The Iron Curtain

"You all saw it."

Kissing, hugging, walking side by side—initially a little shy and nervous, but then they relaxed.

It wasn't just because of the composure he had cultivated as an emperor over many years.

Besides...

To fight against the most terrifying Destroyer of this era, and indeed countless eras, is the bravest and most passionate feat in the world, naturally requiring boundless courage and the most unwavering will.

Compared to that, what is this little thing?

No, it's not a challenge at all... it's a voice from the depths of my heart, a scene that appears in countless dreams. I should be happy, why should I be nervous?

Dairila half-embraced the man beside her, facing the camera of the drone in the center. She knew what it was; all she needed to do was speak calmly and solemnly.

Her appearance, her words, her will, will travel across the void amidst the flashes of electricity and waves, appearing before the soldiers and prisoners of war.

And from this day forward, accompanied by a resounding victory, it will appear in newspapers, secret reports, propaganda, radio, television and other media, so that all living beings in the world will know about it.

"You all saw it."

She smiled, a smile as pure as spring water.

This smile is ordinary and common.

It can appear in a bustling village, as a girl in a cloth dress wipes the sweat from her face by the well and glances back; or it can appear in a magnificent castle, as a graceful young woman looks down from a second-floor balcony and then covers half of her delicate face with an exquisite feather fan, leaving only her eyes narrowed into crescents.

Or perhaps it's dusk, when a woman leaning against the door watches her husband walk home in the sunset; or perhaps it's an elderly woman with white hair taking a walk after dinner, when her husband, who is accompanying her, hands her a small silver flower.

Anyone who sees such a smile will feel a sense of déjà vu, and people will immediately realize one thing—a woman who shows such a smile must have a beautiful love, whether intense or simple.

I'm afraid I've fallen in love with this man.

Dairila spoke these words in a calm tone.

She is the Queen of Twilight Moon, and also the best warrior and general among the elves. What she desires, she will obtain; what truly exists, she will never evade or deny.

So she said, "I want to make a vow with him, that our souls and lives will be together forever, never to be separated."

Everyone who witnessed this scene couldn't help but cheer.

The most powerful monarch in the Mortal World reveals his heart and declares his love here. Such a grand event is rare in a lifetime, and even in old age, he can still boast about it to his grandchildren.

At this moment, all the factional strife and Princess Tina were forgotten.

They gained dignity and were trained and fought under Kang De, personally experienced changes in life, felt a different way of living, witnessed the Distant Harbor getting better day by day, practiced true ideals and will, and no longer considered themselves Goth People, nor did they care whether Kang De's wife was Princess Tina - they no longer cared about the political advantages and identity brought by this marriage, they had already acquired a new identity.

So, when the Elf Queen forcefully expresses her love... everyone becomes the butt of the joke.

They whistled, cheered, and clapped excitedly; today was truly a wonderful day.

Despite the enthusiastic response, Dairila showed neither nervousness nor shyness. Her voice was soft and earnest as she expressed the scenes longed for in her heart and dreams.

"I hope my family, courtiers, army, and people will bless this marriage. I hope they will all approve of Kang De. I hope to ride with him in a chariot drawn by unicorns and adorned with a crest of flowers, along the Shibojia Avenue, where flowers scattered by the people will float above Silver Moon City. The joyous celebrations and feasts will last for a month, and the whole world, from Cathay to the Empire, will share in this joy..."

Cheers erupted one after another.

"Absolutely!"

"Praise be to you, great and courageous Queen!"

"May all the gods bless this wedding!"

We will bring joy to the whole world!

"Waaaah, Your Majesty, my Your Majesty..."

"Pointy-eared guy, what are you crying for! Laugh! Laugh right now!"

Amidst the lively and cheerful atmosphere, Dairila smiled and remained silent for a moment.

"But before that..."

The elven royal family has specialized oratory skills and related training to ensure that the royals can control the situation and arouse the emotions of the audience in any public speaking occasion. She has made adjustments to the intonation of syllables, and with just a few words, she can quiet down the enthusiastic crowd.

Dairila glanced at Kang De and smiled apologetically.

Such a sudden attack might have caught you off guard.

But I don't want to discuss it with you beforehand... This is the only voice I fear.

