Sword of Dawn

Page 320

"They have been obsessed with occupying several sea areas controlled by the Kraken, but they do not allow members of other dark sects to participate in their frontline battles. I don't know what they did and what they went through. I only know that some were sent back The sons of the storm have grown fish scales and fins, and always mutter 'Eva is calling' when the tide is high..." Bud shook his head, "To be honest, the mutation that happened to them seems to me It is even more terrifying than many dark rituals of the Doom Society, the deep sea... there are too many incomprehensible things hidden in the deep sea, and I don’t know what the children of the storm are attracted to, and they are so obsessed with it.”

"...Yes, leaving you, a cult member, can still produce some extra effects."

Pittman grunted, and then stopped paying attention to Bud, whose face changed slightly, but turned his eyes to the distance, looking at another car driving ahead.

In the magic vehicle ahead, Gawain finished his routine communication with the government affairs office, and after turning off the magic network terminal on the vehicle, he couldn't help sighing: "The engineering team sent by Wald is between Solinburg and the Fertile Woodland. With the repair of two additional obelisks of magic energy, the communication problem between the southeastern region of the Holy Spirit Plain and the southern border has finally been partially resolved."

"Recently, the Rock Fortress has sent engineering teams to the north. They are either rebuilding the Kingdom Avenue or building infrastructure in the Holy Spirit Plain, or assisting in organizing a joint reconstruction team. Some people say that the Second Corps under Wald's hand is about to complete road and bridge construction. It's all over," Amber lay on the back of the seat in front of her, muttering to herself, "Thinking about whether the Rock Fortress was still a portal barrier two years ago, it's really like a dream..."

While muttering, she moved her head and glanced at Gao Wen: "Then again, it's quite surprising that you decided to check the situation in person... It's thanks to you that you can rest assured."

"The existence of the Consul System and the Government Office is to ensure that the entire empire can still operate normally when I leave Cecil City," Gao Wen said casually, but his eyes couldn't help looking in the direction of Solimbo, "and... What happened here really caught my attention. After all, it is the lair of the End of All Things Society. Almost all the great changes and turning points that this country has encountered in the past two years were brewed by this lair. How could I not come and see it for myself? Look?"

"Ha, I admire your ability to make up a lot of reasons for sneaking out." Amber said in a tone that was not afraid of being photographed on the wall (because there is no wall here), and then knocked on her He sat up straight before his head and looked into the distance in surprise.

"Oh my god..." she exclaimed, eyes widening, "the report called that thing...'tree'?"

Chapter 0708 The Tree on the Plain

On the deserted plain to the west of Thorinburg, a plant of unprecedented scale covered the sky on the scorched earth. Its scale was beyond human imagination, even... beyond Gawain's imagination.

Rather than saying that it is a tree, it is better to say that it is a small forest centered on a trunk and supported by countless pillars that look like aerial roots.

Thick dark brown tree trunks grow out of the cracks in the ground, entwined with vines, moss, and a large number of unnamed flowers. A tree canopy that is almost the same size as the nearby Solinburg is supported at a height of [-] meters, layered upon layer Two-thirds of the stacked green leaves cover the plain area, and one-third has covered the sky above Solinburg. Many "pillars" with two or three people embracing each other hang down from the canopy, supporting the canopy in an orderly manner. , connected to the earth, on those pillars, there are also a variety of symbiotic plants growing, lush and vibrant.

And under the entire giant "giant tree", the originally scorched earth western plain of Solimbo has been covered by large expanses of flowers, grasses, and shrubs. The source of clusters of disasters, I dare not imagine that it was once burned to a piece of scorched earth by artillery fire and burners...

Amber's exclamation was completely justified, because even Gao Wen's eyes widened in surprise.

"This... is a little bit beyond my expectation," Gao Wen blinked. "No wonder the previous report said that this thing is indescribable... Even if you take a photo, it is difficult to show its scale."

"I feel that this thing is bigger than the tree of origin in the legends of the elves," Amber muttered to herself, "And this thing still... grows like this in a few days?"

"That's what the report said," Gao Wen frowned. "The soldiers won't lie about this... What's going on?"

The convoy continued to drive towards the temporary camp at the foot of the giant tree. Gawain poked his head out of the car window and looked further into the distance—he saw some collapsed sentry towers and tent-like buildings in the lush vegetation area at the foot of the giant tree. Those destroyed camp facilities have been integrated with the aerial roots or bushes spreading from giant trees, and the surface is covered with lush plants, as mentioned in the report:

When the giant tree suddenly emerged from the ground, the soldiers monitoring the camp only had time to evacuate people and some supplies, and the rest were swallowed up by the plants within 24 hours.

