Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 1260: Chapter 1259: Reaction

The unique blue energy reaction, the location and timing of its appearance, and most importantly, the response of the two young dragons—all these pieces together made Gawain instantly realize what the Sentinel Captain had discovered: Deep Blue Demon Marks.

"Where exactly did you find this stuff?" Melita instantly reacted, staring straight at the towering Sentinel Captain. "How much more is there?"

"These marks were discovered south of the outpost and in a segment of hills extending eastward into the inland region. They aren’t numerous but are distributed very densely, with the area roughly forming a band," the Sentinel Captain promptly replied. "They’re primarily affecting the rocks, but similar marks were found on some metal remnants. Beyond that, it’s hard to say—the area exceeds our current control range."

Nuoletta stood nearby, listening with a serious expression until she couldn’t hold back and said to Melita, "What do you think? These marks..."

Melita did not speak but directed her gaze at Gawain, who was frowning in thought. Upon noticing Melita’s gaze, he slowly broke the silence, "These marks are likely ’evidence’ of the changes happening in the Deep Blue Webway. It’s possible that the resonance among the young dragons and their agitation towards the western coast stems from this, but we currently have no evidence linking the Deep Blue Demon Marks with the Tower of the Inversion Tide... I can’t fathom any connection between them."

Instinctively, Melita looked towards the towering presence of the tower standing on the sea under the solemn night sky, "So, we’re going to head towards that tower, aren’t we?"

"Not ’we’—you and Nuoletta are to temporarily remain on the Winter, along with other Dragonkin warriors," Gawain shook his head. "Amber and I will go in first."

"Just the two of you?" Melita immediately widened her eyes. "The situation inside the tower is unknown; are you sure you don’t need Nuoletta and me as guards? Moreover..."

"The greatest danger in that tower isn’t just a simple ’threat of force,’ but the pollution of the Inversion Tide," Gawain interrupted Melita, shaking his head. "Both Amber and I have resistance to the gods’ corrosion. Besides... I don’t know if Heragor or Andar have mentioned to you, but I personally have some connection with the Voyager’s legacy. And apart from the two of us, ordinary people approaching that tower all run the risk of being polluted—this isn’t something that can be solved by sheer strength alone."

He laughed slightly at this point, his tone carrying confidence, "And speaking of ’strength’... don’t forget my own prowess is legendary. There’s no need for me to be protected while exploring the tower."

"So you all will stay as support, keeping an eye on the happenings near the tower and the information Amber and I relay back. If anything actually comes out of that tower... make sure you intercept it."

"... Alright," Melita thought for a moment, realizing she had no grounds to object and simply nodded lightly. "Then we’ll stay on the Winter waiting for your news. But how do you and Amber plan to get there? How will you send the information back? We’re still six nautical miles from that tower, and neither Winter nor the Dragon Herd can get closer..."

"You think we haven’t prepared for that?" Gawain couldn’t help but laugh, gazing towards a certain area near the Winter’s bridge. "The Winter is equipped with Dragon Cavalry Fighters capable of reconnaissance and escort. Amber and I will fly one of those over. As for communication with Winter... this ship is equipped with a powerful Magic Web Broadcasting Device. Amber and I will take the Magic Web Terminal with us. Six nautical miles... is still within the reception range of Winter’s onboard communications. Of course, once inside the tower, unforeseen circumstances may disrupt communications—that’s something we’ll have to adapt to."

"Got it." Melita nodded lightly but just as Gawain and Amber were about to set off, the Great Adventurer Modir, who had been silently standing beside Victoria, suddenly stepped forward to break the silence, "Hey, aren’t you going to take me along? I have to go with you!"

Gawain couldn’t help but glance at the Great Adventurer: "You better stay here for now; after all, you also run the risk of being polluted."

There was more he didn’t say: If you’re polluted again, there might not be a Dragon God to help extend your life.

However, Modir had obviously considered this issue meticulously; the old man shook his head resolutely, "If I were to stay on the ship during such a crucial moment, why would I have come along in the first place? I must go with you. I understand the risks involved, but given my current state, I’m willing to take a bit of a risk—I came all this way from the Loren Continent for this very day."

