In My Name, I Erect This Monument (4k)

As night fell, chaos began to break out in the town.

Some farmers turned back from the border to explain the situation to everyone.

"Visible, tangible, rock hard..."

"I dug three feet deep with a shovel, only to find that the ground underneath was completely blocked as well."

"When you hit it with a hoe, sparks fly; you can't dig it up at all."

"How so..."

Countdown to Corona trigger:

[18:47]

--If the end of the world were coming, what would be the last thing you want to do?

Streetside.

Old Aesop of the patrol team had been busy all day and was on his way to the next location.

As he hurried along, he looked up at the sky...

Then his steps slowed until he came to a complete stop.

A moment later, he took off his coat and said to his deputy, "I'm going home."

"Eh? But Master, we're short-staffed everywhere right now..."

"I'm sorry, I want to stay with Emma."

"Master!"

Not far away.

A junior clerk from the city hall mustered up the courage to confess his feelings in front of the flower shop:

"Mary! I was planning to ask you for a promotion next year, but now there might not be a next year... But if you're willing, we can exchange vows tonight under the witness of the Corona!"

The girl stood there, stunned, her eyes reddening, then rushed forward and hugged him tightly, saying:

I've wanted to tell you these things for a long time! I was afraid you wouldn't agree!

"Really? Really?"

"I love you, and with the Goddess of the Moon as my witness, I take myself to be your wife..."

"Mary..."

To be able to embrace the one you love.

The junior clerk was so moved that she cried.

But why... why the end of the world?

Can't beautiful moments linger a little longer, even just a little bit...?

The carriage clerk led out a fine carriage, turned to the apprentices with a grin, and said, "Get in! It's not that your master is happy to take you for rides normally, but come on, ride wherever you like today. I'll take you on three laps around the main road of Mondel!"

The tavern's wooden door was kicked open from the inside.

The shopkeeper brought out a bottle of malt liquor and said to the people on the street:

"Try it, everyone try it! Anyone over sixteen can drink it, don't push, everyone gets a share!"

Several dockworkers, who usually couldn't bear to drink, were now enjoying a free drink. So they picked up their glasses, tilted their heads back, and took a big gulp, then looked at each other and laughed.

The residents of Mondel Town are mostly simple and kind.

The apocalypse has arrived; things have gone mad, to say the least.

However, robbery, arson, murder, and looting are rare.

Except for Moran.

Moran has gone completely mad and is utterly reckless.

Some people couldn't help but think to themselves:

What if the world didn't end? What would our Moran be like...?

East District.

The Oliver Cotton Mill has mostly collapsed.

Matthew was covered in gray and black soot, and he was exhausted.

He ran all the way to the factory area the moment the explosion occurred.

This is our own business; we can't just leave it unattended!

Then I joined the workers in scooping water to put out the fire.

"Young Master Matthew! Stop splashing!"

The old worker grabbed him, glanced at the ruins, and said with immense heartache:

"It's all burned down; there's nothing worth saving."

Matthew remained silent.

He knew his little bit of water was better than nothing, and he knew he was utterly useless in the face of this disaster.

But it just wouldn't stop.

Just then...

The sound of horses' hooves echoed!

A Black-Robed Court Guards rode up and urgently addressed the scene:

"Envoy Caroline has given orders! We are gathering all available personnel in Mondel! We have found a way to shut down the Mystical Artifact, and we now need armed escort to the docks! Anyone who can move, grab your weapons and assemble on the City Hall Avenue immediately!"

The surrounding workers looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Close... the Mystical Artifact?"

"Can things in the sky be turned off?"

Tingwei had no time to explain; he mounted his horse and galloped off to the next street.

Matthew was stunned when he heard this.

He had heard the workers talk about things in the sky.

They say it's a Mystical Artifact, and that the end of the world is coming...

And now it means...

Is there a chance to turn this off?

suddenly--

A surge of heat rushed up Matthew's limbs.

He no longer even felt tired.

He turned his head and glanced at the ruins behind him.

Matthew had to admit that he hated coming to the factory every day for roll call, hated doing the accounting, and hated the workers calling him "the nouveau riche's son" behind his back.

