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The diary's owner was a warrior who had been stationed at this military fortress for a long time and had personally witnessed the White Witch of the Spring purifying the impurities.
The words conveyed nothing but fear and confusion, devoid of any joy at defeating the King of Filth. By then, they had all drunk the elixir of immortality, gaining near-immortal bodies like those of the Filth, and retaining their consciousness.
Such a thorn →※蝟4摺代！ ∷購.■：＿∏_」【△〇～Is one still considered human? Or is one merely a non-human being that cannot die?
...But if that weren't the case, this defensive line would probably have collapsed completely long ago.
However, they did not know at the time that their consciousness had only temporarily not dissipated... As time went by, the filthy and wild thoughts would eventually devour everything in their minds.
"Short-sighted, irresponsible, and unregulated drug development. No, this may not be related to the researchers, but simply stems from the stupidity of the decision-makers. They dared to put it into large-scale use immediately after obtaining preliminary results and before the specific risks had been identified..."
Is it 'adventurous spirit' or 'gambler's mentality'?
"Of course, I still tend to agree with the original assertion, namely, 'pure stupidity'."
Putting down his notebook, Fran remarked with great interest.
At the end of the fortress's corridor was a separate maintenance room, with a note pasted on it, its writing now faded but not stained with blood, and its contents still legible.
[This is the room of the knight "Wolf". Wolves are short-tempered and difficult to communicate with, so please don't disturb them unless absolutely necessary.]
For urgent matters, please speak to the Knight Commander.
"Wolf……"
Upon seeing this name, Haida's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were deep in thought.
The name "Wolf" felt strangely familiar to her. After all, in the Norrington occult community, it seemed that only she and her father, who was known as the Red Wolf, still held this title.
The wolves of the Meredith family are now seen by others as more like crippled, broken dogs, and no one calls them wolves anymore.
Upon entering the room, one sees a portrait painting depicting the White Priestess of the Spring hanging prominently on the wall, seemingly in her own handwriting. On the wooden table below sits a bracelet woven from unidentified flowers.
As Lily picked up the bracelet, a deep and distant longing gradually surfaced.
The Berserker "Wolf" fought alongside the White Witch of the Spring, protecting her in the war against the King of Corruption. He is not good with words, therefore he can only keep his feelings hidden deep within his heart, expressing them through his actions... (The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)
Perhaps no one would have imagined that a grumpy knight, an oddity in everyone's eyes, could weave such an exquisite snow flower bracelet.
Did that wolf rider fight here alongside his mother?
As Lily gently stroked the snow flower bracelet, she inexplicably formed a preliminary impression of the knight she had never met.
Fierce, volatile, but incredibly reliable.
……
As usual, Fran collected various notes, ancient stone tablets, and scattered amulet stones along the way. He continuously cleared away the undead formed by the soldiers, gradually advancing towards the upper levels of the fortress.
The biting wind, carrying gray-white snow, occasionally swept past my ears, creating a whistling sound.
Suddenly, Haida stopped in her tracks.
The nun heard... other discordant sounds mixed in with the sharp wind and snow, and they were rapidly approaching. It sounded like some kind of enormous bird flapping its wings.
As the approaching figure gradually became clearer, she witnessed the full appearance of what was approaching.
Judging from its appearance alone, it was a "dragon".
It waved its enormous, fleshy wings covered in membranes, sending a wave of gloomy, putrid stench over you. Although it had features that resembled a dragon, this creature was actually about the size of a human... completely incomparable to the remains of the Holy Heir Dragon that Haida had witnessed in "Future Norrington".
"The fusion property of filth is indeed interesting, capable of transcending the barriers of flesh and blood between species and forcibly fusing different objects together. However, whether it is a winged soldier or a humanoid dragon, there is a strange sense of perverse pleasure in it."
As a surgeon with profound knowledge of anatomy, Fran could perform in-depth analysis of the alien creature's skeletal and muscular structure using only basic visual observation. Without a doubt, this dragon-like undead's body was based on a human...
If the wings, dragon head, and claws are removed, the human features can be easily distinguished from the remaining parts.
“Speaking of ‘integration’… even in a border country, there might be a combination like a little girl and a dog, right?”
Thinking of this, Fran lightly touched his lower lip, as if trying to awaken a forgotten memory.
However, nothing was gained; instead, a vague sense of unease arose within me.
Faced with an enemy capable of flight, Haida immediately opted for the tactics commonly used by the Hunters… namely, suppressive fire. She drew her standard-issue firearm from her waist and began unleashing a torrent of ammunition at the dragon-like undead at top speed.
When, when, when.
With each shot, brass cartridge cases were ejected, landing on the brickwork with a clear, chiming sound. Lily also summoned the Dark Witch Elaine, who assisted the nun's suppressive fire with evocative bullets.
The wing's flesh membrane was pierced by the steel-core bullet. In the instant that the Corrupted Dragon lost its balance, Lily skillfully used "Reaching for the Moon" to bind its body with a spiderweb-like black biomass.
But the filthy demon still did not give up its struggle.
The bullet holes on its body quickly healed under the swirling filth, and its wings flapped vigorously, as if trying to use the immense lift to pull Lily into the air.
