Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

"call……"

Gazing at the stone slab, Renn slowly exhaled. He reached out and rubbed his cheeks and chin vigorously, the brief stinging from his knuckles against his skin bringing him back to the present moment. After adjusting his breathing and composure, he turned to the side, his gaze meeting Eldrasil's, who was quietly watching him.

"You seem confused?" Eldrasil spoke in a gentle tone, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. He pointed to himself with a casual gesture, as if to say, "If you need anything, just ask."

“Skylight Network.” Raine raised his hand, pointing to the crisscrossing patterns on the stone slab, which stretched out like veins.

Eldrasil nodded, the relaxed expression on his face quickly fading, replaced by focus and seriousness.

Raine lowered his head and began to translate the contents of the stone tablet word by word. His speech was not fast, but exceptionally clear, with each pause seemingly leaving room for the concept itself to take its place.

After the words were spoken, a brief silence fell between the two of them.

"Energy extraction...conversion...transmission?"

Eldrasil responded thoughtfully, a clear uncertainty in his voice. He understood the words, yet he vaguely felt that he hadn't truly grasped their overall meaning when pieced together.

The stone slab described a device without a doubt, he was certain of that. What truly made him hesitate was the device's intended use: was it meant to replace the guide stone, or to be placed around it to assist and amplify its effectiveness?

If... it can truly replace the guiding stone.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Eldrasil's breath caught in his throat for a split second.

That will be a groundbreaking discovery!
As for the principles and applications, he has a general understanding of them.

The devices built on energy nodes are called "energy-conducting spires". They can convert the extracted energy into a stable and precise specific frequency; and the receiving spires, as long as they are tuned to the exact same frequency, can achieve energy transmission over long distances.

No physical medium or continuous guidance is required; only calibration is needed.

Eldrasil was silent for a moment, as if repeatedly going over the structure in his mind. He then sat down on the ground, his movements swift and decisive. He took out his notebook, quickly opened it, and began writing and marking rapidly.

Soon, the outline of a map of the western part of the Kingdom of Itien appeared on the page. The lines were not fine, but extremely accurate. Then, he marked several circles within the outline, arranged in an orderly manner and echoing each other.

Ryan took the notebook without asking any silly questions like "What is this?" He immediately understood the region indicated by the outline and what the circles represented.

“The receiver.” Eldrasil raised a finger and pointed to Lorthorn’s outline on the left, his tone certain.

“The transmission end.” Renn nodded, then moved his finger toward the circles, his eyes narrowing slightly. “A math problem?”

“Exactly!” Eldrasil nodded affirmatively, then his tone rose noticeably, his barely suppressed excitement overflowing from his words. “An unparalleled discovery! It solves the problem of node leakage, and this system allows us to truly access the energy dormant within those nodes!”

His thoughts were clearly already racing.

In Anaheim and Lorthorn, he had witnessed firsthand Duruci harnessing the winds of Egil in another way, which they called—electricity.

As far as he knew, Duruchi was attempting to apply this power on a large scale, but faced numerous difficulties. The arcane sphere imbued with the winds of Aigil could only generate electricity on a small scale at best; it was neither stable nor could it sustain massive demands for extended periods. This forced them to develop a complete and efficient conversion and storage system.

And now...

With Skylight Network.

Is a crucial, unavoidable step that can be skipped entirely?

As Ryan said, this is a math problem.

If Lorthorn requires one hundred units of electricity, then the energy that each ley line node can stably output after being converted by the energy-conducting spire might be five, six, or even more. Of course, it is also possible that it could be less.

The responsibility of the energy-conducting spire is not only to convert energy, but also to combine, calibrate and connect these scattered and uneven nodal energies, and then transmit them continuously and stably to Lorthern through the spire at the receiving end.

Eldrasil took the notebook back from Renn's hand, his fingers tightening slightly. His pen moved swiftly across the map, rapidly outlining one virtual energy path after another, like invisible rivers converging, branching, and converging again on the paper. His eyes shone with an astonishing light, the almost greedy focus that only appears when planning a blueprint.

