57: Final Deployment! The Value of Archaeologists!

"Old Qin, the source of these things is currently classified as top secret."

General Long stepped forward and said in a steady voice,

"What we need you to do now is use your expertise to help us decipher the meaning behind these symbols."

Academician Qin Ming was now completely immersed in academic fervor.

Although he was curious about the source of these symbols, he was even more eager to unlock the secrets they contained.

He was like a thirsty traveler who had found an oasis in the desert, not even stopping to wonder why it was there.

"Good! Good! No problem!"

Old Qin nodded excitedly, pointing to a set of patterns on the screen.

"Look here, this pattern composed of a cobra, a vulture, and papyrus is not an ordinary decoration; it is a royal emblem representing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. And this string of symbols next to it, according to my interpretation, should be a warning."

He put on his reading glasses, leaned in closer, and muttered to himself.

"'Children of the Sun, do not set foot in the Pharaoh's resting place, otherwise, the wrath of the dead will devour your souls...' Hiss, this is a typical tomb curse inscription."

Li Guodong was stunned as he listened and couldn't help asking, "Old Qin, this curse... is it real or fake? Will it work?"

"In our world, this is of course nonsense."

Old Qin shook his head, then his tone shifted, and his expression became serious.

"But in that dungeon world you mentioned, I suggest you treat it as real. Every symbol could correspond to a fatal trap."

Su Yuan immediately compared Old Qin's interpretation with the clearance hint in his system.

"clearance hint 2: The interior of the pyramid is filled with various fatal traps and ancient puzzles..."

It matched perfectly!

Moreover, Old Qin's interpretation was much more detailed than the system prompt!

Su Yuan's heart stirred, and he converted the hints about the three keys and the guardian into some blurred patterns and symbols to show Old Qin.

"Old Qin, take a look at this too."

Old Qin's eyes lit up again when he saw the new patterns.

"This... this is the Scarab Emblem of the Sun God Ra! It represents rebirth and creation!"

"This is the Ankh, the Symbol of Life! It represents life and eternity!"

"And this is the scale of the jackal-headed god Anubis! He uses it to judge the hearts of the dead, representing death and judgment!"

Old Qin became more excited as he spoke. He pointed at the three patterns and asserted, "If I'm not mistaken, the three keys you're looking for are hidden in secret rooms related to these three deities! Sun, Life, and Death! It matches perfectly!"

"As for this..." Old Qin's gaze fell on the last pattern, which was about the guardian.

It was a mural of a winged humanoid creature bound by chains.

"Is this... the Great Sphinx?"

Old Qin frowned, "No, the Sphinx doesn't have wings... This is more like... the Soul Guards who guarded the Pharaoh's tomb in myths and legends. Legend has it they possessed wisdom and great power but were imprisoned by the Pharaoh for some reason."

Old Qin's interpretation cleared away layer after layer of fog for Su Yuan and the others.

Li Guodong watched in awe. He finally understood why General Long had gone to such lengths to invite this old gentleman.

"Great!" Li Guodong said excitedly to Lin Zhan. "With Old Qin's help, we can formulate an action plan for Wang Yi and the others that is precise down to every step!"

"Which secret room to go to first for a key, which one to go to next, what traps might be encountered along the way, what the answers to the puzzles are... We can plan all of this in advance!"

Although Lin Zhan didn't speak, his slight nod and the undisguised approval in his eyes said it all.

An hour later.

The twenty members of the Dragon Team, now refreshed and ready, were gathered in the conference room again.

This time, they met the grey-haired archaeologist, Academician Qin Ming.

"This is Old Qin. Moving forward, he will serve as your remote tactical consultant, providing real-time guidance on solving puzzles and disarming traps via a dedicated line," Li Guodong introduced to everyone.

Wang Yi and the others immediately saluted Old Qin.

They looked at this elder who, though aged, had eyes sparkling with wisdom, and their hearts were filled with respect.

Subsequently, Lin Zhan personally issued the final combat deployment to them.

"...According to Old Qin's analysis, the first floor of the pyramid mainly consists of physical traps and ordinary mummies. You need to use Wu Qiong's Space Flicker ability and Chen Hu's great strength to pass through quickly."

"The second floor will feature a large number of puzzles and Necromancers; this is your focus. You must act strictly according to Old Qin's instructions and must not touch anything without authorization. Zhao Zihan, your long-range sniping, and Li Bingyao's healing will be key to this floor."

"As for the third floor, that is where the Pharaoh King is located. Wang Yi, you will act as the main attacker, using your lightning ability and the 'Holy Enchantment Scroll' we prepared for you to deliver a fatal blow!"

"The others will be responsible for clearing out the minions and protecting the communication line between Old Qin and the Command Center, creating the best environment for Wang Yi's damage output!"

Lin Zhan's voice was powerful and resonant, every word filled with unquestionable authority.

"Do you understand?!"

"Understood!" the twenty team members roared in unison, the sound shaking the roof.

Next was the distribution of the latest equipment.

Improved flamethrowers with greater power and more fuel.

Special incendiary bombs and high-explosive flashbangs.

And those twenty precious beginner holy enchantment scrolls, personally exchanged by Su Yuan.

Wang Yi carefully tucked away his own scroll close to his body.

He knew that this thin piece of paper might be the key to whether they could defeat the final boss.

Everything was ready.

Everyone changed into light, breathable special operations uniforms designed specifically for the desert environment.

They stood in the center of the Command Center, their postures upright and their momentum like a rainbow.

There was not a trace of tension or fear on their faces, only the excitement and confidence of about to step onto the battlefield.

Su Yuan looked at them, his heart filled with emotion.

Just a day ago, they were merely ordinary elites.

And now, every one of them was a super warrior capable of taking on a hundred enemies alone.

This was the change brought by the national destiny arena!

General Long walked to the front of the team. He looked at Wang Yi and these twenty young, determined faces, and said in a deep voice:

"Children, the future of the Dragon Kingdom is once again in your hands!"

"Remember, you are not fighting alone. Behind you stand 1.4 billion fellow citizens of the Dragon Kingdom! The entire nation stands behind you!"

"Go! Let the whole world see the power of our Dragon Kingdom!"

"Yes!"

Just then, that cold mechanical voice resounded throughout the Command Center.

It also echoed in the minds of everyone in the world.

[Global Announcement: Initial dungeon No. 2, the Crimson Pyramid, is about to open!]

[Contestants from all countries will be teleported to the dungeon world in one minute!]

[Countdown begins: 59, 58, 57...]

The final countdown had begun.

Wang Yi took a deep breath. He turned his head and exchanged glances with Li Bingyao, Chen Hu, Zhao Zihan, Wu Qiong, and the others; they all saw the blazing fighting spirit in each other's eyes.

Then, he led the entire team in giving the most standard and forceful military salute to General Long, Lin Zhan, Li Guodong, Su Yuan, and everyone who had put their heart and soul into supporting them!

"We guarantee the mission will be completed!"

Su Yuan looked at them and nodded heavily.

Go, my heroes.

Go and create a new glory belonging to the Dragon Kingdom!

Under everyone's gaze, the countdown moved toward its end second by second.

[...3, 2, 1!]

[Teleportation beginning!]