Free Web NovelWhen all tactical plans had been rejected one by one and silence was about to swallow the meeting hall, a young voice echoed from a corner: “How about we try my method?”
Everyone turned their heads in unison.
The owner of that voice was a young man sitting in an inconspicuous corner.
He wore a simple dark gray military uniform, without any identifying marks.
Only the Red Tide Territory emblem on his cuff, whose meaning few knew, revealed his identity.
“Louis?” a Cold Iron Legion staff officer murmured.
The Duke Edmund’s son-in-law, the young Northern Viscount.
“I have a type of Magic Bomb device,” Louis slowly stood up, his tone calm, “that can effectively damage the Mother Nest’s carapace. I’ve tried it a few times in combat, and it has a miraculous effect on the Mother Nest.”
A subtle hesitation and a few chuckles immediately appeared in the air.
“Oh? A Magic Bomb that can penetrate the Mother Nest’s armor?” A Councilor in an Imperial Capital-tailored military uniform with a short beard chuckled softly, “From what ancient dirt did you dig up such an artifact?”
Before he finished speaking, several Councilors had already begun whispering, with light, airy phrases occasionally drifting over:
“Just grandstanding, the Governor really misjudged him.”
“Are the disciples of the Eight Great Families really this bad now?”
“The North is indeed terribly desolate, even such tactical fantasies are sprouting.”
“I thought we’d hear some real strategies.” free𝑤ebnovel.com
Some even showed undisguised expressions of mockery.
To them, Louis was nothing more than a young noble with no experience, relying solely on his birth.
How dare he interrupt this top-level strategic meeting now?
He was merely trying to attract attention and gain everyone’s notice.
But Louis, under everyone’s gaze, showed no wavering in his expression.
“I am not joking,” Louis said, neither humble nor arrogant.
Hearing Louis’s confident words, the laughter subsided somewhat, but still, few believed him.
At this moment, Duke Edmund slowly spoke: “So, you have a ready-made demolition device, and you know it can effectively penetrate the Mother Nest’s carapace?”
“Yes,” Louis nodded.
Duke Edmund’s gaze fixed on Louis standing there.
He stared unblinkingly at the young man, as if trying to discern some falsehood or flaw from his calm and unruffled expression.
Unfortunately, there was none.
Louis remained standing, not even revealing a hint of anxiety to prove himself.
Edmund couldn’t help but recall various things about Louis.
This young man never gained anyone’s trust by boasting.
He simply turned every promise into a fulfillment.
Moreover, he was indeed one of the few county lords in the North who had kept Red Tide at bay.
Even if this demolition device sounded absurd...
In the current situation, anything even slightly useful was a good thing.
“Even if there’s only a one percent chance,” Edmund slowly broke the silence, “in the current situation, it’s useful.”
He looked at the recording official beside him, his tone unhurried: “Include Louis’s demolition plan in this combat plan, as a backup. Louis himself will directly coordinate resources and lead the implementation.”
Upon hearing this, a subtle atmosphere subtly spread through a corner of the venue. Some Councilors from the Imperial Capital didn’t even bother to hide their disdain, letting out undisguised snorts, their expressions full of contempt.
“Heh, it’s clearly to save face for his son-in-law, isn’t it?”
Some people shook their heads slightly, with an “as expected” look on their faces.
“Well, if it fails, it won’t drag down the battle. It’ll just be scratching the Mother Nest’s itch.”
Others curved their lips into an ambiguous smile, as if they finally understood why the Duke had inserted this inexplicable order.
And Louis?
He said nothing, only exhaled silently in his heart.
Not just for the military merits, status, and prestige he was about to gain.
But more importantly—to quickly end the Mother Nest’s incubation, to end that “mouth of hell” that was silently expanding.
The war shouldn’t drag on too long.
Frost Halberd City’s resources couldn’t last that long, the Northern people couldn’t last that long, and even the knights’ will couldn’t last that long.
So now was the time.
It was time to let this world witness what true explosive artistry was.
With this small interlude, the meeting briefly returned to calm.
But the atmosphere had subtly changed.
No longer the fierce confrontation as before, nor any more passionate boasts.
Because no one had a better method.
Time was pressing, resources were depleted, yet the enemy was still reassembling and incubating hell outside the city walls.
This was a war without choices.
“In that case,” Duke Edmund slowly spoke, his voice low and decisive, “we will proceed with the current plan.”
“The Dragon Blood Legion will advance, targeting the Mother Nest’s core.”
“First, we’ll try Louis’s Magic Bomb,” he paused here, “If it’s ineffective, we’ll switch to a self-detonation tactic.” When his voice fell, there was no applause, no cheers in the meeting hall.
Only silence.
It wasn’t doubt about the decision, but every person understood what it meant.
“Alright, so be it.”
“Mobilize the troops. All units prepare immediately.”
The commanders rose one after another, their voices chaotic but quickly regaining order.
