391: Chapter 326: Tactical Plan, Victory Lies in Three Minutes

The intelligence brought by the three [Memory Crystals (Incomplete)] was like a lighthouse in the darkness, illuminating the road ahead and precisely outlining both the deadly strengths and equally fatal weaknesses of the Abyssal Contractor, 'Blood Curse · Delaka'.

Inside the preparation space, the air seemed infused with a strange mixture—a heavy pressure intertwined with eager anticipation. On the light screen, the tactical simulation model that Li Mo was rapidly reconstructing based on the new intelligence was running frantically, with countless data streams intersecting and colliding to generate possible combat trajectories and win-rate assessments.

Lin Zhou stood before the main light screen, his hands hovering over the control interface, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, scanning the tactical directions Li Mo had initially deduced. Qin Qing, Wang Meng, and Zhang Jun gathered at his side, holding their breath. Even Su Yueyao, who lay unconscious nearby, seemed to have less of a deathly stillness on her pale face under the changing lights of the screen, as if she carried a hint of anticipation for being awakened.

"The core strategy is clear: avoid his edge, drag out the consumption, and wait for him to collapse on his own." Lin Zhou's voice broke the brief silence, clear and firm. "Delaka's [Abyssal Descent] burst period averages only 180 seconds—three minutes. During these three minutes, his attack intensity will soar to a level we can barely confront head-on. But once the three minutes are over, he will fall into a desperate situation with a damaged godhead, depleted Divine Power, and rampaging kin. Therefore, our goal is not to defeat him within three minutes, but to survive at all costs for those three minutes!"

His fingertips swept across the light screen, calling up a simplified timeline and a chart of combat phases.

"Based on Chen Hai's intelligence, we can divide the battle into four phases:

Phase One: Contact and Probing Period (estimated 0-5 minutes). Delaka is accustomed to using massive amounts of low-tier Abyssal kin and negative status effects to drain us. We need to withstand the pressure without revealing too many of our trump cards; we can even feign weakness to lure him into entering the next phase as quickly as possible.

Phase Two: Sacrifice Guidance Period (estimated 5-15 minutes, depending on our resistance). When conventional consumption fails to make decisive progress, Delaka will begin preparing the sacrificial ritual to launch [Abyssal Descent]. This phase has a 5-10 second guidance time, which is the critical window for interference and interruption!

Phase Three: Abyssal Burst Period (precise estimate: 180 seconds). [Abyssal Descent] is completed, and Delaka gains super-spec power. This is the only phase we need to 'hard-resist.' Core mission: maximize survival, minimize losses, and drag it out for 180 seconds!

Phase Four: Backlash Harvesting Period (after 180 seconds). Delaka himself will be weak, and his kin will be rampaging. We shift from all-out defense to a full-scale counterattack, with our target aimed directly at his undefended divine domain core!"

Lin Zhou's gaze swept over everyone: "The core of the strategy lies in the third phase. How can we minimize our losses and drag out the time to the limit within these 180 seconds? My plan is to build a multi-layered, three-dimensional, highly resilient, and flexible 'delayed consumption' defense system. Specifically, it means using the Mohist Mechanical Arts as the bone, the Daoist Formation as the connective tissue, the School of Military's command as the veins, and Confucian Righteousness as the soul to build nine layers of defense! Blockade layer by layer, fight step by step; every time a layer is breached, we must make him pay with time and consume his burst power!"

"Nine layers?" Wang Meng's eyes widened. "How long can each layer hold?"

Lin Zhou called up a detailed structural diagram of the defensive line, where the nine layers of defense were interlocked, the colors deepening from the outside in, representing different defensive focuses and intensities.

"According to Li Mo's simulation and the estimated average attack intensity during the opponent's burst period, we have carefully designed the 'effective delay time' for each layer to be about twenty seconds. Nine layers total 180 seconds, exactly covering his burst period!" Lin Zhou pointed to the structural diagram. "Of course, in actual combat, affected by attack intensity, our status, and random factors, the time will fluctuate. But this is our design goal."

