Chapter 1 North of the Bulwark Moon Fortress

North of the Bulwark Moon Fortress, a colossal canyon, as if carved by a celestial being wielding a sharp axe, spread out like a line in the sky, stretching for dozens of miles, boundless, with raging wind and snow.

Two black robes fluttered wildly in the wind and snow.

Wild Dog, cloaked and hooded, stood on the edge of a precipice, gazing into the distance.

Goose-feather snowflakes obscured his eyes.

The howling wind sounded like ghostly wails.

He tightened the strings of his cloak, lifting his head. "The elite of the Fourth Legion... has been stationed in the rear."

"...Mm."

From the icy wind and snow came a low, hoarse reply.

The voice was like the sound of a rusted iron drum being struck.

Resonating for hundreds of meters, it was remarkably deep!

From above the cliff, one would see two figures, one large and one small... and while Wild Dog was already exceptionally tall, he appeared frail as a child next to the other.

This "monster," as massive as a small mountain, was addressed by Wild Dog as "Legion Commander" and was the leader of the Fourth Legion… none other than the renowned [Rustbone General] of the Northern Continent!

He stood on the edge of the cliff above the canyon, wearing a black iron headband, his hands resting on an iron sword. His massive frame seemed to weigh several tons, causing the snow on the cliff to scatter. The protruding rock face seemed unable to bear his immense weight, on the verge of crumbling.

A gust of wind swept through.

The enormous black cloak was blown open, revealing tens of thousands of snow-white scales stretched to the point of cracking.

The [Rustbone General] wore heavy iron armor, each iron scale the size of an infant's fist, seemingly possessing its own life, able to breathe and draw the wind and snow into the gaps.

He took a long breath.

Tens of thousands of scales opened like vertical pupils, quivering and expelling gusts of white air, clearing the surrounding blizzard!

A single glance was enough to make one's scalp tingle, filled with a sense of oppression.

It was hard to imagine what immense power was contained within such a massive figure, and what kind of terrifying destructive force would be unleashed if he swung his sword with all his might.

Wild Dog endured the icy air blasting from the armor's scales.

He said in a low voice, "Legion Commander, are we really just waiting here... without taking other measures?"

"Isn't remaining stationed here... the Duke's request?"

Rustbone General glanced at Wild Dog.

The latter quickly lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "...Yes."

"Ahead lies the location of that super-large Disaster Zone." Rustbone stood with his sword planted, calmly stating, "One hundred and thirty-eight people are trapped inside. Even [Heaven's Eye] is trapped there, unable to escape. Would the Fourth Legion rushing in recklessly make things any better?"

Wild Dog took a deep breath and said, "I just... want to do something."

A large hand patted him on the head.

Like a benevolent father, stroking his child.

Wild Dog felt a strange sensation... Normally, he would have hated this gesture. Aside from Duke Cinderfrost, there was no one else he would submit to.

But now, he didn't seem to dislike this hand.

"You will see similar 'super-large Disaster Zones' in the future."

Although the Rustbone General's voice was hoarse, it brought a sense of inexplicable peace.

"Due to the location of the Northern Continent... the fortresses around are inevitably subjected to the spread and evolution of 'black spots.' If the Empress and the Apostles do not intervene, Disaster Zones will hatch... Perhaps some Disaster Zones represent opportunities, good fortune."

"But something like this 'super-large' one… is almost certainly a disaster."

Rustbone General had an excellent reputation in the Northern Continent, known for his iron blood, ruthlessness, and fearlessness.

He personally participated in every battle of the Fourth Legion, charging at the forefront!

But Wild Dog never expected that the first lesson this General would teach him was…

"Remember, if you encounter such a 'super-large Disaster Zone,' the first thing you must do is ensure your own survival." Rustbone said gently, "Only by living can you have any meaning."

Wild Dog was stunned.

"The Fourth Legion can enter the Disaster Zone at any time. But issuing orders without understanding the situation inside… how many people would die in vain?"

"I've watched each and every one of them grow up within the fortress."

"Each and every one of them is my 'bone.'"

The General said softly, "Right now… all we can do is wait. [Sky Tree] has already entered the Disaster Zone. If neither of those two transcendent beings can send out any messages, nor save themselves, then all the Fourth Legion can do… is sever the Disaster Zone's connection to the real world."

Wild Dog's pupils constricted slightly.

It took him ten seconds to understand the Rustbone General's meaning.

"You mean… abandon them?"

Rustbone was silent for a moment.

"Sometimes, abandonment… is the only choice."

"I have known Zhou Jiren for a long time… cutting off the connection was his instruction to me before entering the Disaster Zone." The General shook his head. "Before severing the connection, I will try to enter the Disaster Zone for one last attempt, but I will not go deep, ensuring that I can retreat."

