Chapter 1331: The Hidden Weakness

When Grant Arbiter Beldewyn Franklin spoke those words, his expression was unusually grave and serious. Yet, no matter how Highlord Gawain listened, something felt off—though he knew Duke Beldewyn wouldn’t exaggerate at a time like this, calling Rebecca “exceptionally meritorious in battle” still sounded a bit strange. Nearby, Hetty couldn’t help but blurt out, “She didn’t cause any trouble, did she…?”

“Of course not,” Duke Beldewyn replied with a hint of helplessness on his face. He clearly knew Rebecca’s usual reputation all too well. “Her Highness the Princess has been… very cautious this time. Aside from commanding the Dawn of the World in battle, she hasn’t done anything else. So far, she and Commander Jina’s aerial forces have completely shattered the enemy’s offensive on the western front, driving their main forces east of the Wind-Eroded Valley. Meanwhile, Lady Wenna and I have led the ground troops into central Augray, coordinating with local defenders to root out the rogue aberrations lurking in the forests. Additionally, we successfully established a temporary communications network using aerial platforms, restoring contact between Sainthelm and Crimson Jade City… though the southern region is still experiencing interference.”

“Byron will soon set up a new communications station along the southern coastline,” Gawain breathed a sigh of relief. “Looks like the crisis on the western front is finally easing…”

“Yes, the pressure on the west is dropping. We’ll soon coordinate with the Augray forces to begin reclaiming and purifying the occupied lands in the east,” Duke Beldewyn nodded. Then, after a brief hesitation, he added, “Also… the enemy’s retreat on the western front has been faster than we expected. After they withdrew, they left behind a large number of uncontrolled aberrations in the contaminated zones. While we don’t have concrete proof yet, I suspect that one of Princess Rebecca’s attacks may have successfully disrupted the enemy’s command system.”

“She disrupted their command system?” Gawain’s interest was immediately piqued. “Tell me more.”

“Yes,” Beldewyn confirmed. “During the final phase of the Crimson Jade City battle, Princess Rebecca ordered the Dawn of the World’s main cannon to fire upon the Wolfspine Mountains—we suspect that’s where the enemy’s command node was located. After several strikes, the enemy’s retreat descended into chaos. Recon units later observed that some aberrations reestablished order, but many others permanently lost control, wandering the forests and ruins like ordinary monsters. To this day, those roaming creatures show no sign of returning to command. However, we haven’t yet found direct evidence of what exactly Rebecca’s bombardment hit.”

“Then we can tentatively conclude she destroyed the enemy’s command node—that’s not the key point. What matters is that, according to your report, another dark priest took over command of the aberrations on the western front, yet a large number of monsters remain permanently uncontrolled…” Gawain’s expression grew serious as he caught a crucial clue in the intelligence. “Those permanently uncontrolled monsters are the key. This means the dark priests’ ‘control’ over the aberrations isn’t as stable as we thought. If we find a way to sever their command system, even if they rebuild contact later, a significant number of aberrations will break free from their control.”

Gawain paused to think for a moment. “The Dawn of the World’s main cannon… I recall the fortress’s conventional main gun doesn’t have the range to fire from Crimson Jade City all the way to the Wolfspine Mountains. So what Rebecca fired must have been…”

“A supercritical accelerator,” Beldewyn confirmed Gawain’s guess. “She completed the final assembly of the accelerator during the Dawn of the World’s voyage. The bombardment on Wolfspine was essentially a ‘test shot’ after assembly. Her Highness is still working with technicians to adjust and optimize the accelerator’s rail structure, and she plans to build another one near the fortress’s central axis.”

