Chapter 203: The Journey of Dorr Is Not Yet Concluded
Roger revealed a pensive expression, trying to grasp Nicole's true intentions.
Or rather, after the breach of the Black Shark Fortress, Nicole's course of action became exceedingly evident. Once this unimaginable feat is accomplished, her next moves will be laid bare for all to see.
And as the powerful seafaring individuals, who had been accompanying Roger all this way, arrived at this location, their countenances turned remarkably grim.
Although the previous intelligence had already confirmed that the Black Shark Fortress had become a ruin.
However, witnessing the dire situation here with one's own eyes, where even the seabed structure has collapsed, and an unknown number of horrendous explosions have taken place, while the fortress that the seafaring nation had invested countless human and material resources to construct has been obliterated from the face of the Empire, truly left a profoundly striking impact.
Furthermore, what is even more significant is that the Naga expeditionary force didn't occupy this place. Instead, they pressed forward immediately after demolishing the Black Shark Fortress, delving deep into the heart of the Empire to commence their campaign of devastation.
In contrast to the Naga Empire's militaristic state, where almost everyone is conscripted, the merfolk have focused on widespread promotion over the course of a long period. Whether they are the main ethnic group or vassals, having experienced an extended period of peace, they have gradually declined.
The disparity in combat prowess between the general populace and professional military personnel is quite considerable.
After the outbreak of the war, the seafaring nation hastily conducted conscription training, desperately expanding its military forces in order to impede the Naga's advance. However, it still struggled to withstand the enemy's onslaught.
The Sea Emperor has already conscripted all eligible individuals under his control and if this continues, the production of the seafaring nation will come to a halt.
The Black Shark Fortress served as their final stronghold. Beyond this defensive line lies the path all the way to the capital, where the Naga expeditionary force has deployed their troops and fortifications for direct confrontation.
In other words, the waters between the Black Shark Fortress and the capital are essentially undefended for the Naga.
All the towns and cities, along with their citizens, found themselves virtually defenseless against a horde of armed thugs who were granted free reign to slaughter at will.
This can be regarded as the most severe situation they have faced since the Naga invasion of the seafaring nation.
The previous largest withdrawal, albeit in an organized manner, was still able to hinder the Naga's audacious entry into the seafaring nation's territory.
Now, however, the once impregnable fortress has become a bastion under siege, even the most elite force of the seafaring nation has been decimated, leaving no trace. In this moment, the Naga's iron cavalry rides freely, ruthlessly hunting down the common people of the seafaring nation...
"Damn Naga! What kind of sorcery have these damn Naga employed to cause such devastation?" Stiwe's face turned pale. Despite his dislike for the Fourth Prince due to his loyalty to Shac, he didn't wish for him to meet his current fate.
When it came to the instruction of Naga's massacre, everyone knew that the fate of the seafaring nation's towns and villages was grim, and they would undoubtedly be targeted as outlets for venting anger.
"This is the conclusion we have reached here as quickly as possible," Roger looked towards these skilled members of the seafaring tribe. "Search for information and try to reconstruct the situation at Black Shark Fortress at that time, searching for survivors."
His calm and confident tone provided these mentally unbalanced professional seafarers with the current tasks they could undertake, as if grasping a lifeline, they responded in unison, "Understood!"
In contrast to the sorrow and lamentation, they were determined to do whatever they could.
Otherwise, if such tactics were to land in the royal capital, they would still be unable to resist, and it would truly spell doom for the seafaring nation.
In fact, Roger didn't have such concerns. He was well aware that the objective of the Naga in this battle was to seize the landing point, and they didn't have the manpower to reach the royal capital of the seafaring nation.
However, there is no need to explain such intelligence to these skilled seafarers. Driven by fear, they will rely more on the empire and immerse themselves in work to forget their sorrow. This is a self-beneficial practice.
However, at present, Roger also needs to teach the Naga a lesson, to restore a balance of power between the two sides, and reclaim the landing point in order to fulfill the empire's desired scenario of underwater supremacy.
The radiation on this side of the ruins has been purified, creating a clear path. It seems that Nicole didn't want to waste even a second at that time, leading the team straight through the former Black Shark Fortress site and charging towards the landing point.
Meanwhile, the surrounding area is plagued by radiation, but it poses little harm to the defensive capabilities of the world's strong.
Warriors can only rely on their physical strength to withstand it, while spellcasters have various unimaginable means, coupled with healing spells and protective equipment. Truly strong individuals can directly venture into irradiated areas.
Soon, Roger was accompanied by only two Nightguard soldiers ensuring his safety. He activated the Resonance Soul Bracelet, instantly collecting more and more battlefield information, while also seeking support from the Arcane Council, attempting to unravel what had transpired at the scene.
Those legendary powerhouses are not ordinary individuals; each of them has grown through countless battles and adventures, possessing boundless experience. They are able to draw numerous conclusions from the information left on the battlefield.
