Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 213 Trap
The moment I stepped out of the tent, a cold wind and fine snow brushed my face, carrying the icy chill unique to late autumn in the North.

Louis tilted his head slightly and glanced at the gray sky.

"...less than three hours left." Several contingency plans flashed through his mind.

The defensive perimeter has been completed, and all kinds of traps are ready; the fuel and magic explosive bombs used for preheating have also been transported out and are ready to be ignited before battle.

Everything was as planned, so he was not flustered.

Louis turned to Lambert and instructed, "Notify all knights to assemble immediately; I have something to say."

In less than a quarter of an hour, a whole column of knights stood in formation on the open ground east of the Red Tide camp.

Louis stood on the makeshift platform, his gaze sweeping over the knights he had personally trained.

He spoke, his voice low but each word firm and resounding: "According to reliable intelligence, a mother nest has fully awakened in the Azure Rock Rift. The insect corpses will arrive at the border of the Crimson Tide Territory within three hours."

These few words were like a thunderbolt striking the battlefield.

A tremor ran through the entire audience, with hushed whispers and instinctive gripping of weapons rising and falling.

Many knights' expressions changed. This wasn't the first time they had heard the term "Mother Nest," and many had even participated in the siege of the Mother Nest, knowing what it meant.

That's not an enemy, that's calamity itself. Even though you, my lord, have defeated it twice, it should not be underestimated.

But Louis didn't give them much to think about. His voice immediately became firm and resolute: "I know what you're thinking. But you don't need to be afraid. Because we're ready! We've prepared all the means of attack, just waiting for him to fall into our trap!"
Behind you are the people of the Red Tide Territory, your families and friends, and the homes you built with your own hands!

With every step you take, the entire Red Tide lies behind you; there is no turning back! Only victory!

He took a deep breath, his tone as steady as a mountain: "But this is not a battle to the death."

We have fire, traps, and contingency plans. Every one of you has been trained and practiced!

This is not a battle to the death! It's not about dying, it's about winning! Winning a victory that belongs to us—to the Red Tide!

"Let those behind us see that even the Mother Nest, if it dares to set foot even half a step into the Red Tide, we can turn it to ashes!"

He suddenly raised his right hand high, clenching his fist like a sword, and his voice boomed like a bell: "In this battle, we do not seek miracles! We only believe in the human heart! We only believe in the raging fire! We only believe in the sword in our hands!"

"Attention, all! Crimson Tide Knights!! Prepare for battle!"

At first, there was a deathly silence.

The north wind howled, stirring up dust and battle flags across the open field.

But no one moved.

Everyone seemed to be processing the information they had just heard.

Suddenly, a metallic clang broke the silence.

He was an older, elite knight. He slowly drew his sword, the blade gleaming with a faint red aura in the sunlight, like a burning spark.

Then—the second game, the third game…

Click, click, click.

One after another, knights drew their swords, some gripping knives, others wielding spears, their eyes burning with desire as they gazed at the figure on the high platform.

"Even if it's the mother nest... as long as it's the direction the lord points out, we'll charge."

"He won't let us die in vain."

"We've defeated them twice, we'll defeat them a third time, and we'll keep defeating them!"

Lambert stood quietly to one side, watching the scene unfold before him and nodding silently.

He used to lead these knights in training in the drill ground, instructing them again and again on how to swing their swords, charge, fall, and get up again.

He had seen them doubt and waver, and he had also seen them bleed and persevere.

But now they are like unsheathed blades, their fighting spirit surging like a tide.

Not a single person backed down.

It wasn't because they weren't afraid of the Mother Nest, but because—the person standing on the high platform was Louis.

Their lord, their sun.

The man who led them to victory time and time again.

Now he says, "We are ready."

So they believed it.

They believed every word he said and every decision he made, and were willing to jump with him even if it meant facing an abyss.

These knights, forged in iron and fire, have silently etched this belief into their very bones.

A fierce wind rises again, and the battle flag flutters loudly.

The knights knelt on one knee, plunging their weapons heavily into the ground, responding to their lord's pre-battle oath:
"Fight for the Red Tide! Fight for Lord Louis!"

