Initially, Luo Lin thought that pinpointing "Chiyou" would take some time, ample for her to seize the opportunity to return to the Far East Branch to meet with the visiting Durandal and perhaps persuade her to come along to see the "Big Guy."
Little did she know that Senti's precise locator touch led the exploration team to uncover the ruins the very next day...
Since she was already here, Luo Lin decided to fly over to assess the situation and inspect the internal conditions of "Chiyou" — only to discover an unmentioned plot element: the "Anti-Honkai Energy Array," seemingly on the verge of collapse.
With no other viable option, the girl reluctantly entered "Chiyou" to have a look. With Senti, the "Formation Master," offering assistance, she could at least determine how long the seal could endure. If possible, Luo Lin might even patch up the seal to prolong its effectiveness.
After all, Luo Lin could ensure that she wouldn't recklessly undo the seal like the protagonist team in a game's storyline.
As it turned out, she didn't directly undo the seal because the one who actually did it was Dark Jixuanyuan, who somehow escaped from the seal.
"I knew there would be unexpected events, but I didn't expect them to occur so suddenly..."
Luo Lin smiled bitterly, holding the heavily cracked Black Xuanyuan Sword in her hand, uncertain of what to do next.
Should she pursue Dark Jixuanyuan? And how should she deal with this severely damaged Black Xuanyuan Sword, which was barely able to sustain the "Anti-Honkai Energy Array"?
Luo Lin was now using a large amount of Honkai Energy to "patch up" the Black Xuanyuan Sword, preventing its condition from deteriorating further. This activity consumed a lot of her energy.
But Luo Lin couldn't afford to abandon the rescue effort. If the "Formation" was lost and Chiyou woke up with a meow, they would have an additional enemy, making the situation even worse.
However, she couldn't pursue the enemy with this burden, could she? Luo Lin couldn't guarantee that she would win against Dark Jixuanyuan with the Black Xuanyuan Sword occupied by a large amount of Honkai Energy...
If she didn't pursue her, it was certain that Dark Jixuanyuan would continue her efforts to awaken Chiyou, probably making more commotion.
Luo Lin even suspected that if Dark Jixuanyuan caught her breath for a moment, she would directly head for the three almost disabled Xuanyuan Swords around "Chiyou."
Unable to directly attack the "Array Core," dismantling the entire array foundation was also a solution, right?
Moreover, according to Dark Jixuanyuan's words just now, besides attempting to release the seal on Chiyou, she also had the idea of possessing other humans and escaping far away from "Chiyou"...
However, "Chiyou" was located in the vast sea. Where nearby could Dark Jixuanyuan find humans to provide her with a body?
—Of course, it was the research ship floating directly above the ruins. There were Valkyries with a certain level of Honkai Energy adaptability all over the place!
What's worse, in a Valkyrie team, the captain was generally the most capable fighter. Whitley, who was the strongest, had just been using bullets to "massage" Dark Jixuanyuan...
Needless to say, other Valkyries in the exploration team couldn't pose a threat to Dark Jixuanyuan at all.
After all, the Stigmata Ruins Exploration Team didn't need to confront Honkai Beasts head-on.
During their exploration of the ruins, if they encountered problems they couldn't solve, they would directly request assistance from the nearest Schicksal Branch — A-rank Valkyries stationed in the branch would come with reinforcements for the exploration team.
In the few minutes that Luo Lin was contemplating, a message came from the research ship —
Alvitr's voice sounded particularly panicked. "A high-level Honkai Energy reaction has appeared at the bottom of the sea, suspected leakage or explosion of equipment in the Stigmata Ruins, the fluctuations of Honkai Energy are continuously rising, and Honkai Beasts have been detected... There is a chain reaction, triggering the possibility of a large-scale Honkai disaster!"
Luo Lin inquired further. "Are there any other disturbances? Like underwater earthquakes or any movement?"
"O... other?" Alvitr was puzzled, "Apart from these, there are no other abnormalities for the time being..."
The dark-haired girl raised her eyebrows: "Then it seems like the situation is still okay."
Whitley shouted loudly, "Isn't this a complete disaster?!"
For Luo Lin, as long as Chiyou didn't wake up, it was very good news.
So, should she choose to deal with Dark Jixuanyuan or the "Anti-Honkai Energy Array" now?
It was a dilemma... After all, Luo Lin didn't have enough power to handle both at the same time...
...Or did she?
—Of course she did!
Senti and Helix were actively expressing their willingness in Luo Lin's mind, eager to go out and fight as soon as they received the order; while Book of Fuxi also said something about "as a participant in the Chiyou incident, she must do something to make up for past regrets," then grabbed "Selune's Elegy" under the banner of "ELF should also help each other";
In the system's support combat interface, the name of a certain gold-medal instructor from a parallel world was shining brightly, indicating that the cooldown was complete...
Soon, Luo Lin made a decision.
"Senti and Helix aren't very suitable to be exposed to these Valkyries. Later, I'll find a chance to secretly let you two out. I'll give Helix the role card of Elysia, and Senti can use Accipiter to evolve into Senti herself. Help me chase after Dark Jixuanyuan..."
Actually, it was unlikely for Senti to fail if she went alone, but Luo Lin thought it was more appropriate to let Helix accompany her. She could also tell what tricks Dark Jixuanyuan was going to use just by watching her raise her hand... --use her moves.
Moreover, Senti didn't understand the game plot, so if Helix followed along, she might seize some opportunities and avoid some risks...
Senti agreed, but she asked, "What if we both leave, and Dark Jixuanyuan turns the tables?"
"Isn't it still possible to directly call on Himeko?!"
Helix also spoke, "Think it over. If we are released, with Accipiter, Elysia, and Dark Feather, your Valkyrie lineup is already full! If Himeko is called again, she won't be able to use the body of the Vermillion Knight!"
Luo Lin had already figured out a solution: "Then we'll have to trouble Senti for a while. I'll immediately recall Accipiter and, on the spot, reorganize the team to have Himeko deploy the Vermillion Knight to the scene... As for Senti, she can possess Helix for now and follow us back together, right?"
"Will that work?" Helix still had doubts, "System, just now you mentioned remote retrieval of Accipiter, immediately switching the Valkyrie lineup to let the Vermillion Knight go into battle. Can such a thing be done?"
[This doesn't even count as 'remote.' Of course it can be done!] The system expressed itself rather proudly, [If you really want to talk about remote, at least it needs to be far enough to cross half of Shenzou, or say, the host and the character card are separated into the virtual space, the sea of quanta or something like that, then the system can't carry out the retrieval...]
"All right, let's do it."
Moreover, Luo Lin could also use resources other than her own!
Pressing the communicator, the Valkyrie spoke solemnly, "Alvitr, I give you emergency authorization. Immediately apply for assistance from the Far East Branch's Branch Director Theresa Apocalypse in my name..."
Luo Lin's expression was solemn as she continued, "Be sure to bring the Hyperion with you. I need it to control the situation. Also, bring the envoy from the Schicksal Headquarters, Durandal, and Fu Hua..."
As for the Big Three, they hadn't even received their Valkyrie Battlesuits yet, so it was better to let them stay in the academy for now!
When all these people were in place, it would be time to deal with Dark Jixuanyuan, Chiyou, and those "surprises" that hadn't shown up yet!