Stella
Above the vast sky, blades gleamed, and blood splattered.
As the overlord of the sky, its powerful physique and fighting instincts kicked in. As death approached, the dragon flapped its wings and roared, activating its elemental affinity. It suddenly raised its position and head, avoiding the decapitating axe. But the Transformers's attack was incredibly swift and unstoppable, striking the dragon squarely in the chest and abdomen.
A large amount of blood mingled with the raging Flame and gushed out.
The powerful strike, propelled by Mach 2, easily pierced the dragon's body, even through its shield and scales. The unprecedented pain caused the dragon to roar.
The mage on the dragon's back immediately cast a healing spell, and the dragon's powerful physique began to heal itself. In the raging Flame, the hideous wound began to compress and narrow on its own.
But the next moment, Horus raised his left-hand shield and plunged the massive tower shield straight into the gaping wound, then reversed the axe blade and slammed it down!
The dragon let out another mournful howl as the massive tower shield was blasted into its body like a nail, preventing the wound from healing and causing it immense pain.
All living beings in the world follow their bodily instincts. The intense pain prevented the dragon from flapping its wings and maintaining its wind spells. The enormous creature suddenly lost speed and plummeted downwards!
Engine start!
Horus pressed down on the tower shield, forcefully pushing it down. His wings unfurled behind him, his tail spewed flames, and the powerful engine continuously increased its thrust, pushing the roaring, howling dragon to accelerate like a meteorite crashing into the ground below.
The screaming dragon sensed death drawing ever closer, but the intense pain and fear rendered it unable to use its Dragon Language Magic. It desperately opened its mouth to spew flames, but Horus's machine guns, rising from its shoulders, roared into action. The violent explosion and shockwave struck the dragon's mouth, causing it to let out a muffled wail!
"The sky!"
The law students at the Saint Covelo University looked up at the sky and exclaimed in surprise.
The battle against the dragons was exhilarating. In an instant, they killed two Dragon Knights, shattered the encircling elven air force, and the third dragon was rapidly falling. The tragic howls of this legendary beast could even be heard on the ground. Such achievements were worthy of being recorded in history and sung about by bards forever.
They watched from below, their excitement palpable, wishing they could be there in their place.
The students of the Saint Covelo University were Goth's seed of magic, and now that the city was about to fall, apart from some local students who were taken away by their families, the remaining students from other places and some local students requested to join the war. However, even in the most dangerous situation, Archduke Goth did not sign a general conscription order for them, because under the perfect and terrible war machine of the elves, these young students would only die in vain.
Unwilling to stand idly by, the students went to Instructor Stella and finally obtained the consent of the second daughter of the Grand Duke. The school's teachers and students, willing to fight to the end for Goth, formed a reserve mage corps to assist in the city's defense. However, before their work could fully begin, the Wings of Steel swept in from the sky.
They witnessed how an alchemical weapon turned the tide in an instant, routing the elven air force that had been swaggering through Danfeng Lucerne.
"The landing site is Contemplation Grove!" someone shouted. "Let's go help!"
He claimed he was helping, but his excited expression betrayed him.
Most of these students had already learned Eagle Eye, enabling them to see the battle situation in the sky relatively clearly. The alchemical weapons, resembling iron birds, were incredibly fast, moving with a speed freer than the wind, like knights soaring through the sky. Their beautiful and smooth shapes exuded a breathtaking aesthetic.
Without a doubt, the person who designed and manufactured this weapon was the true alchemist.
They firmly believed this.
But in the blink of an eye, this conclusion was overturned.
Not an alchemist.
He is the god of alchemy.
As it charged into battle with the last Dragon Knight in a glorious and valiant charge, the Steel Wings instantly transformed into a massive mechanical battle suit. The smooth and awe-inspiring transformation, its imposing design and sharp stance—this instantaneous change captivated all the men watching the battle—no man could resist piloting a giant robot!
Even in another world, a gigantic transforming robot can instantly capture the hearts of all men.
