Chapter 2048: Chapter 36: Apocalypse Armament Could Even Be My Mom’s Armament!

The Heaven’s Commencement Core was an ancient relic unearthed by the Northern Duke of the Elster Family in The Empire.

Although the idea of advancing technology through archaeology is quite criticized by many scholars on the Terra Continent, it has to be said that this is a fine tradition of post-apocalyptic civilization—don’t like it, don’t do it.

Not to mention, what the Northern Duke unearthed cannot be called technological advancement at all.

It was technological ascension!

[The most important part of the Heaven’s Commencement Core is its energy core, a complete ’True Aether Furnace Core.’]

Carlos remarked, [It’s said to have been made in collaboration between the civilization of the previous epoch and the most ancient Dragon Kings, the sole True Aether Furnace of this world. Even the Aether Furnace Cores of True Dragons are not as complete... It’s a ’Semi-Perpetual Machine’ of the same specification as that of the Ancient Dragon Kings.]

Ian nodded slightly; he knew this information as well.

Energy on the Terra Continent is roughly divided into four levels.

The first level includes ordinary coal power, hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy. Over in Fiery Flame Land, solar energy is used more, and in The Empire’s major cities, wind and hydroelectric power are prevalent. Harrison Port, though utilizing lightning from the Alchemy Workshop, essentially relies on the strong winds from the Southern Sea for alternative wind power.

The second level is the Alchemy Furnace. Utilizing Origin Quality materials for high-efficiency energy cycles, it is unique to the Aether Universe, extremely efficient, capable of supplying various alchemical inscription devices, armor suits, and large mechanical equipment, all powered by the Alchemy Furnace.

The higher level would be the Aether Furnace Core. Using high-purity Origin Quality/Aether Crystals as raw materials to create Ether Bubbles, it harnesses the natural energy convergence. As long as the raw materials last and natural energy is sufficient, it can operate continuously.

All Aether Armaments and some high-level gigantic equipment are initiated using the Aether Furnace Core. The Imperial Capital also has an enormous Aether Furnace Core as its energy core.

The highest level is the ’True Aether Furnace.’

It has no material requirements, or rather, only the first filling requires specific materials. Once started, it can be initiated at will, run indefinitely, without overheating, without damage, without consumption, capable of operating perpetually.

This is almost a ’Perpetual Motion Machine’... What keeps it from being a perpetual motion machine is that while it does not consume itself, it does consume people.

This thing is essentially a living machine spirit, needing the will of a ’pilot’ to accurately output its energy, maintaining operational efficiency with sustained will.

Like a real Perpetual Motion Machine, the Infinite Tide, without commands, it simply runs ordinarily, outputs aether, sustains the Aether Universe’s concentration. When it truly has a master and commands, it can erupt with power to reshape stars and alter all creation.

The majority of Terra’s True Dragons, even Dragon Kings, have Aether Furnaces of third-level Aether Furnace Cores within them. Currently, True Aether Furnaces are possibly only held by the original Ancestral True Dragons and the Dragon Kings on Dragon Island.

And Terra’s unclaimed True Aether Furnace, unearthed and left behind, was likely meant for the Terra Dragon to upgrade to an Ancestral True Dragon... But before it could be mounted, the Calamity of Heavenly Fall arrived. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

[That’s basically it,] Carlos said, [The Heaven’s Commencement Core also contains a series of powerful weapon cores and manufacturing techniques difficult to produce even for the civilization of the previous epoch. Back then, the Northern Duke realized that this was their chance to break free from their bloodline and rise to glory once more.]

[The Elster Family spent two generations forging armaments around the Heaven’s Commencement Core, and at the time of the Aether Armament’s birth, Steep Ridge Fortress was established.]

[They seized territory, independent from The Empire, and due to the terrifying destructive power of Aether Armaments, no one was willing to battle these people who wielded Antimatter Cannons—though Steep Ridge Fortress also acknowledged their true strength stemmed from Aether Armaments rather than their bloodline, gradually leading them down a completely different path of ascension.]

"Human-machine fusion?" Ian speculated, "Did they turn themselves into components of Aether Armaments?"

[Haha, you’re wrong. Even the Prophet couldn’t guess it,] Carlos said dryly, [They turned the Aether Armaments into their spouses, every Duke of Steep Ridge Fortress is a descendant of the Armament of Dawn.]

Ian: "..."

Ian: "...?"

Ian: "???"

Ian: "Huh? What did you say? I didn’t catch that?"

[I really enjoy what the Prophet once said, ’Huh?’] Carlos was very pleased with Ian’s reaction and couldn’t help but laugh out loud, [How about it! When I learned about it, I was much more shocked than you. I forced my dad to tell me three times until he couldn’t stand it any longer and threw me out of the palace by my neck!]

Clearly, this wasn’t common knowledge; perhaps only the Duke of Steep Ridge Fortress and their adversaries, the Sertar Imperial Family, who were intimately connected with them, knew about this, both sides maintaining a mutual understanding without disclosing it outside.