He detailed the Concept of the nine-layer defense:

[Layer 1: Mohist Mechanisms · Consumption Delay Zone]

Located at the outermost perimeter of the divine Domain. It consists of massive amounts of the lowest-level [Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse · Reconnaissance Type] (Rank LV1 - LV5, extremely low attributes, skill: [Self-Destruct Lv.1] causing weak area damage and slowing effects) and [Simple Earth Spike Traps] and [Tripwire Traps]. This layer barely consumes precious Materials; its purpose is to consume the opponent's lowest-tier kin, create slight chaos, slightly delay the advance speed, and create a false impression of 'is that all?' to make the opponent underestimate us. Designed delay time: 20 seconds.

[Layer 2: Daoist Formation · Maze Distraction Zone]

Closely following the first layer. Led by Zhang Jun (if partially recovered), assisted by some Behemoth Warriors under Wang Meng who possess basic intelligence, quickly setting up simple [Small Maze Formations] and [Mind-Clearing Talisman] areas. The Maze Formation disrupts the sense of direction of low-tier Abyssal creatures, and the Mind-Clearing Talisman weakly resists negative mental states like fear and pain. Not intended to trap the enemy, just to further disrupt their Formation and delay their advance. Designed delay time: 20 seconds.

[Layer 3: School of Military Feint · Virtual-Real Interlaced Zone]

Using terrain and a small number of mobile units (such as Behemoth hunting squads, Mohist light mechanical beasts) to create fake targets, feinting, and attracting fire. At the same time, Qin Qing's Law Domain begins to expand on a small scale, defining "chaotic charges" in this area as inefficient, slightly reducing the enemy group's charge speed. Designed delay time: 20 seconds.

[Layer 4: Mohist Mechanisms · Heavy Firepower Blockade Zone]

The real defense begins. Composed of clusters of [Mechanical Repeating Crossbow Towers] (Ordinary building, range 300 meters, fast fire rate, effective against light armor units) and a small number of [Mechanical War Beasts · Armor-Piercing Type] (Rank LV25 - LV30, skills: [Heavy Strike Lv.2], [Charge Lv.2]). Combined with Wang Meng's Behemoth Heavy Shield Bearers (Elite unit, Rank LV40+, skill: [Shield Wall Lv.3]) to form the first physical defensive line. Goal: inflict massive casualties on the enemy's low-to-mid-tier kin, forcing Delaka to invest more attention or elite units. Designed delay time: 20 seconds.

[Layer 5: Confucian-Legalist Combination · Order Weakening Zone]

The defense begins to integrate rule-based confrontation. Low-tier scholars among the Literary Heart Elves collectively chant passages from "the analects" and "Mencius", stimulating a small-scale [Vast Righteous Qi] (weak) to weaken the chaotic aura of the Abyss. At the same time, Qin Qing's Law Domain officially expands a portion, performing "Order Reinforcement" and "Defining Erosion" on this area (e.g., defining "Abyssal Corrosion" effect reduced by 10%). Zhang Jun can set up [Hold-Fast Runes] and [Exorcism Runes] (one-time use) at key nodes in this layer. Designed delay time: 20 seconds. Starting from this layer, the opponent may detect anomalies and accelerate their advance.

[Layer 6: Daoist Core · Yin and Yang Trapping Zone]

The center of defense. Remotely controlled by Li Mo, mobilizing the [Bagua Formation Plate] (Rare item, can quickly set up a simplified Bagua Formation) stored in the divine Domain as the core, combined with the highest-level [Two Instruments Dust Formation (Simplified Version)] (Rare rune Formation) that Zhang Jun can set up after recovery, to construct a composite Formation area that has both defensive, trapping, and energy-disturbing effects. This Formation does not seek to kill the enemy, but only to trap, divert, and delay the enemy's main force to the maximum extent, especially the elite units that may appear or the first wave of powerful attacks that Delaka's main body may launch. Wang Meng's elite Behemoths and Mohist medium mechanical beasts (such as [Mechanical War Beast · Mountain-Suppressing Type], Rank LV35 - LV40, high defense) serve as the guardians of the Formation eyes. Designed delay time: 25 seconds (Critical layer, +5 seconds).

