On the northern edge of the Loren Continent, the brand-new port city, Northport, had begun to take shape. Although it would take some time for it to become a real bustling transportation hub, this important city, which had gathered the most advanced technology of the empire and received a lot of resources and manpower, could now show some of its glorious scale.
Beside the long coastline, the straight and wide port road ran from east to west. The reinforced concrete trestle with permanent magic enchantment extended from the dock area to the north all the way to the sea. Large-scale anti-wave facilities were built in the shallow coastal waters, forming a wide, folder-shaped dam outside the port. A large number of spires inlaid with runes protruded from the sea on both sides of the dam. Where the light of the runes shone, the sea in the port was further calmed.
These were all technologies from the sirens and the nagas. If the humans were to study them themselves, it would take a long time for the magicians and craftsmen responsible for the construction of Northport to explore from scratch.
On the other side of the port was the urban complex of Northport. In addition to the wider and straighter roads that extended in all directions, the most prominent feature of this "border city" located in the northernmost part of the human countries was the tall towers scattered everywhere in the city. These towers stood between the buildings. In addition to the glimmering rune panels on the surface, there were a large number of metal pipes extending from the towers. The upper end of these pipes was connected to the huge magic-conducting device, and the lower end extended to the surrounding city and the heat source factory set at the base of the tower. These ubiquitous towers and pipes together formed the ingenious and huge thermal network of Northport City, and also the most advanced and complex heating system in the Cecil Empire so far.
It was the existence of these thermal networks that allowed humans to gain a foothold in this cold land.
Victoria Werde, the Ice Duke, stood at the end of a wide trestle, facing the sea breeze and looking in the direction of the surging waves. Several nagas and sirens stood beside her. One of them, a beautiful siren with long black hair and a tear mole at the corner of her eye, propped herself up with her long snake tail. She looked back at the city and said with some emotion, "It's developing so fast … Prosperous commerce is the source of a city's vitality …"
"Lady Kassandra, isn't the business of your kingdom prosperous?" Victoria turned around and looked at the black-haired siren curiously. "I don't seem to hear you guys talk about Io."
"The Siren Kingdom … The situation in the Siren Kingdom is different from that on the mainland," the black-haired siren named Kassandra thought for a moment and said with a smile. "Of course, we also have commercial activities, but the pace of our society is slower, and commerce is not as active as on the land. As you know, we came to this planet in a large spaceship, and in the long years, most of our social activities revolved around the ship and the few satellite cities around the landing point. Of course, this situation has changed recently. After the Nagas became a part of the Siren Kingdom, our society has gained new vitality. However, overall, we are still a race with a slow pace.
"There's one more thing that I need to correct you, Ms. Victoria. Although our territory includes the Io continent, more than 90% of the sirens live on the seabed around the continent. Our interest in the land is only due to the minerals which it contains, more or less, but it is very unattractive compared with the bountiful bounty of the sea. So if you are interested in the sirens, you should not inquire about the continent, but about our deep sea. "
"The bountiful bounty of the sea …" Victoria whispered thoughtfully. "Our Majesty once described the sea in this way …"
A gust of sea breeze brought the sound of distant seabirds. Viola, the Witch of the Deep with long blue hair, looked up at the sky and interrupted the conversation between Victoria and Kassandra. "It's almost time, Kassandra."
The black-haired siren came back to her senses and glanced at the undulating waves outside the breakwater. Her long snake tail slowly curled and stretched. "The Eternal Storm … I'm really curious about what's down there."
Several Nagas who were ready to accompany her began to check the weapons and equipment they needed to carry. Victoria nodded to Kassandra. "All in all, thank you for your help. To be honest, if you don't help, it would be very difficult for us to explore the Eternal Storm."
"We are friends. It's not a big deal." The black-haired siren smiled and waved her hand. "And to be honest, we are also very interested in the sea. It's just that the place has been shrouded in a powerful energy field for many years, and even we can't swim there. Now that the storm has finally dissipated, this is a good opportunity to satisfy our curiosity. "
As she spoke, the siren swayed her long tail and slithered to the edge of the breakwater. Several Nagas followed closely behind. Victoria stood behind and watched the special investigation team that was ready to go to the northern sea to explore the situation until they jumped off the edge of the breakwater and disappeared into the vast undulating waves.
