What Use Are You?!

As early as an hour after being captured, the island lord had a new toilet.

A brand-new power armor, with its sensor-driven transmission system removed, its movement controlled by the Horus disc. It's more like a mobile high-class prison than a power armor.

All the modifications protected the life of this high-value prisoner. The ultimate insurance was the injector hidden inside the rear neck armor. In the event of an extremely threatening accident, the Paradox Element would be instantly injected into the old man's body. Then, the spatial beacon on the surface of the armor would open Phase Gate, and the power armor controlled by Horus would rush into that mirror world far away from the mortal realm in an instant.

There, no danger could threaten the old man's life.

The reason for such concern is that, to this day, the old man's life is still quite useful.

His full value has not yet been fully realized.

Now, the former island owner is undergoing a new round of questioning.

"How did you summon him?" Kang De asked. "I mean, can this process be replicated? Is his location fixed, like a magic circle or something?"

During the previous Extraction, he had taken advantage of the God of the Star Palace and tasted the benefits. Although he didn't know what the Extraction blue Mist Crystal was or what its uses were, anything that could be taken from the enemy was bound to be good—he was already brewing a bold idea.

That is, let this old thing summon a few more so-called God of the Star Palace. If their descent locations are controllable, that would be best—open a Phase Gate below and wait for them to come down. Catch them one by one and drag them all into the White Mist World to die.

But the other party quickly shattered Kang De's delusion. The island lord smiled bitterly and said, "They are high above, regarding the Mortal World as a place of evil. How could they listen to the clamor of ants? It wasn't me who summoned him; it was he who was preparing to descend and then contacted me... Before this, I had devoutly offered sacrifices and prayed for decades, never receiving any proactive response. Their voices descend or issue commands at any time, and they will never care about my thoughts."

Kang De nodded, then asked, "Tell me more about this person."

The other person asked cautiously, "... What... what did you say?"

Kang De said calmly, "Whatever you think of him, the first thought that comes to mind when you think of him, his name, his power, any news, any information, is fine."

The former island owner's mind raced.

He is now a prisoner, and in an extremely dangerous situation. Although he has not yet suffered any torture or abuse, he has never let his guard down because the people who captured and imprisoned him are beyond his comprehension and imagination.

Although he appears to be just a young Cathayan, and according to intelligence, he is so kind that he is almost pedantic, according to the logic system that the island lord has developed over the past few decades, such a person is unlikely to achieve great things. Even if he gains power and fame, he will eventually die from conspiracy and a dagger stabbed in the back.

That's what he originally thought.

The island lord felt that Kang De was too kind and too sentimental, and would surely not have a good end. Therefore, even though he was determined to be Kang De's enemy, he was not too afraid. He knew that Kang De had too many concerns. Even if his Forbidden Spell were invincible, there were still ways to restrain, hinder, defeat, or even kill him on the non-direct battlefield. Such outstanding people have existed throughout history.

But they all died.

However, that disregard and overconfidence have now vanished.

The island owner no longer views or interprets Kang De based on his decades of experience and perspective.

The reason is simple.

The so-called "Fire Thief," who could inspire such fear and dread in even the gods residing high in the Star Palace, was beyond the comprehension of his shallow and foolish so-called experience... This was a testament to his self-awareness and wisdom.

Therefore, he did not relax his guard just because Kang De was relatively polite to him, nor did he think that Kang De would spare his life by offering a lot of wealth, connections, supplies and private troops. He tried every means to gain the forgiveness and understanding of this Fire Thief, and even to recruit him to his own side. So he responded actively to any of his requests and answered any of his inquiries to the best of his ability.

Because he won't have a second chance.

He pondered Kang De's question intently, his mind racing. He recalled all his interactions with that alien enemy: the arrogant language, the haughty gaze, the disdainful posture, the subtle clues revealed in his words and actions, and... his first impression.

He blurted out, "Fake!"

Kang De didn't expect any valuable answers from Horus, after all, Horus had already interrogated him repeatedly. At this moment, he asked curiously, "What?"

"... An illusion!" The island lord's answer was somewhat complicated and incoherent. He whispered, "When he descended, I saw illusory shadows, mist dissipated, manifesting many forms. His power was projected down from the starry sky, eventually solidifying. I was kneeling on the ground at the time, seeing many forms walk past me, circling around me, and hearing voices in my ears—men and women, shouts and low laughter—each one felt so real..."

"They questioned me, they judged me, they provoked me, they humiliated me, they cursed me, and they even raised weapons to strike me. I followed my father's instructions and knelt motionless, waiting no matter what happened. Finally, everything disappeared, and he appeared before me, calling me his servant..."

The island owner laid everything bare, without any embellishment or concealment of his initial flattery, obedience, and humility, because lies were meaningless, and he could not risk being exposed.

Because Kang De is unknowable.

One should not flaunt one's ability to lie and conceal in the face of the unknown.

Kang De nodded. "I see."