As the information they uncovered is relayed back to Roger, everyone gained a preliminary understanding of what exactly transpired on the battlefield during the fall of the Black Shark Fortress.
When the fortress fell, battles were still raging on the city walls, with no signs of retreat from the Naga forces, resulting in heavy casualties.
All the explosions occurred almost instantaneously, indicating that someone had infiltrated the interior and made preparations in advance.
The initial placement of the explosions was at critical structures of the fortress, including the foundation support structures. The explosive force was maximized to its limits, which triggered a chain reaction.
Upon discovering the dissipating divine presence, it seems that the opposing party has modified some sort of magic creature proficient in covert operations, smoothly infiltrating the Black Shark Fortress and orchestrating the current outcome...
The crowd was buzzing with discussions, trying to piece together the scene. For Roger, however, this was an entirely unfamiliar domain. The experiences from his previous life's games were of no assistance in the present battle.
His presence propels the progress of the Green Vine Empire, as well as deepening the interference of the gods in this world. He suspects that he has advanced to a situation beyond several plot developments.
This was a path that he had never envisioned at the beginning of his journey through time and space.
However, through his investigation of the explosion site, Roger was able to ascertain that the Nagas' victory was due to Nicole's strategic arrangement. In order to execute her plan, she impelled the Naga expeditionary forces to launch a determined assault on the empire, with the sole intention of relentlessly depleting the fortress garrison's resources.
Moreover, the magical creature that infiltrated the Black Shark Fortress on behalf of the Naga is remarkably intelligent and powerful, akin to an architectural mastermind possessing exceptional observational and analytical abilities. Only with such capabilities could it closely examine the fortress's structure on-site and effectively carry out targeted demolitions.
Moreover, there is divinity involved. Evidently, that is some mighty being bestowed with power by the Sea God, capable of undertaking the mission to transport around fifty embroided mushrooms into the Black Shark Fortress.
In conclusion, the Arcane Society concludes that the magical creature in question cannot be replicated in the short term. The Naga Empire seeks to replicate this feat, but they may struggle to find another suitable vessel for divinity.
Even if such a vessel exists, it may not possess the same level of knowledge and be willingly undertake such a perilous task.
Therefore, the means employed by the Naga on this occasion fall into the category of irreplicable maneuvers.
Furthermore, they don't possess such a plentiful supply of embroided mushrooms. After being reprimanded by the Queen of Eternal Night, Frankenstein would definitely not dare to engage in such provocative actions again.
The analysis of the Arcane Society has relieved the powerful figures of the maritime nation, indicating that their capital city is at least free from any risks.
At this moment, just then, news suddenly arrived from the few powerful individuals who first discovered traces of divinity, "Reporting to Lord Charles, we have discovered the whereabouts of Prince Doyle..."
"Is he unable to move freely?" Roger inquired.
He almost instantly realized that the other party didn't directly bring Doyle over, but instead inquired about his reason.
The positive affirmation was given from over there, and Roger, without any airs, clarified the coordinates and fully activated protective spells before venturing towards the highly irradiated area designated by them.
The people of the Eternal Night world are quite bold, daring to venture directly into the radiation zone. The Arcane Society has also confirmed that the radiation in this world poses a very low probability of causing cancer and tumors among professionals.
However, Roger remained cautious, as his principles were established on Earth, and he naturally harbored a fear of radiation. It would be best for him to exercise an abundance of caution.
"Not only for one's own sake but also for the sake of future children, isn't it important to be a responsible father?" (In a contemplative manner within the fog)
Very soon, Roger caught sight of the excavated Prince Doyle.
This was indeed a true excavation, as the area he was in was subjected to Collins' direct assault.
And this former progeny, driven by a desire for vengeance against his brother, held a deep-seated hatred towards the royal lineage of the mermaid.
Although it was Shaq rather than Doyle who took action, they are blood brothers after all. It is only natural for a younger brother to seek revenge against his own sibling, isn't it?
As for Shaq possibly feeling elated about eliminating Doyle, at that time, Collins had no further considerations and directly left Doyle with an equivalent of a 300,000-ton yield Anthrax.
This is also the only strain of Anthrax that detonated not underground, but in mid-air.
Because of its uniqueness, coupled with the lingering presence of weakened divinity at the scene, only the legendary powerhouses would realize that there was a difference at this area. Which had led to many people gathering here to search meticulously for the source of the faint magical fluctuations, which led to the near-lifeless presence of Prince Doyle. Which they then dug out from the ruins of the fortress.
On the scene, a healer was sustaining Doyle's life with magic, yet their expression was filled with great dismay. "My lord, the prince's time is running out. He insists on seeing you."
Roger nodded, appearing solemnly before Doyle. He could see that the prince, whom he had last met with a sense of extraordinary valor, had now transformed to the point where his original appearance was almost unrecognizable.
Simultaneously, enduring the effects of both radiation and divine damage, his body underwent numerous mutations, rendering him nearly in a non-humanoid form, resembling those monsters cultivated in the Lydia Laboratory.