"Teacher Stella!"
"Your Highness!"
Although they were eager to get a closer look, their gazes were drawn to the side, to Her Highness Stella Taidariel, the second daughter of the Grand Duke and the head instructor of the preparatory mage corps of the Saint Covelo Academy.
Just then, the dragon and the steel roared down, crashing into the Contemplation Grove. The enormous sound wave spread outwards, the earth shook, and even the distant academy buildings trembled, sending dust flying into the sky.
The mournful dragon roar had faded away.
The students and teachers looked even more anxious.
Stella Taidariel inherited her father's blond hair, but her eyes were grey from her mother. Her shoulder-length blonde hair was braided and fell from her left shoulder to her chest. Tina's slender figure was hidden beneath her blue-and-white mage armor. The Tide Staff in her right hand shimmered with layers of gentle blue light. Seeing the immense force of the dragon's fall, she immediately called out, "Instructor Snuoen, Instructor Karna..."
She selected two teachers and five outstanding senior students to assist her in the reconnaissance mission, and designated a backup cover team. The others were to keep their distance and were allowed to observe with Eagle Eye, but had to follow the instructors' instructions. This was a foolproof plan. Although the teachers and students who were not selected were disappointed, they obeyed the orders without hesitation.
Three instructors led five law students toward the Contemplation Grove.
The Duke's message had been delivered earlier, Stella already knew the identity of the Sky Knight: Kang De, Cathayan, the man chosen by her sister. Even during the war, this name remained the focus of discussion among the Taidariel Family and even the noble class of Danfeng Lucerne.
And its popularity is only increasing.
A mysterious Easterner who shares hardships with his sister, then actively intervenes in the war between the elves and Goth, and rises to fame in the Battle of Valentan, shaking the continent.
Envy, admiration, curiosity, questions—it was all there.
Stella, her siblings, and even her father all harbored complex and subtle feelings about the husband their sister had chosen. Normally, they would thoroughly investigate and test this man inside and out, ensuring he possessed the necessary moral character, talent, strength, and lineage, and that his feelings for Tina remained unwavering. Only then could they open the doors of the Taidariel Family and let that boy in—but that was only normal.
Now, Goth is teetering on the brink of collapse under the onslaught of the elves, and the glory of the Taidariel Family is about to vanish. It is as if the great edifice is about to crumble. At this time, the fact that the Cathayan can still take the initiative to intervene in this war and stand clearly on Goth's side is enough to earn Stella's respect and gratitude. If this person also possesses the terrifying power to annihilate five elven warbands in a single battle, then it can be called a great favor.
And that's not all.
Not only did he lend a helping hand to Goth in times of crisis, and not only did he defeat the Elves in the Battle of Valentan, but he also soared through the skies like a hero when the war was about to resume and Danfeng Lucerne were about to fall. He arrived just in time to destroy the Elven air force and revive Goth's declining fortunes.
Stella felt speechless at such kindness and assistance.
What's the point of testing or investigating? Even the gods can't object to this marriage.
--He was even a little jealous of his younger sister.
Why is it that just by running out for a short while, I managed to find such an extraordinary man?
If I had known, I should have firmly suppressed her opinion and let me be the one to go to the capital.
Pshaw, what kind of idea is that?
I don't care about anything else, but I won't fight over this one.
She shook her head, banishing the chaotic thoughts from her mind. In any case, Kang De was undoubtedly an ally, friend, and benefactor of Goth, Teldrassil, and Danfeng Lucerne. What she needed to do now was to find him as soon as possible, confirm the target's safety, and do her best to provide assistance and help—any kind of help would be fine.
She Flight Spell at low altitude, her speed constantly increasing.
I am indeed a little worried.
The main problem is that the steel giant propelled the Long Yi to the ground, and it hasn't moved yet. Could it have crashed? No way!
The group rushed to the Contemplation Grove, only to find the once beautiful site of the Saint Covelo Academy in complete disarray. Countless trees had collapsed, and many of the arches and fountains in the woods were scattered and broken. At the center of the collapse, they saw a huge crater, with Flame burning fiercely inside.