“The total amount of energy transmitted through the energy-conducting spire combination may be insufficient,” he said, adjusting the direction of the lines. “It may only reach 80 or 90 percent of the demand; it may also exceed expectations, reaching 100 percent or even 120 percent. This requires on-site investigation and evaluation.”

He paused here, his movements halting. The pen tip tapped lightly on the spot where Lorthorn had been, producing a crisp, restrained sound.

“But that’s not important!” His tone suddenly became unusually firm. “The key is that this system solves the most fundamental problem of power generation.”

He raised his head and looked at Raine, his gaze seeming to transcend walls and coastlines, looking towards an unnamed future. His tone was clear and forceful, without the slightest hesitation.

“When energy is insufficient, we simply make up the difference; when energy is excessive, we store it.” He gently spread his hands, as if those technical problems were merely chess pieces that could be moved around at will. “I believe that the magic and craftsmanship of the elves are sufficient to handle these ‘errors’!”

However, at this moment, Eldrasil did not truly realize that the potential contained in this system, which he called the "Sky Network," was far greater than the picture he could currently deduce.

He had not yet foreseen that this system would be able to completely replace the power grid as understood by Dakous. The mountains, plains, and wilderness of the future would no longer need towering towers, nor the crisscrossing cables that cut across the earth. Energy would flow imperceptibly through the tuning and resonance between the energy-conducting towers, leaving no trace on the surface.

That would be a pure, clean, and almost imperceptible energy artery.

He also failed to understand that this transmission was neither delayed nor attenuated. The process of energy traveling from one end to the other would be as instantaneous and natural as a thought passing through the mind, and its stability and efficiency would be directly related only to the health of the leyline node itself.

The stronger the nodes, the more brilliant the network.

At this moment, Eldrashir was still immersed in the 'fundamental problems' that this system could solve. But the gradually taking shape sketch of the energy-conducting network, those invisible lines connecting nodes and cities, were already silently pointing to a much grander future.

An era powerful enough to reshape the energy foundation of the Elven civilization!

The same applies to the lizardmen.

This system almost completely ignores the complex and untamed geography of the jungle. Before this, only Slan priests could directly extract and control the energy in the spirit vein nodes; but after this system was implemented, spirit lizards could also use it.

What the stone slab reveals is never just a "mathematical problem".

It is a key to a new era.

At this moment, the person holding the key has not yet fully seen the vast and boundless scenery outside the door.

Raine nodded in satisfaction. He agreed with Eldrasil; it was indeed an unparalleled discovery. Then, he placed his hands on the ground, pressed his palms against the stone slab, crossed his legs, and moved his body with a casual yet practiced air to another set of stone slabs.

"It seems..." he murmured, as if confirming a pre-existing judgment, then his tone shifted, tinged with regret and a hint of mockery, "that we no longer need elven magic and craftsmanship?"

"Oh? Another new discovery?" Eldrasil looked up, not bothering to ask silly questions like "why".

As a storm weaver, his spellcasting skills were no less than Adana's, at least that's what he thought. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of managing all the magical affairs of the dragonship, Aetheron.

Unfortunately, he was an ordinary citizen.

He was born in Lorthorn and initially studied at the White Tower of Hoth for a period of time. Later, driven by his love for the sea and the lingering seafaring obsession in his family bloodline, he eventually embarked on the path of the Stormweaver.

He knew very well what Ryan's tone meant. After asking that question, his gaze involuntarily swept across the stone slabs in the room, and an overwhelming surge of excitement welled up in his chest.

These stone slabs might just be the opportunity he's been waiting for.
If the contents of these stone tablets are all related to energy conversion and electrical systems, then he could very well become the first person to truly master them during this period. This would not only completely change his current situation, but also open up a path for him that has never existed before, helping him to go further in the new era of impending change, and even become an undeniable leader in a certain future field.

Amidst his excitement, a hint of regret, almost unwilling to admit it, quietly surfaced: he didn't understand the lizardman language and couldn't decipher the contents of the stone tablet.

So when his gaze locked onto Renn again, his eyes had changed. In those eyes was a mixture of longing, dependence, and a kind of determination taking shape.

