Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1381 Have we finally arrived?

When you see the massive, scar-like entrance to the mine on the ground, and the fortifications surrounded by anti-aircraft ballistae and Jihadist flags, it means you have arrived at the Jihadist base, the fortress of black and fire, the ancient land of Italos—in the oldest legends of the province of Atoliga, it is the place where heroes wielded their swords, where evil dragons slumbered, and whose blood nourished the underground treasures. Italos is the name of that great hero, and this place is a holy land under His protection.

However, all sacred legends are ultimately defeated by reality. The story of the hero slaying the dragon gradually faded away with the rising and setting of the sun over a hundred centuries. The inhabitants of this land had long forgotten its glory in their struggles against the harsh natural environment, terrifying sandstorms, and even ferocious beasts. Until the imperial army invaded, ruthlessly and resolutely incorporating this land, which buried countless treasures, into its territory, without ever caring whether its original owners agreed or what their demands were.

The shadow of Yah loomed overhead like another demonic dragon. A young man, inheriting the hero's will, roared, and the never-ending flames of war raged across the entire land of Atorica, burning away all shackles and banners. Today, as you stand on the red sand and brown rocks, you can almost hear the roars and cries of that time.

Is this the legendary return? No, the Jihadist army's slogan at the time was "Rebirth through Bloodshed".

The blood of the dragon nourished this land, giving birth to the astonishing wealth of the Atorica underworld, but it only fell into the hands of outsiders and did nothing to benefit the locals; so why not cut off the head of the second dragon and let the ancient land of Atorica be reborn under the nourishment of dragon blood?
Young people's impression of the Jihad Army is limited to what they read in books, but they still have a deep impression of this slogan.

In particular, written words by humans cannot be entirely free of bias and prejudice. Whether it's the verses of bards or the records in history books, both were subject to the supervision and control of the Yalas United Empire, and their descriptions of the Holy War Army were filled with slander and prejudice. Even other countries were not much more impartial in their attitudes; after all, they were the ruling class, while the Holy War Army were the rebels, and the conflict between them was natural and irreconcilable.

The jihadist army itself lacks the ability to influence public opinion, and the cult of the Creator Goddess and the Assyrian paradise it relies on are completely unable to provide any assistance in this regard. Therefore, although young people read books, they never completely believe what is said in the books; only by seeing with their own eyes, hearing with their own ears, and even experiencing it firsthand can they draw the most impartial conclusions.

His first impression of the Feather Mine was undoubtedly shocking.

Standing on the edge of Cloud Whale Sky Island and looking down, the first thing that catches the eye is the enormous, bottomless mine entrances on the ground, as if a giant god had carved a tunnel into the earth's core with a spear, then surrounded by countless scaffolding, platforms, and minecart tracks. Both the platforms and the minecarts are piled high with mountains of gangue and waste. This grand and magnificent construction project was not built overnight, but is a miracle forged by generations of people working together. Some parts belong to the Holy War Army, simple, rough, and full of patchwork, but they are cheap and sturdy. Others belong to the Empire, with their massive steel and concrete derricks, elevator platforms, and pipelines standing tall, but the Empire's eagle emblem has been removed and replaced with the symbol of a holy sword piercing a dragon's wing, the symbol of the Holy War Army.

It is said that the Fesser Mine is astonishingly deep at 8,412 meters and is divided into three fault zones: the flat zone, the shallow zone, and the deep zone. Each fault zone is further subdivided into 24 mining areas, which are connected by at least 128 tunnels, tracks, and pipelines. Interspersed among these are rest areas for miners, warehouses for storing raw ore, and barracks for stationing troops. The cost of excavation, reinforcement, and construction alone would have been enough to demolish and rebuild the capital city of Atoliga province more than three times.

Some have exaggeratedly called it the "Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps to Hell," but once you see it with your own eyes, you'll find that the exaggeration isn't just imagination, but an unbelievable reality. Some historians have described the Jihadist uprising as a bottom-up resistance movement, perhaps not simply referring to social class, but also carrying intriguing real-world significance. When you look down at this enormous mine, like a hollowed-out cavern, and the densely packed fortifications attached to it, and imagine how the workers, miners, and even criminals of the deep mines, led by heroes, fought, slaughtered, fought, and drove away, gradually encroaching upon and occupying this "Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps to Hell," you might understand why the sparks of the Jihadist uprising could so quickly sweep across the entire empire, and why so many people remained devoted to it and followed it to the death after its defeat.

