reincarnation npc, but tomorrow's ark

……

So, when Bai Ye walked out of the city of Lentinium, left the port, and passed through the abandoned settlement ruins outside the city, he suddenly stopped and stood still.

Bai Ye raised his head and looked at the high-speed warship cluster in the distance, which resembled a steel behemoth. This was Victoria's most elite force.

The next moment, accompanied by a thunderous roar in the distance, shells rained down on his location.

The first volley of shells missed him, landing some distance behind him. The shells created huge craters in the ground, sending dust billowing everywhere. The earth trembled from the devastating bombardment.

This is the first test shot, and it usually doesn't result in a successful hit.

Subsequently, the artillerymen of the high-speed warships will begin to adjust their firing parameters, and the second round of shelling will be the truly lethal attack.

At Bai Ye's speed, he probably wouldn't even have had time to reload the shells before he arrived in front of the high-speed warship during the first round of test firings.

This time, however, Bai Ye walked at a leisurely pace. Even as the earth trembled and shells rained down on him, Bai Ye remained steady, as if it were just a light drizzle.

Then, the second round of shelling came. This time, the gunners aimed at the area where Bai Ye was located, or rather, they covered the entire area where he was located.

"Even an ant can't escape it."

This intense barrage of artillery fire can be seen as a re-enactment of Victoria's past glory—although that glory has long since faded.

……

Just when everyone on the high-speed warship thought that tiny figure would be engulfed by the artillery fire, they suddenly froze. Some even stood up from their seats, their eyes wide and mouths agape in astonishment.

They saw the man raise his hand.

As a result, all the shells flying towards him froze in mid-air, the high-speed spinning shells trembling violently but unable to move an inch. It was as if the air had solidified, turning into some kind of solid.

"What's this……?"

Undoubtedly, this is some kind of Originium Arts, capable of blocking the firepower of high-speed warships. However, it is more visually striking than a simple shield.

Next, the high-speed warship unleashed several more rounds of fire at the man, but it did nothing except increase the number of shells hovering in mid-air.

The man continued walking at a leisurely pace, gradually approaching the Duke's allied forces' high-speed warship formation.

He then lowered his hand, leaving countless shells behind him. The high-energy explosives within these shells, upon impact, activated their internal magical circuits, detonating the explosives. Several rounds of artillery fire exploded simultaneously, the violent shockwaves causing the earth to tremble once more…

Bai Ye didn't turn around. The shockwave whipped up a fierce wind, but it mellowed into a gentle breeze before reaching him, softly fluttering the hem of his clothes. In the blink of an eye, he broke through the high-speed warship's interception defenses.

Before him stood a colossal steel monster, the most powerful high-speed warship on this land. Even before it started, its engines roared deafeningly. Once it hurtled forward, nothing could stand in its way; all would be crushed instantly.

In fact, this wasn't the first time Bai Ye had seen a high-speed warship.

The central plot of the core city is actually a high-speed warship, and its command tower is also the mast of the high-speed warship.

However, it is clear that the "Gastroll" in front of us is more magnificent, after all, it symbolizes the fall of the Gallo Empire and the rise of the Duke of Wellington.

This is the Duke of Wellington's proudest high-speed warship, and also the flagship of this Duke's allied forces.

Bai Ye ignored the explosion behind him, then lightly leaped onto the deck of the warship.

With a gentle wave of his hand, the soldiers guarding the deck collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. Bai Ye walked past them, ignoring their struggles, and went straight into the bridge.

This is the command center of the high-speed warships and the core of the entire Duke's Alliance. However, Bai Ye forcibly tore open the metal door, like an uninvited guest.

The soldiers along the way lowered their heads when they saw Bai Ye, not daring to meet his gaze or step forward to stop him. This was because Bai Ye hadn't used his high speed when approaching the high-speed warship; instead, he had displayed his power in an exaggerated, almost theatrical way.

The performance was clearly a success. At this moment, Bai Ye exuded an undeniable aura and pressure. Although he was just one person and had been surrounded by the entire Duke's coalition army when he stepped onto the high-speed warship, the situation seemed to be the opposite—"You are already surrounded by me."

-------------------------------------

The bridge command room of the high-speed warship had a simple layout. The Duke of Wellington was a nobleman who had fought his way up from the ranks, so he wasn't as ostentatious as other nobles. There was only simple decoration here, which perfectly matched the atmosphere of a combat command room, filled with a somber and austere layout.

All signs indicate that this is the heart of the war, not a vacation retreat. This warship is here to wage war.

Therefore, while everyone was shocked and panicked by the sudden appearance of the White Night, only the "Iron Duke" remained seated and unmoved.

He showed no sign of panic, but instead stared intently at the young man who had suddenly burst into the command room.

Chapter 85 This is My War

"What a... madman." Duke Kester looked at the young man on the terminal who was approaching the high-speed warship alone, his pipe having fallen to the ground at some point.

The Duke of Caesar was a magnificent noblewoman. Although she was of some age, she was well-maintained and still possessed a beautiful appearance and charm.

