14: Echoes from the Deep! Whispers of the Ancient Guardian!

Deep Blue 01's massive hull cut through the dark blue waves of the South China Sea, like a lonely pilgrim, heading towards the sea area marked as the last trace of poseidon's eye — the edge of the Manila Trench.

Beneath the surface was an abyss thousands of meters deep, devouring countless lights.

On the bridge, the atmosphere was solemn and focused.

In the center of the huge integrated display console, the complex interface representing the [Primary Deep Sea Sonar Array] was already lit, with various parameters and data streams refreshing like a waterfall.

“Report, Captain! Arriving at the designated coordinates! Depth: edge of the trench, average water depth 3500 meters!” the voice of the Deep Sea Eye array operator carried a hint of imperceptible tension.

“Very good,” Lin Feng stood in front of the command console, his gaze sharp, “Activate the array! Full power scan! Frequency coverage: active low-frequency penetration, passive acoustic signature monitoring, energy field sensing! Target: seabed geological structure anomalies, energy accumulation points, large biological signals! Begin initial abyss exploration!”

“Yes! Array activated! Full power scan initiated!” The operator pressed the activation button.

Buzz—

A deep, infrasonic pulse, as if capable of penetrating the soul, shot out from the specialized emission array below the bow of Deep Blue 01, silently piercing into the endless darkness below.

At the same time, the precise receiving units in the array, like countless ears, captured the most subtle echoes from the abyss.

On the screen, the vertical axis representing the sound wave return time continuously extended, and the horizontal axis representing the detection range slowly expanded.

The first returns were clear seawater layer signals, followed by the relatively flat but sediment-covered seabed contour.

As the detection depth continuously increased, the image on the screen began to blur and distort, as if covered by a thick layer of fog.

“Report! Below 1500 meters, sound wave scattering is abnormally severe! Signal attenuation is drastic! Suspected existence of… a high-density energy interference field!” The operator stared intently at the screen, his brows furrowed.

The sonar image became fragmented, making it difficult to form a clear picture.

[Warning: High-intensity, non-uniform energy field interference detected! Source depth: 2000-4000 meters.]

[Interference characteristics: Highly consistent with poseidon's eye energy readings and sea god's tears ore energy spectrum!]

[Deep Sea Eye array detection efficiency reduced to 45% of estimated! Clear imaging difficult!]

The system's alarm confirmed the operator's findings.

The depths of that sea area were indeed enveloped by the powerful energy field emanating from poseidon's eye!

“Switch to passive listening mode! Filter specific energy bands! Attempt to capture biological signals or… other anomalous sound sources!” Lin Feng calmly ordered.

If direct penetration wasn't working, he would try a different way to listen.

The operator quickly adjusted the parameters.

The active sonar pulse stopped, and the array entered a state of absolute “silent listening.”

The bridge instantly fell silent, with only the faint hum of instruments operating.

Everyone held their breath, as if they could hear their own heartbeats.

Time passed minute by minute.

On the passive sonar screen, apart from background ocean noise (water currents, crustal movements, small biological activity), there was complete silence.

The silence of the abyss carried a suffocating sense of oppression.

“Depth 2500 meters… no effective signal…”

“Depth 3000 meters… background noise increased… suspected large ocean current activity…”

“Depth 3500 meters… wait! Something's happening!” The operator's voice suddenly rose, with an incredible astonishment, “Detecting… non-natural sound source! Repeat! Non-natural sound source! Bearing: directly below, 15 degrees east! Depth: approximately 3800 meters! Acoustic signature… complex! Contains low-frequency pulses, high-frequency harmonics… and also… regular, repeating structures!”

He quickly performed noise reduction, amplification, and analysis on the captured acoustic signal.

A peculiar, complex sound, like ancient chime bells struck by water currents, mixed with deep hums and sharp harmonics, was clearly played!

This sound carried an indescribable sense of rhythm, absolutely not something any known marine creature or geological activity could produce!

“What… what is this sound?” Deputy Captain Gao Qiang felt his scalp tingle.

“It’s… it’s like… some kind of… mechanical operation? Or… some kind of signal?” The sonar operator's voice was full of uncertainty.

[Warning: High-complexity non-biological acoustic signal detected!]

[Signal analysis: Contains multiple encrypted information layers (preliminary judgment) and energy carrier fluctuations.]

[Signal source localization: Coordinates locked! Located beneath a steep cliff on the target seabed!]

[Threat assessment: Unknown! High vigilance recommended!]

An unknown signal!

Coming from the abyss at nearly 4000 meters!

Was it emitted by poseidon's eye itself? Or… something guarding it?

“Energy field sensing module! Focus on the signal source area! Maximum power!” Lin Feng's heart was also pounding.

This discovery was too astonishing!

The energy sensing image quickly overlaid the sonar localization point.

At a depth of 3800 meters, in the shadow of a submarine cliff, an extremely strong, vortex-shaped energy source signal clearly appeared!

