wjnovel Chapter 1125 Knights
Chapter 1125 Knights
The continent of Lebia, once a desolate island in the northwest, has now become the frontline fortress of the world of Aegir in its resistance against the Void.
However, even on this steel continent, forged into a "war machine" by the Night's Watch, nearly a third of its territory is now relentlessly covered by that chilling purple devouring line.
That is the void.
The engulfment of the world is not subject to the world's own resistance.
The rate of absorption will continue forward at its predetermined speed, and nothing can stop it.
This is emptiness.
This is the essential meaning of the Astral Cleaner.
A world that is destined to be conquered will be conquered, and the world can only struggle to survive under its conquest and invasion.
Looking up from any remaining corner of the mainland, there is always an ominous purple tinge lingering on the horizon.
Those are the tentacles of void erosion, greedily devouring the boundaries of the material world.
The horizon, so far away.
And every corner of the mainland can now be seen clearly.
If you are in an area that has already been swallowed up, the sight you see when you look up is even more terrifying.
The sky is no longer the familiar blue sky and white clouds, and the night is devoid of the brilliance of the sun, moon, and stars.
Instead, there was a frozen, seemingly alive purple sky.
Countless thick veins, as thick as blood vessels, pulsate and spread slowly deep within it, like the internal organs of a living creature enveloping the world.
This area has been completely incorporated into the "belly of the void," where the rules of the material world are twisted and groaning.
Even as night falls, that touch of purple in the sky will still illuminate the dark curtain of light.
That unsettling, destructive hue.
The complete fall of the continent of Taril signifies the utter collapse of the eastern barrier.
That land was devoid of life, leaving only void fissures spread like festering sores.
And the surging, roaring army of void creatures within it became an immense pressure from the Sunset Sea that Lebia had to face alone.
However, Lebia is ultimately different from Tahrir.
Because this second continent tainted by the void will be the final stronghold of resistance.
Even in this "occupied zone" where one-third of the land was stained purple, the fighting never stopped, instead presenting a unique and tenacious picture of war.
Centered around a series of node fortresses, they shine stubbornly against a purplish-black background like stars.
These fortresses are not isolated islands; they form a sophisticated network of defenses through energy channels and pre-designed defensive arrays.
Around the fortress, void rifts spewed forth like boiling springs, continuously gushing out void creatures of various shapes and sizes.
As soon as these monsters appeared, they pounced on the nearest fortress node like sharks smelling blood, layering on top of each other to form disgusting "biological clumps" made of twisted flesh and energy.
They surrounded each of the steel fortresses that were still resisting, in dense formation.
On this land occupied by emptiness, there is not only siege and defense.
Careful observation of the blank areas far from the nodes, covered by purple crystals and filth, will always reveal swift figures rushing about.
Those were elite Lebian cavalry units, like ghosts dancing on the edge of a knife, galloping freely through the empty "heartland".
This proactive, deep-seated tactic is an extension of the "fortress city warfare art" embodied in Lebia's highly integrated war system and the Night Watch's rules.
It is not a passive defense, but a combination of holding firm and actively annihilating.
Because they have no way to retreat here, they will be completely surrounded forever.
And it requires steadfast adherence.
In other words, both the provision of supplies and the rotation of personnel are major problems.
If these void creatures keep coming in waves without stopping, the pressure will be immense.
At this point, external forces are needed to distribute the pressure a little. Providing just a little breathing space would be a good thing for every fortress.
That was the purpose of these cavalry units: to achieve their objectives using their agility.
The cavalry ventured deep into the occupied territory with the aim of dividing and dispersing the swarms of void creatures.
This disrupts their siege rhythm of the node fortresses, reduces the pressure on the defending troops, and creates an opportunity for long-range firepower to annihilate the enemy.
This is something that can be done very easily.
Because the void creatures have no command, they act solely on instinct, but because of their sheer numbers, even on mere instinct, they are capable of easily engulfing the world.
What attracts them are the living things in this world.
A creature inside a fortress is not as good as a creature that runs past you.
Therefore, the cavalry, which naturally runs freely in the blank spaces of the network nodes and pulls and divides the space, can play a very good role.
This requires immense courage, meticulous coordination, and a real-time grasp of the battlefield situation.
