The War Song Begins!
Goth Sea, beyond the Distant Harbor.
The fleets of the world's two greatest empires are located here.
The Holy Empire's Valen sailing warships and the Dusk Moon Dynasty's flagship ships—two fleets that flaunt their distinctive appearance and size at sea—possess powerful firepower, well-trained personnel, and a naval foundation and combat system accumulated over the years. The warships of both nations have always been the benchmark for navies worldwide.
However, this is not a case of two giants standing side by side.
The two fleets faced each other from a distance, forming a tripartite balance with a third party.
The Council's Azure Fleet is patrolling this area.
Even against the powerful fleets of the two great maritime powers of this world, the magical patrol ship from the Arcane Consortium deserves its own name.
Based on the wooden sailing warship, and leveraging the scientific research and resource advantages of the Arcane Council, enchanted alloy steel was used for the outer layer of the hull for protection against increasingly powerful magical devices and enchanted ballistae. Furthermore, a magical tachometer was innovatively used to provide maneuverability for the warship together with the sail power.
With a displacement of two thousand tons and a total sail area of three thousand square meters, it is heavily armored, capable of withstanding any impact, pinpoint magical bombardment, and horizontal firing from armor-piercing ballistae. It has one hundred and twenty ballistae turrets and tactical magical devices, powered by a magical tachometer and sails, achieving an unprecedented speed of fourteen knots.
The masters believed this was a groundbreaking design and innovation, and that the Arcane Council lead the next naval era. However, the two colossal giants Twilight Moon and the Empire, were incredibly slow to realize this. A resounding victory was needed to awaken them... Azure Fleet was there for that purpose.
The magical battleship "Antoniers" led her fleet, swaggering through the Goth Sea.
They came for revenge and punishment.
Flagship captain and fleet commander-in-chief, Council Niola, watched real-time Atmospheric Perspective images from the bridge command room. With the help of polarized light refracted from the sky, the air element mirror projected an overhead view of the sea onto the earth element crystal plate, presenting a clear image through the interaction between elements.
The three fleets, the location of the dragons, and the details of the Distant Harbor —everything was laid out before them.
"Kang De, the Cathayan..."
The Seeker of Mysteries slowly said, "He rejected the Council's goodwill and insulted Council dignity. He thought that by wielding the Forbidden Spell's club, he could extort the Council just as he had extorted the Empire and the Twilight Moon. However, he will eventually understand that the Council is neither the Dusk Moon Dynasty nor the Holy Empire. Those two giants are powerful but bloated, with countless flaws. The Council, on the other hand, is not like that. Forbidden Spell are not unpreventable, nor are they unreplicable."
The spellcasters in the cabin all nodded reservedly.
As a place revered and longed for by all spellcasters, a cradle of knowledge and wisdom, the Council its own arrogance. They extended an olive branch to Goth's small nation, offering to help Goth People solve problems they couldn't solve and accept dangerous substances they couldn't control. This weak nation, ungrateful and unwilling to accept, even allowed Kang De, this barbarian from the East, to ridicule and insult the envoy...
This is undoubtedly the ultimate humiliation.
When the news reached them, the proposal to recruit Kang De into the Council and bestow upon him the titles and honors of Master of Forbidden Spell, Alchemy, and Space immediately fell silent. All opinions were in agreement: the Council had to respond, and since ancient times, the prevailing law on the continent has been—shame must be washed away with blood!
Therefore, the powerful fleet has arrived at Germany.
They were prepared to use the purest form of violence to make some people realize certain things.
The advanced, magically armored ship will demonstrate the glory and power of the Council to the Cathayan and Goth.
The seekers of mystery looked out from the glass portholes of the bridge. Outside the Antoniers, sails swirled around the ship, and the fleet followed. The elemental fluctuations of the magical artifacts and the spiritual power of the spellcasters on board formed a dense Arcane cloud, the gathering effect of which was enough to make any powerful person wary.
This is the power of the Council.
Even if the opponent is Forbidden Spell mage, they dare not ignore this fleet and the power behind it.
"Having witnessed its power and might, Kang De will realize that while his alchemical creations may be powerful and ingenious, the wisdom of an individual can never match that of a vast collective. He is but one person, while the Council an ancient history and a constant stream of geniuses and sages. The wisdom of the mages, combined with countless skilled craftsmen, has adorned powerful warships with magical armor. Kang De may be able to create exquisitely crafted small alchemical machines, but he can never accomplish such a feat by himself!"