[Layer 7: Mohist Wonder · Non-Aggression Barrier Zone]

Using one of the trump cards. Led by Li Mo, consuming a large amount of stored resources, pre-constructing or quickly deploying a [Mohist Mechanical City · Micro Projection] (Epic-level War Wonder, core carrier of the [Non-Aggression Barrier] skill) at key positions of the defensive line. Activating its skill [Non-Aggression Barrier · Pseudo] (because it is a projection and resources are limited, the effect is far inferior to the full version), forming a powerful regional absolute defense barrier, theoretically capable of blocking attacks below Divine-Grade for a period of time. This layer is the key to delaying the core attacks of the burst period! Designed delay time: 30 seconds (Core layer, +10 seconds).

[Layer 8: Hundred Schools Convergence · seed of civilization Zone]

The innermost layer of defense, adjacent to the divine domain core area. Lin Zhou sits in command personally, mobilizing the river of civilization Concept, fusing the Confucian "The Benevolent is Invincible" guardian belief, the Legalist "Law is Like a Mountain" Order iron rule, and the School of Military's "Immovable as a Mountain" defensive essence to form a [Civilization Pure Land]. Within this area, the kin's morale, defense, and recovery abilities receive maximum bonuses, and resistance to chaos and erosion-type effects is significantly increased. At the same time, Lin Zhou will prepare for the worst-case scenario in this layer—if the first seven layers are breached too quickly, he will have to use the [Scroll of Civilization] or directly use the Fire of Civilization to hard-resist, fighting for the final time. Designed delay time: 25 seconds (Because it is close to the core, the pressure is greatest).

[Layer 9: divine domain core · Final Fortress]

The divine domain core itself, after reinforcement by Lin Zhou using the Fire of Civilization and fused Void Realm divinity, is already the final barrier. There is no depth to speak of here; once breached, it means the final battle. Designed delay time: 10 seconds (Symbolic, in reality, it is the core offensive and defensive battle).

"Nine layers of defense, advancing layer by layer, with complementary functions." Lin Zhou summarized. "From the consumption and harassment at the outermost periphery to the rule-based confrontation and physical obstruction in the middle layers, to the absolute defense and core reinforcement in the inner layers. Every time a layer is breached, it means Delaka's power is consumed, time is dragged out, while we gradually retreat to preserve our effective strength. The core idea is: trade space for time, trade consumption for survival!"

Qin Qing's eyes shone with brilliance: "Nine layers of defense, interlocked, with virtual and real elements. Especially the rule-based confrontation and Formation trapping in the fifth and sixth layers, as well as the [Non-Aggression Barrier] in the seventh layer, are the keys to delaying. If we can successfully interfere with his ritual during the Sacrifice Guidance Period (Phase Two), we might even be able to postpone or weaken his burst period, winning us more buffer."

Wang Meng rubbed his hands together: "The first four layers are no problem for my Behemoths and the Mohist brothers! My Behemoths are best at fighting this kind of tough battle with layered defense! I'll guard the Formation eye in the sixth layer, and my personal guard unit guarantees that not even an Abyssal fly will get in!"

Although Zhang Jun was weak, he tried his best to straighten his body: "Captain, give me 24 hours, and I can recover to the level of setting up the sixth-layer core Formation and part of the fifth-layer runes. The Rune Gnome engineers have already started rushing to produce the substrates for the [Hold-Fast Runes] and [Exorcism Runes]."

