Chapter Forty-Eight: The Battle of the Great Bridge

I must admit, I am a clever man; otherwise, I could never have become the finest scavenger. Yet, for all my wit, I find myself lost in this world, doubted by both my wife and my subordinates—a sorrow born of the times.

Lamia asked, “Where… are we?”

I replied, “Don’t worry, my dear. Everything is under control.”

I merely hoped that come nightfall, Le Gang would return and guide us, but there were still ten hours until dusk, and at night we must avoid the demons and refrain from driving.

Lamia said, “We’ve run out of provisions.”

I said, “Perhaps we can loot a bandit’s lair or something…”

Bandits, who seemed omnipresent in ordinary times, lurking around every corner, were now nowhere to be found, hiding away. The world appeared vast beyond measure, so much so that people could not cross paths.

Ahead, a canyon appeared, spanned by a frightful bridge. Its material was yellow stone, rising at an angle to form an arch; I estimated it could accommodate three or four Juno vehicles side by side. Part of it was shrouded in swirling white clouds, making it risky to cross without caution.

Lamia said, “There’s no bridge between the Black Coffin and the Pan-American Pyramid.”

I replied, “It must be a spatial distortion, appearing out of nowhere.” Though I wasn’t sure myself, I couldn’t confess it was my fault.

Soleis said, “Let’s just drive up, slowly. We won’t fall off the cliff.”

So we drove forward. Lamia opened the sunroof, holding Gungnir aloft, its powerful beam piercing the mist. I felt as if we were floating in the sky.

At a speed of twenty kilometers an hour, it took us half an hour to penetrate the clouds. The bridge broadened, expanding into a circular plaza. In its center stood a black tree, towering and astonishing, but on closer inspection it seemed to be a kind of crystalline mineral. Around the plaza, these black spires interlaced and grew thickly, each so dense it could fully obscure a person.

I maneuvered Juno slowly around, and Fei Zhong poked his head out and said, “This mineral looks like… the same material used in the Black Coffin’s construction!”

In my excitement, I nearly overturned the vehicle. Once stabilized, I asked, “Are you sure?”

Fei Zhong said, “Yes, I’m sure. I’ve seen this traded on the black market—it's worth a fortune!”

His words made my head spin and filled me with exhilaration. I thought, “I’ve struck it rich! I’m financially free! Fishbone Longinus is about to become the wealthiest man in the Black Coffin…” The Black Coffin needed vast quantities of this black crystal for expansion, and with such abundant deposits here, I could practically rebuild the entire Black Coffin… or at least a tenth of it.

Lamia sighed, “Don’t get too happy. We’re scavengers at heart. Except for statues, everything we bring back must be handed over. The Black Coffin will only give us a share.”

Suddenly, a piercing shriek and an explosion; Juno was engulfed in flames. Fortunately, it was as sturdy as Yune, or we’d have been blown to pieces. Flames and thick smoke enveloped the vehicle, and then bullets rained down in a storm.

I asked, “Bandits? Bandits have taken over here!”

Lamia said, “Whatever they are, they’re enemies. We need to retreat!”

Enemies had surrounded us from behind as well, firing rocket launchers at Juno. Juno withstood the barrage. Lamia fired Gungnir, taking down everyone behind us. I saw they were dressed in red and black coats, wearing square helmets, their attire marked with emblems. I shouted, “They’re from the Epoch Empire!”

Suddenly, the vehicle struck an obstacle and couldn’t reverse—some kind of invisible force field. Lamia said, “Let’s get out and use the black crystal for cover!”

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Another volley from the enemy; grenades, smoke bombs, and flashbangs were hurled at us. We huddled behind the black crystal, cursing our luck, in dire straits. Luckily, Lamia’s aim with Gungnir was unfailing, keeping the enemy from daring to charge.

Lamia asked, “Have they been here long, or just arrived?”

I answered, “They must have just gotten here. Otherwise, their encirclement would be tighter.”

Lamia asked, “How many enemies are there?”

I drank a potion and said, “About twenty-five left.”

Fei Zhong said, “I’ll charge in, you all cover me.”

Soleis said, “Me too.”

I shook my head. “I’m enough.” I drew the Water of Amon and turned invisible.

Lamia said, “Be careful, they might have anti-stealth capabilities.”

I laughed. “I have more than one trick up my sleeve.”

Lamia blew me a kiss. I strode out from cover as the enemy kept up suppressive fire. Armored shock troops with war hammers advanced toward our position. Their armor wasn’t like the Sword and Shield Society’s exoskeletons—no power systems, just iron-forged protection. These armored warriors had astonishing strength, perhaps even greater than the White Demons.

I gripped the Thunder Sword, sparks forming, and struck each one at the neck—the armor’s weakest point. Blood flowed, and they died behind me. Two more armored warriors roared and swung their weapons at me. I disabled Mjolnir, rolling away from their blows. I judged they couldn’t see me, but their weapon’s range was vast, and with distant gunfire unceasing, I dared not strike recklessly.