Therefore, the urgently transferred monitoring force established a temporary camp outside the radiation range of this giant tree, and there are still soldiers who keep an eye on the movement of the giant tree day and night, in order to prevent this thing from suddenly expanding again, and give the temporary camp to "Eat in".

The closer you get, the stronger the feeling of shock brought by the giant tree, it stands tall in sight like a castle piled up with plants (in fact, its scale is larger than the castle), but apart from the huge In addition to the oppressive force, it has an incredible holiness and magnificence—Gao Wen vaguely felt that this area was shrouded in a magical environment, which was very weak and almost hidden in the normal natural magical background, And... seemingly harmless.

The vehicle stopped at the gate of the camp, and as soon as it stopped, a heroic young female knight came to the vehicle: "Your Majesty! I salute you!"

Gawain got out of the car and nodded to the female knight: "Margarita—it seems that you have taken over here."

This female knight is Margarita, who was born in Kant. She is one of Walder Peric's subordinates, but because of her outstanding ability, Walder often sends her to perform tasks outside the Rock Fortress-this is to increase Her qualifications and experience can be regarded as the old knight's special care for excellent subordinates.

After the establishment of the empire, Margarita's main task was to assist Byron to clean up the remaining crystal cluster monsters on the Holy Spirit Plain, and to establish a series of emergency magic network hubs in the process to form a temporary communication network in the eastern and central regions of the empire. When the situation happened in Sorinburg, she happened to be leading the troops to sweep up the crystal clusters near the crossing of the inclined forest. As the highest-ranking commander in this area, she quickly took over this "emergency mission". The temporary name given to this giant tree in the book) is the person in charge of the surrounding camps.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Margarita nodded with a serious expression, "We have established new monitoring posts in the south and east of this 'plant' - the original monitoring camp has been swallowed up by the plants that popped up suddenly, The new surveillance post now appears to be relatively safe."

"How is the current situation?" Gao Wen raised his head and asked while looking up at the canopy that covered the sky and the sun, "Is it still growing? I heard that it swallowed the first layer of trees within 48 hours. Surveillance camp, the canopy stretches over the walls of Thorinburg..."

"It is still growing slowly, but it has slowed down to almost negligible level since twelve hours ago. The druids at the camp initially judged that its 'explosive growth period' should have ended. Within 24 hours at most, it The expansion will stop and enter the equilibrium stage - as for what will happen after that, it is still uncertain."

"What about casualties?" Gao Wen asked immediately.

"No soldier was killed, everyone evacuated in time, only three soldiers were slightly injured while carrying supplies, and..."

Margarita frowned at this point, as if what she was going to say was too strange, and she needed to organize her words. She pondered for a while before continuing: "And I don't know if it is the influence of this giant tree, the wounded soldier The healing speed of the three people was much faster than normal. Without the use of alchemy potions, the wounds of the three people healed within an hour. I did some tests and confirmed that there is a strange environment around the giant tree that can warm and nourish vitality. Everyone's physical strength and energy can be restored quickly, and minor injuries can also be healed quickly."

"Oh?" Gao Wen couldn't help raising his eyebrows, and suddenly remembered the subtle magical environment he felt just now... It didn't seem to be an illusion.

"It feels as if the entire area is shrouded in a continuous healing technique, but neither the druids nor the magic observers have found any formed magic fluctuations. This giant tree is using a method that we can't understand. Unleash the power... This is beyond the existing magic theory," Margarita continued, "We are currently conducting further observations and calculations on the magic field around Solinburg, but its scale is too large, and it has exceeded At present, any kind of observation eyepiece or measurement of the perception limit of spells, the conventional method may be difficult to describe its spell model..."

"It's okay, take your time, I'm afraid this thing is enough for us to study for a long time..." Gawain breathed out, and walked into the camp, "Let's talk as we walk."

The entourage immediately followed, including Bud Wendell, who is still in the "half escort" state, and Pittman, who is a senior consultant.

When walking towards the giant tree, Bud couldn't help raising his head, and glanced at this miraculous plant with undisguised astonishment, while Pittman next to him asked casually: "Do you know this thing?" How did it come here?"

"...This is beyond my cognition," Bud said honestly, "To be honest, although I have lived in the end of all things for many years, I am only a middle-level priest. In the secret plan I have come into contact with... …none of which has anything to do with the tree."

