Sanctuary Paradise

Chapter 857 The Temperors (Part 1)

Anomaly Characteristics: 7 hours, 36 minutes, and 09 seconds after the outbreak.

Cassino Route, World Fortress.

"Report: The abyssal creatures in area H-03 have been suppressed, and the abyssal rifts have been completely destroyed!"

"Report: The abyssal creatures in area G-07 have been completely suppressed..."

"Report, area E-01..."

Inside the enormous command center, reports came incessantly from the loudspeaker. In the main seat, a short, stout man wearing round-framed glasses rested his fingers on his chin, squinting as he stared at the pitch-black star map before him.

"Report: The abyssal creatures in area F-06 have been suppressed, and the abyssal rifts have been completely destroyed!"

Finally, as the last red area on the main screen turned azure blue, the major, seated quietly in the main seat, gently adjusted his glasses and spoke:

"Sister Chris, please send your avatars to areas E-09, F-04, F-05, G-02, and H-02. There are wounded people there who need your help."

"Ah... okay, please wait a moment, Commander, I'll be right there."

As the slightly distracted reply fell, the blindfolded nun standing to the side snapped back to reality as if she had been awakened. She spoke quickly in a gentle voice with a hint of apology, then her spiritual energy surged, and several wisps of flame appeared in her palm, which was making a prayer gesture. In the instant she landed, she transformed into a series of identical figures, who skillfully stepped into the spatial portals.

"Phew... Sorry, Commander, I was a little distracted just now."

After sending out a sufficient number of avatars, the blindfolded nun breathed a sigh of relief and apologized to the major beside her. At the same time, she couldn't help but glance at the huge star map projected in the command room, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"It's alright. But Sister Chris, is there something you'd like to ask?"

"This……"

"If there's anything you want to know, just say it. After all, as a member of the legion, I also have an obligation to meet your needs."

The major, adjusting his glasses, spoke with a light, airy smile, his face showing no sign of the tension that would cause the battle lines to crumble. The blindfolded nun, upon hearing this, hesitated for several seconds before looking at the star map before speaking:

"In that case, I'll take the liberty of asking, Commander, do you intend to send those contractors out?"

The gentle inquiry silenced the command room for a few seconds before being broken by the major's soft chuckle:

"Oh? That's an interesting point of view. Does Your Excellency think I deliberately put them in danger?"

"No, I don't think the Commander would do such a thing. I'm just curious about your intentions. After all, judging from your arrangements for the legion, you clearly considered the current situation long ago."

The blindfolded nun gently shook her head, gazing at the star map before her. Her eyes, hidden behind the black cloth, were lowered as she stared at the locations and layouts of the contractors before they lost contact, and spoke in silence.

"Hehe, I didn't expect Your Excellency to be so perceptive about these matters. It seems you also have a talent for warfare." Faced with the nun's question, the major simply chuckled softly, narrowed his eyes, sized her up for a moment, and then spoke without any hesitation:

"Indeed, I do not deny the purpose of deploying those contractors at the strongholds, but I never intended for them to die meaninglessly in this war."

“Your Excellency, you should also remember that my principle is that every soldier’s life is precious, because I am very convinced that, for the soldiers, whether they win or lose, as long as they survive, their experience will be useful in the next, and the next, and the next next war!”

"but--"

As the major spoke, his tone suddenly shifted, and his previously somewhat amiable smile turned into a chilling half-smile, while the gaze in his dark golden pupils became deep and unfathomable.

"All of this is based on the premise that they are qualified as soldiers, as warriors on the battlefield."

“Sister, you should still remember what Black Sword Sir said before he left, right? In my opinion, he was right.”

"For us, this war is a great fire that burns across the entire battlefield, a fire that can distinguish good timber from rotten wood, and sift out true gold from mud and sand."

"It will refine the true gold, burn away the ashes that cannot stand on the battlefield, and let us see clearly who can adapt to this battlefield and who is only suitable to cower in the rear."

The gentle, almost eerie, narration ended, followed by the major's smile, which silenced the blindfolded nun below.

"Does Your Excellency believe that such tempering is too harsh for them?" the major countered.