The captain's tone was resolute. "Kang De will eventually understand what he refused that day."
The monks present looked on with expressions of genuine agreement.
A mage sneered, "He will kneel at the bottom of the Stairway to Truth and beg the Council forgive his arrogance and mistakes, but we will not forgive him in the end."
Master Niola glanced at him, then smiled and said, "No, we will forgive him. After all, the Council is very interested in this Cathayan alchemist's techniques and Forbidden Spells. We have lost contact with the East for too long. The vast amount of knowledge that Cathay possesses will enrich our Great Library, won't it?"
Everyone laughed.
After laughing for a while, the captain asked, "By the way, that dragon..."
Before the words were even finished, the warning lights on the elemental phased array suddenly flashed, and the Eagle Eye officer reported loudly, "Unusual elemental fluctuations detected from the Empire Fleet. Preliminary detection indicates that these are gas element fluctuations from the pre-activation of the Storm Hammer magic device on the Thunderflash-class ships. They have already formed a concentrated scale. Conclusion: The Empire Fleet is preparing for an attack!"
"Attack target identified as -- Distant Harbor!"
The mages all paled. Master Niola, who had been chatting and laughing and strategically despising Kang De, strode to the phased array feedback crystal ball and personally confirmed the accuracy of the detection.
A flash of extreme shock, even barely perceptible panic, crossed his eyes.
"What are these Imperials doing?!"
The captain roared, "A direct attack would escalate into war!"
Why are you panicking now?
Because Kang De really has Forbidden Spell!
Although he strategically despised Kang De, this seeker of secrets knew better than anyone how dangerous Kang De was. If the two sides were to go to war, he had no doubt that the Council could still crush this Destroyer wielded forbidden Forbidden Spell, even if it meant doing everything in its power. But he also had no doubt that before that, Kang De would send the entire fleet to the sea god's trap with a Forbidden Spell —he was fully capable of doing so.
He wasn't panicked before because he had great confidence in the strength of the Arcane Council, and more importantly because he understood Kang De's rationality. But now, the Empire is actually going to open fire!
In an instant, as the leader of a fleet, he made a decision.
"Full power on the magic tachometer! Full sails!" he ordered. "Immediately evacuate the Goth Sea! We cannot get involved in this mess!"
His subordinates and advisors cast strange glances his way. The master roared, "What are you looking at! The Imperials have done something stupid. We should be waiting for the results, not following suit!"
The next moment, Officer Hawkeye shouted again, "Critical situation! The Twilight Moon Fleet has fired warning elemental beams at Imperial warships, and the magic-guided strike platform has been deployed! It has also broadcast indiscriminate communications and is triggering sonic waves..."
No need! Soon, the elf's voice reached the bridge of the Antoniers without discrimination.
"... Immediately cease the pre-attack against Goth..."
"... all consequences and responsibilities..."
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
Everyone turned to look at the captain.
--What does it mean to have global hegemony?
With the Human Empire about to launch an attack, massacre civilians, and potentially provoke a world war and trigger Forbidden Spell retaliation, the elven fleet, which could have remained neutral, stepped forward and directly issued a military deterrent to the empire, ordering it to cease all offensive actions... That's true responsibility.
And what about us? We turned and ran?
Master Niola blushed and spat, "The Phoenix King really did have an affair with Kang De..."
Before the words were finished, an elven mage present said sternly, "Captain! Watch your words! Although I Council, the blood of the forest still flows in my veins, and as a member of the Council, you must have reverence for the ruler of the world! I hereby warn you!"
--The Council is a global organization, with members from various countries and ethnic groups, not just humans.
Upon realizing his mistake, the mage Niola immediately apologized. There was indeed a faction within the Council that favored Twilight Moon, and many of its core members were elves—even if the Phoenix King truly had an ambiguous relationship with Kang De, it was not something a human like him could judge or berate!
With the situation dire, the elf knew the gravity of the situation and didn't persist... As for whether he intended to report it later, only he himself knew.
The core decision-making members of the fleet are closely monitoring the changing situation. Under the threat of the elves, all ships in the Empire Fleet immediately responded to the emergency signal, and the elemental gathering phenomenon temporarily stopped, which means that the shipboard magic devices have temporarily stopped charging.
