Spring's Return I

Brief

A Tianshi disciple and a watchguard are arguing about something outside the Test Area. The Endministrator's team decides to find out more.

Unlock

This mission unlocks the Test Area; complete this mission series to unlock Purification Nodes and new Energy Alluvium

Rewards

Operational EXP ×360 Operational EXP ★★★★★ Raises the Endministrator's Authority Level. Oroberyl ×90 Oroberyl ★★★★★★ An artificial material often used for recruiting operators. Advanced Cognitive Carrier ×1 Advanced Cognitive Carrier ★★★★★ A material that provides a lot of EXP for leveling up Lv.61-90 operators. Overview › Arms INSP Set ×2 Arms INSP Set ★★★★ A material that provides a lot of weapon EXP. Overview › Protohedron ×3 Protohedron ★★★★ A material that upgrades operator skills. Overview › T-Creds ×10,000 T-Creds ★★★★ TC for short. This currency is recognized and used in many places.

Steps

1 Assess the situation near the Test Area› View on map

Dialogue

W

Watchguard

Captain Mi Fu put me here specifically to keep folks out of this area. Kid, just listen to your old man and turn back, alright...

?

???

B-But... I'm not just some outsider! I've been doing research here for years!

W

Watchguard

Still not happening. The Blight inside isn't something you can handle... Once the Tianshi have cleared it out, then you can go back to your research.

?

???

But by then, they might already be...!

W

Watchguard

Lu, don't make this hard for me. The situation's too risky right now. If something happens to you in there, I really won't be able to explain it...

W

Watchguard

Endministrator? What brings you here...?

W

Watchguard

Lu, you're still a Tianshi disciple. Stay put right here and let the Tianshi and the Endministrator handle this.

?

???

I can handle it! I know the paths inside well, I know how to avoid the Blight...

?

???

Please just let me in. I promise! Nothing will go wrong!

?

???

What ... what am I supposed to do... "Blockhead" and the others...

W

Watchguard

Did you hear about the Blight Tide affecting the Test Area too? Like I was just saying, the situation here is really bad...

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

This way! Follow me!

2 Assess the situation near the Test Area View on map

3 Ask the Tianshi disciple about the situation› View on map

Dialogue

Chen Qianyu

Hey there, why do you wanna go in so bad?

?

???

I-I need to take care of something... They're in trouble. I can feel how scared they are, they're waiting for me!

?

???

Wait, did uncle just call you... the Endministrator?! You're the one from the books... That's amazing! Now I have hope!

L

Lu Lingxiang

They're my buddies! Right now they're stuck in there... I've got to get them out!

L

Lu Lingxiang

If I don't get there in time, they'll never make it home...

?

???

I'm Lu Lingxiang, a Tianshi disciple in the Test Area.

L

Lu Lingxiang

Please help me out! Just let me in!

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Could that little guy over there be—

L

Lu Lingxiang

That's "Scaredy-pants"!

4 Negotiate with the watchguard› View on map

Dialogue

W

Watchguard

Alright, fine... For the Endmin's sake, I'll turn a blind eye just this once.

L

Lu Lingxiang

Really? You mean it?

W

Watchguard

Honestly, letting you go in alone was a hard no. But with the Endministrator on the case... I guess I can make an exception this time.

W

Watchguard

Alright ... how about one hour? Any longer and I can't cover for you.

L

Lu Lingxiang

Only one? Can't we please just—

W

Watchguard

Lu, if you keep haggling, you won't even get the hour.

L

Lu Lingxiang

Okay, okay! One hour it is!

W

Watchguard

Just a heads-up. The Blight in this area is no joke. You'd better make sure you're fully prepped before going in.

W

Watchguard

Endmin? Lu? Don't tell me that you're still...

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Do all the core modules have their own personalities like this?

L

Lu Lingxiang

Heh, well, there's no real scientific basis for it ... but yeah, I really think they do!

L

Lu Lingxiang

The energy panels seem to be faulty. The only way to reactivate them is with Liquid Xiranite...

5 Enter the Test Area› View on map

Dialogue

L

Lu Lingxiang

The core modules detach from the pillars on a regular schedule. They then patrol the area for a while before returning.

Perlica

So, you wanted to return ... to retrieve those core modules?

L

Lu Lingxiang

That's right. I've been doing research alongside them the whole time. They're ... they're like my partners. They've helped me so much...

