Translator: AnubisTL
Research in this field was progressing more smoothly than expected.
Two and a half years into the seventh reincarnation, groundbreaking news emerged from the highest-level research institute deep within the main camp.
A top-secret meeting, attended only by Frost, Jieming, and a few core Logistics Department executives, was held behind layers of defensive barriers.
Presiding over the meeting was a sixth-tier wizard with a slightly pale complexion but exceptionally fervent eyes—Great Master Moreas, an authority in the field of biological modification.
Floating before him was a complex, three-dimensional rune model emitting a soft blue glow. It was the preliminary result of countless minds and sacrifices over the past two and a half years.
"Commander, colleagues," Moreas began, his voice carrying the rigor of a researcher but also a pride that couldn't be hidden beneath his fatigue. "The 'Memory Anchoring Phase One Technology'—or, as we've been calling it internally, the 'Scythe-Skull Memory Resistance Implant'—has completed its initial theoretical verification and live safety testing."
With a light tap, the three-dimensional rune model disassembled, revealing an internal structure so intricate it reached the cellular level.
"Strictly speaking, this isn't the creation of some entirely new law-based technology," the master explained. "It's more of a successful 'reverse engineering and adaptive transplantation of biological mechanisms.' We've analyzed the physiological foundations of high-rank Scythe-Skull Race souls and specific pheromone glands—those capable of stubbornly retaining 'memory imprints' against the erosion of time—and extracted their core 'information anchoring' and 'anti-reset' mechanisms."
Jieming sat nearby, scrolling through the detailed technical report transmitted to his magic net terminal.
The more he read, the more he marveled at these senior wizards specializing in the modification of life essence.
The report detailed how the neural synapse structures and pheromone coding patterns of the Scythe-Skull Race, which resonated faintly with the plane's time law, were "grafted" onto the outer edges of a wizard's soul and deep neural networks through an exquisitely delicate combination of biochemical and runic surgery.
The process involved soul surgery, gene-level fine-tuning, and complex law-runic integration. Every step was perilously dangerous, requiring unimaginable control and an unparalleled understanding of the essence of life.
Jieming knew that with his current knowledge, he could never have achieved such a feat in so short a time.
"Of course," Great Master Moreas's tone shifted, growing grave, "this is only the first iteration of the technology. Its limitations are glaringly obvious. First, it is not non-invasive; it requires a delicate and time-consuming modification surgery, placing high demands on both the caster and the recipient. Second, the results... are far from ideal."
He brought up a set of experimental data. "Based on our preliminary observations of the modification volunteers, after the implant is successfully activated, the recipients can indeed form a clear 'awareness' following a time reversal—they will 'know' they have just experienced a temporal reset. However, how much specific memory from the previous loop is retained depends entirely on the recipient's own mental power, the stability of their soul, and the 'depth' of that memory's impact on them."
"To quantify it roughly, taking the average level of a first-tier wizard as an example, they can vaguely retain a few of the most intense 'impression fragments'—scenes associated with extreme emotions, such as the terror of impending death, immense joy, or shock. A coherent and detailed stream of memory is currently impossible to guarantee."
As Jieming studied the data, the confusion he'd harbored about the Scythe-Skull Race's battlefield performance vanished, replaced by a sudden, piercing clarity.
He understood now.
Why had the Scythe-Skulls fought with such fanatical fervor during the early stages of the wizard invasion?
Because they knew time would rewind. Death was not an end, but merely a failed save in a game. With the conviction that they were immortal, their combat prowess had been unmatched.
But why had their morale later fluctuated, eventually collapsing into widespread war-weariness and retreat?
The answer lay in the "flaw" of their ability: memories were preserved based on the intensity of the emotion associated with them.
For the vast majority of Scythe-Skull individuals—those with average or even low mental power—what was the most profound experience they faced in every reincarnation? What remained after confronting the wizards' overwhelming might and their endlessly creative methods of slaughter?
It was, without a doubt, the absolute terror of the moment of death.
Cycle after cycle, each time they "respawned," they might have forgotten the specific tactics used against them. They might not have remembered the wizards' faces. But that primal fear of death and pain, seared into their very souls, had accumulated and intensified with every single reincarnation.