After a while, the mage Niola breathed a sigh of relief, not forgetting to flatter the elf to dispel any displeasure. "It seems the power of Twilight Moon still sweeps across the globe. I was deeply impressed by the decisiveness and responsibility of their commander; he averted a potential catastrophe."
No sooner had he said that than another slap in the face came swiftly.
Officer Hawkeye shouted, "Warning!"
The captain snapped, "What is it now!"
In his eyes, this eagle-eyed officer should be transferred.
From the perspective of destiny theory, they are quite incompatible.
The officer with the eagle eye was about to report when his face suddenly turned deathly pale, "--Emergency!"
Then the master heard his advisors' exclamations.
He didn't have time to examine the complex and precise crystal ball and elemental panel; he immediately cast Eagle Eye. It was energy-intensive, difficult to pinpoint, and easy to learn but hard to master, but it was still the preferred spell for obtaining information and intelligence in emergencies—because it was fast and accurate!
The captain was utterly shaken.
His Eagle Eye, combined with atmospheric mirroring, traversed the boundless sea, allowing him to see the Empire Fleet up close. The master immediately looked at the flagship Black Pine Forest, his attention completely drawn to what was happening there. He saw broken masts, flying flesh and blood, exploding compartments, and a massive figure soaring into the sky with decaying wings, its swollen and distorted head covered with proliferating compound eyes!
"Gods!" he cried out in alarm, "I have never seen such a hideous and abominable creature!"
He saw rotting flesh splattered on the deck, green venom spraying in all directions. He saw terrifying tentacles extending from the monster's body, thrashing wildly. Humans splashed with the venom screamed in agony, their skin rotting and discoloring at a visible speed, forming purple crystals. He even saw several people bound by twisted tentacles, the tips of which pierced their bodies, before howling, writhing, swelling, and growing larger!
Someone exclaimed, "A dragon! That's a dragon!"
Dragon?
The shocked master then realized the monster's true form; for a moment, he couldn't connect the noble dragon with this hideous creature!
--etc!
Dragon!?
The captain's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "The Hidden Friar! Quickly..."
A loud, muffled thud came from outside. Everyone turned to look. The 270-degree bridge offered a view of almost all the surrounding escort ships. They saw the Hidden Friar, a special logistics ship, violently shaking and trembling. Then, wood chips flew everywhere, cabins collapsed, and the purple monster proudly transformed, flapping its wings and taking flight!
--The Arcane Council is different from the Imperial Council.
The Empire Fleet found the "wounded and unconscious" dragon and immediately hid it on their flagship, protecting it like a precious treasure, afraid of being discovered by others, as they needed to obtain firsthand information.
The Arcane Council also discovered the "injured and unconscious" dragon. Master Niola, as the commander, did not even go to the scene, but instead directed the operation remotely. Given the unknown biological corrosiveness of the mysterious elements beneath Goth, after learning the dragon's identity and that it had gone underground, he immediately ordered fully armed medical officers to take the dragon to the Hidden Friar for complete isolation and medical treatment. All personnel who had been in contact with the dragon were also sent to the Hidden Friar for leave.
All subsequent communication and intelligence gathering were also conducted via telegram.
What? You want to see me?
No problem, someone come and move my holographic projector over there.
Why are you so skilled?
The reason is simple— the Council, whose highest principle is to explore the secrets of arcane magic and seek the ultimate knowledge of the world, is constantly gazing into the abyss and is also constantly being gazing into the abyss.
In other words, they've been constantly courting death and have suffered far too many beatings.
Therefore, in terms of technology and accumulated experience in resisting invasion by unknown forces, they can be said to be number one in the world!
Thus, the Aberrant Dragon Luzi carried out a brilliant decapitation strike on the Imperial flagship Black Pine Forest, successfully taking control of the decision-making level and even controlling the entire fleet at one point, almost successfully ordering it to launch a full-scale attack on Goth —while the Council Fleet did not achieve the same effect.
You can take the lower-level route, that's also an option.
In the blink of an eye, the Hidden Friar was possessed by the Aberrant Dragon that had revealed its true form. Its wings were outstretched, spores were sprayed out, and a dozen tentacles wrapped around the screaming sailors and spellcasters. Terrifying venom was injected into them, and in an instant, these people were turned into puppets.
