Chapter 231: Chapter 225: The Temptation of Ten Million Magic Stones
Allen stood in the wasteland just outside the workshop.
Several Alchemy Servants were digging downward, sending dirt flying. A large pit was excavated, and then steel plates and partitions were precisely assembled by the servants within it.
In just two days, a fully enclosed, deeply buried underground laboratory was already taking shape.
It had three layers of isolating armor and its inner walls were completely covered with anti-magic materials. The only thing left was for Allen to etch the AT Field Runes onto the walls.
This was the specialized laboratory he had prepared specifically for researching the crystallization effect.
"Commander," Jarvis’s voice sounded. "Digger Worm 16, equipped with an AT Field Generator, has reached the underground edge of the Crystalized Forest. According to the latest intel, a faint Crystallization Field has been detected ahead."
Allen turned and walked back into the workshop.
"Proceed with close-range reconnaissance."
Back in the command room, the sand table lit up.
A green dot of light, representing Digger Worm 16, was stopped at the underground boundary of the Crystalized Forest.
"Energy consumption model established," Jarvis said, pulling up a set of data. "The Crystallization Field and the AT Field are in constant opposition. Based on the Magic Stone energy reserves of Digger Worm 16, it can last a maximum of only 47 minutes in a high-intensity Crystallization Field."
"That’s enough," Allen said, his eyes fixed on the screen. "I just need it to give me a general idea of the ore vein’s situation. Proceed."
Digger Worm 16’s vibrating shovels on its front limbs operated at high speed, shattering the rock.
The projection switched to the Digger Worm’s first-person perspective.
At a depth of 80 meters underground, the rock layer should have been pitch-black.
But as the Digger Worm went deeper, its searchlights hit the excavated rock walls, reflecting a strange luster. The rocks bore regular, geometric patterns.
The surfaces of these rocks were covered in a translucent, microcrystalline layer. Under the light, they refracted a slowly flowing, colorful, misty light.
The entire subterranean world seemed to have transformed into a bizarre, kaleidoscopic spectacle.
[Depth: 95 meters. Crystallization Field intensity increasing. AT Field energy consumption rising, currently at 135% of normal.]
Allen crossed his arms, saying nothing, just watching quietly.
The Digger Worm continued forward.
"It really is a crystallization phenomenon," Allen said, looking at the data being sent back. "The rock structure has already been initially altered."
The Digger Worm tilted its head, burrowing even deeper.
meters.
meters.
The surrounding crystallization was growing more and more severe. The vibrating shovels scraped against the crystallized rock, producing a piercing sound.
The colorful, misty light within the rocks also grew thicker.
"Warning," Jarvis’s voice grew sharp. "Sensor data shows the AT Field’s energy consumption has risen to 327%."
A glaring red light flashed at the edge of the screen.
"Magic Power consumption is climbing at a rate of 0.8% per second. The unit is projected to break down from energy depletion in 12 minutes."
On the surface of the Digger Worm’s chassis, the translucent AT Field shield was distorting violently. The omnipresent crystallization radiation from the outside was frantically compressing this layer of defense.
Once the shield shattered, the steel machine would turn into a pile of brittle crystal slag within seconds.
Allen placed his hands on the console, his expression unreadable.
"Continue forward, full power. Set the priority for all sensors and Magic Power fluctuation detectors to maximum. Forget about retrieving the unit, but ensure its data is transmitted back before it’s scrapped."
’Machines are meant to be expendable.’
’As long as the value of the intel obtained exceeds its production cost, it’s a surefire profit.’
The Digger Worm let out a roar as its systems went into overdrive.
It pushed through the increasingly terrifying pressure of the Crystallization Field, biting hard into the rock layer and plunging downward.
meters.
meters.
CRACK.
The first-person view shook violently. One of the Digger Worm’s front limbs had snapped off.
The Magic Power consumption was too high, causing a momentary failure in the AT Field. The instant the front limb was exposed to the high-intensity Crystallization Field, it turned into a brittle piece of crystal, which then shattered under the impact of the digging.
"Force Field Generator overloaded. Rune Array burned out."
"Magic Power reserves at 6%."
The image froze.
In front of the Digger Worm’s damaged view, the rock layer completely disappeared.
Before it was a massive underground cavern.
Countless translucent, polyhedral Crystal Stones were embedded in the walls, clustered together into enormous pillars. Inside each Crystal Stone flowed a colorful, misty light so rich it almost seemed to be dripping.
This was the very source of the crystallization effect.
"Data reception complete."
BZZZT—
The screen dissolved into static.
