Wasteland Echoer

"Your Highness, now you believe in magic and extraordinary power." Vladimirski's tone was extremely low, but mixed with some pain caused by the expansion and tearing of the flesh.

Its sharp blue-white fangs growing from its bloody mouth slowly approached the artery under Ivant's neck like a slow-motion movie. Under such close contact, as long as his fangs penetrated slightly deeper , the fate of the imperial crown prince will be to lose all his blood and become an empty skin.

"Are you threatening me?" The Crown Prince did not struggle. He used his peripheral vision to look at the "Bana Flower" blooming in a vase carved with light blue plant patterns next to the window sill, and asked in a calm tone that was consistent with his status as a royal noble.

"Just to show you our power. Moreover, in addition to the fighting form, I can also show the escape posture. But here, I don't think that is necessary." Vladimirski explained:

"We vampires all believe in the Lord of the Night, and the royal family of the Sune Empire all believe in the goddess of light. I cannot have an absolute conflict with you, because this will destroy the absolute balance of the wasteland world. But I must remind you that magic and extraordinary Power is something beyond steam, at least for now.”

"Really?" A cold smile appeared on Crown Prince Evante's lips.

He laboriously glanced sideways to the right at Vladimirski, the strong vampire leader who looked like a combination of a bat and a human. Looking at his sunken eyes due to body changes, he actually let out a continuous and terrifying smile. .

"Hahahahahahahaha," Evante reluctantly stopped his "heartfelt" sarcasm. He rolled up the sleeve of the blue-black dress with the six-pointed star button on his right hand, revealing an expensive watch exclusive to the nobility.

The material of gold is particularly shining in the splendid room, and the golden color of the environment resonates with the unique golden color of the watch.

The mechanical watch on Evante's wrist has been specially treated by the imperial craftsmen. As long as the person wearing it is moving, it will generate heat due to mechanical friction and supply the internal battery, thus ensuring that it will never stop.

In the Zine Empire, electricity is a precious product. Although the invention of batteries precedes the discovery of electromagnetic induction, the real button battery is a part of the empire's technology that has always been difficult to break through.

"This is a watch." Ifant shook his right hand, fearing that Vladimirski wouldn't recognize it.

"A common product," Vladimirsky retorted bluntly.

"It may be the extraordinary product you say. You see, although it is made of gold and is inlaid with diamonds mined in the mines excavated in Zhenetsk thousands of years ago. But as long as it is in the dark night, it will emit The fluorescence of Orchid, as long as the unique power of the royal family is poured into it, no matter whether it is the vampire, the lost or the unintentional, it can't be resisted. But I never believe in this." Ifant said smoothly.

"I want to try." Vladimirski said with interest, moved his fangs away from Ivant's neck, and licked the corners of his mouth with his reddish tongue, as if in anticipation The "prey" performs comical performances under the power of force.

"Then try it." Evante said, slowly crossing the black piano, and after wearing a pair of pure white aristocratic gloves on the window sill along every finger seam, he tapped the watch twice with his left index finger. glass lid.

Immediately afterwards, a group of blue silk threads floated out from it, quickly forming a pattern of six-pointed stars and chamomiles in front of him and Vladimirski.

After the sapphire-like light flashed in Evante's eyes, Vladimirski only felt an inexplicable tingling sensation mixed with numbness in his chest.

He looked down subconsciously, and at some point a bloody hole appeared in his chest, with bright red blood pouring out uncontrollably.

His blood-red eyes showed a strong look of fear. He glanced around and found that there was no third person in this magnificent room except Ivant and Aaron the Lost.

And Yato's "Wolf" brand pistol was placed smoothly on the low glass table, without any sign of being moved.

"Who is it?" Vladimirski struggled to spit out this one of the simplest words in the Zine Empire language from his mouth with two exposed fangs, and he covered his chest that was still overflowing with blood.

"No need to look for it, it's the pistol called 'Empire Core'." Ifant took out a compact pistol of more than 20 centimeters from the holster on his waist and placed it on the black piano cover.

