Chapter 184: Data Echo, Rotclaw Inferno

Inside the Star Dust Sanctuary, time passed silently amid the slow flow of chaotic light streams. The wreckage of Zero's core console emitted a low hum, and the data streams on the screen cascaded down like waterfalls. She was executing an extremely dangerous operation—using the last remaining data processing core of the Prism Hub to construct a temporary "virtual consciousness cradle" for Lin Mo's weakened Star Dust will.

Xiang Lingna stood guard tensely nearby, the slowly recovering chaotic energy flowing through her meridians, repairing the damage to her body. The dark purple crystal stump of her right arm, after absorbing the faint dispersed energy within the space, saw the circuit-like energy patterns on its surface become clearer, even beginning to slowly "grow," attempting to construct a palm-like rudimentary structure, carrying a cold, unnatural vitality.

"Virtual framework… construction complete… logic firewall… loading… maximum power…" Zero's electronic voice carried an unprecedented Heavy and Solemn tone, "Beginning… consciousness separation and import… warning… interference source detected…"

On the screen, beside the light point representing Lin Mo's Star Dust core, an extremely faint, almost imperceptible thread of light suddenly separated. This thread of light, guided by Zero's precise data streams, carefully probed toward a data port flickering with ghostly blue light at the core of the console. Just at the moment of connection!

Hum!

A chaotic data torrent, mixed and carrying intense corruption and agony intent, like a lurking venomous snake, suddenly darted out from deep within the hub's damaged data core, slamming viciously into that thread of light representing Lin Mo's consciousness!

"Doctor… corruption… residual logic trap!" Zero's projection fluctuated violently! This was clearly a contingency the Doctor had planted when destroying the hub earlier, specifically targeting possible consciousness data operations!

Xiang Lingna's heart instantly leaped to her throat! She saw that faint thread of light trembling violently under the impact of the corrupted data stream, as if about to collapse at any moment! Brother Lin Mo!

At the critical moment! The chaotic energy dormant within Xiang Lingna's body, especially the cold annihilation property within her right arm's crystal, as if stimulated by the external corruption force, instinctively erupted! She instinctively pointed her right arm crystal at the data port!

Sizzle—!

A condensed, dark purple chaotic light beam shot out precisely, not attacking the data port, but slamming viciously into that corrupted data torrent!

Like strong acid poured into filthy oil! The controllable annihilation power contained within the dark purple light beam, transformed by Xiang Lingna's will, had a miraculous effect on the Doctor's corrupted data! The corrupted torrent was instantly eroded, disintegrated, emitting a silent wail, and dissipated within the data flood!

That thread of light representing Lin Mo's consciousness narrowly avoided contamination and successfully connected to the virtual framework constructed by Zero!

On the console screen, an extremely blurry, cross-legged humanoid light shadow composed of countless pale blue data streams slowly emerged. At the core of the light shadow, a faint Star Dust light stably flickered. Though illusory, Xiang Lingna could clearly sense that Lin Mo's familiar will fluctuation had become steadier, no longer rapidly dissipating like before.

"Import… successful…" Zero's voice carried a trace of imperceptible "fatigue," "Virtual cradle… running stably… Lord Lin Mo… consciousness consumption… reduced by 87%… logic contamination… cleared…"

Success! Xiang Lingna let out a long breath, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion. Looking at the blurry data light shadow on the screen, her heart filled with lingering fear and relief.

"Zero… Sister… thank you…" Xiang Lingna said sincerely.

"Duty…" Zero's projection flickered slightly, then her data streams suddenly captured something, "Alert… received… external… faint signal… attempting to parse…"

Broken, heavily interfered audio fragments popped up on the screen:

【…hiss…Sister Ai Li…calling…Prism…Zero…do you copy…hiss…】

【…woodland…fallen…Priestess Liyana…captured…hiss…Doctor…base…Rotclaw Furnace…】

【…location…forest…northeast…Withered Wang Ting…ruins…hiss…wait for me…signal…coordinate from within…hiss…】

It was Sister Ai Li's voice! Though full of static, that unique calm and resolve—Xiang Lingna would never mistake it!

Sister Liyana captured?! The woodland fallen?! Sister Ai Li in the Doctor's lair—the Rotclaw Furnace?! She's planning a coordinated attack?!

Immense shock and worry instantly overwhelmed Xiang Lingna! The elven woodland… the New Moon woodland… ultimately couldn't be held? Sister Liyana has fallen into the Doctor's hands… Sister Ai Li has infiltrated the dragon's den alone!

"Signal source… locating… heavy interference… general direction… Elven Mourning fragment… northeast quadrant… corruption energy… peak zone…" Zero analyzed rapidly, "Signal… one-way… unable to reply…"

Xiang Lingna suddenly stood up, chaotic energy surging within her body, the crystal stump of her right arm emitting a low hum. Fear was replaced by stronger anger and worry. Sister Ai Li is taking risks! Sister Liyana's life hangs by a thread! And they, hiding inside this safe "eggshell"!

"Zero! We must go out! To help them!" Xiang Lingna's voice carried unquestionable resolve. Brother Lin Mo is temporarily stabilized, but their companions outside are struggling in hell!

Zero's projection fell silent for a moment, data streams calculating rapidly. "Star Dust Sanctuary… energy reserves… maintenance time… estimated… 72 standard hours (external time approximately 7.2 hours)…"

"Forced detachment… requires consumption of… massive energy… exposure risk… greatly increased…"

"Target zone… Rotclaw Furnace… Doctor's main body… suspected presence… defense level… extinction-grade…"

The cold analysis lay before them. Going out meant abandoning the relatively safe environment, actively exposing themselves under the Doctor's hunting net, breaking into the most dangerous core zone. Success rate… slim.

Xiang Lingna looked at Lin Mo's blurry data light shadow on the screen, and seemed to see Sister Ai Li sneaking through the darkness, saw the possible torture Sister Liyana might suffer. She clenched that slowly growing crystal right fist, her eyes flickering with a light mixed with fear, anger, and unprecedented determination.

"Calculate…the fastest…most covert…route to reach the Rotclaw Furnace!" Xiang Lingna's voice was resolute, "Brother Lin Mo bought us time… we can't…hide any longer!"