The mutated monster howled, its flesh and blood spreading and crawling across the hull like a living thing, its blood vessels forming a spider web that rapidly spread throughout the entire ship!
The pristine white sails gradually became covered in mold, with purple droplets condensing on them. The mages and sailors, infused with Paradox Element, slowly rose, shaking their necks and howling as they headed towards the engine room!
The sails are turning!
The Aberrant Dragon's wings unfurled in the wind, bone spurs spreading and growing endlessly, eventually transforming into enormous wings that vibrated and roared, spreading like sails and propelling the Hidden Friar to begin its turn!
Then it crashed into the Spear of Frost was nearby!
The ram at the bow of the ship was covered with purple swarms of organisms.
The two warships were extremely close to each other, currently in cruising mode. The magic-powered engines were not activated, and the sails were not even fully unfurled. The dragon stirred up a gale, and the Paradox Element strengthened the sails. The corrupted and invaded Hidden Friar, like Long Yi, crashed into the hull of the Spear of Frost from the side!
A violent roar, the indestructible ram even breached the armored ship's proud defenses, shaking the entire hull. The spreading mutated flesh and blood spread like a plague to another warship, and the corrupted sailors and mages howled as they Frost Spear!
Captain Niola's roar echoed through the cabin, "Highest wartime alert! All shipboard magical devices activated! The entire fleet, attack the Frost Spear and the Hidden Monks! Attack!"
Meanwhile, some surviving crew members on the Hidden Friar were still wailing and pleading for help. Some jumped into the water, and mages flew into the air, but they were all killed one by one by the spikes spewed by the dragons that roamed the warships. The same was true for the Spear of Frost. They were organizing an effective resistance and counterattack—so, an attack?
Niola's eyes blazed with fury. "Issue the order! All personnel who have abandoned ship must remain in place and are not allowed to approach any of our ships! Otherwise, they will be killed on sight! No ship is permitted to rescue any survivors before the battle ends! Finally, execute my order! Attack immediately! Do I need to repeat myself a second time?!"
The uneasy mages followed the captain's pointing finger and looked in the direction of the Empire.
The Black Pine Forest had been completely taken over by the mutated dragon, and the fate of the Hidden Friar was no different, except that it was the flagship of the Empire Fleet and the center of decision-making.
"Attack!"
The attack signal was sent out in full force. The Antoniers quickly turned around, the ship's magic devices were activated, the battle mages took their positions, and the ballistae were already aimed at the target. Captain Niola's eyes were as cold and stern. Attacking a friendly ship required him to issue the final order... Although it was the right choice, he still hesitated.
A moment later, he heard Hawkeye's scream again.
"Captain!"
... He absolutely must be replaced.
Hawkeye's voice even trembled with tears. "From the sky!"
Master Niola looked up at the sky.
The dragon roared fiercely, and several black dots continued to enlarge. Wherever the Eagle Eye looked, purple wings fluttered, and the mutated dragon's body descended on the wind, its purple flesh playing a soul song of extinction.
The captain's face instantly drained of color.
... Dragon Legion.
Almost instantly, the warships of the Azure Fleet abandoned their orders to fire on the Hidden Friar. Battle mages, ballistae, shipboard magic devices... interwoven elemental rays and Arcane Missile soared into the sky, and dense firepower wove an elemental net to meet the mutated beast diving from the air.
More than attacking their teammates, they fear becoming like them.
"Fleet, disperse!"
After a moment of despair and panic, Master Niola still tried to uphold his duty. He reached out and grasped, and the staff beside him floated into the air. He flipped it into his hand and shouted, "Organize firepower! Intercept the enemy in the sky! Don't panic! We are the Azure Fleet! We..."
The next second, the ship shook violently, magical light burst from the outside of the porthole, and the violent shaking almost threw him out. The master turned his head in horror. In the distance, the Hidden Friar was still embedded in the Frost Spear with its ram, but the elemental cabin facing Anthony was shining with the light of magic devices charging.
The Aberrant Dragon that plunged from the sky split into two groups.
Four ships charged toward the Council Fleet, and another four toward the Empire Fleet.
In the Imperial Fourth Subfleet, Luzi took control of the Black Forest in the same manner, propelling its massive ram into the surrounding warships as magical artifacts and ballistae opened fire, crushing and impacting them.
