Lance Charging on the Arkship, but Without a Mount

Kal'tsit asked.

"I really want to go back, but I'm still far from capable enough. I can't truly help everyone yet. I want to keep learning until I become a doctor as skilled as you, Teacher Kal'tsit."

The white-haired boy turned to look north, then turned back and spoke to Kal'tsit with sincere eyes.

"Sasha and Aisen must be waiting for me to return. I want to become the greatest doctor, so I'll never have to worry about them getting hurt on the battlefield again."

Reunion Movement Rising: Mobile City

A warship as massive as a mountain was traveling across the snowfields, but Claude sat in the captain's command room, listening to the report of a black-haired Vampire girl. She was an assistant sent by Rhodes Island—or more precisely, assistance he had requested from his allies.

To repair the warship, which had suffered severe damage during the battle, he had sent a request to Rhodes Island, a company that also possessed a landship. He hoped to hire their engineering team to repair the warship. Rhodes Island's engineers charged dearly, but they were worth every penny. After three weeks of work, they had successfully gotten the warship moving again.

The girl before him was the captain of that engineering team, a Vampire girl named Closure. Across all of Terra, the most notorious Vampires numbered only two at Rhodes Island. Yet neither of them looked like the ruthless, bloodthirsty monsters from the rumors. Doctor Warfarin might perform all sorts of strange antics, but she had never truly done anything outrageous. When treating patients, she was an extremely reliable doctor.

The engineer named Closure before him had no bad habits either. Her only little hobby was recommending all sorts of products to them, and she did not force anyone to buy.

"All right, that's the current state of the warship. We've basically finished repairing the tracks and outer armor. Luckily, its core engine wasn't damaged at all. Otherwise, there would have been nothing we could do."

The black-haired Vampire girl wiped her forehead, brushing away nonexistent cold sweat. She truly had not expected that in just half a year, the once obscure Reunion Movement had somehow acquired a land warship—and stolen it from Ursus's military at that!!

Rhodes Island had swiftly raised its assessment of this organization, and when they received its request for help, they dispatched their elite engineering team.

"You've worked hard, Miss Closure. I'm very satisfied with your work. It's as if this warship was never damaged at all." Claude flipped through the report in his hands. Though he did not understand the technical specifications, he could clearly tell that the warship had been restored to perfect condition.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. After all, we took so much money..." The black-haired Vampire girl grinned, exposing her fangs. She looked very pleased.

"I'll have my subordinates arrange rooms for you to rest in. If you wish, we can send you back to Rhodes Island."

Claude set down the report, propped up his chin with one hand, and looked at her with questioning amber eyes.

"That won't be necessary. We have our own ride back, and it's very fast. You still have combat plans to carry out, right? We won't trouble you." Closure waved her hands repeatedly, politely declining Claude's offer.

"Very well. I wish you a smooth journey."

"Thank you! Thank you. Oh, right, General, are you really not considering that engineering package I mentioned? There's a discount if you buy it now!"

"...We'll contact your company when we need it. There's no need for it at the moment."

"Ah, all right, all right! Here's my terminal number. Contact me anytime if you're interested." Closure gave him a playful smile.

At last, he had seen her off. Claude rose to his feet and experienced a completely different world. In his eyes now, even the trajectory of a grain of dust was crystal clear. He could accurately distinguish that single grain among thousands upon thousands of specks with the naked eye. He extended a finger and precisely pinched it between the tip of his nail, like the most advanced medical instrument.

Just a month ago, Claude had reached the third stage. This warship had brought him an unexpected gift. It was powered by a massive Originium energy engine, and when it was activated, no one dared approach the engine room because it was filled with high-density Originium energy, sealed within by thick insulating materials. An ordinary person would inevitably contract Oripathy after staying inside for more than three minutes, unless they possessed natural resistance to Originium.

Yet such an environment was nothing short of ideal for Claude. Drawing upon the immense energy within the engine room, he successfully reached the third stage in only three weeks. This was also the stage where most of the Empire's superhumans came to a halt, because it strengthened the brain and nerves.