Pittman curled his lips: "I was expecting you to know more than me... As a result, after so many years of being in the middle class..."

Bud smiled awkwardly, but soon vaguely felt that Pittman's words seemed to have some extra content, but before he had time to speak, Pittman had already walked forward.

In front of the team, Margarita was still reporting to Gao Wen the information gathered by the monitoring camp:

"...It is already certain that this plant grew out of the lair of the End of All Things Society. Its root system is rooted in the crack of an astonishing scale, and its underground part should have a more complicated and larger structure. ...

"At the suggestion of the druids, we dug up part of the land in the east of Solinburg and the south of the inclined forest crossing, and indeed found a large-scale root system of unknown origin...

"These plants that grow along with the giant trees have also been inspected, and no abnormalities were found in the preliminary results. Many plants are common species, and some that are difficult to identify should also be subspecies that grow in remote areas...

"We tested the non-toxic ones on animals and found they could even be eaten...

"There is a root structure with gaps in the trunk of the giant tree. A large number of roots, underground rocks and building walls together form a complex underground passage. We suspect that the passage can enter the depths of the lair of the Death Society, but inside There is a very complicated magical reaction, according to your instructions, we have not yet explored it...

"We set up a post and some lighting near the main trunk - it's too big a canopy, and the central area is so poorly lit that it's hard to see even at midday, so extra lighting is necessary.

"We haven't explored its canopy yet, also because it's too dangerous, and its deep canopy seems to be growing and changing slowly, and it's not stable yet..."

"That's right." After Margarita's report was over, Gawain nodded with satisfaction, "The information is timely and detailed."

Margarita lowered her head: "This is what I should do."

Gao Wen hummed, and looked at the huge tree trunk in the distance, which was as huge as a giant tower, and seemed to be made of countless vines intertwined with each other: "Let's go directly to the 'trunk' area."

Margarita subconsciously said: "This may be a little dangerous, your status is honorable..."

"First, I came here to check the situation for myself, otherwise staying in the command post of the camp is no different from staying in the palace; second, I am a legend anyway, how can I be so fragile, let alone where we are going It is a relatively safe surface area that has already been explored; third..." Gawain glanced at the female knight in front of him, and patted the latter on the shoulder, "Don't always pay attention to the issue of 'nobility', Cecil It’s about doing your duty.”

Margarita was stunned for a moment, and while she was briefly stunned, Gawain had already taken big strides, walking along a path cleared by the soldiers towards the giant tree trunk in the distance.

The female knight quickly followed.

The shadows caused by the huge treetops became thicker and darker as they moved towards the main trunk. The soldiers in the camp carved out a path among the grass and bushes that grew wildly that night. The magic spar lamp became the only light source to dispel the darkness. Gawain walked along this temporary road, and from time to time he would hear soft rustling noises nearby—it was the sound of swaying grass and trees.

Although the growth of the giant tree itself has stopped, the abnormal vitality brought by the giant tree still continues to play a role. Until now, there are still new plants emerging from the scorched earth, filling this land full of vitality that suddenly fell.

After advancing for a while, Gawain came to the root of the giant tree.

The tower-like trunk and the huge intertwined root system that drilled out of the soil under the trunk appeared before his eyes.

Large and small temporary brackets were fixed between the nearby roots and rocks, and high-power magic spar lamps were hung on the brackets and the surface of the tree trunk above. The artificial lights dispelled the darkness here and allowed Gawain to see clearly. The "entrance" between those disc-shaped roots.

As Margarita said, there is indeed an entrance there—it seems to be a specially grown gate. Two herringbone-shaped roots form a triangular gap in the lower part of the trunk. The gap is very wide. Visual inspection It was even possible to drive in a "Warhammer-I" tank, and there was a faint light inside it, which seemed to be the shimmer brought by some kind of glowing moss.

Amber stood in front of the entrance, poked her head to take a look inside, and came back two seconds later: "Oh my god, it's a little scary inside..."

Gawain looked at the shame of all things with strange eyes: "You were born in the Shadow Fortress anyway, and I didn't see you cowardly when I stole the grave, so why are you afraid of such darkness?"

Amber immediately opened her eyes and put her hands on her hips: "Am I afraid of the dark? I have five senses! I don't know what's going on here, but I always feel that the entire underground space and a large area around it are 'alive' ...Hey, how about creepy!"