"I wish them all the best." Viola, who stayed on the embankment, retracted her gaze from the sea. Then, she swayed her long tail slightly and asked curiously, "Speaking of which, we have begun to officially investigate the situation of the Eternal Storm. Why hasn't General Byron and the Winter returned?"
"The Winter is still carrying out a cruise mission in the eastern sea, and it is expected to continue until at least the second half of the Month of Recovery." Victoria shook her head. "For a ship designed to carry out long-distance and long-term naval operations, this kind of long-term mission is a very necessary means of testing. And we can also take this opportunity to verify the training effect of the navy and collect a lot of experience in sailing."
Listening to Victoria's explanation, the Witch of the Deep Sea Viola showed a thoughtful expression. Naga Rudolph, who was once a high-ranking Storm Priest, couldn't help but mutter, "Just to carry out training and testing tasks?"
Victoria's face was expressionless. "… At least the ship and our sailors do need to carry out training and testing missions."
…
At the edge of the Tarlonde continent during the polar day, there was only the alternation of dusk and day. The giant sun rose and fell on the horizon, making it difficult to tell the exact time of day. Melita stood on a high platform at the edge of the camp, looking at the magnificent giant sun crown on the horizon. It took her a long time to vaguely determine that it should be the 'midnight' of the day.
Since she woke up, she had little time to rest, but even so, she was not sleepy. The difficult situation and the countless people in need of help were her biggest motivation at the moment. And compared to Carador, who had almost no rest, she felt that she had rested for a long time.
The sound of footsteps came from behind. Melita turned around and saw Noretta, who had transformed into her human form, walking up the stage.
"You're here," White Dragon Noretta said with a knowing look. "You can almost see the whole camp from here. I like to come here too."
Noticing that Melita did not speak for a while, and her face was full of worry, Noretta sighed softly. "Are you still thinking about the things discussed in the meeting? What are you thinking about? "
"I'm thinking about building more shelters and going to the coast to open up a fishing ground," said Melita. "And in the process, I can't help but think about the humans … on the Roren continent, the humans I'm in charge of contacting."
"Cecil?" Noretta raised her eyebrows. "That's right. Our current situation does remind you of them. Rebuilding everything in the ruins, the same refugee situation … But today's Tarlonde is far more dangerous than the Gloom Mountain Range, and the survival challenges we face are far more than those humans. "
"Correspondingly, we are far more powerful than those humans, aren't we?" Melita looked at her friend. "Although we have lost the implant, the booster, the factory, and the entire social system … Dragons are still powerful creatures with only their fangs and claws."
Upon hearing this, Noretta suddenly became silent. After a moment, she said in a complicated tone, "Yes, Dragons are still powerful with only their fangs and claws … So before I found you, I had discussed this with Carador and Elder Duckmore. Do you know what my worst association is? "
"Your worst association?" Melita asked curiously. "What is it?"
"Do you still remember those stories?" Noretta looked in the direction of the camp, her eyes fell on the Dragons who were using recycled materials to repair the equipment, and using their dragon breath to melt the steel and weld the wall. "Those old-fashioned heroic adventure stories, those called the 'Classic Dark Side System' and poems."
"… The Giant Dragon wreaking havoc in the human world, occupying castles and towers, plundering treasures, kidnapping princesses and princes, receiving offerings from the king … and so on?" Some images appeared in Melita's mind. She realized what Noretta meant, and her expression suddenly became strange. "Are you thinking too much?"
