Chapter 431: Iron Demon
Chapter 431: Iron Demon
Half an hour later, Chen Chuan, Yuan Qiuyuan, and Qin Qingque boarded the train together, accompanied by a tactical squad of twenty-two individuals assigned to support them.
These personnel were responsible for coordinating attacks and handling auxiliary tasks such as logistics, communication, and transportation.
Among them was a familiar tactical advisor named Rao, arranged by Ding Mou considering their lack of familiarity with the area. He was there to assist in formulating tactical plans.
Due to the urgency of their departure, it wasn't until the train was in motion that Advisor Rao began briefing them on their mission.
"The Iron Demon is our target for this operation," he said, placing a roll of documents in front of the three. Upon opening it, a large color-printed photograph was revealed first.
Chen Chuan glanced at it; the so-called "Iron Demon" was a figure wearing a ferocious red iron mask, clad in old-style armor and a helmet, holding a lance adorned with white tassels and feathers. Mounted on a black horse with blood-red spots, the steed was also outfitted in old-era armor. Its eyes glowed crimson, and based on the reference objects in the photo, the horse stood at least two meters tall, with robust muscles and an agile yet fierce demeanor.
Advisor Rao explained, "We received intelligence that this individual is leading a squad of fifty men, planning to take advantage of our reduced forces at the front line to raid and disrupt our rear areas."
Yuan Qiuyuan examined the photo, stroking his chin. "I thought this was just a creature from the Convergence Zone, but hearing your description, Advisor Rao, and seeing this fellow's appearance, he seems like a person. And he's disrupting us—is he from an opposing force?"
"He is indeed from the Convergence Zone," Advisor Rao confirmed.
He raised his head and continued, "But you should know that in the past, during periods of change when the two worlds drew close, there were instances of contact, exchange, and even clashes between them."
"The Convergence Zone has existed since the old era," he added.
"In the past, our understanding of the Convergence Zone was not profound, and the rifts between the two worlds were scattered in various locations. Many people sought refuge here, and it was once a place of exile for disgraced officials and political failures."
"Recently, after the empires of the world were overthrown, many imperial family members and high-ranking officials fled to the Convergence Zone. They established independent dynasties, and their hostility towards us is significant."
"Furthermore, through the secret rifts and connections of the imperial family, they have maintained communication with our world, collaborated with companies, and acquired some lost artifacts. As a result, they are not technologically backward and have even adopted unique methods due to their prolonged presence in the Convergence Zone."
"Currently, apart from the entities behind the World Ring, these remnants of the old dynasties are our primary enemies here," Advisor Rao concluded.
Chen Chuan asked for further clarification, and it became clear that the stronghold they had established was located on the border of the old dynasty's self-proclaimed territory.
As the military fortress expanded, it naturally compressed their space, which they perceived as an attempt to eradicate them once again, leading to the intense conflict between the two sides.
Advisor Rao pointed to the photograph, "This 'Iron Demon,' the leader, is an elite imperial samurai of the old imperial family. He commands a group of cavalry warriors, and these men frequently raid and harass our patrols when our front-line defenses are strained."
Chen Chuan picked up the accompanying documents, which explained that "samurai" was a term used for fighters in the old era, and "imperial samurai" referred to those who served the imperial family and held a military rank as fighters.
To receive a military rank from the imperial family, one must have reached the Third Limit.
The documents stated that due to the vast and sparsely populated Convergence Zone, these imperial samurai each had their own fiefdoms or territories, typically in the form of fortified manors. Each imperial samurai commanded a group of cavalry warriors who served under them in battle.
Advisor Rao paused, reflecting that this was an ancient system, but it seemed well-suited to the region.
He continued, "This 'Iron Demon' has a history of sabotaging railways, dismantling and damaging our communication stations, attacking patrols, and even assaulting our outposts."
"They utilize vehicles, but their preferred mode of transportation is the specially bred Dragon Nose Horses, some of which have undergone implant modifications, like the one in the photo."
"These horses are powerful, fearless, and extremely durable, with exceptional endurance and carrying capacity. In the wild, they can match the speed of an off-road vehicle at a swift trot and can travel for an entire day without food."
"With these horses, their raiding range is extensive, and they move swiftly. Once we mobilize our main forces, they quickly retreat and relocate to other areas."
