The War Is Over

Reverse space.

The foundation of the building was destroyed by the Power of the Fire Thief.

The base of the building emitted a series of faint cracking sounds, the soft clatter of objects being Extraction. The power of the Fire Thief was like an invisible yet sharp knife, cutting through everything tangible in the world.

Even if the building were cut in half at the bottom, in the special environment of the White Mist World —where there is no wind and no planetary rotation—combined with the weight of the thirty-plus stories themselves, the building would not easily collapse on its own. However, if space were to be reversed, the situation would be entirely different, with the sky above and the earth below.

The crackling sounds grew louder and louder.

Immediately afterwards, a loud explosion occurred.

It was freed from the heavy foundation and the earth that bound it.

The colossal object, over thirty stories high, plummeted towards the sky.

The portal opened.

Ten thousand meters above Danfeng Lucerne, in the stratosphere, a vast sea of clouds stretched out below. A residential building, over thirty meters high and with a base area of several hundred square meters, burst out from a dark portal, hurtling down amidst the violent vibrations and friction with the air, tearing through the dense sea of clouds.

Falling downwards.

The vibrations, cracking, friction, and violent reaction forces caused the entire building to shake. As the heat and force accumulated from friction with the airflow counteracted the force, the building's surface continued to peel away and float in the air. The shockwaves surging back and forth continuously shattered the glass, and fragments of all sizes flew out of the building, making it look like an abandoned space station that had crashed to the ground.

Falling downwards.

Break through the bottom of the troposphere, break through the sea of clouds, and rush into the stratosphere.

In an instant, the sky and earth disappeared, and the earth below was clearly visible through the thin clouds.

Here, turbulent air currents and even more violent elemental reactions abound. The Elf Expeditionary Force's twenty-four-hour magical onslaught has changed the color of the sky. The dense and chaotic torrents of elements above Danfeng Lucerne, created by the elven mages, have now become the weapons that will soon kill them.

Element Extraction.

Appendix.

The violent elemental power spread along the surface of the building. With just one trigger, it could set off a chain reaction. Flames suddenly erupted, roaring and spreading across the entire building, obscuring its original appearance and making it look like a huge, raging meteorite that brought about the end of death and extinction.

It plummeted towards the vast expeditionary force camp outside the city.

The atmosphere roared.

Such strange phenomena and sounds could not possibly go unnoticed.

In fact, the elves saw the building as it hurtled past the troposphere.

The strange phenomenon in the sky—a massive Flame meteor hurtled down amidst swirling, crimson clouds, resembling the apocalyptic judgment recorded in Forbidden Spell, bringing an unstoppable end.

A few tens of seconds.

Even the most fanatical and brutal elven soldiers halted in their tracks.

Everything had lost its meaning. The officers' slogans, the soldiers' honor, loyalty, the motherland, the queen, justice—all the slogans became insignificant. At this moment, they thought of their families back home, their parents, their wives, their children, whom they were about to part from forever, and who would be laid to rest in foreign lands.

They just stared blankly at the sky.

Besides that, there's nothing else we can do.

Even the Goth People in the city understood what the Forbidden Spell truly was.

Thirty seconds!

Horus transformed into its mechanical form, its four vectoring nozzles on its back activating at full power, propelling the raging building as it adjusted its landing point, drawing ever closer to the ground.

They will be reduced to ashes.

This will stir up a huge cloud of dust and cause a violent shock. This dust and shockwave will engulf these poor elves, and many more, plunging the two nations of Goth and Twilight Moon into the Shadow of war. After this battle, the Dusk Moon Dynasty will surely launch a full-scale revenge. The countless blood debts mean that there is no turning back. It is no longer about right or wrong, but only about the interests and face of the nation.

They will fight to the death to avenge Goth, which means that more and more Mass Projection will appear on battlefields and in Elven homelands, until Twilight Moon sheds its last drop of blood, until they painfully admit defeat, until the world's overlord finally falls.

Then we face the malice, fear, and panic of other nations.

An eternal war, until everything is reduced to ruins and countless lives are lost.

But what other choice do we have but to do this?

The elite warriors of the expeditionary force are currently engaged in action and slaughter within Danfeng Lucerne, while the frenzied elven army outside is also about to storm into the city. What will be the outcome of choosing another option? No one knows.

