Chapter 333: The Underwater Mission

Chapter 333: The Underwater Mission

After absorbing the Third Stage Source Essence, Lin Zeyu eagerly took out the Moonwell water and gulped it down.

Drinking it directly was indeed the most straightforward way to use the Moonwell water, as it was a magical energy-filled spring, and of course, it could be consumed.

【Absorbing the magical water of the Moonwell, the Essence Fusion Rate is enhanced, and the Source Essence ability gains a divine effect.】

【Essence Fusion Rate: 100%】

【Essence Fusion Complete, Rank Fusion occurs, promoted to the Third Stage Rank "Void Hunter".】

【Void Hunter: Lurking in the darkness, the ultimate hunter who can traverse the void to hunt down targets, possessing the special ability to shoot bullets and arrows into the void.】

【Void Trajectory (Divine): Fires the projectile into the void at an incredible speed, the bullet shuttles through the void and emerges at the most unexpected location to strike the target. Divine Effect: +1 Cumulative Usage; Total Count: 2. Maximum Shuttle Distance = 10 x Energy Level.】

After the essence fusion was complete, Lin Zeyu carefully read through the rank data three times, and with each reading, his smile grew brighter, until he finally looked up and burst into laughter.

"It's so powerful, I'm about to take off!"

"What effect does the Moonwell water give?" Lu Heng knew the effects of this rank, but he was unsure about the divine effect.

The divine effect itself was random, and the chances of obtaining it were slim.

Lin Zeyu quickly replied, "It increases the number of uses. Originally, with full energy, I could only fire one shot, but with the divine effect, I can fire an additional shot."

Lu Heng commented, "That's indeed very good. How far can it traverse?"

Lin Zeyu glanced at his energy level and replied, "10 times the energy level, which is 400 meters."

400 meters was not an exceptionally long distance for a psionic marksman, but it was enough to showcase the power of this rank.

The bullet shuttled through the void instantaneously, appearing as if it were teleporting, and the teleportation distance was 400 meters.

In other words, after the bullet left the chamber, it could instantly traverse a 400-meter distance and then continue toward the target.

If the target was within 400 meters, a shot would guarantee a hit.

The speed of impact was equivalent to the speed of light.

After Lin Zeyu's excitement subsided, he began pondering the potential applications of this ability and asked, "Am I invincible within 400 meters?"

"Almost. A guaranteed hit. Moreover, this ability can create many special uses," Lu Heng reminded him.

Lin Zeyu contemplated seriously, "Can I shoot at targets that have hidden themselves in the void?"

A hint of a smile appeared on Lu Heng's lips, and he nodded, "Yes, if you had this ability in the Sprite World and the Void Thief hid in the void, you could shoot and kill them within the void. However, your marksmanship needs some practice."

Lin Zeyu clenched his fist and said, "I'll practice when I get back. This rank is too powerful. Combined with the Demon Hunter Mark, even targets with void abilities won't escape my gun."

Lu Heng picked up the cup on the table, took a sip of water, and continued, "It's precisely because you have the Demon Hunter rank that I chose the Void Hunter for you. The abilities of these two ranks complement each other, resulting in a significant effect."

Lin Zeyu continued pondering the applications of this ability and asked, "You mentioned there are many special uses. What are they specifically?"

Lu Heng thought for a moment and gave an example:

"The simplest is shooting through walls. Even if the bullet has high power and can penetrate walls, after piercing the wall, the bullet's power and speed will decrease, and the shooting direction will shift.

"So, after the bullet penetrates the wall, it becomes more challenging to injure the target..."

Lin Zeyu's eyes lit up, and he added, "I understand. By using the Void Trajectory to bypass the wall's obstruction, I can shoot from outside the building, and the bullet, shuttling through the void, will enter the building and hit the target."

Lu Heng continued with another example, "Similarly, you can also shoot at targets outside from inside a building. Moreover, the shuttling distance is 400 meters, allowing you to even snipe targets across a mountain."

Lin Zeyu rubbed his chin as he continued to think, "Sniping across a mountain is indeed impressive, but if I can't see the target, I won't be able to aim."

Lu Heng reminded him, "Did you forget about the Void Eye?"