"Order monster?" Vladimirski seemed to understand something. The scarlet color in his eyes quickly receded and turned into normal brown eyes full of bloodshot eyes.

His chest, which had been pierced by bullets, had tiny flesh-colored tentacles extending inward, squirming to repair the damage.

"It's not a pistol, it's a watch. MB-104: Time Wheel Watch. The Empire has regarded this as a symbol of the royal family since the end of the Second Era. You can only get it if you become an emperor, or are about to become an emperor. It's obvious, isn't it?" Fante took out his watch, waved it in front of Vladimirski, and said:

"Only people with the blood of the royal family of the Zine Empire can trigger it. It can stop time within a limited range. In other words, create an area beyond the three dimensions, allowing me to briefly enter the four-dimensional space to achieve my goal. If there is no such thing as your words The so-called extraordinary touch of magic, it is an expensive watch, nothing more. However, 'The Lone Wanderer' Tou II used it to fight for power, and 'The Wise' Frederick XVIII used it to commit suicide. And I, It can be used to reestablish the order of the empire."

"Your Highness..." Vladimirski was about to defend something, but a blue light flashed in front of his eyes, and a bloody hole appeared again in his chest, which was still squirming for repair.

It was bigger than the previous one, and even had a slightly pungent smell.

It took two steps back in horror, and he discovered that the position of the "Empire Core" pistol on the piano lid had reversed, and the muzzle was now facing him directly, with continuous filaments of smoke drifting outward.

"The Socra Committee recently passed a reform. It was led by the fat old man Holly. His external stance is to be in step with the empire, right, Yato." Ifant turned his head and glanced at Yato who was standing aside. .

Ever since the conversation between Ivante and Vladimirski, he had been bending over with his head lowered, standing with a pure black cane for support.

It was as if this short-lived "fight" had nothing to do with it. He was an "outsider" that was transcendent from the empire, the wasteland, and even the universe.

Under the urging of Evante's calm and slightly green voice, he shuddered as if he saw the old deep sea god "Dipser", and replied with a little trembling:

"The Sokra Committee has divided the city institutions into the ruling group and the strategic group, fully referring to the Zhnetsk model. The ruling group has offices, financial and economic groups, material groups, machinery groups, industrial planning groups, urban happiness groups and other institutions, strategic The regiment is affiliated with the army, escorts, military stations, and security stations. All functions are established with reference to the reform content of SGD 520. This is indeed abnormal."

"Deceit, betrayal, rebellion. And, Vladimirski, as far as I know, you told me the specific content of the Blood Night Ceremony not to let me deal with Sokra, but to try to persuade me to accept Sokra's model. In fact, the Vampire Clan does not want to betray the Empire, but you, as the leader of the Vampire Clan, are betraying the Empire?" Ivante asked.

He even raised the "Imperial Core" pistol and pointed it at the elder Vladimirski's slender green ears and fanged head.

"Hahaha," Vladimirski let out a horrifying laugh, like a bat escaping from the abyss, fluttering his wings slightly, retreating slowly, and said:

"There is indeed a traitor in the vampire clan. There are many people who want to replace me. In fact, Socra's 'paradise' model is the future of the Wasteland Era. Not to mention the empire, even the Lost cannot control the Heartless. They are just better than For us, we are closer to the existence of gods. The world is a game of gods, a nightmare. Only lying down can usher in a new era. This is the result of a [prophet]'s divination."

"How about I show you the deeper extraordinary?" Vladimirski roared.

He murmured the divination language spread in the ancient Pusius Empire. This is an alternative system different from the Zine Empire language and the Central language. He belongs to the language of the blood race and alien beasts.

Immediately afterwards, his hands shone bright and vivid red, and the increasingly rich red turned into a blazing flame.

Like the orange-red sun at dusk, like the legendary "MB-001: Burning Sun" that can melt people and turn them into a ball of meat.

That's the magic power of fire!