I'm afraid I'll hear an answer I don't want to hear.

So please forgive my scheming and cunning this time.

"But before that..."

The gentle, tender-hearted girl transformed back into an empress commanding thousands of troops and vast, turbulent waves.

Her voice was like a gleaming blade, piercing into the delusion of impending doom, yet remaining oblivious to it.

"There is one more war we must win!"

The atmosphere froze for only a moment. The soldiers, who had just been immersed in joy and jubilation, paused for a moment, then immediately completed the shift in mindset and the resurgence of their emotions—they were soldiers! This was what they did!

"That's right!" countless soldiers roared, "Kill those bastards from the Council!"

That's how it should be!

We'll get married after the war is over!

"--Wrong!"

The Empress's shout drowned out the frenzied cheers, leaving the high spirits bewildered. She then pointed towards the Council formation and demanded sharply, "Do you think this is what I'm talking about? Do you think this is a war? Do you think this is a victory worth seizing?"

"This is nothing more than an armed parade, a military exercise. Weapons, tactics, logistics, organization, and concepts that transcend our time are integrated here, forging you into a new type of army unlike any other in the world. Your weapons, your armor, your wound care, your logistical support—all embody the wisdom of an entire world and the hard work of this man—"

She grabbed Kang De's hand and asked sharply, "Do you think all of this is just to maintain your overwhelming advantage so you can bully and crush the old-style army on the other side?"

"The Arcane Council, led by Griffin, possesses unparalleled magical skills and a legacy of pride and strength that guides the path of arcane magic. Are they truly worthy of being your enemies?"

"Specific orders can be issued to each of your tactical terminals. Your weapons and armor are a combination of magical technology and another kind of Civilization light. Your unparalleled hyperspace technology is your means of mobility and life support. Your indestructible precision firepower is your combat support. You can be deployed in real time to any corner of the world to maximize personal safety. You will never fight alone under any circumstances..."

"--Do you think that the Mortal World nations, from the Arcane Council to the Human Empire, and even the Dusk Moon Dynasty, are worthy of being the benchmark and hypothetical enemy of this kind of military power?"

This barrage of questions came crashing down on the soldiers, leaving them stunned and bewildered.

But vaguely, an inexplicable fog is being slowly lifted.

They were caught up in the situation, obeying orders and fighting hard, but lacked a macro perspective.

However, in addition to their combat rotations, they would receive cultural education, with at least two hours of cultural classes every day. The officers' training corps would tell them a great deal about weapons, equipment, tactics, support, and strategies.

During these months of standoff, they carried out orders, maintained morale and resilience under the Council's long-range bombardment, repelled enemy charges, and recaptured lost positions, but that was all. From their perspective, the two sides fought back and forth, and their side seemed to have the upper hand, but it was just a stalemate.

However, some people felt something was off, a feeling they couldn't quite put their finger on.

Because the wounded in the Council's army cannot be teleported via hyperspace, their ranged weapons cannot fire in rapid succession, and their armor does not appear to be sturdy enough... the seemingly colossal, battle-hardened army of the Arcane Council is not as powerful as imagined.

And now, this strange feeling has finally been confirmed.

The Elf Queen herself told them that this army had truly reached the pinnacle of the Mortal World.

A surge of pride and a sense of honor welled up within them, but equally rising was the bewilderment posed by the Empress—whom did Her Highness's painstakingly crafted, unparalleled army truly oppose?

They thought of the rumors Throne of Heroic Spirits.

It is said that all comrades who suffered incurable wounds in the war would be placed in a static position by His Highness Kang De, awaiting a future breakthrough in medical technology.

The area where the stasis chambers are stored is called the Throne of Heroic Spirits.

According to his comrades who attended the ceremony, His Highness Kang De spoke at length, and his speech that day circulated among the troops. His Highness Kang De claimed to be a mortal, denied his divine status, ordered everyone to stop being obsessed with myths and legends, turn their attention back to the Mortal World, and continue to fight hard even in the most dangerous times.

Many people couldn't understand or grasp the meaning of those words.

Now, they seem to have realized something.

"The real enemy--"

Dairila pointed to the distant horizon.

