Chapter 316 : Chapter 316

Chapter 316. Blow Up Thunder Gorge!

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Western Territory Military Headquarters building was still brightly lit late at night, its defenses strict.

Amid ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the rapid pounding of hooves, Simov and his group, soaked from head to toe and carrying a dense air of killing intent, forced their way into the military headquarters hall.

“Sound ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the highest-level alarm! Summon the mage corps commander and all senior officers currently in camp at once! Proceed to the central command room immediately!”

Simov ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ignored the stunned gazes of the officers on duty and barked the order sharply.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍piercing magitech alarm instantly tore through the silence of the rainy night.

A ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍few minutes later, inside the central command room of the military headquarters.

The officers who had been urgently summoned from sleep or their duty posts were slightly disheveled. They looked at one another, then at the Second Young Master standing in the main position, still dripping rainwater all over the floor. Their eyes were filled with confusion and a trace of displeasure at being disturbed.

“Second Young Master, sounding the highest alarm late at night is against protocol. Where is the Eldest Young Master?” the commander of the Western Territory Mage Corps asked in a deep voice, his brows furrowed.

His words carried dissatisfaction at Simov overstepping his authority.

Simov did not answer. Instead, he abruptly drew the “Serpent Sword” at his waist and slammed it heavily against the edge of the massive tactical sand table.

CLANG!

The crisp sound of metal striking metal made every officer’s heart jolt. The officers, who had still been somewhat lax a moment ago, instinctively straightened their backs.

“This is the highest-level emergency order!” Simov’s expression was as dark as water. He raised the Serpent Sword high, his gaze sweeping across the entire room like a hungry wolf’s.

“My elder brother has suddenly fallen gravely ill and can no longer handle affairs! From this moment on, I will assume full authority over all military affairs in the Western Territory!”

The officers sucked in sharp breaths. Though they were uncertain and suspicious, when they looked at the genuine Serpent Sword, and then at Simov’s swift, decisive manner and the shocking news he had brought, no one dared to speak up and question him for a while.

“Mage Corps, hear my order!” Simov gave them no time to think or send anyone to the Duke’s Manor to verify the situation. He issued the command directly.

“Immediately gather all battle mages and bring every High-Explosive Magic Crystal and piece of heavy magitech equipment in the armory. Target: Thunder Gorge!”

The mage corps commander abruptly raised his head. “Sir! Thunder Gorge is the only passage between Valeria and us. It is also the natural barrier that allows us to defend against the enemy nation’s army. What are we going there for? This is not the time to start a war!”

“Use everything we have and blow it up,” Simov said, enunciating each word.

The hall fell deathly silent.

“What did you say?” The commander suspected he had misheard.

“Blow up Thunder Gorge at all costs!” Simov repeated, without the slightest hesitation in his tone.

The officers exploded into uproar.

Blow up Thunder Gorge?

Once it was blown up, the Western Territory’s trade route to the outside would be completely cut off!

“My lord, absolutely not!” an officer shouted. “If the gorge is destroyed, how are we supposed to explain it to the Royal Capital?!”

“This is a military order,” Simov said coldly, pointing the longsword at the commander’s nose. “Those who disobey will be executed. Now, carry it out.”

The commander swallowed and had no choice but to walk out of the hall to execute the order, as though suppressing his anger.

Before long, Thunder Gorge.

The torrential rain continued.

The mountains on both sides of the gorge towered into the clouds, while a long, narrow passage that allowed only ten people to walk side by side ran through the middle.

This was the inevitable route the Valeria Empire’s army had to take to enter Astrelia.

Simov knew very well that as a natural barrier against foreign enemies, Thunder Gorge could only have a section of its passage destroyed by the Western Territory Mage Corps’ three hundred battle mages and the High-Explosive Magic Crystals in storage.

At most, they could blow up one stretch of the route. Valeria’s earth-element mages would need only a few days to dig it open again.

