Good at Singing and Dancing

Twenty minutes before the Flame Particle Light Lance Array was attacked by rockets.

Distant Harbor, Sound of the Tide Manor.

People say the battlefield is the best teacher.

Fifty young people stood in five rows on the lawn in the back garden.

"From recruit to veteran, it may take several years of hard training, or it may only take the baptism of war."

They held their breath, their eyes fixed on the same target, listening intently.

"I don't know exactly how much Hong San taught you during this time..."

The speaker was the monarch to whom they had sworn allegiance and followed, the leader whom they revered and were grateful to.

"But I know that you are all already qualified soldiers."

The war in the Broken Isles is urgent, which is why Kang De is here. The fifty men in front of him were carefully selected by Hong San: loyal, resilient, calm, and focused.

The Battle of Valentan taught them everything.

"You have learned discipline, obedience, and composure. You have also learned more advanced tactics and weapons. Your fingers have become accustomed to the trigger. You practice using more efficient killing weapons. You have fired countless rounds of ammunition, which have honed your skills. Even by my standards, you are already elite soldiers."

A qualified soldier on Earth needs a sense of collectivism and discipline, as well as tactical awareness and obedience. They also need to be proficient in multiple weapons and have excellent combat skills. The first few can be acquired through years of training and instruction, while the latter is easier to learn but harder to master and requires more talent.

But people from other worlds are not lacking in talent.

Whether it's physical fitness, strength, or perception, they have innate advantages over Earthlings.

Every Valentan People stands tall, proudly accepting recognition.

Kang De was giving them a final mobilization for war.

He believes that the time spent on this is still worthwhile.

The Fire Thief stopped and looked into everyone's eyes. "Now, I need a group of warriors to follow me to support our comrades in distress and to strike back at our enemies. Your eyes tell me you are ready, but I must tell you that this plan is bold and radical, and not yet fully prepared, because in addition to guns and cannons, you will also be using a new type of equipment that has never been used before, and experiencing a wondrous experience that you have never had before... I cannot guarantee that it will be absolutely safe."

"That sounds like an honor, Your Highness," said the man at the front.

Kang De approached him and gazed at the other's face.

Ulysses.

He knew this person.

The other person's face was calm and composed. He had been a messenger from Valentan, who delivered Nick's last letter to Kang De, and who had resolved to tell the world the final story of Valentan.

But as the Forbidden Spell sword descended from the sky, Valentan's story spread throughout the world. His mission was declared complete before it even began, and loyalty was the only answer.

He said calmly, "I will fight for you, Your Highness."

Kang De reached out and patted him on the shoulder, then pointed to the side.

Everyone looked in the direction of his arm; in fact, they had already noticed what it was—it must have been armor—but they had never seen armor like it before.

Enormous, heavy, like a giant, the armor forged from thick steel is robust and imposing. At the joints, you can see the cold and simple transmission structure. Even the most valiant Silver Moon Holy Guard and Imperial Guard would probably not be equipped with such armor, because it would obviously affect the wearer's flexibility and mobility. But in fact, from the moment these young people of Valentan arrived, their attention was continuously drawn to it.

Because they are simply too... magnificent.

It's as if it contains some kind of will that they can't describe but can actually perceive.

"From this day forward, it will be your new armor, your power, your glory. This is just the beginning, the initial version. Your experience in using it will lead to continuous modifications and innovations, allowing it to unleash greater combat power and effectiveness..."

"The armor is equipped with a simple intelligent module. Once deployed to the battlefield, Horus will connect with all of you to closely monitor your physical and mental condition. My requirements for you remain the same: obedience and discipline. Follow orders without question. We will fight side by side."

"Now, pick up the Paradox Core on the table."

On the table between the fifty armored warriors and the fifty soldiers, there were fifty devices shimmering with purple light. They walked over one by one in an orderly fashion and each took one.

"Go find your armor; your names are written on it."

Ulysses quickly found his own, and he couldn't help but stroke the sturdy, cold armor, from the majestic helmet to the robust breastplate. He saw a line of Cathay script painted in red on it.

This actually very learned messenger, using the Zhendan Language he had been learning on his own during this period, deciphered these two sentences, which should be from a poem. "Thus I know that weapons are instruments of misfortune, and sages use them only as a last resort."

The armor has a rudder-like disc at the back with a socket in the center.

This perfectly aligns with the "Paradox Core" narrative we have on hand.

"Now, implant the Paradox Core."

Following Kang De's instructions and demonstrations, they did as he said.

"Activate the power armor."

Turn the rudder-like valve.

With a clanging sound, the heavy armor opened from the back, blooming like a flower, revealing its internal structure to the warriors from the legs to the head. Gasps of cold air rose and Ulysses' heart pounded. He was suddenly overwhelmed by an indescribable excitement and impulse.

Such a creation.

It is a warrior's best armor, uniform, and... grave.

Kang De took a deep breath. "Now, put on your armor!"