Its core brightness far exceeded the surrounding diffused energy field!

And around it… at the edge of the screen, several faint but rapidly moving large biological signals flashed by!

Extremely fast!

Acoustic signature… highly similar to the “toothed barracuda” and Leviathan Larva encountered previously!

They seemed to be attracted or disturbed by this signal!

“Deep-sea behemoths! More than one! They are active near the signal source!” Chen Hai's voice carried a chill.

“The abyss… indeed hides great terror.” Lin Feng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, “Continue monitoring the signal source and the movements of the behemoths! Record all data! Array maintain passive listening! Do not actively provoke!”

The exploration continued in a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

That peculiar, regular signal appeared approximately every 30 minutes, each time lasting 1-2 minutes, like the breath or heartbeat of some sleeping giant.

Each time the signal appeared, the fluctuations in the surrounding energy field intensified, and the activity of those deep-sea behemoths also became more frequent and agitated, but they seemed to be wary of something, not daring to approach the core area of the signal source too closely.

Time slowly approached the 12-hour continuous scan required by the system mission.

“Captain! The energy field sensor has captured new changes!” The operator suddenly shouted, “In the core area of the signal source… the center point of the energy vortex… a tiny… geometric structure reflection signal has appeared! Very regular! It looks like… an artificial object?!”

The image was magnified and enhanced.

In the center of the intense energy vortex, a blurred but exceptionally straight-edged geometric outline, resembling the base of a pyramid or the top of a huge platform, vaguely emerged!

Although obscured by the distorted energy field and thick sediment (sonar showed the sediment layer in this area was abnormally thick), those unnatural angles were clearly visible!

“Pyramid?! An underwater pyramid?!” A collective gasp echoed on the bridge!

This discovery completely overturned everyone's understanding!

[Warning: Suspected large artificial structure signal detected! Located in the poseidon's eye energy core area!]

[Structural analysis: Geometric shape highly regular, material reflection characteristics abnormal (not known rock or metal), surface covered with thick biological sediment and energy crystals.]

[Threat assessment: Extremely high! This structure may be the core controller or generator of the energy field!]

[Mission: Initial Abyss Exploration - Objective 3 (Recover at least one set of valid detection data) Completed!]

[Gained: Energy/Points +1500]

[Gained: “Deep Sea Unmanned Probe (Basic Type)” Blueprint x 1]

[Unlocked: poseidon's eye Phase 1 Information: Confirmed as a strong energy source, directly linked to ancient underwater artificial architecture! Codename updated: Abyss Obelisk (tentative)!]

[Gained: Special Talent Recruitment Clue - Dr. Isabel Chen (Deep Sea Archaeologist/Linguist) (Last known location: Pre-disaster, Pan-Asia Deep Sea Research Institute, Manila)]

Information surged through Lin Feng's mind like a tsunami!

Underwater pyramid (obelisk)! Was the poseidon's eye energy source an artificial structure? An ancient civilization?

The significance of this discovery was far beyond imagination!

And that special talent clue pointed directly to the key to unraveling this ancient mystery!

“Record! All data! Encrypt and save at the highest level!” Lin Feng's voice carried an imperceptible tremor, “Array scan time is up! Mission complete! Prepare to withdraw!”

“Yes! Stop scanning! Array entering standby mode! Recovering data!” The operator immediately complied.

Deep Blue 01 began to slowly turn, preparing to leave this deep sea area full of unknowns and dangers.

However, just as the array stopped scanning and the active sonar was turned off!

Whoosh—!!!

An unprecedented, extremely sharp scream, full of pain and savagery, suddenly erupted from the passive sonar!

This sound seemed to act directly on the soul, making everyone on the bridge feel a chill in their hearts!

Immediately after, on the sonar screen, multiple huge signals representing deep-sea behemoths, like an enraged swarm, suddenly surged upwards from the abyss!

Their speed far exceeded before!

Their target… was Deep Blue 01, which was ascending!

“Warning! Warning! Multiple targets ascending at high speed! Depth 3000 meters… 2500 meters… 2000 meters! Speed… 50 knots! Targets locked onto this ship! Threat level: extremely high!” The sonar operator's voice was hoarse with terror!

“Leviathan! They are adults! More than one!” Gao Qiang looked at the terrifying signals on the screen, several times larger than the previous “larva,” his face pale!

“Full ship anti-submarine combat deployment! Maximum combat speed! Evasive maneuvers!” Lin Feng roared, his adrenaline surging!

“Torpedo tubes ready! Active sonar guidance lock! Depth charges set to 1500 meters! Saturation deployment!”

“CIWS! Prepare for surface impact!”

“All watertight doors closed! Damage control teams in position!”

The recently calm sea surface was instantly shrouded in the shadow of death!

Deep Blue 01's engines let out a deafening roar, the ship suddenly accelerated, carving a huge white arc on the sea surface!

At the stern, depth charges were thrown into the sea like dumplings, rapidly sinking!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Dull explosions continuously echoed in the deep sea!