“She actually finished building that thing during the fortress’s voyage?” Gawain muttered in surprise. “And she’s planning to build a second one? That’s so like her…”

Hetty, deep in thought, added, “We’ve been researching how to disrupt the aberrations’ command system—the main threat is that these monsters suddenly gained discipline and tactical awareness. Our technicians believe that strong energy disturbances can interfere with the mental signals the dark priests use to control them. The problem is, we’ve never found a ‘powerful enough energy source.’ But now it seems…”

“Looking back, it was definitely the right call to approve three additional budgets for Rebecca and overlook her blowing up the lab,” Gawain smiled at Hetty. “The supercritical accelerator technology is invaluable. At least this time, it has proven its worth on the battlefield.” Then he turned to Duke Beldewyn. “In my opinion, building two supercritical accelerators on the Dawn of the World is still too few—whether the aberrations lost control because the cannon fire destroyed their command node, or because the energy shock from the accelerator’s explosion severed their link to their controllers, we need more of these devices.”

“Tell Rebecca to build as many as she wants. All fortress upgrades and modifications will be granted wartime priority approval, with her having full authority. If onboard materials run short, she can submit requests—air transport units will deliver them. Our top priority is to further enhance the combat capabilities of the space fortress battle group and verify the supercritical accelerator’s destructive effect on the aberration legions.”

Gawain gave his orders seriously, then suddenly remembered something and his expression turned even more solemn. “But remember this above all: neither you nor Rebecca may pillage local resources or civilian property during operations. If absolutely necessary, you must purchase them—any violation will be treated as treason. This is extremely important, especially for your ground forces. You must pass this directive down to the lowest-ranking commanders and have them repeatedly drill it into their soldiers. We cannot win a battle only to lose ourselves in the aftermath.”

“Rest assured,” Beldewyn immediately straightened and said gravely, “I emphasized discipline repeatedly to the troops before departure. After two years of rigorous reform, the Western Legion has abandoned many of the barbaric practices of the old era. I will also spread your admonition throughout the army—Cecile’s soldiers take pride in discipline, and that will never change no matter where we campaign.”

Hearing Beldewyn’s solemn promise, Gawain nodded slowly. Just then, an incoming transmission suddenly connected to the magic network terminal before him.

The screen showed Veronica holding her platinum scepter. She gave a slight nod to Gawain, the background behind her a scene of golden oaks flourishing in the darkness. “Your Majesty, the aberration samples captured at the front have been delivered to the experimental grounds.”

“They’ve arrived?” Gawain’s eyes lit up. He had been waiting for this news for a long time. “Excellent. I’ll be there shortly.”

He stood up, then looked at the hologram of Hetty. “Hetty, you’ll preside over the next meeting.”

Hetty nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Gawain strode toward the study door nearby. A swift shadow flickered through the air, closely following his steps.

Deep within the Rebellious Courtyard, shrouded in endless chaotic shadows, a massive golden oak stood silently at the center of a lush lawn. Its softly glowing canopy covered this once barren, desolate, shattered land. The vegetation creeping across the earth filled the cracks that had once scarred the surface. This “garden,” built single-handedly by Amon, had become a striking and wondrous sanctuary amid the dim Shadow Realm. The Gondorian mages who once built the Rebellious Fortress could never have imagined that one day the god sleeping here would awaken—and transform the place so completely.

Veronica stood quietly beneath the golden oak’s gentle light, platinum scepter in hand. She seemed to be casually admiring the strange flowers and plants around her, or perhaps studying the massive figure resting among the foliage. That figure was Amon, the sacred white stag, who was now watching the woman before him with open eyes. After a long moment, he finally spoke, “You’re staring at me like that—it’s kind of awkward for me…”

“You were once a god, and yet you feel ‘awkward’ being looked at by a mortal?” Veronica smiled faintly, as if joking. “Normally, it should be the mortal who feels nervous and reverent when gazing upon your form.”

“When you led a whole bunch of mortals in the ‘Rebel’ project, who was nervous or reverent?” Amon replied slowly. “You even ordered them to take tissue samples from me—I was the one who felt awkward seeing you.”

“…Me? Well, yeah, I guess that’s true,” Veronica laughed softly, her tone gentle. “Back then, who would have guessed your true personality was like this… And no one could have imagined you were just feigning death all those years. Fate really is an unpredictable thing.”