"There!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the Empress felt her blood boil.

Records of the last great war have been almost entirely lost, but she can still glean from fragments that the past, the era when her ancestors ruled the Phoenix King Twilight Moon, must have been just as spirited and determined as she is now, standing beside Li Manyue Malegith, calling upon all the Mortal World races to follow in the footsteps of the Fire Thief and fight against the stars in the sky.

This time... we absolutely cannot lose.

There are still many things I want to do with Kang De!

"High, high in the sky, there dwells a group of Destroyer who call themselves gods. They harbor a contemptuous malice towards the Mortal World. Long, long ago, countless nations were destroyed by them, and countless lives perished... But countless lives also rose up in rebellion against them!"

She was almost trembling, and her teeth were chattering uncontrollably.

The Empress gripped Kang De's hand tightly, and she noticed that Kang De seemed to feel the same way.

"I know you don't understand, you can hardly comprehend the concept of an era. I know you were once just ordinary people, some were civilians, some were soldiers, and some were even beggars who couldn't afford to eat!"

"But that's alright, listen carefully, I only have one thing to say..."

"This enemy, this Star Palace that seeks to destroy the Mortal World and take everything away, is the reason Kang De came to and remained in this world!"

Even though the Goth nobles were ungrateful, even though the Goth People repaid kindness with enmity, even though the covert hostility of various nations exhausted him, even though the successive conflicts disgusted him, even though this world disappointed him... he did not leave. This is the only reason and justification!

Dairila took a deep breath, trying to control her surging emotions.

"He wanted to save the world, but he did not compromise with the nobles. He did not yield to them because they held more power. He chose to protect and liberate you, giving you dignity and strength, whether you are the poor commoners, the soldiers ravaged by war, or even the humblest beggar... He had an inexplicable trust and faith in you, and that is why you are now armed and ready to fight!"

"Soldiers, do you understand your place and your honor?"

At this point, the Queen's voice choked with emotion.

"No, you wouldn't understand... Just a few months ago, you were like most people in this world, living aimlessly and struggling to survive. But now, you are the most powerful and dignified beings in the world, able to proudly roar and wield weapons against the Destroyer from the sky."

"One day you will understand that even across an infinite span of time, you have attained the highest honor, for you are following one man in the most sacred war..."

"And now, I only want to tell you one thing."

She turned to look at Kang De, seeing the shock, confusion, wavering, and even a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

Sorry, this is a one-time offer.

From this day forward, power, honor, wealth, and even the soul will be left unreserved.

She is my lover, my student, my comrade-in-arms, and my comrade.

I will trust, follow, and protect you until the sacred war is declared over.

"I trust him. In the name of the Queen, Twilight Moon will follow in his footsteps and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Fire Thief."

Dairila proclaimed, "Not just us! From distant Cathay to the radiant Twilight Moon Island, and even to the nations of the continent, an iron curtain will slowly descend upon the Mortal World. Behind this line of defense lies the homeland we have sworn to protect. I believe an alliance must be born. No nation or organization should remain neutral! It's either us or our enemy, and our enemy must be annihilated!"

"The Empire, Dragon Island, Cathay, Twilight Moon, the Eastern Kingdoms, the frigid northern wilderness, and the southern island city-states—all power, wisdom, wealth, and manpower must be gathered together to face the impending disaster. If anyone disagrees, then we will persuade them to agree!"

The Empress's phoenix eyes swept across the room, her presence imposing and awe-inspiring.

The soldiers listening to the speech were all dumbfounded. Anyone with a modicum of political common sense realized how insane the Queen was talking about! As for those who were less educated, they couldn't even utter the word "Holy crap!"

Dairila's voice stirred up scorching Flame, burning the soul.

"I trust him, Twilight Moon trusts him, the Empire trusts him, so—you who were once poor, laborers, apprentices, nobles, and beggars, and now soldiers who wield power, dignity, and glory, even if you don't understand my words for now, I will only ask you one question: do you want to follow and trust him as I have?"

The Empress said sternly, "Or do you want to act like those cowards in Danfeng Lucerne and Glittering Sand Town, using your cowardice and baseness to tell Kang De that those he trusted and saved were nothing more than a group of selfish, ungrateful cowards?"