Gao Wen didn't pay attention to Amber's explanation and boasting in the first half, but after listening to the second half, he raised his head and glanced at the dark and deep canopy above.

"There is no doubt... of course it is alive..."

He turned his head and glanced at Bud Wendell behind him.

"Are you ready?"

Chapter 0709 Deep Underground

What are you ready for?

Bud Wendell looked up at the huge canopy that covered the sky, and the countless vines and pillars hanging down from under the canopy. This "plant" that can almost be described as a mythical product is far beyond his experience and cognition , even in the ancient books of the Society of the End of Everything, there is no description related to it...

No, it’s not completely absent. He once remembered that in some religious books inherited from the ancient Druid church in the library of the Doom Society, something similar to it was described: At this place, the ancient god of nature, the giant deer Amoen, lives under a huge tree called "Reincarnation". The roots are buried deep in the ground, winding around a large tomb called "death"...

Could this giant tree in front of me be a by-product of the death of all things and the forced creation of artificial gods?

Faced with such a thing, there is really nothing to prepare for.

Relax, write a suicide note with decent words and sentences, eat a delicious meal, if you are still General Wolf, then you can say a few impassioned scenes at this time-it is a pity that you are still a prisoner now, so the scene words There is no need.

He lowered his head: "It's ready."

Gao Wen nodded and motioned to the soldiers beside him, and soon someone brought all the necessary equipment over.

Although Bud is a former cult member who needs to pay for his crimes, and although his mission is similar to that of a death squad, Gawain did not bring him here for the purpose of venting his anger or lynching.This task really needs a priest who understands the situation like Bard to perform it - Pittman can't do it, he has been separated from the dark sect for more than ten years, and many settings in this underground palace have changed a long time ago, but Bard De can, he knows what structure is under here, and he also knows how to disarm the latest magic traps and traps in the underground palace.

In any case, regardless of his identity as a cultist, Bud Wendell himself is quite valuable to Gawain. He does not want to simply lose him in this exploration mission. If not, he still hopes that the other party will come back alive as much as possible-for this reason, he ordered people to prepare a full set of equipment to assist Bard in completing the task.

The soldiers brought in a large box, which contained a set of steel ranger light armor that is easy to move. This is currently the most suitable suit for special missions among Cecil's magic suits, and it has the best protection and auxiliary performance. In addition, there are divided emergency medicines, additional shield devices and weapons for body protection.

Considering that Bard was not familiar with the operation of magic equipment, Gawain chose things that could operate automatically or were extremely simple to operate, including swords, which were also traditional fine steel enchanted weapons.He believes that these things are enough - after all, Bard himself is a powerful transcendent, regardless of equipment, and he has a certain ability to protect himself.

Bud looked at the well-crafted equipment, which was unique in style, and immediately understood what Gawain meant.

"I don't know if you have taken the initiative to redeem yourself with death - I don't care, but at least this time, you have to come back alive as much as possible," Gawain nodded slightly to Bud, "These things can maximize the To provide you with protection, you try it first, and then I will tell you the details."

With the assistance of two soldiers, Bard quickly put on the full set of equipment. He moved his hands and feet, satisfied with the lightness and comfort of the black light armor, and felt that the armor contained various elements of protection and protection. With the effect of strengthening his physique, he then picked up the dagger and a dagger, and swung them around a few times—it wasn't a magical weapon, but it was already a valuable enchanted equipment, and it was very comfortable to use. It must have been carefully selected.

This mission does seem to be important.

After Bud got used to the equipment, Gawain pointed to a strangely shaped metal device on the ground next to him: "You have to bring this - you will never leave your body during the whole process."

Bud took a look and found that it was a magical device with a triangular base inlaid with crystals, about the size of a human head, and there was a buckle on the base, which seemed to be able to hang on the buckle on the chest of his armor. Pick it up and weigh the weight. Although it is not very heavy, carrying it will definitely affect a certain agility.

"What is this?" Bud asked curiously - on the premise that he didn't know what this thing was used for, he only thought it would affect his actions, but since Gawain asked him to bring it on purpose, it seems that this thing Stuff has a necessary function.He knew that he was not qualified to pick and choose, but at least he wanted to figure out what was hanging on his body—even if it was a self-destruct prop used to blow up some underground facilities, he wanted to figure it out.

After all, what these Cecilians are best at is blowing up all kinds of things. Last time that despicable knight threw a metal box and almost killed himself...