She was indeed one of the most powerful people in Victoria's life.

However, at this moment, she lost her composure.

In fact, the Duke of Caesar was the one in the Dukes' alliance who knew the most about the internal situation of Lontinim, and she had almost taken control of the overall situation.

That was true, at least until the White Nights appeared.

The Duke of Caesar directly supported Allardy, the last heir of the already declining Cumberland family, and used him as his agent to collect and control the affairs and intelligence of Lentinium.

Bai Ye must have met Alede once; she was the first girl to recognize the steam armor and the national sword "Breath of Kings" that Bai Ye had taken out. Alede's father was the most trusted and loyal minister of Victoria's last king, Aslan.

Therefore, during the coup of 1072, this minister and the king were captured by Parliamentarian troops in the Western Hall of the Holy Kings and hanged together. With this, the Cumberland family was virtually wiped out. The last heir, Allard, became a pawn of the Duke of Caesar.

In fact, even the Londinium Citizens' Self-Defense Army was funded and formed by the Duke of Caesar; she was the true supporter behind this army. Otherwise, how could the citizens of Londinium, relying solely on their own strength and their disorganized nature, have managed to wage a guerrilla war against the Sarkaz for so long? This is not something that can be accomplished with mere enthusiasm and sacrifice.

……

The Duke of Caesar originally had a great chance of winning, after all, she had detailed information about Lontinim and controlled the internal resistance forces, making her a formidable competitor.

However, as White Night entered Londinium, she seemed to sense something was wrong. First, the Shards collapsed and was destroyed, then the Sarkaz collapsed, and then she gradually lost control of the Londinium Self-Salvation Army. She can't even contact Alde anymore.

Meanwhile, her spy, "Grey Hat," brought her even worse news—the national sword "Breath of Kings" had already been stolen and displayed before the citizens of Londinium.

Now, the legendary story of "someone wielding the national sword to cut through the natural disaster and protect Lentinium" has spread among the citizens, and at the same time, the Duke's plot to bring in the Sarkaz to destroy the Steam Knights has also become widely known.

The city was filled with distrust of the nobles, a far cry from the imagined welcoming of the royal army with food and drink. The citizens even began to hate and reject the ducal coalition, regarding them as invaders.

The person who changed all of this was the young man who came alone to their high-speed warship, Bai Ye...

-------------------------------------

Bai Ye stood before "Iron Duke" Wellington, looking at the elderly man.

How to describe this duke? Bai Ye felt that he was an old lion who commanded respect without being angry, and although he was old, he still had no more vigor. He had gray hair and beard, and he looked at Bai Ye, who dared to meet his gaze, with sharp eyes.

Clearly, he didn't care about the power Bai Ye displayed, or rather, he wasn't panicked by this powerful force.

He stood shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor of Ursus, he witnessed the magic of the Witch King, he saw the greatest monarchs, and he dismantled the largest modern cities.

How could such an existence be easily shaken?

At least for now, the power that Bai Ye has shown is not enough to shake him.

……

Bai Ye raised his head to meet his gaze, his eyes calm. Unlike the exaggerated pressure and sharpness that seemed to pierce one's skin when he walked in earlier, Bai Ye suddenly restrained all his imposing aura when he entered the command room.

The journey there had been an exaggerated performance and demonstration, but once he actually stepped onto the warship, a chilling calm descended. It was as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

His gaze met the Duke of Wellington's with an incredibly calm one, like the surface of a still sea, yet beneath that surface lay a deep ocean that encompassed all things and surging undercurrents.

Wellington glanced at Bai Ye's right hand. Although there was no sword at his side, his instincts told him that this young man was a rare swordsman in this world.

Wellington had only ever seen such aura in a few martial arts masters in Yan Kingdom. Aura is not necessarily more powerful the sharper it is; everything has its limits, and extreme rigidity is easily broken.

Only those Yan Kingdom masters who are close to enlightenment can comprehend the martial arts philosophy behind it. Their aura becomes increasingly profound, but they also restrain the sharpness that penetrates all things. Some even become more and more inconspicuous, almost ordinary.

These martial arts masters were all old monsters, but to Wellington's surprise, the person standing before him was indeed a young man. This was the first time the "Death Knell of the Empire" had been moved.

……

"Young man, what brings you here?" the Duke of Wellington asked preemptively.

“I have come for peace,” Bai Ye said softly. “The war is over, Your Grace. And your army is still arrayed outside Londinium.”

This is not a request, not a solicitation of opinions, and not an argument. It is merely a statement.

Yes, Bai Ye simply arrived aboard the dukes' high-speed warships and casually informed them of the matter.

The Duke of Wellington shook his head:

"The war has not yet begun, and it will not end."

"My arrival marks the end of the war." Bai Ye smiled. "I don't like bargaining. If you are willing to cease hostilities, we can sit down and sign an agreement to achieve precious peace; if you want to continue, then what follows is a war between me and you."

My war with you.

Although it sounded like a ridiculous joke, and not even a threat, the atmosphere in the command room was incredibly tense.