Initially, this fear might have been transformed into a fighting spirit—the conviction that they must eliminate the enemy as quickly as possible.
But when they realized that no matter how hard they fought, they could never overcome the wizards' absolute power and were doomed to relive their deaths over and over, their will collapsed. Despair and a desire to retreat became inevitable.
Until... the "Will" hiding behind the scenes intervened, forcibly reversing this collective spiritual decline.
Jieming quietly shared his theory with Frost. The commander's eyes flashed with agreement as he nodded slowly.
This explained many of the contradictions in the enemy's behavior.
After listening to the logistics wizard's explanation, Frost asked the most crucial question: "Great Master Moreas, with our current level of technology, can we implement this modification across the entire legion? Even if it only grants the soldiers 'reincarnation awareness,' it would be of immense value for tactical execution and morale maintenance."
The great wizards involved in the project quickly exchanged opinions.
Finally, another expert responsible for the surgical procedures spoke, his voice tinged with regret:
"Theoretically, it could be rolled out, but it's practically meaningless, Commander," he explained. "First, the modification surgery is complex and time-consuming. With our current manpower and equipment, standardizing the modification of a single wizard requires an average of one continuous standard-time unit. To roll this out across the entire legion... the time cost would be unbearable. Based on the current pace of the battlefield, we'd be lucky to complete even one-tenth of the modifications in the time remaining this round."
"Second, and more crucially," Great Master Moreas took over, "the effects of the first-phase technology are too basic. Merely 'being aware that reincarnation is happening' offers limited value to frontline battle wizards. What they truly need is to carry specific information—tactical experience, enemy weaknesses, terrain changes—into the next cycle."
"With our current technology, they can't carry any of that. Forcing a rollout would not only waste precious research time and surgical resources, but could also cause unnecessary soul damage or rejection reactions due to the immature implants."
He summarized, "We believe the most rational application strategy is to treat this as a 'research auxiliary tool' and 'high-level command support.' Priority for modification should be given to wizards in the Logistics Department and high-tier combat commanders who need to coordinate the overall picture."
"This will allow them to maintain reincarnation awareness and preserve critical research threads, experimental data summaries, or strategic decision-making logic. It will greatly safeguard the continuity of our research and the stability of our high-level command."
"As for widespread adoption..." another sixth-tier wizard added, "we suggest waiting until after the Phase Two and Phase Three technology iterations before discussing it further. The goal of this technology is to develop a stable 'Memory Anchoring technique' that requires no complex surgery and can even be performed through a simple wizardry ritual. That will be the time for full-scale promotion."
After listening, Frost fell into a brief silence.
His gaze swept over Jieming, then over every great wizard present, before he finally made his decision.
"I agree with your professional judgment," he said, his voice steady. "Then, effective immediately, we will initiate the priority modification program for the first phase of the technology. The order of modification is as follows: First priority, all logistics wizards involved in the 'Reincarnation Essence' and related core projects. Second priority, all sixth-tier and above combat commanders and special tactical unit captains. Third priority, depending on surgical capacity and remaining time, we will selectively modify fifth-tier wizards in key positions."
He looked at Moreas. "Great Master, please immediately formulate a detailed modification schedule and safety plan. Request the highest authority directly from me for any resources you need."
"Yes, Commander!" Moreas and the other project heads' spirits lifted.
"Consultant Jieming," Frost then turned to Jieming, "you are also included in the first priority. Your 'Record' ability, combined with this technology, might produce even better results."
"I understand," Jieming nodded.
Although he didn't actually need this technology, experiencing it firsthand to conduct deeper research on the related technology was not a bad idea.
(End of the Chapter)
---------------------------
📖 You are reading [237] Chapters behind with [98] Free Chapters available on site.
🔥 Read up to Chapter [691] now, only on ᴄɪɴᴅᴇʀᴛʟ.ᴄᴏᴍ.
📊 [17] Novels, [15.1K+] Chapters with [11.6K+] Free Chapters!, [24.1M] Words on ℂ𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕋𝕃.𝕔𝕠𝕞
---------------------------