I Am Not a God

The deep, resonant sound of military music slowly began to play, its melody solemn and dignified.

Below Kang De were Marshals Horus and Astolfo, followed by the commanders and company commanders of various major battle groups, including the Valentan Guards, the Doom Chapter, the Mengsk Artillery Brigade, and the Yilan-Tai'er Crusaders, as well as the Cathay Warriors who came to observe the ceremony and the military bureaucrats of the Ministry of Peace.

Following them, all the major legions stationed in the White Mist World for training, preparation, rest, and standby arrived, forming ranks, heavy and silent, like silent mountains.

"Salute to my comrades who are about to temporarily fall asleep in the stasis field!"

His Highness Kang De's command reached the ears of every soldier clearly and loudly.

The synchronized salutes converged into a brief, whistling wind that echoed across the beautiful clear sky. Under the silent gaze of the soldiers, the officers of the Shogunate's military order, in groups of four, supported the platinum-colored stasis pods and slowly advanced to the accompaniment of military music.

Ahead, the sky was filled with clouds, yet the golden sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone brightly. In the sacred light, the majestic palace appeared and disappeared, like a holy temple, its radiance magnificent.

Such a magnificent spectacle would leave even the creatures of another world, accustomed to the grand architecture created by modern science and even CG technology, speechless and utterly awestruck.

The palace, thousands of meters high, seemed to soar into the clouds. Covering an area of over a hundred square kilometers, it was the size of a third or fourth-tier city. Yet, it stood as a single, unified building. Its dark golden walls shimmered with a majestic light, and its crystal eaves shone with iridescent brilliance. This wonder of the earth was bathed in the brilliant sunlight falling from the sky, like a mythical temple of gods appearing in the world. Most of it was hidden in layers of mist, but even the tip of the iceberg that was revealed was enough to make mortals look up in awe.

Such a building could never be built on Earth.

Even with ample funds, unlimited resources, and sufficient time and willpower from the builders, it would be impossible to bring this spectacle to life. After all, given humanity's current achievements in materials science, architecture, and engineering, such a structure simply cannot be stably supported or kept intact. It would either be blown away by the wind, collapse internally, or crumble into pieces due to its own weight... This is beyond human capability.

Only the White Mist World can do this.

In this mirrored world, the laws of time and space are governed and driven by Kang De. Although it is still early in the season, Kang De cannot draw too much power and wisdom from the blessing of the Holy Creation Dragon God, but the most basic elements are enough to grant him extremely high authority over the White Mist World.

--Putting everything else aside, building houses like in Minecraft is entirely possible.

With the support of spatial laws, there's no need to consider boring things like architectural mechanics and drafting. Wonders aren't such inconvenient things; Dalaran can build them for you.

Thus, the earth's wonders appeared before everyone.

The Parrot and Dong Tianming were top figures in the Shogunate. One was the previous Phoenix King, and the other was a famous minister of Cathay. They were both shining stars in the long river of Mortal World. However, when they saw this spectacle, they were also shocked and overwhelmed... Because of their own insignificance, they admired the vastness of creation and pursued the vastness of creation. This is a common trait of intelligent beings.

Incidentally, Malegith's reaction was quite different from Dong Tianming's.

The latter stood there stunned for almost half an hour, then sighed that even the heavenly palaces were nothing more than this. He then cautiously, indirectly, and with a troubled expression, subtly reminded Kang De that perhaps the construction was a bit too extravagant.

--If the emperors he had previously served had been so wasteful and extravagant, Old Dong would have spat on them long ago. But this thing was simply too big; it was impossible to accomplish by Cathay resources and manpower. Even if the entire nation of China at its peak were drained of its resources, it would still be difficult to build such a palace. The Imperial Tutor had no idea what to say.

And Parrot...

After watching for a while, she suddenly turned ashen-faced, grabbed her own neck with her hands, and stuck out her tongue.

He made a hoarse sound.

"I've had a... megalophobia attack! It's terrifying! Terrifying!"

After Kang De chopped her on the head with a hand chop, Malegith turned her head, her eyes full of suspicion.

"This thing..." she exclaimed, widening her eyes, "--Could it be a sticker?"

"Nonsense!" Kang De's face flushed red. "How dare you slander me out of thin air? It's clearly an area that hasn't been opened to the public!"

The Parrot scoffed, "You have such high emotional intelligence!"

Yes, that's pretty much it.

The Parrot knew most of Kang De's secrets and the relationship between the White Mist World and Earth. Such a thing would never appear on Earth. Even if all the countries went crazy and spent money and effort on this massive construction project, they would never succeed in thirty or fifty years. Therefore, it must have been Kang De himself who created it.