Just as no one knows what would have happened if Cheng Xin had pressed the button back then.

Therefore, Kang De said that only history can judge right and wrong.

He will still make his choice without hesitation.

"Twenty seconds!"

It was close enough, so close that this colossal object descending from the sky oppressed everyone's soul.

Just then, a streak of fire shot out from the distant clouds, accompanied by the cry of a phoenix that resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

"Father!" The auxiliary helmet transmitted the image, and through Horus's perception module, Kang De saw the phoenix hurtling towards him, or rather, he saw the elf riding on the phoenix.

The fierce wind whipped her long hair wildly backward.

His body was clad in magnificent armor, his face was concealed by a phoenix-winged helmet, and his kingly cloak billowed with blazing Flame. He was an elf unlike any he had ever seen before, and he had no idea what he looked like.

But Kang De knew who she was.

Duke of Tiling Tagelise... or rather, the Phoenix King Dairila, who was impersonating him.

She impersonated her brother, traveled to Valentan, negotiated with Kang De, and some events unfolded, forging what could be called a friendship.

She said she came with good intentions, brought information about extraterrestrial visitors, and taught him some things. She had gotten drunk, cried, and made a scene in front of him. Kang De knew her identity perfectly well, and it seemed that the Phoenix King also knew that Kang De knew her identity, but everyone tacitly maintained this unspoken understanding.

Dairila enjoyed the freedom and relaxation, and Kang De also found it very interesting.

But their harmonious relationship ended with bad news brought by the Sword Saint Cascading Snow.

At that time, Kang De could have confronted her, because he had a feeling that Dairila might not have known about the expeditionary force's second raid. But at that time, his father was also trapped in Africa, and both sides were in dire straits. Kang De dared not gamble, because if he gambled wrong, the great battle in Valentan might keep him there forever, and neither side could be saved, and everything would end there.

So, we've come to this point.

Perhaps it was fate playing tricks, but the two were destined never to become friends.

They even resorted to violence, killing hundreds of thousands of her people in her presence, thus prolonging the war.

Kang De stared blankly at the image on the visor. A phoenix soared across the battlefield and rushed towards him. As if sensing something, Dairila gazed in their direction, as if she could see Kang De.

The gazes of humans and elves collide in the interplay of illusion and reality.

In a matter of seconds, destruction will descend from the sky.

It was too late for any pleas, negotiations, persuasion, or consultations.

This brief period of time passed in the blink of an eye, not even enough for Dairila to arrive.

Like a phoenix crying blood, the Queen's voice was heard by Kang De for the first time, or rather, it was amplified by Horus's sensory module and resonated in Kang De's ears.

Kant

Such a call contains countless unspoken words, sorrows, and emotions.

"Ten seconds!"

Horus roared, "Father!"

A faint light shimmered.

The elves, who had stopped and awaited destruction, were astonished to see a dark light unfold, and ripples in space, like the surface of a lake, vibrating. The terrifying star of destruction was enveloped, bound, and shattered by an invisible force. The violent roar blurred the boundaries of matter, and the star was devoured and banished by the invisible force. The sky above them even cast Shadow of death, and then it vanished.

Heaven and earth were empty.

The raging, doomed star has vanished.

Destruction and rebirth, life and death, are separated by only a moment.

Mass Projection capable of covering the entire expeditionary force has been terminated.

Having survived the ordeal, on the brink of death, the elven soldiers had already turned their lives around. They had been fervently determined to fight to the death, but in the face of this destructive power, they were filled with despair, regret, and longing. Now, it seemed they could survive.

The sounds of weapons falling echoed one after another.

Weapons, which were valued as life itself and symbolized honor, fell into the mud of blood.

Many elves stared blankly at the sky, motionless. Many others embraced their comrades and wept, or clung to their warhorses, or gasped for breath.

No one spoke.

No one mentioned continuing the fight.

Even the Goth soldiers on the city walls ceased firing, and the elves below all dropped their weapons. For some reason, the Goth People also lost their will to fight. They too had witnessed the terrifying force crashing down on the earth, witnessed the final moments, and then everything stopped. After twenty-four hours of fierce fighting, for some reason, they too had lost the will to continue fighting and pursuing the elves.

I just feel so tired, so very tired.

But all was well.

In the White Mist World, terrifying objects crashed down from the sky with a roar.

With a snap of his fingers.

