blueteamnovel Chapter 117 Indigenous Empire?!
Chapter 117 Indigenous Empire?!
Chapter 117 Indigenous Empire?!
The three men hung far behind, waiting for a suitable ambush location.
The path winds its way into a complex terrain composed of huge black lava tubes. Here, the rocks are scattered and the energy interference is relatively strong, making it suitable for action.
The operation began when the three natives reached a relatively narrow lava tube passage.
Nightingale descended like a phantom from the shadows of the rock face above, the blade of her poisoned dagger slicing across the neck of the last guard, injecting a potent paralyzing and sedative toxin.
The guard let out a muffled gurgling sound and his body went limp.
The guards and leaders in front turned around alertly, only to see the Flame Shield ramming out from the side like a battering ram. The tower shield, burning with flames, slammed into the second guard, knocking him unconscious.
At the same time, several of Rolin's starlight rays accurately struck the non-lethal joints of the chieftain, such as his wrists and knees. The chaotic interference properties mixed in with the starlight caused his movements to freeze instantly.
Nightingale delivered a precise chop to the back of the leader's neck, striking an energy node. The leader's soul fire flickered violently a few times before he also fainted.
The entire ambush took less than five seconds, was swift and clean, and made very little noise.
They quickly dragged the three unconscious natives deep into the hidden lava tube.
Nightingale was on guard, while Flame Shield and Rolin began a thorough inspection.
Lorin placed his hand lightly on the chieftain's chest, his mental energy and echo unit operating at full capacity, carefully scanning the energy flow pathways within his body.
The core of the soul's fluctuation frequency, the energy conductivity of the stratum corneum on the body's surface, and a stable dark red energy vortex located slightly below the chest, connected to the soul fire in the eye sockets.
At the same time, they also recorded their language pronunciation, body odor, and the materials and runes of some simple ornaments and tools they carried.
Flame Shield then inspects their weapons and armor, analyzing the forging techniques and materials.
About half an hour later, the research was basically completed. The three natives were tied up, gagged, and hidden in a deeper crevice in the rocks, where they would not wake up for a while.
"Their energy core is very stable, and their affinity for fire is innate."
"Language seems to have simple rules for syllable combinations, but it is too complex to master in a short time."
"The stratum corneum on the skin has a slight energy resistance. Our protective suits can simulate this texture, but we need to change the color and sheen."
Rowling concluded.
"The weapon was simply cast and forged, with low metal purity and mixed with many minerals unique to this world."
"The armor is made using a similar process."
"We could disguise ourselves as wanderers from afar who have mastered some different forging techniques or ways of using energy, which would explain why our methods of using tools and energy are slightly different from theirs."
The Flame Shield is replenished.
The plan was refined.
The three of them immediately began preparations.
First, using a simple camouflage agent and mineral powder carried on their person, they mixed scorched earth with a small amount of water to paint the surface of the protective suit a dark red and gray-black color, creating a rough texture to simulate the keratinized skin of the indigenous people.
The head is covered by a hood and mask, with only the soul fire, disguised with faintly glowing crystals and illusion runes, imitating the flames of the natives' eyes.
Rolin and Flame Shield are dark red, while Nightingale's is a rarer light blue, indicating a mutation or difference.
Next, Rolin began to adjust his own energy fluctuations.
By utilizing the mutated integration properties of the [Myriad Stars], the sense of order in the stellar power base is suppressed to the minimum, simulating the stable yet restrained and violent fire-source characteristics of native energy. Furthermore, an extremely faint sense of alienation brought about by the corrupted realm or the prime material realm, processed by the echo unit, is deliberately added to the energy fluctuations, disguised as a mutation feature.
The Flame Shield enhances its own flame fluctuations, making them more robust and outward-radiating, befitting the image of a powerful guardian.
The nightingale, on the other hand, tried its best to conceal all its energy and life force, disguising itself as a silent shadowy appendage.
Finally, prepare the props.
