C12 Radar(1)

Suddenly, the entire secret chamber quivered. Sapper Liu Shaihai murmured, "The metal mechanism tunnel has been activated."

Shih Wen nodded in acknowledgment. A sense of schadenfreude washed over the soldiers; the more Orcs that perished, the better. Ideally, they would all meet their end within the tunnel.

The persistent quaking suggested that all the traps within the branching tunnels had been set off. The Orcs appeared determined to breach the metal mechanism tunnel by force. It was unclear what had set off the traps, but Shih Wen doubted they were using lives as fodder. That would be too barbaric, too devoid of mercy. Shih Wen had examined the control chips within the tunnel and knew that each activation would seal the passage for an hour. While the closure was brief, merely an hour, that span could prove fatal for even the mightiest of adventurers caught by the traps.

With his eyes closed, Shih Wen began to concentrate on the mini formation. This time, he pressed his hand against the metal wall, enhancing the absorption rate without disturbing his comrades. Moreover, the golden aura would remain contained, not emanating from his body—an unconventional approach, indeed.

As Shih Wen's hand touched the metal wall, his body's unique energy detected the metal's presence and began to radiate outward through his hand, extending to a ten-meter radius—the extent of his reach. Shih Wen was content with this limit. The metal, infused with this special energy, flowed like a liquid into the branch circuit of meridians connected to his palm, then directly into the mini formation he was refining.

The absorption of the rare magic metal alloy was impressively swift, a fact Shih Wen had ascertained through multiple experiments. He would assimilate all available metal indiscriminately, accelerating the formation of the mini formation by at least tenfold. Though the resulting golden aura of the formation appeared mottled, it had grown significantly in size, and the stars on both its upper and lower layers had doubled. Yet, the special energy coursing through it remained unchanged, as did the frequency of its circulation and the spiritual force he had harnessed.

Shih Wen was at a loss about what was happening, but he was aware that creating the mini formation required four times the amount of rare magic metal compared to the golden-haloed mini formations he had seen before. Yet, Shih Wen wasn't bothered. There was an abundance of rare magic metal at his disposal, and he wasn't one to get hung up on differences. After all, what was the use of crafting such an aesthetically pleasing mini formation? Shih Wen was far from a perfectionist; he never aimed for flawlessness in his endeavors. His approach was more about rough-and-ready solutions. Striving for perfection would defeat the purpose of imitation, which thrives on low costs and high profits.

With urgency driving him, Shih Wen focused on producing as many mini formations as he could, opting for the latter method that consumed more rare magic metal. Given the dire straits he was in, possibly facing starvation, speed was his top priority. The mini formations he was rapidly condensing might just pave the way to survival.

While Shih Wen worked feverishly on the mini formations, a steady stream of people passed by the secret chamber, their numbers surprisingly high. He couldn't fathom why so many were entering the tunnel, especially as the constant tremors suggested it was far from stable. It dawned on Shih Wen that the Orcs were filling the tunnel with lives, ceaselessly, until it was rendered ineffective.

The sound of "Moo, moo..." echoed, and it quickly became clear to everyone what was happening. The Orcs were using their livestock to scout the path ahead. Given their ample supply of animals, only someone who truly valued their troops would resort to such a tactic.

Then, a thunderous boom followed by piercing screams filled the air. Soldiers who understood the Orcish language joined in the outcry. It didn't take long for Shih Wen to grasp the situation: the metal gates of the tunnel had closed, trapping everyone inside. Having studied the mechanism before, he knew exactly what this meant—the ultimate death trap had been sprung. Once the gates shut, a ten-year countdown began, a time span more than sufficient to starve any trapped souls to death.

The soldiers crammed into the underground tunnel fell silent, realizing they had inadvertently entered a deathtrap. The purpose of the ten-meter-long metal tunnel became clear—it was designed to seal off the passage, with another such barrier every hundred to three hundred meters, all forged from an indestructible rare metal alloy. In that moment, all eyes turned to Shih Wen. He alone had the ability to absorb metal, and now the fate of the entire group hinged on his abilities.

With a heavy sigh, Shih Wen felt at a loss. The only sounds from outside were the bellowing of cows; not a single Orc was heard speaking. The situation beyond their cramped refuge was a mystery, and no one dared venture out. In the confines of the tunnel, the massive, formidable Orcs were an unbeatable force. After a full day without a word from the Orcs, Shih Wen was ready to send a soldier to scout the situation. But the lance corporal interjected, "Orcs are typically reticent. There could be a multitude of them out there, simply remaining silent."

Stumped, Shih Wen racked his brain until he remembered the makeshift Magnetic Pulse Radar he had rigged back in the village. Although intended for geological surveys, it could detect the armored Orcs. He felt a surge of gratitude for his mentor, a man of extraordinary resourcefulness who would do almost anything for research funds, including creating knockoffs. His mentor's willingness to dabble in everything had exposed Shih Wen to a plethora of instruments and devices beyond the reach of the average person, even military tech. Now, it was time for Shih Wen to replicate the Pulse Radar and ascertain the layout of the underground tunnels and the positioning of the Orcs.