Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 654 - 653: The Body of the Fake God

The plains were permeated with the smell of scorched earth, a remnant of raging flames, and the dry, hot winds from the eastern area stirred up sand and dust, battering against the tank treads’ armor. Twelve vehicles formed a vigilant marching formation, advancing into the already sinking sunset, crushing the charred ground of the Plains of the Holy Spirits.

Commander Xineer was in the command vehicle, observing the situation in the distance through the periscope.

This was a reconnaissance unit—a highly formidable, resilient unit with nine Warhammer main battle tanks and three Steel Ambassador combat vehicles, plus dozens of experienced and loyal soldiers. Under normal circumstances, such a unit could crush an old-fashioned noble lord’s army tens of times its number and break a fortress protected by a middle-ranked or below Transcendent. For a ”reconnaissance unit,” it was exceedingly strong, yet on this burnt battlefield, Xineer still had to exercise utmost caution.

Because the plains were filled with wandering Crystal Cluster Giants, and he and his unit had entered an unpurified zone.

Around Sorinburg, this was the area where the Crystal Cluster Giants ravaged most severely, and the scars suffered by the land and towns were naturally more tragic. Along the way, Xineer saw numerous collapsed and abandoned city walls and deserted farms, the opulent homes built by the rich were reduced to ruins, and once-precious fertile fields lay in devastation—while they retained their sanity, the Crystal Cluster Giants had had some semblance of order, but since succumbing to madness, they began to destroy everything in their path, leaving virtually nothing intact after they gathered.

The vibration from the engine running below him transmitted up, providing Xineer with enough security coming from the heavy and sturdy steel machine. Just a few months ago, he was merely a novice technician new to Magic-Guide Devices. After a short period of intensive training, he was sent to the northern battlefield. It was the battlefield pressure and real combat experience that honed his skills, allowing him to swiftly become the unit commander. For a newly-formed and emergency-trained tank unit like theirs, commanders who quickly rose through the ranks in the battlefield weren’t rare.

Xineer moved his eyes away from the periscope, letting the observer take the position while he went to the vehicle-mounted communication station. ”Stay alert, we are getting close.”

For lower and middle-level command nodes and ordinary tanks, the vehicle-mounted communication station was a simplified Magic Web terminal—devoid of the Projection Crystal to reduce costs, capable only of transmitting voice signals over a limited range, akin to the most basic communication spell. Yet, even such simplified equipment still played a crucial role on the battlefield.

Responses came from each vehicle, and the reconnaissance unit composed of twelve vehicles slightly reduced their speed. The three Steel Ambassadors adjusted their positions forward to ensure that the emergency barrier enhancer could timely cover the entire convoy, while Xineer pushed open the slanted armor plate above, sticking out half of his head for direct observation of the plains.

This action might look dangerous, but Xineer’s experience told him that it wasn’t a significant issue: The ”Warhammer-I’s” defense primarily depended on the barrier system, this layer of barrier was stronger than steel, and the tank’s armor was merely an ”alternative option” for limited protection should the barrier fail. In situations requiring visual observation, sticking his head out of the vehicle was a viable option—if attack came, the barrier would protect him, and if the attack could pierce the barrier in one blow, hiding behind the armor plate would also be meaningless.

In the field of view ahead, that faintly sanctified white light was already clearly visible, discernible even without any auxiliary equipment, with its peculiar halos manifesting in the air. The intense malice and latent madness contained within that light had also become stronger than before, so strong that it could make an ordinary person involuntarily tremble.

Xineer was unclear about what he had to face, as he was merely executing orders, but the unbelievable power harbored within that light was enough to put anyone on alert, making him realize he was confronting some of the most perilous ”secrets” of the Transcendent realm.

Fortunately, in this era, even ordinary people had ways to deal with the Transcendent realm.

He pulled his head back, calming his turbulent emotions, before turning to order: ”Activate the Mind Protection System!”

”Yes, all vehicles activate mind protection!”

Accompanied by the slight hum of magic power operation, at different seats within the vehicle, on the surfaces of periscopes and observation windows, some originally invisible mystical magic symbols brightened as they were charged. These symbols, winding and twisting, belonged to none of humanity’s known magic symbol systems. In fact, none of the various systems on tanks could control their operation. The power spine could only charge these symbols mixed with magic-conducting materials, making them glow and appear, but just this ”appearance” seemed to have incredible effects.

With the emergence of these mysterious, light-blue patterns throughout the interior, Xineer quickly felt his mood calming, with faint waves of ocean sounds gently reaching him, imbued with a lucidity, invigorating, and uplifting power that dispelled his previous anxiety and underlying fears. Not only that, but he also felt somewhat joyful...

This was the Mind Protection System, newly installed on the tanks by Mage Technicians recently. Xineer wasn’t familiar with the principles of this system, but he had vaguely heard that the device was related to some ”technical cooperation project” at the rear, and its purpose was to protect soldiers’ minds from spiritual attacks in the Transcendent realm. It certainly seemed effective now.

The system, however, had its limits—once operational for too long, the soothing power released by the Mind Protection System could turn into another kind of mental pollution, with users inevitably entering an excited and joyful state, sometimes engaging in irrational actions due to the ”call of the ocean.” Technical personnel at the rear were attempting to eliminate or reduce these negative effects, but it seemed they hadn’t resolved the issue yet.

