manynovel Chapter 19 Energy Transformation
Chapter 19 Energy Transformation
The discovery of the armory temporarily relieved the two from their predicament of scarce survival supplies, but the real challenge had just begun. With weapons and a relatively safe environment, a stable and sustainable energy supply became the core issue that urgently needed to be addressed. The diesel generator sets locked in reinforced glass compartments deep within the underground armory naturally became the primary target.
Tony unlocked the relatively simple door in less than five minutes. Pushing open the glass door, a stronger smell of engine oil and metal wafted out. Three massive military-grade diesel generator sets stood silently in the dim light, like three sleeping steel behemoths. Next to them were several huge storage tanks labeled "Diesel," connected to the generator sets via thick pipes.
"Standard military configuration, robust and durable. Theoretically, as long as there's enough fuel and regular maintenance, it should run for decades without any problems." Tony walked around the unit, wiping the dust off the control panel to reveal a complex array of buttons, gauges, and connectors. "Let's see if these old guys still obey orders."
Chen Haotian, however, was more concerned with the overall situation. He checked the fuel tank's level gauge, which showed it was still more than half full, which was good news. But he also noticed a problem: "The ventilation system seems to be completely shut down. If we start the generator here, exhaust emissions will be a major issue."
"Let's solve the problem of having something first, then the quality, my dear brother." Tony didn't even look up, already opening his tool bag and beginning to disassemble the main control panel's casing. "Making sure they work is the top priority. The exhaust problem... can be addressed by modifying the pipes later, or by only operating it briefly when necessary."
For Tony Stark, disassembling and exploring the internal structure of mechanical equipment was as natural as breathing. He quickly became engrossed, the simple tools in his hands seemingly coming to life as he precisely tested the circuits and inspected the components. Chen Haotian didn't disturb him, but stepped aside, leaning against the door frame, keeping watch on the armory entrance while observing Tony's work. His academically gifted mindset led him to habitually construct a three-dimensional model and schematic diagram of the generator in his mind, while simultaneously assessing various possible points of failure.
Time passed in silence, broken only by the occasional soft metallic clinking and thoughtful mutterings from Tony.
"Aging circuitry...oxidized contacts...not a major problem..." "Startup capacitor...hopefully not completely failed..." "...Hmm?"
Tony paused abruptly, letting out a soft, questioning hum. He was using a homemade multimeter probe to test a peculiar interface on the generator set's core power output. The interface's specifications didn't match any standards he knew; it seemed more like an aftermarket addition.
"What did you find?" Chen Haotian noticed his unusual behavior and asked.
"Something's strange," Tony frowned, repeatedly testing the area around the interface with the probe. "The energy readings here... are very weak, but very stable, and... it's neither DC nor AC fluctuations." He adjusted several settings on his homemade instrument, cobbled together from discarded resistors and capacitors, trying to capture a clearer signal. "It feels... more like some kind of background radiation, but with very unique frequency characteristics."
This piqued Chen Haotian's interest. He took a few steps closer, his gaze falling on the unusual interface. Almost simultaneously, he felt the transmigration runes within him, dormant for several days, stir slightly, like a tiny pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that were almost imperceptible. This feeling was fleeting, yet incredibly clear.
"Can you locate the source of the radiation?" Chen Haotian's voice remained calm, but his eyes were much sharper.
"Trying... the signal is too weak, and the interference is too strong..." Tony was focused, using the limited tools he had to troubleshoot. He followed the lines connected to the interface, tracing them step by step, and finally pinpointed the target to a large oil pipeline connecting the first generator set and the second diesel storage tank. This section of pipeline looked no different from the others, but the readings on Tony's instruments showed a significant peak here.
"Right here, inside the pipe or in the wall," Tony confirmed, patting the cold metal pipe. "Looks like something's mixed in with the fuel, or... stuck to the inside of the pipe."