Digger Worm 16’s signal vanished from the sand table.
Allen straightened up and called out, "Jarvis, build the model."
The projection flickered. Countless streams of data converged, finally constructing a three-dimensional map of the ore vein in midair.
"So this is... the ore vein of the Crystalized Seed?" Allen recalled the information Master Mercer had told him. "A special crystal that exists somewhere between matter and concept."
"The Crystallization Field intensity in the core of the vein is 12 times stronger than at the edge of the forest. It decays radially," Jarvis said, annotating the model with various data. "The vein extends downward, reaching a maximum depth of 300 meters underground."
Allen’s fingers tapped unconsciously on the console.
"Calculate the reserves."
"It is a medium-sized ore vein. Based on the surveyed volume, it can be sustainably mined for 30 years."
Allen narrowed his eyes.
He had 15 years left of his "advanced studies."
In other words, he could mine it for a full 15 years before he had to leave this plane.
"Calculated at the average price for rare ores on the fortress’s trade market, the total value of 15 years of mining is..." Jarvis’s electronic voice paused for half a second, as if processing the enormous number.
"Over 20 million Low-Level Magic Stones."
Twenty million Magic Stones.
"We’re about to strike it rich." A smirk touched Allen’s lips, but his eyes remained calm.
’Having money is one thing, but being able to get your hands on it is another.’
"Run simulations for mining plans."
"Plan A: Surface approach," Jarvis quickly listed the points. "Requires clearing the trees in the Crystalized Forest first to establish a surface base. Disadvantage: It may attract the attention of other factions and expose the ore vein’s location. Furthermore, digging 300 meters down from the surface is a massive undertaking."
"Plan B: Open a direct underground mining tunnel. This is the recommended option."
Allen stared at the three-dimensional model. His gaze followed the bottom of the ore vein, panning across until it landed on the location of the workshop beneath his feet.
Distance: 123 kilometers.
Depth: 80 to 300 meters underground.
"Where is the Pioneer-class tunnel boring machine now?"
"Currently advancing toward the volcanic cluster to the southwest. It has completed 83 kilometers of the tunnel."
"Halt its current tunneling mission." Allen crossed his arms. "Bring it back."
"Establish a new mission: Direct Underground Access."
Allen pointed at the holographic sand table, drawing a straight line.
"Starting from 200 meters below the workshop, bore a tunnel directly to the center of the Crystalized Seed vein and establish a fully enclosed mining station."
"Line the entire tunnel with anti-magic materials and install large-scale AT Field Generators at key nodes."
As long as he could tunnel through underground, he could continuously transport those tens of millions of Magic Stones back to his treasury. The Magical Beasts and Wizards on the surface wouldn’t notice a thing.
"Jarvis, record these production orders."
"First phase: construct five new specialized Mining Golems. Their chassis will be made entirely from the highest-grade Black Patterned Magic Steel, with areas reserved for Rune etching."
"I will personally etch the AT Field Rune Arrays onto them."
"Set operational parameters: After entering the mining area, perform a structural self-check every thirty minutes. Every hour, they must leave the area covered by the Crystallization Field and return to the tunnel’s safe zone to replenish their Magic Power."
"Begin with a trial run. I want to see the first batch of raw ore delivered to the laboratory."
"Orders confirmed. Estimated time: ten days."
Allen looked at the flashing, eight-figure number on the screen, but his brow furrowed slightly.
The current AT Field Rune Array came from the generosity of his senior.
Its defensive power was sufficient, but its energy consumption was too high.
The test results from Digger Worm 16 were plain to see. In the core area, the rate of Magic Power consumption was terrifying.
If he couldn’t solve this problem, the Mining Golems would waste most of their time traveling back and forth to recharge, and mining efficiency would be drastically reduced.
Even maintaining the protective Force Fields for the underground tunnel and mining station would become a heavy energy burden.
’I have to upgrade it...’ Allen muttered to himself.
He needed a more durable and stable anti-interference Force Field technology, one focused on resisting magical corrosion.
Alternatively, he could find a way to counter the crystallization effect from the Crystalized Seed itself. A new research project had already presented itself to him.
"Jarvis, procure the laboratory research equipment as soon as possible," Allen said, turning to walk out of the workshop. "As soon as the first batch of ore arrives, begin the analysis immediately. I want to see for myself just what the principle is behind this so-called ’forced crystallization.’"
In the darkness underground, a roar echoed through a tunnel. A massive steel behemoth was slowly turning around.
Its enormous cutter head aimed in the direction of the Crystalized Forest.
