Chapter 352: Chapter 252: The Progress of Science [Third Night]
At this moment, in the White Dragon Empire.
The Emperor Kirei had recently shifted his focus onto Battle Armor, and had frequently inspected the Imperial Research Institute. The Battle Armors were being restored one by one and then distributed to the most loyal soldiers.
These Battle Armors could greatly enhance the strength and defense of regular humans. Testing revealed that a soldier wearing such armor could knock a galloping warhorse off its feet and sustain only minor injuries.
With the new Crystal Core technology, a Battle Armor could operate non-stop for a full day and night in cruising state. Even under high load, it could keep functioning for four hours of continuous fighting. At its limit, it could fight continuously for two hours.
In the experiment, the Battle Armor showed surprising destructive power under extreme conditions. Apart from lacking Fighting Aura, a well-trained soldier could even take on a Dragon Knight with one Dragon Mark - provided, of course, that the Dragon Knight did not have a dragon.
Before Long Yi left, he designed a series of auxiliary equipment for these Battle Armors, which included respirators that could filter the air and a variety of joint blades that could increase the lethality on the battlefield.
Still, Kirei was worried.
The information sent by the spies from the Black Dragon Empire was becoming more and more numerous, and it seemed to be getting worse. It was now certain that the Black Dragon Empire was mass-producing Undead Soldiers, and it didn’t seem like they were trying to conceal it. In a desert area of the Black Dragon Empire, spies found a huge enclosed site where the Black Dragon Empire had set up a mammoth, bloody workshop. This workshop had one purpose: to produce Undead Soldiers.
No one knew the details, but the place was filled with a smell of blood and preservatives; it was simply hell on earth.
The world had never experienced an undead war before; no one had any experience on how to deal with an undead army. Initially, the White Dragon Empire council suggested exposing the actions of the Black Dragon Empire. The inhumanity and ethical violations of the Undead Army would surely provoke widespread discontent across the continent. But upon reflection, it seemed meaningless. The allies of the Black Dragon Empire would certainly not object, and even if the enemies of the Black Dragon Empire were against it, what could they do? As for the Black Dragon Empire’s production of the Undead Army, who in the world did not know about it?
Moreover, if the Black Dragon Empire was pushed too hard and decided to suddenly start a war, the one suffering the most would definitely be the White Dragon Empire since they had no reliable countermeasure against the Undead Army.
The White Dragon Empire is now rushing to produce disinfectants and antidotes.
Of course, the most important thing was to research the mysterious weapon.
At this moment, within the Imperial Research Institute, Kirei was watching from a distance as a few researchers busily moved around, preparing for the first experiment.
A huge operating table was engraved with a complicated Array, with the Lava Core floating above it.
In another place, there was also a huge operating table with a complicated Array, but floating above it was a complex apparatus powered mainly by a Crystal Core.
Dean Ma Deburg was standing next to the Emperor, explaining to him.
"Your Majesty, Little Zi has already detailed the working principle of this Lava Core for us. We’ve also compared it with the working method of the Undead Art of the Black Dragon Empire. By combining these two different magics, we finally got a complete manufacturing formula. This formula can produce our own Molten Beast. Today, we will synthesize this new Lava Core using this Lava Core as a blueprint for the first experiment."
"Alright, let’s start!"
Kirei’s heart was thumping nervously. He had no idea whether or not the experiment would succeed. Not only him, even Dean Ma Deburg was unsure.
"Begin!"
Dean Ma Deburg shouted.
Suddenly, everyone around the two operating tables evacuated. Since no one knew what would happen, it was safer to be cautious.
On the operating table on the left, rays of light rose, enveloping the Lava Core. Then, a ray of light shot straight from the Lava Core to the Crystal Core device on the right. Immediately, the Crystal Core device started flashing.
"The spell formula is being engraved on the Crystal Core!" Dean Ma Deburg’s palms were sweating with tension.
The light kept flashing. The Array was only reading the formula from the Lava Core, so the Lava Core remained unchanged. But the Crystal Core device, which was being engraved, was not very stable. It was twisting and trembling in the air, as if it were about to break free.
Then all of a sudden! Sparks burst from beneath the operating table! And the Crystal Core device began to move violently!
"What happened!"
"A Mithril wire broke! The flow of magic is blocked! We can’t position the Crystal Core! It’s going out of control!"
"I’ll fix it!"
A technician rushed forward, holding a very thin Mithril bar, and darted under the operating table. With a loud bang, the technician was blown away, his face blackened and bloodied. However, he disregarded his own condition and yelled, "Is it okay now!"
"Stabilized! Positioning successful! Engraving is still continuing!"
"Great!"
After that, he fainted.
The whole process took a full hour. Kirei stood there motionless, watching the whole time. Finally, when all the lights disappeared, the Crystal Core suddenly started emitting a red light. Although the light was intense and distant, Kirei could still feel a wave of heat coming towards him.
