Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 268 - 267: Lights of Civilization

The formation of the Melting Cut Sword marks a further enhancement in the combat power and combat forms of the Cecil Clan warriors—in this world where various magic and counter-magic exist, a single long-range weapon or melee weapon is difficult to cope with the complex battlefield situation. The Melting Cut Sword fills the current gap for the Cecil Clan warriors, and its other significant meaning is a step forward in the minds of the local craftsmen and technicians in the Cecil territory.

Unlike the new things that have appeared in the Cecil territory in the past, the "Melting Cut Sword" was completely developed by the locals from its initial conception to the final product. Except for a few suggestions given by Gawain when choosing the technical route, he did not participate in any of the technical or creative stages in the entire process. The craftsmen, technicians, knights, and warriors in the territory worked together to complete the design and development of this new weapon. For Gawain, the significance contained within it has surpassed the technological achievement of the Melting Cut Sword itself.

During the manufacturing process of the Melting Cut Sword, he saw the ability of the local technical personnel of this world to process and create using existing technologies and materials—the sword blade of the Melting Cut Sword is made of a special magic material called "Purple Steel." This material has extremely special properties; it has a strong resistance to high temperatures and can hardly be smelted or processed with any form of high-temperature forge, only in a specific intensity of arcane energy environment does it become malleable. On the other hand, the heat-insulating material used in the Melting Cut Sword involves a mixture of quartz sand and crystal dust, which is a byproduct of processing various magical substances in the "Magic Crystal Refinery." This mixture is highly resistant to high temperature and has poor heat conduction and can become a very solid filling material between metal materials when mixed with an acid adhesive...

The so-called "heat insulation" magic symbol on the sword body is one of the basic symbols most commonly used by mages in laboratories. It can constrain heat and direct it into the gaps in the magic circle. In the laboratory, mages usually use it as the outer protection of the alchemy table to prevent the table from being damaged by various high-temperature magic (after all, many magical experiments require extreme environments to achieve, and the material of the alchemy table itself cannot withstand all extreme magic effects). The rune craftsmen often assisting mages in setting up alchemical equipment cleverly used this symbol on the Melting Cut Sword, making it focus the thermal energy almost like a "focusing" method near the blade...

These are all unique materials or technologies of this world. Their unique properties would probably be described as incredible for the technical personnel on planet Earth. However, this seemingly backward "medieval world" has its own set of technical routes to process and handle them, which deeply impressed Gawain.

The day after the Melting Cut Sword entered mass production, a brand-new magical device was being erected in the square at the center of the city.

A large group of mage technicians—the unique "magic industrial personnel" of the Cecil territory—busied themselves under Kamel’s leadership. They transported a large object covered in tarpaulin to the center of the square, then began to dismantle the metal cover plates on the floor in the middle of the square, exposing the Magic Web Connector beneath. The mage technicians used various pre-engraved magic circle rune triggers to measure the state of the Magic Web. After confirming that the connector was functioning well, Kamel manipulated the Mage’s Hand and Weight-Reduction spells to move the two-meter-tall "big guy" over the connector.

The unusual scene attracted people’s attention, and they gathered around the square. They noticed that there were soldiers guarding the inner area of the square, but beyond the inner area, there was no sign of a lockdown. The residents of the Cecil territory were used to such situations: it meant that the leader and scholars had created another incredible new thing, which had great significance for the territory, while ordinary people could freely watch from a safe distance.

In other aristocratic territories, commoners never showed interest in the leader’s affairs because most of them had nothing to do with their daily lives. The so-called "what belongs to the aristocracy belongs to the aristocracy, what belongs to the commoners belongs to the commoners" illustrates this point. However, in the Cecil territory, people were gradually getting used to paying attention to any changes happening in the territory because they knew that all of these were closely related to their lives.

Under the watchful eyes of countless curious onlookers, the large device covered in tarpaulin was steadily placed on the Magic Web Connector, and then Kamel’s Mage’s Hand unveiled the tarpaulin, revealing a huge and mysterious magical device to everyone.

It was a two-meter-tall spire composed of crystals and metal—it was the finalized Magical Obelisk. Compared to the initial half-meter-tall "prototype," it was bigger, more beautiful, and would be more stable and efficient.

The mage technicians immediately started the work of securing and connecting the obelisk. They had pre-drilled fixing holes in the center of the square, and now they began using strong bolts to firmly fix this magical device to the ground. Another group was responsible for welding the connections extending from underground to the base of the obelisk—they had vambraces installed with "industrial magic transmission terminals," which were unlike the military magic-broadcasting devices as they were installed with non-lethal Scorching Ray’s base plates that had reduced power and range, with enhanced continuous output performance. This newly developed array based on the modification of the Scorching Ray was new technology from the Rune Research Institute, and for Jenni Perot, who had cracked almost all of the low-level rune mysteries, making such modifications was effortless.

