The sun is high - #158 - Chapter 157 Substitute

Just from the perspective of “vision”, Xiuge could already feel the changes in the messenger in the mirror.

Whether it is itself or the “furnishings” inside the groove where it lives, everything is changing in a more detailed and specific direction, although the figure and face of the messenger in the mirror are still dominated by black shadows. , but Xiuge could already identify the clothes on it.

That was the outfit I used most after I came to this world.

What surprised Xiuge even more was that the desk used by the messenger in the mirror had a strong sense of familiarity.

Shuge carefully identified it, and then he discovered that this desk was neither the old desk he used in Ernst’s old house, nor the style he had seen after arriving at Ernst Manor – this The desk belongs to his past.

This was exactly the desk he used to face after get off work every day.

Except that there is no computer, the other furnishings are exactly the same.

He remembered that there were two pots of green plants with strong vitality in the left-hand corner of the desk, and there was always a stack of unfinished books on the right-hand side. Furnishings and decorative photo frames – Xiuge liked to collect old objects and old propaganda posters for a while, so those photo frames contained some pictures and portraits that were almost forgotten by the times.

These are things he once liked very much. When he felt confused in life and work, he liked to stare at these objects in a daze.

He still remembers that when friends came to his home, they would joke that he looked like an “old antique” in some ways.

Therefore, when Shuge looked at the figure sitting behind such a desk, he felt that his past and present seemed to be blended in the person in the mirror.

This feeling is very strange, as if Huge Ernst today has inadvertently visited his residence in another time and space.

In addition, the second layer of grooves on the metal disc once again experienced extremely distinctive changes.

Xiuge discovered that there was more than one groove that was “activated” this time.

Among the six grooves on the second floor, the arthropod mutation of Charron’s Touch occupies one, the Palace Hound and the Fang of the Hound occupy the second, and now, the mutation of the Mirrorbringer occupies one of them in one go. Three!

In other words, at the current stage, there is only one groove left that Xiuge can “fill”.

Without exception, these three grooves are all connected to the “room” of the messenger in the mirror, and the thin magic line connecting them looks particularly dark, as if it is an extension of the dark fog. One of the grooves is relatively clear. , it can be barely seen that it is an empty room, but the fog in the other two is particularly thick, making it difficult for Xiuge to peek into the situation inside.

“You really like to be special everywhere…”

Seeing this scene, Xiuge sighed to the messenger in the mirror.

Facing Shuge’s doubts, the messenger in the mirror acted extremely calmly and proudly. It kept smiling, stood up from behind the desk, and turned directly towards the door of the room.

Soon, its figure came directly to one of the grooves on the second floor.

The dark mist in the groove kept flickering, and it took a while before it completely calmed down.

So Xiuge saw that the messenger in the mirror was standing quietly in the center of the groove. Its “clothes” did not change much from before. But this time, Xiuge saw many things behind it. The dark tentacles that slowly extended out were clearly an imitation of Charron’s Touch!

Before Xiuge could react, the hands of the messenger in the mirror immediately transformed into pitch-black claws. It even waved twice slightly to show that it understood how to use it.

Not to mention that, Xiuge soon saw the messenger in the mirror remove the sharp claws on his palm, and then he raised his palm and snapped his fingers, imitating the way Xiuge usually used magic.

The magic flame appeared on the fingertips of the messenger in the mirror. Although it was very weak and existed in the form of a shadow, Xiuge still understood what it wanted to express.

“It seems like I have an extra substitute?”

Shuge curiously looked at the messenger in the mirror who was imitating himself, and then moved his eyes to the “room” next door.

The density of the fog in the second groove was slightly lighter than that in the third one. As the magic power condensed and concentrated, Xiuge barely got a glimpse of what existed in this groove – there seemed to be a mask floating there. Can’t see clearly.

As for the third groove, no matter how hard Xiuge tried, there was no way to glimpse its contents.

Obviously, it may take more time for the Mirror Messenger to enter the next two grooves and obtain the power within them.

But for Xiuge, this growth of the messenger in the mirror has brought him enough benefits and help.

“Okay, I just have nothing to do tonight…let me see what you are capable of.”

…

It was originally impossible for all Votel military personnel stationed in Brown Hill Town to have independent residences.

However, Xiuge’s situation is rather special. In order to ensure the normal operation of the field hospital’s protection ritual, he and the mages need to be as close as possible to their work site so that they can perform maintenance and inspection of the ritual at any time.

And this gives them some small privileges.

For example, now, they can live in some private houses left by the residents of Brown Hill Town in the past. Although the environment is still simple, during the war, this was definitely considered preferential treatment.

Now, this environment gave Xiuge the conditions to test his new abilities arbitrarily.

Almost the whole night, Shuge was constantly testing the new power given to him by the messenger in the mirror.

If someone happens to visit this house, they will be shocked to find that there are two Shuges existing in this room at the same time.

At this moment, Xiuge was face to face with his other self.

At this time, he was sitting on a chair, while the “clone” that was “transformed” by the messenger in the mirror was sitting on the bed opposite him. The clothes, appearance and movements of both parties could be said to be exactly the same, which made Xiuge There was an illusion – he was looking in the mirror, and the self in the mirror had directly stepped out of the mirror world and came to his eyes.

After a series of experiments, Xiuge has now basically confirmed the functions and characteristics of the messenger clone in the mirror.

It cannot be completely regarded as another self. Although its appearance can be imitated extremely well, in terms of strength, it is relatively weak.