A worker dressed in heat-resistant clothing used a pair of tongs to hold a newly born lava core, placing it on a prepared rock. The rock slowly melted and soon, a figure made of lava gradually stood up.
Only at this moment did Kirei feel an onslaught of tears.
Although part of it was moved, the more significant reason was the stinging pain in his eyes from the recent flash of light.
Upon seeing the Emperor wiping away his tears, Dean Ma Deburg was overcome with mixed feelings.
"Your Majesty, rest assured! The experiment is now successful! As long as the final stability passes the test, we can immediately proceed with mass production! Then, regardless of their Undead army, who can withstand my Molten Beast army?"
While wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, Kirei nodded emphatically, "With your words, I am relieved!"
As Emperor, Kirei couldn’t stay here all the time, as he had many official duties to manage. Seeing the birth of a new lava core reassured him. He bid farewell to Dean Ma Deburg and then, under the protection of four guards in battle armor, left the research institute.
Watching Kirei leave from a distance, Ma Deburg muttered to himself, "What a great Emperor." At the same time, he changed his demeanor, "That bastard Long Yi definitely has some hidden tricks! No, next time I must give him a good beating! If that Molten Beast was handed over earlier, wouldn’t my Holy Light Empire have already unified the world?"
The Red Dragon Empire.
This time, the exchange consisted of many components, including co-operative combat training with the Dragon Knights. Both sides were mixed and given to the commanders of the two countries to direct the battle, in order to train both parties for wartime collaboration. It also included battlefield rescue, cultural exchanges, and so on.
Of course, all of this was nothing to the seasoned regular army; both sides performed well.
Finally, the highly anticipated exchange match began.
Being an allied game, the Red Dragon Empire attached great importance to it. The Emperor even brought ministers, family members, and other associates to the viewing platform.
As for the Emperor, Long Yi naturally had no interest. However, he was extremely curious about the Prime Minister.
To be precise, the Prime Minister’s wife.
The Fairy Dragon.
How should one describe her?
Fiery red curls, a red gown, a backless design that allowed her wings to be seen, wing tips adorned with gems just right. Dignified, noble, elegant, and brimming with a subtle sense of familiarity. Even from a distance, that’s how Long Yi felt.
At the same time, the renowned Fairy Dragon, who was known across the world, was also observing Long Yi and Ai Lin.
"How about it? My wife?" the Prime Minister in his prime asked with a smile.
"Hehe, he really is as handsome as I thought." To everyone’s surprise, this graceful and noble Fairy Dragon, the wife of the Prime Minister, showed a playful grin like that of a young girl.
"Then, what should I call Long Yi? Should I just call him by his name... or should I call him..."
"Just call him by his name! Unless you want me to disappear from this world right now."
"Alright, alright! Just the name!" The Prime Minister quickly surrendered.
Put simply, for such an exchange game, the Emperor was basically there for the opening ceremony; this match had a larger scale compared to the ’sports games’ between colleges. Moreover, it was more realistic.
Both sides each sent out thirty Dragon Knights, each assigned to two temporary small villages with a hundred army soldiers stationed in each village. Then, both parties were given a day and a night. Whoever occupies or destroys the opponent’s village first wins.
Of course, because occupation is more difficult, the rewards are more generous. This part of the reward comes from the Emperor’s personal wealth. Unlike the White Dragon Empire, the Emperor of the Red Dragon Empire has great authority, ensuring a generous treasury. Rewarding wouldn’t go wrong.
In the last exchange match, the Red Dragon Empire eventually won. Both sides were in a deadlock, and the Red Dragon Empire lured the enemy deep into their territory before launching a surprise attack with two Red Dragons to set the enemy’s villages on fire.
Though it might seem cunning, there was no other choice. One should know that regardless of which country the Dragon Knights serve, if the area they are defending is destroyed, then there is no need for the Dragon Knights to stay behind.
Such is the reality of war.
The Emperor of the Red Dragon Empire delivered a short speech. The main content was about the longstanding friendship between the two countries. Long Yi didn’t pay much attention to it, as he was mainly observing the Prime Minister’s wife, and most likely, a majority of the Dragon Knights from the White Dragon Empire were doing the same.
In comparison to his own Emperor, Long Yi found the Emperor of the Red Dragon Empire more likable for one reason — this Emperor looked rigid and appeared to be straightforward. In contrast, no matter whether it was that missing former Emperor, or the current grandmaster of humor from the White Dragon Empire, they were born schemers. Although Long Yi believed they wouldn’t harm him, standing beside them always felt chilling.
Then, the Emperor finished speaking.
Group Leaders from both sides appeared simultaneously.
Only then did Long Yi abruptly realize that the leader on the other side was none other than Cain.