Perlica

These Tianshi Pillars are very different from the ones outside. Are they a different model? They look more like ... trees that have taken root here.

L

Lu Lingxiang

These are Type-C Auxiliary Pillars. They support the main Type-C Tianshi Pillars. The models you saw "outside" are newer versions developed based on this research.

L

Lu Lingxiang

Great, the charging tracks are still intact... The core modules usually patrol along these tracks.

L

Lu Lingxiang

Normally, a Blight barrier like this wouldn't stop them. We trained them to learn all sorts of protocols during testing, and eliminating these barriers was one of them.

L

Lu Lingxiang

But the current depth readings are way beyond anything in the normal test parameters. Honestly... I'm really worried about their conditions...

L

Lu Lingxiang

But unlike other auxiliary pillars, these Type-C models require a core module to function.

L

Lu Lingxiang

They monitor depth readings during their patrols. If they encounter Blight present in a testing environment, they'll initiate elimination protocols on their own.

Chen Qianyu

Wow, they can do all that? These core modules are really something!

L

Lu Lingxiang

Right. But then I started getting abnormal depth alerts from them. Their locators also show they've been stuck in an area away from the Type-C Auxiliary Pillars...

L

Lu Lingxiang

They must have run into Blight they couldn't handle ... or some other kind of trouble.

Chen Qianyu

No wonder you were in such a hurry. Let's go find those core modules now!

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Whoa! That's a massive quillbeast!

Chen Qianyu

Leave this one to me!

L

Lu Lingxiang

I-I'll leave it to you, then...

6 Follow Lu Lingxiang and check on the Test Area› View on map 1 View on map 2

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

"Scaredy-pants" freezes up at the slightest scare... It needs some serious comforting.

7 Defeat the dangerous beast› View on map

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

Wow, you all are amazing! Just like heroes straight out of a storybook!

Chen Qianyu

Don't go overboard now, heheh!

L

Lu Lingxiang

Nice work! Looks like the barrier elimination function is still online too! Perfect!

8 Follow Lu Lingxiang and check on the Test Area› View on map

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

You can stop trembling now. We're safe!

9 Look for the core modules› View on map

Dialogue

L

Lu Lingxiang

"Blockhead"! There you are, finally!

L

Lu Lingxiang

Good job! Its internal systems are still functional! It's back on the tracks now. It should make it back to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar without any trouble.

Perlica

You handled that very deftly... It looks like you must have performed maintenance on these core modules many times before?

L

Lu Lingxiang

Yeah, after working with them for so long, you just sort of ... pick it up along the way.

Chen Qianyu

Aw, it's pretty cute! But I was wondering earlier ... who gave it that name?

L

Lu Lingxiang

Heh! That was me! Rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

L

Lu Lingxiang

Alright, "Blockhead," you remember how to do your job, right?

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Don't be scared, little guy. They're just a few bugs!

10 Look for the core modules No map marker available

11 Return "Blockhead" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› No map marker available

Dialogue

Perlica

Endmin?

Chen Qianyu

What is it? Does something seem off?

Perlica

These Type-C Auxiliary Pillars and their core modules were created before the Endmin awakened... In theory, you shouldn't have seen their operation before...

L

Lu Lingxiang

That's incredible! I tried bypassing the permissions before, but the pillars always rejected my access.

Chen Qianyu

Hey, the path is open! Did the systems just come back online?

Perlica

Perhaps ... the Endmin really does have a unique connection to these Type-C Auxiliary Pillars and core modules...

L

Lu Lingxiang

Wait a second, the core module...

L

Lu Lingxiang

"Blockhead," you made it home!

L

Lu Lingxiang

You ... you used Originium Arts to rewrite the entire Type-C Auxiliary Pillar system?! You can actually do that?!

L

Lu Lingxiang

But wait... Why did the pillar just eject the core module's kernel to you? Is it because you rewrote the system?

L

Lu Lingxiang

So, um, when we get to the next pillar ... do you think you could try it again—

L

Lu Lingxiang

To see if it was just a coincidence, or...

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Even with all this Blight ... there's still a haunting beauty to this place.

L

Lu Lingxiang

A Blight Tide flooded the area a few days ago. Everyone had to evacuate immediately.

L

Lu Lingxiang

If I wasn't so worried about them, I would never have come back here alone...

