The apocalypse struck, and I became a druid.

Page 155

Only after Jiang Rui finished drawing did Han Ning speak: "How's the progress?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking of telling you."

Lin Qianqian pointed to the circuit that Jiang Rui had just completed on the table and said,

"This is the 'Fortified' circuit, one of the most basic defensive structures in the Source race's rune system."

"Its function is to guide energy to form a relatively uniform energy film within the area covered by the circuit, thereby enhancing resistance to energy impacts."

"The previous difficulty was that ordinary people's mental strength was insufficient to stably guide energy to delineate a complete and effective circuit."

"Now, Jiang Yuan, Jiang Ruirui and the others have seen a significant improvement in their mental strength. In addition, we have optimized the energy guiding structure of the carving pen tip, and we are finally able to stably carve an effective circuit, although it is still very rudimentary and the energy utilization rate is very low."

“Successfully creating the basic circuit is only the first step. Next, we need to test its actual effect. According to the knowledge of the source race, this kind of basic circuit needs to be ‘charged’ to activate its defensive effect.”

"Currently, Jiang Rui is the last member of our study group who can independently complete the characterization of a solid-walled circuit."

"Her ability to complete this loop on her own means that we have the capability to depict the most basic rune array."

Chairman Wu fixed the black serpent monster, which was engraved with the "Iron Wall" rune, onto a support.

Then he patted the shoulder of an older young man next to him.

"Brother Rui, begin the first energy impact test. Set the intensity to the lowest level to simulate a Lv1 energy attack."

This older youth, known as Brother Rui, whose full name is Cheng Rui, is a master's student in electronic information engineering and has a great talent for studying energy circuits.

He was originally just an Awakener who had recently awakened his abilities, but due to his excellent learning ability, he quickly distinguished himself and became one of the core members of the study group within just a few days.

"no problem."

Cheng Rui stretched out his finger and aimed it at the snakeskin that was engraved with solid walls and circuits.

With a soft hum, a slightly dim white energy beam, about the thickness of a chopstick, shot out from the activation port and struck the center of the leather piece engraved with runes.

His ability is also quite special; he can absorb energy of various attributes and convert it into energy without any attribute properties before shooting it out.

Just as the energy beam was about to hit, the runes on the leather lit up.

A thin, almost invisible white light film spread out over the area covered by the runes.

"puff!"

The energy beam struck the light membrane, producing a slight muffled sound.

The light film rippled and its color dimmed, but it did not break.

The energy beam was successfully deflected and dispersed by this thin yet tough energy membrane, greatly weakening its impact.

Ultimately, less than 30% of the impact force penetrated the light film and acted on the leather itself, leaving a barely noticeable scorch mark.

Chapter 173 Attacked

As a comparison, a piece of leather of the same material but without runes was pierced through by the same energy beam, leaving a small, charred hole.

"Brother Rui, why don't you explain the basic rune structure of the Source Clan to the boss?" Chairman Wu said with a smile.

Cheng Rui knew that Chairman Wu had specifically given him a stage to perform on.

He gathered his thoughts briefly, picked up another piece of processed snakeskin, and earnestly explained:

“Mr. Han, this is just the most basic ‘Fortified’ circuit, which is a basic component of the Origin Clan’s rune system.”

He used the tip of his engraving pen to quickly sketch several more complex energy structures in the blank space.

These structures are nested within each other, and the lines are noticeably more precise.

“For example, the ‘thermal energy conversion’ circuit.” Cheng Rui pointed to one of the patterns composed of intersecting arcs and triangles.

"Its structure is more complex, it can capture environmental heat energy and generate stable heat in a designated area, and it requires more refined mental guidance and energy control to depict it."

He put down his pen and pointed to a larger drawing beside him, which depicted a vast network composed of dozens of interconnected and superimposed loops:

"When multiple loops are combined and linked according to specific rules, they form an 'array'."

"Hmm... This pattern is just a replica based on the knowledge you provided; it has no effect whatsoever. You can think of it as an empty shell."

“If this ‘weak force field array’ can be successfully engraved on a sufficiently large and tough leather armor and activated, it can theoretically form a temporary energy deflection force field on the body surface, which has a certain protective effect against physical and energy attacks, far exceeding a single ‘hard wall’ circuit.”

"As for the defense or attack systems needed for large ships or fixed fortifications, multiple arrays are required to work together to form a 'matrix'... That's a systems engineering project. We haven't even fully learned about runes yet, let alone how to inscribe complex rune systems on advanced materials."

Cheng Rui explained.

"So that's how it is." Han Ning suddenly realized.

Because he had copied the knowledge passed down by the Origin Clan, and because of his excellent memory as a superhuman, he actually memorized a lot of knowledge during the copying process.

I have a basic understanding of various runes, but I haven't studied them in depth.

So after hearing Cheng Rui's explanation, I gained a deeper understanding.

"What are your next steps?" he continued.

