Chapter 9: Cracks in the Impenetrable Wall
Tian Heng didn't waste time staring hopelessly at the massive wall of debris blocking his path. He immediately began a meticulous and methodical scanning process, using the etheric resonator light to explore every corner and angle of the obstruction. He assessed the size of the rock blocks, the nature of the collapsed materials (a mix of natural stones and durable remnants of artificial construction), and the points of contact between them.
It became clear within just a few minutes of examination that attempting to remove such a massive amount of debris with his current tools and limited strength would be a near-impossible task, or at least one that would take days and consume every bit of the precious energy he had painstakingly gathered. He needed a smarter solution—or another way.
He turned his focus to the core once again. "Core, did the latest extended scan reveal any possible side passages, cavities, or structural anomalies near this obstruction specifically? Can a high-precision localized scan be conducted for this area, focusing on any potential alternate routes? What's the estimated energy cost?"
[The initial scan showed slight structural anomalies in the left sidewall near the obstruction, but the data was inconclusive due to the density of the collapsed materials. A high-precision etheric-geological localized scan can be conducted for the area (10-meter range). The accuracy will be sufficient to identify potential cavities or narrow passages. Estimated energy cost for the localized scan: 2.5% to 3.0% of current total energy.]
Another energy cost, which would drop his reserve back into the danger zone (about 6%). But it was a necessary risk. Wasting time and energy on a desperate attempt to clear the debris would be worse. Finding a side passage was his best hope.
"Begin the high-precision localized scan now."
The hum of the core rose slightly again, and Tian Heng felt that familiar dip in the "vitality" of the vault. The lights on the etheric resonator flickered irregularly for a few moments as it focused the radiation and gathered data from the specified area. Then things settled. The energy level dropped to [6.1%].
An updated, more detailed image of the area appeared in his mind. It confirmed that the main blockage was as solid and deep as it appeared. But it also revealed something new and important: behind a pile of smaller debris at the base of the left sidewall, there was a narrow natural crack or perhaps an old, very narrow ventilation shaft, stretching parallel to the main tunnel behind the obstruction. The path wasn't clear for long, and the channel seemed narrow and unstable.
A narrow side passage confirmed! It was tight, dangerous, and unknown, but it was a way to bypass the massive obstruction. Tian Heng didn't hesitate long. This was the only logical option available to him.
He approached the location indicated by the updated map. A pile of medium-sized rocks and dust concealed the entrance to the crack or channel. He began carefully using the pry bar and the blade-like tool to remove the smaller debris, trying to avoid making noise or vibrations that could destabilize the nearby main obstruction.
After about half an hour of careful work, he uncovered a dark, narrow opening in the rock, barely wide enough for a person to pass sideways. The air coming from it was stagnant and had a strange smell, a bit different from the usual scent of dust and rocks—perhaps the smell of rare metals or ancient organic decay.
Tian Heng checked the energy indicator again [6.0%] and his meager stock of water and fungi. He knew that entering this unknown passage was a significant risk. It might be blocked after a few meters, it might collapse on him, it could lead to a dangerous place, and his etheric resonator light might run out before he found an exit or made it back. But staying here meant failure to reach the vital ether source.
Logically, the calculated risk of moving forward was better than the certainty of failure by staying behind. He took a deep, steadying breath and then cautiously began to push his slender body into the tight opening.
It was suffocating and uncomfortable. The rough stone walls pressed against him from both sides, and the ceiling was so low that he had to bend down. The etheric resonator's light could barely penetrate the darkness ahead for more than a meter or two, making progress extremely slow. He moved very carefully, testing every foothold and every spot he placed his hand before moving forward.
As he struggled through this claustrophobic passage, he noticed something that both alarmed and intrigued him at the same time. On a relatively smooth section of the wall, he saw strange scratches or markings. They weren't natural, and they didn't resemble the geometric symbols of the vault's technology he had seen so far. They looked… more organic, as if they were the marks of sharp claws or perhaps writing in some primitive, unreadable language.
Moments later, the etheric resonator picked up something else—a very faint oscillation in the surrounding energy field, but it wasn't pure ether. It had a "flavor" to it, darker and more chaotic. The oscillation disappeared quickly, but it left Tian Heng with a sense of unease.
He pressed on, his heart now beating with greater caution. He had successfully bypassed the main obstruction, but he had entered a completely unexpected area. These markings, and this strange energy sensation… Was there something else living—or trapped—deep within these forgotten depths of the origin vault?