Just when he was about to bombard the blazing fireball that quickly brightened in his hands with tentacle-like blood-red stripes and expanded outward in the direction of Ivant, Ivant tapped the pocket of his white trousers.

In an instant, the flames and all the light in his hand disappeared, as if they had never appeared.

Even his bat-like wings, tiny tail and sharp fangs disappeared in an instant, and his body returned to a pale human appearance with torn rags hanging on it.

"Vladimisky." Ivant mocked with a victorious smile on his lips:

"Times have changed. There are at least four Annihilation S-01 machines in this room, and all extraordinary and magical powers will offset the vibrations they emit. In other words, as long as they can be mass-produced, steam machines will become The only one in the empire. Speaking of Aaron," Ivant turned around and asked:

"How should traitors be dealt with?"

"Go back to Your Highness," Aaron's slightly sharp voice could not hide his trembling and said:

"The members of the Imperial Guard are at the door. It has committed the crime of 'attacking the royal family' and needs to be sent to Zhinetsk for trial. Those... other vampires are still loyal to the Empire."

…

As the images of the silver-white figures of the Imperial Guard and Vladimirski's pale body passed by, Ivante sat back down at the piano.

Immediately afterwards, steady footsteps were mixed with the "squeak" of the golden door being pushed open, and a tall figure appeared in front of Evante.

He turned his head and looked.

A pair of khaki military combat boots, a pair of broad palms with brown half-gloves, a brown-based military uniform, and a badge with a wolf head pattern carved on his chest.

"Your Highness, [Guardian] Pusef has met Your Highness."

As a rich voice came from his throat, the middle-aged man with messy short hair, a face full of vicissitudes, and scars, the leader of the "Lone Wolf Society" and the man known as the "Wolf of the Odyssey" actually asked Ivan Kneel down on your knees to salute.

This is the etiquette that the Zine Empire only exercises when facing the Lord and the Emperor!

Of course, the ultimate etiquette satisfied Evante's vanity. After raising his hand to signal the two-meter-tall "Wolf of Odyssey" to stand up, Evante said directly:

"The 'Lone Wolf Society' is a semi-civilian organization. As long as you cooperate with the imperial army in this operation of 'Silence Comes' instead of the Socra Legion, the empire will give you all guarantees. Including formal army establishment. Also , I heard that your young soldier Ivan who was injured in the Battle of Kofu is still being treated by Aaron's friend. I think you should find time to care about your subordinates. The 'Blood Clan's Dinner' seems to be coming to an end, right? It’s my turn to give my final speech.”

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Yes, Your Highness." Pusef and Aaron said in unison.

…

Stepping over the dark red carpet and the brightly glowing gas lamps hanging high on both sides of the corridor, Ivant stopped at the dark black leather-covered door leading to the dinner hall.

Just as he stretched out his hands wearing white gloves stained with a little black oil and a little blood, and was about to push the door in, he suddenly heard a melodious and sweet song that seemed to be able to tear apart the deepest existence of the soul. .

"Who is it? Crusted-style country music?" Ifant tilted his head and asked Aaron beside him.

"Yina, the girl John bought from the bounty hunter outside the Silent Highlands, is also the key to contact with the 'Confused Song' and then the 'Daughter of the Mechanical Element'. The two days when she woke up were during the visit of Kashaeva. Help her recall her knowledge of vocal music. She is really talented, and this song is a Cruz German-style piece sung in Zine Empire language. She is the finale of today's dinner, and the song is tentatively titled 'Song of Confusion'. "

"Oh?" Evante held his chin with interest and listened carefully.

"Flower of the Sun."

"The flower of the sun."

"Bright and beautiful."

“Bright and colorful.”

“Follow it at noon every day.”

"I hide from the mournful cry of desire."

"I escape the relentless grinding of steam gears."

"In the place of silence between you and me."

“Fields filled with sunflowers.”

“Wisdom and inspiration will come.”

The melodious tone was matched with the music played on the piano, and the beautiful and vast stars, the scorching morning sun, and the endless scenery of the manor and farmland seemed to appear in front of him.