine needles were piercing through his Meridians! Ling Ye's body trembled violently, veins bulged on his forehead, and cold sweat instantly soaked his clothes. But he gritted his teeth, forcibly stabilized his mind, and maintained the operation of the "Star Burning Method."

At the same time, he split off a wisp of his intent, attempting to communicate with the "Ancient Ring" mark deep within his Soul, which had re-established a clear connection, and the slowly flowing faint light inside the "xuanyuan ring" on his right hand. He was not asking for power, but conveying an intent of "preparation for battle" and "need," and trying to guide the extremely faint essential rhythm emitted by both to assist the "Star Burning Method" in stabilizing his own life magnetic field and enhancing his tolerance to pain.

This was an extremely dangerous process, like dancing on a tightrope. Once out of control, the "Star Burning Method" could backfire and worsen his injuries. The weak interference from the "Ancient Ring" and the "bone ring" could also trigger unpredictable fluctuations.

But Ling Ye, relying on the guidance of the Legacy knowledge and his own extremely tenacious will, forcibly controlled this violent recovery process!

Time slipped away amidst the excruciating pain and focus. About two hours later, Ling Ye suddenly opened his eyes and spat out a small mouthful of dark red blood clots containing tiny ice crystals! After spitting out this stagnant blood, he felt the blockage and dull pain in his chest and abdomen greatly reduced, and his breathing became incredibly smooth! A strong itching and burning sensation came from the wounds on his left shoulder and right leg—that was the tissue regenerating at high speed! The gray, cold area on his left arm also seemed to have been seared by the scorching Star Power of the "Star Burning Method," becoming a bit rosier, and the numbness diminished.

The effect was significant! But the cost was also huge. He felt a wave of intense weakness and dizziness wash over him; this was a sign of short-term excessive consumption of life energy. He immediately stopped the "Star Burning Method," switched to the gentlest nourishing meditation, and simultaneously swallowed the last bit of chocolate to replenish his energy.

After resting for about an hour, he felt his state stabilize a bit. Although he was still weak, his body was full of vitality, and his wound healing speed was far beyond normal. He estimated that after another night of normal meditation and recovery, by this time tomorrow, his combat power would at least return to forty to fifty percent of his healthy state! This was already a huge improvement.

Step Two: Intelligence Deepening and Weakness Analysis.

During the recovery interval, he carefully recalled every detail of the black tentacles: speed, strength, attack method (ejection and entanglement), sensitivity to metal/magnetism, and those "clatter" sounds and dark blue ghostly light.

Combining the common characteristics of "abyssal eye" derivatives in the Legacy knowledge with the sporadic records in the notes of Chen Yan and Senior Researcher Chen Qinghe, he made a conjecture:

Biological Type: It is likely some kind of underground arthropod (such as a giant millipede or house centipede) or mollusk (such as a giant worm or octopus variant) that formed a Fusion Mutant after being contaminated by the "abyssal eye," possessing both the defense of a carapace, the flexibility of a soft body, and the agility of tentacles.

Sensing Method: Highly dependent on vibration sensing (sensitive to ground movement), thermal sensing (sensitive to life heat), and possibly special sensing for specific energy or metal (reaction to the magnetic probe). Vision may have degenerated (the dark blue light might be a photoreceptor or pheromone luminescence), but hearing and smell are unknown.

Attack Pattern: Medium-range ejection and entanglement (primary attack), likely possessing the ability to inject paralytic toxins or digestive juices (bone spurs and suckers at the ends of the tentacles). Melee combat method is unknown, but it is estimated not to be weak.

Grouping: The "clatter" sounds and the pervasive "presence" indicate that there is more than one. It might be a small nest. The possibility of coordinated combat must be considered.

Possible Weaknesses:

Fear of strong light/high heat: Most underground creatures and "abyssal eye" derivatives have varying degrees of discomfort or injury from intense light and high temperatures.

Carapace joints/articulations/eyes: Weak points in physical defense.

Repulsion to "Order" energy: The essence of the power of the "Ancient Ring" and the "bone ring" should restrain it, but it cannot be actively activated at the moment.

Actions may rely on sound or pheromone coordination: Interfering with its communication or perception might create chaos.

Step Three: Environmental Utilization and Tactical Planning.

He studied the Warehouse blueprint and the on-site environment again.

Battlefield: South area of the Warehouse, covered with canvas, internal structure unknown, but the space should be relatively open, with a large amount of abandoned machinery and debris that can be used as cover. Disadvantageous to him are the darkness and the opponent's home-field advantage. Advantageous is that he is already familiar with the edges of this area, and he knows several potential structures (such as load-bearing columns and ventilation duct locations) from the blueprint.