…………

Three hours passed in the blink of an eye.

The morning breeze was still blowing at the edge of the valley.

"—Buzz!!!"

The cold iron resonant pillar began to vibrate.

It was a sound like metal tearing through the air, deep yet piercing, like the tolling of a death knell, carrying an oppressive force from the depths of the earth.

Louis turned his head sharply, his gaze shooting like an arrow toward the mountain path.

This is not a small-scale trial.

He listened for only a moment and then made a judgment—a large number of insect corpses were approaching!

The rapid vibrations and incessant buzzing indicate that the enemy force is extremely large and moving at a very fast speed, with both the surface and underground surfaces under pressure.

Lambert said from the side, "Both the main and secondary paths are responding, and the scale is larger than expected."

“I know,” Louis said calmly. “This is the mother hive testing us, and also… giving us an opportunity.”

Before the buzzing had even subsided, the entire Red Tide military camp was already in motion.

"The insect corpses are coming!" a knight exclaimed.

“Perfect timing.” Another old knight sneered, pressing down on his faceplate.

None of the knights hesitated; they had already been ignited by the previous speech, and hearing this resounding boom was like flames rushing onto dry tinder.

Some mounted their horses, some picked up flamethrowers, and some ran towards the detonation rope at the edge of the pit...

There were no screams, no panic, only action.

"Switch all contingency plans to operational status!" Louis ordered, his words clearly reaching everyone's ears. "The first line must not retreat, the second line must not panic, and the third line must prepare backup."

On the other side, at the entrance of the northern valley of the Red Tide Territory, the army of insect corpses slowly poured in from the narrow valley entrance.

Their bodies were twisted and frenzied, their skin cracked and peeling off, and their bones protruding from their bodies, exposed like sharp blades.

In the eyes, mouth, and ears, purplish-black mycelial veins pulsate, as if some kind of life is struggling and hatching within.

They are born from the deep, warm bed of the mother nest, having lost human reason, yet retaining a terrifying "fighting instinct".

These insect corpses themselves have no consciousness, but their actions are not purely blind charges.

The mother nest of Qingyan Rift Valley, the deep will that is gradually awakening, has begun to intervene and command in a primitive yet ruthless way.

It is learning, it is adjusting.

It is gradually becoming a true war machine.

They know how to scout, how to flank, and how to analyze the prey's reactions.

Therefore, the insectoid forces did not choose to attack the main road head-on, but instead sneaked in from the valley on the north side, aiming directly at the southeastern flank of the Red Tide Territory.

It was a seemingly undefended "no man's land," and what guided them forward were just a few light cavalrymen harassing and fleeing through the forest.

Sensing no movement from the front, the Red Tide Army retreated to avoid battle.

It sensed a "weakness".

He then ordered the insect corpses to speed up their advance, confident and arrogant, as if he could already see the corrupted city ruins and the mountains of corpses on the scorched earth.

Little did they know, this was the first deadly trap set by Louis.

…………

In the south of Chichao City, a high-rise defensive earthen building is surrounded by layers of people who have crowded around the only small window.

That small window is now the only "eye" on the three floors of the entire Tulou that can see the battle situation.

At first, people rushed to watch; some carried stools, some carried children, and some even brought dry rations, intending to stay until the very end.

Cries, shoving, and cursing mingled together.

Finally, the head of the urban management officers couldn't stand it any longer and shouted, "Are you watching a battle or going to a market? You're making such a racket, the enemy will be laughing their heads off!"

He looked around, then his gaze shifted to a tall, thin young man: "Rock! You always spout tavern tales, saying your ancestors were bards? Now you can use that! Look, we're listening!"

The young man was taken aback for a moment, then straightened his back: "Okay!"

He pushed through the crowd, stood by the window, and straightened his cloak, like a storyteller going on stage. But just as he was about to speak, a series of thumping sounds came from the distant mountains, as if the earth was trembling violently.

Rock's heart tightened, and he leaned out to see that amidst the billowing smoke, waves of insect corpses surged in like a flood.

Their limbs were twisted, neither human nor ghost, like a nightmare awakening in the darkness.