“Although Charron’s Touch can also be used, it is much weaker in terms of strength, toughness and explosive power. Moreover, although the summoned Charron’s Touch is also covered with a horny shell and has jointed limbs, its actual strength The power is much weaker than it looks to the naked eye…it’s just a ‘look-alike’.”

Following Xiuge’s thoughts, the clone of the messenger in the mirror in front of him summoned a black tentacle. Xiuge pulled out the magic-killing silver dagger he carried with him, and with just two quick swings, he cut off the tentacle on the spot. .

“From this point of view, its power intensity should be closer to that of me when I was still in Salem City… The same is true for the magic level. At most, it can only use some simple tricks, and the magic power is very limited. It must pass through the relationship between me and it. It can only be maintained if the magic link is continuously supplied.”

Perhaps sensing what Xiuge was thinking, the messenger in the mirror curled his lips in a very humane manner and put on an expression of “I don’t want to do this either.”

This made Shuge feel a little funny.

However, the help that the Mirror Messenger can provide is obviously not entirely concentrated in the field of combat. Its functionality is still very obvious, and Xiuge has just tested it specifically.

He deliberately “manipulated” his clone to leave the room and walked around outside. During the process, he met the patrolling sentry and other mages who had just done the night shift to inspect the field hospital protection ceremony. The two sides even nodded and said hello. , the mage even gave “Xiuge” a cigarette.

This is enough to show that the clone of the messenger in the mirror has been able to hide the magical perception of the stream-level mage.

However, he also discovered some new problems.

That is to say, this clone of myself is actually a thick cloud of magic smoke – it has no real entity at all. All interactions and collisions with external objects are actually disguises and simulations at the magical level. For example, when When Shuge controls his clone to smoke, the smoke will come out directly from its body. This scene is really weird and excessive.

“It seems that I can’t just let this guy attend certain occasions on my behalf… If I need to eat, drink, or speak, I’m afraid he will be exposed on the spot.”

With this thought in mind, Shuge placed the revolver on the table next to him. Then he gave the order, and the clone of the messenger in the mirror immediately stood up and picked up the pistol.

With the accelerated consumption of magic power, Xiuge saw the messenger in the mirror quickly inspecting and operating the pistol like a real soldier.

Its movements were flexible, fast and accurate. It only took a few seconds to complete the inspection and reset of the wheel. Then it raised the gun and made an aiming action towards the wall, with the same standard posture.

“Although the interaction with physical objects requires more magic power, it can obviously exist as an independent firepower point at critical moments… I can even consider letting it perform some more dangerous infiltration and exploration missions. For example, charging directly at the enemy with an alchemy bomb or something…”

This idea was naturally conveyed to the messenger in the mirror, so its expression became subtle, but it did not dare to express any objections.

…

The next day, Shuge specially submitted an application, hoping to apply for an additional pistol and a new revolver rifle.

Because of Xiuge’s identity and his previous special performance in the military, the application was quickly approved, so he successfully obtained two new weapons and corresponding quotas of ammunition, which were actually for the mirror. Additional weapons prepared by the messenger clone.

Shuge believes that if he can get fire cover and support from a precise shooter when facing the enemy head-on, the battle will become easier. And if he wants to hide it from others, Shuge also needs to let his clone do tricks. Act in full.

If possible, he would even like to get a set of equipment for his clone according to the specifications of a sword-wielding hermit or a Kalfan heavy machine gun.

Of course, this is just a thought.

While Shuge was busy working on his new abilities, just as he had expected, mankind’s understanding and cognition of war had begun to change drastically.

The tragic battle that took place in the “Silver Corridor” revealed a terrible fact to all participants.

Almost all generals and marshals realize that in the current cross-era war, the tactics and thinking of the old era must be innovated and changed.

In previous wars, in order to ensure the progress of the soldiers’ charge, almost all armies would use crystal cannons to bombard the enemy’s positions before launching an attack. After the magic explosion destroyed the enemy’s defense line, they would then use crystal cannons and chokers. The soldiers of Magic Silver Weapon launch a frontal swarm attack. During this process, the soldiers often adopt dense arrays. Only in this way can the consumption of the accompanying mages in maintaining protective rituals be reduced as much as possible.

However, the terrifying lethality and suppression power provided by the new ordnance completely shattered these conventional tactics.

The magic protection provided by the military mages is simply not enough to withstand a large number of bullets. Once these protections are penetrated, all soldiers exposed to the enemy’s sight will become the most vulnerable and helpless targets.

“The Voltels’ bullets are very cheap. They just shape ordinary metal into the shape of bullets and inlaid sporadic magic crystals on them… The power of this kind of bullets is not worth mentioning compared with crystallized ammunition, but When they swept through the array of our soldiers, it was like a sharp saw blade sweeping through the fragile grass. I could even see someone’s limbs being sawed in two by bullets. The bloody smell in the air was stronger than the magic mist. .”

A war reporter who witnessed the tragedy of the “Silver Corridor” described it this way: “Old tactics must be changed. Our soldiers are far more valuable than the opponent’s bullets!”

At the same time, St. Steele’s army, which was trying to advance in the Isa River Valley, also stalled.

In order to counter the frequent shelling of St. Steele’s army, the army of the Principality of Imope began to build large-scale bunkers and bunkers that could avoid artillery fire and explosions. When the bombardment came, they hid in these bunkers reinforced by magic rituals. Dodge, when the St. Steele people launched a formal attack, the soldiers of the Principality of Imop came out of the bunker and used weapons to attack…

Thus, a “truth” was placed in front of everyone.

In this war, “defense” may be the real theme. Any large-scale offensive model that follows the thinking of past wars will bring extremely painful costs.