Amidst this desperate and terrifying chaos, several more Aberrant Dragon descended from the sky.
This was a difficult situation that neither of the two experienced navies had ever faced before. Internal turmoil, external attacks, and high-speed dive attacks from the sky caught the commanders, who were used to naval battles, off guard. Moreover, the offensive was so fierce and bizarre that they had not even entered a state of combat readiness.
"Elf!"
Horus shouted sternly, "You should join the battle immediately! Otherwise, once these Aberrant Dragon assimilate the fleets of both countries, you will face an attack from both fleets!"
"Shut up! Alchemical golem! We'll decide that!"
The elf who answered had flowing long hair, wore a headdress, and was handsome and elegant with a perfect face. He looked at the sea, and his eyes, which were as calm as a lake, were now turbulent with stormy thoughts, clearly indicating that he was thinking and planning urgently.
Lily stared at the Aberrant Dragon descending from the sky and crashing down upon her, her face pale and her body trembling. So many dragons being corrupted and controlled meant that the dragon army was in grave trouble.
Otherwise, how could he have had the opportunity to control so many dragons?
It must be from top to bottom.
This means...
She gritted her teeth and said, "I'm going to the legion!"
"No, you can't go! Your injuries haven't healed; you won't be of any use!" Horus firmly rejected the idea, then urged, "Elves! I hope you..."
The commander of the elven fleet gave him a cold look, then raised his hand.
"Order! The expeditionary fleet, set sail! Leave this area immediately!"
Horus paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Elves! This is not a wise choice!"
"No, that's quite wise. His Majesty's orders were for us to control the situation, but now it's out of control. I don't know how these corrupt dragons came to be, and I don't care whether it was the dragons who messed things up or Kang De who created this mess, but it's definitely not the elves' fault!"
He said coldly, "The elves will not pay for your mistakes, and I will not sacrifice my soldiers' lives to clean up the mess for your masters or dragons! If these Aberrant Dragons and disgusting creatures want to pursue the elven fleet, we will kill them! If they want to attack the Distant Harbor, then let them!"
"Before that, we need to leave here!"
His tone was firm and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.
"I don't know why Her Majesty would issue such an order, but even if she ordered me to launch an attack now, I would refuse! We have shed enough blood for this damned war. We can bleed for loyalty, for our country, for our compatriots, and for our beliefs, but we must never bleed for the Goth People!"
Horus said in a deep voice, "This is not a wise decision, Elf. You have taken the wrong second step, which is a great pity. This could have been the beginning of your reconciliation with my father and Goth."
"Don't talk about it like some kind of blessing, alchemical golem."
The elven commander said coldly, "If it weren't for His Majesty's strict orders, you would have perished here today. We haven't avenged the Dragon Knight and the army yet... Now, leave my ship."
Horus said no more.
Without saying a word, Lily transformed into a dazzling silver dragon and soared into the sky.
Horus jets its tail flames, then floats up to follow.
The elven fleet hoisted its sails, turned, and, fully alert, bypassed the fierce battle zone, heading towards distant waters.
Sailors gazed at each other from afar as one after another, Aberrant Dragon descended from the sky, breaking through the terrifying and frenzied magical defenses of the surface ships. Carrying trails of flying and exploding flesh and blood, they crashed into the decks of warships with their shattered bodies. Under the frenzied bombardment of magic, flesh and blood spread, and terrifying purple monstrous growths coiled around the entire ship like blood vessels, parasitizing, corrupting, and degenerating, with tragedies unfolding one after another.
This situation left the elves looking at each other, uneasy.
They were asking themselves: if they were subjected to such a high-speed, dive-bombing attack, and even magic, magical artifacts, and arrows couldn't intercept it in time... would they end up like these short-lived species?
"They're finished."
The elven commander, facing the sea breeze, seemed to catch the pungent stench of burning. He glanced at the Distant Harbor again. "This city is finished too."
He didn't believe that the monster's appetite was limited to operating a few warships.
In this almost undefended city, there are hundreds of thousands of fresh, fleshy people.
"But let the Goth People taste the bitter fruit themselves... It's not our fault, nor is it our responsibility." He shook his head. "Accelerate, we..."
"--Commander!"