The human brain and nervous system were incredibly complex and intricate. The slightest mistake during enhancement could damage them. Thus, most Imperial soldiers stopped at the second stage. This was also the dividing line between true elites and ordinary soldiers. Only those capable of precisely controlling their mental power would attempt the third stage.

Claude, who had already experienced it once before, naturally handled it with ease and reached the third stage as naturally as water flowing into a channel. At this stage, he no longer observed the outside world with his eyes alone. Within a radius of more than ten meters around him, an invisible domain formed. Everything within it appeared in his mind through a peculiar method. He could not describe it precisely, but he knew the condition of anything within that range.

His enhanced nerves elevated his already lightning-fast reactions to another level. If he had once been able to use a blade to pluck the wings off a fly, now he could perform surgery on it with one.

Moreover, he now needed only three hours of sleep each day to remain energetic all day long, greatly increasing the time he could spend handling affairs. He even had two dedicated hours every day to train his martial skills.

Not to mention his sharper thinking and greatly enhanced learning ability. The difference between the second and third stages could only be described as heaven and earth.

He pushed open the command room door and walked through a long corridor. Claude arrived on the deck, where the oncoming blizzard made him pull his cloak tighter. The soldiers on deck saluted their general before returning to their posts. They all wore thick black coats seized from Ursus soldiers.

After nodding to the surrounding soldiers, he walked toward the bow, where a tall watchtower stood. The moment he stepped onto its stairs, he sensed someone above. He climbed another few steps and reached the top. Sure enough, Talulah was there.

When she turned and saw Claude coming up, Talulah smiled and greeted him.

"Teacher Claude, did you come up to check on things too?"

"You can just call me Claude. Better not call me teacher." Claude scratched his cheek awkwardly. Ever since their conversation that day, Talulah had begun calling him teacher for some reason.

"Of course, Claude. But in my heart, you are my teacher." Talulah handed Claude a pair of binoculars.

Claude accepted them and continued asking.

"Are we almost there? That mobile city from the rumors."

"We should be close. According to our coordinates, we'll arrive in half a day at most." Talulah spoke softly beside Claude.

"I hope that city can still operate..." Though he said that, Claude did not hold much hope. That city had been running for far too long and had already exceeded its service life. Still, it remained a source of hope for them.

Reunion Movement Rising: What a Pity

A mobile city. This was the information Claude's group had received. Although it was a mobile city that had been in use for many years and was close to being scrapped, it still held great value for them. The ones who brought this news were another group of Infected. They claimed to come from Curled-Ear Village, another remote place on the tundra.

They were fairly numerous, though they were all a ragtag group with poor equipment. They had sought out Claude not to join the Reunion Movement, but to provide information about the mobile city and propose taking it together, then splitting the resources evenly. According to their intelligence, an Ursus military force was stationed on the nearly abandoned mobile city. They lacked the strength to take the city on their own.

But in Claude's eyes, these people clearly had other intentions. Still, Infected who dared resist were exceedingly rare, so he accepted their proposal, treating it as an opportunity for external publicity.

And now, those people were aboard this warship, following them to attack the mobile city.

Thick black smoke billowed from the warship's energy furnace, staining the falling snowflakes black. On this watchtower, only Claude and Talulah could be heard speaking. Everyone else remained inside the ship. Claude found a place to sit. Since it was close to the energy furnace, it was not cold here. Even the floor was warm. In such frigid weather, being in a sealed and warm place felt particularly pleasant.

Talulah gathered her short skirt and sat beside Claude as well. A short black cape rested on her shoulders, adorned with ornate tassels. She looked every bit like a general.

"Before I met you, I never dared imagine we could reach this point." Talulah looked at the enormous warship beneath them and could not help sighing.

"Before this, my best hope was only to seize a few towns and awaken more Infected before the Empire wiped us out."

Claude tightened his cloak around himself, wrapping it securely around his body. He was growing increasingly fond of this cloak, especially on cold, blizzard-filled days.

"From what I see, you had the strength to achieve all that. You simply hadn't found the right path, which was why it seemed so out of reach."

