Chapter 832 The true face of the unknown race (Part 2)
"Difference engine?"
After hearing this unfamiliar term, Ariel marveled at the countless gears and chains in front of her, and couldn't help but asked with curiosity: "Lord, is this dazzling giant machine also a product of your world?"
"Not quite."
Lei Xiao looked at the huge mechanical array composed of rows of gears with numbers printed on them, shook his head and said: "The world I live in only completed part of the structure of the difference engine back then, and it was not completely completed. ”
"Judging from the current scene, the difference engine here has obviously been completely completed and put into use."
Lei Xiao's eyes were solemn, and he nodded to Ariel and said: "It seems that the reason why this special teleportation train can shuttle back and forth between the real space and the void space is that this difference engine undoubtedly plays a huge role. Function.”
As a senior movie and novel fan, Lei Xiao is naturally no stranger to the difference engine, a representative product of steampunk.
Simply put, a difference engine is a mechanical computer driven by a steam engine. It can perform extremely complex function operations in a short time. In a sense, it is comparable to modern electronic computers.
If the second industrial revolution hadn't come too quickly, if a cross-generational product like the difference engine could really be completed, it would have allowed mankind to leapfrog the electrical age and enter the information age ahead of schedule.
Lei Xiao thought this while continuing to observe.
In addition to the huge mechanical structure, there are also a large number of magic consoles similar to those in the cab distributed on both sides of the passage.
Many rusted parts are also engraved with dense magic lines, and even the ground is covered with unknown outlines of magic circles.
It is not difficult to see from this that the difference engine in front of you is not purely mechanized, but also a combination of machinery and magic.
"It seems that this difference engine can not only calculate complex functions, but it can also automatically release spells or form magic circles, right? In other words, this is the control center of the entire train."
Lei Xiao swallowed involuntarily, his eyes becoming more solemn.
The Difference Engine alone was surprising enough, but what was in front of me was actually a Magic Difference Engine, which was simply unimaginable.
"Lord, is this kind of complicated machine that makes people want to sleep so powerful?"
When he heard that the differential engine could actually allow the train to travel through space, Chaoyan's big eyes almost popped out of his head, and he couldn't help but ask Lei Xiao.
"To put it simply, you can think of this as a device that automatically releases spells."
Lei Xiao explained succinctly in a language Chaoyan could understand: "As long as you supply enough magic power and enter the specified password, you can recite spells at the same time without interfering with each other, so as to release different spells at the same time. The effect.”
After listening to Lei Xiao's explanation, all the subordinates couldn't help but marveled, with expressions of amazement on their faces.
In other words, even if there is no powerful person in the space system, as long as it can supply the huge amount of magic power required, this train can theoretically achieve instantaneous teleportation.
While the subordinates were marveling, Lei Xiao had already turned around the entire carriage.
In the second half of the carriage, there is a large operating area. Not only are the magic operating consoles neatly arranged, but there are also mechanical operating consoles that have been seen before. It can be said to be dazzling.
"Although teleportation requires a large amount of magic power, and supporting such a huge train will further increase the consumption of magic power, this is after all a train that uses a mixture of steam and magic power."
"Although I don't know what proportion of steam and magic power each account for in the transmission process, and I don't know how far the train's maximum transmission distance can be compared to the teleportation technique used by normal strong people."
"But what is certain is that since this space train can appear in the "Wandering Gate", it will definitely not be an ordinary one. If this kind of transmission train can be mass-produced and then used on the battlefield, it will definitely play a role. Unexpected effect. ”
"What if special mechanisms are installed on the train? For example, rows of magic cannons, large defensive barriers and other means will undoubtedly greatly improve the battlefield pattern."
"After all, what I face is not only the threat from native forces, but also the lords of other countries."
"Many of them will inevitably choose to combine technology and magic to create more powerful forces."
Thinking of this, Lei Xiao's face felt solemn and helpless again.
Having said that, the acceleration of research and even the mass production of teleportation trains that I envisioned are all based on being able to get help from unknown races.
Otherwise, even if you send a large number of researchers here to analyze the difference engine and the entire train, you will never be able to gain anything in a short period of time.