Gawain silently gazed into the Great Adventurer’s eyes, while the latter met his gaze confidently. After more than ten seconds of this standoff, Gawain glanced at Duchess Victoria standing beside Modir, but found nothing in her eyes... though she slightly nodded as the Ice Duchess.

"Alright," Gawain finally nodded. "If there’s anything you need, prepare now; we take off after fifteen minutes."

...

The deep humming sound broke the silence under the night sky as the lightweight Dragon Rider Aircraft for reconnaissance skimmed over the sea illuminated by starlight, cutting through the cold wind towards the distant tower. The lights on the aircraft’s shell and navigation lights emitted a glow in the darkness, outlining the magical construct’s silhouette, resembling a phantom ghost weaving through the night.

Amber sat at her position, yet couldn’t sit still. She leaned her body, almost pressing her face against the crystal window on the side, excitedly watching the night scene outside while babbling endlessly, "Hey! I didn’t expect you would actually fly this! Initially, when you mentioned flying it, I thought you were joking. But you’re flying it smoothly; when did you learn..."

"Nonsense," Gawain held the control stick of the aircraft in his hand, feeling the mechanical feedback this magic-guided craft transmitted to him. Unable to resist, he glanced at the so-called disgrace of the alliance beside him, "Would I randomly make plans if I couldn’t fly it? You think flying this thing works like your shadow manipulation with a simple ’I reckon’ approach? Without proper control, this thing would fall!"

"Oh, oh, oh—" Amber responded while nodding, not knowing how many words she actually heard. However, sitting right behind Gawain, Modir was silent all along. This Great Adventurer seemed contemplative, observing the cockpit’s various devices since the aircraft took off, examining the changes outside the window, and the internal magic power flow. Seeing this scene, even Amber in her excited state couldn’t help but ask, "Hey, old man, what’s your take?"

"... This is truly an incredible thing," Modir finally spoke, his tone filled with admiration, "Earlier, when I saw the mechanical ship driven by magical mechanisms, I already felt the magic guide technology was astonishing. Yet this legendary flying machine is even more intricate than mechanical ships... Its anti-gravity and propulsion structures don’t align with anything in the human magic system, yet they work together harmoniously... Incredible, absolutely incredible..."

The Great Adventurer used several "incredible" expressions to convey his feelings, then remained silent for a moment before speaking again with thoughtful consideration, "If only I had such a machine during my adventures, although I can fly, this machine is evidently more tireless, faster, and can reach heights beyond a mage’s flying spell... Plus, it can carry more supplies..."

"In fact, we are already utilizing various specially modified ’Dragon Cavalry’ for surveying work," Amber immediately chimed in. "Several departments at the Administrative Office have corresponding survey teams for mapping, minerals, forests, hydrology, flora and fauna, and coastal ecological groups. They’re equipped with magic-guided vehicles, anti-gravity aircraft, or mechanical ships, with logistical support from the Administrative Office, supported by fully staffed professional teams and various equipment. Recently, we even employed a few sea demons as deep-sea advisors, and the Administrative Office is even planning to explore the underwater ecology near Northport..."

Amber just habitually started a topic and kept babbling on endlessly. However, Modir, who was listening nearby, showed an extremely serious and solemn expression. The Great Adventurer was fully focused, as if imagining what a systematic, large-scale exploration project backed by national power would be like. Finally, a somewhat complex smile appeared on his face, and he muttered to himself softly, "How nice... this era is really different..."

The cabin of the Flying Machine was momentarily quiet, with only the low hum of the Magic Guide Device resonating from the surroundings. Suddenly, Gawain’s voice broke the silence, "We’ve arrived, I’m looking for a place to land."

Amber’s attention was instantly drawn back outside. She pressed herself hard against the window, staring at the scenery with wide eyes, her mouth slowly opening, making an exaggerated sound, "...Wow!!"

The imposing silhouette of the huge tower enveloped the small Flying Machine. The ancient miracle standing on the surface of this planet for nearly two million years had enlarged into a form that could hardly be perceived fully at this distance. Amber tried hard to observe the outline of the giant tower, but under the night sky, she only saw an "arc-shaped barrier" that seemed to extend endlessly upwards, covered with lines and protrusions she couldn’t comprehend.