Screams rang out nearby, the flagship's siren blared, and the commander looked up sharply. Without using Eagle Eye, the elves' unparalleled keen vision spotted several shadows reappearing in the sky.
From the direction where the Dragon Legion was stationed, the howls of mutated dragons came again.
This time, the target is our own fleet.
And there's also the Distant Harbor.
The commander paused for a moment, then shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Ah, it really wasn't a wise choice... It was only a few minutes off, damn it, I've become a bad elf for nothing."
"--Fight!"
Lily froze in mid-air. "... The Legion is doomed."
"There's something wrong." Horus observed the situation of the ships below. "An interesting phenomenon... Dragons are even less resistant to the corruption of the mystical elements than humans. Why is that?"
The departing elven fleet scattered, its elemental radiance shining brightly.
But a portion of the monstrous dragons that roared in charged toward the elven fleet.
The other part flew to Distant Harbor.
There was a weakened Coastal Defense Fleet, and... hundreds of thousands of civilians in Distant Harbor.
Lily suddenly raised her head and let out a long cry, flapped her wings, and flew swiftly towards the harbor.
Horus was startled and quickly followed, asking, "What are you doing?"
"Do what your father would do!" the dragon's voice echoed through the sky. "He did my work underground, so on the surface I'll do his!"
The Transformers retorted, "Three dragons—I lack logistical support and heavy firepower, and you're still recovering from your injuries. Even with our combined strength, we wouldn't stand a chance against those three Aberrant Dragons, let alone the fact that they have reinforcements!"
Soaring through the sky, flying against the wind, Lily shouted, "So when your father returns and sees the city wrecked and all the Distant Harbor dead, are you planning to appear before him with a clean and presentable facade, saying that you did nothing because you lacked logistical support and heavy firepower?"
"I'm a dragon, I don't have the nerve to say that!"
"So, we'll hold them off for as long as we can!"
Horus froze in mid-air, stunned. "I mean, let me..."
Never mind.
That's right, we'll hold them off for as long as we can.
"They're here!"
Panic in the Distant Harbor had reached unprecedented levels. While the fleets of various nations were swaggering and showing off their power, people were condemning Kang De. When the terrible changes occurred, they fell silent. But when the distorted, twisted dragons descended from the sky, some people even began to flatter Kang De, because these dragons were clearly problematic, fitting the description of being "corrupted by that terrible Magic Creature." And given everyone's unified narrative that this was all a conspiracy by the Cathay Boys, it was clear that only Kang De could have done such a thing.
But when the dragons charged menacingly toward the Distant Harbor, the brief moment of turning from darkness to light abruptly ended. Panic turned into action; everyone fled, howled, and despaired.
Some people sat down on the ground, desperately repenting and begging for help.
They viewed it as Kang De's punishment and retribution.
We have to leave!
At the governor's residence, the provincial general shouted, "We cannot stop those monsters! Not even the fleets of the various nations can stop them! Your Excellency and Her Highness the Princess, please leave immediately!"
"No."
Stella, staff in hand, gazed out the window at the chaotic scene and the ever-approaching dragon.
"I will stay here and fight alongside those who are willing to stay."
The general angrily retorted, "Forgive my bluntness, Your Highness, but this is utterly meaningless..."
"It's meaningful," the second princess said. "At least, Teldrassil sacrificed himself here."
In that case, conspiracy theories and malicious attacks will fall apart on their own.
Teldrassil continues to defend this nation, never betraying or selling it out.
Do you regret it? You must regret it, right?
Perhaps I shouldn't have agreed to Kang De's request, and I shouldn't have tried to monopolize this Magic Creature.
But it's pointless to talk about this now.
She lowered her head and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Tina said that Kang De was willing to help Goth because he remembered a dead person.
I wonder if I deserve to be remembered by Kang De.
If it exists... then it must be meaningful.
Hopefully, this guy still has a conscience.
She said, "Let's fight!"
Lily had already blocked the path of several Aberrant Dragons.
They said they would stop it, but the wound still ached, and the fear persisted.
Who would have thought that I, the Rebel Dragon's daughter, this indifferent and selfish creature who doesn't even respect the dragon race, would actually be here today, risking my life to fight for a group of humans...
She mobilized the power of light, remaining vigilant and waiting.
Sigh, you might not believe it, Kang De, but the reason I dare to stand here today is because your son says you've already won... So, when are you finally coming over?