If he wanted to completely sever the retreat path and weld the door shut, their firepower was still far from enough.

“Young Master Simov, His Highness’s people are ready,” an officer clad in heavy armor said as he walked through the downpour. The insignia of the Royal Guard was printed on his shoulder badge.

This was the commander First Prince Dorg had openly planted in the Western Territory under the pretext of “balancing the Northern Territory.”

He had clearly received Dorg’s secret order long ago and was not at all surprised by tonight’s madness.

“Very good.” Simov wiped the rainwater from his face and turned his gaze to the other side of the gorge. “What about the Northern Territory?”

At the same time, at the garrison camp on the other side of the gorge.

Valen, the newly appointed commander of the Third Northern Territory Mixed Corps, was staring at the tactical sand table with his brows tightly furrowed.

The messenger sent by Simov had just left, and the request for a joint operation he had brought left Valen shocked and uncertain.

Blow up Thunder Gorge?!

The top-secret order Governor Sylvia had handed him before his departure instantly surfaced in Valen’s mind—

“When the Privy Council officially convenes, immediately pour out all firepower and completely blow up Thunder Gorge!”

Her Highness had indeed planned to use the terrain and timing gap to completely block Valeria’s army outside the gate, buying an absolutely secure environment for the transfer of power in the Royal Capital.

But now, there were still a full nine hours before the Privy Council, yet the Western Territory wanted to act early?!

This had disrupted their deployment, yet it also aligned perfectly with the final objective.

With that thought, Valen swiftly took out the highest-level encrypted Communication Crystal from his chest. Speaking at tremendous speed, he reported the Western Territory’s mad request from the front line.

Afterward, he held his breath and stared fixedly at the crystal, waiting for that iron-fisted governor’s decision.

After several seconds of deathly silence, the Communication Crystal flashed.

There was no unnecessary explanation, no emotional ripple. Only one cold, decisive written order appeared on the surface of the crystal:

【Blow it up.】

Valen took a deep breath, and his eyes instantly turned sharp. “All troops, hear my order! Disengage the safeties on the magitech heavy artillery array! Push all High-Explosive Crystals to the front line! Target the load-bearing mountain bodies on both sides of Thunder Gorge!”

Not long afterward.

The Western Territory’s traditional mage corps, the elite Royal Guard from the Royal Capital, and the Northern Territory’s terrifying magitech firepower surrounded Thunder Gorge in a triangular formation.

Opposite them, the camp of the Valeria Empire was brightly lit. The empire’s patrols had already sensed the abnormality on this side, and piercing alarms cut through the night sky.

“Mage Corps, fire.” Simov stood on high ground and abruptly swung his arm down.

In an instant, all kinds of evocation spells, mixed with Northern Territory high-explosive shells powerful enough to tear steel apart, streaked across the night sky like a meteor shower flying in reverse, hurtling toward the towering mountains on both sides of Thunder Gorge.

Scorching firelight instantly illuminated the entire night sky, evaporating the pouring rain into white mist that filled the air. Steam rose and obscured all vision.

Deafening booms tore through the rainy night and shook the earth.

Under the impact of three utterly different yet equally violent streams of energy, the towering mountains on both sides collapsed with a thunderous roar.

Tens of millions of pounds of boulders and soil poured down with enormous force, completely burying that long, narrow passage.

Even more terrifying was that because the explosive aftershocks of traditional magic, alchemical explosives, and the Northern Territory’s high-concentration compressed Magic Crystals intertwined and clashed violently, an extremely rare and violent “Aether Turbulence” actually formed above the ruins of the gorge.

Chaotic mana of every color tore through the air like an invisible meat grinder. Twisted elemental lightning struck down from time to time, releasing crackling explosions.

Let alone Valeria’s conventional army, for at least the next half a year, any mage below the Fifth Tier could forget about crossing this elemental-rampage death zone unscathed.

Thunder Gorge had completely become an impassable natural chasm.