Bishop Castian Relinquishes Command
As the Blood Moon Season progressed into its later stages, the Blood Moon pressed down on the Gray Fog, and the nights outside Blackpine Fief began to become monotonous, even time seemed to slow down.
But if you really raise your perspective and look down from a high place, you'll find that this land has been in constant turmoil.
Deep within the Gray Fog, wave after wave of low-level Magic Creature, driven mad by their own rage, and scattered remnants of Ghoul, still instinctively surged toward the firelight.
They always start out spreading out across the mountains and fields, a dark, dense layer that looks like waves pushing forward from a distance.
However, if it crashes into the Blackwater Swamp on the west side, or gets stuck by the converging terrain of the Blackiron Canyon, its shape immediately changes.
The wide surface gradually narrows, the edges are shaved off, and the middle section is squeezed tight.
Finally, they all obediently squeezed into a single line and were delivered along the predetermined route.
The Steam Repeating Crossbow at the canyon mouth fired in turn along the pre-calculated firing range, bolts flying in strings into the crowded herd of beasts, piercing their chests, sending half of their spines flying, and pinning down the beasts behind them.
Every now and then, the engineers would open the valves and re-spread the strong acid and Holy Silver Powder into the forward trenches.
The grayish-green mist rolled forward along the ground, and the Magic Creature that had just emerged from the rain of arrows were now frantically attacking and biting their own kind inside.
On the human side, no one was shouting anymore; what was heard most often was the mechanical, dull sound of steam engines.
Interspersed among these sounds were a few short commands, the dragging of chains, the turning of valves, and the hissing sound of acid spraying out.
The black blood on the ground froze, forming layers of hard, purplish-black crusts, which would melt again after a while when the newly gushing hot blood surged out.
Repeatedly, the entire ground was eventually covered with a layer of foul-smelling, shiny, dark Frozen Tundra.
As the fighting progressed, even the Knight on the city walls got used to it.
Two shifts of people stood guard behind the wall, their eyes fixed on the front, their hands moving as usual.
Once the Magic Creature outside had been dealt with in small waves, some people would even lean against the ramparts, take off their helmets to get some fresh air, and casually pull out some alcohol to drink.
Because the current Blackpine Fief has indeed become this stable.
People are still dying outside the wall, blood is still flowing, and monsters are still lunging at it.
But the walls inside are no longer so taut, as if they might break at any moment.
The same was true in the command tower. Shien sat behind the table, rarely glancing at the bloody, grinding ground outside the city anymore.
The stone window was ajar, and the cold wind outside, carrying the stench of blood, blew in, causing the pages of paper on the table to flutter slightly.
He raised his hand and pressed down on the top report, glanced at it, and drew two lines along the edge with the tip of his pen.
"Heavy Crossbow Main Shaft Wear Record", "Remaining Amount of Holy Silver Slag", "Forward Trench Strong Acid Supply Table", "Nighttime Forage Consumption at Horse Changing Point No. 3"
On the table, there were no longer any personnel casualties, but two Workshop receipts next to them. One said that several more steam boiler sealing rings had been scrapped, and the other said that the winch on the east side of the Bent Corner Wall needed to be re-oiled.
Shien looked at it very carefully and made changes quickly.
Which line of fire fired more rounds today, which Dark Bunker was slow to evacuate, which trench's acid concentration dropped too quickly—all of this is recorded on paper.
At this point, the Blackpine Fief was no longer facing a matter of life and death.
There were two knocks on the door.
"Please come in."
Castian pushed open the door and walked in. He stood in the room for a moment, listening to the sounds of machinery coming from outside, and the short howls of Magic Creature dying in the distance.
Finally, he turned his gaze to the table. "Ever since your defensive line was built, there hasn't been any major chaos on the front lines."
Shien raised his head, stood up and bowed. "Thanks to the presence of His Excellency the Bishop, the situation has been kept under control. There were a few minor problems along the way, but everything was still running as planned. I only made a small contribution."
Castian listened, nodded, and then reached up to remove a Sacred Flame Proxy Signet Ring from his waist.
The object was small, entirely black and silver, with the Holy Runes for the mobilization of the Church Direct Legion engraved on its edges.
When he placed it in the center of the Sand Table, it made a crisp, soft sound.
Shien's gaze fell on the signet ring, and his fingertip paused slightly.
Castian met his gaze and said, "I'm no longer needed to guard this place."
"I've confirmed the defensive line you designed these past few days. Unless Legion led by Fourth-Tier Demonic Beast appears, these Magic Creature below the Fourth Tier simply can't do anything to it."
He paused, his grey-blue eyes fixed on Shien's face. "I've seen all your hard work and contributions these past few days."
The room fell silent for a moment, then the wind whistled past the tower walls outside the window, carrying with it the muffled echoes of the strangulation wire in the distance.
Castian continued, "Therefore, I entrust this Sacred Flame Proxy Signet Ring to you, Shien Graywood."
I will lead the main force away from Blackpine Fief to wipe out the remaining remnants of the tide that were scattered and are still wandering around the abandoned territory.
The personnel, supply lines, and defenses along the surrounding mountain ridges that remain here will all be under your command from today. In addition, I will leave behind an elite Mobile Holy Knight of five hundred men.
Shien looked at the signet ring but did not immediately reach out to take it.
Castian didn't urge him; he simply stood there, waiting for Castian to accept this weighty power himself.
Blackpine Fief is no longer just a fortress on the front lines.
Whoever controls this area effectively controls a Defense Zone of the Graymist Defense Zone, making them virtually second only to the leader in this Defense Zone.
Leaving him with the Sacred Flame Proxy Signet Ring and an entire elite Holy Knight squadron makes the meaning clear enough.
Seeing that the bishop's actions were not impulsive, Shien felt a slight warmth in his chest, which he quickly suppressed.
He showed nothing on his face, but simply took the Sacred Flame Proxy Signet Ring with both hands. The metal was cold and somewhat heavy.
"I will obey your will." Shien bowed, his voice even more steady than before.
"After you leave, the Blackiron Canyon defense line will continue to operate. I will take over the horse changing point, medical area, supply depot, and the three inner ridge lines."
If other surrounding remnant territories want to send supplies and wounded soldiers in, they will be accepted as usual; this supply line will never be cut off.
Castian looked at him, and the gloom in his eyes finally eased a little.
"Very good." After saying this, he turned and walked out.
When he reached the door, he paused for a moment, but did not turn around.
"The farther the Sacred Flame shines, the heavier the burden on your shoulders. Hold fast to what you must protect, and glory, rewards, and everything you deserve will await you."
The wooden door closed again, and the room became quiet once more.
Shien leaned back in his chair, listening to the almost numb, steady strangulation sounds outside. He glanced down at the wear and tear report on the table, then at the Sacred Flame Proxy Signet Ring he had just put away.
From that moment on, half of the Graymist Defense Zone fell into his hands.