The work got complicated. They needed to cut the pipe for inspection. Tony found the necessary pipe wrenches and cutting tools in the armory's tool section, and the two of them worked together, with some effort, to dismantle a section of pipe about half a meter long.
The pipe was laid flat on the ground. Tony shone a powerful flashlight inside the pipe and could see some dark grease and deposits on the inner wall, but nothing unusual was visible to the naked eye.
"Looks like we'll have to 'dissect' it." Tony picked up the cutting tools and carefully cut along the length of the pipe. When the metal casing was opened, revealing the inside, both of them saw that thing.
Embedded in thick grease and metal shavings, it was inconspicuous. About the size of a little fingernail, it was irregularly shaped and had a dull, dark purple hue that seemed to absorb light. Unlike any known crystal or metal, it had no luster, was cold to the touch, and hard.
Tony carefully removed it from the oil stains with tweezers and placed it on a clean cloth. He tested it again with his instruments, and the peculiar energy readings indeed originated from this small crystal.
"What is this? Some kind of... fuel additive crystals? Or a product of pipe corrosion?" Tony guessed, but his intuition told him it wasn't that simple. He tried tapping it gently with a tool; the crystals emitted a dull, non-metallic sound and were unusually solid.
Chen Haotian stared at the deep purple crystal. The runes within his body throbbed even more strongly than before. This time, it wasn't ripples, but a faint "pulsation," as if there was some invisible connection between the crystal and the runes. He stretched out his finger and gently touched the surface of the crystal.
The instant his fingertips touched, an indescribable sensation spread from his fingertips. It wasn't an electric current, nor was it hot or cold; it was more like a... spatial "folding," as if he wasn't touching a physical entity, but an extremely tiny, stable point of spatial distortion. At the same time, he clearly "felt" that the energy flow of the runes within his body seemed to have accelerated slightly.
"This is not a product of this world." Chen Haotian withdrew his finger, his tone certain. His high-IQ brain, combined with the abnormal reaction of the rune, quickly reached a preliminary conclusion. "The energy fluctuations it emits... are very peculiar, possessing a 'void' characteristic, completely different from conventional energy."
"Void energy?" Tony raised an eyebrow. This term was beyond his previous understanding, but considering the inexplicable phenomenon before him and Chen Haotian's mysterious ability to travel through time, he didn't immediately dismiss it. "Are you sure?"
"It can't be completely certain, but the possibility is extremely high," Chen Haotian pondered. "Do you remember how we came to this world? Space travel itself causes disturbances in the rules. Perhaps, at the edge or weak point of the collision between the rules of two worlds, this kind of substance containing special rule energy will be accidentally generated. This crystal is very likely that it was coincidentally separated from the 'void' under some special operating conditions when the generator was running, and attached here with the flow of fuel."
This conjecture is bold yet reasonable, consistent with the rigorous logical deduction of a top student, and also fits the current fantastical reality.
Tony stared intently at the deep purple crystal on the cloth, his eyes burning with fervor. For geniuses, the unknown is always the most alluring challenge. "An energy crystal containing unknown rules… if its energy could be extracted and utilized…" His mind raced, countless possible applications flashing through his head, especially concerning his still-developing "armor" project.
"We need to analyze its specific properties, energy intensity, stability, and potential risks," Chen Haotian cautioned, urging everyone to remain calm. "It's best not to conduct energy contact experiments rashly before we have a clear understanding of these factors."
"Of course, of course, safety first," Tony replied, but his eyes never left the crystal, as if he could already see a brand new energy treasure trove beckoning to him. He carefully wrapped the crystal in a cloth and placed it in the safest spot in his tool bag.
The armory's generators hadn't yet started, but they unexpectedly discovered something far more astonishing than electricity—a crystal containing unknown void energy, possibly originating from a collision of world rules. This discovery shrouded their post-apocalyptic survival and even their future path in mystery and uncertainty. Tony's plan to modify energy sources thus gained a completely new and unknown variable.