Raine was unaware of the mental shift that the Stormweaver beside him had undergone in a short moment. He remained seated cross-legged, leaning slightly forward, intently deciphering the contents of the stone tablet.

“A…like a guiding stone?” He slowly uttered the concepts, “Placed at the confluence of spiritual vein nodes to purify the energy flowing through the nodes, regulate the frequency, amplify the signal, and divert energy.”

“The Hub?” Eldrasil blurted out almost immediately.

"Should be?" Renn shrugged, his expression a mix of certainty and self-deprecation, clearly still harboring a degree of caution towards this design that defied common sense.

Although Darkus, like Renn and Eldrasil, is not a true professional and is only a half-baked expert, if he were present at this moment, he would definitely give a clear judgment immediately.

This is essentially a key substation!

Raine shifted his body again, turning his attention to another set of stone slabs. At first glance, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had been precisely struck by a certain keyword, but the change was fleeting, and he quickly suppressed it back into his usual calm and composed expression.

"This is..." Eldrasil didn't notice the strangeness in Rein's voice for a moment, but seeing the other party's long silence, he couldn't help but lower his voice and ask.

Renn turned his head and gave Eldrasil a deep look. His gaze held scrutiny, assessment, and a hint of unreadable warning. Eldrasil paused slightly, then slowly nodded, saying nothing more, only using a gesture to indicate that he understood.

Seeing that the other party was so cooperative, Renn sighed almost inaudibly.

“This set of stone tablets is about energy storage,” he said, his tone still calm but deliberately aloof, “but unfortunately, it’s not suitable for elves, do you understand?”

“I… understand.” Eldrasil’s reply was almost without hesitation, his tone steady, even with a hint of deliberate naturalness.

He didn't really understand.

He didn't understand why Renn's reaction had become so subtle in that instant, nor why a technology about 'energy storage' would be so readily deemed unsuitable for elves. But his intuition kept sounding the alarm: he shouldn't ask questions, shouldn't be curious, and shouldn't even show any intention to try to understand.

Raine stopped looking at him and instead focused his attention back on the stone slabs, making a more careful second check. His gaze slowly moved along the patterns, and with just one glance, he confirmed that the objects described on the stone slabs were no ordinary objects.

At that moment, the image that flashed through his mind was Aldorf, the nested, counterintuitive folded space on Death Island.

This set of stone tablets illustrates far more than just how to store energy.

Rather, it's about how to create folded spaces and then seal in the enormous, almost out-of-control energy within them. This touches upon some dangerous and ancient boundary.

He had witnessed firsthand in Aldorf how spellcasters channeled energy from folded space and, under precise incantation, unleashed it into massive spells powerful enough to rewrite the course of battle.

That power was both beautiful and chilling.

In his assessment, the secrecy surrounding these tablets was so high that it shouldn't be discussed further at this moment. He needed to report to Daculus first, so that the decision-maker, who was more familiar with the ancient heritage and better at balancing strategic interests, could make the final decision.

Then, Renn's gaze shifted to another set of stone slabs. After just one glance, he muttered something to himself.

"found it."

This sentiment went unanswered.

Eldrasil, adhering to the unspoken understanding of not asking questions when they shouldn't, continued to pretend to study his notebook, his pen occasionally gliding across the paper, but without actually writing anything meaningful. His mind was suspended in mid-air, quietly waiting for Renn's next move.

However, Ryan did not say anything more.

He bent down, approaching the stone slab, his fingertips hovering above the intricate and ancient patterns. He neither touched it nor moved away, but was making a second, more cautious confirmation, as if any premature judgment might lead to unpredictable consequences.

Memories flood back like a tide.

During his first visit to Hesiota, he witnessed the ancient creation known as the Thunder Engine (Thunderer of Hammer 3). Even in a static state, the massive device still emitted blinding arcs of electricity that flashed and leaped between the intricate restraint rings, emitting a low and continuous hum, like a giant lightning beast bound by chains, breathing slowly and repressively in its slumber.

Because it was a unique item, the team did not take it with them when crossing the continent of Ruscia, but its image had already been deeply engraved in Renn's memory.