Lin Zeyu clapped his hands and said, "Having the Void Eye is great, but unfortunately, the Void Eye can't move and can only be placed in a fixed position."

Lu Heng smiled and said, "It depends on when you can raise the Void Eye's proficiency."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zeyu's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly, "Are you saying that the Void Eye can move after upgrading?"

Lu Heng didn't give a definite answer but said, "The upgrade effect is uncertain, but the skill effect will definitely be enhanced. Moreover, the next upgrade for this skill will be A-rank, and the effect of an A-rank skill can't be weak. Just don't focus on enhancing the skill's attack power when upgrading; improving functionality is better than increasing power."

After listening carefully, Lin Zeyu nodded in agreement, "That's true. With a gun in hand, I don't need the Void Eye's attack power. I'll practice my shooting and the Void Eye's proficiency, and when upgrading the Void Eye, I must avoid enhancing its attack power."

The B-rank [Void Eye] had offensive capabilities, able to launch void rays to attack targets, with damage tied to mental strength.

In fact, the attack power of this skill was decent, and it could be effective for ambushes.

However, Lin Zeyu didn't lack offensive means; he needed the functionality of the Void Eye. If the skill were to upgrade to A-rank and continue to enhance ray power, it would be quite awkward.

After some serious thought, a flash of inspiration struck Lin Zeyu, and he asked, "When training proficiency, will the way I use the skill affect the upgrade effect?"

Lu Heng wasn't entirely sure either, and after some thought, he replied, "It's possible, but I can't be certain. So, if you want the skill to upgrade with enhanced functionality, focus on training for functional effects. You might just influence the upgrade direction."

"Alright! I'll start practicing my proficiency as soon as I get back." Lin Zeyu waved his hand, ready to leave.

Lu Heng reminded him, "Before you go, go and greet Luo Yuncheng. The Source Essence for the Void Hunter was extracted by him. Although he volunteered to extract it, we should still express our gratitude."

"Understood, I'm off," Lin Zeyu waved and left the administrative building. He then asked the guard at the entrance for directions to find Luo Yuncheng.

...

After a month of formation, the Dragon Ascendant Special Operations Team had assembled a 50-person elite force.

Among these 50 Psionic Warriors, the highest level was 41, the lowest was 30, and the average level was 38, making them an absolute peak force at this stage.

In fact, aside from Luo Yuncheng, the lowest level was 36.

According to Lu Heng's plan, the Special Forces would gradually expand to 100 people in the future.

Currently, the Special Forces had just been established, and many systems needed improvement, so they temporarily recruited 50 people, forming ten 5-person teams.

However, most of the time, the Special Forces operated in multiple teams, and sometimes even the entire 50-person team would engage in missions.

Additionally, the Special Forces had a 30-person logistics team dedicated to supporting the team's logistics, with Wu Weibing as the primary person in charge.

Time gradually progressed to the middle of May in the second year of the Abyssal Descent.

At this point, a significant event occurred.

Half a year ago, mist appeared in multiple locations on the Malay Peninsula, but it was later cleared by the White Eagle Federation's military base, preventing the mist from covering the Malacca Strait.

Three months ago, the mist on Sumatra Island spread northward, covering the strait and connecting with the mist on the Malay Peninsula, blocking the Malacca Strait's shipping lane.

Since then, cargo ships attempting to cross the Malacca Strait have mysteriously disappeared.

The White Eagle Federation dispatched Psionic teams to enter the misty areas to try and clear the mist.

Initially, they cleared several mist rifts, restoring the Malacca shipping lane for four to five days.

However, mist appeared underwater, and the mist on Sumatra Island spread again, once more blocking the shipping lane, making the situation more severe than before.

The White Eagle Federation repeatedly sent Psionic teams to clear the mist, but they couldn't solve the problem completely.

The Malacca shipping lane is one of the busiest strait shipping lanes on Bluesphere, with over 100,000 ships passing through annually, and nearly 25% of the world's trade goods passing through this route.

One can imagine the strategic importance of this shipping lane.

Lion City's economic lifeline is the Malacca shipping lane, so when the mist blocked the lane, Lion City suffered a significant economic blow.

Lion City's military strength is not low, ranking 26th on Bluesphere, but its territory is small, with advanced weapons and equipment but a small scale, resulting in fewer peak-strength Psionic Warriors.