"……Do not."

The blindfolded nun gently shook her head, gazing at the enormous star map before her, and murmured:
"Actually, I understand perfectly well that what you said, Commander, is correct. Since they are standing here, they must demonstrate the qualifications be commensurate with them."

"But... I sometimes wonder, if I, as a nun, could have guided them better, would their chances of surviving this fire have been higher?"

"However, to be honest, I still have some doubts about what you just said. Given the level of danger in this crisis, you..."

The blindfolded nun spoke, gazing at the star map before her. A hint of doubt flickered in her eyes beneath the black cloth. Just then—

[Hint: Elemental interlayer bridging reaction detected; determining the reaction source...]

[Confirmation complete. The current elemental interlayer bridging reaction source is: Reef Area 127]

Om-! !

A cold, mechanical voice suddenly boomed from the command room. On the previously pitch-black star map, an unusually bright, pure white dot suddenly lit up from the top, spreading out pure white branches like tree roots, exploring the coordinates that were swallowed by darkness. This startled the blindfolded nun below.

This is……

"Oh, it's already started? It seems that Argo encountered some unexpected event that forced him to move forward sooner?"

Before the blindfolded nun could speak, the major's light voice rang out in her ear. The short, stout man in military uniform, wearing glasses, squinted at the point of light that suddenly broke through the darkness on the star map and smiled as if he had expected this scene.

Argo...kun?

Wait, why is it a title that refers to a specific person?
And this signal... given that even the elemental barrier has fallen, why would something like this happen at Reef 127...?

"Commander, what exactly is going on...?"

"It's just a little preparation, Sister. For a qualified commander, placing each soldier in the most suitable position is an essential basic skill."

The major pushed up his glasses and said with a smile, the dark golden glint in his eyes giving him an unfathomable depth.

"However, even so, the fact that he was able to make a decision in such a short time, whether by accident or by his own initiative, shows that Lord Argo's potential in this area is even more outstanding than I expected!"

As the light, airy words faded, the blindfolded nun standing to the side watched this scene with her mouth slightly agape, her mind churning with a torrent of thoughts.

"Commander, did you... foresee all of this?"

"Foresight? Heh, Sister, you overestimate me. I'm just a commander; how could I possibly foresee the future?"

"What you are seeing now is nothing more than the result of a successful battle strategy and maneuvering on the battlefield."

"Game theory..."

"Yes, it's a game of strategy. After all, who can say they have a sure chance of winning in the face of the abyss? Therefore, all I can do is trust Black Sword Sir's judgment and ability, and make a small plan based on that!"

"Well, to explain in more detail, Sister, what do you think is more important for those who step onto this battlefield and want to be tempered in this fire, compared to personal strength, luck, strategy...?"

"The answer is the first ray of dawn rising from the darkness."

...Reef No. 127, the area where the No. 4 Abyss Suppression Device is located.

boom!
Blazing pure white flames shot into the sky from the earth, and with the swing of short blades, they cleaved the abyssal creatures that stood in their way in half.

"call--!!"

Scorching breath escaped from the mouth of the white-haired youth, whose body was engulfed in flames, rising as wisps of white smoke that swept across the battlefield along with his incredibly fast movements.

How long has it been?
One minute, ten minutes, twenty minutes, or even longer?
Bell Craney felt like he had lost track of time.

Or perhaps, they are forgetting everything superfluous.

Disordered thoughts, roars that cloud judgment, meaningless booming sounds...

For some reason, all of these things are moving away at a rapid pace.

All that remained were the increasingly clear images of the enemies before him, the ever-lightening blade in his hand, and his increasingly lucid thoughts and mind.

Focus.

You only need to focus on the one thing at hand.

Discard all unnecessary thoughts and distractions.

There's no need to think about how much time has passed.

There's no need to consider whether contractors at other outposts have responded to the elemental bridging request.

Because there's no need to doubt something like this from the very beginning.

It's not that he trusts contractors he doesn't know.

It's not that he, being just a member of the top tier, has the ability to persuade those who have decided to hide and wait for rescue with just a few simple words.