But there is no shortage of these watchmen.
They have communication channels and a broad perspective.
They communicate with each other and react to the map situation in real time.
Even now, the route planning of the command center can be directly projected onto their personal maps.
It's like someone has drawn a guide line for you, and you just need to follow the guide line.
Through meticulous planning and rigorous execution.
These void creatures were thus divided, pulled, and twisted.
Data-driven rules are fully demonstrated in this regard, and are used to their fullest extent.
Any living being who witnesses this situation would have to call it art.
Focus your attention on one of the teams speeding across the purple wasteland.
The earth beneath their feet cracked, covered with a sticky purple filth and clusters of crystalline material that radiated an ominous light.
The air was filled with whispers of the void, those seductive and decadent sounds that were everywhere, constantly testing the knights' steely will.
The mounts they rode were chocobos, the long-standing symbol and fighting companion of the Night's Watch.
The Night's Watch's original and most widely adopted mount.
It's extremely useful.
Run, jump, swim, and glide across all terrains.
As long as you roam the earth, there will be no situation that is unsuitable.
However, after countless wars, various breeding enhancements, and optimizations and iterations of data-driven rules, the Chocobo has now undergone a complete transformation.
The creatures they are riding are assault-type chocobos specifically bred to adapt to the brutal void battlefield.
Its most essential ability is to be unaffected by the pollution of the void; simply put, it has a dull soul.
Furthermore, their bodies possess inherent attributes of order and holy light, making them highly effective at resisting the power of the void.
Under these conditions, there are many other reasons.
Its physiological structure has undergone significant changes.
The feathers on their bodies have largely degenerated, replaced by a composite armor that covers their entire body and consists of tough feathers that grow from the gaps in their scales.
It has stronger self-protection against attacks from the void and dangerous battlefields.
Its head is thicker and its beak is as sharp as a golden spear; fierce pecking is also one of its attack methods.
The muscular lower limbs and broad feet give it terrifying explosive power and stability, enhancing its all-terrain running ability and strong endurance.
A long, flexible tail with a bone hammer at the end serves as both a rudder for high-speed attacks and a deadly weapon for close combat. The wings on its back have not disappeared but have been enhanced and modified, with sharp talons extending from the wingtips for tearing attacks during charges or jumps.
Moreover, during gliding, it can change direction or fly further by adjusting policies, and can even temporarily stay airborne by high-intensity jumps.
At this moment, these "war raptors," with an average level of ten, are clad in specially made rune-covered scales and still display unparalleled mobility and impact in the eroded lands of the void.
These brave creatures can carry their masters and rampage through the void without fear.
Their courage is beyond question.
The knights riding on them wore medium armor that combined protection and agility. They were hunters and dividers on the battlefield, and heavy armor would hinder their vital mobility.
Just as they were speeding along, trying to tear open a gap, purple mist rolled ahead, and a large group of distorted void creatures suddenly surged out, cutting off their path.
"Spike formation! Break through!"
The leading knight captain, a valiant warrior whose aura had reached the twelfth level of legend, gave the order without hesitation, his voice piercing through the void.
The team instantly shrank, with the captain as the spearhead, and charged towards the monstrous torrent blocking their path with undiminished speed.
"Captain! There's a legendary fluctuation ahead! In the 'Baron's' territory."
This is the name given to a void force that they separated from.
One of the team members urgently issued a warning.
"Leave it to us!"
One of the team's legendary level 11 players stepped forward, forming a two-way arrow with the captain.
The two forces collided with a deafening roar!
In an instant, a breathtaking scene unfolded.
When all the assault chocobos charge, a cone-shaped, semi-transparent energy barrier condenses in front of their beaks.
This barrier is not merely defensive; it is more like an armor-piercing spike, ruthlessly piercing into the enemy ranks with the ferocious impact of the chocobos.
Blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the sounds of bones shattering were incessant.
Chocobos are incredibly ferocious, with their thick legs and claws stomping and their long tails sweeping left and right like steel whips, their tailbone hammers easily crushing the skulls of low-level void creatures.
The knights on their backs, with flashing swords and raining down arrows, worked in perfect coordination, instantly carving a bloody path through the dense enemy ranks.