Then the case is solved.

This palace is larger than a small city, thousands of meters high, and could house more than ten million people. Its vast architecture contains countless rooms, designs, areas, corridors, transportation, and decorations that even Kang De couldn't have imagined if he had racked his brains, let alone painstakingly crafted.

The Parrot, being well-informed, quickly figured out the true nature of this intimidating spectacle after a brief moment of confusion—if it were honest, it would be an "inaccessible structure" in the game, just a few pieces of leather. If someone managed to get stuck by exploiting a bug, it would be a hollow abyss. If it weren't so honest, it would just be a simple texture.

"Look, look, look! These windows, these towers, and these walls—they're all copied and pasted! How are you any different from those artists who only care about drawing breasts? It's so unrealistic!"

... But aside from being teased by the Parrot, the spectacle plan was indeed a success.

Below the Ministry of Peace, the officers and soldiers of the major battle groups, even though they were equipped with the most advanced weaponry and had received extensive education and influence from new ideas, making them arguably the most advanced and enlightened group in the Mortal World, couldn't help but shout "Long live the king!" after witnessing this miraculous spectacle of the earth. Their morale soared to an unprecedented level, becoming increasingly fanatical.

Their discipline was already considered elite, but it still took them almost an hour to completely restore order and calm them down. Some people still had tears on their faces, and many were trembling with excitement.

The scene just now was even more chaotic... Many people burst into tears or knelt on the ground, which was tears of joy, while shouting "Long live the Emperor!" clearly had a deeper meaning.

The effect of this show-off was far beyond expectations.

Whether it 'Malegith or Dong Tianming, their insight and will are exceptional, one in a billion. How could the vast majority of ordinary people possess such pride and temperament?

Kang De was initially pleased, but then astonished.

Then, his expression changed.

He built roads and bridges in the Distant Harbor, taught people how to fish, provided laborers with property, provided shelter for the homeowners, and brought joy to all people. Even the widowed, orphaned, and lonely were cared for. Through all these hard work and efforts, the support of the people in the Distant Harbor had reached its peak, and the soldiers were therefore loyal and determined. He was very proud of this.

But this ethereal, fantastical modeling spectacle seemed to have achieved far greater results than the previous ones, leaving him with mixed feelings and a complex mix of emotions.

However, on the other hand, the various bonuses provided by wonders in the game do indeed make sense.

This magnificent hall, according to official propaganda, is named...

-- Throne of Heroic Spirits.

The officers, supporting the stasis pods, slowly walked to the spacious platform in front. From the sky, it was a giant eye pattern. Everyone was speculating about the actual meaning of the pattern, but only Kang De knew it was purely because it was cool. To the accompaniment of solemn and melodious music, Kang De, standing in front, had a thought, and the platinum-gold stasis pods floated into the air, drifting into the sky under the holy light.

The soldiers watched them go in silence.

We watched as the warriors, slumbering in their stasis chambers, drifted toward this sacred temple.

This may be... the Kingdom of God.

The stasis chamber was painted in a platinum tone and decorated with a lot of "science fiction elements" and useless patterns to distinguish it from the coffin. The front of the chamber was filled with shimmering light and shadow, shifting between solid and transparent. Amidst the ripples of water, one could vaguely see the figure sleeping inside. The warrior inside was sleeping peacefully, his body shrouded in a halo of light, his face rosy and still smiling.

The key message for the officers and soldiers was that this was neither a funeral nor an end.

In the initial direct confrontation with Griffin Williams, a total of fifty-eight soldiers suffered relatively serious injuries from the Arcane suppression and enemy assault. Given the current level of medical care in Distant Harbor, there was no certainty that they could responsibly and properly treat the wounded and ensure their normal quality of life after recovery. After research by the medical department and with the soldiers' consent, it was decided to place them in a stasis field to slumber and put them in the Throne of Heroic Spirits.

Treatment plans for their injuries have been incorporated into the research project. After repeated demonstrations and clinical practice, the Ministry of Peace General Hospital will treat the injured and save their lives so that they can reunite with their families.

This is the only way to protect them for the time being.

The soldiers also firmly believed this.

They were told that the so-called stasis field was caused by His Highness Kang De's power. Under this force field, time would cease to flow, meaning that the time of these warriors lying in the stasis pods would cease to flow, and even fatal injuries would not worsen in the slightest.

Until more reliable and advanced medical measures awaken it.

Just like I said.

These are the words that Kang De emphasized and repeated to his soldiers.

