Chapter 423: The Breakthrough Strategy

Not long after, Frost summoned all core wizards of the Logistics Branch for a special tactical meeting.

Inside the command center, a holographic display showed the current battlefield situation of friend and foe, along with predicted movement directions of the Scythe-Headers based on Gao Jie Ming's intelligence.

Frost's expression was more grim than ever.

"Gentlemen, according to the record crystals and the intelligence brought back by Consultant Gao Jie Ming, in the last cycle, our research had just entered the deep waters when the Scythe-Headers launched a total assault with unprecedented speed and ferocity."

Frost's voice echoed through the silent room: "They appear to be deliberately compressing our 'research window.' This time, in the seventh cycle, their mobilization is even faster. This trend will only continue."

He scanned the room: "If we cannot break this cycle, if we cannot achieve a critical breakthrough capable of overturning the situation before they forcibly drag us into total war, then… our research will forever remain at the stage of 'initial models' and 'unverified hypotheses.'"

"If we allow this situation to continue, once the volume of research knowledge reaches a certain limit, each cycle will seem like knowledge accumulation, but in truth, we are merely repeating the cycle: 'learning existing knowledge—forming preliminary hypotheses—being forced to interrupt.' The 'breakthrough progress' requiring long-term experimentation and observation will remain out of reach."

An elder wizard nodded heavily: "The commander is right. Many experiments require continuous, stable, long-term observation and intervention. With the current rhythm of constant disruption, it may take dozens more cycles before we can confirm or refute them."

"We need time—uninterrupted, sufficient time," added another wizard specializing in soul and memory laws. "But the enemy clearly has no intention of giving it to us."

The meeting fell into brief silence.

The enemy holds the initiative of 'save and load.' They can restart endlessly, using frenzied total assaults to disrupt the wizards' scientific progress.

The wizards, though possessing immense power and wisdom, now feel as if their hands and feet are bound.

Gao Jie Ming was also thinking.

He possessed complete memories; his dantian stored all research data, granting him personal continuity across cycles.

But this was far from enough.

An individual's intellect and time are limited; many large-scale experiments and complex simulations require team collaboration and cross-disciplinary intellectual collision.

Personal memory… team collaboration…

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him.

"Since the problem of time reversal cannot be solved for now…" Gao Jie Ming spoke slowly, his voice quiet but drawing every eye, "what if all wizards involved in the research could retain some memory across cycles?"

The conference room fell silent, then erupted into low murmurs.

"Retain memory for everyone?" Frost's gaze sharpened as he looked at Gao Jie Ming. "Can you do it?"

"No," Gao Jie Ming shook his head, but his eyes glowed. "But don't we already have a ready-made 'teacher' who retains partial memory across cycles?"

He pointed to the black light dots on the holographic star map representing the Scythe-Headers.

"The Scythe-Headers—especially the high-ranking individuals—clearly retain partial combat experience and cognition across cycles."

"Though we suspect this may be aided by a 'collective consciousness' or 'edited will,' their individual physiological basis—particularly their information storage and retrieval mechanisms—must have unique features."

"We've studied them for so long; haven't we already gained deep understanding of their nervous systems, pheromonal memory encoding, and possible genetic-level information imprinting?"

Several wizards specializing in biology and soul domains immediately brightened.

"That makes sense!" Alison stood up excitedly. "We can study and replicate the Scythe-Headers' physiological or soul mechanisms that resist memory reset, then develop a 'technology' allowing wizards to retain key memories across cycles."

"Exactly," Gao Jie Ming affirmed. "We don't need to fully replicate their entire system—only extract its core principle: the mechanism that anchors vital information within the individual, resisting the erosion of time reversal. Then, combine it with our existing wizard techniques—soul reinforcement, memory solidification, law imprinting—to develop a 'cycle memory aid' suited to us."

"Even if initially we can only retain critical research data, experimental steps, and core concepts—paired with my ability to carry record crystals from the previous cycle—it will still cause a qualitative leap in our research continuity!"

This idea, like a spark dropped into an oil depot, instantly ignited the passion of every Logistics Branch wizard!

"Feasibility is high…" a soul master quickly analyzed. "We already have several cycles' worth of high-ranking Scythe-Headers as samples; we have basic analyses of their soul structures and information storage patterns. If we concentrate our efforts…"

"We'll need massive samples for mechanism validation and principle extraction!" added a biological rune expert.

"And we must conduct safety and stability tests—this involves the very foundation of soul and memory…"

The wizards spoke one after another, rapidly outlining the concept's framework and beginning to discuss technical pathways and challenges.

Frost listened to the discussion, then turned to the leading wizards in biology and soul domains: "If we concentrate all relevant personnel and resources, and grant the highest priority for sample access, how long do you estimate it will take to produce a preliminary viable technical plan or prototype?"

The senior wizards exchanged quick glances, then rapidly reviewed the summaries of record crystals compiling all prior-cycle research findings.

Finally, a revered sixth-rank wizard spoke for the group: "Commander, based on our current research depth and sample reserves, if we can obtain continuous, stable, and abundant live and corpse samples of high-ranking Scythe-Headers for deep analysis—and if our research is uninterrupted—we estimate at least five years of continuous study will be required to crack the core principle and develop a preliminary 'memory anchor' prototype."

"Five years…" Frost repeated softly, his gaze fixed on the black dots converging on the star map, then hardening with resolve.

"Fine. I will secure those five years for you."

He turned to Gao Jie Ming and all present, his voice decisive: "Since passive delay and defense cannot grant us sufficient stability, we will change tactics."

"Effective immediately, shift all military strategy. Abandon conservative delay and attrition. Break into small elite squads and launch high-intensity, combined harassment and sabotage attacks against Scythe-Head-controlled zones. Goal: disrupt their mobilization rhythm, delay their total assault, and…"

He paused, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "Maximize the hunting and capture of Scythe-Headers—especially mid- and high-ranking individuals—to provide you with a constant stream of 'raw materials'!"

The command triggered a moment of silence, then everyone understood its meaning.

This was no longer a war of preserving strength and delay—it was an active slaughter.

To obtain samples and research time, the wizard legion would voluntarily enter even more dangerous, unpredictable combat environments.

It was foreseeable that under this aggressive tactic, wizard casualties—especially among combat wizards—would rise sharply.

Frost's gaze swept over them. "This demands sacrifice. But in this realm where 'save and load' exists, sacrifice is not eternal. We trade casualties in one cycle for a key that may end all cycles. I believe this cost is worth it."

No wizard objected—not even those in the combat units who received the order via terminal.

Before truth and knowledge, the wizards' choice has always been unanimous.

(End of Chapter)