Volume 6 Chapter 164

Volume 6 + Chapter 164: The Beast Tide Descends

Within the underground city of the Maginot Fortress.

Mana supplied by the energy sources was channeled into the core processor, transforming the black cube into a translucent blue. Standing at a certain distance, Xia Yi watched the core processor and produced the miniature core processor. The blue cube’s patterns shifted according to her will, and she remotely directed the core processor to distribute mana steadily through the mana conduits of each district within the underground city.

The machines, which had been on standby, began to hum with stable operation.

“It worked! It really worked! The core processor is finally running stably, there’s no doubt the mobile fortress will take to the skies!”

The bespectacled technician with gold-rimmed glasses cheered and rejoiced. The other technicians were equally moved, clapping and applauding.

“Wonderful…!”

Yuren watched the scene, and the knot of anxiety in his chest gradually loosened.

“Xia Yi, does maintaining the core processor’s stability put any strain on you?” Daisy asked from beside her.

“Not at all,” Xia Yi replied. “I only need to spare a fraction of my attention to regulate the stability of mana flow through each area’s conduits. It’s hardly a challenge for me.”

Her words were not exaggerated in the least.

After all, she bore the bloodline of the Silver Dragon Royalty, renowned for their peerless magical aptitude. When it came to fine mana manipulation and control, they were naturally leagues ahead of all others.

“Perfect, perfect!!” The gold-rimmed glasses technician’s grin was practically flying off his face. “With Xia Yi’s help, how could the Maginot Fortress possibly fail to fly? We can proceed to the final stage!”

“Final stage?”

Xia Yi had been drained dry by Eve’s summoned plant beasts and had spent days recovering in bed, constantly replenishing her strength. During that time, the technicians in the underground city had likely made considerable progress. She hadn’t had a chance to learn the details before being called in for testing.

“Earlier, all the energy in the underground city was inexplicably depleted. It took us a while to replenish it. After that, we adjusted the mana conduits again to match both the underground city and certain upper sections. As of now, the coverage is roughly the size of a single warship!”

The gold-rimmed glasses technician explained patiently.

“Next, we need to install it throughout every corner of the Maginot Fortress. That will take some time. But once it’s done, it will truly be a mobile fortress, ready to take off at any moment.”

“I see.”

Xia Yi roughly understood. It would still take a while before the flying mobile fortress was complete. When that time came, she would head to the World Tree alongside everyone in the Maginot Fortress.

She had already made her decision. She would stop Eve’s plan, thrash that unreasonable elf, and seize the Waters of Life.

That was the Silver Dragon way. You won’t give it to me? Fine, I’ll take it myself!

“Lord Yuren, can you hear me?”

Suddenly, the communication device Yuren carried emitted the frantic voice of his subordinate, shattering the upbeat atmosphere.

“I can hear you. What happened?”

Yuren raised the device and spoke with his officer.

“Outside the Maginot Fortress, the number of Calamity Beasts is increasing!”

“Is it a Beast Tide?”

“We’re not certain yet. We’ve dispatched an elite reconnaissance squad to investigate, but our current estimate puts the likelihood of a Beast Tide at around eighty percent.”

“I understand. Continue awaiting further intel. Do not panic, I will make arrangements shortly.” Yuren gave his orders and ended the transmission.

“Is everything alright, Yuren?” Daisy asked.

“Nothing too serious. At worst, it’s just another ordinary Beast Tide. We’ve weathered many before. We’ll handle it as we always have, an ordinary tide shouldn’t be able to breach the Maginot Fortress’s defenses,” Yuren replied calmly.

“Indeed. Unless the gargantuan Calamity Beast deep within the Yadan Plains stirs, we have ample time to connect the entire Maginot Fortress to the core processor’s mana conduits.”

The gold-rimmed glasses technician pushed up his spectacles with unshakable confidence.

“As long as this wave of Beast Tide doesn’t go awry, we’ll have no problems at all.”

“How could it possibly go wrong?”

“We’ve already scouted ahead, there wasn’t the slightest sign of the gargantuan Calamity Beast awakening!”

Though everyone remained optimistic, for some reason, an uneasy feeling gnawed at Xia Yi’s heart. Vaguely, she sensed that events were steering toward an unfavorable course.

She hoped it was merely her imagination…

—

Outside the Maginot Fortress, an elite reconnaissance squad rode in an armed helicopter, drawing closer to the Yadan Plains.

“Attention, our mission is only to investigate whether a Beast Tide has formed. Do not push too deep! If you spot any flying Calamity Beasts, retreat at maximum speed. Under no circumstances let them engage us, or we are all dead!” commanded the squad’s vice-captain.

“Yes, sir!”

All members of the armed helicopter responded in unison.

Except for two.

One was the captain, seated in the co-pilot’s seat, silent and brooding.

Mast lowered his head, lost in thought.

“Old Ma, what’s with you and the captain? Why do you both smell so foul?” The vice-captain couldn’t help pinching his nose. “How many days has it been since you bathed? You reek like rotten meat.”

“…”

Hearing this, Mast raised his head and looked at the vice-captain. A patch of skin sloughed off his face, startling the vice-captain.

Before the vice-captain could ask if Mast had contracted some skin disease, the others shouted in alarm.

“Ah! What is that?!”

Boom, Boom, Boom, 

An enormous colossus advanced across the plain, leading a tide of beasts toward the Maginot Fortress. Each of its steps made the very earth tremble.

The vice-captain’s mind went blank upon seeing this.

“It’s the gargantuan Calamity Beast!! It’s mobilized, we have to report to high command and have them prepare for, Agh!!”

Before he could finish, a sweet, coppery taste flooded his throat, and he vomited a mouthful of blood. He looked down to see a skeletal arm piercing through his chest. The one who had stabbed him from behind was, 

“Old Ma…?!”

The other squad members were dumbfounded. It had all happened so suddenly that no one could react in time.

“Old Ma, stop!!”

The others lunged forward, intending to subdue Mast.

But Mast’s body ignited with the spectral bone-fire of the undead, and he let out a ghastly roar that froze everyone in their tracks.

Within less than two seconds, he slaughtered every member except the captain, annihilating the entire elite reconnaissance squad.

Blood painted the interior of the armed helicopter crimson.

The captain in the co-pilot’s seat also killed the pilot in an instant, tossed the corpse out, took the controls, and raised the communication device. With an expressionless face, he hailed the Maginot high command.

“This is the elite reconnaissance squad reporting. According to our reconnaissance, a large number of Calamity Beasts are converging on the Maginot Fortress. The Beast Tide is classified at the highest level. However, we have detected no trace of the gargantuan Calamity Beast. Please respond with standard protocols.”

[Translator’s Note: Please join the Gravity Tales’ Discord Server, if you want to hang out.]

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