But -

He was absolutely certain that the figure he trusted in his memory, and the commander the other party recognized... would never have let them all sink into this place without any preparation!

Boom-! ! !
[Note: Bridge successful. The current element layer bridge target is: Reef 115 Outpost - Abyss Suppression Device No. 1]

……

World Fortress, Blackthorn Main Ship Command Room.

[Hint: Elemental interlayer bridging reaction detected; determining the reaction source...]

[Confirmation complete. The current elemental interlayer bridging reaction source is: Reef Area 115]

"Looks like it's officially begun."

A smiling voice fell from the driver's seat. In the command room, the short, stout man with glasses looked at the newly lit spot of light and said as if he had expected it.

[Hint: Elemental interlayer bridging reaction detected; determining the reaction source...]

[Confirmation complete. The current elemental interlayer bridging reaction source is: Reef Area 121]

[Hint: Detecting...]

【...】

[Hint: Detect...]

[Confirmed. Current elemental interlayer bridging reaction is: Reef No. 95 Outpost]

Om-! !

A series of notification sounds rang out from the broadcast. On the huge star map, as the light at the top lit up, the previously pitch-black star map seemed to be stimulated, with one light spot after another lighting up one after another.

So fast……

Below the star map, the blindfolded nun gazed at the thin white line that was visibly carving out a winding, meandering path from the darkness, and her thoughts were stirred.

"Nordland, Bard, Flowing Ice, Purple Fairy, Little Cloud, Saka, Void, Ghost Sand... Hmm, just as expected, these are all very promising candidates."

"Once the first person lights a fire, they will boldly take that step, offering their own torches to continue the flame lit by the other person."

In the main seat, the major looked at the lit outposts as if he were on a roster, and smiled as he named the corresponding contractors. The blindfolded nun paused slightly upon hearing this, instantly realizing that the other party had already planned this entire route from the very beginning.

Starting with the white-haired youth whom both the Black Sword Master and the other side favored, the first flame was lit, and then each person carefully arranged by the other side took turns to ensure that it could continue.

"Refining..."

The blindfolded nun murmured to herself, gazing at the ray of dawn that was gradually breaking through the darkness on the star map, her thoughts slowly clearing.

Undoubtedly, this was a selection process, or rather, a trial conducted by the other party using the calamity predicted in the divination.

Just as the other party said, only under the raging fire that has spread to the entire battlefield can we see more clearly who has the potential to move forward in the darkness, and who, even surrounded by light, dares not take a single step forward.

This is a high-stakes gamble, a gamble on one's courage.

Without the courage to take control of one's own destiny, without responding to others in the darkness, and without the magnanimity to risk one's life for those who come after, it would be impossible to achieve the other party's plan.

It is to deliberately light a fire in the darkness, gambling on whether those behind them can carry it to the fortress, in order to gain a sliver of initiative in this disaster.

Or should they hide underground and eke out a living, waiting in agony for an unknown rescue, leaving their lives entirely in the hands of others?

The other party had considered this point to the extreme from the very beginning.

"If that's the case, even if Lord Black Sword and the others can't return in time, this disaster will still..."

“No, Sister, it’s not as easy as you think. Have you forgotten? I told you, this is a game full of uncertainties.”

"And since it's a game, it means that situations beyond our expectations can happen at any time. For example, a seed that wasn't initially favored might unexpectedly ignite a flame, or..."

"The pure gold that should have shone brightest has been unexpectedly covered in dust."

Pfft!
The words, tinged with solemnity, caused the blindfolded nun's heart to skip a beat. A sense of foreboding washed over her. She immediately looked at the star map before her, and then…

—The thin, long white lines that were struggling to spread across the star chart suddenly stopped at some point.

"Smiling Nightmare, Lan, Satan, Dark Ghost... and, well, that one I personally think is very promising, Lord of the Underworld."

As the calm narration faded, the short, stout man with glasses, seated at the main seat, gazed at the elemental barriers that had abruptly ended midway, and at several of the strongholds that had fallen from them. He narrowed his eyes and murmured:
"It seems... they've encountered some unexpected difficulties in their area?"

……

(End of this chapter)