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Chapter 780
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Albert, after various optimizations, found that he simply couldn’t solve this problem—it was a vicious cycle.
To overcome the weakness of gargoyles instantly turning to stone when dispelled, artificial flesh and blood that could resist dispelling and purification was a necessary component. However, these organic materials had no life and couldn’t remain active in high altitudes and cold environments. Moreover, they might detach or be damaged during high-speed flight, thus requiring a sufficiently sturdy shell for encapsulation and fixation…
Whether wood or metal was used, neither could prevent lightning strikes from killing the fragile artificial flesh and blood within. If the petrification spell was used to cover it with a layer of stone, it would affect the gargoyle’s flight ability. Was there any way to use materials weighing less than ten kilograms to protect artificial flesh and blood, with a life force equivalent to that of a frog, from lightning strikes during high-altitude, high-speed flight, without affecting its agility?
The secret formula for his artificial flesh and blood, which could resist dispelling, purification, and curses, was to implant the brain and nerves of a frog into a thinly synthesized, uniformly covering layer of flesh on the gargoyle’s shell, giving it “independent life.”
He couldn’t solve this problem no matter what.
Should he publicize this problem and seek help from the Masters?
At the age of twenty-four, Albert, after several nights of painful deliberation, still chose to conceal it.
Because at that time… his status had continuously improved to the point where he no longer needed to conduct experiments himself… He was instantly relieved and decided to hand over this problem and responsibility entirely to the military’s professional testing personnel.
“If you find out, then you figure out how to solve it yourselves. Anyway, I’ve already done enough work. If you don’t find out, then it’s not my problem… In short, this ‘Armed Gargoyle’ is my independent invention, without any help or inspiration from any Master!”
It couldn’t be that all the time I spent before would become meaningless, Albert thought.
For a genius whose strength improved every year, the cause he had painstakingly maintained for a full two and a half years would lose all its meaning for such a ridiculous reason… He couldn’t imagine how frustrated he would be.
So, he ignored this issue and continued to optimize the problems he could.
It was like a child engrossed in drawing the blueprints of a tank he had “invented,” constantly equipping it with all sorts of ferocious weapons, turning it into the world’s most invincible fortress of firepower—
—until that brutal Ascension Ritual caused the always smiling child to suddenly lose his smile.
Not only did he witness another facet of “death”… one that was not artistic or philosophical, but a destruction filled with bloodshed and violence.
He also realized another problem he had overlooked—the energy consumption of gargoyles and the logistics of war.
As General Karl had said, he had never been a soldier, nor had he ever been to the battlefield.
He couldn’t realize what kind of impact a fragile, slow-moving, three to four-ton charging vehicle would have on logistics and marching speed—the solar charging vehicles, named “Stakes,” could automatically acquire a set of energy to support twelve gargoyles in continuous combat for one hour daily by converting the Power of the Path of Devotion bestowed by the sun.
To obtain more stored energy, one would need to charge through a “blood pool”—a Mana Pool the size of a bathtub, filled with “Mixture No. 3.” Such a Mana Pool could additionally support a set of gargoyles in continuous combat for four hours and allow them to continuously regenerate their lost stony and flesh bodies.
In Albert’s vision, this should have been enough.
Even if all the bullets were fired, it would only take a few minutes. Running four to five sorties a day would be more than sufficient. In an emergency, they could even fly for four to five hours forcibly—if they returned after each sortie, they probably couldn’t carry that much ammunition.
Until he actually went to the battlefield and experienced it from the opponent’s perspective.
—Those Star Antimony soldiers absolutely did not use the “Armed Gargoyles” according to his design! They didn’t advance together with the main army, providing high-frequency fire support from the air and resisting the fierce onslaught of the Gryphon Knights… Instead, they were directly dispatched to execute cross-terrain raids with the vanguard squads!
Albert had searched for a long time… until the very end, he never found any trace of the “Stakes”!
At such distances, it would take them over an hour, or even several hours, just to fly to the battlefield—therefore, they could only obtain additional propulsion by consuming flesh and souls.
The artificial shield troop, originally intended to counter Avalon’s Elite Troops and protect their own side, instead became battlefield butchers!
—When Avalon’s Gryphon Knights attacked Star Antimony, they only targeted high-value targets. Star Antimony soldiers might have been able to fight like them. But perhaps it was precisely because of his oversight that Star Antimony’s Elite Troops chose to massacre civilians…
Furthermore, even setting aside these issues, Avalon’s Grand Guardian immediately detected that these gargoyles feared lightning.