Everyone immersed themselves in their respective duties, like a wartime machine, quickly operating at high speed after a brief alignment.
Even those Councilors who had mocked Louis were silent now.
They understood that in this battle, no one could win by words alone.
The heavy atmosphere of the meeting hall had not yet dissipated, and people left one after another.
Louis was about to withdraw when he suddenly heard a voice with a smile from behind him: “You did well, Eighth Brother.”
He turned to see a tall man striding towards him, his eyes holding a familiar yet unfamiliar intimacy.
Gaius Calvin, the eldest son of the Calvin Family, a strong contender for future family head, and also the Vice Commander of the Dragon Blood Legion.
Compared to his solemn and stern demeanor during the meeting, his tone was much more relaxed now, and his steps carried a natural boldness, like a long-lost elder brother.
“Eighth Brother,” Gaius walked up to him and unceremoniously slapped Louis heavily on the shoulder, “You’ve got something. I heard in the Imperial Capital that you were stirring things up, but I didn’t expect that as soon as you arrived in the North, you’d even have a seat at the highest meeting.”
Louis smiled slightly and nodded gently: “It’s just relying on Father’s and the Governor’s face.”
Gaius was stunned, then burst into laughter: “Ha, humble.”
As they spoke, they walked out of the meeting hall. Gaius pulled a portrait from his Pregnant and handed it to him: “Look at this.”
In the painting was a young woman with gentle eyes, holding an infant who couldn't yet open his eyes.
Behind her stood Gaius in light armor, grinning, his smile revealing «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» a rare softness.
“Your sister-in-law gave birth two months ago, it’s a boy,” Gaius’s tone even softened a bit, “I never thought I’d have a day like this.”
Louis looked at the portrait carefully and said softly: “He looks like my sister-in-law.”
“Right?!” Gaius smiled proudly, “It would be terrible if he looked like me.”
He paused, then suddenly whispered: “I’m thinking after this war, I’ll take them home to show Father.”
Upon hearing this, Louis likely understood his worries and comforted him: “You’ll be fine. You still have to inherit the Calvin Family.”
Gaius was startled, then grinned: “Oh, you care about me quite a bit?”
“Just the truth,” Louis said softly, returning the portrait to him.
Gaius took the portrait, put it back in his Pregnant, and patted his shoulder again: “You too, don’t die. Eighth Brother, I still want my son to call you ‘Uncle Louis’ in the future.”
With that, he waved to Louis and turned to leave.
The tall, bold figure gradually receded, and the lights in the meeting hall also extinguished little by little.
The next day, before dawn, the wind and snow were still raging.
The sky was not yet bright, but the northern training ground of Frost Halberd City was already trembling slightly from the heavy footsteps.
Hundreds of knights in scarlet heavy armor stood solemnly in formation; they were the Empire’s sharpest spear—the Dragon Blood Legion.
In silence, a figure cloaked in black and red strode onto the high platform.
He removed his helmet, revealing a firm and resolute face; it was none other than the Vice Commander—Gaius Calvin.
“Gentlemen!!”
His voice was like thunder, striking the chest of every knight.
“I won’t waste words; you all know why I’ve called you here today!
The enemy we face is not tribes, not rebels, nor some general who can be decapitated—but a living hell.”
As his voice fell, several young knights in the front row couldn’t help but grip their long spears, their fighting spirit surging throughout their bodies.
Gaius waved his hand and continued, “This operation is dangerous, it’s the most dangerous mission we’ve ever undertaken. The corpses, black mist, and reassembled monsters you’ve seen are just appetizers.
The target is that thing hidden deep within the mountain belly. That thing, even our three Peak Knights aren’t confident in breaking its armor head-on.
But we have no other choice.
If we don’t kill it today, tomorrow it will crawl out from here, and then crawl all the way into the Imperial Capital, dragging your families, children, and comrades all into hell!
We are the blood of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor’s sharpest spear!
If even we retreat, then who in this Empire can stand on the front line?”
In the formation, breathing grew heavier, morale surging like rolling magma.
“So today, I only ask one question: Who is willing to follow me, to kill into the Mother Nest! Swear to follow until death!!!”
The thunderous, uniform response instantly shook the entire North Wall, and the red patterns on their armor lit up in unison, as if every knight had ignited the bloodfire within their bodies.
Arthur, the Commander of the Dragon Blood Legion and the Empire’s strongest spear, stood at the side of the high platform, his hands clasped behind his back.
He scanned the entire formation with an expressionless gaze.
He did not speak words of encouragement; he did not need to.
His presence was the most silent yet most powerful pillar.
His eyes met Gaius’s, and he nodded gently.
On the other side, above the city walls of Frost Halberd City.
The air seemed to freeze.
Black mist still churned in the distance, like the breath of death spewing from a crack in the earth, covering the valley and almost swallowing the entire sky.
It was no longer a simple natural phenomenon, but a living catastrophe.
“Full power! Frostflame Reactor!”