But he loves it here.

He loved his father who would loudly berate him at the breakfast table every morning, yet secretly paved the way for his own future.

His mother always gave him pocket money;

I love this textile factory that supports half the workers in this small town;

I also loved those boring math classes at the college.

More importantly, it's Matthew Oliver.

He lived for seventeen years.

I dream of doing something earth-shattering.

I want to get ahead!

They wanted everyone to see just how capable the Oliver family really were.

I feel like it's time!

Matthew turned and rushed toward a metal garage in the side yard.

This is the only place that wasn't affected by the fire.

There was a behemoth of steel parked inside.

These were steam tractors that Oliver Cotton Mill had ordered from the Royal Machinery Bureau at great expense in order to transport large quantities of raw cotton.

This is the only one of its kind in the entire Mondel Town.

The enormous wheels were taller than a person.

Normally, whenever it drives onto the street, all the windows on the street shake.

Old Oliver would boast to everyone he met that it was an industrial marvel.

Matthew shouted, "Come help!"

One call and a hundred responses.

Matthew's performance today has already won over everyone present.

Everyone grabbed iron shovels, scooped up bituminous coal, and poured it into the furnace.

With everyone working together...

Steam tractor--

Start up!

Matthew, dressed entirely in black, exuded confidence and waved his hand, saying:

"Set off!"

at the same time.

Envoy Caroline has already assembled her troops.

Following Charlotte's instructions, she said:

"Carter led the main force of the rebels to build a defensive line at the dock, while sending small groups of cavalry to search the town. They don't know our exact location, but the longer it drags on, the more solid their formation becomes."

"The patrol officers, led by Sanders' deputy, launched a feint attack from the west side of Municipal Avenue, firing the first shot; the workshop's armed forces and defense troops advanced from the north along the freight tracks, creating explosions to distract them."

"We'll go behind the central drainage ditch. We're the fewest in number and the fastest. Once the gunfire starts from those two sides, we'll head straight for the dock warehouse."

The plan was simple: split into three groups, with two feint attacks to draw fire while the core squad went straight for the vitals!

The group accepted the order, and the first two groups set off first.

Li Mo glanced at Wayne beside him.

Wayne's lips turned white with fear.

Li Mo said, "Wayne, you stay here."

Wayne immediately shook his head. "Stay... stay my ass! I have to get you to the docks, don't I? I'm a gentleman, after all. If I abandon my friend and hide in a rat hole at a crucial moment, how am I supposed to face the capital afterwards?"

He took a deep breath and began to use his special skill, rapidly chanting in a string of words:

"I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid! I'm the bravest, I'm the bravest, I'm the bravest!"

Anna said softly, "Why don't we let him come along? He'll be safer walking in the middle of the group."

Li Mo nodded. "Okay."

Wait a moment.

Charlotte closed her pocket watch, put on her trench coat, and said, "Let's go, let's set off."

"Yes!"

Several figures quickly disappeared into the night.

The first half of the race went very smoothly.

Just as Charlotte had predicted.

Gunshots and explosions were heard from the northwest side of the town.

The rebels at the dock were moved around, and the torchlight was constantly being moved outwards.

Under the cover of night,

Li Mo and his group passed through three empty checkpoints and were only two streets away from the warehouse.

but...

The crisis still came.

Carter is not someone who is easily led by the nose.

He and the Queen were on the same page.

He led eight of his most elite personal guards and headed straight for the governor's private residence via a side path.

So two groups of people,

They collided head-on!

A broken kerosene lamp at the intersection.

The light revealed Charlotte's red hair.

Charlotte!

Carter didn't hesitate and fired immediately!

Bang!

Fortunately, pistols of that era were generally inaccurate, and given the darkness of night, the bullets missed their mark.

Li Mo and the others immediately sought cover!

Carter roared, "Fire! Kill them all and drag the Queen out!"

Life or death hangs in the balance.

Without hesitation, Li Mo immediately unleashed a flashbang!

"Everyone, close your eyes and backslide!"

Li Mo's men had already received the intelligence and were acting entirely under orders.

