Chapter 1129: Chapter 102: Resistance
This is the last stand; lose, and we slumber forever in this silent sea; win, and we continue onward, exploring the boundaries of human cognition.
The Weapon Master paced across the shattered deck, armed with fixed cables to ensure steady progress over the furious sea waves, lest it fall into the abyss below.
Seawater kept surging up on the deck, carrying fragments of corpses, as if they were sailing through a sea of the dead.
Seeing this, Hebdo felt little stirrings of emotion, probably accustomed to such hellish scenery. Moreover, in the Viking legends, many viewed the Silent Sea as the Land of the Dead, which simply confirmed this notion.
The Sea Serpent began to move, bearing its massive wound towards the Morning Glow Advance. As it approached, the surrounding temperature noticeably changed; the icy sea breeze grew warm, as if gales of scorching wind were about to sweep here.
The light was intense; Bola lifted his head to glance at the glow beyond the sea fog, as if daytime was about to descend.
Ascalon’s cannon had been set up, and the Morning Glow Advance adjusted its angle, preparing to launch a fatal strike at the Sea Serpent’s wound.
The Black Angel docked nearby; for swift movement, it had no cables wrapped around but depended on Iron Feather anchored beneath the deck for stability.
Lorenzo’s actions would normally draw angry rebukes from Notar, who always valued his ship, but now there’s no need to care about these details, not to mention Notar could no longer scold Lorenzo.
Authority · Gabriel linked everyone’s [gap], and Lorenzo, like a messenger, continuously conveyed others’ words to another group, thus reviving paralyzed communications, which allowed the Morning Glow Advance’s functions in different areas to unify once more.
"Honestly, Hebdo, this is the first time I’ve seen a Viking feel happy."
Seeing Hebdo and Cliff jogging over, Bola joked.
Due to past experiences, Bola greatly disliked Vikings and often targeted these northern barbarians while in the Lower City District, but now it’s different; the stubborn prejudice and hatred amid life and death have loosened considerably.
"I’m not happy, joining you in a quest that may spell death... certainly requires courage."
Hebdo couldn’t feel joy; he and Cliff followed not far behind the Weapon Master. The Armor of Original Sin wielded its weapon with a vast attack range, too close and they’d interfere with Bola’s combat.
"Can that thing withstand the cannon fire?"
Hebdo asked uncertainly.
Through turret relocation, Ascalon was positioned on the deck’s cabin structure, atop which lay corpses and battle debris, resembling a twisted metal amalgamation barely supporting the cannon.
Even so, firing remained tremendously challenging; with Ascalon’s sluggish reload speed, they had only one shot opportunity, and in such circumstances, adjustments to firing angle and distance were beyond them. To hit the Sea Serpent, they needed to draw extremely near.
Previously, Ascalon was a spear piercing the sky, but now it’s a deadly yet restrictive dagger.
"I don’t know, we’re doing our best."
Bola responded; now the pressure in battle has subsided considerably. The Sea Serpent’s radiant breath decimated the Blood Shark, but also eradicated the oceanic Demons.
The entire sea area’s temperature soared by several degrees; near the Sea Serpent, Demons evaporated into voids, even affecting the Demons from the Morning Glow Advance’s side, greatly reducing their pressure.
Yet, the crisis from the Sea Serpent still rose; it submerged into the sea, taking with it the blazing light that lit up the deep blue ocean, turning the Silent Sea into a flowing sapphire-like splendor.
The sea surface swelled continuously, indicating its rapid approach.
"Lorenzo!"
Bola exclaimed, yet beside him, the Black Angel fell silent once more without reply.
Within this steel and flesh cocoon, Lorenzo’s vision was long detached from the Morning Glow Advance.
"Intrude my [gap], and use my eyes to see!"
The Plague Doctor’s voice resonated beside him; Lorenzo chose to trust this time, power surged, tearing open a path to the Plague Doctor’s [gap]. This time the incursion was incredibly smooth; with the Plague Doctor not resisting, Lorenzo easily seized his body.
The occupying process was both painful and wondrous; Lorenzo felt memories far superior to human capacity impacting him. Only now did Lorenzo vaguely realize how enduring the Plague Doctor’s lifespan truly was.
The tugging sensation from endless ages brought dizzying blur, fractured emotions entwining with Lorenzo.
Yet, unlike previous [gap] incursions, each person had exceedingly complex emotions that disrupted Lorenzo. But during the Plague Doctor’s incursion, Lorenzo constantly only felt one singular emotion.
Fervor.
Boundless fervor, fervor for Truth, fervor stopping at nothing.
Instantly, consciousness seemed set afire, surging deeply with nearly mad lust for knowledge, greedily searching for these delicious Truths, nearly turning Lorenzo into a deranged monster, yet fortunately he finally calmed down, completing the occupation.