Ch. 821The Cooling Battlefield
Key Plot Points and Events
- A massive explosion occurs during the battle between the Duchy of Tis and the Holy See, visible from over a hundred kilometers away.
- The explosion's location is calculated, revealing its immense scale, approaching that of a nuclear bomb.
- Both sides struggle to adapt to the changes in weaponry, tactics, and systems, with mistakes needing immediate correction.
- Theus dispatches Faithguard Army units to join the battlefield and begins producing chemical protective suits and gas masks.
Character Developments
- Isabella, the Duchy of Tis' highest-ranking commander, becomes quieter and more introspective after the brutal battle, realizing the changed nature of war.
- Theus feels a sense of urgency and understands the need for immediate adaptation to the new warfare.
Significant Themes
- The changing nature of warfare, with modern weaponry and tactics leading to higher casualties and a shift in combat strategies.
- The importance of technological advancement in warfare and the need to keep up with the enemy's progress.
- The psychological impact of war on soldiers and commanders, leading to weariness and a decreased will to fight.
Character Interactions
- Isabella and Theus discuss the war's intensity and the need to control it, with Theus urging Isabella not to force the fighting and to prioritize technological advancements over human lives.
- Erwin and Theus confer about the front lines' situation, with Erwin reporting the failed attempts to investigate the explosion and Theus ordering increased troop deployment.
- Zoe informs Theus about Nini's new novel, which she claims is not a newspaper.