This was the worst-case scenario.

"Even after severing the connection, there is still the possibility of 'rescue.'"

Rustbone General murmured, "But… hope will become extremely slim…"

Wild Dog silently calculated the time in his heart.

The Grand Arbiter from the Eastern Continent had been in this Disaster Zone for ten days.

Judging from the time…

Hope… was already extremely slim.

"Wait…"

Wild Dog suddenly sensed something unusual.

At the end of the vast, snowy canyon in the distance, there seemed to be the sound of something breaking.

Rustbone General silently stared at the white world…

In the wind and snow, countless strands of hair and vines burst forth, transforming into a square doorway!

"Someone… is coming out!"

…

…

"Everyone, we meet again... this is the first meeting convened by Forward City this year..."

Above the virtual network conference table, figures materialized one by one.

"There are two matters to discuss at this meeting."

Duke Cinderfrost said softly, "Firstly, regarding the 'super-large Disaster Zone' that recently appeared at Bulwark Moon Fortress, I have a response plan here. I ask the members of the Privy Council to review it."

The participants began to browse the document sent by Duke Cinderfrost.

Ten minutes later.

The silence was broken.

"Since the Fourth Legion has already arrived at the Disaster Zone... why not attack directly?"

Someone finished reading the document, exchanged glances with their colleagues, and spoke angrily, "The Fourth Legion is fully capable of taking down a Disaster Zone of this scale… it can be directly eliminated. You're actually requesting the Fourth Legion to be stationed there? If it's just to observe, why waste the resources to leave the fortress?"

The quiet atmosphere of the round table became somewhat chaotic.

Many people were whispering.

Duke Cinderfrost merely smiled.

He did not answer directly, but instead looked around, waiting for similar voices to emerge.

"Anything else..."

Cinderfrost said softly, "If anyone has any objections or similar questions regarding this plan, you may raise them now."

Interestingly.

The once-noisy round table became quiet again.

"This Disaster Zone has not yet been named... but the scale has been confirmed. It is ten thousand meters in diameter and expanding outwards at a speed of at least one thousand meters per month. It has already reached the scope of a 'super-large Disaster Zone,' and the rate of expansion is accelerating." Cinderfrost said slowly, "If this Disaster Zone expands for a year, it will reach the main gate of Bulwark Moon Fortress. Whether the strong-logic materials can stop it… is a question. Deep Sea's prediction is that it cannot. Bulwark Moon Fortress will be directly crushed by the Disaster Zone. At that time, the garrison within the fortress and the residents behind the Great Wall will all need to be evacuated."

"That's why we should destroy it even more!"

The "angry" Privy Council member stood up.

"No..."

Cinderfrost smiled and shook his head. "In fact, I prepared two plans. The first plan is a permit for the Fourth Legion to be stationed at the Bulwark Moon Disaster Zone, which requires your signatures... and the second plan is that, starting today, Forward City needs to issue an order to transfer personnel from Bulwark Moon Fortress."

Everyone was shocked.

"This video… is the latest secret message from Bulwark Moon."

Cinderfrost placed one hand behind his back and gently waved his sleeve.

The scene of Wild Dog and the Rustbone General gazing out from the cliff appeared before everyone.

Due to the intense transcendent source interference, [Deep Sea] could not monitor the massive snow valley. All related electronic components had lost their effectiveness and could only be recorded using the transcendent beings' own spiritual power.

Everyone attending the meeting saw the shocking scene that followed.

The massive snow valley was breached by trees and hair… a door emerged from the void, and tens of thousands of tons of snow poured out, lasting for more than ten minutes, with subtle black spots mixed into the snow.

"This is…"

The "angry" Privy Council member looked dazed.

He did not quite understand what this video meant.

"When the Bulwark Moon Disaster Zone was first born, one hundred and thirty-eight people poured into it. After this Disaster Zone fully surfaced, none of these one hundred and thirty-eight people… were able to leave. After drawing the attention of the Fourth Legion, the situation escalated, and we discovered that this Disaster Zone was different from the past. All 'communication methods' had lost their function."

"As you all know, Deep Sea can also link through spiritual power."

"And this Disaster Zone… greatly weakens the connection between spiritual power and the outside world. Of these one hundred and thirty-eight people, only [Heaven's Eye] sent out a strand of hair."

Everyone knew what happened next.

Wild Dog sent the strand of hair to the Eastern Continent, so the Eastern Continent's Grand Arbiter, Zhou Jiren, rushed to Bulwark Moon and personally entered this super-large Disaster Zone to rescue people… the strength of these two top-tier transcendent beings was enough to allow them to act with impunity in almost any place in the Five Continents.