After all, although the talents of the Lords of the Xiaoshen Group gathered by Qin Qian are all industry leaders, they have never been exposed to the new field of combining technology and magic, so everything has to start from scratch.
Under such a situation of knowing nothing, facing such a difficult space steam train and magic difference engine all at once, I am afraid that the CPU will be burned to smoke on the spot.
"The most important thing is that I didn't even see the shadow of this unknown race."
Lei Xiao looked at the mottled scenery around him and shook his head helplessly while waving his hand to signal the knotweed to continue moving forward to open the door.
"At present, apart from knowing the limited height of this unknown race, even Erza, who is an archaeologist, and Jiang Li and Hongye, who are well-informed, have not discovered any clues from any details."< br>
"Coupled with this long-standing state of neglect, the true identity of this race may really become an unsolved mystery."
Just when Lei Xiao frowned and thought of this.
There was just a "bang" sound, and the heavy carriage door in front was easily removed by the knotweed.
At the same time that the sound came out, everyone present, including Lei Xiao himself, couldn't help but look shocked, and they all looked in the direction of the sound.
At this moment, every fourth-level expert on the team can clearly feel it.
A strange smell filled the carriage door.
Although these breaths are very weak, what is certain is that there must be living creatures on the other side of the door!
"Protect the lord!"
The knotweed standing at the front was the first to bear the brunt, and the thick earth-yellow energy barrier immediately blocked the door tightly.
However, after only a moment, Huzhang turned around and reported to Lei Xiaochen with surprise on his face: "Lord, there seems to be a different kind of resting place ahead."
"There is actually a resting place here? But if this is really the case, how can there be breath?"
With his mind full of questions, Lei Xiao, surrounded by other subordinates, walked towards the unfamiliar carriage ahead.
The moment he walked into the unfamiliar carriage, Lei Xiao immediately felt the temperature around him drop sharply, as if he had entered an ice cellar.
But what is surprising is that even though the carriage door has been removed by knotweed, the cold air inside still does not leak out at all, which is quite miraculous.
After looking around, Lei Xiao made further discoveries.
Just like the knotweed said, there is only one kind of item here.
There are a large number of rectangular boxes similar to ice coffins, hundreds of them, neatly arranged on both sides of the aisle, just like a freezer, which looks quite spectacular.
In every crystal clear rectangular box, you can see a looming short figure lying in it, but because it is covered with thick dust, you can't see it clearly.
Underneath these rectangular boxes, there is a strange magic circle that is still running, exuding a faint blue light.
As for why Lei Xiao thought it was just like ice coffins, it was because those weak breaths came from these rectangular boxes.
Therefore, from Lei Xiao's modern perspective, these are obviously not real coffins, but rather like some kind of life support device that coexists with a sense of science fiction and magic.
Only in this way can we explain why there is a faint breath of life in it.
After thinking about this in his mind, Lei Xiao was surprised and then described his thoughts to his subordinates.
"So this is it. Is it a magical life support device? Just like Senior Gals before."
Ariel nodded in sudden enlightenment and groped her white chin thoughtfully: "So, these figures are from that unknown race, right?"
"Yes, this just explains why this place has been abandoned for a long time, but no corpses have been seen."
Lei Xiao nodded slightly and affirmed: "Because these people of unknown races have already sealed themselves in these life support devices."
"Lord, why do they do this?"
Chaoyan blinked his big curious eyes, tilted his head in confusion and said: "What's even more strange is why they sealed themselves in the "Wandering Gate"? What's the point of doing this? ”
"It is still unknown, but what is certain is that there must be an unknown past hidden in it."
Lei Xiao pondered for a moment, and then responded: "Let us first see the true face of this unknown race."
After finishing speaking, Lei Xiao led his subordinates to approach one of the life support devices.
After Lian stepped forward and wiped away the thick floating dust on several device covers, Lei Xiao and his group finally saw the true face of the other party.
What I saw lying in these devices was a short humanoid race, both male and female. Their height was almost the same as the dwarf phantoms Lei Xiao had seen.
Perhaps because they have been lying in the life support device, these people all have haggard faces and look extremely weak.
