Chapter 377 — Soljirin's Exploration
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 3
Their weapons and gear had all been newly designed, and before actual fitting they had undergone a series of tests and verifications in the laboratory. With a master metal artisan like Nicholas Egg around, the production and testing of such sophisticated equipment was unbelievably fast. Moreover, part of the Steel Rangers' equipment was in fact adapted from mature technology already present in the territory, so these prototype items soon reached the soldiers' hands.
According to Gao Song, the territory's industry could not rely too heavily on Nicholas Egg's abilities; it should achieve self-sufficiency across the industrial chain and become "independent of the plug-in" (though no one knew what that "plug-in" meant). Still, when trial-producing samples or equipping special units like the Steel Rangers, Nicholas Egg remained an indispensable force.
It was also thanks to Nicholas Egg's efforts that Soljirin could see his Steel Rangers so early, fully armed (though several key pieces of equipment were still in development and had no finished product), and could see just how incredible the power of these things called "arcane armaments" was.
Now he fully understood why Gao Yang insisted on producing large numbers of cheap arcane devices that ordinary people could use. This path... really could be walked.
As he pondered, a soldier's report reached his ears: "Sir, there's an isolation gate ahead. Large scale, residual magical reactions. It might... might be a Class III gate!"
Soljirin immediately looked up toward the passage ahead.
At the end of the broad, ancient, yet still sturdy corridor, a black gate without power could be clearly seen blocking the way.
Soljirin recalled the intelligence he had gained when he took over from Byron. In this ancient Fortress of Defiance there were various isolation corridors and isolation gates. These gates were divided by function and size into three classes. Class I gates were ordinary doors within the fortress's various sectors, usually entrances to rooms; most had lost power, but because they were weak and simple in structure, they could be bypassed by technical means (or destroyed). Class II gates separated the fortress's sectors; larger and sturdier, their backup power was mostly still running, and with the unlocking method Kamael had provided, most could be opened. Class III gates were the largest, located on the main passages. Such gates...
Only a few had been found so far, in the entrance hall of the ruins. They were the entrances and exits of the Fortress of Defiance.
Soljirin's expression turned grave. He waved the soldiers toward him, then took the lead and walked to the gate.
Once close enough, he became even more certain of the soldier's judgment.
The gate was huge, at the end of a large corridor that seemed to be a main passage. Beside it was an ancient identity-authentication device, and the whole gate appeared to be cast from purple steel...
This was no ordinary gate for dividing sectors. It was a main isolation gate.
Had they reached the southern end of the Fortress of Defiance?
So soon?
Soljirin was somewhat surprised. He knew the fortress was immense, with unknown regions hidden deep in those endless dark corridors, so when he set out he had prepared for a long operation inside. Yet today was only his sixth day in the fortress. With four days still left before the one-week exploration limit, he had already reached the southern end?
"Keep the warning lights on. Light up every dark place. Odd-numbered team members, activate detection eyepieces. Even-numbered team members, assist observation."
Soljirin issued a rapid series of orders. The soldiers responded at once, and every corner of the broad corridor was soon brightly lit by the mana-crystal lamps. Soljirin went alone to the heavy, ancient purple-steel gate and looked up at the inscriptions on it.
Soljirin could read ancient Gondorian script. On the gate was a line of markings:
"Ahead: Shadow Testing Ground."