Ulysses extended his left foot and placed it on the left foot section of the suit. He felt the intricate fastening mechanism pop out from the inside, stabilizing his shoe. He stepped in with his other foot, then his entire body. He extended his arms, fitting them snugly against the arm armor, his hands fitting into the proper positions, and then his head.

A steady, calm voice reached my ears, clearly belonging to Lord Horus.

"Initial login detected. Verifying identity. Facial recognition complete. Soldier Ulysses, welcome to 'Infantry Armor'. The show is about to begin... Connection initiation."

Then Ulysses heard the mechanical sounds of the armor components. He could feel the powerful armor slowly closing in, the outside sea breeze being blocked, and a warm and heavy sense of comfort enveloping his body. He could feel every part coming together: his back, legs, hands, and finally... his head.

"Endure."

He heard Lord Horus's instructions.

Then he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck, as if a sharp blade had cut through his fragile flesh, and then something thin and cool was embedded in it, fitting precisely into his bone marrow—and then, the world seemed different, no, he himself seemed different.

Flesh and blood are extending.

He felt something taking root and growing inside him, like a seed sprouting and branching out. This power armor was like a plant breaking through the soil and growing strong. In that instant, Ulysses felt a strange connection occur, from the implant in his neck to the Paradox Core that had just been placed in the back of the armor, and then to the entire heavy armor!

He suddenly raised his head and stretched out his hand. The incredibly heavy armor felt like his own flesh and blood, making the movement effortless. Through the visor of his visor, his vision was wide open. He looked at his hands, the thick gauntlets and cold knuckles gleaming with a chilling light.

"Connection complete."

Ulysses looked around, and each of his companions stared in surprise at their surroundings, glancing at each other. The same power armor, the same attire, the same honor, and the same... excitement.

He felt an unprecedented surge of power coursing through his body, the Paradox Core containing boundless, vast energy waiting for him to use and unleash. In that instant, he thought of the large-caliber machine gun mounted on the vehicle, and an astonishing idea flashed through his mind—now, he could lift the heavy machine gun and fire.

No, perhaps there's more...

"From today onwards, your unit number is 'doom'."

His Highness Kang De's voice echoed in his ears, "Doom Warriors."

"My first battle group."

A dozen minutes later, on the bridge of the Afu, in the direction of the central main island of the Broken Isles.

"We estimate we'll reach the landing site in five minutes!"

The Astolfo had picked up the crews of the remaining two warships, and after rendezvous, the already crowded warships sped toward the core island of the Broken Isles.

The bridge had been transformed into a war room, where officers from the three warships were debating.

With sea monsters relentlessly pursuing them from behind and enemy troops standing ready ahead, landing was the only option, but it was also a major challenge, stemming from their military strength.

They are, after all, the navy. This time, they came to the Broken Isles to evacuate their citizens and pick up people. They were not prepared for land battles. The ships were not fully staffed and lacked heavy line infantry units.

"The enemy will definitely launch an attack when we land, using the island's tactical magic positions and ranged mage units to suppress and strike, followed by a joint clearing operation by cavalry and infantry..."

The elven captain of the Song of Evergreen said, "Our warships aren't here, but the Afu's long-range attacks can make up for it. However, the biggest problem still comes from advancing the battle line. We need to at least establish defensive positions here to hold off the sea monsters chasing us from the sea. They can obviously come ashore..."

The captain drew several neat lines of advance with his pen. "This means we may encounter ambushes along the way. As everyone knows, old Mikte turned his island into a gigantic, godfortress, full of permanent fortifications and secret passages. Moreover, those three fortress magic devices are still operational..."

Although the mage tower's refraction array has been destroyed, and the Raging Tide Magitech Device is useless after landing, it remains a highly threatening heavy magic device. If someone were to devise a way to continue using it, the situation would be dire. "And the Stone Thrower, they are still a significant threat..."

Every officer looked grim. Although they were from the navy, they still understood the most basic army tactics. Compared with the well-equipped, well-rested, and numerous island garrison, these naval officers had not only suffered considerable losses in the previous battles, but were also in a hurry to withdraw, leaving behind much of their equipment.

To rush all the way to the target location and establish a defensive line... obviously, it would come at a great cost.

"Gentlemen, stop hoping for more. We've already survived that hellish situation and weren't torn to pieces by those monsters. That's good enough. And now we have the long-range support from the Afu in the battle. What more could we ask for?"

The elven captain slammed his fist on the table. "Let's do it this way! The Blueblade Greatswordsmen will lead the assault, the Council's mages will provide ranged support, and hopefully Prince Kang De will bring us back enough equipment. The rest is up to the gods..."

Before he could finish speaking, he heard a commotion outside. "What's going on?"

The first mate, who had gone to check, reported back, "His Highness Kang De has returned and has ordered all crew members outside the ship to return to their cabins and await further orders..."

The officers immediately perked up. "Then..."

Kang De's voice also rang out from the bridge. "All personnel, prepare for landing. Officers of all ranks, take manpower counts, pay attention to the wounded and exhausted, and prioritize their care..."

The Phase Gate opened, and Kang De teleported back to the bridge. He glanced at the officers present and said succinctly, "Get ready, gentlemen, we're about to land."

