Sword of Daybreaker

In the huge matrix hall, the buzzing sound of the ancient equipment resonates among the silver-white metal pillars. These sounds are superimposed on each other, and sometimes it sounds like a wind ring with a strange melody——Oh. Philia vaguely remembered that a long time ago, when this underground facility was not closed, someone had visited her and used "wind chimes" to evaluate the sounds she made when she thought.

However, that was a long time ago, so long that even tireless machines would seal the corresponding data at the bottom of the database. Nowadays, there will be no living people knocking on the ancient dusty door here. In the huge underground facility, Only the soulless iron man and icy magical machinery accompany her, an ancient ghost who never sleeps.

The resonance between the square pillars gradually decreased, and the holographic projections that clearly showed the exterior of the wasteland were also extinguished one by one. The Ophelia Matrix ended her short rest state, and the name outside the wall was called "Vero The active terminal of "Nika" was transferred to the standby thread, and then the metal pillars in the hall began to quickly adjust their respective heights and orientation angles. Each matrix node completed self-checking and went online, and began to take over the information chain of various laboratories and factory facilities in the base. road.

While these matrix nodes are changing, a metal platform in the center of the hall also rises to the ground with a slight "hissing" sound of pressure injection, and the covering device above the platform quietly slid away to the sides, revealing The precision container placed on the top of the platform is an ellipsoidal protective tank made of crystal. Countless pipes and cables are connected to the metal structure of its base, but there are half of the runes on the base at the moment. All of the above are in the state of extinction-and inside the ellipsoid chamber, a slightly petite and slender figure floats quietly in the thin pale golden solution.

It was a young woman, with long light gray hair mixed with metal texture scattered behind her like a waterfall. She wore a classical dress that no longer belongs to this era. The exquisite decorations on the dress and the woman's own The vulgar features all show the special status of this "sleeper"-but even though the features are still beautiful, this woman floating in the pale golden solution has no life to reveal. She is like an exquisite doll floating on top of one another. In the coffin that has been closed for hundreds of years.

  Matrix watched this figure floating in the container, and completed today’s monitoring record routinely:

  "XX year X month XX day, Ophelia Norton brain died on the 266455th day, the matrix continues to operate, the internal conditions of the base are normal, and the higher level instructions have not been received, continue to perform the initial tasks of the system..."

  ……

In the valley surrounded by a piece of decomposed waste soil, a grid of thorns intertwined by giant plant structures has grown luxuriantly into a solid and dense wooden dome, which blocks the turbulent, turbulent wind on the waste soil. , Also blocked the dry sand grains engulfed by the wind and the ash debris from unknown origin, and inside the dome, the environment in the valley has been completely stabilized.

The luminous plants inlaid on the dome and surrounding rock walls provide sufficient lighting for the entire settlement. The vines deep into the rock formations and underground provide a filtered clean water source in the valley. The substances needed for the growth of the plants come from full of magical energy. In the decayed soil of the residue, a large number of dormant "tree people" cling to the rugged rocks and slopes, and in the clearing between the tree people, a large number of twisted but luxuriant plants can be seen on both sides of the path.

If you ignore the terrible twisted thorns on the dome, ignore the truth behind this valley, the environment inside... In fact, it can even be described as "vibrant"-if outsiders come here, I'm afraid Unexpectedly, such a place with lush vegetation would be located in the deepest part of the Gondor Wasteland.

A faint rustle came from the forest. A pair of elf sisters stepped out of the woods. The pale green priests' dress robes brushed the low bushes by the path, and the light from the dome illuminates their delicate faces. ——Firna stopped, looked up at the fully closed dome, then turned to look at the "sister" beside her, and suddenly said with a smile: "Does this scene just remind you of the remaining impressions in your mind? In the southern forest, beautiful elves came from the forest bathed in sunlight, breathing the slightly humid and earthy morning breeze..."

