Chapter 310: After the Battle.
Most of the cannons in the fortress had been dismantled by him, their barrels usable as metal materials to reinforce vulnerable areas.
The remaining undestroyed cannons might be mounted on Ruin City’s bases for use?
They may lack practical combat value but can serve to decorate his nest.
Jie Jie scraped the cannon barrels with his Praying Mantis Arms, feeling the solidness of the cast steel. In Energy Perception, these metallic constructs were cold and lifeless, their shapes only outlined by the surrounding temperature.
His shattered vision came back online. The self-healing lock of an adult mantis broken by the Extinction Dragon宝玉’s power took some time to restore normal sight.
Barrels were gathered together, intact cannons set aside, and round cannonballs stacked up.
Two Strike Dragon Guns were taken down from the city walls; one was damaged due to violent pulling but as a weapon used against the Old Mountain Dragon, its size wasn’t much smaller than the Peak Mountain Dragon Strike Dragon Gun. He planned to replace the latter, allowing it to regain its status as a weapon.
As for the properly dismantled Strike Dragon Gun, he intended to install it fully at the front of Ruin City to fulfill its proper function!
Besides the cannons and Strike Dragon Guns, there were also delightful mini Strike Dragon Guns hidden under the platform facing the corridor.
These mini Strike Dragon Guns were similarly piled up. Inside the platform were storage spaces containing some supplies and gunpowder barrels.
Gunpowder is a good thing, collected together with what he dug out from the trenches.
After all, both the Flame King Dragon and the Giant Halberd Dragon could increase their combat strength by eating gunpowder.
There were also the hunters’ equipment, gear they couldn’t carry during evacuation, all piled up.
And the bodies of the hunters left behind… It was the first time Jie Jie had seen dead people, people he himself had killed.
He chose a corner, digging them along with his own gear into the ground.
Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth, returning to nature’s embrace.
No need for them to appear in his line of sight, no need for them to watch him dismantle the fortress to cast his Ruin City.
Jie Jie turned around.
Cannon barrels, cannons, Strike Dragon Guns, bricks embedded with steel rods…
All materials were sorted by type. Learning to sort makes building models easy, whether it’s Gundam or Lego.
There was artificial steel hidden in the brick platforms and city walls; breaking apart the bricks revealed them.
During every jump in the sorting process, golden silk threads were left behind, pulled to weave a stronger spider web scaffold.
Similarly, a circle was laid out outside as a warning for the construction site, attempting to entangle any monsters passing through the fortress as food.
He jumped onto Ruin City, beginning his grand renovation plan.
Heavy construction materials were hit by the silk threads, pulled towards him, then easily carried over his head and incorporated into Ruin City’s renovation.
Structures that were damaged or aesthetically unpleasing were taken down, gradually replaced while ensuring Ruin City could stand.
Results from previous impact tests were applied, more moist sticky soil filled the gaps, becoming Ruin City’s cushioning fat and flesh.
In high-quality soil, plants and seeds were abundant; Jie Jie let them follow the dirt into Ruin City, adding ecological charm to his nest.
The old fortress was being dismantled, and the Ruin City and spider web array here seemed destined to become a new fortress.
…
At night, hunters who retreated to the nearest hilltop camp looked far away, watching the blurred mountain peak in the fortress – the creation of the beetle-type monster.
“The fall of the fortress isn’t the first time. Every failure lays the foundation for victory.”
Kempe’s voice was soft, but everyone could hear his encouragement.
That’s right, every abandoned fortress in this mountain range represents a human failure.
“Like cat carts, who among us hasn’t been carted off before!”
Hunters cheered each other up, and under the comfort of bonfires and grilled meat, the atmosphere wasn’t too heavy.
“They died, I almost did too.”
A young hunter didn’t join them, sitting on the hillside, muttering while looking at the night sky.
“Yeah, we should mourn those who have passed, and celebrate those who survived. At least most people lived. The burden of the dead can be shared rather than heavily resting on a few shoulders.”
An experienced hunter with broken armor sat down laboriously.
“Thank you, have you seen many dead hunters?”
“I’ve seen them. Some were competitors, others teammates. Maybe we drank together at the brewery yesterday, and by morning went our separate ways to different hunting grounds.”
The old hunter paused.
“And then never saw them again. They wouldn’t even die in front of you, instead swallowed by monsters and turned into territorial markers.”
Upon hearing this, the novice hunter felt the night breeze grow chilly.
“But this time it’s okay, it didn’t show predatory intent during the battle. We might still be able to bury the bodies after it leaves.”
“What will the Guild do? Will they seek revenge on that monster? That monster might attack more fortresses, villages.”
The eyes of the novice hunter flashed with anticipation.
“First observe and gather more intelligence, confirm the danger level. The Guild has a set procedure. During the investigation process, elite teams might be dispatched to correct tactical errors.”
The old hunter answered, noticing the disappointment of the novice hunter, shaking his head lightly.
“Without victory, saving lives and losing territory is already a good outcome. Fortresses are meant to withstand attacks, welcome challenges from monsters, hinder monster actions, and naturally must be prepared to be breached.”
“As for villages, beyond Dongduoluma, migration is our norm. Reconstruction is the greatest luck. If you have the chance, visit small villages outside Dongduoluma, you’ll understand a lot.”
“If you still plan to be a hunter.”
Adding this, the old hunter sighed softly.
“Why do you say that, senior?”
The novice hunter had heard of the old hunter, someone who could enter the Great Elder Hall in Dongduoluma, a well-known hunter.
“I’m getting old. A grandiose hunting career should indeed end. This time back to Dongduoluma, see if I can get a job as an instructor.”
“That monster stole my weapon, crushed my hunting career, but it doesn’t matter. One hunter falls, ten rise. That’s my way of retaliating!”
The eyes of the old hunter lit up again, letting the novice hunter see the light that wouldn’t lead to despair.
“Senior, you… I still plan to be a hunter and look around.”
“It’s not important whether you continue being a hunter or not, but don’t let pressure weigh you down. Good lad, go to the bonfire. The pressure of losing comrades can be shared with more surviving comrades, which is quite lucky.”
The two isolated hunters returned to the bonfire, chatting as they waited for the Ancient Dragon Observation Ship to finish its duties and land.
When the flying airship descended from the sky, the nighttime talk by the fire ended, and the hunters would return to Dongduoluma to report.
Chapter 311