Carter and his soldiers completely disregarded this.

--Within the force field, all Mystical Ritual are rendered ineffective; who would be afraid of your little projectiles?

The next moment.

A blinding white light descended!

Carter and his seven or eight soldiers were completely unprepared and suffered a major setback.

Screams rang out instantly.

Carter's mind went blank, and he staggered back two steps, his heart filled with turmoil.

Mystical Artifact?

How could that be!

He seemed slightly flustered because of the unknown.

He shrank back around the corner, not daring to make any rash moves.

At this time,

Anna moved.

His eyes narrowed slightly, then quickly focused.

She saw chaos at the intersection.

A senior adjutant standing next to Carter was covering his eyes and wailing.

Anna held the guns in both hands, her mind as still as water.

Raise your hand, extend it horizontally, and lock it in place.

Bang!

Blood splattered everywhere.

The adjutant died on the spot.

Carter, hiding behind cover, cursed angrily:

--Who the hell is this subordinate? His marksmanship is so good!

The unknown creation and the threat posed by Anna made Carter more cautious in his actions.

Charlotte made a quick decision and shouted, "Let's go!"

With Wayne pulled along, and under the cover of Anna and envoy Caroline, Li Mo casually threw another flashbang behind them.

Without stopping, the group rushed directly to the core area of Mondel military-controlled docks.

The warehouse was right in front of us.

Even from the outside, the entire warehouse was radiating a faint crimson glow.

Caroline pushed Li Mo into the warehouse and said:

"The Mystical Artifact is inside! Mr. Li Mo, leave this to us, and do your job!"

Li Mo stepped through the gate.

Caroline behind him suddenly turned around, drew her sword, and gave a stern order:

"Using the main gate as a reference, establish a semi-circular defensive line using the cargo containers! Load the bullets!"

The crisis is not over.

Carter's men will eventually regain their sight.

Moreover, the surrounding rebels, hearing the gunfire, also converged from all directions.

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Fire lines crisscrossed in front of the warehouse door.

Caroline lay prone behind the cargo container and fired a shot, then quickly crouched down to reload.

She glanced back at the warehouse and called out anxiously, "Li Mo! How much longer?!"

Li Mo remained motionless.

Anna said, "Your Excellency, he has already begun. We should not interfere with him; just focus on defense."

It's easy to say, but extremely difficult to defend against.

The enemy was a well-equipped regular army.

Both in terms of weaponry and combat experience, our side was completely outmatched.

Carter has already surrounded them from the outside.

He held a megaphone in his hand and said:

"Brothers of the garrison! Look closely at the sun's Corona in the sky! That's the royal family's ultimate weapon—to drag the entire town down with them!"

"Only by catching that red-haired girl can we all have a chance to live!"

"A bounty of 100,000 gold pounds will be offered to whoever kills her!"

"Charge!"

Carter's words were very inflammatory.

Some soldiers were initially hesitant, unsure of which side to stand on.

But gradually, more and more people chose to Carter...

That's how battlefields are; once victory is in the balance, the number of the winning side can snowball.

The intense gunfire was almost constant.

With a soft thud, one of the Black-Robed Court Guards next to Caroline was shot in the chest, groaned, and collapsed to the ground.

Another patrol officer was grazed on the arm by a stray bullet as he leaned out to return fire, his sleeve soaked with blood.

The defensive line is being compressed little by little.

Caroline's face turned ashen, and she bit her lower lip until it bled, saying:

"Your Majesty! We can't hold on any longer! I'll cover you as we retreat back to the border by water!"

Charlotte glanced at Li Mo, then said:

"No, protect Li Mo. Once the ritual ends, these people outside will disappear instantly. Right now, we just need to hold on."

Caroline's wrist trembled. "Your Majesty, we're almost out of bullets!"

Charlotte remained silent.

She chose to believe the prophecy of the Great Sage.

She chose to believe Li Mo.

The firelight illuminated everyone's faces, making them glow red.

The rebels' gunfire grew louder and louder.

Just then--

Boom!

Boom!

The ground was shaking.

The pebbles were bouncing.