Lerna immediately shook her head: "The remaining impressions in my mind are already fragmented, and I don't think the scene you described can be used in such a woods catalyzed by the twisted force of nature... Think about the state of those lush plants before they became what they are now. According to a mortal's point of view, that's disgusting."

"A mortal eye..." Ferna said softly, with the same faint smile on her face. Then she narrowed her expression and scanned the surrounding woods. "But it must be admitted that these believers did achieve surprising results. They have reshaped the suitable ecological environment for themselves in a small scale—in a sense, they have'cured' this wasteland..."

At this moment, a hoarse and low voice suddenly came from not far away, interrupting Ferna's second half of the sentence: "Unfortunately,'healing' the wasteland is only a by-product of the plan. What we are pursuing is to let The whole world is back on the right path."

The elven twins turned their eyes to the direction of the sound at the same time, and at the same time gently nodded to the leader of the tree man who was walking slowly with his roots: "Look who is here—our master, Lord Borken."

“I’m sometimes curious about whether you are alone or two.” Borken didn’t care about Sister Ferna’s provocative attitude as always. He just swept the two eyes with those yellow-brown eyes. Ming Elf, "If it's the former, use a soul to play the two corners and talk to yourself... Isn't it tired?"

"On the contrary, this is so fun," the elf sisters said in unison, both with faint smiles on their faces, and then Ferna spoke separately, "Your Excellency, the master master who usually has everything to do, has time to care about our sisters today. How to get along? Is it because you finally gave up your unrealistic plan and prepared to find a sunny place for photosynthesis like a normal plant?"

Leerna also said: "It may also be that the erosion of the deep blue net has finally caused the ghost in the wasteland center to alert. An army of iron men has located this small hiding place, and the masters are already preparing. Cleaned up and ran away..."

"...Sooner or later, I will let your poisonous tongue learn how to get along with your allies," the Grand Master Borken stared at the two elves in front of him, his tawny eyes briefly revealed There was almost undisguised malice and irritation, but soon he condensed these emotions, and his tone became happy and relaxed. "Whatever you say, my subordinates have already made great achievements in the deep blue network. The success of the control runestone has been buried, and several pulses running through the entire planet are gradually falling into our grasp-I came to tell you that my plan is one step closer to success."

"Ah, that's really thanks to the cordial and frank attitude of the Grand Master. Do you remember to tell us the progress of the plan as soon as possible to such a trivial ally..." Sister Ferna said in a deliberately exaggerated tone. , And then Lena looked into Borken's eyes, "But we guess you didn't just come here to report good news to us, right?"

"Of course not, you'd better not pretend to be confused," Borken said immediately, his entangled and twisted canopy made a series of rustling noises from the heights, "Don't forget the things you promised before-we must put the nodes Rune stones can be thrown into the cracks outside the wasteland to gain sufficient'control degree'. To achieve this, the'Wasteland Great Wall' is an obstacle that must be resolved."

"Ah, remember, of course," the Elf sisters deliberately stretched the tone, and Ferna also raised her head to look in the direction blocked by the rock wall and the dome, as if she had to pass through those obstacles and the distant distance. , To see the magnificent towers standing on the edge of the Gondor Wasteland, "The Sentinel Tower... We are really able to provide you with the knowledge of the Deep Blue Nets, and to help you infiltrate the Ironman Soldiers and Orpheus Leah Matrix’s external energy supply system will now help you solve those'sentinels' standing on the edge of the wasteland... Your Excellency, it’s not easy to cooperate with you."

"This is part of the contract, two people," Borken said in a deep voice, and all the "anger" and "irritability" were condensed in his tone, and he became very serious and solemn, "I know you have always had your own There are things you want to do in private, but I’ve never really pursued them-because in the general direction, we have a common goal. The world needs real and long-term security, not any For the compromise of living in the world, we must completely end the threat of demons and gods to this world-for this reason, the world has to choose some sacrifices.