Those selected for the cavalry were all among the best of the Night's Watch.
Their professions all involve riding, making them very capable of handling such raids and breakouts with ease.
Not to mention that they have accumulated a wealth of experience during this period.
However, a real threat soon followed.
A legendary Void creature lurking on the flank, resembling a hybrid of a giant insect and an octopus, with eight tentacles ending in sharp bone blades thrashing about.
He suddenly sprang up from the monster horde, his bone blade tearing through the air as he slashed straight at the captain.
A fierce glint flashed in the captain's eyes, and his twin swords were instantly drawn!
The flashing blades transformed into an impenetrable net of death.
"Clang clang clang clang!"
A piercing clang of metal rang out as the legendary Void Bone Blade was instantly severed.
Meanwhile, his legendary archer teammate had already drawn his bow and nocked an arrow.
The moment the bowstring twanged, the arrow seemed to merge into space, and in the next instant, it appeared out of thin air between the compound eyes of that legendary creature in the void.
puff!
The arrow pierced deeply, but was not fatal.
The monster let out a painful scream.
However, the "order pollution" power contained within the arrow, highly condensed through data-driven rules, suddenly erupted.
The energy of order, representing the will of the Aegira world, is like the most deadly virus, frantically eroding the chaotic essence of void creatures.
A faint, indistinct "health bar" representing the monster's life status instantly appeared on its surface.
This is a sign that data-driven rules are taking effect against a formidable opponent.
That's right, this attack forcibly divides the target using the power of data.
Datafication has the ability to integrate underlying rules and make them usable.
Just like how they display various attributes related to their life points.
This demonstrates the power of data to integrate underlying rules.
Datafication cannot be a fundamental rule, but it can affect the underlying fundamental rules.
Kana's blessing allows legendary warriors to use this method.
This legendary archer's expertise lies precisely in data processing.
It is one of the rare types among all legends.
After all, data-driven rules are somewhat abstract, and most of them are derived from geniuses who became Night's Watch members in their childhood.
"die!"
Seizing this fleeting opening, the captain crossed his twin swords and unleashed a massive, perfectly condensed cross-shaped slash of fighting spirit.
Wherever the sword energy passed, all the low-level void creatures that blocked its path were reduced to scattered purple dust before they could even scream.
The deadly cross slash struck precisely at the legendary void creature, whose movements were stiffened by the corruption and erosion of order.
scoff!
Like a hot knife slicing through grease, the massive body was neatly divided into four pieces!
The health bar that had just appeared above his head was completely wiped out the moment the cross slash hit him.
The purple light, symbolizing life, was completely extinguished, and the powerful legendary creature of the void perished.
The roads are open again.
Without pausing, the team charged out of the encirclement like a red-hot dagger piercing butter.
But the enraged void creatures would not give up.
They converged into a surging purple torrent, relentlessly pursuing the cavalry's tail.
This elite Lebian cavalry, on the occupied land, were like the most agile bullfighters, leaving behind an ever-growing "death trail" composed of countless mad monsters.
Such scenes are commonplace in the third of Lebia that has been swallowed up.
Brave cavalry units, like pebbles thrown into a purple mud pit, stirred up chaotic ripples.
Their mission is to cut, pull, and divert, using themselves as bait to break up the siege of the Void creatures on the node fortress, buy the defending node a chance to breathe, and create opportunities for long-range firepower to cover and kill.
This tactic is highly effective, but it comes at an extremely high cost.
It requires knights to have an iron will to resist the constant erosion of the Void Whispers.
It requires team members to have a near-telepathic understanding and tacit cooperation.
It requires accurate judgment of the battlefield situation and meticulous route planning.
If you're not careful, the bait will become the prey, and the one in chaos will be yourself, not the enemy.
High in the sky, two figures stood watching the battle below with cold indifference.
The King of Resistance and the one-armed Destruction Ape witnessed it all.
The resilience, organization, and the art of war that perfectly blended defense and offensive tactics displayed by the Lebia continent once again exceeded their expectations, and like cold needles, it kept piercing the heart of the King of Resistance, which was filled with resentment and unwillingness.
This "hard nut to crack" seems to be even more difficult to break than they imagined. (End of Chapter)