In retrospect, it was not an engine in the traditional sense, but a receiver with a clear offensive capability!

It can not only draw energy from the spiritual vein nodes, but also transform it into a devastating torrent of lightning, projecting it onto the battlefield or city walls according to a predetermined direction.

At this moment, the patterns on the stone slab were outlining a structural principle that was remarkably similar to that in his memory. Renn could almost picture the entire scene of it in operation: the energy-conducting spire would gather energy and transmit it to the engine through invisible channels; the confinement device inside the engine would compress the energy layer by layer, bringing it close to the critical point, and finally release it, transforming it into lightning that tore the sky apart.

It is both an energy hub and a tactical weapon.

It is a gift left by the ancient sages to the guardians, and also the most direct and coldest warning to the invaders.

Then, nothing more.

There were many stone slabs in the secret room, layered and laid out on the walls and floor, with intersecting patterns and complex information. However, after Raine checked them one by one, compared them repeatedly, and classified them meticulously, the answer became exceptionally clear.

There are only four sets.

The first set: Skylight Network.

The energy-conducting spires are built atop the spiritual vein nodes, serving as the core structure for energy extraction and conversion. They do not crudely extract the node's power, but rather, through precise frequency modulation, convert the node's energy into a stable and controllable output form, which is then tuned to achieve point-to-point, virtually lossless transmission. This system not only transmits energy, but more importantly, it demonstrates the potential to completely replace the power grid. Energy no longer depends on physical lines, but flows and leaps between the spires in an invisible manner.

The second set: hub device.

Located at the intersection of nodes, the core facility is like a substation hidden deep within the network. It is responsible for purifying, regulating, amplifying, and distributing energy, ensuring that all energy transmitted through the Skylight Network remains within a controllable range. It is this device that prevents the entire network from becoming unbalanced due to differences between nodes. It is the key relay for energy to flow from the source to the end, and the foundation for the system's stable and efficient operation.

The third set: Foldable space storage technology.

By creating controllable folded spaces, excess energy can be sealed within. This is not merely a storage method, but a redefinition of the boundaries between space and energy. What is sealed is not only the energy itself, but also its potential strategic value. When necessary, this energy can be guided and released, transforming into a devastating torrent, or becoming the final barrier protecting civilization.

The fourth set: Thunder Engine (attack-type receiver).

As one of the terminal applications of the Skylight Network, it does not passively receive energy, but actively converts and compresses it, and translates it into lightning attacks that can be directly projected with extremely high efficiency. This existence itself demonstrates a fact: from the very beginning, this network is not only an energy architecture, but also a tactical weapon platform deeply integrated into the defense and attack system.

In summary, these four sets of stone tablets do not depict isolated, self-contained technical modules, but rather a complete, hierarchical, logically consistent, and universally applicable ancient energy network system with both civilian and military value.

The gift of the ancient saint Zorok...

His domain is: precision.

“Items offered to Zorok can store energy and can be released at the appropriate time.”

The so-called "precision," "dedication," and "storage and release" are not abstract and obscure metaphors, but a highly engineered and almost calm energy management logic.

From energy harvesting (energy conduit towers), regulation and diversion (hub devices), excess storage (folded space), to targeted application (thunder engines), this system fully demonstrates an energy cycle and utilization paradigm that transcends contemporary understanding.

For Elf, some of the technologies involved may pose compatibility risks or even push certain boundaries. But even so, the design philosophy and architectural logic behind them are enough to illuminate a path to a brand new future.

Adding to the hatching pools and stone slabs discovered yesterday in Huzuma and Casabe, this trip to the Dragon Islands can almost be described as a fruitful one, a truly worthwhile journey.
In Casabe, Yakadan also found, or rather, the local lizard priests brought out another set of stone tablets.

The echo reverberated from the abyss.

A gift from the ancient sage Zongqi.

