Night of Despair
Chapter 133 - 133: The Second Seal

Cave Safehouse.

Hiss...

The communicator emitted a faint electronic noise.

"Finally, we're all here today," Guan Cao's voice came from the other side, "Pine, Fungus, we've got a newcomer here, really impressive, modified their own communicator to connect to the satellite and accidentally found me."

This guy's voice seemed not to belong to this era at all, utterly relaxed, like greeting someone during peacetime.

"Hello, everyone, I'm Yu Hong, very pleased to connect with new friends." Yu Hong started with some pleasantries.

"I'm Wei Song, anyone who can access this channel can't be trash. Nice to have another friend."

"I'm Zhang Kaijun. Also, please don't call me Fungus, thanks."

Wei Song, unexpectedly, was female, her voice carried a confidence and sharpness, somewhat resembling Qiu Yanxi, but with an even stronger presence than Yanxi.

Zhang Kaijun, on the other hand, had a tone that carried a hint of resignation and solemnity, revealing nothing for the moment.

"Fungus, can you get in touch with the Eastern Special Response Team?" Wei Song extended the conversation with immediacy.

"I only handle base affairs, others aren't my concern. Due to a certain type of Evil Shadow that can attack through communication, our side is isolated from the main allied forces," Zhang Kaijun replied. "Also, I've said, don't call me Fungus."

There weren't just his voice, there were also indistinct conversations and footsteps, clearly, there were many people around.

"Alright, that won't work then. I have completed the force field distribution map of the radiation source you wanted earlier, it's Riswibul's technology, definitely no problem," Wei Song responded. "Should I send it directly to you?"

"Okay. How large is it?"

"About 15g."

"Alright."

It was evident that these other two individuals were entirely different from Guan Cao in style; they were true professionals, speaking with a strong purpose in their communications.

Guan Cao was completely just hanging on the channel, unable to join the conversation.

Yu Hong followed suit, hanging silently, only listening to the various technical exchanges between the two.

As he listened, he gradually discerned that although both Wei Song and Zhang Kaijun were technical experts, one was deeply specialized while the other had a broad range, differing in type.

Moreover, these two seemed to be expending their efforts on investigating something within the Black Disaster.

The communication didn't last long before the two signed off, leaving only Yu Hong and Guan Cao.

"See, they're both very busy people, under a lot of pressure, always on the brink of chaos. My task is just to hang online and see if I can contact more people," Guan Cao said helplessly.

"They seem to be searching for something?" Yu Hong squinted as he asked.

"Yes. Every once in a while, Wei Song needs to summarize the radiation force field distribution map to determine where the highest concentration of radiation is. The greater the radiation, the stronger the Black Disaster usually is. But now things are off; with the front line collapsed, the influx of the entire Black Disaster has caused the environmental concentration in all domestic areas to substantially increase. This constant change needs to be monitored at all times. So they have to prepare calculations for this," Guan Cao answered.

"It's essentially prevention?" Yu Hong understood.

"Yes, indeed, the Black Disaster prevention notices of the allied forces are indeed handled by them. Initially, it was the national forecasting department that did it, before the department was wiped out by Evil Shadows, leaving only Fungus and the others on active duty outside. So they restructured a department outside at a base to continue notifying everyone," Guan Cao sighed, "Actually, before him, the notification department was wiped out more than ten times due to Evil Shadow attacks. Nearly a thousand people have died. That's why Zhang Kaijun and these field personnel ended up in charge of the logistics. Because the more professional experts are all dead..."

"...." Yu Hong didn't know how to respond.

"Even though I'm in the safest underground base, I can still feel the world outside is on the verge of total collapse..." Guan Cao sighed.

"What kind of Evil Shadow can attack the other side through communication?" Yu Hong asked.

"It's a Level Nine Black Disaster codenamed Evil Code. Its characteristic is... making sudden calls to you in the middle of the night. Its communication methods include but are not limited to telephones, telegraphs, codes, light signals, etc.," Guan Cao advised, "It's relatively peaceful on our side, only some low-risk level Black Disasters, not a big problem. But it looks like, sooner or later, the outside's going to reach the front line's radiation concentration, and once it meets the standard, War Level Black Disasters will descend...."

"...Could anyone withstand War Level?" Yu Hong couldn't help but ask.

"No, if encountered, just wait to die. But Black Disasters all have rough boundaries, even those that move have their patterns. The area near the front lines has already initially formed a few special fixed areas."

"So as long as you're in the middle of these areas, you'd be safe?" Yu Hong spoke up.

"Yes, many Black Disaster monsters, shadows, Evil Shadows all have their core areas of activity. This is also one of the reasons why the front line deliberately leaves openings. Although it causes some less sturdy hopeful cities to collapse, concentrating resources to preserve the most vital national seed is most important."

Yu Hong practiced his arts while listening carefully to Guan Cao's explanation, he was far less informed about the situation outside than the other.