“Personality… don’t talk about ‘personality’ to a god still shackled by divinity. And don’t trust a god’s ‘humanity’ before they’re freed—that’s something even we can’t control,” Amon shook his head lightly. “Don’t get unrealistic expectations of other gods just because Milmina and I are harmless now.”

“Yes, I understand that well,” Veronica said calmly. “So if I could turn back time, I’d probably still order Kamail and the others to take samples from you—maybe just tell them to be quicker about it.”

“Alright, alright, you two have been glaring at each other for ages just to talk about this?” Suddenly, an impatient voice came from beside the golden oak. A woman, still over three meters tall even after ‘compression,’ leaned against the tree trunk and glanced sideways at Veronica and Amon. “It’s been over a year now—we’re colleagues. Can’t we talk about something that actually builds camaraderie?”

Veronica opened her mouth as if to reply, but Gawain’s voice suddenly came from nearby. “Talking about old workplaces is an effective way to build camaraderie among new colleagues.”

“Your Majesty, you’re here.” Veronica immediately turned to face Gawain and Amber, who were entering the courtyard. She bowed slightly, smiling warmly in greeting.

Nearby, Milmina casually waved and said hello, then gestured toward Veronica and Amon. “Funny coincidence—they used to work in the same place. I feel awkward just listening to their old workplace stories.”

“Seeing you and Amon becoming more like mortals every day puts my mind at ease,” Gawain said, surveying the two former goddesses who were now complaining like old friends. Then he changed the subject. “I came to see the ‘samples.’ Let’s get down to business.”

“Veronica just brought that thing over—I put it in my ‘experiment zone,’” Myrmyna said with a nod. She rose from beside the golden oak and, walking toward a patch of ground in the Rebellious Courtyard that wasn’t covered by plants, added casually, “Old Deer wouldn’t let me put it under the tree. Said he was worried it’d dirty his yard or damage his tree… But he’s always scratching himself on the trunk, and big patches of bark and leaves keep falling off.”

Gawain: “…”

Not only was Gawain at a loss for how to respond, even Amber, who had come along, stared wide-eyed. The goose had been holding it in for a while before quietly muttering, “I think besides the Emperor’s Sacred Words, we could start a new series…”

No sooner had she whispered this than Gawain suddenly stopped walking. Amber, caught off guard, bumped her head against his back and nearly toppled over with a startled “Ouch!” To her surprise, Gawain didn’t grab her ear as usual. Instead, he paused thoughtfully for a few seconds, then nodded at her: “That’s a yes from me.”

Amber blinked, confused. “…Huh?”

“I think it’d be useful for weakening divine influence among the younger generation.”

Amber still looked puzzled. “…Are you serious?”

Gawain shrugged and resumed walking. “It’s not like I’m the one writing it.”

Myrmyna reached the innermost part of the Rebellious Courtyard, where vast, neatly arranged platforms crafted by magic stretched out. Between them floated glowing orbs that lit the area, and magical servants hovered busily back and forth, tending to everything on the platforms—some were automatic recorders calculating and logging data, others were alchemical vessels undergoing reactions, and still others were dismantled arcane devices and thinly sliced crystals.

These were Myrmyna’s “treasures.”

The former goddess paused at the edge of this experimental ground and looked back at Gawain, Amber, and Veronica following her. Her gaze settled on Amber and Gawain. “I’m listening, though I have no idea what Amber’s really up to. But I suspect it’s not something good.”

“It’s a good thing,” Gawain said seriously. “She plans to shatter the ‘god’ stereotype among young audiences, helping you and Amon completely eliminate any chance of being revered by future generations…”

“…Really?” Myrmyna eyed Gawain suspiciously, glancing at Amber, who was trying hard to look trustworthy with a stiff expression. “The more I hear, the less I believe it.”

“It’s true,” Gawain nodded solemnly at the ‘goddess.’ “When have I ever lied to you?”

“…Come to think of it, you do sometimes come up with strange ideas, but you always follow through. You said you’d arrange a funeral for me, and within days, you even scattered my ashes…” Myrmyna muttered thoughtfully. “Alright, I believe you.”

Gawain: “…”

(End of chapter)