Sensing the enemy's intentions, Lily's gaze merely narrowed slightly, her expression remaining calm. It was as if the enemy's actions were exactly as she had anticipated.
Unbeknownst to her, she had already tied the other end of "Reaching for the Moon" to a pillar in the fortress. The struggle and stress of the rotten dragon's ascent provided the chain with the energy to store its elastic deformation...
The moment the corrupted dragon was exhausted, it was slammed to the ground with almost no resistance. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Haida stepped forward and plunged her sword into its spine, pinning it to the ground.
After confirming that the enemy's mobility had been completely disabled, the nun couldn't help but glance back at Lily.
Although only faint traces could be seen, what just happened did indeed resemble Dr. Fran's tactical style. It seems that her teachings and example over the years have probably "benefited" this young, inexperienced witch greatly... to the point that she can now even begin to apply what she has learned.
Of course, this is not necessarily a bad thing.
In the harsh environment of a borderland, perhaps only someone like Dr. Floran could guarantee his safety...←-♂
As Haida drew her sword, Lily began the purification process.
As expected, this dragon-shaped undead was once human before its complete corruption. Children not allowed to exist in the capital are sent to this fortress and trained to become knights... and he was one of them.
-
Upon arriving at the top rooftop of the fortress, used for observation, the first thing that catches the eye is a field of flowers that almost fills the entire field of vision.
Perhaps it's the snow flower's natural adaptation to the cold, or perhaps it's the influence and erosion of filth... but now this field of deep red, blood-like flowers is lush and vibrant, thriving. The branches and leaves are verdant, the petals bright, freely displaying the vitality of life.
A massive monument stood amidst the flower field, while a tall knight, wearing an unusual spiked helmet and equipped with claw-shaped fist blades, leaned against it. He silently gazed into the distance at the endless, hazy, gray-white snow, as if hoping to see the figure of an old friend emerge from it.
"...It seems that this is the wolf knight of Twin Fortress."
Standing silently in the flower field, bearing the name of the wolf, waiting for someone who would never return… Many of the knight’s characteristics inexplicably reminded Haida of her father. The chief hunter of the Funeral Court.
After the plague, although Yaheng became engrossed in hunting evil offspring and rarely returned to Norrington... he would always visit that flower garden whenever he returned to the Hunter's Headquarters. And he would also appear there at a specific time each year.
Heda once didn't know who her father was waiting for, but now she knows: it was to commemorate Viola, the medical officer who lost her life in the Great Plague. In a way, she was also her "mother" who was not related to her by blood.
"Gentlemen, please hand him over to me."
A sense of shared destiny stirred within Haida, and she slowly drew her power sword "Nirvana," walking towards the berserker knight "Wolf," surrounded by snow flowers. A relatively fair duel might be the only way she could show her respect to him.
Upon hearing this, Fran nodded slightly, indicating his tacit approval.
She then led Lily to a safe location, far from the battlefield, where she could observe the overall situation. Oh, this doctor always manages to find places like this…
A light breeze, fine snow, swaying crimson flowers, and two people also bearing the name of wolves. Perhaps it was some subtle stirring, or perhaps it was just a momentary selfishness, but whatever the reason, Haida wanted to enjoy this battle all to herself at this moment.
The sword's cry resounded like a bell, and the heartbeat was like a drumbeat.
Sensing the undisguised murderous intent emanating from the newcomer, the berserker "Wolf" immediately extended its claw-shaped fist blades and attacked the nun who dared to trample on the flower field. So tall, yet so swift, like a winter wolf in the snowy plains.
Swords flashed and clashed, touching and then separating... Once they regained their stance, the claws and swords would collide again, and the cycle would repeat itself.
Corroded and tainted by filth, the Berserker "Wolf's" claws had become almost fused with his flesh. So much so that they were able to barely withstand the slashing blows of the adamantine sword, preventing them from being instantly severed.
After a brief period of probing, the two sides clashed weapons, and neither retreated during the standoff.
Perhaps in the Wolf Knight's mind, he was still caught in the nightmarish, protracted battle of the Fortress Siege. The White Witch of the Spring, who had gone to the front lines, was beside him, and his fellow knights stationed there were behind him. He could not fall now…
But Haida also shared this determination.
With a sharp sound of something piercing through armor, the solidified gray sword shadow of the [Mechanized Spirit Body] pierced through the knight's body.
"rest in peace."
It is the duty of funeral maids to bestow eternal tranquility upon things that should not exist through death and silence.
The Berserker's tall, imposing body slowly collapsed, black filth gushing from his helmet like blood. As true death drew near, a fleeting glimmer of thought briefly crossed his mind.
Resentment, indignation, or unwillingness to leave? No, none of those.
"Flower Field...give it to her..."
In his final moments, the only thing he cared about was this flower field. The White Witch of the Spring had said she loved these flowers. If the flower field were still there when she came back, she would be happy.
Although we probably won't see each other again after this war ends.
Nine--
-
Happy Children's Day!
(I was sick for a day, so I'm one day short of perfect attendance this month, so sad.)