This sudden communication opened his overall vision of the outside world, increasing the flow of information.

After chatting for two hours, he turned off the device to help build a new wooden house.

The previous cabin was too small, only suitable for two people at most. So, they had to build an extra house suitable for Zhou Xueguang, along with addressing the breeding area issue. Yu Hong didn't want to expose the internal environment of his safehouse, but this meant breeding had to take place outside the safehouse.

This was undoubtedly unsafe in the increasingly perilous environment of the future.

Afternoon.

After the fog thinned somewhat, Yu Hong helped carry several thick round logs, cut them, and directly inserted them into the foundation, watching Li Rushan skillfully build up the walls and floor frame of the wooden house.

He was responsible for sawing the wood into flat planks and running them through fire.

Zhou Xueguang applied oil to the planks on the side. Aisena was not far away, slowly flipping through a storybook.

With Yu Hong's help, they completed a new robust wooden house in the afternoon. Inside, with charcoal pens, ink powder, and water mixed into ink, they began drawing a talisman array on the inner walls with Yu Hong's own hands.

The talisman array was a vortex array carved with Inner Qi, and Yu Hong spent two whole days completing it bit by bit.

These talisman arrays would continuously absorb surrounding radiation, forming simple radiation vacuum areas, perfect for ordinary people to live in.

On the fifth day, the day when the Black Mark reinforcement was about to complete.

The talisman arrays drawn by Yu Hong were nearly dried, having absorbed enough air radiation.

Inside the new wooden house.

The group stood together. This time, the house was much larger than the previous one, with enough room to lay six beds side by side and expand the rooms further.

Yu Hong stood inside, gently stroking the patterns on the wall. These patterns had absorbed ample radiation, reflecting a full silver glow.

"This is a new type of talisman array I've developed. It can absorb surrounding radiation to prevent you from developing radiation sickness. But because it has limited capacity, I've designed a folding structure for the array at doors and windows."

"How does that work?" Zhou Xueguang asked curiously. He hadn't seen any talisman arrays besides the enhanced runes on the front lines. Yet here, Yu Hong had come up with a second type.

"Opening the doors or windows disrupts the array, folding it disconnects the middle, releasing the stored radiation internally. When it re-fuses, the array restores to completeness and begins absorbing radiation anew," Yu Hong introduced his new design structure with some pride.

This structure wasn't reinforced by the Black Mark; it was a result of his arduous research and contemplation.

To resolve the problem of ink connectivity when breaking and reconnecting, he had tried various methods.

In the end, he succeeded by increasing the ink powder concentration in the ink.

"This new talisman array... can absorb external radiation, store it, and release it?" Li Rushan lightly fingered the runes on the wall beside him, stunned.

"Yes, but only with my unique carving technique, the drawn runes possess this special effect. Printing techniques and the like can't be applied here," Yu Hong was clear about what he was thinking and directly negated it.

"Can't be mass-produced, huh?" Li Rushan sighed.

"No, if it could be, it would save more people. I'm not someone who withholds..." Yu Hong nodded. He suddenly thought if Wei Song and Zhang Kaijun on the communication channel could indeed contact and inform more people, he might be able to share detailed Evil Shadow information he had.

He wasn't a saint, but in such an environment at the moment, humans were really struggling....

Even elite postmen were enduring hardships, let alone ordinary people, they would surely be doomed.

This thought arose in his heart, but Yu Hong didn't agree with the idea of sharing crucial information for free with others.

Gained too easily, it wouldn't be cherished and could be detrimental to him.

After all, after giving it away once, there would always be expectations for a second and third time. Additionally, if any deviation occurred with the shared intelligence causing danger, it would inevitably bring negative consequences back to him.

"Boss, can I ask a question?" Li Rushan suddenly shifted the topic, asking.

"What is it?"

"If there are new runes or symbols, could you develop something new?" Li Rushan turned, looking seriously at Yu Hong.

"Huh? Have you seen other new symbols?" Yu Hong was taken aback, then a bit of anticipation rose in his heart.

"Yes, I used to deliver to other relics, relics are scattered worldwide, some of them contained symbols and runes, besides the enhanced ones. But since only one had any effect, after being studied for a while with no results, they were completely abandoned. However..." He at this moment had bright eyes, "If you can make these new symbols work, perhaps... it could bring good effects to us."

"I can't guarantee it," Yu Hong shook his head, "I can't be sure all symbols are useful. And there's something I should mention first. What I can use doesn't mean others can. Even if I unlock an effect, it might be of no help to others."

"I understand," Li Rushan wasn't unreasonable. "Since I've basically come under your wing now, I'm just working for you. I can distinguish between things."

"That's good. Since you mentioned it, it means you might have a chance to obtain other new symbols? Correct," Yu Hong detected Li Rushan's intent.

"In Shoudong City, there's an ancient museum. I remember there were stone rune relics I delivered there. They have a third kind of symbols entirely different from what we have here," Li Rushan nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

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