With a roar from the City Defense Commander, the Frostflame Reactor buried deep within the city’s ley lines rumbled into action. Its core magic crystal pulsed like a giant beast’s heart, erupting continuous magical energy pulses.
The energy torrent swiftly transmitted through the already laid node array, sweeping out of the city.
The fifteen magic towers (originally seventeen, two having extinguished due to depleted energy) had intricate runes appear on their bodies, and their spires gathered ice-blue electric arcs, converging in the air like a net woven in a cold night, finally forming a translucent, colossal dome-shaped super barrier, taking effect.
For a moment, the entire Frost Halberd City seemed to awaken from slumber, emitting a mournful resonance.
But this awakening could only maintain a miracle for a mere few minutes.
“Reactor core temperature rising, energy output decreasing, entering extreme overload!”
“Maintain at all costs! We only need to hold the window of time!”
At the same time, the catapult platforms on the main city wall also unfolded, and rows of gigantic catapults extended their frameworks with a roar.
Chillcrystal Magic Burst Roundss were ignited one after another, emitting high-pitched whistles that cut through the dark sky.
“Boom—!!!” ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Azure tail flames drew arcs, landing precisely in the heart of the insect tide.
The first wave of explosions unleashed a storm like a mixture of ice mist and flesh.
Insect corpses in its path instantly froze, while the shattered crystals sprayed by the explosion were like countless flying ice blades, tearing apart any flesh that hadn’t yet frozen.
Cold current like blades, storm like fury.
At the valley frontline, in just a few dozen breaths, a narrow gap leading deep into the black mist was forcibly torn open.
But this was far from enough.
“Keep bombarding! Maintain suppression! A breakthrough must be completely opened within five minutes!”
“We don’t have a second chance!!”
The soldiers manipulating the giant levers were drenched in cold sweat; even though they were frozen through beneath their armor, no one retreated a single step.
In the distance, the black mist writhed, and the insect tide reassembled.
That was not a simple collection of organisms, but a malicious puzzle from the abyss.
In that mist, like a flesh-and-blood furnace, shattered corpse fragments, decaying insect limbs, and even remnants frozen into ice sculptures,
All began to twist, struggle, and merge.
They were not “dying,” but “evolving.”
A monster impaled on the rock wall suddenly let out a piercing cackle, its bones folding backward, its limbs breaking apart and reassembling into a completely new arthropod form, climbing up again, even faster.
An insect corpse already blown in half actually completed its “restoration” with the help of a severed arm from a fallen Dragon Blood Knight nearby, inheriting the opponent’s combat instincts and displaying extremely skilled swordsmanship reactions in its surprise attack.
They distinguished neither friend nor foe, nor were they picky about materials.
Comrade’s severed limbs, their own corpses, frozen insect pieces—all became their components.
They writhed, emitting piercing infant cries.
And even so, Frost Halberd City was still fighting, still roaring.
The Magic Crystal storm still raged, and the entire Frost Halberd City’s magic defense line unleashed its power completely, holding nothing back.
Azure magical energy washed over the battlefield like an avalanche, and large quantities of continuously exploding magic crystals were detonated, precisely covering the gaps between catapult strikes, forming several layers of destructive waves.
Each round of explosions tore apart and reassembled the insect tide frontline, yet also constantly pushed towards its limits.
It was a gamble on endurance and time.
They were not trying to annihilate the insect tide; that was almost impossible.
What they had to do was to forcibly carve out a passage for the Empire’s elites to break through, in that purgatory woven from flesh, ice crystals, and black mist.
Just as the seventh wave of bombardment ended, the passage was briefly opened.
At the center of the storm, the insect corpses temporarily stopped reassembling in the freezing cold.
The black mist, like a torn curtain, revealed a crack, exposing the endlessly writhing, flesh-covered land beneath the distant mountain, like the heart of hell.
That was the true objective of this operation:
The Doomsday Mother Nest.
The Imperial strategic order was instantly given, and horns blared throughout Frost Halberd City:
“Dragon Blood Legion! Attack!”
“Cold Iron Legion! Form up and advance!”
In an instant, the main city gate opened heavily, and a torrent of iron poured out from within.
The Dragon Blood Legion, clad in heavy armor and wreathed in battle aura, surged like a furious tide, leading the charge into the crack.
The Cold Iron Legion followed closely, their silver-blue full-body armor reflecting a silent, murderous gleam in the cold light.
This was a desperate vanguard.
Every person knew that this might be a journey of no return.
The Doomsday Mother Nest was the core of the entire insect tide; stepping into it might mean never returning.
But even so, no one wavered.
Because they were the North’s strongest shield and the Empire’s strongest spear.
“For the Empire! For humanity!”
The shouts reverberated amidst the wind, snow, and lingering magical energy, until the iron torrent completely merged into the depths of the battlefield.
And within the torrent of Dragon Blood and Cold Iron, a small team of knights, few in number, bearing uniquely shaped metal devices, silently followed.