Li Mo's projection flickered: "The resource allocation plan has been optimized based on the defensive line design. The list of resources required for manufacturing mechanical beasts, building mechanical city projections, refining Formation Plates, and drawing runes has been synchronized to everyone. Some scarce Materials need to be urgently exchanged using competition honor points, and the application has been submitted. Tactical simulation is currently conducting stress tests based on the nine-layer defense model. Preliminary win-rate assessment... Under ideal conditions (each layer's delay time is met, partial success in interfering with the Sacrifice Guidance Period), the probability of dragging the battle into the fourth phase (Backlash Period) is: 78.5%."

78.5%! This was a quite encouraging number! It meant that as long as the tactics were executed properly, they had a great hope of avoiding the opponent's sharpest spearhead and seizing its most vulnerable throat!

Lin Zhou nodded, but there was not much joy on his face. He knew that this 78.5% was based on "ideal conditions." In actual combat, Delaka was not a fool. Seeing the layered defenses, he might change his tactics, such as recklessly launching a larger-scale sacrifice ahead of time, or using more devious infiltration methods. The Abyssal Contractor's power was also full of variables, and no one could guarantee that unexpected abilities would not appear within that "three-minute" burst period.

"Simulation is just a simulation after all." Lin Zhou said in a deep voice. "We must prepare for the worst. Li Mo, add a few extreme case contingency plans: First, Delaka launches the sacrifice directly at the start, skipping the consumption phase; Second, the [Abyssal Descent] burst intensity far exceeds the estimation, piercing through our key defensive lines ahead of time (especially the seventh layer); Third, the time point or form of his kin's rampage changes. For these, we need backup plans."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and finally landed on the defensive line structural diagram on the central light screen, his fingers tapping emphatically on the area between the seventh layer (Non-Aggression Barrier) and the eighth layer (seed of civilization).

"If... the speed at which the first seven layers of defense are breached far exceeds expectations, and the seventh layer [Non-Aggression Barrier] cannot hold until the scheduled time." Lin Zhou's voice carried a hint of determination. "Then, at the moment the seventh layer is broken, I will directly activate the final contingency plan—at the cost of consuming my godhead Origin and a large amount of civilization points, I will forcibly deploy the [Scroll of Civilization], attempting to temporarily Seal Delaka's main body or his most deadly attack into the scroll! Even if it can only Seal him for a few dozen seconds, it can buy us crucial breathing time to drag it out until the Backlash Period arrives!"

Everyone was shocked. Using the [Scroll of Civilization] to Seal the main body or full-force attack of a Mid-Tier Divine Power opponent? The consumption and risk were undoubtedly huge, perhaps even greater than when confronting the Mother Empress's Annihilation Halo. But this was the final resort in a desperate situation.

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison, their eyes becoming even more firm. With clear tactics and the determination to deal with the worst-case scenario, the anxiety in their hearts was suppressed.

"Good!" Lin Zhou took a deep breath. "For the remaining time, everyone enters the highest state of preparation! Li Mo is responsible for resource coordination and tactical fine-tuning; Qin Qing is responsible for the deep deduction of the Law Domain and rule-based confrontation; Wang Meng is responsible for the coordinated drills of the Behemoth Legion and the defenders of each defensive line; Zhang Jun, you recover with all your strength, prioritizing the layout of the sixth-layer Formation. I will optimize the reinforcement plan of the river of civilization for each layer of defense and prepare the forced activation plan for the [Scroll of Civilization]."

His gaze finally fell on the sleeping Su Yueyao, his voice low but seemingly containing infinite power: "In this battle, we must not only win, but win beautifully. For the honor of Star Sea, for the fallen companions, and also... to get the resources and qualifications to treat Yue Yao as soon as possible!"

"Victory is certain!"

The low roar echoed in the preparation space. The blueprint for the nine-layer defense line had been drawn, and the tactical plan to drag out the three minutes was complete. Xinghai University, this scarred yet high-spirited warship, had adjusted its course and was moving forward fearlessly toward the storm of the Abyss.

The countdown continued to tick. The final test was coming.