But after entering the Bulwark Moon Disaster Zone, they were completely silent.

"Just two hours before the meeting, the Bulwark Moon Disaster Zone underwent a mutation… [Heaven's Eye] and [Sky Tree] worked together to open a door, sending out one hundred and thirty-five people. These people were transcendent beings who had entered the Disaster Zone in an attempt to obtain opportunities… and the method of sending them out was somewhat special." Duke Cinderfrost narrowed his eyes and said, "As you have seen… these people were sent out by a snow avalanche. Deep Sea has analyzed the data and concluded that a massive avalanche occurred within that Disaster Zone."

"One hundred and thirty-five people, one hundred and twenty-nine deaths, only six survivors… all unconscious."

This data plunged everyone into silence.

The original angry Privy Council attendee was struck by lightning upon hearing this news, his expression turning pale.

The reason he strongly demanded that the Fourth Legion attack the Bulwark Moon Disaster Zone… was because some of their faction's colleagues had entered this Disaster Zone in an attempt to seize "benefits."

"They're all dead…"

A disbelieving whisper sounded at the round table.

One hundred and thirty-five people, one hundred and twenty-nine deaths.

This was basically… complete annihilation.

What power was at play within this super-large Disaster Zone… to cause such a terrifying mortality rate?

In the past, the biggest problem with entering a Disaster Zone was the inability to find an exit linked to the real world.

There was indeed a mortality rate.

But it had never been this high… even if all six of the unconscious people could survive, the mortality rate would still be as high as 95%!

Someone quickly realized something was wrong. "There are still three people who have not left this Disaster Zone…"

"Correct."

Duke Cinderfrost said calmly, "That is why I drafted these two plans. [Heaven's Eye] from the Eastern Continent, [Sky Tree], and Arbiter Zhong Wei are still in this Disaster Zone. They have not left."

"You want the Fourth Legion to wait for them outside the Disaster Zone?"

The Privy Council member was stunned and immediately objected, "The Northern Continent's army has to be stationed outside for the sake of three people from the Eastern Continent. Do you know how much that will cost?"

Cinderfrost glanced expressionlessly at this Privy Council member who had jumped out to object more than once.

The latter did not realize anything was wrong and continued to rattle on.

"The daily military expenditure, food, energy… all of this money is allocated by the Privy Council!"

"Airships, source energy cannons, external armor!"

"Tobacco, alcohol, strong-logic materials!"

With a "snap."

A slight cracking sound echoed above the round table.

The angry voice came to an abrupt halt.

In the moment before the "key official of the Privy Council" who had been angrily objecting severed the connection, as his spiritual power had not completely disconnected, someone clearly heard the origin of that sound.

It seemed to be a sound from the linker's real world.

"Oh… everyone doesn't need to worry… that should be the sound of the 'Sentinel' knocking on the door."

Cinderfrost said calmly.

He said, word by word, "Her Majesty the Empress reviewed the financial ledgers a few days ago and discovered accounting errors. A group of fools were hiding behind the iron walls of the Northern Continent, trying to hollow out the Great Wall and enrich themselves. Some have sacrificed their lives for the Northern Continent, while others have colluded in corruption, playing with power. In such a difficult and special period, Her Majesty cannot condone such behavior."

"I forgot to tell everyone… this is the second matter of this meeting."

"The investigation into corruption has concluded, and all relevant evidence has been collected. Just as you were attending the meeting, the Sentinels of Forward City had already set off."

An uproar!

The round table descended into chaos. Some were terrified, others were dazed.

The sound of gunfire entered the meeting through the spiritual link!

Soon, someone else disconnected, and the last sound transmitted to the round table was filled with anger: "Let me go! I've been framed!"

Several minutes later.

Nearly ten "familiar" figures were missing from the round table… The remaining attendees all had complex expressions. Some of those who had disappeared were their friends, they had heard some rumors, and some were innocent who were completely unaware. Their reactions were different, some were terrified and some were calm, but one thing was the same.

Astonishment.

No one knew when Cinderfrost's investigation had started. By the time they heard the news, it was all over.

The judgment and sword had already fallen.

"Alright… everyone, elites of the Privy Council, pillars of the Northern Continent, let's continue."

Cinderfrost chuckled softly and said, "Regarding the order for the Fourth Legion to be stationed at the Disaster Zone, we still need your signatures. Next, I will detail the reasons for drafting the two orders."

…

…

(This month's goal is 1800 monthly votes. There will be an automatic reward of 10%, including the reward, we still need 50 votes to achieve the "2000 votes" monthly vote achievement! It feels like it's not a big problem, there will be another update tonight!)