Similar to the stone tablets found at the Temple of Khunjerab and Huzuma, this set of stone tablets was also used to construct a realistic training environment, but its focus was completely different, and one could even say that its direction was obscure and profound.

however……

This is exactly what the elves need!
It recreates the entire aquatic environment, from lakes to deep-sea trenches, from turbulent rapids to stagnant pools. It not only reproduces the form of water, but also its character—water pressure, resistance, temperature, visibility, these life-or-death factors are precisely reproduced, with subtle variations that are almost demanding.

The basic training covers a much broader range of content than typical adaptation training.

Water pressure adaptability.

The trainee's body will be forced to reshape itself under simulated deep-sea pressure, with bones, muscles, and internal organs subjected to continuous stress, undergoing strengthening at the brink of collapse. Ultimately, underwater mobility will experience a qualitative leap. It's even possible that gill-like patterns might briefly appear behind the trainee's ears or on the side of their neck?
That might not be a physiological structure, but rather a product of the compromise between magic and the body.

Fluid driving.

By learning to perceive and utilize the resistance and thrust of the water flow itself, underwater attacks and movements no longer waste energy. Movements are no longer clumsy and sluggish, but as fluid and swift as on land, even more unpredictable.

Aquatic perception.

By observing subtle changes in water flow direction, abnormal shifts in temperature gradients, and the refraction of faint light, one can judge environmental changes and sense the approach of large creatures in advance. This is a completely different way of perceiving the world than visual perception.

Illusion in practice.

Engaging with aquatic phantom enemies possessing combat instincts is not about dealing with simple targets. Instead, these enemies utilize the advantages of water, terrain cover, and hunting instincts to fight, allowing trainees to accumulate real underwater combat experience through repeated failures.

Damage simulation.

A highly realistic neurofeedback system reproduces the suffocating feeling of drowning, the crushing pressure of water against the body, and the tearing pain of being mauled by a monster. These sensations do not cause actual physical damage, but they are enough to test the limits of mental endurance and eliminate all the weak.

And this is just the beginning...

Advanced projects are where you truly get into the so-called "tough work" field.

Resist tearing and dragging in a powerful vortex, while also fighting against phantom enemies;
Completely deprived of sight, they can only distinguish friend from foe by water vibration and temperature changes;
The training environment rapidly switches between the scorching heat of hydrothermal vents and the frigid cold of the deep ocean, repeatedly testing one's will and resilience.
Learn to attack the weaknesses of aquatic giants under extreme water pressure, master the thrusting techniques of piercing weapons by using water flow to accelerate, or use the environment to carry out cunning and deadly maneuvers.

Echoes of the Abyss is more than just a training system; it's a gateway to the art of underwater warfare.

What it reveals is a chilling truth: the schemes of the ancient sages were never confined to the land, nor even to the sky.

Soon after, Raine emerged from the pyramid of the ancient saint Zorok.

This magnificent and ancient building stands in the temple city of Ho-Kho, located to the lower right of Hosamur Island.

This is the first stop on their itinerary for the day.

The city's overall appearance is not much different from that of Huzuma, with the same ancient stone structures and the same distinct layers.

An ancient blood warrior named Ozomur plays the role of chief here. He is exceptionally large, with scales like rocks, and wears an elaborate and heavy suit of armor. He also carries a Nebon style flag on his back.

However, the emblem on it is different from that on the side of Huzzuma.

It seems that a ship from Nebon once appeared near the archipelago, and so... some traces were preserved?

The lizard priests, however, continue to play the role of administrators.

Similarly, just like in Huzuma, the lizard priests here could not escape Master Hui's judgment.

He was ordered to be executed for acting as an accomplice in oppressing his own people.

Raine vaguely felt that he had gradually figured out Master Hui's criteria for judgment: any spirit lizard priest who played a role in oppressing the spirit lizard community in actual operation would be regarded as a fundamental betrayal of the grand plan and would be eliminated without hesitation.

However, problems also arose.

With a significant shortage of accompanying spirit lizard priests, the team had to choose from the best of the worst. Ultimately, a spirit lizard leader from Inshi-Huz's Velociraptor battle group was selected to temporarily take over Ho-K's daily operations.

After the connection was established, the team did not stay.

They will continue their journey! (End of Chapter)