Therefore, after the mist blocked the shipping lane, Lion City began spending money to hire mercenaries from various countries around the world, hoping to clear the mist.

However, the mercenaries from various countries have been struggling with the mist for over three months, and the situation on the shipping lane is inconsistent.

When the mist is thin, ships can barely pass through, but when it's dense, cargo ships disappear in large numbers.

Not only other countries, but Daxia's maritime transportation was also affected.

...

One month after the formation of the Dragon Ascendant Special Operations Team, Lu Heng upgraded two to three skills for each team member, and these were all critical skills, significantly enhancing the warriors' combat power, and the training results were evident.

As time entered the middle of May in the second year of the Abyssal Descent, the mist crisis in the Malacca shipping lane became increasingly severe.

Lion City spent a lot of money, but the shipping lane conditions never improved.

Even the top-ranked mercenary organizations on Bluesphere couldn't clear the mist.

Whether it was the White Eagle Federation's "Interimers," Lionheart Empire's "Round Table Knights," or Fusang's "Oni Samurai," they all dispatched teams, but none could clear the mist.

There was even a case of the mist counterattacking, engulfing a White Eagle Federation mercenary base, causing the entire base's mercenaries to mysteriously disappear.

Since a quarter of the world's trade goods pass through the Malacca shipping lane, the losses caused by the blocked lane due to the mist are astronomical.

Daxia also suffered losses, as it is the largest industrial country, with a significant proportion of its trade being exports.

As the mist crisis in the Malacca shipping lane worsened, the Daxia military began considering hiring mercenaries.

In fact, there had already been unofficial mercenaries from Daxia who entered the mist in the Malacca shipping lane, as the money offered by Lion City was simply too tempting.

However, up until now, no official mercenary organization from Daxia had taken action.

That afternoon, Lu Heng received a call from his deputy, Li Guining, and they arranged a meeting time.

At the Southern Theater Command headquarters, he met Li Guining, who was dressed in a formal suit.

"I just got back from a meeting, and I'm in a hurry to meet with you. I hope it doesn't interfere with your work," Li Guining said politely.

"It's fine, I don't have any urgent matters," Lu Heng replied, then got straight to the point, "What's the urgent matter that you're so eager to discuss?"

Li Guining had been busy during this time and didn't have time for pleasantries, so he went straight to the point, "Regarding the mist crisis in the Malacca shipping lane, you should know about it, right?"

Lu Heng nodded, "I know."

This shipping lane is vital to world trade, and the mist crisis in this lane has been ongoing intermittently for half a year; anyone who goes online knows about it.

Li Guining took a deep breath and said, "This shipping lane has been intermittently blocked by the mist for half a year, and the time it's passable is very limited.

"Now, there's a mountain of cargo ships piled up outside the strait, many of which are from our country.

"So, regardless of the reason, we must take action, and this meeting was to discuss this issue."

Lu Heng could guess what he was about to say, so he asked, "Do you want the Longwei Mercenary Corps to get involved in the mist crisis in the Malacca shipping lane?

"Do you still intend to send the Special Forces?"

After a moment's thought, Li Guining asked, "Do you think the Special Forces are suitable for this mission?"

Actually, Lu Heng had some additional information about the Malacca Strait's fog crisis, as he had memories related to it.

After careful consideration, Lu Heng nodded and replied, "Yes, the Special Forces can undertake this mission, and there's a high chance of resolving the crisis."

"My suggestion is to maximize our benefits during this opportunity. After all, the White Eagle Federation has deployed so many troops and spent half a year without resolving the issue. We should not miss out on any advantages when we step in to solve the problem."

Li Guining nodded in agreement, "That's for sure. We have a series of plans, but all of them are based on one prerequisite: ensuring the fog crisis in the Strait can be resolved. How confident are you about this?"

Lu Heng thought for a moment and answered, "I don't want to make any bold promises, but I believe the Special Forces are capable of completing this mission. If they fail, I'll personally go there."

Li Guining's expression showed surprise upon hearing this. "You don't plan to go yourself?" he asked.

