World creator system

Lin Mae apologized to Merlin and Melisandre, they were talking with General Shao and Strategist Wang about the incoming invasion.

All at once, from outside the doors to the Great Hall, but approaching rapidly, came the steady pounding of a drum. The discipline of all those in the room dissolved for a moment, and they began to chatter among themselves. Then General Shao held up a hand and they were silent once more. But Lin Mae could not blame them for their momentary loss of control. The drum meant only one thing. It was a warning of dire peril. As the pounding came closer, General Shao ordered, "Open the doors." A couple of soldiers hurried to do his bidding. Next moment a runner rushed down the corridor that led to the Great Hall, and dropped to his knees before the General's feet.

As the pounding came closer, General Shao ordered, "Open the doors." A couple of soldiers hurried to do his bidding. Next moment a runner rushed down the corridor that led to the Great Hall, and dropped to his knees before the General's feet. "General Shao," he gasped, clearly trying to retain his composure. "Signals from the smoke towers. We are under attack!" Though the news was not entirely unexpected, Lin Mae sensed a collective intake of breath among those present, a suggestion of increased tension, of hushed anxiety. The only person who did not seem to be affected was General Shao himself. Calmly he said, "Strategist Wang, take Lord Merlin you."he then turned to Lin Mae and added."Lin, take Lady Melisandre with you."

Strategist Wang and Lin Mae nodded, whereupon the General turned and bellowed, "All stations on full alert!"

As the runner raced out, continually repeating the General's order at the top of his voice, the room suddenly burst into swift and efficient motion, everybody rushing to their posts. Although those currently manning the Wall had never faced a real attack, they had planned and trained for this moment for many years, and now that the reality was upon them, Lin Mae had no doubt that the operation would be carried out with the utmost precision and efficiency.

The pounding of drums echoed through the vast interior complex of the Great Wall. Smoke rose in precisely controlled signals from engraved copper vats on every turret, conveying messages far and wide. The corridors rang with shouted orders, and troops rushed in all directions, heading for their stations.

They turned to their left, passed through a wooden gate, and began to climb a set of steep stone steps. The steps were divided into groups of twelve, at the top of each of which was a stone landing. Gaps to their left offered them brief glimpses of different levels of the Wall, and of soldiers preparing weapons and taking up positions, readying themselves for battle.

General Shao stood on top of his command tower, his black cape with its bear emblem snapping in the desert breeze. Flanking him on both sides were several of his commanders, resplendent in their brightly colored armour. Though the group stood in solemn silence, staring out at the desert beyond the Wall, the air seemed to vibrate with tension and fear, but also with excitement. They all knew that what they were about to face was savage and terrible—but it was a moment they had all anticipated for as long as they had lived. A moment they had trained for, ceaselessly and tirelessly, since they had been children. A moment they had been born for. In the distance, across the valley, a thread of river glistened under the sun. Beyond the river was the jade green Gouwu Mountain. At first glance the scene seemed a picture of beauty and tranquility. But beneath the whisper of the breeze was another sound, almost indiscernible at first, but quite definitely there. It was a sort of churning. Or rumbling. Like distant thunder. As the rumbling grew louder, it was accompanied by yet another sound, carried forth on the wind. This new sound was shriller and far more disturbing. It almost sounded like… babies. Thousands of babies.

Wailing in terrible distress. The group in front of the stockade door suddenly tensed and raised their heads, each of them half-turning in the direction of the outer wall. From beyond it, faintly, they could hear a terrible sound, a hideous screeching wail, as if thousands of children were being tortured. Lin Mae was the first to recover. Turning to Wang she said urgently, "Strategist, the Crane Corps needs me. I must go. Please forgive me."

Moving nimbly and almost silently for a man of his age, Strategist Wang sprinted up the steps of the command tower wirh Merlin gollowing him. He and Merlin emerged into daylight to find General Shao standing there alone, staring broodingly at what looked like a dust storm, bowling towards them from the far-distant jade mountain. Shao turned and nodded a greeting. Wang moved forward to stand beside him, his head barely coming up to the clawed bear paw epaulette on the General's right shoulder. "So General," he said, "it's finally happening." Shao nodded again. "Sixty years," he said. "Sixty years spent in preparation for this one moment."