"I will do everything in my power to ensure that every one of you returns home alive."

So the expressions on the faces of these seriously wounded soldiers as they slept must have been content—before their time was frozen, they were given a detailed account of their situation and assurances that their families would receive proper care, welfare, and preferential treatment, and even the opportunity to visit them in person at the Throne of Heroic Spirits.

The soldiers witnessed the entire event.

They saw the wounded sleeping in the stasis chambers and the magnificent Throne of Heroic Spirits of the Dead. Before that, the model soldiers and representatives among them had also visited the field hospital specially prepared for the army, visited the hundreds of wounded soldiers who were recuperating, and personally learned about the Ministry of Peace's field medical system.

Specially produced documentaries and introductions to the medical system were also shown to all officers and soldiers.

Who would have thought that the field hospital where wounded soldiers were recuperating would be even more comfortable than where everyone else was staying?

But what people could not imagine was that such a divine kingdom and temple actually existed.

Prince Kang De... is he truly a god descended to earth?

Following him was definitely the right thing to do.

What lies within the Throne of Heroic Spirits? It's a place where the severely wounded are housed, but surely the fallen soldiers will find a better resting place.

If it weren't for the strict military discipline, they would have already started whispering among themselves or kneeling down to pray.

This had already been brewing for some time.

The Valentan Guards held Kang De in the highest esteem, and the subsequent chapters were also influenced by this. The Distant Harbor was changing rapidly, and the glorious victories in several major battles made the soldiers even more respectful. Moreover, what Kang De showed was becoming more and more outrageous and astonishing, which could not be explained by the phrase "unparalleled alchemical skills." In addition, the otherworld had a long tradition of faith, so it was not surprising that similar societies had emerged.

In the White Mist World, Kang De's divine sense was incredibly powerful. His skillful use of the laws of space and time made his spiritual perception even stronger, allowing him to see every change in the soldiers' expressions.

The stasis pods that had floated into the air were taken away by the clear light cast by the Throne of Heroic Spirits.

The vast halls are all modeled and textured, but the stasis field where the seriously wounded soldiers are placed has been meticulously designed, like a human hibernation place in a science fiction movie. In a bright and soft world like a honeycomb, sleeping soldiers reside in stasis pods, quietly suspended.

The essence of a stasis field is simply using spacetime magic to stop the flow of time for a target in the White Mist World, so that nothing changes anymore. Therefore, if Kang De wanted, he could even make all these wounded soldiers fly high in the sky, without needing any stasis pods to contain them; it makes no difference.

The reason for building this Throne of Heroic Spirits was simply to find a respectable place for them.

He placed the stasis chambers one by one, sighed silently, and looked back at the solemnly standing army formation. Thousands of soldiers stared at him with fervor, their expressions and gazes revering him as if he were a god.

"This is not some divine kingdom," he said. "It's not even a good place. I am not a god, but a mortal not much different from you. It's just that by chance, I've gained some advantages and naturally assumed some responsibilities, which is why I can do more than you."

"This is no good place. It looks impressive, but in essence, it's just a place to house some warriors who risked their lives in battle, but whom I couldn't heal immediately. This magnificent hall doesn't show my omnipotence; on the contrary, it reveals my incompetence. Don't get me wrong."

"Perhaps you think it's only natural to fight for me and offer your loyalty, and in the end, that's true. I changed your destiny, provided you with good food and drink, and gave you and your families dignity and sustenance. So it's only natural that you answer my call and fight for me. Besides, the wars you face now and in the future are not fought for me."

"I should have used you like Griffin Williams did; according to Mortal World traditions and laws, I seem to have had the right to do so. I should have been able to do so with a clear conscience, and of course, I could have set up an excellent compensation system so that you could fight and sacrifice for me and still receive the gratitude of your families..."

He scratched his head as he said this.

After the ceremony, a speech was supposed to follow; his prepared address was a passionate and inspiring address, meant to use the awe-inspiring natural wonder and the concept of the Throne of Heroic Spirits to give the soldiers another shot of adrenaline, but...

"But I still feel uncomfortable because I have parents, and I have loved ones and family who care about me."

He said slowly, "If I die, my family and loved ones will be heartbroken, and so will you. You also have parents and relatives; we are all the same."

"If you can never return, even if you sacrificed yourselves for the noblest and most righteous reasons, there will still be people who weep for you... Mourning and remembrance are but a moment, and worship and remembrance are only for holidays, but your families will miss you for decades to come, because they will never see you again."

"I want to avoid this kind of thing from happening as much as possible."