Flame Shield's tower shield is too big and conspicuous, so it can only be stored in a dimensional bag.
The three men each selected a captured indigenous metal weapon or tool.
Rowling took a worn metal spear, Flame Shield chose a heavy black iron machete, and Nightingale took a pair of indigenous-style...
Short barbs with barbs.
They then used scorched earth and mineral powder to slightly age and treat the area, removing any obvious traces of the spoils.
After checking several times to make sure there were no obvious flaws in the disguise, the three nodded to each other.
"Remember, we are wanderers from the distant Ash Plains, stranded here due to tribal conflicts or energy mutations, seeking new habitats or trade opportunities."
"Speak as little as possible, and respond with gestures and simple syllables."
"Observe and learn from their communication methods."
Flame Shield gave a final instruction: "The objective is to infiltrate their settlement, observe their social structure, gather intelligence, and search for clues about the Star Core Embers or other valuable resources."
"Not necessary, and not conflicting."
Taking a deep breath, the three left their hiding place, adjusted their disguises, and then, looking slightly tired but still vigilant, embarked on the path leading into the depths of the mountains.
After walking for about an hour, the path gradually widened, and the surrounding lava tube landscape transformed into an open lava plateau.
More signs have emerged ahead:
The road had been roughly leveled, and low boundary markers made of lava rocks began to appear on both sides, with simple flame emblems engraved on them.
Finally, after rounding a massive, torch-like solitary peak, a breathtaking scene unfolded before us.
That was a city built on a massive lava platform!
The city is surrounded by tall, thick, dark red stone walls, on which patrolling native soldiers stand.
Inside the city walls, dense rows of low-rise buildings, mostly made of stone and metal, line the streets, where one can see many indigenous people moving about.
In the city center, several exceptionally tall buildings, billowing thick smoke, stand, resembling large furnaces or temples. Further away, the city is built against the mountains, and even higher up, there appear to be palace-like complexes.
At the city gate, soldiers dressed in finer metal armor and wielding long-handled battle axes or flaming spears stood guard, checking the flow of people coming and going.
The locals coming and going, some pushing mine carts, some carrying goods, and some empty-handed, all appeared to be in good order.
A real, sizable, otherworldly indigenous city-state!
It could even be a key border town of an empire!
"It seems that our disguise and infiltration will be more difficult than we expected."
"The nightingale whispered, looking at the orderly city gate and the guards."
"But the opportunities are also greater."
As Luo Lin's gaze swept across the city, the echo unit in his mental sea was excitedly recording everything.
A complete social energy map of an otherworldly civilization!
"Let's go try the city gate! Remember who we are: wanderers, seeking acceptance or trade."
The three adjusted their posture, trying to make their steps appear heavy to fit the image of wanderers on a long journey, and headed towards the city gate.
The closer you get, the more you can feel the vibrancy of this city.
In addition to the perpetual heat and sulfurous smell, the air was filled with a complex mixture of smells from metal smelting, food cooking, and the gathering of a large number of living beings.
Although the runes on the city wall were rudimentary, they were indeed functioning, emitting stable heat and protective fluctuations.
There were quite a few indigenous people queuing to enter the city, most of them were taciturn, only occasionally exchanging brief exchanges with rapid syllables that had a fiery, explosive tone.
The guards conducted their checks casually, mainly looking for dangerous items or obvious signs of hostile tribes. They didn't seem to care much about the people themselves, only occasionally casting a scrutinizing glance at the soul fire and aura of those entering the city.
When it was the turn of Luo Lin and his two companions, the guard in charge of the inspection was a tall, native man with orange-red soul flames burning in his eye sockets.
His gaze swept over the three of them, lingering for a moment on the soul flames that Rolin and Flame Shield were disguised as, and then he looked at Nightingale's pale blue soul flames a few more times, revealing a hint of doubt.
He spoke a few syllables in a rough, hoarse voice, as if inquiring about his origins.