Merlin spoke up."You said, you needed more time. Maybe I can get it for you."

General Shao and Strategist Wang looked at Merlin with hope, General Shao questioned."How much time?"

Merlin answered."Maybe fifteen days?"

Strategist Wang was happy with this and said."That is plenty of time."

General Shao nodded agreeing, while Merlin added."Just give me time to cast the spell, until them hold them."

General Shao nodded and replied."We will give as much time as you want."

While Lin Mae hurried up the steps of the Crane Corps command tower, followed by several blue-armored warriors. At the top a nervous but clearly relieved Xiao Yu moved forward to greet her. "Commander Lin," she said, "the sky rigs are ready to deploy."

What astonished Melisandre, who was with Lin is the most was the fact that the Wall, incredible structure though it was, was not simply a barrier against attack, but a brilliantly conceived war machine. Peering over the parapet behind them, they saw that attached to the Wall below was a seemingly endless row of huge trebuchets, like gigantic, jointed arms that were even now slowly straightening, that stretched as far as the eye could see in both directions. They both jumped as the surface of the Wall at the bottom of each of the trebuchets suddenly began to crack open.

Merlin what was happening, while Melisandre's first thought was that the Wall was somehow breaking up, that the enemy, whoever they were, had launched a stealth attack, which was now undermining the structure. But then zlthe realized that, like the ceiling through which the sail-decked contraptions had risen, the Wall was supposed to break open. She watched, amazed, as from the channels that had been created rose a series of vast iron chutes.

This, though, was perhaps only the least of the wonders they were destined to witness over the next few minutes. No sooner had the chutes appeared than, with a further series of cracks, the stone floor in front of them opened in multiple places once again, and what appeared to be numerous nests or platforms rose up from below. As soon as they were in position, rows of red-armored eagle snipers lined up and began to climb onto the platforms.

Some of the Eagle Corps carried handheld crossbow with a robust, aged wooden body, designed for compact, single-user operation.The stock has a polished, dark finish with visible grain, giving it an ancient yet sturdy appearance.Its bowstring is tightly strung between two curved metal limbs (prods), which are reinforced for strength.A trigger mechanism is located underneath, crafted from a mix of wood and metal components, making it practical for rapid use.

Some carried ordinary bows and finally the last group had large ballistae and siege weapons.The ballistae are massive, resembling oversized crossbows mounted on swivel platforms for easier aiming and firing.They are loaded with enormous bolts or spears, highlighting their role as anti-monster artillery.

With the archers in position on their raised platforms, the floor cracked open yet again—in different sections this time—and various contraptions rose up through the gaps. There were not just five of them this time, but dozens—hundreds perhaps. They rose up into the air like giant spikes, and then, when they were in position, a flood of female crane warriors, fluid and nimble as dancers in their vibrant blue armour, flooded forward to tug on ropes and pulleys dangling from the undersides of the contraptions.

As they did so the contraptions opened up, like vast elegant birds spreading their wings. Immediately crane warriors began to step up onto the bird-like rigs, to buckle and strap themselves into harnesses that were attached to the structure, to become a part of it. As soon as they were in position, yellow-clad tiger warriors came forward to toss the crane warriors long lances, which they caught nimbly, before taking up their positions on massive winches to which the bird-like rigs were attached. The tiger warriors began to haul on levers and ropes, hauling the rigs higher, causing the great wing-like sails to spread wider, to fill with air. Now the crane warriors looked ready to launch themselves from the battlements, to fly and swoop through the air like gigantic birds.

Merlin's spotted one of the crane leader's captains or lieutenants clambering atop one of the rigs and strapping herself in, but he couldn't see the crane leader—Lin?—herself.

And then he did see her, further along the Wall, barking orders, organizing her troops. She was perched on one of the rigs, which was being hauled into position by tiger soldiers. As the wings of the rig spread she stood proudly, stretching her body out as though eager to launch herself into battle, a long lance in each hand, as if she was prepared to fight twice as hard as everyone else.