Violent shockwaves attempted to block the surging behemoths!

However, with little effect!

Rumble—!!!

A sound ten times more terrifying than the previous Leviathan Larva impact came from below the starboard side of the hull!

The entire warship, as if struck by an underwater volcano, violently arched upwards, then slammed back down onto the sea surface!

Alarms flashed wildly on the bridge, objects flew, and people were thrown around!

“Report! Starboard underwater hull suffered catastrophic impact! Armor extensively torn! Multiple compartments instantly flooded! Power room damaged! Power output decreased by 30%!” The report from the damage control center was filled with despair!

“Targets broke through depth charge interception! Depth 1000 meters! Speed undiminished!” The sonar operator shrieked.

Buzz—!!!

The 1130 CIWS once again let out a ferocious roar!

A storm of metal swept across the sea surface, attempting to stop any behemoths that might surface!

But this time, the attack came from deeper darkness!

Rumble!!!

Another terrifying impact!

This time from the port side, closer to the stern!

The propellers emitted a grating, twisting sound!

The warship suddenly listed, and its speed plummeted!

“Port thruster damaged! Propeller blades deformed! Power output reduced to 50%! Hull severely listing!” The report from the damage control center was like a death knell!

Deep Blue 01, this ten-thousand-ton behemoth, under the repeated impacts of several adult Leviathans, was like a small boat in a storm, on the verge of capsizing!

The ancient guardians from the abyss, in the most violent way, were expelling the intruders who dared to peek at their secrets!

“Damn it! Let's fight them!” Gao Qiang's eyes were bloodshot, “Main cannon! Load armor-piercing rounds! Wait for them to surface!”

“No! They are too deep and too fast underwater!” Lin Feng gritted his teeth, rejecting the idea, his brain working furiously.

A direct confrontation would only lead to death!

He had to find a way!

Suddenly! A flash of inspiration struck him!

The signal!

That regular signal!

Those behemoths seemed to both revere and be attracted to the signal source!

They were guarding the “Obelisk”!

“System! Immediately simulate the abyss signal we just captured! Maximum power! Transmit it through the array! Direction: downwards! Frequency: exact replica!” Lin Feng yelled his order to the system!

This was a huge gamble!

Betting on the Leviathans' instinctive reaction to the signal source!

[Command confirmed! Signal simulation in progress… Array power boosted to 120%… Transmitting!]

A peculiar, complex sound wave signal with an ancient rhythm was emitted in reverse from the Deep Sea Eye array, shooting down into the abyss!

This signal was precisely the sound from the “Obelisk” that Deep Blue 01 had just monitored!

A miracle happened!

On the screen, the several huge signals that were frantically impacting the hull suddenly paused the moment they received this reverse signal!

Their massive bodies hovered in the water, seemingly caught in great confusion and hesitation!

The savage roars also abruptly ceased!

It worked! They were “listening”!

“Continue transmitting! Don't stop! Maximum combat speed! Get out of this sea area!” Lin Feng seized this fleeting opportunity!

Deep Blue 01, dragging its listing hull and damaged propulsion, unleashed its last potential, frantically fleeing in the direction away from the trench!

Behind them, several adult Leviathans, bewildered by the “home” signal, slowly circled in the deep sea, emitting low, confused hums, eventually not continuing the pursuit, their massive forms slowly sinking into the boundless darkness.

When Deep Blue 01 finally sailed out of the dangerous sea area enveloped by the powerful energy field, everyone on board collapsed as if exhausted, drenched in cold sweat.

The relief of surviving intertwined with the trembling terror of facing the abyss.

The hull was severely damaged, and power was greatly reduced, but… they survived!

And they brought back a discovery that could overturn the world's understanding — the Abyss Obelisk, and irrefutable proof of an ancient civilization's existence!

Lin Feng clutched his rapidly heaving chest, looking at the recorded waveform of that peculiar ancient signal on the screen, his eyes filled with unprecedented shock and determination.

This initial abyss exploration came at a huge cost, but the value of the gains was immeasurable!

Dr. Isabel Chen became the key person they had to find next!

Deep Blue's voyage was destined to be inextricably intertwined with this ancient mystery buried beneath the raging sea.

And the echoes from the abyss seemed to still whisper in everyone's ears.

[Ding!]

[Mission: Initial Abyss Exploration Completion Assessment: S-rank (Successfully recovered key data and discovered the “Abyss Obelisk”)!]

[Received additional reward: Energy/Points +1000!]

[Gained: “Leviathan Biosignal (Simulated)” Sample x 3 (Temporarily synthesized based on reverse signal, unstable effect)]

[Hint: The discovery of the “Abyss Obelisk” will significantly increase the difficulty and risk level of subsequent deep-sea explorations.

Repairing the warship, recruiting special talents, and unlocking more advanced deep-sea technology are now urgent priorities!]

New challenges, like the abyss, were bottomless.