Chapter 428: More Attempts
Sensing that its connection with the Alpha had been completely severed, the Omega let out a shriek that shook the entire underground space. It was no longer merely an energy fluctuation, but a mix of fury and some kind of near-biological instinctual panic. All Mimics, regardless of their previous state, seemed to be injected with a berserk command, completely ignoring their own damage and hurling themselves at Maine's squad from all directions in a suicidal manner.
"They've all gone crazy!" Rebecca yelled. Her plasma bombardment cannon fired continuously, vaporizing swaths of Mimics, but more enemies immediately filled the gaps.
The structure of the reservoir groaned ominously, large chunks of concrete began falling from the ceiling, and water gushed out from the cracks. The energy readings in the area where the Omega was located spiked sharply, far exceeding safety thresholds.
"It's overloading its core!" David stared at his biological sensors. "If this continues, the entire structure will collapse!"
Maine's crimson optical lenses swept rapidly across the battlefield. Retreating was the most logical choice; they had already captured an Alpha, so the mission could be considered partially successful. But Ryo's directive echoed in his processor: The Omega's control system holds irreplaceable research value for understanding the nature of spacetime.
This was a massive gamble.
"Fire all remaining jamming rounds! Target: the Omega!" Maine's voice was decisive. "Pilar, recalibrate the capture device; we're taking it with us too!"
"Are you crazy?!" Rita yelled in between repelling a Mimic. "We can't possibly complete the capture before it self-destructs!"
"We have infinite loops to try," Maine responded, "but this is the first time we've truly enraged it. Next time, it might completely change its defensive strategy."
Sasha and Kiwi immediately executed the order, firing all remaining jamming rounds toward the Omega's location. Continuous explosions lit up deep within the passage, and the specially made electromagnetic pulses temporarily disrupted the Omega's energy field.
"Jamming effective, but the duration won't exceed twenty seconds!" Kiwi reported.
Pilar and Lucy frantically adjusted the parameters of the capture device. "Energy output increased to one hundred and twenty percent! Targeting the largest energy source!"
The device emitted an ear-piercing whine; the overloaded operation caused its casing to become hot to the touch. Lucy's quadrupedal automaton moved forward proactively, using its body as an additional stabilization platform.
"Dorio, Rebecca, buy us time!" Maine ordered. "Everyone else, protect the technical team!"
Dorio and Rebecca executed the order without hesitation. Dorio lunged forward, her volkite gauntlets tracing lethal arcs in the darkness, igniting the approaching Mimics one by one. Rebecca used her plasma cannon for precise bursts, clearing the targets that posed the greatest threat to the capture device.
Valerie and Jackie's Iron Guards held the very front, their armor already covered in dents and scorch marks from the Mimic attacks. "Armor integrity down to forty-three percent!" Jackie warned.
"Targeting complete!" Pilar shouted. "Fire!"
The specially made containment net fired by the capture device was more massive than any previous one. Like a living shadow, it lunged toward the Omega deep within the passage. The energy inhibitors on the net emitted a blinding light, clearly operating in an overloaded state.
Just as the containment net was about to hit, the Omega's core erupted with a light too intense to look at. An unprecedented spacetime fluctuation swept across the entire space.
"Ultimate reset protocol activation detected!" Falco's voice was nearly drowned out by the roar of energy. "It's trying to erase the entire timeline!"
The containment net successfully made contact with the Omega at the very last moment, and the energy inhibitors began to work. But it was too late; the reset was already inevitable.
In the final moment before his consciousness was pulled back to the start of the loop, Maine recorded a crucial piece of data: the reset of the suppressed Omega seemed to exhibit an extremely subtle anomalous fluctuation.
When Maine regained consciousness in the landing craft once again, he immediately pulled up that record. The data showed that under the influence of the capture device, in the instant before the reset occurred, the Omega's energy signature experienced a 0.03-second disruption.
This negligible anomaly might just be the key to their victory in the next loop.
The detailed data from the previous loop, particularly the 0.03-second energy signature anomaly of the Omega right before the reset triggered, was rapidly organized and transmitted back to Ryo via encrypted channel by Maine's squad.
They utilized the precious initial time after the reset to quickly establish a stronghold on the beachhead. While conducting conventional combat operations, they anxiously awaited a response.
They didn't have to wait long before the cross-dimensional communication terminal lit up again.
Ryo's synthesized voice came through, carrying a hint of focus after analyzing the data.
"Data received. The Omega's energy signature anomaly indicates that when it initiates the ultimate reset protocol, there is an extremely brief but undeniable window of vulnerability in its core's anchoring to the current timeline. Conventional jamming methods cannot effectively exploit this window."
A deeply analyzed energy waveform diagram appeared on the holographic projection, highlighting and magnifying that 0.03-second anomaly.
"Based on this characteristic, the redesign of the jamming warheads has been completed. The new warheads will be able to maximize the energy suppression effect during that window. At the same time, to counter any potential physical self-destruction or spatial distortion actions it might take, I will provide you with two pieces of equipment."
Beside the communication terminal, a deep blue dimensional rift slowly unfolded. Unlike the stability of teleportation equipment, this rift appeared far more violent and unstable.
Three bizarrely shaped spherical devices gleaming with cold metal and a dark silver cube were pushed through one after another.
The rift then closed rapidly, as if having borne a massive load.
"Three stasis grenades," Ryo explained. "Upon activation, they will create a highly stagnant spacetime field in a localized area. Any entity within the field will have its physical state and the flow of time drastically slowed down. The duration is approximately twelve seconds. This will create the critical capture window for you."
"The other is a single-use dimensional container." Ryo's synthesized voice emphasized "single-use". "It is a simplified replica of my Dimensional Tesseract; inside is an unstable sub-dimensional space."
"Upon activation, it can forcefully pull target entities within a certain volume into it and lock them within that space."
"Note: it can only be used once, and the activation process requires a five-second charging period, during which it cannot be subjected to severe interference."
Maine stepped forward and picked up a stasis grenade; it felt cold and heavy in his hand.
Pilar and Lucy carefully examined the dark silver cube—the dimensional container. Its surface was incredibly smooth, almost reflecting no light, with only a simple activation interface.
"Tactical revision as follows," Maine swiftly integrated the new equipment into the plan. "The instant the jamming rounds take effect and the Omega enters its vulnerable window, throw the stasis grenades to control its movement. Simultaneously, activate the dimensional container and complete the capture before the stasis field expires."
"This requires extremely precise timing and coordination," Falco reminded them.
"Which is why we only have one chance." Dorio clenched her gauntlets.
They had experienced too many failures and resets. This time, with direct support from another dimension, they had to succeed.
"Everyone, familiarize yourselves with the parameters of the new equipment," Maine ordered. "In the next loop, we will execute the final capture plan directly. Pilar, Lucy, you are responsible for the activation and targeting of the dimensional container."
"Sasha, Kiwi, ensure the jamming rounds detonate at the precise moment."
"Dorio, Rebecca, you are responsible for throwing the stasis grenades and ensuring the technical team has five full seconds to operate."
The squad members immediately moved into action, conducting simulations and drills centered around the new equipment.
They knew that Ryo opening an unstable dimensional rift to directly transport equipment must have cost a tremendous amount of energy, further underscoring the Omega's value and the priority of this mission.
Maine looked at the dark silver dimensional container, his logic threads rapidly simulating various possible scenarios.
This time, they were no longer just trying to break the loop; they were aiming to capture a living specimen that potentially held the mysteries of the nature of spacetime.
The stakes were higher, but their odds of winning had also increased thanks to the direct support from the Magos.
(End of Chapter)