Fog, illusions, and illusions... the God of the Star Palace had used these abilities in previous battles, but the Phoenix Eyes are the bane of all illusions in the world, and the magical support from the Great Platform also dispelled weapons, shattered illusions, and destroyed concealments, leaving the God of the Star Palace's greatest trump card completely crushed throughout the battle. How pitiful.

So this thing...

Kang De stretched out his hand, and a misty blue crystal appeared in his palm, slowly rotating.

Theoretically speaking, what is Extraction and plundered from living organisms is either Element or an ability, but this thing is neither Element nor does it seem to be a usable superpower...

Horus suggested, "Father, perhaps we could try infusing it with Magic Power."

Kang De suddenly realized, slapping his forehead. "Damn it, I forgot about that."

He took out his walkie-talkie and ordered, "Halsey, find a water-based spellcaster to capture!"

The people on the Broken Isles, regardless of their previous feelings or attitudes toward Kang De, were mostly moved to tears and bowed down in gratitude at this critical moment when the Dragon of Cathay rescued them without holding grudges. However, there was still a small group of reactionaries who refused to submit to the King's rule and narrowed their own path.

Some of these treacherous bandits, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, vanished under the weight of Truth and justice, while others chose to surrender. What awaited them was the reformation through labor, the mercy of learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones, and the cure of their ailments.

A pale-faced mage was brought in by two elven spellbreakers, his hands, feet, and neck bound with anti-magic shackles. In this world, mages possess magical and powerful abilities, but for the same reason, there are countless ways to torment them.

Kang De waved his hand and said, "Untie it."

The two elves exchanged a glance, then bowed in agreement.

Immediately, one of the spellbreakers retreated to the wall, slightly crouching into a cheetah stance, his eyes fixed on the spellcaster's back, his right hand gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist.

If the caster makes any unusual move after escaping, the Elven Draw Sword Technique, the first strike of the surprise attack, will be unsheathed in an instant, and the Demon-Slaying Blade can cut the opponent in two at the waist with a single blow.

"Short-growing species."

Another spellbreaker reached out and unlocked the human mage's shackles. "Cherish your short life, but cherish even more the kindness and trust His Highness Kang De has given you."

Then the proud elf stepped aside.

Kang De watched the whole thing without saying a word, but his heart was beating a little faster.

It was kind of fun!

Holy crap, is this what an elf is?

No wonder Tina said that even an emperor would envy having an experienced elven butler—not only because of the knowledge, experience, skills, and elegance the butler has accumulated over the long years, but also because the pathetic short-lived humans simply cannot distinguish between flattery and genuine affection.

Because they are noble elves, the poor short-lived species simply cannot resist their sophisticated, understated flattery.

Kang De composed himself and revealed the Mist Crystal in his hand. "You, come here, infuse this with Magic Power."

He said casually, "Do a good job. If you do well, I'll add you to the next flight."

--If one's Magic Power is drained by this strange crystal of unknown origin, turning into a dried-up corpse, and dying a miserable death, then that would certainly be a bad outcome.

The mage glanced fearfully at Kang De, recalling their previous crushing defeat. Their fortress had been battered by terrifying shockwaves and explosions, a barrage exceeding the combined force of twenty heavy fire-blasting magic devices. Then, heavily armored, red-eyed demons burst through the gates, calling themselves Doom Warriors, as ferocious as hellish demons, leaving only severed limbs and flowing blood in their wake.

Faced with the Dragon of Cathay, he had lost all courage to resist or oppose it.

He gritted his teeth and slowly poured Magic Power into the mist-shrouded crystal.

Kang De's expression suddenly changed.

"Hey..." he urged, "Increase the intensity! Keep going!"

The mage gritted his teeth and poured in magic, Magic Power surged out like a torrent. A feeling of weakness gradually spread throughout his body, and the stinging pain in his head became more and more obvious. Finally, all his magic power was drained away, and he collapsed softly to the ground.

Kang De held up the Mist Crystal, hazy and swirling, with clouds appearing and disappearing, like a dream. After the flow of Magic Power was injected, he naturally understood the essence of this thing... and how to use it.

The Fire Thief's expression was first one of stunned silence, then a sudden realization, followed by a look of delight, his face filled with eager anticipation. Then, that eager anticipation turned into vigilance and wariness, and finally, into a sanctimonious facade.

He glanced at the people in the room and said in a deep voice, "Step back."

Two spellbreakers pulled up the sweating sorcerer and dragged him away. The island lord was also led back to his cell. The moment the door closed, Kang De immediately showed excitement.

"Father, what is that?"

Kang De did not answer, but poured his spiritual energy into the answer.

The Mist Crystal rose into the air and hovered not far in front of Kang De. Then, the thick fog transformed, and the magic power it had absorbed expanded, forming a thick fog that was almost tangible. This fog twisted, stretched, and changed shape, gradually revealing a crystal-clear white color.

Kang De was completely focused, his eyes sharp and intense – the result of countless battles in the gaming world. To master this skill, he studied sketching, makeup, and even craniofacial morphology in his spare time, thus becoming a legendary figure in the gaming community and known as the "Little Tyrant of Character Creation."