"Now it seems that I am thinking too much. The first thing everyone thought of when they woke up in this wasteland was to rebuild their homes and rescue their compatriots. But when it's quiet, I still can't help but let my imagination run wild." Noretta shook her head with a self-deprecating smile. "This wasteland is so huge, there are still many survivors who are blocked by the ruins on the vast land, and they … may not have as much hope as here. When they are hungry enough, when they realize that the temple organization and council that were responsible for the approval of departure permits no longer exist … How long do you think it will take for them to think of a warmer human world with more abundant food than here? And there is no radiation, cold wind, and wandering elemental creatures there. "
Melita really did not think about this. After listening to Noretta's words, she was shocked and quickly fell silent. After half a minute of silence, she suddenly said, "… We can't degenerate into beasts. We are a civilized and rational race, how can we …"
"Our civilization is gone, and 'dignity' and 'pride' will eventually give way to reality — even if we are dragons," Noretta said word by word. "Of course, most of us will choose to face this wasteland with pride, but maybe there will be a few … even if it's a very small number, they may choose the despicable path."
"… They will not be greeted by the swords and arrows of the adventurers, but more likely the arcane missiles of Cecil's Northern Frontier and the laser array of Typhon's people." Melita shook her head. "Those old stories are just stories. Humans are not as weak as they are in the stories. They may have been far weaker than Tarlonde in the past, but today … it's not necessarily so. "
"But it is undeniable that the Dragons who have fallen into despair after losing the shackles of society are still a very big hidden danger. Our innate strength is too strong, and the starting point of most of the mortals in this civilization is too weak." Noretta sighed. "So we have to find a way. We can't let the proud race fall into such a dark and despicable state. And what we can do now, and the most urgent thing, is to bring some hope to the other survivors in the wilderness."
"Bring some hope?" Melita subconsciously repeated.
"The idea you came up with is really great." Under the dim light of the dusk, Noretta suddenly laughed. "Maybe even you don't realize how great it is."
"My idea?" Melita was stunned for a moment before she reacted. "Oh, you mean to ignite the flame? Actually, it's just a whim … After all, I've been in the human world for so long. "
Noretta was still smiling. She looked back at the tallest abandoned tower in the southwest corner of the camp. "Lord Balogel is going to ignite the flame. It is said that he has repaired a pressurizing device dug out from the ruins. The flame from that thing is enough to cross the entire plain …"
Melita subconsciously looked over as well. Under the dim light, without any filter or visual enhancement system, she saw the tall tower. On the platform at the top of the tower, there was a blurry shadow moving about, and there was an occasional flickering of a flame. Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
She blinked, trying to get a better look. At that moment, the flame, accompanied by a burst of pressurizing roar, suddenly tore the dusk apart!
A huge column of flame rose, as if piercing through the sky and piercing the murky sky above the ruins of Agundor. The bright light, as Noretta said, could be seen from the entire plain.
Many of the dragons in the camp were startled by the flame. They all raised their heads and looked in the direction of the tower. Even the dragons who were suffering from the backlash of the booster potion and were already somewhat delirious were attracted by the flame.
Melita's lavender eyes reflected the rising flame in the camp. She was a little surprised and only looked away after a few seconds.
She looked out of the camp, her eyes swept across the dark plain covered by the murky clouds.
The undulating scorched earth, the hideously torn city ruins, and the molten and twisted steel wreckage. Everything was shrouded in silence and darkness.
The flame that rose from the ruins of Agundor was the only flame in the world.
Melita stood on the high platform and looked into the distance. After looking for a long time, she did not see anything. She finally sighed regretfully. Noretta, who was beside her, said softly, "Maybe they haven't seen it yet, or maybe they sent a signal, but we can't see it …"
A weak flame suddenly appeared in Melita and Noretta's sight. It rose from the end of the horizon and only lasted for a short time before it dissipated into the sky. But a few seconds later, a similar flame rose in the same place.
Noretta did not manage to finish her sentence. She and Melita widened their eyes at the same time. A few seconds later, a new light appeared in their field of vision. It came from another direction. It was a bolt of lightning. It was obviously a bolt of lightning created by magic.
Then, there was a third and fourth signal.
Some were faint dragon breath, some were bright lightning bolts, and some were just smoke that suddenly rose from the ruins. They seemed to be responding to the flame of Gondor. They rose from all over the desolate and scorched plain. Some were far, some were close, and some were big, some were small, some were far, and some were near.
The nearest signal was even near the camp.
Melita's eyes widened —
Under the dim and gloomy sky, these faint rays of light shone like the stars in the sky.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