Cheng Rui glanced at Chairman Wu, who gestured for him to continue:

"Once we successfully depict the 128 basic circuits inherited from the Origin Clan, we can apply them to multiple areas."

He picked up the black snakeskin engraved with the rune "Iron Wall" and gestured to the spot where it would cover his chest.

"The key parts of the armor of each team member are pre-engraved with a strong barrier circuit. When attacked, as long as they carry a small piece of low-level crystal for activation, they can activate a simple layer of energy protection."

"Although the defense isn't very high, it could be the difference between life and death in a critical moment. There's also the 'heat conversion' circuit. If it can operate stably and be engraved in the lining of clothing, then you won't have to suffer from the cold on hail days."

At this moment, Chairman Wu took over the conversation: "Boss, our first task force has successfully completed the inscription of 6 basic runes."

"The second and third groups also completed 3 and 2 questions respectively."

"Based on the most basic soldier combat leather armor design of the Yuan Clan, it requires a rune array composed of at least 32 basic runes. We still have a long way to go."

At this point, a glint of light flashed in Chairman Wu's eyes:

"But as long as these 32 basic runes are successfully combined, the resulting combat leather armor will have a defensive capability comparable to that of a level 6 defense-type awakened individual."

"We are working on it!"

"Not bad, not bad." Han Ning's gaze swept over the excited and energetic faces of the group, and he waved his hand: "I will fully support you in the future research if you need any materials. Just let me know in time, or tell Lao Zhao and the others, and let the combat team help you collect them."

"understand!"

……

While the study group was working on tackling one alien rune after another.

Outside the cave in the settlement area, Vice President Zhao was directing some ordinary people to move stones and reinforce the low wall.

"Brother Zhao, Brother Zhao, something terrible has happened!"

Suddenly, a series of urgent shouts came from the mountain path not far away.

A young man covered in blood staggered over.

"What happened?" Vice President Zhao frowned and quickly stepped forward to catch the man.

The young man pointed southwest and shouted:

"We...we are three kilometers to the southwest...on that cliff...besieged by a combination of magic-eyed frogs and spiny-backed water lizards."

"Brother Xu, Ah Cai... Lao Zhou... and Li Kun, Qingqing and the others... seven people are trapped in a cave in the cliff... there are monsters everywhere in the water and on the shore, it seems like someone is commanding them!"

"The Demon Eye Frog and the Water Lizard teaming up?"

Upon hearing this, Vice President Zhao's expression changed drastically.

These two aquatic monsters with such different habits would actually fight together?

"Xiaoyu, go over and see what's going on," he said in a low voice.

"Yes!" Xiaoyu from next door responded and disappeared in a blur.

"Team One and Team Two, come with me. You go and report the situation to Boss Han."

"The third group will stay at home and keep watch."

Vice President Zhao grabbed his large iron axe and began organizing people to head to the mountainous area that had been flooded.

……

Three kilometers to the southwest, there is a steep cliff that has been soaked and eroded by floods.

The floodwaters surged and roared at the bottom of the cliff, whipping up large plumes of white foam.

Inside a naturally formed recess on the cliff face.

"Qua~"

The Demon-Eyed Frog's swollen sacs emitted a dizzying "gurgling" sound, and beams of light that could stiffen the body shot out from its dark golden pupils.

The spiny water lizard uses cliffs and floodwaters to emerge its ferocious head and spine-covered back from underwater or rock crevices, extending its long, barbed tongue to launch a surprise attack at incredible speed.

Old Xu, Brother Yu, A Cai, and some ordinary people leaned against the rock wall, blocking the cave entrance and fighting back with all their might.

Holding a homemade spear, Brother Yu's insect wings flapped frequently behind him. With a casual sweep of the spear, he drove back a water lizard that was trying to pounce on the platform, the spear tip leaving a deep bloody mark on its tough scales.

On the ground lay at least dozens of monsters in a deep sleep.

Ah Cai wielded two steel rods made from rebar, deflecting several cunningly aimed water lizard tongues and venomous water arrows sprayed by the magic-eyed frog.

But the monster's attacks came like a tidal wave, one wave after another.

"Pfft!" A team member was pierced through the shoulder by the long tongue of a water lizard, screaming as he was dragged into the murky floodwaters, leaving only churning blood foam behind.

On a relatively dry, protruding rock above the cliff, stood a young man wearing a thick down jacket and a raincoat, his face somber.

He was leisurely playing a harmonica.

The eerie piano music pierced through the sounds of water and wind, and the demonic frogs and water lizards in the water below the cliff seemed to receive a command, their attacks becoming even more frenzied.

The magic-eyed frog's gaze beams crisscrossed, followed closely by the water lizard's outstretched tongue.

Chapter 174 Survivors Outside the Settlement

"Brother Yu, Brother Xu, I can't hold on much longer!"

Ah Cai roared and swung the steel bar to smash open the long tongue of a water lizard, but was then struck by the gaze of a demonic frog, and his body instantly stiffened.