The most effective tactic to provoke someone is to question their beliefs and deny their morality.

A torrent of fury and rejection, accompanied by a deafening roar, echoed across the land.

"Then prove it to us!"

Dairila pointed her Council Council's ranks. "Griffin Williams has betrayed the mortal Mortal World and sided with the Star Palace. He has become a lackey of the Destroyer, standing between the Iron Curtain and opposing you! Now, the blades are sharpened, and the eyes of the entire Mortal World are focused here. Let the whole world see your power! Let all opponents and doubters tremble and tremble in fear, and seize an epic victory for Kang De!"

The boiling morale was like being in a furnace, forged and tempered by hot winds, roaring and raging, burning everything in its path.

Amidst a surge of intense fighting spirit, Dairila turned and looked at Kang De.

Her eyes and brows were full of smiles, and a sense of relief and tenderness after opening her heart.

"In the words of the Cathayan, this is called 'what's done is done.' What I say today will reach Silver Moon City. If the council doesn't want to launch a rebellion and oust me, they'll have to swallow their pride and accept this. And even if they're bold enough to rebel, they won't have the chance."

"After this battle, I will begin to mobilize and integrate national strength, gradually sending military funds, the national treasury, magic scholars, military talents, and officers loyal to me to the Distant Harbor for you to integrate and utilize, carrying out what you call 'modernization.' The accumulated resources of Twilight Moon over hundreds of years have reached the point where they must be used. Only when you use them can they be used to their fullest potential."

"The vassal states of Twilight Moon will also obey your commands, just like my own country."

"Our next target is the Human Empire. You mentioned before that the Emperor was willing to reconcile with you, and you're also interested. That's for the best; let's make it happen. After this battle, I will lead a delegation to Distant Harbor extend invitations to the monarchs of various nations to hold a summit there. To ensure a consensus is reached at this meeting, we'd better capture Griffin and that God of the Star Palace alive in this battle."

She stood there, sword in hand, exuding confidence, and said with a smile, "I am ready. Give me your orders."

Kang De was speechless for a moment.

He didn't know what to say... Dairila had just bypassed him to boost the morale of his army and even issued mobilization orders, which was clearly an overreach of authority. With the Queen's political acumen, she shouldn't have been unaware of this, yet she did it so naturally, and with an air of entitlement.

This can only prove one thing.

This guy doesn't treat himself like an outsider at all... nor does he treat Kang De like an outsider.

The wealth, resources, military strength, and wisdom accumulated by the Dusk Moon Dynasty over hundreds of years, including the country's most beautiful and noble empress, have all been handed over to this fool.

This... this is really...

He didn't even know where to begin to get angry.

"You..."

Dairila noticed his expression and seemed to recall something; her face changed slightly.

"I... what did I do wrong?" She became flustered and whispered, "You have other plans? Isn't now the time to start a war? But we've communicated more than ten times before, and we've set a time to start the battle. We agreed that we would start immediately as soon as I arrived. Just now you even asked me if I wanted to rest for a bit before we begin..."

She said this with a pitiful look in her eyes, clearly not worried about that, but rather that Kang De would deny it.

"... without."

Kang De shook his head, smiled, and exhaled.

"I just felt very confused for a moment... but also vaguely happy."

He gently embraced Dairila, as if he had vaguely grasped a reason to convince himself.

"Ah?"

Dairila was initially delighted, then cautiously said, "I'm sorry."

"Um?"

"Do you find it abrupt that I suddenly said this today?"

"Aren't you going to ask me if I'll get angry?"

"Our ancestor said that even if you say you're angry, you're probably secretly laughing to yourself." After saying that, Dairila suddenly asked worriedly, "You're not really angry, are you?"

Kang De shook his head, released Dairila, and looked around as if his gaze transcended time and space to speak to his army.

"The attack will begin in twenty minutes. All units... Break through the enemy lines! Destroy their formation! Slay their chieftain!"

The soldiers were unaware of what had just happened, let alone the many chaotic thoughts swirling in His Highness Kang De's mind. They were simply in high spirits, roaring and shouting in unison in response to the military orders.

Prepare to seize victory.

"Kill them! Kill them! Kill them!"