”Keep an eye on the protection system timer,” Xineer reminded his subordinates, then ordered the troop to continue advancing, ”Approach that light.”

Protected by the Mind Protection System, Xineer’s reconnaissance team continued to push forward. The hazy light became more distinct, and the source of the light subtly emerged.

After crossing over a collapsed barrier, Xineer saw it.

The creature that was both divine and terrifying, pure yet blasphemous.

The Giant Stag shrouded in white brilliance was constantly undergoing flesh disintegration and reformation, an Artificial God.

”Ancestors...” A soldier, shaken, looked out through the front observation window at the Giant Stag standing quietly in the ruins, voice trembling slightly. ”What is that?”

”Without a doubt, a monster,” Xineer, equally astonished, but maintaining his calmness, said, ”All other teams, four vehicles per group, approach separately.”

The convoy immediately executed the pre-arranged plan, forming groups with three ”Warhammer-I” and one ”Steel Ambassador,” cautiously approaching the distant giant stag, which seemed oblivious, allowing these uninvited guests to get closer.

However, Xineer remembered his superiors’ orders, and ordered the convoy to stop while still at a distance from the aura surrounding the giant stag, halting several hundred meters away.

The giant stag remained motionless, as if an empty shell, gazing into the distance. Transcendent light enveloped its body, contrasting sharply with its ominous scars and deformed marks, like an impressionist painting standing between heaven and earth, surreal yet possessing a contradictory beauty.

”We can’t get any closer, it’s too strange, something’s off with this thing,” Xineer frowned. ”Activate the Memory Crystal outside, keep some image data, each crew back away...”

The tank engines activated, tracks turning, pulling the heavy vehicles backward slowly. Xineer watched the giant stag cautiously and suddenly noticed its previously still eyes subtly shift.

Perhaps a state of dormancy had just ended, or maybe these vehicles had finally caught the attention of this monster—it moved.

As the engine of one vehicle roared, the giant stag slowly lowered its head, crystal-like eyes fixed on the retreating tank, a gaze brewing a storm of madness beneath its calmness.

Xineer reacted almost instantly, slamming the communicator button and shouting, ”Accelerate! Retreat!!”

The tank engines surged from a low rumble to a roar, all tanks sharply turning and accelerating, and at that moment, the stag’s eyes were suddenly overcome by a blood-red hue. Amidst a furious roar like countless screams and whispers combined, a blinding light formed between its antlers, surrounded by countless lightning bolts, transforming into a spear that shot straight at one of the tank squads.

The Steel Ambassador instantly activated the shield augmenter on board, a translucent energy field enveloped the entire squad just in time. The energy spear hit almost simultaneously—a harsh screech followed by both shield and spear dissipating, and the magic crystal fixed atop the Steel Ambassador shattered explosively—

Immediately, a second energy spear rapidly formed, sweeping across the heavily damaged Steel Ambassador before anyone could react. Accompanied by a series of deafening explosions, the latter was instantly reduced to ashes.

All tanks turned at maximum speed, accelerating, rapidly retreating. The giant stag emitted a second chaotic roar and chased after the retreating reconnaissance team.

In that brief period, another tank suddenly fell behind, its shield flickering violently as if under invisible magical assault, and after a brief struggle, its shield extinguished entirely. A lush outgrowth of flowers and vibrant green vines rapidly spread from its metal crevices, wrapping the entire tank in mere seconds like a grave thriving with life, a frightening sight.

”Boom!” ”Boom Boom!!”

A series of continuous explosions rang out, the tanks turned their turrets, firing at the monstrous creature while retreating; with the proximity and considering its relatively large size, nearly all shells hit the target directly.

The sacred light around the stag surged violently, half the shells exploding prematurely before impact, while the rest struck its grotesquely mutated flesh. Xineer saw the monster’s flesh splatter, its already scarred body seemingly ready to shatter from repeated bombardments, yet the monster only staggered a few steps before roaring and continuing to pursue!!

The barrage left only small marks on its seemingly fragile and broken body, all of which healed immediately!!

”We probably completely enraged it...” a soldier shouted, ”It looks very, very, very angry!!”

”It wasn’t planning to get along with us even when it wasn’t angry—but you’re right, we did anger it!” Xineer shouted back, ”Spread the formation, prepare to drop thunder—”

At that moment, the terrifying stag suddenly emitted a different cry, abruptly halting. It roared, producing various indistinct and fearful sounds, its body undergoing grotesque changes: its torn flesh sometimes mended, sometimes separated; its surrounding light fluctuated between strong and dim; its crystal-like eyes alternated from blood-red to brilliant—

It seemed to be in an extremely unstable state, paused temporarily.

Xineer didn’t know what had happened, but he knew one thing—a chance had appeared.

The entire reconnaissance team quickly adjusted their direction, fleeing swiftly towards the distance.

...

In St. Soniel, Gawain was interrupted by an urgent communication during a meeting and hurriedly rushed to the study, seeing Maryland’s stern face floating in the holographic projection.

”Sir, it has appeared,” the former Rocky Ridges Fortress General, now the Iron Throne Commander, said in a deep voice, ”It’s a monster that looks like a stag—but as large as a castle.”