Bai Ye declared war on the entire Dukes' coalition. This was a war he waged alone, yet no one mocked his overestimation of his abilities, for he was now only a step away from the commander of this coalition, the Duke of Wellington.

He traversed the vast army, boarded the flagship, entered the command center, and stood before the Duke of Wellington. He only needed to extend his hand to take the life of this most powerful duke in Victoria.

This also means that he can end this war in the blink of an eye if he wants to.

Chapter 86 Checkmate

"Well, in your Victorian language, that's what you call a checkmate."

Only now did Bai Ye show some signs of youthful energy. He snapped his fingers, his expression becoming relaxed and cheerful.

In the command room, all eyes were fixed on the Duke of Wellington. Their expressions varied, their gazes anxious, and a growing sense of unease settled over them. They awaited the Duke's words.

This was unprecedented; before the war even began, their commander's safety was already threatened. And Bai Ye's previously theatrical "marching" was now putting immense pressure on everyone.

Of course, it wasn't just those in the command room who were paying close attention to the situation; the other seven dukes were also extremely concerned about how things were progressing.

As the commander-in-chief, the Duke of Wellington needed to issue orders to the entire Duke's coalition forces at all times, so they had a complete communication system and a unified communication channel.

Earlier, in order to issue the order to fire the artillery, the Duke of Wellington had turned on the communicator, and he had not turned it off after White Night boarded the ship. Therefore, the communication equipment in the command room faithfully relayed everything that was happening inside to the other dukes.

As a result, the pressure not only reached the command center, but also spread to the various dukes.

Of course, their pressure couldn't possibly be the so-called war and coalition forces; they didn't care about those at all. Some dukes even secretly cheered, wishing that Bai Ye would suddenly rise up and really kill this old Wellington.

If he could simply die like this, it would save everyone a lot of trouble. Many nobles had had enough of this old man; his power was far too great, and his strength too immense. This man, as the former embodiment of the empire's will, had always been superior to everyone else. Many feared him and resented him.

Among the dukes, there were indeed many who thought this way.

Moreover, the dukes are all well aware of what each other wants, and it would be a good thing to eliminate a strong competitor before victory. Furthermore, old Wellington possesses more than just the so-called right to compete; he also commands an extremely elite army, rich lands and industrial areas, and the flagship "Gastroll" before him.

If old Wellington were really killed, they could fake a few cries and then quickly divide everything up.

The Duke's death is not a bad thing. On this land, no one is immune to death, like Regent Theresis, or the former Demon King Theresia, or even the Blood Demon Lord killed by White Night.

As for the so-called ceasefire, isn't it just letting a group of Sarkaz troops go? What's wrong with letting them go? For the dukes, there's no loss, since they have no grudge against these Sarkaz anyway.

……

"Humph."

The Duke of Wellington snorted coldly, then shut down the communication channel. He looked at Bai Ye with a sneer:

“Death alone is not enough to convince me.”

“After I die, my army will still advance, following my will, and crush the Sarkaz's ranks. As for the other dukes, I know very well what they want. And why would I go out in the rain without an umbrella?”

“Young man, I may be old, but that is not a reason for you to threaten me with death.”

Bai Ye looked at the old duke who had once brutally defeated various famous generals and powerful nations. At this moment, he displayed the demeanor and bearing of a strongman.

However, Bai Ye remained unmoved. He said:

"Your army is nothing compared to mine. The armor of your high-speed warships is not much stronger than the shell of the Shards. Your army is probably no match for the Cataclysmic Cloud. The war I am referring to is not a battle between kings, but a battle between me and your entire fleet."

He then added one more point:

"Furthermore, I can roughly guess what you want. What I'd like to ask is, where is Miss Abrahana now? Could you please introduce me?"

"..." The Duke of Wellington fell silent.

Bai Ye's two sentences contained a lot of information. He vaguely revealed part of the connection between himself and the destruction of the Shard Tower and the cataclysmic event, and then he used Abrahana, the red dragon, to threaten old Wellington.

Incidentally, old Wellington was also well aware that another red dragon, Abrahina's sister Raphsini, was also in Bai Ye's hands. If that were the case, Bai Ye would essentially have two descendants of King Gael under his control at once.

Now, Duke Wellington has to gamble on whether White Night can truly achieve what he just claimed: to fight against high-speed warships on his own.

……

In truth, Bai Ye himself hadn't expected that his accidental act of saving the red dragon Raphsini would come in handy here. And he also hadn't anticipated that the relationship between Duke Wellington and Abrahina seemed somewhat different from what he had previously imagined.

Wellington was not using Abrahina; the red dragon was not a pawn for the Duke, nor a tool to achieve some ambition. Quite the opposite, Wellington had indeed stood behind Abrahina, becoming her strong supporter and even swearing allegiance to her.

Although Bai Ye was still standing alone atop the enemy's flagship, he appeared completely unfazed. Conversely, the Duke, who outwardly held the advantage, seemed anxious and filled with doubt.