That was a manifestation of the second law of Magic Power mechanics; the powerful Magic Power energy in the dragon's blood was dissipating into the air at a low level of magical energy, and burning was the manifestation of this drastic change.
Stella rose slightly into the air, but the scene of the circular impact was obscured by the swirling flames. She waved her staff, summoning ice spirits, in an attempt to extinguish the flames. Just then, a mechanical roar resounded from within, and a giant steel hand reached out from the hole, pressed down on the edge, and exerted force.
"O gods..."
The exclamation came from an academy instructor. Even though the mages possessed the power of heaven and earth, they involuntarily retreated. Their heads gradually rose as a colossal steel giant crawled out from the impact site, stood up, and dripped crimson dragon blood, burning fiercely, from its silver armor and body onto the ground. The giant, bathed in the flames of dragon blood, resembled a hero bathed in dragon blood from an epic, or a towering Titan Giant from mythology.
Under the glow of the firelight, numerous intricate and complex parts operated continuously, emitting a series of clattering sounds that were incredibly awe-inspiring. Only by looking directly at them could one feel the unparalleled impact. Countless tiny and meticulous structures joined together without any hesitation, rotating, reciprocating, advancing, and resetting without the slightest deviation, as if they were a perfect work crafted by the gods themselves, leaving insignificant mortals only with admiration and awe.
As the flames gradually died down, the mages finally saw the changes hidden beneath the Flame.
The extremely corrosive and hot dragon blood left indelible marks on the steel giant's armor and body, but not damage; rather, they appeared as intricate and magnificent dragon patterns. Elemental power gathered and rejoiced around it, and a dark red light flickered, as if the giant had absorbed the dragon blood, rather than the blood corroding it—could alchemical weapons be bathed in dragon blood?
Stella jolted awake, suddenly remembering the purpose of her trip. The woman looked up and called out, "Kang De! Kang De from Cathayan! Are you inside? I'm Tina's sister! Are you alright?"
She called out twice, but received no response. The mechanical giant simply stood silently, looking down at her like a god looking down at a mortal. Stella tried to fly over by force, but as soon as she made a move, the giant made a threatening gesture. The standoff lasted for about two minutes, to the point that Stella had to start using a short-range communicator to contact her father.
That's when she heard the sound.
"I'm here."
The portal opened, and a figure stepped out, removing the strange helmet.
Stella turned around and saw Kang De remove his helmet, revealing his true face.
The short black hair was as expected, but the face was a little different from what I had imagined.
Rather than saying he wasn't good-looking, what attracted Stella wasn't his appearance, but something beyond it: his slightly pursed lips, his calm eyes, and his resolute expression, which conveyed a compassionate quality. That was the reason and will that led him to intervene in this war. He came here not only for love and promises, but also for some nobler and more ethereal reason.
It is this more noble and ethereal quality that makes Kang De appear extraordinary, with the dragon flames swirling behind him, the towering steel Titan, and the slightly awkward figure.
His movements were slightly disordered, and his expression was somewhat uneasy, as if he didn't know how to face his sister-in-law in front of him, as if he wasn't the hero who had fought fiercely in the sky and rushed to Danfeng Lucerne.
For a moment, Stella didn't know what to say or do.
She simply smiled gently and said, "Hello."
She was still standing at the very front, so much so that no one except Kang De saw her smiling face and expression—it would have been unbelievable to the teachers and students if they had seen it.
Stella was able to display such an expression of a princess, such a refined lady.
Kang De paused for a moment, then nodded. "Hello."
He didn't exchange pleasantries with Stella, glanced at the sky, still a deep crimson, and heard the whooshing of spells. "I should go. The war isn't over yet. Everyone, please be careful."
With a mechanical hum, the giant knelt, its chest opening to reveal the seat and control mechanism inside. Its iron hand, like a throne, lifted Kang De and placed him inside.