Resources on hand:

Weapons: Crowbar (blunt force, prying), pipe wrench (heavy strikes, demolition), multi-functional military knife (piercing, cutting), homemade "probe" (lost).

Tools: High-intensity flashlight (light, potential for blinding), electrical tape, paracord, bolts and nuts, fire axe (need to find?), other chemicals that might be found (such as engine oil, lubricant—can create flammable substances or slippery ground).

Environment: Traps can be set (tripwires, falling objects), machinery can be used as cover, potential power source (generator room? but abandoned).

Special: The weakly recovered connection to the "Ancient Ring" and "bone ring," the "Mental Barrier" of the Legacy, and "Energy Perception."

Tactical Conception (Draft):

Lure the snake out of its hole, divide and conquer: Utilize the Mutant's sensitivity to metal/vibration/heat to create bait (such as tying a metal piece with paracord, connecting the other end to a clockwork device to create continuous vibration; or using stones warmed by body temperature) to lure some individuals out of the nest to a preset ambush zone (such as next to a pile of easily collapsible shelves or machines).

Create chaos, weaken perception: Pre-spill the found lubricant (if found) in the ambush zone to create slippery ground; use the high-intensity flashlight to burst-flash at critical moments to interfere with its potential photoreceptors; throw empty cans to create loud noises to interfere with its hearing and vibration sensing.

Concentrated strike, quick decision: Prioritize attacking the individual that is lured out and isolated. Use the crowbar to strike hard at its potential joints or carapace connections; use the pipe wrench to smash its body or the tentacles attempting to entangle; use the military knife to find an opportunity to stab into the eyes or mouthparts. The attack must be swift and fierce, resolving the fight before it can sound an alarm or receive support from companions.

Fight and retreat, utilize terrain: If outmatched, or if more are drawn in, retreat along the planned route to complex terrain (such as the shelf area, ventilation ducts), utilize narrow spaces to limit their numerical advantage, and set up simple obstacles (push over shelves, set tripwires with paracord).

Ultimate contingency plan: If the situation completely spirals out of control, retreat to the generator room shaft or ventilation ducts, use the narrow entrance to hold the line, or evacuate directly.

Step Four: Pre-battle Preparation and Final Check.

He immediately began to act:

In the depths of the safe zone, he used the rags he found and a small amount of engine oil (scraped from the bottom of an oil drum that hadn't completely leaked) to make a few simple torches (lacking a continuous fire source, but the high-intensity flashlight could ignite them briefly).

He used paracord and bolts to make a few weighted throwing tripwires, ready to be used during retreat.

He checked all weapons and tools to ensure they were handy. He wrapped the handle of the crowbar tightly with electrical tape to prevent slipping.

In the ambush zone (chosen in the middle of the Warehouse, an area that was relatively open but surrounded by toppled machine tools and shelves), he secretly set up a few early warning devices and simple tripwires connected to empty cans with strings.

He carefully studied the evacuation route from the generator room shaft to the ventilation ducts and cleared obstacles at key intersections.

After finishing all this, several more hours had passed. The outside was still pitch black, but according to his mechanical watch and his body's feeling, it should be approaching the pre-dawn of the next day, which was also the darkest and coldest moment.

Ling Ye's state: Wound healing had accelerated, physical strength had recovered to about forty percent, and his Mental Energy was exceptionally active and condensed due to the deep meditation and the aftereffects of the "Star Burning Method." The connection to the "Ancient Ring" mark was stable, faintly emitting a shimmer. The flow of the ghostly light in the "bone ring" was also slightly more active. Although far from his peak, he already had the power to fight.

He swallowed one can of meat from the "Combat Rations" (high heat, high protein) and drank plenty of water. Then he carefully hid the other can and the remaining dry rations.

Finally, he took a long, deep breath, adjusting his state to the best. There was no more confusion or fear in his eyes, only cold calculation and resolute Battle Intent.

It was time.

He picked up the crowbar and the pipe wrench, clipped the high-intensity flashlight to his waist in an easily accessible position, and sheathed the military knife at the side of his boot. He checked the setup and evacuation route one last time.

Then, he disappeared silently into the shadows of the safe zone, like the most patient hunter, slowly approaching the south area of the Warehouse, the darkness that was permeated with a cold "presence" and unknown murderous intent.

The hunt, begins.