The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 64

After the War of Radiance ended, the dynasty known as Jiuxia arrived at the port of Rendona with their fleet. It was the first time the people of the Western world had laid eyes on a nation from the East.

"Do you know where Jiuxia is?"

Taking out a key that resembled an iron rod, Barlowe inserted it into the lock, twisting it forcefully and producing a grating sound of metal against metal.

"The East... I suppose."

Blue Jade thought for a moment before speaking. After all, Jiuxia was often referred to as the Empire of the East, the only empire of its kind.

"Can you be more specific?"

Barlowe struggled with the key, finding the task heavier than anticipated.

"I can't think of anything else. I never went to school, you know that."

Blue Jade's tone carried a hint of regret. She had spent all her energy surviving in Old Dunling, with no time to learn anything beyond that.

"Even if you had attended university, you might not know where it is. Only a few of our navigators have ever reached there. We know so little about the East."

Barlowe's voice carried a note of exertion.

"It's far to the east, across an entire ocean. The sea is so vast that no captain feels confident enough to sail all the way there. They think they would never make it. The only ones who have any connection with it are the Viking nations."

"Vikings?"

Blue Jade had always pictured Jiuxia as a land of abundant resources, so she couldn't understand how it related to the impoverished Viking nations.

"Yes, Jiuxia and the Viking nations are on the same continent, separated by the towering Caucasus Mountains, which act like a wall between the two worlds. There are Viking legends about a heavenly world beyond the mountains, but many who tried to cross the storm-ravaged peaks never returned."

Barlowe's voice was breathless from his effort, yet he laughed.

"It's quite fascinating, isn't it? A warm world just beyond the mountains, yet many people live their whole lives without discovering it. It's like us; the mystery of demons is just a step away, but we might never understand it."

A crisp click sounded from the lock's mechanism. Barlowe released the key, and a series of metallic noises followed as the intricate machinery inside whirred to life, unlocking the sealed barriers one by one.

Taking a deep breath, Barlowe felt a twinge of pressure from the task ahead, knowing what lay beyond.

"Blue Jade, did you know that Jiuxia's arrival all those years ago was not by chance?"

Barlowe continued, his voice unusually serious. Blue Jade sensed something was off but listened intently.

"At the end of the War of Radiance, we learned of Jiuxia's existence and established contact. It is the largest nation in the world. Compared to them, we're like Old Dunling compared to the whole of Inervig."

"Back then, the Demon Hunters still existed. The Gospel Church threatened us with demon disasters. To make up for our lack of knowledge about demons, we made a deal with Jiuxia."

Barlowe turned to Blue Jade, giving her a confident smile.

"We traded our steam technology for their knowledge and combat techniques against demons. We got the better end of the deal. The global industrial revolution was inevitable, and steam technology would eventually spread worldwide. Jiuxia obtaining it was just a matter of time."

"With Jiuxia's technical support, the Purification Mechanism was truly born."

Barlowe pressed his hands against the cold metal, pushing with great effort, as if moving the entire world.

The door creaked open, the sound like a monster gnashing its teeth. Beyond lay a deep darkness, cold weapons seemingly alive, watching them. In this sealed carriage, the thin barrier between humanity and monsters was nonexistent.

"You might wonder why I'm telling you all this, right? I don't know if I can handle it, and if I can't, it will be up to you."

Barlowe's voice was steady but heavy with meaning.

"A swordsman needs to understand his sword."

Cold light illuminated the dark space, and icy gas seeped from beneath Barlowe's feet. In the stark light was a container resembling an iron coffin.

Blue Jade finally grasped the weapon's danger. Even without seeing it, she sensed the extreme malevolence emanating from it. The container even had an independent power generator and refrigeration system to maintain its stability.

"What is that?"

Blue Jade asked, her voice tinged with fear.

Barlowe didn't enter immediately, hesitating at the doorway. Hearing Blue Jade's question, he answered slowly.

"It's called Youfu Tu in Jiuxia. After modification by the Perpetual Pump, we call it the Old Century Divine Armor."

The Old Century Divine Armor. Blue Jade felt a chill deep in her soul, despite the heavy cloak she wore.

She had heard of the Old Century Divine Armor but had never seen it. It was said to be a secret weapon from the Perpetual Pump, capable of ending demons. It was powerful but came with enormous risks, as evidenced by Galahad, who disappeared without a trace after one night.

"Unlike the first-generation Divine Armor used by the knights, this is a second-generation armor, less powerful but also less harmful to the user."

"The day before our mission was finalized, it was forged in the Berhans Armory. I will be the first user, and there might be unforeseen consequences."

Barlowe tried to lighten the mood as he stepped inside. Just as he fully entered, Blue Jade grabbed him.

"So, this was the plan all along? For you to wear the armor and die?"

Blue Jade now understood that Barlowe's earlier talk was indeed his farewell. His actions in writing his will had been sincere; he truly believed he would die here.

"To be precise, it's the backup plan."

Barlowe responded.

"The optimal plan was for us to hold off the enemy while Lancelot finished them. Clearly, everything has gone wrong. Without this armor, we might not even get out of this carriage. I refuse to die here without a fight."

Striding inside, Barlowe brushed his hand over the cold iron coffin. He hated the weapon, but as Arthur said, it was the only way to fight demons. Like a firebearer in the night, when the flames died, he threw himself into the fire to become the last fuel.

"Take this. If I lose control, this is the weapon that can kill me. Aim for the head. Once my brain dies, the Old Century Divine Armor will no longer control me, and it will fall silent."

He pointed to a spear-like weapon in the corner of the iron coffin. Barlowe couldn't help but admire the Berhans Armory's thoroughness. They had sent a demon and the weapon to kill it.

"What is that?"

Blue Jade struggled to follow Barlowe's words. She had thought his earlier comments were playful or charming, but now she realized he was serious, planning his funeral down to the music and burial site.

"The Casting Spear, an experimental weapon from the Mechanical Institute. Think of it as a zero-range thermite device. The sharp spearhead pierces the armor, barbed hooks tear open a hole, and the thermite reaction's high temperature and liquid metal flow into the gap."

He pointed to his head, joking grimly.

"In seconds, my head will become an ingot."

It was not a joke.