12 Return "Blockhead" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› View on map

Dialogue

L

Lu Lingxiang

Home sweet home. Go on.

Chen Qianyu

Wanna give it another try, Endmin? See if it jogs your memory any further?

Perlica

Not very healthy?

L

Lu Lingxiang

Yeah. It burns through energy way too fast. I've tried everything but nothing's helped improve its efficiency.

L

Lu Lingxiang

Uh-huh. It's always running on empty, sluggish. It just can't cope with normal operating conditions.

L

Lu Lingxiang

I just hope it's holding up okay...

L

Lu Lingxiang

I can't believe "Scaredy-pants" handed its kernel to you too. It really seems like there's some kind of connection with you... But what could it be?

Chen Qianyu

Are there any other core modules left around here?

L

Lu Lingxiang

Just one more. But ... that core module ... is not very healthy.

Chen Qianyu

It must have had a really tough time...

L

Lu Lingxiang

So, I gave it a name. I call it "Sniffles".

13 Keep looking for the core modules› View on map

Dialogue

L

Lu Lingxiang

"Sniffles" is here! Just as I thought, its energy is critically low...

Chen Qianyu

Hey, hey, it's alright. We're here to help you.

L

Lu Lingxiang

The charging tracks are mostly intact. If we can just activate the energy panel system, "Sniffles" should be able to make its way back on its own.

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

Most of this facility was dedicated to researching Tianshi Pillars.

L

Lu Lingxiang

A few areas like the water treatment sector, were just left abandoned because there weren't any active research projects running.

14 Defeat the dangerous beast View on map

15 Soothe "Scaredy-pants"› View on map

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Hey! "Scaredy-pants", where do you think you're going?!

16 Soothe "Scaredy-pants" View on map

17 Return "Scaredy-pants" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› No map marker available

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

I call it "Blockhead" 'cause ... it's a bit simple. Doesn't know how to go around things. Gets stuck on an obstacle and just spins its wheels.

L

Lu Lingxiang

And with all this Blight around here that it can't handle ... well, no wonder it's barely moving.

Chen Qianyu

"Sniffles" is blocked by a Xiranite block...

18 Return "Scaredy-pants" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› No map marker available

Radio

Perlica

It seems we'll need to clear the Blight on it first.

19 Return "Scaredy-pants" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› No map marker available

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Piece of cake!

20 Return "Scaredy-pants" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› No map marker available

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Endmin, use the jet drone to activate the dichromolite.

21 Return "Scaredy-pants" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar No map marker available

22 Find the last core module› View on map

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Oh, I think I get it now! This little guy's principle is kinda like ... a cleaning robot!

23 Bring enough Liquid Heavy Xiranite

24 Find the last core module› View on map

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Endmin, look! There's a dichromolite here too!

L

Lu Lingxiang

Oh? You've used them before? We use the dichromolites to control the Xiranite blocks.

25 Find the last core module› No map marker available

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

Every single panel here is dead... I'm really sorry to trouble you, but can you help me?

26 Find the last core module› No map marker available

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

"Sniffles" squeezed through there. We'll have to find another way around.

27 Return "Sniffles" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› View on map

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

Oh no, there are waterlamps here too!

L

Lu Lingxiang

But you guys are amazing! I'm sure you can handle them!

Chen Qianyu

The Blight here is spreading out of control too ... it's practically choking the charging tracks...

Perlica

Right. Let's locate the Blight Core as quickly as possible.

28 Return "Sniffles" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar View on map

29 Return "Sniffles" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› View on map

Radio

Chen Qianyu

What happened to the path? It's collapsed.

L

Lu Lingxiang

Yeah, probably the Blight. We'll have to go down this way and circle back from the other side.

30 Return "Sniffles" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› View on map

Radio

Chen Qianyu

There's so much Blight here too... Oh no, those other devices...

L

Lu Lingxiang

Don't worry. All the devices here have specialized shielding. They're not that fragile.

31 Return "Sniffles" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› View on map

Radio

L

Lu Lingxiang

At times like this, just a gentle pat on its head is all it takes to calm it right down.

32 Return "Sniffles" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar› View on map

Radio

Chen Qianyu

Woah?! What are those guys doing here? Some new "feature" of the Test Area?

L

Lu Lingxiang

Probably stragglers that wandered in after the Blight Tide...

33 Return "Sniffles" to the Type-C Auxiliary Pillar View on map