"It's a communication device that can simultaneously transmit what you see to the ground," Gawain didn't know what Bud was muttering in his heart, he explained casually, and ordered someone to activate the magic net terminal placed not far away, "Wearing this allows us to recognize your surroundings."

The magic device not far away was activated, and Bud was surprised to find that the device on his chest also shimmered at the same time, and then he noticed that an image in front of him appeared above the device not far away—this magical thing He couldn't help but think of those magical projections floating in the streets.

Is it similar technology?

"It will probably affect the activities a little, but this is the most advanced and miniaturized equipment at present, and you are a Transcendent, so you should be able to overcome this inconvenience," Gao Wen continued, "Its effective range should be enough for you Complete the task - but considering the complex underground situation, which may affect the signal, you must pay special attention when you act. We will notify you when the signal is severely disturbed, or if you find that the crystal is off, immediately return to the place where communication can be maintained location, and then we will arrange follow-up actions."

Bud listened carefully to every word Gawain said—before the operation began, every order from the other party affected his chances of survival, and he also knew that this incredible magic device had more important meanings besides communication. It also lies in being able to allow people on the surface to confirm the real situation below without having to rely on the language description after he returns.

As a prisoner who is still under observation and a cult member who has been guilty of many crimes, what he said so far is not trustworthy, and the Cecilians believe in their magic technology more.

Bud accepted these facts frankly—this is the necessary means and price to prove himself.

"I see." He nodded vigorously.

"Very well, let's go," Gao Wen slightly nodded, "Be careful and come back safely."

Come back safely...

In this short moment, Bud was suddenly a little dazed, he blinked, and the already yellowed memory suddenly began to flip, in the depths of the memory buried by the gloomy life of nothing, in the last warm afternoon in his mind, He was dressed in military uniform, riding on a horse, his daughter reluctantly tugged at his clothes, his father stood by the roadside, the last words he heard his family say to him seemed to be these few words...

Now, he is no longer qualified to face any of his old friends.

Bard turned around and walked towards the triangular gap emitting dim fluorescence, his figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.

Gao Wen withdrew his gaze and looked at the open space next to a large root on the left. In that open space, a metal base supported a light-emitting crystal suspended in mid-air and rotating slightly, and the full magic power was being released smoothly. The nearby magic spar lamp was lit, and the magic net terminal installed in the open space was also activated.

That is a high-power obelisk of magic energy. It maintains the supply of magic power in the main area of ​​the "Giant Thorin Tree", and is also the signal center of the communication device carried by Bard. During the entire operation that follows, the roots of the "Giant Thorin Tree" The situation in the area will be transmitted back from that crystal.

Not far away, the soldier in charge of monitoring the magic net terminal reported loudly: "There is a picture, Your Majesty."

"Let's go and wait," Gawain nodded, and said to Amber and Pittman beside him, "Bud should be active below for a long time."

……

Dim, secluded, and the road twists and turns, as if leading to an endless abyss.

A certain kind of glowing moss clings to the surface of nearby vines and roots, creating limited light. These faint lights are not enough to illuminate the road, but make the road ahead more dangerous. Therefore, after advancing a certain distance, Bud Turn on the lighting device that you carry with you.

Cecil's magic technique is indeed very convenient - he couldn't help thinking.

The road is not easy to walk. Although there should be a wide ramp here theoretically, the large collapse and the ravages of the man-made god have caused the part of the underground palace structure close to the surface to completely collapse, and the collapsed soil layer has formed a steep slope. But fortunately, those roots that came from nowhere are intertwined, and a relatively gentle "road" is covered on the slope, so it is no problem to move forward normally.

Along the "road" formed by the tangled roots, and guided by the broken steps and corridors around him, Bard carefully chose the direction of progress, and moved towards the depths of this ancient underground palace bit by bit.

He is very familiar with this place, but like almost every death believer, he doesn't know who built this ancient underground palace.

Yes, although this is the lair of the End of All Things Society, this lair existed long before it was occupied by the group of dark druids.

The Doom Society only rebuilt the ramps and corridors connecting its uppermost layer to the surface to facilitate secret access for members, but the palace in its depths that spans the underground canyon...is impossible with the engineering capabilities of the Doom Society made.

That palace might even be older than the Kingdom of Anzu, perhaps dating back to the days of the Empire of Gondor.

Or... more ancient.

Following the path in his memory, Bud cautiously walked deeper. He passed through the large ramp in the upper area, passed through the fragmented assembly hall and the twisted and broken foyer corridor, and further on, there was this underground The original structure of the palace.