In other words, they were completely unable to resist the lightning charges of the Gryphon Knights… Star Antimony, having placed too much trust in the Armed Gargoyles, would likely collapse in an instant.
If he continued to research Armed Gargoyles, it would lead Star Antimony to wage a war of aggression. Indirectly causing the deaths of countless Avalon civilians, leading to Star Antimony’s tragic defeat. Driving both nations into the quagmire of war, causing countless deaths on battlefields akin to meat grinders—and that meat grinder was the “masterpiece” he had personally created, a great invention he had thought would be praised by later generations.
After emerging from that Ascension Ritual, Albert was depressed for a long time.
He never had a good night’s sleep up to this day…
Even now, he occasionally dreamt of the battlefield from that Ascension Ritual. He dreamt of flying severed arms, heads, and碎肉, and saw person after person with dismembered bodies.
If, at first, defecting to Eivass was merely the Mentor’s “dying wish.”
Then now, he truly wanted to go to Avalon.
Because Albert’s resignation encountered very significant resistance—resistance he had never imagined before.
Those who had previously smiled and welcomed him changed their flattering demeanor and attempted to threaten and confine him. If it weren’t for the pressure from the elders he was familiar with, he wouldn’t have been able to have himself and Aurora transferred to the Spirit Tower so easily. Even so, the elders warned Albert not to leave the Spirit Tower—he could be arrested and taken back at any moment.
If the “Secret Chamber” believed that Albert might defect, they would even arrest or assassinate him!
—How could this be!
Albert was furious at the time—he couldn’t possibly make weapons for the people of Avalon to kill his own companions! He just wanted a stable and peaceful research environment… and the undead he developed would still find ways to benefit the people of Star Antimony, Avalon, and everyone!
No matter how he explained that he no longer intended to create lethal undead, those people didn’t believe him. Even the elders who had rescued him just shook their heads in silence.
That attitude deeply hurt Albert and made him realize what he had done in the past.
—So, after several unsuccessful attempts to explain, Albert was also confined here by the elders of the Spirit Tower. They were unwilling to let Albert leave, nor were they willing to defect to Avalon.
Because the necromancers stated that only Star Antimony could tolerate the existence of necromancers. In other other countries—including the Avalon he yearned for, necromancy was regarded as the greatest blasphemy and evil.
Even if the Spirit Tower remained in Star Antimony, destined to be embroiled in war and exploited… they were still homeless.
Even in the Star Antimony Kingdom, which valued talent the most and had “Black Phase” as its prime minister, the Spirit Tower was still not allowed to enter the urban areas. They could only stop at the very edge of Leipzig City, and new necromancers were never allowed to publicly recruit or advertise; they had to learn about it themselves and voluntarily choose to enroll.
Precisely because of this, the Black Phase of this generation, despite hearing Professor Bruzvik’s “last words,” remained quite hesitant and unwilling to declare their allegiance; the first Black Phase had been in seclusion, so Albert couldn’t get in touch with him at all.
With the action speed of these Extraordinary of the Twilight Path, it was estimated that by the time they truly made up their minds, Valentine VIII might be long dead!
The result was that his words were as good as unsaid. Instead, he locked himself here.
To this day, perhaps only Eivass, who had become the Eternal Pope, could help him.
If they could work for the Pope, no one would suspect them, these necromancers… and as the Pope, Eivass should not discriminate against them. Similarly, if the Pope could personally send someone to communicate, the Vice-Principal should also accept.
Now, his personal wishes, the peace of Star Antimony, the inheritance of necromancy, the prestige of the Spirit Tower… and the safety of him and Aurora, even the possibility of the Mentor’s resurrection, were all intertwined.
Not to mention, the Red Phase had now seized power—he was the most radical among the high-ranking officials!
He had to find a way to contact Eivass!
But, unable to leave the Spirit Tower, and with every word and action closely monitored by the “Secret Chamber,” how could he communicate with the Eternal Pope who had fallen into slumber?
Wait for the Ascension Ritual and then force his way through?
The probability was too low…
—But if he could contact Miss Alistair, perhaps that would work!
As long as he could contact Alistair, it would be equivalent to contacting Eivass!
“Please have your Master… or Mentor come to the Spirit Tower, please.”
Albert bowed deeply to Christina, saying with utmost seriousness and earnestness, “I can pay many prices for this… We can discuss the rewards. But this matter is truly very important, not only to me but also to the entire Star Antimony…”
“Please.”
Aurora also stood beside Albert, imitating his action, and gave a deep bow to her student, Christina.
(End of this chapter)