But it can be clearly seen that it is different from the sturdy dwarves with a rough face full of beards.
Not only does this race have slender bones, but it is also much whiter. Even with this frail appearance, their facial features are exquisite, definitely not comparable to that of the dwarves.
And even with their eyes closed, everyone exudes a strong intellectual temperament, just like scholars taking a nap.
As for the other party's clothes, they were all in black style. They were either black robes or black leather armor, which made their skin look extremely pale and colorless.
In addition, another major feature of this humanoid race is its pointed ears.
Although it is not as tall as Erza from the Elf clan, it is still longer than Gracilaria, who is a half-elf.
"Is it a group of dwarves who have been silent for a long time?"
After observing carefully for a while, Erza blinked her long eyelashes and then slowly revealed the identity of the other party.
"Elves?"
Hearing this unfamiliar vocabulary, Lei Xiao nodded slightly and motioned for Erza to continue speaking.
"Lord, dwarfs are a race that has disappeared for a long time. They have never appeared again since the blank era. I also accidentally saw a few words about dwarves in an ancient book in the Kingdom of Dark Elves."
Erza bowed slightly and began to introduce.
“Although the name dwarves also includes the word elf, this is just their self-proclaimed name. In fact, it is not recognized by the light elves, forest elves, and subordinate dark elves, so it does not belong to a branch of the elves. ”
"In addition to the official name of dwarf, this race has another well-known name, which is dwarf."
"In terms of strength, the dwarves do not have the physical strength of the dwarves, nor the affinity for magic of the elves, nor the acuity and speed of the winged humans, so they appear to be very mediocre. The word mediocre is also what the ancient books describe about their strength. ”
"In addition, it is indeed described in ancient books that dwarves are good at machinery, but it is only the words "good at machinery" and there is no other detailed introduction."
At this point, Erza's fair and translucent face couldn't help but feel a sense of respect: "I didn't expect the real strength of the dwarf to be so impressive."
As a ruins fan and archaeologist, Erza has explored various ancient ruins.
But whether it was this space train or the special summoning arrays and pressure detection arrays before, they were far beyond her imagination.
From this, it is not difficult to see that the strength of this race at its peak is probably infinitely close to that of famous races with extraordinary strength such as the dwarves, elves, and winged humans.
"Then everything can be explained."
Lei Xiao looked at the weathered middle-aged dwarf's resolute face in the life support device in front of him, and nodded thoughtfully.
"It is precisely because they have no competitiveness or advantages compared with other races that they have found new ways to develop these products that combine technology and magic, and they have reached an unprecedented height."
Having said this, Lei Xiao's dark eyes lit up, and he asked the strongest half-elf ancestor: "Speaking of which, is there any possibility of waking them up?"
"Back to the lord, judging from the thick dust and the weakness of the magic arrays, these magic arrays have existed for at least 2,500 years, which means that they have also been dormant for 2,500 years. ”
Jiang Li closed her eyes for a moment, then bowed to Lei Xiao and expressed her thoughts.
"Although my subordinates are not strong healers, I can clearly feel that the reason why they are still alive is entirely because of these life support devices, which keep their extremely weak bodies at a minimum. Limited sleep state”
"Once they are awakened and their body functions return to normal, I am afraid they will die immediately because their bodies are overwhelmed."
Speaking of this, Jiang Li shook her head helplessly and sighed: "Therefore, my subordinates believe that even a fifth-level healing powerhouse may not be able to successfully wake them up."
After listening to Jiang Li's words, Ye Cang, who is a strong healer, nodded in agreement.
"In other words, even if we can keep them alive, we can't communicate with them smoothly?"
Lei Xiao curled his lips, with a helpless look on his face.
This undoubtedly means that no matter how hard I try, I will not be able to get the assistance of these dwarfs to quickly develop some more powerful devices and weapons.
"Wait! Lord, maybe we can communicate with these dwarves in real time without waking them up!"
Erza's clear eyes lit up, as if she had discovered something, and she said excitedly to Lei Xiao: "Because they are not in a real dormant state at all!" (End of Chapter)