Steel steam and flame

The huge underground cavity fell into silence after the two people's brief conversation. It was not until the charred fragments of the ancient historical world tree in front of them under the dim fluorescence began to glow red like breathing again that they were broken by Stant's words.

"The breathing rate has accelerated several times. Is this supposed to be good news?" He asked, his eyes falling on the fragments, and then he was attracted by the entangled roots that broke out from the ground. It is a tiny part of the root network left by the ancient historical World Tree. It is attracted by this piece of the trunk fragment of the World Tree. But every time I see it, I can still feel the shock from the brown-black bark.

Stant still remembered the information he had read. It roughly said that the Holy See was exploring underground ruins and when this fragment was discovered, rhizomes without a root network broke through the rock formations from extremely deep underground. Hundreds of years later, when the occasional vibrations became more frequent, members of the Holy See at that time explored the surroundings and finally discovered that the source of the vibrations was caused by the movement of roots breaking through the rock formations.

Several preventive measures were planned, but all ended in failure. Until now, under the feet of Stant and Nowisas, there are several layers of thick alloy steel plates that have been completely destroyed by the root network rhizomes.

The alloy steel plates have been twisted and decayed, and the earliest ones have turned into rust, and have even become nutrients for these roots.

At that time, it should be said that until more than ten years ago, actions to stop these rhizomes were still going on. From the initial defense to the later use of various instruments to cut and destroy the entangled roots, etc., they have been repeatedly used as feasible methods throughout the long history. But none of it has ever had an effect, even temporarily, and it has never happened.

These roots had proven themselves to be as vital as gods hundreds of years ago, and had left roughly the same deep impression on successive popes of the Theocracy. And having spent some time in the World Tree's root network, of course they can better understand the strength of these roots.

The root network is a terrifying life form that exists deep underground, but it is always sleeping. The various lives that stepped on the Three Phase Continent were more like stepping on this terrifying sleeping life form. Fortunately, the "stepping" movement is very small and not enough to wake it up.

"Expectation is good news. As for when the six red stars arrive, what changes will it have? How will it be different from the past? We can only wait for time to reach the established node. However," Nowisas turned around at this time, Throwing a third of the trident to Stant, "For me, it has no clear meaning. The fragments have new changes again, which may give birth to a new sprout. The benefits it brings It will be you who accepts it, not me. Although I have not been in the position of pope for a long time, it has been a long time since I became a member of the successor candidate list."

"I feel tired, especially in the current era. When there are new things to pursue, the pleasure brought by power is no longer fascinating."

Stant caught the trident steadily, looked at Nowisas who was approaching and said: "With a longer life, you have more possibilities. Compared with the rights in a short period of time, there is no advantage at all." .”

"But no one can guarantee the so-called possibility. Even the Third General, who has been eroded by time, will actively avoid this topic." Nowisas smiled, "In time, it truly maintains something like immortality and immortality. Yes, there is only the root network of the World Tree. Without the confinement under the whirlpool of the extreme sea, the third general would have become a withered skeleton under the deep sea."

The stone door was pushed open, and Stant stared ahead, recording the gloomy scene, then turned around and followed Novizas up the stone spiral staircase, steadily approaching the exit on the ground step by step.

"I'm not worried about the arrangements on the Prime Minister's Continent. How are the preparations within the Theocracy? At present, remember to leave nearly half of the surgeons behind. While maintaining stability, focus on taking care of the entrances and exits to various extreme areas and the underground world. And around the hatchery where polluted dragons breed, it has become a concentrated area of ​​power." Nowisas spoke calmly, as if it was a matter that had nothing to do with him.

"The war on the Prime Minister's Continent will definitely become a protracted war. At least until the end of the war, when we are already competing for opportunities, the internal environment of the Theocracy needs to be maintained. After all, this is our logistics support, resources, personnel, War machines, etc., all require large areas of industry to support them, and then provide qualified and satisfactory output. Any negligence on the part of any party at the entrance and exit of the extreme area and the underground world, resulting in the loss of control, will bring disaster to a large area. , a disaster more terrifying than climate impacts.”

Stant replied with a serious tone: "We are fully prepared. If there is a possibility of being lost, completely destroying the extreme area or the entrance to the underground world is a matter that has been voted on by the meeting and has been fully prepared."

"It's best to not think about saving, which is the most correct idea at the moment."

Without answering, Stant and Nowisas walked silently on the spiral staircase one behind the other, their movements becoming more and more mechanical, as if they had forgotten time.

Soon after, probably at the middle of the spiral staircase, Stant said, "The awakened people of the Nature Association will arrive at the Flame Alliance at the same time at a similar time. It is just as a deterrent, and their current target of action is not yet clear." And according to the third general, the person who will replace Miss Letitia of the Natural Society, Miss Lavia Waterenier, her condition should have stabilized."

"Three years... you only spent a little more than two years, right?" There was a lightness in his voice, and Novi Sasi seemed to be happy because of it, "My own words, it was less than Miss Liticia." It takes several months to stabilize the state. However, they will have more time, all because they have to help their second-type creatures complete the evolution. This is an advantage we do not have."

"But don't worry. Miss Laetitia and this Miss Lavia Waterenier will all be our allies in the future. Compared with them, what I am most interested in right now is The person Miss Letitia mentioned was the third-generation knight king of the Saint Dorag Empire, Eleanor Kiraandi.

She said that the third knight king of the Saint Dolag Empire had a shorter and faster time to stabilize. And on the evolutionary route of the second type of life, it is further than us. In fact, from the spiritual world connections that he was drawn into several times, we can conclude that this third-generation knight king does have something special. "

"Looking forward to meeting her." Nowisas smiled, "You should understand that even we will suffer mental degradation if we don't move our bodies for decades."