A colossal steel beast, billowing white steam, tore through the darkness and burst forth from behind!

Matthew, riding high on the cockpit, roared:

"Your Excellency, Matthew from the Oliver family! He's arrived with reinforcements!!"

Caroline was taken aback.

Oliver's family?

The son of that cotton mill owner?

Her reaction was quick; after assessing the terrain, she immediately shouted:

"Place the car across the middle of the bridge! Use it as cover to block them!!"

Matthew heard this and replied, "Yes, sir!"

Carter spat and cursed, "Where did this lunatic come from? Turn your guns around! Kill this bastard driving the car first! Don't let him stop! Open fire, all of you!"

Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bullets rained down.

The windshield shattered instantly.

Puff!

A bullet lodged in Matthew's left shoulder socket.

Blood gushed out.

"Matthew--!!"

Wayne witnessed this and screamed.

Matthew was in so much pain, his whole body was spasming.

But he gritted his teeth, roared, and slammed the steam valve shut.

The furnace roars!

Just --

Forward, forward, forward!

Bang!

The second bullet pierced his abdomen.

The third bullet shattered his thigh muscle.

Blood flowed down his trouser leg.

However, Matthew couldn't feel any pain anymore...

He watched as the rebel soldiers frantically dodged the front of the vehicle.

Looking at that warehouse.

The brain only felt,

I've lived for seventeen years, and there hasn't been a moment more exhilarating than this!

I didn't cry under the factory ruins, nor did I cower under the bed like a coward and wait to die.

He was driving the most impressive machine in town, blocking the envoy's path.

--This is fucking real success!

Matthew tilted his head back, using his last breath to roar as he faced the hail of bullets flying towards him:

"Remember this!!"

"My name is Matthew Oliver!!"

"Once we win the war, you absolutely must erect the biggest monument to me in the city square!!"

Amidst the furious roar.

Matthew kicked down the bolt that was locking the brakes with his right foot.

Boom--

The steam tractor stopped.

Stop right in the middle of the bridge!

On the driver's seat.

Matthew's body slowly slid down the iron seat and fell into a pool of blood.

Under the Corona,

His vision gradually blurred.

He twitched his lips, wanting to laugh.

But I couldn't bring myself to smile.

In the end, he could only mutter one sentence to himself:

"Old man... this time you should... praise me, right...?"

"Damn it... why... at this time...?"

After saying that, the boy fell silent.

"Matthew--!!"

Wayne broke down in front of the warehouse.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

He ripped off the flashbang, frantically pulled the pin, and threw it away with tremendous force.

A burst of white light temporarily deterred the rebels who were trying to climb onto the vehicle.

Wayne turned his head, tears streaming down his face:

"Li Mo!! Matthew is dead!!"

He's dead!

In the warehouse.

Utterly quiet.

At least that's what Li Mo thinks.

He had been focused ever since he stepped into the warehouse.

The scene before my eyes...

Difficult to describe.

An octagonal bronze base, about half the height of a person, supports a dark red ring.

Thousands of silver threads burst forth from the ring.

They intertwine, twist, fold, and resonate in space...

As if thirstily absorbing the energy from the Red Moon, its rotation rate increases every second...

This is a question.

A problem so complex it's utterly frustrating.

If we have to make it happen.

It is necessary to utilize nonlinear higher-order partial differentials, multi-dimensional spatial harmonic coupling, and singularity calculations with inverse phase...

Li Mo alone,

Standing alone in front of this problem.

It's like an ordinary person with a wooden stick crashing head-on into a towering steel cliff.

There were no computers back then.

The probability of solving this problem using only the human brain is infinitely close to zero.

Even Li Mo himself wasn't entirely confident.

Sweat dripped down.

He knew,

The outside world is bleeding.

This wall stands before everyone.

Retreat means death.

Giving up is death.

then,

Li Mo closed her eyes.

Take a deep breath.

Take another deep breath.

calm.

Focus...

Mathematics is objective.

As long as it's a question,

There will definitely be a solution.

Li Mo opened his eyes, his expression already calm.

I must solve this problem myself, for everyone's sake.