The monks stared in disbelief at everything, desperately trying to discern the details, but they couldn't understand a thing.
They looked like a bunch of country bumpkins.
The mechanical giant took a few steps back, its wings spewing Flame as it soared into the air. It then flipped several times in the air, its parts reassembling and deforming, extending its wings and tail, propelling itself back into the sky with vectoring nozzles.
The monks watched it sail away.
A student murmured, "I want to transfer to the Alchemy department."
The others nodded involuntarily.
Stella frowned slightly. As the tyrant of Teldrassil, she was very good at teasing people and was naturally quite cunning. Now that she realized what had happened, and recalling their previous exchange, she felt that something was amiss.
--Oh, right! The alchemical giant crawled out first, seemingly to stop me. Kang De came out a while later. What was he secretly doing?
Just then, she heard an instructor shout, "Hey, where's the dragon?"
She stepped forward and looked at the large hole that had been smashed open from the edge. Dragon flames burned within, and wisps of smoke rose, but the corpses of the dragon and the knight were nowhere to be seen.
Not a single crumb was left.
--Where did it go?
Even if it were shattered to pieces, it wouldn't be this shattered.
Stella's heart stirred, and she soared into the air, gazing at the sky. The steel wings had already soared into the sky above Danfeng Lucerne, and cheers could be faintly heard from all around. Everyone in the city had seen the alchemical weapon crush the last dragon as it crashed to the ground. Now that it had returned to the heavens, the victor and the vanquished were already clear.
I feel honored to be a part of it.
The skies above Danfeng Lucerne, with their crimson foliage, are not fit for spirits to fly.
She watched as the steel wings accelerated, eventually breaking through a limit, just like when it had previously knocked down the elven air force—only this time, what appeared at the tail was no longer White Mist -like skirt, but a crimson Flame battle skirt, and the vibrating explosion turned into a roar like a dragon's cry.
This is really...
Stella wore a complicated expression and slowly exhaled.
Tina, the man you've found is quite something.
"Calling Your Excellency, our forces have regained air superiority over Danfeng Lucerne and are about to launch a counterattack in coordination with your army, providing close air support and beyond-visual-range fire suppression."
The walkie-talkie in the Grand Duke's hand emitted a sound mixed with some electronic noise.
"Please indicate the target; where do we begin?"
The Grand Duke's complex voice came through the walkie-talkie. "Young man, I apologize for my previous disrespect and thank you for what you've done, but I think retaliation is far more dangerous. The elves won't let this go easily. We have magical support while fighting within the city, but going out to meet them head-on... I think..."
Why is this old man being so polite?
Just like Tina, should I say they're truly father and daughter?
Kang De rolled his eyes and shouted, "Sword Saint! You tell me!"
Immediately, Hilmeria's shout came through the walkie-talkie, "Get out of the way! You're getting in my way!"
One could even hear the Grand Duke's astonished and indignant protest. "He's here to help, how can we let him do dangerous things... And what do you mean 'you tell me'? I'm still yours, after all..."
Kang De shook his head.
Then came Hilmeria's decisive words. "Kang De, the elven air force has been wiped out. The biggest threat to Danfeng Lucerne now comes from the mage legions and magical artifact positions outside the city!"
"Roger that," Kang De said. "I'm going to blow them up."
"Be safe."
"Rest assured."
With a dragon's roar, the fighter jet suddenly soared into the sky, climbing continuously before rushing out of the city. Kang De's helmet display screen transmitted back the image processed by Horus, and the Element power surging around him flowed through the Transformers's body, pouring into the bombs on the mounting rack.
How are you feeling?
"Better than ever before."
"So, are you ready?"
"Always ready, Father."
"Okay, let's start washing the floor!"
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PS1: 5,000 words. I'm late with the update. I actually started writing quite early today, but suddenly I just couldn't muster the energy.
PS2: I absolutely refuse to believe that this is because I was writing a new female character—absolutely not. It must be that I was distracted because I wanted to masturbate. That's it, damn it.