Even from a distance, it was still clear that the monsters were rushing into the valley with impunity.

The crowd behind him stirred: "Tell us! Tell us! What happened?!"

Rock swallowed hard, forcing a calm smile: "Don't panic, everyone. Look at this surging tide of monsters. It's a brilliant plan by Lord Crimson Tide to lure them into a trap!"

He was inwardly apprehensive: How would I know about Lord Louis's plans? I was just making this up to keep the situation under control.

Unexpectedly, the "lie" he made came true the next moment.

"boom--"

At the mountaintop, the dormant mechanism suddenly exploded, and the giant wooden spikes, carrying irresistible force, roared down the slope.

It landed with a thud, instantly crushing the front row of insect corpses. Blood and severed limbs splattered everywhere, the sound as terrifying as a mountain god's punishment.

Rock's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, but his mouth kept flying back: "Did you hear that?! This is the first deadly trap set up by the master—the rolling log trap, divine punishment from heaven!"

"Roar!!" The people cheered, and someone shouted, "Well done!"

Before the words were finished, the ground suddenly caved in, one side of the earthen wall collapsed, and black oil gushed out, rising into the air like infernal fire, burning the insect corpses in front of it alive.

Rock waved his hand dismissively: "Look at the second trap, the pit has collapsed!"

"boom--!!"

Rock swallowed hard, and just as he caught his breath, a red light suddenly appeared on both sides of the window.

With a rusty, mechanical roar, the flamethrower roared forth, its orange-red tongues of fire writhing like venomous snakes, instantly weaving a fiery barrier at the mouth of the valley. The insect corpses struggled before the wall of fire, their wails shrill and piercing.

“BOOM—BOOM—!!!”

As the iron plate fell, flamethrowers emerged from the walls on both sides, like the open mouths of war dragons, sweeping across with flames!
"Finally, the third layer of fire wall will be activated. Flamethrowers on both sides will be activated, and the demonic flames will sweep across, burning corpses and extinguishing the enemy's courage!"

"The maw of purgatory has opened!" Rock roared. "That is the wrath of the earth's fire, the heart of the crimson tide, the embodiment of the anger of our people!!"

"Waaaaaaahh ...

Just as Rock was about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that his words had barely managed to stabilize the situation, he was about to speak to comfort the people who were beginning to relax.

However, the sudden roar broke his thoughts, shaking the entire earthen building.

"boom--!!"

A deafening roar, like a thunderbolt, sent a jolt through my heart.

Rock turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing with undisguised shock and excitement.

It's a magic explosive bomb.

Tactical-grade lightweight magic explosive bomb.

Dozens of lightweight magic explosive bombs rained down from the sky, landing with perfect accuracy between the sea of ​​fire and the valley floor, the powerful shockwaves instantly tearing everything in their path apart.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The moment each magic bomb exploded, the air seemed to be torn apart, flames and smoke billowed up, and the splattered bone fragments and insect corpses shimmered in the night sky like a bloody rain, as if a blood-red starry sky had descended.

In just five minutes, the first wave of the insectoid army's vanguard was almost completely wiped out.

Rock stared wide-eyed, frozen in front of the window, watching this shocking scene in disbelief.

The violent shockwave generated by that immense power almost stirred up the air throughout the entire valley.

He could feel the heat and oppression in the air, and the aftershocks of the explosion made him involuntarily raise his voice again: "That's—a magic explosion bomb! The fire weapon personally selected by the master! Specifically designed to deal with these monsters! Their remains have been completely crushed under this sea of ​​fire!"

The onlookers had forgotten their initial panic; their eyes were filled with indescribable horror and shock.

“Even an immortal monster could never escape! This is the true power of the Crimson Tide!” Rock’s voice was hoarse, but still full of pride and passion.

He looked at the clamoring crowd, a smile playing on his lips: "We have won this battle!"

These few words, like the morning bell and evening drum, instantly struck the hearts of everyone present.

The crowd was silent for three seconds, then...
"Long live Lord Louis!!!"

Someone shouted something first, and then, as if a haystack had been set ablaze, the entire Tulou erupted in chaos.

Men shouted, women cried, and children waved their fists.