Gawain activated additional light to assist in locating a suitable landing spot. He saw unknown alloy ground extending below, dotted with buildings that seemed like warehouses or factories on a roughly disc-shaped artificial platform. He also saw structures resembling roads and connecting rails, which supposedly ancient transportation facilities connected these scattered buildings on the platform. Ultimately, all were linked to the vicinity of the tower’s base.

The towering tower above obscured the starlight, casting spectacular yet unsettling shadows on the platform and nearby sea surface. The light reconnaissance Flying Machine quietly passed through these shadows, and while seeking a landing spot, Gawain imagined and envisioned the scene when this was first built during the Voyager’s brief stay on the planet, picturing what these ancient facilities would have looked like.

Would those factories have operated day and night? Would there be administrators living on Steel Island? Where would the items produced here be sent? Could there be space shuttles slicing through the firmament and landing on some part of this Steel Ground, perhaps a star port?

He felt his heart pounding, blood circulation speeding up, and he had to consciously control himself to suppress the excitement emerging from the depths of his heart, knowing where this emotion stemmed from.

This was his first personal contact with a complete Voyager’s relic, and it was such a large-scale relic. Some indescribable "resonance" awoke in his heart, making him feel a sense of connection with the tower.

Amber noticed Gawain’s subtle changes in breathing and gaze. She showed a slightly worried expression, seemingly wanting to inquire about the situation, but before she could speak, a slight tremor suddenly came from beneath, as the Flying Machine landed on a metal platform. Gawain’s voice reached her and Modir’s ears: "We’ve landed."

Gawain let out a deep breath, opened the communication device on the control panel, and with a slight static noise, the signal between the Flying Machine and Winter was successfully connected. Byron’s figure appeared in a small holographic projection, his voice fairly clear, "Majesty, how are things on your side?"

"We have safely landed in the southwestern corner of the inner ring area of ’Steel Island,’" Gawain said, looking out the porthole. "From my observation, there should be an entrance nearby that leads to the interior of the tower. We will investigate on the island afterward, and I will keep the recon aircraft’s Magic Web Terminal on and set it to relay mode, keeping this communication line open."

"Yes, Majesty!"

"Let’s go," Gawain nodded, looking at Amber beside him and Modir behind him. "Let’s witness this miraculous creation left by the ancients."

The canopy of the Dragon Cavalry aircraft opened. Amber and Modir stepped out of the cabin one after another, standing on this Steel Ground which, despite enduring nearly two million years, showed no signs of weathering or decay. Gawain then finally left, adjusting the communication system of the Dragon Cavalry Fighter to relay mode before leaving — in this way, the aircraft could serve as a communication "base station," allowing the portable Magic Web Terminal he carried to maintain contact with Winter, addressing the problem of small power and weak signal of portable Magic Web Terminals.

"My God..." Amber widened her eyes, looking at the silent Steel Giant Island. "How was this thing made...? Could mortal races really create something like this?"

Gawain gently patted her shoulder, "In the eyes of the ancients ten thousand years ago, our mechanical bridge standing on White River would be considered a miraculous thing, causing them to exclaim like you do."

Amber showed a thoughtful expression, while Gawain looked at Modir standing on his other side, "How do you feel? Does anything come to mind?"

"...No," Modir slowly shook his head. "I feel nothing, nor do I recall anything, but... I vaguely feel something familiar about this place, a kind of... familiarity I can’t describe."

"Kind of expected," Gawain nodded lightly, gazing at the darkness in the distance. They were now standing on a straight, flat road, flanked by rows of half-meter-high metal posts, still bearing traces of some traffic markers on the ground. "Walk along this road, I saw from above that it ends at the foot of the tower."

Saying this, he began to walk forward, with Amber and Modir following closely behind.

"Buzzing—"

Some light buzzing sounds suddenly reached Gawain’s ears at this moment.

In an instant, the three of them assumed a defensive posture, Gawain casually drew the Sword of Pioneers brought for this mission, Modir somehow had a Combat Staff in hand, and Amber had already stepped into a Shadow Rift with one leg. But in the next second, Gawain saw a change in the dark in those half-meter-high metal posts on either side of the road—

Their tops quietly opened, and bright white light spheres rose from them, ascending to several meters in the air. Under the glow of the spheres, the previously darkness-covered road suddenly lit up like daylight.

They were streetlights.

They activated automatically.