Chapter 51

Chapter 51 White Steel Armor

In the Ti Xi Lan Mountains, lies the city of Rong Huo.

This is a city near a dead volcano, where fertile volcanic ash allows crops to grow exceptionally well. Soybean plants grow densely on neatly terraced fields. Legumes are also the primary source of plant protein for animals.

The verdant terraces, built along the mountain, resemble steps stretching from top to bottom, covering the entire dead volcano. Only at the waist of the mountain is there a huge cave, from which a very wide road emerges. This road is often traversed by rock rhinos pulling ore carts in and out.

Heavy iron ore carts leave deep grooves on the gravel roads. A rabbit-eared person in linen clothing uses a long rod to hang a red fruit. This jackfruit is favored by rock rhinos; they follow the direction of the fruit when it is hung in front. The rabbits have become quite adept at working with the monsters in the mountains, establishing a good trust relationship. They understand these monsters’ preferences and habits very well. Rock rhinos prefer cool and damp places. Usually, they wouldn’t come inside a volcano, but the ore is too heavy for humans to pull, so the rabbits had to find other ways.

After some trials and observations, this jackfruit became very popular among these thick-skinned rhinos. Even when pulling ore carts into the volcano, they could endure it. The rabbits thus exchanged their rewards for this fruit. Additionally, to accommodate the rhinos’ habits and for protection, they placed a bucket of water on the cart, periodically watering the rhinos’ backs and bodies to dissipate heat and keep them moist.

Red jackfruits, reportedly brought over from the Eastern Continent many years ago, are called “Bu Fu Na” there, meaning the fruit of longevity. Although this is an extraordinary world, there is no predetermined lifespan. These fruits are very sweet. If they are special extraordinary varieties, they can cure internal ailments and indeed extend life.

As the ore carts entered the mountain interior, waves of heat came rushing towards them. Dark red flames illuminated the surrounding rock walls, and the noise grew louder—bellows pumping, hammering sounds, hissing from cooling steel, boiling water evaporating, and the thud of giant hammers. Numerous rabbit-eared craftsmen in work aprons were engaged in metallurgy and metalwork.

Inside the volcano was an irregular red lake filled with scorching lava. Around the lake was a wide circular path, beside which stood workbenches. Hundreds of rabbit-eared craftsmen were hard at work here, their clear metal clashing sounds echoing everywhere.

A tall rabbit-eared person stood at the workshop inside the volcano. He was tall and rotund, wearing dark red steel armor adorned with gleaming spikes, giving him a somewhat fierce appearance.

At that moment, a large black rabbit-eared man walked in. He wore a white cloak and fitted silver armor, followed by several guards dressed in similar armor.

“How did you come?” The tall rabbit-eared person looked surprised as he saw the man in white cloak enter, but he smiled broadly, showing a familiar smile, indicating they knew each other well.

“I’m here to check on the progress of the new armor prototypes. Princess Lolan Hill sent the plan over, and the legion will be forming soon.”

“You can rest assured. I’ve been supervising daily. Everyone is making steady progress, and the basic procedures have been set. Now it’s just about optimization and maximizing cost-effectiveness.”

The big rabbit speaking didn’t seem as fierce as his armor, appearing rather friendly and robust. He handed his large axe to another rabbit and walked over to give Kan Da a big hug.

“It’s been a while since we last sparred. How about we fight tonight and have some wine?”

“We can spar, but no drinking for now. We have serious matters to discuss,” Kan Da replied with a smile as they walked and talked.

Considering the needs of war, Lolan Hill ultimately decided to form a crack legion primarily consisting of cavalry. Other legions would consist of infantry armed with spears, swords, and bows. The elite units would first enter the cavalry.

Currently, the Ivar World still relies mainly on cold weapons. The existence of extraordinary powers makes individual strength and constitution far superior to what Lolan Hill remembered from ancient times. Moreover, with various magical materials used to make armor and some extraordinary classes having inherent protective skills, the lethality of projectile weapons is much lower than in ancient times.

Projectile weapons have their limits, such as the draw strength of bows and the early loading capacity of gunpowder. Even if you are incredibly strong, your arrow’s impact is limited by the weapon’s performance. Excess force beyond the weapon’s capacity serves no purpose except to break the bow.

Therefore, most battles in this world are resolved at close range. Bows and crossbows have significant advantages at low levels, but as one advances in the extraordinary sequence, their effectiveness decreases significantly after rank 4 unless you can imbue arrows with magic and other skills, which is a specialty of the elves; other races are not as proficient.

Cavalry often plays a decisive role on the battlefield, changing the course of battle. Without cavalry, even if you defeat your enemy, their retreat cannot be pursued, and the victory cannot be expanded. Furthermore, sometimes to attack the enemy’s weak points, breach lines, flank, and encircle, cavalry is crucial. This is why Lolan Hill, like other pioneers, prioritized cavalry.

“Kan Da, though I’ve said this many times before,”

“But I truly admire Her Highness.”

“What’s up?”

“You’ll know when you see it.”

Lu Shan led Kan Da to a workbench where two sets of armor lay, both made of steel.

“Look, the one on the left is armor I acquired in West Wind. Supposedly, a destitute noble sold the family heirloom to get money. I later consulted someone who confirmed it was genuine. That young fool will regret it someday. This fine armor suggests his ancestor must have been a viscount.”

Then, he flipped open the upper part of the armor, revealing a brass shield emblem.

“The emblem shows a burning hill, indicating its owner was a veteran of the ‘Quenching War’ and achieved great merit. It’s likely that after West Wind established its kingdom, he received at least a viscount title, given the king’s generosity to his subordinates.”

“Then the one on the right is our new armor made according to Her Highness’s design. The amount of steel used, its weight, and that of the West Wind armor are roughly the same.”

Kan Da looked puzzled, and Lu Shan continued.

“We tested the strength of both. Guess what?”

“Of course, Her Highness’s design is stronger.”

“Yes, how much stronger?”

“Three times?” Kan Da slightly overestimated.

“No, ten times!”

Lu Shan laughed heartily, then picked up a nearby giant hammer and struck both armors twice. The left armor dented and was pierced by the hammer’s protruding corners. In contrast, the white steel armor on the right only slightly bent, emitting a metallic sound, remaining intact.

[White Steel Armor] (Rare Silver Grade): Advanced process-reinforced plate armor with excellent toughness and strength, capable of dispersing impact and greatly reducing damage. Highly cost-effective for mass production.

This is a reformed version based on the Water Mercury Dynasty’s technology, improved by Lolan Hill after obtaining the blueprint. While not necessarily the strongest, the inexpensive materials and mass-production capability ensure every soldier in the legion can wear it, providing good protection. After all, every life is precious, and ensuring everyone’s survival is her preferred approach.

Very sorry, I couldn’t update yesterday due to unforeseen circumstances. Today, I am resuming normal updates, and the missing chapter will be added this week.

End of Chapter 51