"I cannot stop the hostility of the malicious, nor can I eliminate all factors of war, but at least I can do my best to protect my soldiers."

"Today you saw the Throne of Heroic Spirits, shouting wildly, your fighting spirit soaring, as if you had discovered that the leader you revered and followed had become a god in the human world. I feel I have done something wrong; this is not what I wanted you to see."

"What I want you to focus on is the health assessment system and jump beacon built into the combat gear of every one of you soldiers; that is the culmination of the efforts of myself, Horus, and the scientists of the Truth Office."

"What I want you to focus on is the field medical system based on the trauma recovery system. If you are injured in the war, you will be urgently transported back to the Spacetime Nexus, where highly trained field medics will immediately take over, assess your injuries, and choose between emergency sedation or medical treatment. They are your greatest guarantee and support, and they will do their utmost to ensure your full recovery and that you can live as you did before your injury."

"Compared to this flashy but impractical building, that battlefield emergency medical system is my proudest achievement, the best and greatest wonder in the world. You are welcome to praise this battlefield medical system to the fullest extent; I will proudly accept it all."

As he said this, he looked around.

The White Mist World is his domain; everything is under his control.

Those resolute and courageous faces—some were bewildered, some were deep in thought, and some seemed to have gained some insight.

Kang De sighed helplessly.

I really know how to make trouble for myself.

"I want you to remember that I am not a god, and I never will be. Perhaps you don't understand what I'm saying today, but you are the most progressive and courageous group in Distant Harbor, and I hope you will understand someday. We killed countless enemies in this battle, and I don't feel happy, only sad and sorrowful. Too many innocent and brave people were killed by us..."

"This is not our fault, it is the fault of those who started the war. Griffin was regarded as a god by the Council, and those who trusted and followed him were deceived into going to the battlefield and losing their lives innocently. I do not want you to be like that, I do not want you to be drawn into the war because of blind faith and fanaticism, even if I was the one who started it."

He took a deep breath. "I want you to fight alongside me, not blindly follow me. It is easy to gain your blind loyalty and fanatical support, and it is also easy to use your courageous sacrifices and fearless battles to expand our territory, plunder and conquer, because soon our strength will double, and even the nations of the Mortal World will not be able to withstand our advance and power."

"But this is not what I wanted."

"I have only one request of you."

Kang De gazed at the mountain-like army formation, and he seemed to see every pair of eyes, every race, every origin, even every era... all lives that should not be manipulated and trampled upon at will.

"I hope that one day in the future..."

"At a time when even prosperous and powerful Distant Harbor are facing danger."

"When even your most reassuring field medical system is failing."

"When the enemy's attack is so powerful that you will be killed before you can even teleport."

"Before the static field could even freeze the lives you lost."

"When our weaponry may not even give us the upper hand."

"When you must stay, when you must fight to the death, when you are in dire straits."

The Fire Thief's voice trembled slightly, but quickly vanished.

"... I hope that by then you will understand, understand for whom you are fighting, understand your responsibilities and burdens," he said solemnly. "And then... be prepared to sacrifice, without confusion, bravely and decisively, with your souls burning with all your might."

"If that situation were to occur, I cannot guarantee or promise anything. What I can promise is that you will be fighting alongside Kang De then. He is not a god, and your war will not stem from his personal motives. I will bear the weight of all your choices and ensure that every sacrifice has value and meaning."

That was a truly disastrous speech.

There were no shills, no hype, and no attempts to stir up emotions.

"That concludes my remarks. Thank you everyone."

Kang De composed himself, his tone calm. "Marshal Horus, my speech will be included as part of the recruit training curriculum and will be a regular feature during future visits to the Throne of Heroic Spirits. All units, at ease. Repatriation will commence in thirty seconds. Take your positions and prepare for further operations."

"The first post-war summary has been completed, and all units should immediately observe and learn from it... Hey, did you all remember that?" Facing the astonished gazes of the crowd, Kang De pointed to the magnificent and vast hall behind him.

"This is not a good place. Lying in there will make you miss out on a lot of things. It's best not to come."

He smiled and said, "Alright, twenty seconds..."

Suddenly, Horus's resounding metallic voice echoed before the Throne of Heroic Spirits.

"--salute!"

The synchronized salutes converged into a brief, whistling sound.

Kang De paused for a moment, then laughed.

"Oh shit."

He slowly raised his hand.

The wind is quite strong.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: Six thousand words... still not finished. I'll stop here. I'll write a little more and then go to sleep... I've decided to try saving up a draft. I'm going to Shanghai for a re-examination; hopefully, everything will be fine.