Please don't show up when I'm about to be beaten to death, or have me breathe my last in your arms... I'm too lazy to even write such a clichéd plot.
The Aberrant Dragon was charging in very close; the flesh and slime falling from its mouth, the tangled tentacles—it looked disgusting and repulsive. A gleam of light shone from the direction of the Distant Harbor, and arrows were gathering; it didn't look bad at all.
She shook her head.
It's about to start.
... By the way, where's Kang De's son? He could at least help me with one of them.
A noble silver dragon, a grotesque monster, light and darkness, beauty and ugliness, justice and evil are about to clash. In an instant, like lightning and thunder, countless streaks of light roar in from the side.
The booming sounds and roars were familiar and intoxicating.
Visible to the naked eye, countless metal fragments and sharp spikes swept past Lily's eyes. A dense torrent of metal, carrying purple light, swept across like a river of Flame, engulfing the three Aberrant Dragons. Their shields opened, roaring incessantly. Under this dazzling light, Lily was first stunned, then smiled.
"Emergency!"
"Antoniers!" Hawkeye's exclamation rang out again.
The mage Niola's eyes gleamed with Arcane light, connected to the bridge's magical system, directing the magical weapons to defend against the air attacks from all directions. He roared, "Damn it! The harbinger birds! What's wrong now!"
The hawk-eyed officer stammered, "Ship, ship, ship, ship, ship..."
What happened to the boat?!
The captain's shout startled the eagle-eyed officer, whose tone became crisp. "Large-scale Phase Gate deployment detected! Appearing outside the Distant Harbor! Deploying instantly!"
"Great, so it's some kind of weird thing that's come out now!"
Hawkeye shouted, "The ship!"
Niola looked over with Eagle Eye, and the next moment, he froze.
The elven commander, who also received the alarm, was stunned.
And the officers of the Empire.
Even the civilians, soldiers, fugitives, supplicants, and guardians in Distant Harbor.
Princess, governor, general, every soldier.
They all saw the ship.
They saw above the raging blue waves, beyond the Distant Harbor, a purple spatial gate floating open like a vortex, revealing a swirling purple nebula from every angle.
Then they saw a ship.
Completely silver-white and enormous in size, without sails, it burst forth from the floating Phase Gate, like a divine sword descending from the sky and cleaving into the vast waves.
The surging tide splits off from both sides, and the snow-white waves splash like a waterfall. The ship, which is more than 150 meters long, has a tonnage and size that is hard to match in this era. There are no sails, no cabin doors, no ballistae, no masts, nothing at all, but even such strange features and shapes instantly stunned all those who saw it.
Because this is a steel warship.
A steel sword gallops across the sea.
Flames erupted, wings landed, Horus rushed to the bridge, where he saw Kang De and the A Xing smiling at him.
"Father, it seems to have been a perfect voyage."
"Of course, there's also a beautiful story."
"I'm looking forward to it." The Transformers smiled and reformed, "The enemy is here, at your command."
The Grewind Swarm dispersed into humanoid shapes, Horus noticed that the ship seemed different from those on Earth, exuding a familiar yet inexplicable aura.
"Perfect timing," Kang De said. "Let's get this ship moving!"
The Transformers didn't have time to think; their bodies coalesced and dispersed, connecting electronically. "Received!"
The two LM-2500+ gas turbines, requiring no pre-start, immediately roared to life, a mysterious power coursing through the ship. Each 30,000-horsepower propulsion system propelled the Knight Astolfo through the waves. Horus's voice echoed on the bridge, "Power system online! Awaiting your command!"
"Weapon systems ready! Sound the air raid siren!"
A piercing, sharp sound blared from the loudspeakers, soaring into the sky, sweeping across the entire Distant Harbor, and reaching even further out to sea. Amidst this stirring and terrifying sonic roar, the France frigate cleaved through the azure waves at a speed exceeding thirty knots. A spatial portal opened, and war platforms descended, their turrets rotating and aimed at the sky!
"Let's have another upbeat background music!"
The booming music echoed across the bridge, Paradox Element filled the hull, the automated ammunition system was enchanted, and purple patterns climbed the gun barrels like vines, painting the sharp blades with battle makeup.
The battle hymn has begun!
￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥
PS1: Nine thousand five hundred words... I tried my best... (lying down)