Lu Heng nodded in acknowledgment, "The Special Forces must have the ability to carry out missions independently. I can't always lead them on every mission. After assessing the difficulty of this task, I believe they can accomplish it independently."

Although Li Guining was a bit surprised, he understood the importance of trusting his subordinates. "Alright, since you're confident, this mission is yours. Feel free to request any personnel or equipment you need; the Southern Theater Command will fully support you."

Lu Heng pondered for a moment and said, "When I formed the Special Forces, I didn't anticipate this additional mission. Therefore, I need to add members to the team. I'll search through the Psionic Warrior archives to find suitable candidates."

"We can do it right now."

Li Guining didn't waste any time and immediately turned to his deputy, saying, "Get Staff Officer Qi to bring the archives."

After about ten minutes, Qi Jinghui arrived with the metal briefcase laptop, entered the password to boot it up, and placed it in front of Lu Heng.

Lu Heng typed a few words in the search bar of the archives: 【Underwater Breathing】, and then pressed the confirm button.

【Underwater Breathing】 was a D-level skill that allowed the release of Essence Energy to form Energy Gills, which could extract oxygen from water and grant the ability to breathe underwater like a fish.

This skill was highly functional but lacked offensive power. It only worked in specific scenarios, becoming useless once on land.

Humans were land-based creatures, and powerful Ability Users or those aspiring to become Super Warriors typically avoided such skills.

Only Ability Users specializing in underwater missions would choose skills like 【Underwater Breathing】.

Military divisions operated as a system, especially the navy, which had a significant number of Psionic Warriors with similar underwater skills.

The search yielded many results, totaling three hundred files.

However, given the urgency of the mission, it was impossible to select low-level Ability Users and slowly cultivate them; they needed high-level ones.

Therefore, Lu Heng opened the 38th and 39th-level groups, scanned through them, and selected ten individuals: "These ten will be transferred to the Special Forces. After a week of training, they'll depart."

Li Guining understood Lu Heng's choice after seeing the selected individuals.

This Malacca Strait fog crisis mission might involve underwater operations.

These ten individuals were clearly chosen for their underwater capabilities.

After reviewing the selections, Li Guining instructed his deputy, "Send transfer notices to these ten individuals. There's no need to seek their opinions; this is an order from the Theater Command."

"Yes, sir!" The deputy left to arrange the transfers for the ten individuals.

"Time is tight," Lu Heng said, pointing to the door. "Have them assemble at the Dragon Might Base, where I'll be waiting. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Go ahead. If you need anything else, just contact Staff Officer Qi," Li Guining said as he saw Lu Heng off.

Lu Heng left the Theater Command Headquarters and returned to the Dragon Might Base. After half an hour, a troop transport vehicle entered the base.

Ten individuals jumped off the vehicle and lined up in the training ground.

Lu Heng glanced at them and said, "This is an urgent mission, so I'm transferring you to the Special Forces. After the mission, you can decide whether to stay or leave. This mission involves the fog crisis in the Malacca Strait, so you should understand that completing the mission objectives will undoubtedly earn you a first-class merit."

"Yes, sir! We will do our utmost to complete the mission," the ten individuals saluted in unison, their movements and voices perfectly synchronized.

"I chose you because of your expertise in underwater combat," Lu Heng continued. "But you'll need additional training to join the Special Forces. If you don't meet my requirements, I might send you back to your original units."

Not all ten individuals were eager to join the Special Forces.

The reason was similar to what Luo Yuncheng had initially thought: transferring from the regular military division to the mercenary division typically meant an uncertain future.

However, Lu Heng offered them a promise: they could choose to stay or leave the Special Forces after the mission.

In other words, if they completed the mission and wished to leave the Special Forces, they could request a transfer.

This eliminated any potential for slacking off.

Moreover, the mission was indeed crucial—resolving the fog crisis in the world's top strait would undoubtedly earn them a first-class merit and a promotion.

Lu Heng selected these ten individuals because his memories provided critical information about the Malacca Strait fog crisis, revealing that the mist rift was deep beneath the ocean's surface.

Someone had to dive into the depths and close the abyssal rift to disperse the fog.

Before their departure, Lu Heng planned to upgrade the skills of these ten individuals.

Several of them showed great potential and might even become Ocean Overlords with proper cultivation.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end