Chasing darkness upwards until standing on the ground and seeing the light, what were their feelings at that moment? Lin Ge couldn't fathom it, but couldn't help feeling a little emotional.

However, the Holy War Army was not actually the first imperial resistance organization to appear in the province of Atoliga.

As the region with the richest mineral resources in the entire province and an independent administrative area integrating mining, smelting and processing, the Feather Mine had more than 20,000 miners at its peak. Not to mention the overseers responsible for supervising the project, the garrisoned legions responsible for preparing for emergencies, the merchants and craftsmen who provided services to these people, their families, and even the miners and criminals who were not usually considered residents but were treated as slaves. Under the shadow of this extremely distorted prosperity was the darkest period for the people of the province. Faced with the empire's brutal oppression, plunder, killing and indifference, they could only resist with their bodies and blood. It was not even enough to call it resistance; it was just rushing to their deaths one after another.

Numerous uprisings, large and small, sprang up as a result. One would be suppressed, and ten more would emerge from the ashes the next. While these uprisings couldn't fundamentally alter the empire's rule politically, they hindered external propaganda and disrupted production in the large mining region. To prevent this, the then provincial governor, who was also appointed by the emperor to oversee all mineral mining affairs in Atoliga province, ordered the construction of a massive fortress in the large mining area to protect against external attacks. This fortress later became known as the "unbreakable city," the Blackfire Fortress.

This fortress wasn't built on the ground, but rather clinging to the steepest, most insurmountable rock face at the edge of the mine, like black fangs growing out of the mountain itself. From the high vantage point of Linger, the Blackfire Fortress's overall silhouette presented an extremely cold and austere geometric beauty. Its main structure was built from dark concrete infused with obsidian powder, a style favored by Imperial engineering, and thick, rust-proofed steel plates. The fortress complex, layered and staggered, was embedded in the cliff face, its overall tone a somber iron gray and matte black, evoking images of a catastrophic beast emerging from the bottomless mine, perhaps the legendary dragon that spilled blood on the province of Atoliga.

Even more striking were the numerous, modified large anti-aircraft ballistae deployed on various high points and important buildings throughout the fortress, along with several anti-aircraft towers that appeared to be made of magical technology and shimmered with a ghostly blue light. Their muzzles were warily pointed towards the sky, but they showed no hostility towards the Cloud Whale Sky Island. Soldiers dressed in a mix of uniforms—partly Imperial, partly militia or miner style, but all wearing Jihadist scarves—patrolled the fortress's fortifications.

The fortress, deemed "impossible to breach from the outside," was ultimately captured from within by the very entity it was meant to suppress, becoming a crucial stronghold for the Holy War Army in its fight against the Imperial Army. This contrast evokes a poignant sense of the unpredictability of life. The great mines did not cease operation due to the uprising; on the contrary, the Holy War Army needed the precious ores and by-products extracted from them even more than the Imperials. Whether for forging armor, refining gunpowder, or exchanging supplies, these were resources desperately needed by the Holy War Army. Therefore, as the Cloud Whale Sky Island slowly descended under Yanor's guidance, the passengers could still hear the mechanical roar and faint knocking sounds emanating from deep underground, but the air once thick with despair seemed to have been replaced by a tense yet hopeful fighting spirit.

The Cloud Whale Sky Island slowly descended over a vast, cleared mining plain within the designated guidance area. As the island's shadow gradually enveloped the ground, a group of people could be seen emerging from a sturdy command post building adorned with the banner of the Holy War Army. Leading them was a stern-faced middle-aged man. They looked up at the enormous cloud whale, their eyes filled with shock and astonishment, but not fear.

On Cloud Whale Sky Island, Yanor and his group were guests and received special treatment, but the Feather Mine was already his home turf, so it was natural for him, as the "host," to introduce the situation to his guests.