"Just like when we took this warship, you possess such immense power, Talulah. I couldn't have melted through such thick armor in so short a time. Our victory was thanks to you."

"No, ultimately, it was thanks to your plan, Claude. If we had encountered a land warship on our own, I can't think of any solution besides fighting to the death. Without your plan, and without any heavy weapons, Patriot and I alone could never have fought a warship like this. We would have been wiped out from over a thousand meters away."

Talulah leaned against the wall. She could even feel the vibrations caused by the roaring Originium engine through her back.

"But my plan was extremely risky. If even one part had failed, we would have lost everything. Without your help, that plan would have been nothing but empty talk."

The two looked at each other and laughed at the same time, amused by their own humility and that of their companions. By now, they shared honor and disgrace. Saying such things only made them seem distant from one another.

"Speaking of which, Talulah, do you use that sword often? Isn't it inconvenient hanging at your waist?"

Claude quickly found a new topic. He looked at the clearly oversized greatsword at Talulah's waist. A sword this long should have been carried on one's back. Hanging it at the waist would always make it bump into things and cause inconvenience, yet Talulah had kept this nearly one-and-a-half-meter-long greatsword at her waist.

Hearing Claude's words, Talulah glanced at the sword in her hand. In order to sit down, she had no choice but to remove it from her waist. Otherwise, it would have been extremely awkward.

"Don't laugh at me, Claude, but my swordsmanship is actually only average. I mainly fight using the flames of the Draco's innate Originium Arts. Most of the time, I use this sword as a staff, so keeping it at my waist is more convenient."

Talulah smiled as she drew her sword and showed Claude the Originium Arts units on it. The greatsword showed little wear, clearly indicating that its primary purpose was not to cut down enemies.

Claude looked at the greatsword, and an idea suddenly came to him.

"Talulah, I can teach you my swordsmanship. We'll face more battles in the future. Learning more is always good. What do you think?"

"Really? But don't Kazimierz knights keep their combat techniques secret? Is it really all right to teach me?"

Talulah looked pleasantly surprised. She clearly wanted to learn Claude's swordsmanship as well. Throughout the Reunion Movement, he was renowned for his martial prowess. Aside from Patriot, almost no one could compete with him in combat skill.

"Of course it's fine. When facing powerful enemies, anyone who has the chance to strengthen their side's combat power but refuses to do so just to cling to such rules must be an idiot."

Claude stood and looked at Talulah.

"This is a rare opportunity. There's a suitable place here. Draw your sword, Talulah."

As he spoke, he had already drawn the sword at his waist. It flowed like mercury, transforming into a weapon with the same structure as Talulah's greatsword.

"Now? We're about to reach our destination."

Talulah raised her sword with some hesitation.

"It's fine. There's never such a thing as too much time spent honing your martial skills."

Claude untied the strap across his shoulder and chest and removed his heavy cloak so it would not hinder his movements.

"Then attack me, Talulah. Let me see your movements."

The sharp greatsword came crashing down from above with the force to split an enemy in two, but it was easily deflected. The counterattack struck precisely at the point where its strength was weakest.

The greatsword that had deflected the blow traced a short arc with a flexible twist of the wrist, then stopped before the Draco girl's forehead. Claude withdrew his greatsword, spun it once in one hand, and planted it on the ground.

"Your speed can be faster. Your wrists need to be more flexible. Two-handed weapons are naturally much faster than one-handed weapons because they offer greater control and power. Your attacks are a little too reckless. And pay attention to your footwork. Don't focus all your attention on me."

Claude spoke as he raised his sword again.

"This time, I'll attack. Watch carefully."

Talulah, breathing slightly heavily, also raised her sword and stared at Claude with complete concentration.

The greatsword swung at incredible speed, striking Claude's blade again and again. Claude steadily received every blow.

"Very good, just like that! Make use of the advantages of your weapon and body. You not only have powerful Originium Arts, but excellent physical abilities as well. You shouldn't let them go to waste."

Three hours later, Talulah was gasping for breath as she supported herself with her sword, half-kneeling on the ground. Sweat ran down her smooth forehead, flowing to her delicate chin before falling to the floor.