Kamel’s vision lingered for a long time on the "industrial magic transmission terminals" equipped by those mage technicians. He knew these magic terminals could install a variety of functional components, from heat melting beams to cooling rays, and even power drills and cutting saws could be mounted—just by changing the exterior or the module inside. In terms of versatility, the functions of such magic transmission terminals were even more varied than military versions. However, their power was much less compared to the military models.

According to the leader, these industrial magic transmission terminals were only "intermediate products." Their ultimate goal was to become civilian, allowing ordinary people in the Cecil territory to use them in their daily lives.

Arcane sparks flickered across Kamel’s face, watching those mage technicians who could not use magic at all melt metal and install the base of the Magical Obelisk using the power of magic. Their operations were so smooth, not a bit inferior to real mages. In fact, since they didn’t need to split their focus to maintain magic or chant spells, they might even do better in the future.

"Magic is just a kind of power; mages can use it, ordinary people can use it, everyone can use it"—what a crazy idea, yet what’s crazier is that it is gradually being realized in this land.

"All bolts fixed." "Connector welding complete." "The first layer of runes is lit, magic power connection established."

"Master Kamel, the installation is completed, shall we activate the obelisk? Master Kamel...Master Kamel?"

The voice calling by his ear brought Kamel back from his distraction. He slightly floated up, coughed with a demeanor of authority to disguise his embarrassment, and then looked at the already installed Magical Obelisk.

Without having to get close for a detailed look, he could effortlessly see the flow of magic within and outside the device. Clearly, the technicians’ installation was perfect, and it had already entered its optimal working condition.

"Activate the obelisk, release the limiter," Kamel said with a buzz.

A Mage Technician stepped forward, pressing down on the Rune Trigger device located at the base of the obelisk, securing it with a safety pin. Accompanied by a low hum, this large magical device immediately began to emit a beautiful blue glow. The originally deep purple crystal body gradually brightened, and its components slowly floated into their designated positions in mid-air under the influence of the floating array...

Vast magical energy instantly swept across the entire square. Almost no one could feel the gust of energy, yet Kamel spread his arms amidst the magical energy, quietly enjoying the sensation of mana fulfillment.

After adjusting his own arcane flow, he no longer felt "itchy.’

The waiting Soldier immediately stepped forward. Upon receiving confirmation from the technical personnel, this Soldier took out the "propaganda material" previously written by the leader and began loudly explaining to the gathered people in the square the function of this device and the safety precautions during its operation. However, Kamel did not pay attention to what the Soldier was proclaiming; he merely tilted his head back, looking at the Cecil Clan’s sky.

A pure white snowflake fluttered down, affected by the magic vortex, spiraling to the edge of the square, followed by more snowflakes, one after another, gently descending from the sky.

It snowed. After the onset of winter, the southern regions have experienced several snowfalls, but in Kamel’s eyes, the snowflakes falling at this moment seemed to hold a different significance.

"Do you wish to extinguish the fire of human civilization?"

The ancient Master Mage quietly observed the sky, watching the increasingly abundant snow falling from above.

"You cannot extinguish it."

In the middle of the first winter in the new Cecil territory, the first Magic Obelisk in human history was illuminated.

Across from the square, in the feudal lord’s mansion, Gawain stood on the balcony, quietly observing the scene in the square through the open window. After the Magic Obelisk was lit, he revealed a faint smile—no excessive joy, as everything was anticipated, the greatest surprise having already occurred when the "prototype" was designed.

He turned around, re-entering the room from the balcony, and casually grabbing a "Receiver Device" improved to be only half a palm in size from the desk. He installed this Receiver Device into the newly set slot on the room wall. With a light "click," the Receiver Device fit perfectly and seamlessly with the magical circuit in the room, and a crystal lamp specifically for testing the magical power field lit up.

Aunt Heidi was already standing in the room, smiling at Gawain: "Ancestor, the first Magic Obelisk is already lit, and we will follow the plan to modify the Mage machineries within range to include Receiver Devices that can receive the magical power fields. Subsequently, newly produced Magical devices in the factory will also be pre-equipped with ’Magic Field Receivers.’ As for the crystal streetlamps, they will remain unchanged, still powered directly by the old Magic Web system."

Gawain nodded: "Very good, let’s proceed according to the plan."

"To be honest, I thought you would personally host this ’activation ceremony’ like in similar past instances," Heidi looked at Gawain with a smile, "after all, it’s such an important moment."

"There will be many important moments in the future, I don’t need to be present every time. This time, let Kamel take the stage—he also needs the acceptance and recognition of the land’s residents," Gawain said indifferently, "Rather than hosting the ’activation ceremony’ in the square, we have more important matters to attend to now."

"Are you referring to... the report received at noon today from the observation tower in the Dark Mountain Range?"

"Yes, the great walls flickered once—this is not a good omen."