“These are all core officers of the Holy War Army’s ground forces. The one in the lead is Lord Kailo, the theater commander of the ground forces. Under normal circumstances, he is fully responsible for the defense of Blackfire Fortress and the several Holy War Army units still operating on the ground.” Arnorton paused for a moment, then put it another way: “He is my superior officer.”

Unlike the Yaras United Empire, whose complex organizational structure and names seemed designed to flaunt its long history, the Holy War Army's organization was simple yet clear. The spiritual leader and overall head of all affairs was naturally Lady Cheryl. Below her were four zone commanders, each responsible for overall affairs in the surface, flat, shallow, and deep well areas, based on the fault zones of the Feather Mine. Other independent departments included the Engineer Regiment, composed of former miners and engineers responsible for tunnel excavation, reinforcement, trap placement, equipment maintenance, and modification; and the Armory, composed of a small number of educated civilian personnel responsible for material distribution, wounded care, and logistical management. In other words, aside from technology and logistics, everything else fell under the jurisdiction of the zone commanders.

Due to the relatively unfavorable situation in the war, and the inability to recapture the province of Atoliga in one fell swoop, Leader Cheryl has set the most urgent task for the Jihad Army as consolidating its foundation and seeking development. To achieve this goal, apart from the ground forces which remain active, occasionally engaging the Imperial Army in battles for strategic locations, the other three forces have retreated into their respective underground defense zones. Under Leader Cheryl's leadership, they are consolidating and strengthening the infrastructure of the large mines, striving to make them the Jihad Army's strongest backing.

Although there were rumors that they were digging for something extraordinary underground—for example, the Imperials often slandered the Holy War Army for conducting evil and bloody human sacrifices in the Great Mine, attempting to awaken a sleeping evil god and overthrow the entire world—no one believed them.

Incidentally, those who don't believe it often don't disbelieve the existence of the evil god, or that the Holy War Army would summon an evil god (similar events are not uncommon in the Eastern Continent), but rather they don't believe that the evil god is powerful enough to overturn the world. They mostly believe that the Empire is just spreading alarmist rumors and exaggerating the contradictions.

Arnor was the first to step off the Cloud Whale Sky Island, followed closely by his companions, their steps light and practiced. He waved to the group that had come to greet him, then turned to the side and gestured "please" to Ling and the others behind him.

Linger breathed in the slightly dry air, which carried the scent of metal and dust, as he stepped onto this legendary land, the gravel beneath his feet rough and firm. He followed behind Arnor toward the middle-aged man known as the war zone commander, Kairo.

Only when he got closer could Linge observe the commander more clearly. He was around fifty years old, his face like rock eroded by wind and sand, etched with the lines of perseverance and weariness. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, scrutinizing every stranger who came down from the sky island with the caution and assessment characteristic of a soldier. He wore a uniform modified from that of a mid-level Imperial officer, but the shoulder boards and insignia had been completely removed, replaced by the Holy Sword Dragon Wing Emblem embroidered on his left arm and a faded dark red scarf around his neck. His posture was as straight as a javelin, revealing a discipline honed over the years.

“Commander Kylo.” Arnor bowed first, his tone respectful but not humble, “As ordered by Lady Cheryl, the mission is complete, and the guests have arrived safely.”

Kylo's gaze lingered briefly on Arnor, and he nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Then, his gaze moved past Arnor and landed directly on Ling. The person who had spoken with Arnor in the Goddess Church last time was Medien, but this time it was Ling, because Medien was the core figure of the Heavenly Heart Church, while Ling was the core figure of the Cloud Whale Sky Island.

“Welcome to Blackfire Fortress, an outpost of the Feather Mine. I am Kylo, ​​in charge of its defense.” His voice was deep and hoarse, like rocks rubbing against each other, cutting straight to the point without any unnecessary pleasantries. “I have read Arnor’s report, and I am aware of your purpose in coming. I had intended to hold a simple welcoming ceremony for you, but I suppose you do not need it, and Lady Cheryl has been waiting ever since. She has been hoping to see you ever since she received the news.”

Lin Ge looked up and glanced at the Blackfire Fortress that was so close. Only when he saw it up close did he realize that it had an even more suffocating sense of oppression, like a hardened man with a heart of stone: "In this fortress?"

“No.” Kylo shook his head: “On the twenty-first floor underground, in the Palace area.”

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