Chapter 1016 — The Front Line
Blade of Dawn · Page 3 of 5
Beiyila nodded. Her gaze swept over these former priests of the Eternal Sleepers at the edge of the plaza — many of those faces were not unfamiliar to her; over many past years she had, in the capacity of a dark priest, cooperated with these people more than once. And now, at this moment, the remnants of the Two Embers Dark Cult had once again taken up a stance of cooperation... Even she, who had utterly forsaken the gods, felt some urge to marvel at the inconceivability of fate.
"This 'brain' is on loan to you from now on. Bring out all your neural network and brainwave amplification technology. I will go continue catalyzing the other 'brains' in the chamber, and try to get them into working condition within three days," she said, looking at Selena Gerfen with a rather earnest tone. "But even though it is on loan, please treat it as carefully as you can. These brains of mine are still useful — after the war I intend to keep using them to think with..."
Beiyila's words made even the usually serene Selena unable to keep a strange expression off her face. Her eyebrow seemed to twitch: "I had assumed making these 'brains' would be easy for you... After all, you just said they are more or less the same as Sorin tree-fruit."
"How could it be — they are both products gestated by the Giant Tree, yes, but a brain is many times more complex than a Sorin tree-fruit. To start with the growth cycle..."
The topic seemed to veer inexplicably toward a bizarre direction. Yuri, standing nearby and having barely spoken, finally could not help muttering to Wendy: "Damn it... I do not think I will ever be able to eat Sorin tree-fruit again..."
"...Please stop. I already have the image in my head..."
...
The towering Winter Wolf Fort rose high on the Typhon border, yet the banner flying above the castle was no longer the black-and-red Typhon arms — a blue banner fluttered high in the cold wind, embroidered in gold thread with the emblem of sword and plowshare. This border fortress was now the frontline command center of the Cecil Legion, and after emergency repairs and additions it had been transformed into an impregnable stronghold.
On a clear, cold day, Gao Yang arrived at this sturdy fortress on the front line.
The dry, cold wind of the northern wilderness blew in from the plains, howling through the walls of Winter Wolf Fort. Traces of air raids and arson were still visible in this fortress that had known war — part of the outer city's buildings remained in ruins, and the wall dividing outer city from inner city had been scorched black by that day's great fire. Beyond that, however, the castle district remained intact, and had been made Philip's command center.
In an open corridor of the castle district, Amber looked up at a tower not far off. Seeing the blue banner with gold patterns streaming in the wind above the tower, she could not help but sigh with feeling: "This is Winter Wolf Fort... and we took it just like that..."
Philip, in full military dress, stood beside her. At her words a faint smile appeared on his face: "The Typhonians launched over a hundred counterattacks, large and small, trying to retake this fortress. But as the defensive works were completed and follow-up forces arrived, their counteroffensive was utterly shattered. Now the battle line has even been pushed to the Winter Fort defense belt."
Gao Yang walked to the edge of the corridor, rested his hands on the railing, and gazed toward the Typhon-controlled zone. His expression was grave: "Any new movements from the Winter Fort side? Since the last air battle, have their priest corps and battle-mage corps made any large-scale gatherings or deployments?"
Amber, at his side, could not help blinking: "It has not been long since the last air battle. Even for Typhon, they should not be able to pull off another 'miracle' so soon, should they?"