The expanding, deforming mist resembled a lump of clay; delicate, jade-like feet, too fragile to grasp, gradually took shape; long, icicle-like legs appeared; the valley was deep and secluded; the small depressions were charming and adorable; and from the flat plains below, two snow-capped peaks rose abruptly, perfectly reflecting personal taste, with the altitude increasing ever higher...

"Wonderful! Wonderful!"

As Kang De sculpted it, he exclaimed, "This 'God of the Star Palace' thing is amazing! With this ability, you don't even need to masturbate yourself; you can even put on mini-dramas! This..."

As he spoke, a sense of sadness began to emerge.

He sculpted beautifully rounded peaks, refined delicate collarbones, and sculpted slender, jade-like arms. His swan-like neck stretched out, and next, most importantly, was the face... and then...

"Father, my soul has just gone through its most intense internal struggle."

"Ah?"

Horus said earnestly, "While I am happy to witness and record some harmless moments, as your son, I must remind you this time that this power was taken from the God of the Star Palace, meaning it is very likely a part of his soul and essence, which means..."

He asked, "Are you sure you want to have sex with him?"

Kang De remained indifferent.

A moment later, with a flick of his hand, his breathtakingly perfect body dissipated into mist.

"... What's the use of this damn thing!" Kang De complained. "It doesn't even look like it can fight very well, and it needs Magic Power. Its biggest advantage should be its physical form, but..."

If you can't even make realistic dolls that don't need cleaning and aren't heavy, what use are you!

"It's still somewhat useful," Horus said, "For example, for creating an alibi, or playing tricks or something—Father, did I say something wrong?"

It seems to have shattered a pathetic illusion—whether that's right or wrong is unclear.

Kang De said blankly, "Good son, it's better than you asking for it after I've used it."

The initial excitement has worn off.

Once Horus pointed out this harsh truth, things could never be the same again.

He reluctantly put the object away, while Horus continued to ponder, "Father, are the objects this thing can conjure limited to human form? Is there a limit to its size? And what does it depend on?"

Kang De tried it out and replied, "It's not limited to that; its size seems to be related to the amount of Magic Power infused... Never mind, we'll think about its uses later. At least for now, it's completely useless."

Having retrieved the Mist Crystal, Kang De stood up.

"I'm going back to Distant Harbor. You're in charge here. Let me know if anything happens."

"Yes."

The Phase Gate unfolded, Kang De leaped to the Distant Harbor Airport.

The evacuation work is in full swing. The lights are shining brightly, making the earth as bright as day. The noise is deafening, and the broadcasts can be heard far and wide. Tonight, the Distant Harbor will be sleepless.

Every heart was touched. Even the most ordinary laborers at the bottom of society were worried about the war situation thousands of miles away and concerned about those who had not yet evacuated.

In this alien world where communication is backward and information is scarce, this is a record-breaking first—everyone in a city, regardless of social status, gender, or age, can accurately know everything that is happening thousands of miles away, and everyone is extending the most genuine and sincere goodwill to people who are completely unrelated to them.

This scene unfolded quietly and realistically, shocking all the onlookers.

The world will remember this day.

Your Highness.

Kang De met Hong San.

The first mayor of Distant Harbor set up his temporary office near the airport. He handled various affairs with great efficiency, coordinating and directing the complex evacuation work in an orderly manner. He was busy with everything, including the transportation of supplies, the mobilization of personnel, the resettlement of refugees, the supply of food, and medical assistance.

Hong San quickly glanced at a document, signed it, and looked up, saying, "Another major event has occurred?"

"Yes," Kang De said. "Issue the following orders: First, immediately establish a biological research institute with the highest security level, and summon the Druids, archaeologists, and historians located in the Distant Harbor."

"Secondly, issue new notices and invitations to Twilight Moon, the Empire, and the Arcane Council, in my name."

Hong San looked serious and pulled out a piece of paper. "What do you mean?"

Kang De pondered for a moment, then read aloud, "To the Emperor, His Excellency the Speaker, and the Phoenix King, I am Kang De. Let us be frank. In short, the intelligence regarding the deep-sea behemoth suppressed beneath the Broken Isles has been confirmed. This ancient, supposedly destructive force that once wiped out a Civilization is about to awaken. Its new mission is to sever global maritime trade. I believe you understand better than I do the significance of maritime transport to the world."

"Given the destructive power and sheer number of his descendants, I believe it is capable of doing so. This is not an exaggeration. I suggest you take this seriously and act immediately."

"This is an enemy of Civilization, and it must be slain by the combined blade of Civilization. I need your assistance, first and foremost, experienced and knowledgeable scholars in the relevant fields. Please dispatch spellcasters, security forces, and maritime historians to Distant Harbor as quickly as possible; there is something here that requires their research."

"I severed several of its limbs—of course, it's far from being complete now."

"By the way, those tentacles taste a bit like squid tentacles when grilled. If you'd like some, I can send you some."

At this point, Hong San looked up in astonishment.

"Just kidding," Kang De said. "No one gets anything from me for free, I hope you understand."

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PS1: Guess what the Mist Crystal is for?