A hand reached out before her, and she grabbed it to stand.

"I'll have free time every afternoon after three o'clock. If you have time, you can come find me." Claude handed her a handkerchief. It had been a long time since someone had sparred with him, and he was in a good mood.

"Of course. I feel like I learned quite a lot just now." Talulah wiped away her sweat and gave Claude a sincere smile.

Claude walked briskly down from the watchtower, but before he reached the deck, a voice came from beside him.

"You've spent long enough with your new apprentice."

"I knew that person standing outside was you." Claude gave a helpless smile, rounded a corner, and found Centaurea leaning against the wall.

"Aren't you cold standing there?" Claude took the cloak draped over his arm and placed it over Centaurea's shoulders. He had not put it back on when he came down from the tower. Centaurea naturally grabbed the cloak and pulled it tighter around herself.

"You were so focused on your new apprentice that I thought you didn't know." Centaurea curled her entire body into the cloak, but there was a subtle emotion in the white-haired girl's voice.

"How could I not know? I knew you were outside the watchtower from the beginning." Claude looked into the distance, where a dark shadow could already be seen with the naked eye.

"If you want to learn how to use a sword too, you can come find me. I'd be happy to teach you."

Claude had tremendous enthusiasm for teaching others martial skills. As long as his friends had the desire to learn, he would teach them without reservation.

Centaurea tightened the cloak around herself again. Claude's cloak nearly reached the floor when draped over her body.

"That won't be necessary. I can just use what I'm good at. I was never used to swords in the first place."

The two stood at the edge of the deck, watching the enormous shadow gradually approach.

An Ursus garrison was stationed on this dilapidated mobile city, but it was unexpectedly weak. Upon discovering that the people aboard the approaching warship did not belong to the Empire, the garrison immediately fled. They showed no intention whatsoever of defending this mobile city for the Ursus Empire.

Although Claude could understand that a dilapidated city without any defensive measures could not stand against a warship, the Ursus military had left a deep impression on him before. He had not expected the forces here to abandon their assigned area without putting up the slightest resistance.

"That's not strange. This city was originally included in Ursus's demolition plan three years ago, but for certain reasons, it was occupied by this military force. They lost their former combat power and will to fight long ago."

Talulah explained Claude's confusion. The girl knew much about the Ursus Empire, especially its national policies. They were now walking through the dilapidated city. Most of its high-rise buildings had already collapsed, while the remaining ones had lost all their windows. They could not possibly keep out wind, frost, rain, or snow.

The only relatively intact buildings had been occupied by the previous garrison. The residents who once lived here had long since been driven away, and no one knew whether they were dead or alive. But on this merciless snowfield, they were unlikely to have survived.

The garrison had left in great haste, abandoning most of its supplies. This was an unexpected windfall for them. With these supplies, they could hold out longer, until the high-yield crops they had planted matured. The mobile city also had some energy remaining, enough to drive it near their camp. Then they could renovate the buildings atop it and obtain much more comfortable living conditions than before.

The warship docked beside the city and connected with the city's exit. The soldiers were hurrying to transport the supplies aboard. These supplies would be taken back first, while the city would follow afterward.

"All right, sir. This is your half of the supplies. You may take them. If you wish, we can use the warship to send you back."

Claude spoke to the Infected leader, who looked extremely nervous.

"Of course! Of course, General. Thank you very much for keeping your promise. But if possible, I hope you can agree to one small request..."

"You can tell me here."

"If possible, we hope you will allow us to remain on this mobile city."

"Why? This mobile city is going back to our camp. Staying aboard the warship is the same as staying here." A sharp light flashed in Claude's eyes as he examined the man before him.

"Ah, it's like this. None of us have ever seen a mobile city in our lives, so we hope to stay here and have a look around."

There was not the slightest abnormality in the man's expression as he calmly said this.

"Is that so? Of course you can. But I'll leave my Iron Guard here as well, since there may still be enemy remnants. I'm sure you can understand."

"Of course, no problem."

The man, wrapped from head to toe with only his eyes exposed, tried hard to keep his voice calm.