Slender black shadows shot past, piercing their eyes. They screamed and soon lay dead. I saw Soleis and Fei Zhong approaching—those were Soleis’s black hair.

Fei Zhong shouted, “My turn!” He sprinted forward, moving like water, dodging bullets. An armored warrior swung at him, but Fei Zhong wrapped his arms around the warrior’s legs, twisted, and used him as a shield, letting his own comrades’ fire tear into him. Fei Zhong pushed forward ten meters, the man dead but still serving as Fei Zhong’s massive shield.

Other armored warriors shouted, “Let him go!” Two aimed rocket launchers at Fei Zhong, and shells thundered. Fei Zhong leapt up to the black crystal mine, evading the torrent of flames below.

Soleis and I each took a flank, killing the rocket soldiers. The enemy threw flashbangs, and we quickly hid behind cover, eyes shut.

I saw Soleis’s abdomen bleeding, hit by several bullets. “Are you hurt?”

Soleis said, “I’m a living corpse. This is nothing.”

I said, “Stay here. Fei Zhong and I can handle it.”

Soleis nodded, “I’ll be fine soon.” I watched as she extended her hair into her own abdomen to extract the bullets, making my scalp tingle—I dared not look further.

Fei Zhong had already slipped into the enemy’s rear ranks, twisting and moving unpredictably like a water snake. Even when hit by bullets, he kept fighting, slaughtering the light-armored soldiers with ease.

To have these siblings as my subordinates must be the result of incredible luck. But then again, as the protagonist, what’s wrong with a little cheat?

As I pondered this, someone hammered my head. Blood streamed down my face as I fell—a hulking armored man, but in the next second, Lamia pierced his throat.

Lamia had moved up close, tending to Soleis. She shouted, “What are you daydreaming about now?”

---

Dazed, I said, “I… forgot. I don’t even know what I was thinking.”

Suddenly, Soleis cried, “Fei Zhong! Something’s happened to Fei Zhong!”

I saw Fei Zhong in agony, as if an invisible hand were squeezing his throat, lifting him into the air. Four black-robed figures were responsible, each extending a hand with a device emitting pale blue light. Two of them drew pistols and fired at Fei Zhong’s head. He screamed, his head fell limp.

Lamia cried, “Fei Zhong, he…”

Soleis trembled. “No, he isn’t dead. The Underworld Fire can grant him a second life. If we rescue and treat him in time, he’ll be fine.”

Lamia fired sniper rounds at the attackers, but an unseen shield protected them, and the bullets couldn’t penetrate.

The black-robed men shouted, “This is now territory of the Epoch Empire! Any intruder will be slain without mercy!” “Glory to the Holy Emperor! All things of the earth belong to the Holy Emperor!” “The slain warriors shall be remembered! We will save the world and end its suffering!” “Sinners, your sins shall be cleansed by your blood!”

I held my breath, seeing the shadows cast by the black crystal stretch, connecting behind the black-robed men. I slipped into the shadow behind the crystal, swimming through darkness for about fifteen seconds. Emerging, I found there was no shield behind them. I struck one down with my sword, then, together with my shadow, stabbed Stone Fir and killed two more.

The last man’s expression twisted in fury. He began chanting loudly, “Hero of the Holy Lance, protect your faithful!” Another device on his chest glowed gold, enveloping him. Stone Fir struck his vitals, but he merely staggered back a step. His device shone, and I felt myself bound by unyielding iron bands, unable to move no matter how I struggled.

Lamia fired from a distance, but her shots couldn’t penetrate the man’s shield. Tears welled in her eyes as she removed her helmet, firing ceaselessly and shouting, “Let him go! Let him go!”

Suddenly, the man’s features contorted, blood gushing from his mouth. He curled up, eyes fixed behind him, and said, “You… you… traitor.” Then he stopped breathing.

Fei Zhong and I dropped to the ground. I cradled Fei Zhong and saw, not far away, another figure—a gaunt old man in black, about one meter seventy-five tall, clearly also of the Epoch Empire. He smiled warmly, his gestures elegant, his gaze fixed on Lamia.

The old man said, “My dear Lamia, we meet again.”

Lamia’s body shook, her face twisted in rage. “You… you’re… Simon Magnus?”

Simon said, “It seems, after all these years, you still hate me. That truly saddens me.” He turned to face me. “You seem to love this person, even shedding tears for him.”

Lamia grew cold as ice, no longer weak or furious. She said, “If you dare harm him, I’ll turn you into a hive of holes.”

Simon laughed. “Relax, Lamia. I only want what’s best for you. Now that I see you have someone worthy of your trust, I am happy for you. You’re not like your mother, who gave herself to a mediocre, feeble man—something I could never tolerate and sought to save you from.”

Lamia said, “You call that salvation?”

Simon said, “I did save your beloved, didn’t I?” He paid no heed to Lamia’s threats, pressing a hand to his forehead. After a moment, he said, “I advise you to leave quickly. The Empire’s reinforcements will be here soon. Though we lack dependable vehicles, trust me—once they have you in their sights, escape will be impossible.”