Turn off the lights.

Boundless darkness surged in, and then, shimmering lines redrawn the world.

Nothing happened in the White Mist World today.

Inside the driver's seat, Kang De let out a long breath and calmly said, "Tell the time."

"Cutout and analysis in progress... Calculation in progress, time difference shortened by three minutes."

Open the door once, close the door once, turn off the light once.

Horus asked, "Father, did you make a profit?"

"Maybe."

A ghostly light flashes, and we return to another world.

Through the cockpit canopy, he saw the queen riding the phoenix frantically searching around. Upon seeing the outline of the Transformers, she clearly breathed a sigh of relief and urged the phoenix to rush over.

He removed his phoenix-winged battle helmet, revealing his true face.

She bears some resemblance to Tagelise, possessing both feminine grace and martial prowess. However, her stunning beauty is overshadowed by her even more dazzling aura: the majesty of a king, nobility and pride, unwavering will, and the duty and mission to guide her entire nation forward... She is the most powerful monarch in the world, a position above all women. Her fragility, loneliness, and beauty are concealed by the awareness of a king.

Only now does he reveal a genuine quality that is inconsistent with his status.

Worry, guilt, sadness, helplessness, lingering fear, gratitude... so many words are waiting to be expressed.

She must have a lot to say.

Stop.

Her response was the sound of a preheating engine and the raised machine gun.

Kang De's voice came. "Keep your distance from me, and do not make any threatening moves, elf. This is my last act of trust. If anything happens again, I will wipe your capital off the map completely. Then, it won't just be these elves who die."

The cold words made Dairila stop.

She clenched her fists tightly, bit her lip, and lowered her head. High above, there was only the two of them, unseen by anyone else. Tears welled up in her eyes; only he had ever seen her cry.

But a deep divide has already been formed.

Although the final destruction did not come, the countless deaths, hatred, and blood debts caused by the restarted war could not be erased. What she saw along the way, on the battlefield now, and in Danfeng Lucerne.

She wanted to say something, but found herself speechless.

Unaware? I just arrived myself. What's the point of saying all this?

"I have already defeated you once and ordered your surrender. Your generals feigned surrender but launched another attack, driving the soldiers outside to futilely assault the city walls. Meanwhile, the elite troops have already stormed into the city. You must stop them immediately, order them to lay down their weapons, end this war, and give me an explanation. These are my conditions for ending Mass Projection."

Kang De calmly said, "I have made my choice; it's your turn."

Horus began to transform, preparing to return to Danfeng Lucerne.

Just then, Dairila suddenly said, "Kang De, why did you stop?"

"My goal from beginning to end has always been to end the war, not to let the war end everything."

Kang De's answer was cold and decisive.

He was sitting inside Horus's cockpit, speaking through a loudspeaker.

--At this moment, the loudspeaker was turned off by Iron Son.

The Transformers hovering in the air glanced at the Phoenix King and said calmly, "Father doesn't want to talk about this, but I can tell you that he promised you he wouldn't use what you taught him against the elves. He did this before because he thought you had broken your promise."

Dairila's body trembled, and her eyes turned red at a visible speed.

The Horus transforming fighter jet turned and flew away.

"... What are you doing!"

"I'm sorry for wasting three minutes, let me help you recoup some of the cost."

"No way, when the hell did I use Phoenix Vision?"

"Anyway, she doesn't know."

So why are you bringing this up?

"Father, you don't understand."

As they argued, Phoenix's fire line swept towards Danfeng Lucerne.

"Loyal soldiers of the Royal Army! I am your king!"

Phoenix Fire swirled, the holy sword was raised high, its radiance shining brightly. The eternal Flame soared into the sky, their light dazzling. All weakness and sorrow had been subdued, and only one could see the true form of a king.

At this moment, Dairila was like an eternal Flame, shining and illuminating her bewildered and helpless subjects.

"The war is over! Or rather, it was a mistake from the start! I never gave any order to attack again! This is a shameful betrayal and conspiracy! The culprits who caused all this will be punished, and you are innocent!"

The king's voice echoed in the sky, reaching the ears of every elf.

I've come... to take you home!

The phoenix soared into the city.

In fact, when they witnessed the terrifying mass weapon crashing down on the earth, the elves in the city also stopped fighting. The dramatic ups and downs in their emotions from the appearance to the disappearance of the Destroyer Star were enough to make them question the justice and necessity of this operation... They no longer wanted to fight.

