Chapter 278 — The Inspiration Brought by Solgilin

It was like how, before a person learns to walk, no one would think to have him practice swimming first. But try telling that to a siren and see what happens.

Some sirens still can't walk upright at tens of thousands of years old—once on land they can only wriggle. Yet the moment they enter the water, one flick of a koi's tail and they're doing sixty knots. Where's the justice in that...

Likewise, in this world that develops along the path of magic, rockets are simply easier than shells—just as Cecil's engineers today use laser welding before the electric soldering iron has even been invented...

On this side, a tidal wave of reflections, inspirations, self-criticisms, and inventive ideas began surging through Gao Yang's mind, while Solgilin, seated across from him, was utterly baffled. Seeing Gao Yang suddenly start pounding his own head, he couldn't help saying, "I was only speaking offhandedly—you needn't agonize over it like that..."

"No, it's not your fault. I just hit upon some ideas, ahem," Gao Yang said, returning to himself with a touch of embarrassment. He cleared his throat twice and steered the conversation back on track. "Let's continue with business first. What do you make of the new type of enemy that appeared in this battle?"

"Among those monsters there appeared mutant individuals unseen seven hundred years ago, and they possess intelligence—that is indeed surprising," Solgilin nodded. "When we crossed the Gondor wasteland back then, it took us more than a year, and we dealt with countless mutants along the way, yet we never found any subspecies among them. But frankly, given the abnormal environment of the Gondor wasteland, it's only natural that monsters trapped there for seven hundred years would undergo some mutation. What worries me more is just how far this 'awakening of intelligence' has gone—how many monsters have mutated, how many possess higher intelligence, and how organized they are..."

As he spoke, the high ranger furrowed his brow. "Chaotic, mindless monsters are manageable no matter how powerful, but monsters that grow clever... I fear they will pose a threat to the Great Wall."

Gao Yang's expression turned serious. "You think they're the ones damaging the Great Wall?"

"Once they awaken to intelligence, they cannot remain indifferent to the Great Wall. It is a barrier that confines them, and breaking free of restraint is the instinct of every intelligent being," Solgilin nodded. "They can innately draw on the vast chaotic magic energy of the Gondor wasteland. If they learn to gather that energy and direct it at destroying the Sentinel Towers, then the Great Wall will truly be in danger. The Sentinel Towers are sturdy and outfitted with numerous defensive mechanisms, but those are meant to counter the energy corrosion of the wasteland and the mindless monsters that wander it. Against an organized, orderly assault, the Sentinel Towers will be in serious trouble."

Gao Yang nodded slowly, then looked at Solgilin. "I understand. Then you must be taking your leave of me."

"Precisely," Solgilin said, rising to his feet. "There is still much for us to discuss, but the hidden danger to the Great Wall admits no delay. I must set out at once to warn my people and to ascertain the state of that barrier. The domain is safe again now—it is time I left."

Gao Yang made no move to urge the high ranger to stay a few more days. After all, the man had been preparing to leave before, and had only been forced to linger a few days longer by the sudden monster attack—and he would not fail to return afterward. Still, before Solgilin departed, he couldn't resist asking one question: "Confident as you are... how exactly do you plan to cross the blockade on the Typhon border?"

"An excellent ranger is, more often than not, an excellent infiltrator," Solgilin said with a confident smile. "Have you forgotten how I slipped through the barbarian lines back then and burned down half their camp?"

Gao Yang thought it over carefully, his face a mask of horror. "You're going to dress as a woman again?"

"I simply don't understand why you're so shocked every single time..."

Gao Yang: "...Actually, I think taking off that wig would work better than turning into Solgilin. Never mind the Typhon—even I might not recognize you..."

"No!!"

ps:

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