Qin Qingque, however, was perplexed. She asked, "Advisor Rao, even with their superior mobility, how can they be a problem for us? We have more advanced tools, better communication, and powerful weapons."
In the modern era, even with the superior mobility of the Dragon Nose Horses, the off-road vehicles can catch up with sufficient fuel, especially when operating within the inner lines. Logistics and communications are readily available, and there are airships in the skies. With determination and the temporary deployment of capable personnel, these enemies can be eliminated.
Rao Consultant spoke up, "These people aren't unfamiliar with technology; they are well aware of our advantages. Moreover, they have their informants within our ranks. They only strike when our forces are deployed to the front lines, and even then, they repeatedly test our defenses to ensure we don't have the strength to counter them.
Furthermore, they possess an advantage we lack—the ability to navigate and exploit anomalies in the wilderness... Well, the instructor probably hasn't had the chance to tell you this, but it's best to avoid spending the night in the wild."
His expression turned solemn, "The night is when strange and inexplicable phenomena occur, and bizarre incidents take place.
Within the fortress, the fortifications and protective suits provide safety, but the same can't be said for the outdoors. We've suffered too many losses in such situations.
However, these Iron Demons have their methods. They can operate at night, often launching harassing attacks, and then they either hide during the day or retreat from the area entirely. This makes it challenging for us to implement targeted measures."
Chen Chuan noticed the activation index of his teammates rising, possibly due to their outdoor activities. Both teammates' indices were hovering around seven or eight, and as time passed, the values continued to increase. If this trend continued, they would need to use breathing methods to adjust.
After observing this, he asked, "If those people have been living outdoors for an extended period, how do they resist and overcome activation?"
Rao Consultant replied, "There are a few possibilities. It could be that the survivors have developed a certain resistance through natural selection. Or, they might worship some transcendent beings, granting them a degree of resistance.
And then there's the method we also employ—using special medicines and breathing techniques to resist. Lastly, some of them..." He spoke with gravity, "They are already fully activated entities."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Qiuyuan couldn't help but exclaim, "They're not even human anymore? And they dare to use them?"
Rao Consultant said, "Even if they're not human, their thinking might not be so different from ours. The old imperial family seemed to have a way to identify and utilize these beings, so there were quite a few of them during the previous dynasty.
We've encountered such situations before. After killing the enemy, their brains or certain limbs might escape, and they might even take over the inspectors. When you encounter such individuals, you must ensure they are thoroughly eliminated from head to toe. They are a group composed of old-era noble samurai, convergence zone demons, and monsters!"
He reminded them, "This 'Iron Demon' is said to be originally named Qu Mohu. He likes to wear a demon mask when he goes out, so many suspect he's a demon himself!"
Yuan Qiuyuan pondered for a moment, as if struck by a thought. He asked, "By the way, Consultant Rao, you mentioned faith, right? Can faith prevent activation?"
Rao Consultant seemed reluctant to discuss this issue. He hesitated before vaguely saying, "They might worship some transcendent beings from the convergence zone.
Those beings gather in the first half of the convergence zone and are said to be hostile to certain entities on the other side. I don't know much about this, and there's a regulation prohibiting casual discussions about them. Try to avoid mentioning it in the future."
Yuan Qiuyuan nodded, "I understand," his fingers clenched, the sound of his knuckles cracking. "In any case, this time, we're dealing with this guy called Iron Demon, right?"
Rao Consultant confirmed, "Yes, our task is to drive this group away or, at the very least, keep a close eye on them and prevent further damage."
Chen Chuan asked, "Is it just about driving them away or keeping them under surveillance?"
Rao Consultant glanced at them and chose his words carefully, "Actually, that would be a good outcome. You're a newly established team, unfamiliar with the situation. Qu Mohu is not only an Imperial Samurai but also holds the rank of 'Commander' bestowed by the Imperial Family."
Yuan Qiuyuan exclaimed, "So, he's a military rank from the old era? My grandfather told me that in the past, even he would have been granted a military rank."
Rao Consultant explained, "Yes, Imperial Samurai are theoretically the personal guards of the Emperor, but they are still soldiers. However, being granted a military rank elevates them to the status of military officers who can command troops."
He emphasized, "And those officially granted military ranks are truly elite samurai. I say this so you can understand. According to the assessment from above, this Qu Mohu is likely a fighter who has honed his mind and body to near-perfection."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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