Especially after seeing their king arrive riding a phoenix.

Dairila landed on the ground and shouted loudly. The elves who had been stubbornly resisting in this area laid down their weapons and came out. The Goth army that surrounded them was ordered not to attack.

For them, it was somewhat difficult to look directly at the glory of the Phoenix King.

Dairila's sharp gaze swept across their faces.

Suddenly, Xierfankai Le raised his longsword and slashed it at his own neck. The next moment, Flame swirled, the holy sword was unleashed, and brilliant golden fire outlined the sunlight. The Lord of Dawnlight's limbs burst with blood, and Magic Power leaked out like flowing water. His body fell limply, his face filled with despair.

"You, and the elf who orchestrated all of this, will pay the price for it all."

The Sword Saint Cascading Snow, A Xing, and Goth's powerful warriors arrived from all directions, all on high alert. The Phoenix King's sword strike put immense pressure on them. If the previous surprise attack had been led by this king, Danfeng Lucerne would probably be in chaos by now.

The steel wings roared down, and Kang De emerged from them.

Even though they had never seen him, the Goth People knew his identity. The crowd parted automatically, and everyone watched in silence, including the elves, while the A Xing and Hilmeria stood guard on either side.

Kang De and Dairila met each other's eyes.

There was only calm indifference in their eyes.

The Elf Queen lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Are you going to confess now?"

Kang De said, "In the previous wars, each fought for their own master, obeyed orders, and died without complaint. But when they feigned surrender and then launched a surprise attack on the city, slaughtering everyone, all the spirits who shed blood in the city must die."

A fierce flame ignited in Dairila's eyes, a sign that the Phoenix Vision was being activated.

She looked across the city, then said softly, "It's all here."

The holy sword is drawn.

The officers and mages who had already laid down their weapons would have no chance against their queen, and even if they had, they would have been powerless to fight back. Flames erupted, flaming blades crisscrossed, and a storm of Flame swept through, causing the two hundred-plus high elves to wither away like leaves swept by the autumn wind.

The Goth soldiers surrounding the area raised their weapons, but in an instant, the elves withered away. Even the Goth warriors couldn't help but retreat, their expressions changing drastically.

A Xing and the Sword Saint Cascading Snow had already blocked Kang De's path.

At that distance, if the other side suddenly attacked, their chances of protecting Kang De were not 100%.

"I'm taking him with me; he can't die yet."

Dairila grabbed the ashen-faced Xierfankai Le: "Give me some time."

"Go ahead and gather your soldiers."

The queen leaped onto the phoenix's back.

Kang De suddenly said, "You still have something to say."

Dairila stared at him, then looked at the Goth People present.

Every face was etched with exhaustion and weariness.

She whispered, "Goth People, the war is over."

After these words were spoken, there was an instant silence.

Then, cheers erupted.

The joyous cheers grew louder and louder, spreading in all directions. Commoners, soldiers, and nobles alike cheered, shouting with joy, and weeping with relief.

Kang De was surrounded by them, surrounded by joyful cheers and sincere faces. He saw people rushing towards him, he saw familiar faces, he saw the crowd part, and Tina ran towards him. The girl was much thinner than he remembered, and she was crying like a big, messy cat.

He smiled and opened his arms, and Tina rushed over and hugged him tightly. Then, when he looked up, Kang De felt a cool, soft touch on his lips.

The phoenix spreads its wings and soars into the sky.

The entire city was laid out before them, along with the devastation beyond, the innocent soldiers, the conspiracies of war, and the loss of life, dreams, love, future, and achievements by both humans and elves. Everything vanished in blood and fire, and everyone lost so much.

Before leaving the city, Dairila subconsciously looked back.

She saw Kang De surrounded by Goth People, and then a blonde girl ran towards him, embraced him, and kissed him passionately.

She saw all the Goth People cheering and applauding, and she guessed the girl's identity. The noise and joy, the victory and beauty, were separated by the thick city walls and had no connection with her anymore. The losers and the victors, the invaders and the defenders, the conspirators and the saviors, were clearly separated and infinitely distant.

She could only cast a bitter and sorrowful glance from afar.

Perhaps it was only then that she truly understood what the war had taken away.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: 5500 words! Update!