Beneath the magnificent pure white high tower, several fully armed embers warriors stood tall. The flame emblem engraved on their black robes leaped and burned like their strong hearts.
Accompanying them were important figures from the Investigation Bureau, including Huang Hongtian.
There weren't many people.
This was because Shuize Base City was still under high alert, with more warriors stationed throughout the city to prevent the sudden emergence of abyssal evils from the deep, breaching into reality.
But, after today, that would change!
"Let's go, let's ignite the dawn."
Fang You stepped forward, entering the pure white tower that stood three hundred meters tall.
The interior of the high tower was spacious. Lamps hung on the walls, emitting a soft, bright, pale golden light. Upon closer inspection, one could see that these lamps were not suspended by any wires and were a few inches away from the walls. They were truly floating lamps, or rather, these lamps were solidified in the space not far from the walls.
Apart from that, there were not many decorations inside, only a spiral staircase winding up the tower wall, leading directly to the radiant top of the tower.
But climbing stairs would naturally be... too slow!
This was the modern age, and even with the advent of the mysterious, convenience and speed were still pursued. In the center of the entire tower stood a pure white pillar, requiring five or six people to embrace it. This was the 'elevator' of the Dawn Tower.
Fang You did not understand how it operated or its specific principles, only vaguely knowing that the operation of the Dawn Tower consumed strange crystals, and that the tower itself likely possessed the ability to absorb 'heaven and earth energy.'
The consumption of strange crystals was not very high—compared to the many lamps within the tower.
If there was an opportunity in the future, he could have Master Wang study the internal structure of the tower and extract its technological crystallization, but for now, the priority was to activate this tower and allow its true capabilities to be unleashed.
The elevator carried several people, soaring upwards towards the tower's apex. In a moment, with a "ding," the white doors opened, revealing a spacious aerial platform of the tower.
The structure of the Dawn Tower, tapering slightly from bottom to top, expanded outwards at the topmost observation deck, creating a remarkably open space. An observation corridor circled the tower, and through the glass, one could clearly overlook the scenery of Shuize City outside.
Buildings towered, with specks of light emanating from the windows of structures, faintly illuminating the dim daytime.
Raising one's gaze, one saw the somber, heavy dark clouds obscuring the entire sky. Standing on the observation platform three hundred meters high, this oppressive feeling intensified, and not a ray of sunlight could be found within the field of vision.
This was the world as it was now, a world of perpetual overcast skies.
After a circuit, Fang You arrived at the control console in the central area.
Extending his hand, he opened his palm and gently pressed it onto the crystal panel before him. Instantly, streaks of golden light appeared, spreading along fixed pathways, and various pieces of information were displayed on the control console.
This was for Director Huang and An Jianyōu to see.
Much like the control center of the Embers Base, where operations of the base could be performed, the true core control console remained within the game interface.
Dawn Tower (Inactive)
Tier: Golden Legend
Type: Special Building
Ability 1: Light of Dawn
Within the range of the Light of Dawn, gloom will dissipate, and filth lurking beneath reality will find it extremely difficult to breed.
Ability 2: Guardian of Dawn
Within the protective range of the Tower of Dawn, abyssal evils will have nowhere to hide, and the impact on human sanity will be greatly weakened.
Ability 3: Wall of Dawn
When a sufficient number of Dawn Towers are erected at nodes of surging tides, the radiance of dawn may impede the spread of gray fog. Further exploration is encouraged.
---
Notification: This Dawn Tower has been constructed but not yet activated. Do you wish to proceed with activation?
Notification: Dawn Towers can only be activated in areas with a large population. The greater the population in the surrounding region during the initial activation, the stronger the dawn power condensed by the tower will be.
---
"Ding!"
"Activate?"
Platinum-colored text appeared on the control panel.
Director Huang watched the Embers mentor in the white robe, his hand clenching involuntarily.
An Jianyōu clasped her hands in front of her chest, gazing out the window before returning her eyes to the mentor's face.
Black Blade's expression was unreadable.
But without a doubt, everyone present at this moment was filled with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, until they heard Fang You utter two words, "Activate!"
The golden radiance intensified, and the entire control room seemed to grow warm.
Outside, the pure white high tower standing on the earth also emanated a faint, moon-golden glow. The Dawn Tower, which had been an isolated entity, now gradually connected with the entire land and the people living on it, becoming one.
Above the observation platform, the pointed spire of the tower began to emit golden light, flashing and growing brighter.
In this dim, overcast day, the Dawn Tower, already a landmark, became even more conspicuous. People walking on the streets or staying indoors looked up.
"What is that, it's glowing?"
"It's that white high tower! It was built just these past few days, but that area has been restricted."
"Is the light from the tower meant to replace sunlight?"
Many people voiced their questions, but before they could discuss them with those around them, their eyes widened, staring intently into the distance, towards the sky not far from the pure white high tower.