The elven captain asked, "Yes, Your Highness, what about the plan?"

Kang De paused for a moment, then said, "Oh, run fast, or the sea monster will bite your butt."

The officers were all stunned.

Kang De casually walked to the control panel, looking at the beach that was getting closer and closer.

Smoke billowed somewhere on the island, clearly indicating a cavalry unit was moving rapidly. From the Phoenix Eyes, everything shone with Magic Power brilliance, revealing an impregnable defensive system.

He tapped the door casually. "Horus, is it connected yet?"

"Father, we're confirming the coordinates."

"ASAP."

The elven captain shuddered and stammered, "Wait a minute, Your Highness, what about the specific battle plan? I mean, our landing operation plan, such as the selection of the vanguard, the rearguard, the speed at which the mixed mage regiment should advance, whether we should construct temporary positions, and..."

Kang De glanced at him and smiled. "I told you, run fast, don't let the sea monster catch up with you. We won't need you for the landing later. After all, you've been fighting those monsters at sea for a long time, you're exhausted, your equipment is insufficient, and there's limited space on the ship. We can't replenish your supplies right now—so just run."

Ah?

They don't need us?

Before he could react, Kang De asked, "Are you done yet?"

"The area where the Flame Particle Light Lance Array and the Stone Thrower are located has been identified."

"Give them a good beating first!"

"Understood!" Horus shouted. "Prepare for a salvo of rockets! Razor swarm, prepare!"

"Emission!"

Flames flashed, smoke billowed, and a sharp whistling sound cut through the sky like a pipe organ as rockets shot into the air, trailing long plumes of flame!

"What is that?!"

Commander Suokete of the Western Camp Defense Corps of the main island has led his troops to the vicinity of Long Beach. Taking advantage of the terrain and the cover of houses, they have set up crossbow formations and are ready for battle. From here, they can already see the situation on the beach. A silver-white warship is breaking through the waves, not caring at all about running aground!

Smoke plumes rose from the ship one after another, leaving graceful parabolic arcs in the air as they flew toward the distant mountains of the island!

"There..." Suokete suddenly realized, "It's the Flame Particle Light Lance Array!"

He stared in astonishment into the distance, where fireballs rose from the mountains, smoke billowed, and the sounds of violent explosions echoed in the distance. Kang De's flagship was unleashing its brutal and terrifying power with unbridled ferocity, filling the renowned legion commander with fear—what would be the consequences if such an attack struck his own army?

"My lord!" the accompanying mage reported, "The enemy warships have released a large number of fast-moving projectiles!"

Suokete said impatiently, "I've already seen it!"

"No..." the monk said, "It's different from these!"

What's different?

"They can fly by themselves! Over there!"

On the bridge of the Afu, Horus's reports came one after another.

"Razor swarm released; our dragons have taken off with observation and guidance systems; heavy artillery is preparing; mortar arrays are integrated into the fire control system..."

In the middle of the warship, three Hive Launchers hummed, and one after another, small black drones were launched, unfolding their wings in the air and flying in formation into the sky.

Such a swift, efficient, and dense array of drones is something even China most skilled in this field, might not possess. This is a high-precision weapon produced by combining the advantages of Paradox Element enhancement, Horus machine control, and otherworldly alchemical weaponry. It is limited in number and excels at assault and surprise attacks.

"Target detected... Initiate attack!"

On land, Suokete heard a buzzing sound coming from the sky. He noticed small black dots rapidly approaching in the clear sky, like birds in flight—but they weren't!

"Careful!"

The army mage's stern shout rang in his ears. He saw the atmospheric shield suddenly unfold, and at the same time, the black dot hovering in the sky plummeted down like a bird with broken wings!

A deafening roar!

Intense flames erupted, and a shockwave exploded, striking a group of ambushing crossbowmen. Blood gushed into the sky, limbs were scattered, and screams mingled with the explosion. The heat wave made Suokete gape, but the picture of despair had only just begun to unfold, because more aircraft were rushing in from above!

"Target spotted, Father. Request direct fire."

"Fire!"

The Astolfo had turned sideways, roared with gunfire!

Projectiles hurtled through the air, flashes of fire illuminating the scene, mud and blood splattering everywhere. The Horizon class corvette's added turrets turned and opened fire, tracer rounds streaking across the sky, leaving dazzling trails and blooming flowers of death. Flames soared into the sky on the shore, and in the bridge, Kang De's figure had already vanished.

"Magic devices! Magic device arrays, cover us!" Suokete, covered in dust and fleeing in disarray, roared, "Cavalry! Where are our cavalry! Tell them to hurry..."

Cavalry...

On another battlefield, looking at the rapidly approaching cavalry, raising clouds of dust, Kang De stood tall and pointed. "Come, let them learn to sing and dance."

Behind him, fifty steel-clad men crossed the dark portal and returned to the other world. Facing the approaching cavalry, they sparsely separated, and the rotary machine guns in their hands began to hum.

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PS1: Update... Ah, feeling down... Goodnight.