Chapter 162 Julius [The Frontier Country]
The Berserker "Wolf" of the Twin Fortress has rested in peace, and nearby lies the lifeless Little White Witch... This is the fifth. Gazing at yet another departed sister, Lily's expression turned somber, and a hint of doubt flickered in her eyes.
Why do all the older sisters look exactly like me?
Including their clothing and accessories, all the young priestesses were virtually indistinguishable. Even their spirits and the "feelings" they gave themselves were extremely similar. It was as if they were not conceived by a mother... but rather "creations" produced from a template.
The only one who seems slightly different is Fran.
Not only did she survive the rain of death, but she also had two living companions from a foreign land by her side, and she could wield the deep yellow flames that were powerful enough to scorch away the filth... Only now did she begin to understand why the Black Knight had said "full of mysteries" when he first met Fran.
-
Traveling south by carriage through the biting winds of the Twin Fortress mountains, the group finally arrived at the capital of a borderland after several days' journey. This city was home to the nation's finest knights and magicians, yet ultimately, it too could not escape its doom.
The knights may still be dutifully performing their duties, but they are unaware that the magicians who study filth are almost arrogantly dabbling in forbidden things, and are extremely arrogant in believing that this is a power that can be manipulated and used.
Yes, boldness and courage are indispensable when venturing into the unknown. But if one loses caution as a result... or becomes complacent about some preliminary achievements that are not yet fully under control, disaster will follow.
Similar to the outside world, the once bustling capital city was now shrouded in a depressing silence. The only sounds were the defiled corpses lingering in the places where they had lingered in life.
A dead land, a dead city, a dead country, where no life exists.
Since arriving here, Haida had felt a persistent sense of unease build up in her chest. She couldn't help but feel a little sentimental; no wonder Dr. Fran could remain calm no matter the situation or the scene she witnessed... because that was something she probably experienced every time she went on a house call.
As they ventured deeper into the capital, they encountered not only ghouls transformed from the corpses of soldiers and guards, but also former villagers from the cliffside village. In their minds, the capital should be the safest place... and so they all fled here with all their might.
However, the entire borderland was already shrouded in a torrential rain of death, with nowhere left to rest.
"call……"
In the dilapidated buildings of the residential area, the black knight pierced through a bloated, pig-like undead with a single sword strike, completely depriving it of any chance to retaliate. Although some traces of its former human origins could still be vaguely discerned, its livestock characteristics were far more obvious.
It's a hodgepodge and a fusion, almost like forcibly piecing together the flesh and blood of different species, with an odd sense of disharmony everywhere.
"Oh, every time I see such complex multi-species characteristics, it always reminds me of the melting pot... However, there is a difference between natural fusion and acquired combination. Moreover, the corrosive nature of filth is a transformation from life to death, and the two are completely different in principle."
After a brief comment, Fran summoned Lily to purify his soul.
Just as the doctor was about to leave, she noticed a dog sitting quietly outside the door. It maintained a remarkably docile posture, and despite being covered in filth, it showed no signs of aggression; in fact, a hint of clarity could be seen in its eyes.
puppy?
Upon seeing this unexpected visitor, Lily tilted her head slightly, somewhat puzzled. Nevertheless, she stepped forward and gently stroked its head, purifying the impurities contained within it.
As the dark filth was stripped away by the little white witch, the pale soul within its body was also extracted. Although its form was blurry and difficult to discern... the shape of a little girl could still be vaguely seen.
The girl was tainted and corrupted by the filthy rain, and the dog, to protect her, stayed by her side without leaving for a moment. In the end, their spirits and bodies merged into one, completely becoming one. The girl's consciousness was thus preserved and was not completely obliterated during incubation.
Is it a tragedy or a miracle? Probably both.
Seeing the scene before him, Fran narrowed his eyes slightly.
She roughly knew where her ominous premonition came from... Six... it was three, there really was a fusion of a little girl and a dog in the capital of the border country.
Although every mage studying body alchemy has come into contact with alien fusion to some extent, this situation is still too extreme and full of a kind of morbid sense of humor that is hard to accept.
Maintaining a remarkably efficient pace, Haida cleared away the unclean spirits in her path. Apart from the former royal knights who posed a greater challenge, most of the unclean creatures were former residents of the area and posed no threat to the nun.
As more and more notes and materials were collected along the way, the country's past research into filth gradually became clearer.
In addition to the existing "Magic Association," the royal family also secretly established a research institution called the "National Magicians' Guild." Its members are mostly magicians who have left the original association, as well as foreign scholars who are not afraid to dabble in taboo subjects.
Among them, the magician "Hypton," who has the deepest understanding of filth, is the core leader of the organization.
Initially, Phideon's research maintained the caution and composure of a scholar, with a systematic procedure for the project, and everything proceeded in an orderly manner.
But as the battle lines at Twin Fortress grew increasingly tense, the king's eager and greedy demands for his products, and later, his lover "Mirel" was corrupted... this originally composed researcher, under immense pressure, began to become increasingly radical, accelerating his research at any cost. He also agreed to put some still-developing experimental results into use.
For example, the so-called "elixir of immortality".