The sky was dim, as it had been for days.
Not much rain, but the stifling, gray-black heavy clouds had not dispersed for a long time.
Perhaps they never would.
Never seeing the sun again, never seeing a clear sky, never seeing blue skies and white clouds.
Many had to accept this fact.
But at this moment, in the center of the sky, which had been shrouded by dark clouds, a golden hue gradually appeared, becoming brighter and brighter. Suddenly, a beam of light appeared, a golden beam like a celestial spear, tearing through the heavy, dense dark clouds, ripping open the black canopy that had been hanging over the city, and shining down heavily upon the land.
The contours of light appeared on the earth.
Initially, it only illuminated an area of one or two square meters. Soon, the golden outline on the ground spread, rapidly expanding, sweeping across the dim asphalt road, the stagnant water in the alleys, the walls of buildings, and the slightly parted lips of many faces.
The dark curtain was torn open!
The light of dawn, originating from above the tower, rapidly spread outwards, bringing sunlight to the entire city.
The asphalt road became glossy, the stagnant water gleamed, the glass windows of buildings shimmered under the light.
The world suddenly had color.
In the outer areas of Shuize Base City, the last group of evacuated residents disembarked from the bus, their faces etched with a sense of bewilderment—bewilderment about leaving their homeland and about their future lives.
But then, they saw the golden radiance tearing through the dark clouds and descending in the distance.
The radiance spread at an astonishing speed, quickly reaching them from the distant central urban area, and continuing to illuminate further afield.
"It's light!"
A girl reached out her hand, touching the descending patches of light. Her palm gradually grew warm, and tears welled up in her eyes.
An elder, holding a child's small hand, gazed blankly, a joyful smile on his face.
Further away,
The investigators who had accompanied the convoy, a mixture of astonishment, excitement, and joy on their faces, looked up, gazing directly at the descending light of dawn, tears glistening in their eyes.
He blinked hard, still reluctant to look away.
"This sunlight is too dazzling."
...
Pure white high tower, observation deck.
Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting golden hues on the corridor.
An Jianyōu couldn't help but step forward, placing her hand on the transparent glass window, her clear eyes rippling with reflections of light.
A cerulean sky, with white clouds drifting by.
A giant fireball hung high above, radiating endless light and heat.
It was the sun; she thought she would never see it again.
On the observation deck, both the Embers warriors and the investigators were filled with emotion. Because they understood the truth more clearly than ordinary people, they realized how precious this sunlight, tearing through the dark clouds, truly was.
Huang Hongtian suppressed his excitement and stepped forward to express his gratitude.
"This is the Light of Dawn, Mentor Fang. You have brought dawn to this city."
Hearing his words, Fang You shook his head slightly, "It wasn't me."
He looked outwards, where the golden radiance illuminated a sea of people, their faces etched with smiles.
"It is precisely because everyone never gave up hope that dawn has arrived."
Today's dawn belonged to everyone in the base city.
However,
"Lighting the tower is only the first step of the Dawn Plan. Now is not the time to relax."
"Mm..."
"We will not let this hard-won light be lost again."
...
Shuize Base City, Yuánzhōu Investigation Bureau building, which now served as the command center.
After leaving the Dawn Tower, Huang Hongtian rushed here without delay. He stared at the illuminated map of Shuize Base City displayed before him and asked his deputy.
"What's the situation? Any abyssal evil outbreaks?"
"No abyssal evil disasters have been detected so far."
"Keep a close watch."
Director Huang also reluctantly closed his eyes. From the sun high in the sky to its gradual descent behind the dark clouds on the horizon, he remained in the command center.
With a heart filled with tension and trepidation, he watched the map of the Abyssal Evil Eye.
In one hour, only one one-star disaster occurred.
In four hours, only two one-star disasters occurred.
Throughout the entire day, abyssal evil disasters were few and far between, and they all occurred in sparsely populated areas on the outskirts of Shuize Base City.
Eight incidents! All one-star, this was the disaster data for Shuize Base City after the dawn broke!
When this news was announced, all the staff in the command center cheered.
"We did it!"
"Since the advent of the mysterious, the frequency of abyssal evils has been steadily increasing, and disasters have become more severe. For the first time, the frequency of abyssal evil outbreaks has decreased! It has even dropped to a number far below that before the Gray Fog Tide arrived!"
"This is dawn, the true dawn!"
"Wuwuwu—!"
The previous apprehension and worry all transformed into tears of joy.
Director Huang was no exception.
Their efforts had not been in vain, and they had achieved success beyond imagination.
However, as Mentor Fang had said,
"We have only achieved a small-stage victory. The disaster is still tricky, and the danger facing Shuize Base City has not truly passed."
"Buckle up, we are entering the second stage!"
---Author's Notes---
The next chapter will be a bit late. Ah~