CHAPTER 312: CHAPTER 228: STRIKE!

The heavy atmosphere in the conference hall had not yet dissipated, and the people gradually took their leave.

Louis was about to withdraw when a voice with a hint of amusement came from behind, "You did well, eighth brother."

He turned around to see a tall man striding over, his gaze both familiar and foreign in its affection.

Gaius Calvin, the eldest son of the Calvin Family, a popular candidate for future Patriarch, and the Deputy Corps Commander of the Dragon Blood Knight Order.

Unlike the solemnity during the meeting, his tone was now much lighter, his steps filled with a heroic air, like a long-absent brother reuniting with family.

"Eighth brother," Gaius approached and unceremoniously patted Louis heavily on the shoulder, "You’ve really outdone yourself. I heard in the Imperial Capital that you’ve been making waves, didn’t expect that once in the Northern Territory, you’d have a seat at the highest meeting."

Louis smiled faintly and nodded lightly, "It’s just thanks to father’s and the Governor’s influence."

Gaius paused, then laughed heartily, "Ah, modesty."

The two talked as they walked out of the conference hall, with Gaius pulling an image from his pocket and holding it up to his eyes, "Look at this."

The picture showed a gentle-faced young woman holding a newborn whose eyes had not yet opened.

Behind her stood Gaius in casual armor, grinning with a rare softness in his smile.

"Your sister-in-law, she gave birth two months ago, a boy." Gaius’ tone softened unexpectedly, "I never thought I’d see such a day."

Louis looked at the image earnestly and said softly, "He resembles his mother."

"Right!" Gaius smiled proudly, "If he resembled me, it’d be a disaster."

He paused, then suddenly said in a low voice, "I was thinking, once this battle is over, I’ll bring them home to see Father."

Upon hearing this, Louis roughly understood his inner worries and comforted, "It’ll be alright, you still have to succeed the Calvin Family."

Gaius froze, then grinned, "Oh, you actually care about me?"

"Just the truth." Louis said softly, returning the picture to him.

Gaius took the image, tucked it back into his pocket, and patted him on the shoulder again, "You too, don’t die. Eighth brother, I want my son to call you ’Uncle Louis’ in the future."

With that, he waved farewell to Louis and turned to leave.

The heroic figure gradually receded, and the lights of the conference hall dimmed little by little along with it.

......

The next day, before dawn, the wind and snow were still raging.

Though the day had not yet broken, the north training ground of Frost Halberd City trembled slightly with the weight of heavy footsteps.

Hundreds of knights in crimson heavy armor stood solemnly in formation; they were the Empire’s sharpest spear—the Dragon Blood Legion.

In silence, a figure draped in a black and red cloak strode onto the high platform.

He removed his helmet, revealing a face marked by resolute strength, none other than the Deputy Corps Commander—Gaius Calvin.

"Everyone!!"

His voice thundered, striking the chest of every knight.

"I won’t waste words, you all know the reason you’re here today!

The enemy we face is not a tribe, nor a rebellion, or any general that can be assassinated... but a living hell."

As soon as he spoke, several young knights in the front row couldn’t help but tighten their grips on their spears, their battle spirit surging.

Gaius waved a large hand and continued:

"This operation... is dangerous, the most dangerous mission we have ever undertaken. The corpses, black mists, reassembled monsters you’ve seen, those are just appetizers.

The real target is that thing hidden deep in the mountain’s belly, a creature so formidable that even our three Peak Knights aren’t sure we can crack its armor in direct combat.

But we have no other choice.

If we don’t kill it today, it will crawl out from here tomorrow, and then into the Imperial Capital, dragging your families, your children, your comrades, all into hell!

We are the blood of the Empire, the sharpest long spear of His Majesty the Emperor!

If we retreat, then who else in this Empire can stand at the front line?"

Breathing in the ranks grew heavier, morale churned like molten lava.

"So today, I ask only one thing: Who’s willing to follow me, charge into the Nest! Swear to follow until death!!!"

The uniform response thundered across the entire northern wall, the red patterns on their battle armor lighting up all at once, as if each knight ignited the flame within their blood.

Standing by the high platform was Arthur, the Legion Commander of the Dragon Blood Legion, the Empire’s strongest spear, merely stood with hands behind his back, surveying the formation emotionlessly.

He didn’t need to stir them with words.

His presence was the most silent yet strongest of pillars.

Gazing at Gaius, he nodded gently.

......

Meanwhile, atop the walls of Frost Halberd City.

The air seemed to have stilled.

In the distance, the black mist still rolled, like the breath of death spewing from the earth’s cracks, creeping across the valley and ready to swallow the entire sky.

It was no longer a mere natural phenomenon but a living catastrophe.

"Activate fully! Cold Flame Reactor!"

With the city defense officer’s roar, the Cold Flame Reactor buried deep in the ground veins of the city’s heart roared to life, the core magic crystal pulsating like a beast’s heart, bursting with continuous, unending magic energy pulses.

Energy streams transmitted rapidly through the pre-laid node arrays, sweeping beyond the city walls.

Fifteen magic fortresses (originally seventeen, two had gone dark due to drained power) displayed dense runes, arcs of blue ice accumulating at their tips, intersecting in the sky like a web of the cold night, eventually gathering into a half-transparent giant dome...

The Super Barrier, activated.

In an instant, all of Frost Halberd City seemed to awaken from slumber, emitting a wailing-like resonance.

But this awakening could only sustain a miraculous few minutes.