"Now, our long-term efforts have finally reached the most critical time. The deep blue network that runs through the entire planet will fall into our hands, so at least before the plan is completed, let us both show some sincerity... even if there will be some in the future. One day we really need to part ways, and I hope that will happen after the plan is successful."

"...A wonderful speech, Mr. Grand Master, I can already be moved," Ferna said unhurriedly after Borken's voice fell, and the elusive look in her eyes concealed it. With all her true feelings, she stretched out her index finger and thumb, and gestured a small gesture in front of Borken, "Of course, it's just a small touch."

"Even so, we will still abide by the contract," Lena on the side said immediately, "Those sentry towers, we will find a way to get them-you can trust us, after all, as early as a few years ago, we have succeeded. Achieved penetration of the Sentinel Tower..."

Borken's yellow-brown eyes scanned the Elf Twins several times, and then the dark druid leader who had turned into a Twisted Treant shook his canopy slightly, and it came from the friction between the branches and leaves. His old and low voice: "Very good, then I look forward to your results."

   "You can expect - of course, don't expect it to be too early," Lena said lightly. "It is not easy to crack the Sentinel Tower after all. Even for us, we have to prepare for a long time."

   "Of course, I can wait," Borken said in a low voice, "Anyway, I have been waiting for many years..."

Accompanied by the rustling sound of the wooden structure creeping and rubbing, the old twisted tree man wriggled his roots and left the forest path, and his figure gradually disappeared from the sight of the elven twins. Lena and Ferna stared at the name. In the direction in which the leader of the druid disappeared, there was an intent that no one could understand in his deep eyes.

Then they raised their heads and stared quietly at the direction blocked by the wooden dome and rock formations--their gaze seemed to penetrate these airtight barriers and the long distance in the wasteland, watching those standing at the end of the wasteland, A giant sentry tower supporting a magnificent barrier.

  Fierna’s lips moved, and suddenly she sang a country folk song that has been circulating in the people of the Silver Empire since ancient times.

   "The wind blows through the deep forest, and the wind is hollow... The lonely tower stands in the wind, and the sentry can't see the familiar bird flying across the sky..."

  Lierna's voice softly connected----

   "How long the hollow wind blew, the old trees in the forest can't remember... the bird never flew across the sky... a sentry went crazy...

  "The bird never flew across the sky again, a sentry went crazy...

   "A sentry went crazy..."

  ……

   "The bird never flew across the sky again, a sentry went crazy..."

Belsetia sat on the bench by the garden path, looking at the starry night sky with some fascination. The tunes humming softly by the Queen of Silver lingered in this quiet courtyard, and finally dissipated in the cold night breeze. in.

"I've heard this tune before, and it seems that you sang it," Gawain glanced at the Silver Queen sitting next to him curiously, and at the same time was a little confused, "but I remember that the word I heard was'bird He never flew across the sky again, because the sentry stewed a bowl of pigeon porridge'..."

"...I did it by myself, Uncle Gawain," Belcetia suddenly twitched at the corner of her mouth, a little embarrassed, "After all, I was still a kid...forget it, I just sang it. The ones are'genuine'."

"Well, I knew it was your nonsense," Gao Wen sighed helplessly, then touched his chin thoughtfully, "but this genuine lyrics sounds strange... Or the whole song sounds weird. What is the origin of this song? Is it some kind of sacrificial repertoire?"

"Sacrifice repertoire? Of course not," Bersetia was taken aback, and immediately waved her hand. "This is nothing more than a folk song sung by the Silver Elves. Children sing a lot. When I was young, I liked running. When I left the Fairy King’s court and went everywhere, I learned how to sing with my friends in the countryside outside the city..."

"Children sang..." Gao Wen was startled, his expression was a little weird, "How can I say, you really deserve to be a silver spirit, the world's evaluation of your artistic cells is not just nonsense—a song from the countryside. The lyrics of the nursery rhymes are so deep and complicated by you."