Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 906 - 899: Safety Inspection

Chapter 906: Chapter 899: Safety Inspection

Based on the above principle, it is relatively easy to determine the type and traces of a Magic Array. Generally speaking, Passive Arrays used as traps require external forces for activation, rather than Spells.

However, such Magic Arrays cannot usually conceal their Runes like the aforementioned ones, as this could easily lead to accidental triggering. But this is not an absolute rule, as Mages from Otherworld often use combination types to increase the efficiency of the traps.

For instance, the trap that the Advance Team encountered in Aunt Axia’s house a few days ago was a very typical combination trap, mixing active and passive elements.

Therefore, relying solely on experience to judge a Magic Array Trap is a very dangerous approach, falling into the error of experiential dogmatism. In Otherworld, inspecting and assessing Magic Array Traps is almost as perilous as mine clearing.

Apart from Magic Array Traps, tombs like this one might also contain conventional mechanical traps. Although the Otherworld military highly relies on magic, it does not mean they have no expertise in the physical realm.

Even before Earthlings entered Otherworld, the Otherworld military had almost reached the pinnacle of feudal military, with various military engineering machines, crossbows, and even solid cannon readily available. It is just a pity that, on the physical level, Earthlings are clearly a notch above Otherworlders.

Tangmo asked Luo’er and Axia to step back a few paces and then took out his Magic Wand, waving it clockwise in front of himself while muttering Spells.

He was using a very simple gathering magic spell, which had no practical meaning but only served to gather mana, creating Magical Fluctuations in an area.

The reason for this was to detect any nearby Magic Array Traps that relied on Magical Fluctuations for activation. This type of trap is quite rare, yet difficult to guard against.

These Magic Array Traps that activate upon Magical Fluctuations have a specific name, called Magical Fluctuation Traps. Their main principle is to make use of the law of magical conservation in the air, which maintains a certain density of mana, as the method of trap initiation.

In the sealed tomb, the mana in the air maintains a relatively even level, under which conditions the Magic Arrays do not activate. However, once the mana in the air is disturbed and reaches a threshold, the Magic Array will be activated.

Of course, an activated Magic Array does not necessarily cause harm immediately. Some clever Mages use this type of Magic Array as the key to activate Passive Arrays, similar to Axia activating the Passive Array Trap in her home.

This kind of trap usually does not activate immediately. But when an intruder tries to use magic and causes Magical Fluctuations, the Magical Fluctuation Trap will be activated, thereby influencing the activation of Passive Traps. If a person then steps on a Passive Trap, it will activate and injure the intruder.

What Tangmo was doing was to stir up the mana in the air as much as possible, to trigger any potential Magical Fluctuation Traps. This way, when he physically inspected for Passive Traps, he could activate these potentially hidden traps.

There are essentially four combination types of Magic Array Traps. The first type is a combination of active and passive, where the active component is a safety measure, just like the trap in Axia’s house.

The second type is passive combined with passive, which is a double insurance tactic where the main Passive Array A is controlled by another Passive Array B.

When an intruder touches Passive A, it does not activate. When an intruder touches Passive B, Passive A also does not activate. It is only when an intruder simultaneously comes into contact with both Passive A and B that the entire Magic Array Trap activates and produces a magical effect.

The trap Tangmo is inspecting is a very typical passive combined with passive combination type.

The third type is passive combined with active, where the operation principle is that when a Passive Trap is touched, it triggers the Active Trap into a ready state. The Mage then has to chant a Spell to create a magical effect, somewhat similar in principle to Earth’s remote-controlled bombs.

The fourth type is active combined with active, a combination form generally not used for traps but more for safety measures. Active A is controlled by Active B, and only when a Mage activates both Active B and A simultaneously, does the entire Magic Array become activated.

The most typical example of this combination type is the self-destruct device of the High-peak Dwarves’ Airboats. To prevent their anti-gravity engines from falling into the wrong hands, every Airboat designed by the High-peak people includes such a self-destruct mechanism, using double or multiple Magic Array combinations as the safety device.

Of course, all the above is just the theoretical combination forms. In actual operation, the combinations of Magic Arrays are hardly limited to double combinations; they are usually multiple combinations, infinitely nested.

After stirring the magical power in the air, Tangmo took a deep breath, and her suspended heart finally settled down, for now. The complete silence around her didn’t mean there were no traps, it just meant there were no traps that were activated directly through disturbances in magic power. Such magic arrays were extremely dangerous, akin to grinding gunpowder by a fire, a slightest mishap could trigger the array, hence they were usually used as keys.

Tangmo believed that the mages of the Aud Empire couldn’t possibly be limited to this level. As military mages, their magical skills could only be stronger than her own, not weaker.

After completing the initial magical disturbance, Tangmo stepped back over ten paces and instructed Luo’er and Axia to do the same. Then, she picked up a fist-sized rock from the ground and hurled it towards the entrance of the main tomb chamber.

The hard stone hit the equally firm stone door and then fell to the ground, making a clanging noise. If there were magic array traps in the area, surely the stone’s contact would have activated them, resulting in a magical effect.

However, the surroundings remained silent, the stone door entrance quiet, nothing happened. Seeing this, Tangmo didn’t relax her vigilance immediately but threw a few more rocks to ensure there were no magic array traps in the vicinity.

After all this, the end of the corridor was still deathly quiet, not a sound to be heard. Tangmo slightly relaxed, then braved herself to walk up and begin to inspect the ground for any engraved or painted marks.

Soon, she stood up from the ground, turned back and waved saying, "Come here, there are no traps."

"Everything’s alright?" Luo’er asked as he walked up.

"Mhm, I’ve checked. There don’t appear to be any magic array runes around here, and I’ve also tested a few things to confirm there’s no combination traps nearby," Tangmo nodded in reply.

"Hold on," at that moment, Axia, who was following behind Luo’er, suddenly grew cautious, then stood still and waved at the two calling out, "Everyone, come here."

"Is something wrong?" Luo’er turned back to ask.

"Although you’re quite capable, your experience is still shallow; you’re indeed too young," Axia said to Tangmo with a smile.

"What do you mean, are you questioning my inspection?" Tangmo asked with a frown, looking annoyed.

"What you did just now was not wrong, but I’m certain that you haven’t completed your check," Axia said calmly.

"Then tell me, what should I have done?" Tangmo asked defiantly.

"Come here, I’ll teach you," Axia said with a smile.

"You..." Tangmo was so irritated by her she was at a loss for words.

"Moumou, come here, let Aunt Axia do the checking," Luo’er called out seriously.

"Understood..." Tangmo responded sullenly and then very reluctantly moved beside Luo’er. Seeing her disgruntled expression, Luo’er shook his head helplessly and then reached out to hold her small hand to comfort her.

After receiving Luo’er’s attention, the sullen expression on Tangmo’s face cleared up instantly. However, Axia paid no mind to their affectionate exchanges and took a step forward, pulling out her magic wand to begin chanting spells.

At that moment, surprising both onlookers, a massive magic array unexpectedly lit up on the ground. Immediately after, a swirling, raging flame erupted from the array, soaring upward; the intense heat made everyone present feel an unbearable scorching sensation.