[Vol. 9] Chapter 29: The Snow Spirit Lamp
Speaking of Nofenburg itself, its city walls were less than ten meters high. Compared to icebergs that were often dozens of meters tall, they were basically useless. Even though crossbows had been set up on the fortress as a symbolic defense, such weapons weren’t even considered magical tools. It was hard to imagine how they could possibly deal any real damage to an iceberg.
But from the way Moraya and Lian talked, although they were clearly worried about such powerful enemies approaching, they didn’t sound completely hopeless. This showed that the gap in strength between both sides wasn’t as overwhelming as it looked. At the very least, they still had some means to fight back.
So… what exactly was their trump card?
Thinking of this, Violet took a few steps forward and asked in a tone that was half question and half test.
“By the way, when we entered the fortress earlier, I thought you said it was sealed. Why were there still fishermen outside fishing?”
The Lady of the Fortress turned her head toward the three girls. Her eyes especially lingered on the priestess girl in front for a long moment. Perhaps because she was touched by the fact that they had come here willingly to help in such a time, Moraya didn’t try to hide anything and explained in a cool and simple way.
“In past beast tide attacks, the Calamity Beasts never attacked from the Frozen Sea side. And the north has always been short on food. The fish and other resources caught from the Frozen Sea are the most important source to keep Nofenburg running. If fishing were completely forbidden, the fortress would face a huge famine long before the beasts ever arrived.”
“You saw the Frozen Sea yourself. In this kind of environment, no one can directly sail across to the other shore. Even the navy fleets of the Austre Empire are completely blocked at the sea’s entrance. It’s our natural barrier. Who could have guessed that this time the Calamity Beasts would take such a form?”
Violet’s eyes flickered slightly. “So, this is also the first time you’ve seen this kind of beast tide?”
Standing beside Lady Moraya, Lian stepped in to explain,
“Miss Violet, the shapes of the Calamity Beasts are ever-changing. There are no fixed rules. They are disasters born from the rampage of ice and snow essence, servants of the [Northern Calamity]. Using icebergs as vessels isn’t unreasonable. However, judging by the invasions suffered by other fortresses, this beast tide should not have taken this form, nor at this time. That’s why we were caught unprepared.”
“Oh…”
Hearing this, Violet seemed to faintly realize something.
In other words, these iceberg beasts were not the same as the ones that had attacked other coastal fortresses before. They were a newly appeared group. And what’s more, they just happened to show up right after the three of them had arrived in Nofenburg. How could such a coincidence really exist in this world?
While they were still talking, the front line of those living icebergs crossed the last bit of distance, reaching the shore only a stone’s throw away from Nofenburg’s northern wall.
They didn’t move onto land. Though they looked intimidating, an iceberg was still an iceberg. It was impossible for them to suddenly grow legs. While they could push their massive bodies forward across the Frozen Sea with bursts of magic power, walking on the beach was another story. With weights of tens or even hundreds of tons, that was clearly a huge limitation.
Just as the priestess was wondering how the enemy planned to attack, a loud cracking and booming sound suddenly came from more than ten of the icebergs closest to the shore!
“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!!”
Icebergs are formed through long years of piling and pressing under natural conditions, so their surfaces are never smooth. But right now, the jagged chunks of ice sticking out were suddenly breaking apart under some kind of force, separating from the main body, and flying toward the fortress like cannonballs!
Lady Moraya’s face turned serious. Without hesitation, she shouted loudly.
“Groups of one hundred, bring out the Snow Spirit Lamps!!!”
As a member of the royal family of the Snow Empire, the Snow race were a powerful race no weaker than the half-dragons of the Beast Kingdom. Though still a step below true mythic beings, Moraya carried six floating ribbons, proof of her pure bloodline. She was likely only one step away from becoming a true Pure Snow Girl. Even if she looked young, her strength was not something to be underestimated.
Almost instantly, her voice, carried by strong magic power, spread across the entire northern wall of Nofenburg. The soldiers standing ready on the outer wall obeyed at once. Each pulled out a paper lantern that had been prepared earlier and quickly stuffed something inside!
“Whooooshhhh!!!”
In a flash, hundreds of lanterns lit up at the same time, forming a long white dragon of light. The bluish-white glow from the paper lanterns shone so brightly it almost made the northern wall transparent. The soldiers raised their lanterns high and shouted together:
“Eternal Winter is here. We beg the Snow God’s protection!!!”
This passionate prayer worked like a special magic chant, or like fuel thrown onto a fire. The bluish-white light, which normally only spread a few meters outward, swelled instantly in layer after layer, forming a glowing barrier that covered the entire northern wall!
“Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!”
The large and small chunks of ice launched from the icebergs crashed into the barrier with deafening blasts. Though it was only made of combined lantern light, the barrier truly worked like a miracle, blocking the powerful bombardment as if it were solid stone!
For a time, explosions echoed everywhere. Shattered ice slid down in chunks from the barrier’s outer surface. The snow-white protective glow flickered and shook under the heavy impacts. From time to time, a section of the light went out completely under a strong strike, but new soldiers would immediately rush forward with their lanterns to fill the gap. It was difficult, but somehow, they really were holding back the fierce barrage.
“Ho…”
Violet was stunned by this strange battle method she had never seen before. Then curiosity quickly rose in her heart. She hadn’t been given one of these so-called Snow Spirit Lamps to take part in the fight, and since she was standing safely under the barrier’s protection, it wasn’t her place to interfere. But as a well-experienced priestess, she soon figured out a few things.
The soldiers defending the wall were just ordinary men, only slightly stronger than common people. Normally, against powerful Calamity Beasts, they were nothing but cannon fodder. Forget about killing, just breaking through a beast’s defenses to deal any damage would be a dream.
Yet now, they were using magic like elite Holy Knights. Clearly, this was not their own ability.
After a short observation, Violet noticed the Snow Spirit Lamps were very simple in design. The craftsmanship wasn’t complicated, and the materials weren’t anything rare. If there was a trick, it had to be inside, the tiny wick placed within.
It looked like some kind of oil or fat extracted from a living creature, and it gave off a faint but real divine aura. But… it was too weak, so faint that even Violet couldn’t tell exactly what it was made from.
What on earth could it be?