The reason Carlos told Ian is because, in some sense, Ian is also considered an insider within the Setal Imperial Family, and his rank is even higher than Carlos’s, so telling him wouldn’t violate any promises.

"Mech-fetish." After thinking carefully, Ian was rather relieved: "Though somewhat difficult to understand, it’s not impossible. After all, it’s Terra, I understand."

Carlos spoke very briefly about the history of the Duke of Steep Ridge Fortress’s rise to power, but Ian could discern that there must be hidden stories.

For instance, why did the first Duke betray The Empire? And after independence, why did they continually oppose The Empire? There must be reasons, and these reasons, especially concerning past events, are not clear. It probably involves the foolish actions by that generation’s emperor, followed by a likely connection with the ’Terra Dragon.’

If the core of Apocalypse Dawn is indeed the scheduled upgrade core set by the Terra Dragon, then its matching control facilities and various manuals are most likely with the Terra Dragon. But the Terra Dragon is dead, its bones lying beside Mist Port at the Atlantian Megalopolis, and viewing from this angle, looking at Steep Ridge Fortress’s previous attack routes, they seemed to bypass the Dark Mountain Range, moving towards Atlantian Megalopolis.

The previous Empire probably didn’t know about these hidden matters, so it merely passively suppressed the actions of Steep Ridge Fortress, until Yinaiga II figured out the reason for the Duke of Steep Ridge Fortress’s persistent attacks.

So...

"Yinaiga II gave the Terra Dragon’s legacy to Steep Ridge Fortress?!"

Thinking of this, Ian couldn’t help but be shocked: "No way, Yinaiga II is this generous?"

But Yinaiga II is indeed this generous.

At this point, everything became clear.

After obtaining the Terra Dragon’s legacy and absorbing all its essence, Yinaiga II gave the remaining unwanted parts of the authority (without knowing the location of the Perpetual Motion Machine or how to activate it, as he didn’t receive the complete Rites of the Star Gods) to the Duke of Steep Ridge Fortress who had a strong need for it, also pointing out future paths for the other party to alleviate years of tensions, and promised Steep Ridge Fortress not to interfere during The Empire’s expedition to Fiery Flame Land.

To this generation, although Steep Ridge Fortress continues to confront The Empire’s Northern War Zone, judging from their direct confrontations where they even argued insults with Carlos, the relationship has shifted from sworn enemies to mere adversaries, and adversaries can trade interests or even become allies when needed.

Now, the Duke of Steep Ridge Fortress has realized that the path directed by Yinaiga II has reached a dead-end—or discovered their path is difficult to progress on the Arcane Pathway, so they want to find Ian to communicate thoroughly and seek guidance.

Unfortunately, Steep Ridge Fortress has too few people and doesn’t hold much importance in Ian’s view. He has been busy with affairs concerning Fiery Flame Land, internal matters of Silverpeak Domain, warfare of public opinion, and things of the Realm of Light, leaving no time to deal with notions of foreign diplomacy that seem ordinary, thus forgetting after briefly considering.

Moreover, Steep Ridge Fortress has no ties with Silverpeak Domain, so it relies on Carlos to convey the message.

"Tell the Duke of Steep Ridge Fortress that I will visit him in a while."

Thinking about it, Ian is indeed curious about Steep Ridge Fortress—as a single domain, they’ve resisted The Empire and the Magical Beast invasions from the Dark Mountain Range for so many years. Regardless of how peculiar they are, their capability and determination must be undeniably solid.

Additionally, the societal situation at Steep Ridge Fortress, along with the Duke’s relationship with the Armament of Dawn Sword... Sigh, no point pretending anymore! Ian indeed wants to see how the people of Steep Ridge Fortress treat the Apocalypse Armament as partners!

It’s not just Ian being overly curious, but merely human nature—he simply wants to witness it firsthand!

[Not now?] Carlos was somewhat surprised: [Knowing your temperament, I thought you would immediately go to Steep Ridge Fortress and surprise that old geezer.]

"Things have to be handled step by step."

Ian gently shook his head: "I have just obtained the management rights of the Realm of Light, I have garnered new powers, and need to sort out my gains."

"Moreover, did you really think my previous mention of ’reforming the Domain of Void’ was a joke?"

"Carlos, the time has come. Since Heavenfall, Terra’s Domain of Void has sunk into chaos and desolation. Now, a new era has arrived, and I have received abundant legacy, acquiring power sufficient to bring order."

"Three hours later, the Fairy Queen and the Voidrealm Machine God among..."

"What?! Wait..." Suddenly, Ian’s initially grand proclamation was cut short; soon after, with a bit of helplessness and smile, the Prophet sighed: "Ah, the Fae have arrived early; my apologies, I must go and greet them."

Carlos watched the abruptly disconnected communications with bewilderment, and before it was severed, he faintly read Ian’s lips uttering a complaint.

[Sunbird... Fae... No sense of boundary... Time perception]

[Annoying!]