The once majestic New Basilicata City has been transformed into a colossal fortress. The protruding gun barrels on the bastions stretch out like porcupine quills, instilling fear in those who behold them.

Twelve artillery batteries are circularly distributed on various mountain tops, equipped with a total of over two hundred large and small cannons, all protected by sturdy fortifications. The lower level has a space excavated within the mountain, capable of sustaining several regiment-level units, stocked with provisions like food, spirits, medications, and ammunition.

Once war breaks out, these batteries can mutually support each other, providing firepower support. Concentrating forces to break through any one battery faces immense resistance, requiring a broad campaign and paying a bitter price to breach the twelve zodiac-like batteries and attack the central New Basilicata City.

Thanks to Losa who emptied an entire outpost base of the Great Britain Expeditionary Army, while he distributed plenty of light weapons to the Black insurgent forces, heavy firepower was almost entirely returned by the Texans untouched.

Otherwise, given Texas as an agricultural nation, it would have been nearly impossible to purchase enough new artillery.

Overall, New Basilicata City has become an extension of Wolf Castle.

Even if the British manage to drive land cruisers to the mountaintops, in the face of such defenses, each forward step demands a bloody price.

"Are you a fool? I want human blood, and it doesn’t have to be from the same person. Let each of them give some; I need a casting medium."

"Hey there, the one skinny like a mummy, don’t doodle on my work. You lack the skill to add anything substantial to it."

"And you, get lost. If I see you waste such high-quality Magic Stone Ore again, I’ll turn you into a Mechanical Golem. Even a brain filled with clay is better than someone stuffed with excrement."

Furinjira has been increasingly irritable lately. Arranging a Magic Array in New Basilicata City is a meticulous task akin to threading a needle.

It takes several days of work, and even the most straightforward and dense Wolf Race casters can sense the clear low pressure pervading the air. Every Wolf Race caster is silent as a cicada in winter, focused on their tasks.

On the city walls, over a hundred Mechanical Golems—Stone Gargoyles, originally named "Drip Mouth Beast"—are performing their drainage function, channeling the previous night’s rainwater into the abyss.

Once combat breaks out, this Stone Gargoyle army, with the aid of a large Magic Energy Array, will severely damage the enemy air force.

Behind several giant drawbridges leading to New Basilicata City stand large mechanical golems, designed to prevent the enemy from reconstructing pathways. Even if slain, their remains can block the road.

"You’ve been working hard lately, Miss."

Kurs feels ashamed. Promoted from a lower-level member of the Blood Race, he lacks the caster talent, learning a few spells only through years of accumulation, yet still not surpassing the "fool" level in Furinjira’s eyes.

Towards Kurs, Furinjira’s attitude has finally softened somewhat.

"I can handle it. It’s just that these clumsy fools get on my nerves at times."

Furinjira casually embeds a Magic Stone into the Array Core, activating another golem whose eyes light up with a crimson glow.

Compared to the last time, the Texans have made significant progress, and at this point, the exposure of White Crystal Veins and Magic Stone Veins is inconsequential.

With ample Magic Stones, Furinjira finds it increasingly easy to arrange Magic Arrays and assemble golems.

This is actually a rare training opportunity that greatly enhances Furinjira’s proficiency in Blood Magic. However, it is evident that Furinjira is not particularly diligent, and the benefit in contrast to the massive workload makes her rather decline it.

"Every time I think about leading this bunch of misfits against the British Royal Mage Corps, it feels like it’s just me alone."

"Juliano swore that all casters would be allocated for me to manage, as if posing great support."

Furinjira grew increasingly frustrated, violently slamming a Magic Stone into the golem body assembled by the Wolf Race casters, causing them to shiver. Magic Stone Ore, although stable by nature, does not ensure stability within the golem’s array patterns.

They feared Furinjira might break their golem, then harshly criticize their craftsmanship, suggesting they spend two years as bricklayers before contemplating starting with the smallest magical puppets.

In her exasperation, Furinjira suddenly perked up.

In the sky, a Demon Dragon cast a massive shadow beneath the full moon, causing cries of astonishment among the Texans, some instinctively reaching for their weapons, only to be quickly stopped by the officers.

"The master has returned!"

Like dejected puppies seeing their owner return home, wagging their tails excitedly.

The fatigue and irritability on Furinjira’s face transformed entirely into joy, making the Wolf Race casters feel like they were witnessing the Blood Royal Court’s princess for the first time.

In the next instant, like a swallow returning to the forest, Furinjira rushed into the embrace of the newly landed Losa, frantically rubbing her head against his chest, feeling the strong blood aura that would move any Vampire.

"We haven’t been apart for long. Do you miss me that much?"

Losa ruffled her head while listening to her boastfully recounting her efforts and achievements over these days.

His heart was warmly moved, thinking that the little girl truly had grown up, becoming more capable.

...

Inside Wolf Castle.

Within the enclosed training ground.

A bright blue longsword was flung high, then stabbed into the hardened ground of the training arena.

The sharp tip of the sword nearly touched the throat of an elderly man across from him before withdrawing.

The man on the opposite side looked contented: "Nina, you have surpassed me in many ways."

Chelina sheathed her dual swords, her face revealing no emotion: "I feared you would feel humiliated."

"How could I? Every father takes pride in their children’s achievements."

Venezia, observing quietly from the side, fell into deep thought, attempting to adjust his demeanor, forcing a slightly stiff "kindly" smile.

The lifespan of the Wolf Race is lengthy, albeit significantly less than that of Vampires, but Juliano hasn’t yet succumbed to frailty. As the former top warrior of the Basilicata Family, his progress slowed significantly once he became the clan leader, but he remains superior to elite centurions.

Converting this to the same standard, it equates to the peak of the six-star level, yet in the face of Chelina, he was steadily suppressed from beginning to end until the outcome was decided.

This isn’t to say Chelina’s raw power completely surpasses that of Juliano.

The dual swords in her hands are of the same level as Juliano’s weapon, and the newly acquired King-slaying Blade is a great war tool that cannot be used lightly.