However, his survival amidst the devastating explosion that befell the Black Shark Fortress was nothing short of a great stroke of fortune. It was thanks to the self-sacrifice of countless bodyguards who shielded him from harm, as well as the plethora of invaluable life-preserving artifacts that adorned his person, that he narrowly escaped being torn apart directly.
However, the injuries inflicted by conventional safeguards still left him in a precarious state.
Prince Doyle carries a life-sustaining artifact which, when triggered generates a lifeline in the form of a vine that delves deep into the veins, pulsating with an extraordinary vitality, and thus reciprocates with the host to preserve his life.
However, his life was sustained, but what the lifeline vine attracted from the surroundings was not just vitality, but also an immensely potent radiation, directly amplifying the extent of Prince Doyle's grotesque mutations. This was the reason why the group of legendary warriors felt a sense of regret and helplessness, as they were unable to rescue him from the clutches of his deteriorating existence.
Dole painfully opened his swollen eyes and struggled to recognize Roger, mustering a feeble smile. He voiced a perplexing question that puzzled many onlookers at the scene, "Lord Roger, in the end, whom did you choose?"
Roger hadn't anticipated still being undecided at this juncture. However, in front of such a sizable audience, he refrained from elaborating further and simply gestured towards Doyle himself.
Dole couldn't help but smile, but it caused his wounds to ache, and dark blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.
He was overjoyed that he had emerged victorious after facing the Naga expeditionary force and their banner of city slaughter, leading the military and civilians on the weaker side to hold the fortress for three days.
In the end, the downfall was truly beyond his control, but rather a testament to Nicole's ruthlessness, so formidable that even the Naga who knew the truth would feel a sense of fear upon laying eyes on her.
Dole took a breath, lifted his eyelids slightly, his voice growing increasingly feeble, "Let Shac... protect the maritime kingdom... no matter what..."
Before he finished speaking, he fainted due to his limited energy.
"The Fourth Prince cannot be saved anymore" sighed the powerful figures of the maritime nation helplessly.
While Dole's heart didn't immediately stop beating, it grew increasingly sluggish, a state that even the magic of this world struggled to revive.
The divine aura within him exerted a resistant effect against most curative spells as it was a more elevated form of energy.
Roger didn't immediately respond to them, but turned towards the Soul Replica Wristband and said, "Lady Lydia, do you have any valuable suggestions?"
The Soul Replica Wristband projected the figure of a black-haired young girl, rubbing her temples. "I have reviewed his report. If you can bring him over to my side there may still be a chance to preserve his life. However, without the support of Vitality Tracks, even if I were to teleport there, I would be unable to save him."
"Thank you very much," Roger couldn't help but sigh.
He actually held high hopes for Dole. As a prince born of lowly status, to have achieved what he has now, combined with his bravery and composure, he should have had even greater accomplishments.
Unfortunately, fate is fickle. Nicole, the sorceress, rose to greater heights, and she took care of him at the Black Shark Fortress.
Lydia hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Actually, there is another method, but I'm unsure if it would be successful..."
"It’s fine to say it."
"Feed him to the Base Coral. I have designed a special fusion mode that can use new materials as the main body. His current damage is shared and incorporated into the growing body of the Base Coral, which will handle it well," Lydia paused for a moment as she spoke. "However, after the fusion, I cannot guarantee that he will still have his complete soul. As absorption is the method of assimilation, I can remotely modulate and suppress the process..."
Roger looked at the black-haired loli with lowered head and snorted, "I know that you have precious materials in mind that can't coexist with radiation and divinity. But I regret to inform you that we are infiltrating enemy lines alone, without any Base Coral by our side..."
At this moment, flows of distant turbulent water could be heard.
A fleet of underwater vessels composed of massive whales was rapidly racing towards the Black Shark Fortress.
On the majestic black seahorse leading the approaching army sat Prince Sharak adorned in vibrant armor and gripping a long spear. In his hand, held the severed head of a Naga.
Nichol Blue Coral, the vanguard general of the blockade.
Sharak fulfilled his promise, leading the mighty army to slay the Naga vanguard officer, and then breaking through the blockade to rush to the aid of the Black Shark Fortress.
With a slight gleam in his eyes Roger gazed at Sharak, who had halted in front of him, as well as the army behind him transporting supplies, lost in contemplation.
Sharak stood firm before Roger, his posture upright, his gaze sharp, "My Lord, where have the Naga fled to?"
Upon observing his appearance, Roger couldn't help but reveal a contented smile and softly inquire, "Sharak, do you dare to save your fourth brother?"
"What do I have to fear? I shall contend for the throne through my own abilities, not by him foolishly relinquishing it to me in such a manner," he confidently stated.
Sharak spoke confidently.
A sense of both gratification and surprise surfaced in the eyes of the numerous powerful sea clan members.
For the first time, an aura of regality, known as the essence of a true king, emanated from their prince.
