Chapter 330.1
Abu swiftly ascended the rough and jagged mountain terrain. Although the mountain’s elevation wasn’t particularly impressive, scaling it without a defined path in the dead of night meant enduring a sleepless vigil. Yet, the darkness posed no obstacle for Abu, unlike the creatures of the night. His progress to the summit was so swift that Eugene couldn’t help but wonder, Has he already arrived?
Upon reaching the summit, Abu pivoted in a circular motion before adjusting his orientation, allowing Eugene to peer down the edge of the cliff. A shiver ran down Eugene’s spine as she envisioned the sheer abyss below.
“One misstep here, and not even your bones would be discernible,” muttered Eugene.
At a slight distance beneath the cliff’s precipice, lights flickered in a consistent pattern. These torches were affixed to the wall, their even spacing delineating the wall’s contours. The mountain was encircled by this fortification wall, forming a protective barrier.
Navigating the cliff and traversing the wall on this treacherous night was an unfeasible task for anyone. Even in the daylight, it would prove arduous. Any attempt to cling onto the cliff would be instantly spotted by vigilant guards. Thus, the rocky mountain’s sheer cliff acted as an innate defense mechanism. This is why the fortification on this side of the wall was comparatively vulnerable.
With the gate unbarred, entrance and exit were unrestricted. Nevertheless, exploiting alternative means, such as scaling the wall, carried severe penalties.
Even in the broad light of day, sentinels patrolled the wall encircling the mountain. Post-sunset, security measures escalated further, creating an impenetrable defense.
The density of guards conducting patrols along the wall was so substantial that while traversing its length, one could easily discern the distant figures of other guards ahead. Nonetheless, upholding constant vigilance in a time of peace proved challenging. A while back, the guards had developed covert practices within their ranks. The night patrols came with a decent stipend, so some resorted to submitting false names in order to pocket extra earnings.
In instances where a task required ten individuals, if nine participated, inevitable gaps emerged within the patrol area. Consequently, these gaps were relegated to the patrol of the cliff-side wall. While other areas underwent regular monitoring, the cliff-side wall received sporadic attention.