The Black Tide is one of the many disasters that Thalorian Kingdom needs to face.
When it arrives, countless monsters surge from the depths of darkness like a black tide, attacking Thalorian's defenses and putting immense pressure on humans.
The cause is unknown, and the study of it has always been an important topic in the Thalorian Kingdom.
On top of the Sword Pass Fortress, Instructor Anye is explaining the characteristics of the Black Tide and the methods Thalorian has used to deal with it throughout history.
This is a rare opportunity. After Steel Hand announced that the Sword Pass Fortress is in a state of readiness, all combat personnel take turns to be on duty according to the assigned order, ensuring that there are enough fighters on the city walls for sixteen hours a day.
There are also emergency and support teams in case of urgent situations.
At this time, all the students are on the city walls, and Anye takes the opportunity to start the lecture, hoping that these inexperienced newcomers can gain some useful knowledge before the imminent battle.
While listening to the instructor's lecture, Rode gazes into the distance.
Under the glow of the Guardian Fire, the towering Sword Pass gives a sense of great safety.
The three-hundred-yard range illuminated by the fire is like a protective shield, keeping all dangers at bay. Once something strange steps into the firelight, it will ignite into a raging fire until it turns to ashes.
This feeling is like the primitive humans lighting a bonfire to drive away wild beasts.
That sole fire is their home.
And this towering fortress intensifies that feeling.
It is one hundred yards long and ninety yards high, equivalent to a fifteen-story building. The top of the city wall can accommodate at least four carriages side by side, and there are three huge bed crossbows standing by the wall.
On both sides are even taller Dead Mountains, the only canyon.
Such an impregnable fortress is unexpectedly at the very end of the defense line. Rode suddenly feels that it is being underutilized. It should be at the forefront, facing the threats from the depths of darkness directly.
Many students, including Rode, have the same thought.
However, when they ask the instructor, Anye just smiles faintly.
"Sword Pass used to be the kingdom's frontline. Every time the royal city launched an expedition against the depths of darkness, it started from Sword Pass, just like unsheathing a long sword. That's why it's called Sword Pass."
The students are all amazed, and Beowood asks incredulously, "If Sword Pass is at the frontline, then where did the inner defense circle retreat to? How come our land is so small?"
"Yeah," Karamon shouts, "With so many of us, won't half of us starve to death?"
Anye reveals a peculiar smile, a familiar expression to Rode. It's the same expression his elders have when they educate him about the past.
"Before the new king took office, our kingdom was only this big, and there weren't so many people. The argument that the fire is about to extinguish and humanity is about to perish was prevalent in the royal city, despite many people strongly opposing and even prohibiting it. It couldn't hide the fact that Thalorian was weakening."
"Every time the expeditionary force set out from Sword Pass, they were met with indifference and disdain instead of blessings or encouragement. People believed they were going to their deaths, provoking the monsters from the depths of darkness, and pushing humanity to the brink of extinction."
"The biggest dream back then was to hold Sword Pass and build more fortresses like it, enclosing humanity and avoiding facing the dangers of the outside world, enjoying the afterglow of the Holy Fire."
"Who could have imagined that within just twenty years of the new king's reign, Sword Pass would become the furthest end of the defense line? Thirty spiritual energy generators were moved, leaving only one behind. The commanding officer of Sword Pass couldn't even attend high-level meetings in the legion. And now, newcomers like you can reinforce Sword Pass and resist formidable enemies alongside the defenders."
The city walls fall silent, and the students are captivated by what they hear.
Although Instructor Anye doesn't say a word, they can imagine the surging tides of those turbulent years and the epic victories.
"So, are we in the most powerful period of the Thalorian Kingdom now?" one student asks excitedly.
Anye shakes his head solemnly.
"No, the control range of the Thalorian Kingdom has been changing over the years. According to the history we have excavated and the relics we have surveyed, there was a time when Thalorian was much stronger than it is now. The Gray Extinction Excavators have proven that a fortress ruin located 1,700 miles away was built by the previous Thalorian dynasty. However, that dynasty was destroyed in an unknown catastrophe, and most of the historical records were lost."
These words pour cold water on the students, extinguishing the flames of creating a new era for humanity that had just ignited in their hearts.
In their eyes, Thalorian is already very powerful, and its glorious history adds a layer of victorious brilliance, as if as long as they continue to move forward, humanity will achieve ultimate victory.
But if a dynasty much stronger than Thalorian has been destroyed, what meaning does their effort have?Dark leaves glanced at the students with a gloomy expression, then revealed a peculiar smile. He said quietly:
"The past is only history, the future is uncertain, only the present is the gift bestowed upon us by fire."
"We will summarize all the reasons for our failures, follow the right path, step by step, towards ultimate victory."
"The lightning will eventually shake the world, and we will regain everything we have lost."
The students' faces once again showed radiance, but this time, the radiance was more stable, devoid of extravagance.
Dark leaves smiled faintly and was about to say something when suddenly, he and Rode almost simultaneously shouted, "They're here!"
Rode looked at him in surprise.
Dark leaves smiled calmly and said, "Sorry, I forgot to tell you all. I am also a complete clairvoyant, but it seems that young Rode is slightly stronger than me."
His voice turned serious.
"Karamon, immediately inform the command center, request the emergency team and support team to be prepared. Beowood, Raisin, Annabel, get on the bed crossbows and wait for my command. The rest, assume your positions according to the established tactics!"
The twelve people immediately dispersed on the wide city wall, appearing sparse.
The enormous bed crossbows made a loud creaking sound as they adjusted their angles, aiming at the wasteland of corpses outside the Sword Gate.
Rode felt a bit nervous. In his line of sight, beyond the flames, there was a huge shadow rapidly approaching them in the darkness.
The solidified spiritual energy seemed to be distributed on its soul like armor. Its soul waveform displayed an intense oscillation that Rode had never seen before. The words derived from the traces of its soul waveform were all jumbled and chaotic.
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Rode had never encountered a situation where the Soul Eye couldn't identify a monster before.
Suddenly, Dark leaves shouted, "High-level reaction ahead! Level seven spiritual energy waveform, it's a dangerous-level monster. Level one combat readiness!"
In the next moment, the shadow rose up, and the spiritual energy on its body boiled. A strong black light shot out from its head, directly towards Rode, who was staring at the chaotic lines on its soul.
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