Every face was filled with excitement and fervor.

“My mother is right! Only the Crimson Tide Lord is the true hero who protects us!”

"Gods are protecting us? No! It's Lord Louis who's protecting us!"

"I've been feeling really uneasy these past couple of days, but now... I feel like even if it's hell outside, we're not afraid anymore!"

"Lord Louis is like a general who descended from the heavens!"

“My son is only a year old, and the first word I want to teach him is ‘Lord Louis’!” People chimed in, all expressing their admiration and gratitude.

An elderly woman with gray hair, leaning on a cane, said between sobs, "With this gentleman here, our lives have been worthwhile."

Some people were so excited they jumped up and down: "Do you remember? We used to survive by scavenging for dry grass roots in the snow! Now we can live in a Tulou (earthen building), and there are people watching over us! It's not just that we're lucky, it's that we've chosen the right people to follow!!"

Rock was pushed and shoved by the crowd, some people stuffing steamed buns into his hands, others stuffing dried fruit into his hands.

A little girl tied a bunch of dried flowers to his arm and grinned, saying, "Thank you for telling us all this... You talk just like a hero in a play!"

Rock was both amused and exasperated: "Then you should thank Lord Louis, not me... I'm just a storyteller!"

The cheers of the people were deafening, almost shaking the brick walls of the Tulou city.

But Louis, standing on the edge of the battlefield, showed no sign of joy.

His gaze passed over the sea of ​​fire and thick smoke, over the charred remains of insects, and landed on the distant valley where the fire had not yet completely burned out.

The wind is quietly changing direction.

He smelled the stench of decay and hatching, an odor a hundred times worse than that of insect corpses, spreading from the valley.

“It’s not over yet,” Louis murmured, his eyes sharp as blades.

"That mother nest... its main body hasn't moved yet."

Just as he finished speaking, deep within the dense forest where mud and snow intertwined, a huge sac was wriggling.

It was originally half-submerged underground, but now it is slowly raising its body.

The mother nest sensed a threat.

I originally thought that this small territory called Red Tide was just an isolated stronghold, and that sending some low-level insect slaves and assault species would be enough to tear through the defenses and flatten the hills.

But now, it has to admit that this is a tough nut to crack.

The valley torn apart by flames illustrates one fact: to conquer the Red Tide, the entire force must be mobilized.

The broodstock thinking is slow, but it is not without logic.

In its not-yet-fully-evolved brain, a simple and brutal strategy was born—

Swallow it.

The entire red tide was swallowed in one gulp.

So it moved.

A valley began to collapse, trees were knocked away, and the snow melted into putrid liquid.

The enormous worm-like sac slowly crawled out from the ground, its back covered with mottled dark brown bony plates and raw, oozing pus.

Dozens of tentacles spread out from around the sac like vines, rubbing against the remaining snow and scorched earth on the ground, making a wet, squelching sound.

Even more terrifying is that translucent insect corpses are constantly "dripping" out of the holes on its body.

They resemble undeveloped fetuses, slipping out of the ovary, landing, twitching, and then immediately lunging forward.

Group after group, and another group after another.

These insect corpses were unlike the previous orderly troops; they were more like a degenerate flood, their numbers astonishing, leaving nothing but desolation in their wake, as if even the air itself had been corroded.

As Rock watched the enormous figure slowly approach along the main mountain path, his throat tightened, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Fire walls, rolling logs, and a series of traps erupted, unleashing the already prepared defenses as if a pre-arranged mechanism had been triggered.

But those deadly attacks that were so effective on ordinary insect corpses are now completely ineffective against the mother hive.

The heavy outer armor withstood the flames, and the spikes could not penetrate the body that was interwoven with soft flesh and bone plates. The self-healing tissue crawled, regenerated, and sealed itself at a speed visible to the naked eye.

“This…” Rock swallowed hard, managing to squeeze out a sentence, “A… rather large monster is coming.”

Everyone turned to look at him.

But he paused, then casually raised his voice, "But... everything is within the Lord's expectations. Everyone, don't panic!"

The moment he uttered those words, even he himself felt unsure of himself.

(End of this chapter)