Experiment

"Anomaly detected on the battlefield!"

In an instant, an invisible spiritual wave enveloped the battlefield, causing the already planted seeds of evil to sprout and grow.

Soldiers with wavering will, soldiers with resolute will, soldiers who collapsed and fled, soldiers who held firm and fought on—all soldiers became the same. Cowardice vanished, and courage became meaningless, because their will was no longer free; an evil force had made the choices for them.

They did not die; in fact, they retained almost all their skills and strength. However, the many emotions and personalities of a natural human being in their souls had been suppressed, and only pure violent impulses and deep-seated hostility dominated everything. Fear and cowardice had completely disappeared... These were the most perfect soldiers.

The spell array, whose efficiency had already decreased, once again shone with dazzling light.

The spellcasters abandoned their wavering will, relentlessly extracting magical and spiritual power, organizing a more rigorous, deadly, and fearless offensive and defensive strategy, almost abandoning the support of friendly forces, and using their spellcasting power to the maximum extent to attack and unleash it on the Distant Harbor Armored Corps!

"This is extremely rebellious. The enemy's will and intensity of resistance have greatly increased, and it is a large-scale, collective shift. This could not have been achieved by the leader's personal charisma alone; it must have been due to external intervention!"

The combined brigade's rapid advance was halted.

Battlefield data links show that the enemy's combat resilience has suddenly surged.

Ordinary local conscripts, armed only with enchanted crossbows and the Council's primitive muskets, dared to lean out of their trenches and exchange fire with power armor infantry. Swordsmen even abandoned their swords, using only magic shields for protection, and fearlessly charged close to the tanks, hurling alchemical cluster bombs at them. Although the huge generational gap in equipment could not be bridged, in terms of willpower alone, the Council's army had completely caught up!

The bizarre changes were reported quickly.

Kang De frowned. "... Did they take some kind of stun pills?"

"Impossible."

Horus immediately denied it. "The enemy's conscripted troops have completely lost their will to fight, so how could they have taken any awakening agents? They underwent a huge mental transformation almost simultaneously, which could not have been caused by individual voluntary actions, because it's impossible for them to be so synchronized... There's only one possibility!"

The Fire Thief's tone was chilling. "Star Palace."

Shadow above the sky, a curse overlooking the earth.

The top hunters, who had dispersed as planned, returned and gathered around Kang De.

They all noticed the problems occurring on the battlefield and were summoned back.

These are powerful figures from various countries.

In order to set up a killing formation to capture Griffin and Phaethon alive, and to demonstrate Distant Harbor's military strength to the greatest extent possible and to give the Mortal World forces firsthand information, Kang De used the personal connections, deals, relationships, and resources he had accumulated since taking control of Distant Harbor to assemble an extremely powerful and righteous one-on-one team.

Over the course of several months, Dairila secretly dispatched seven elven sword saints and five White Tower Dharma Kings.

The legendary dragon squad "Dragon Break" was dispatched by the Dragon Emperor in the form of hired dragons. Led by the Dragon Marshal and composed entirely of S-rank operators, its main mission is to hunt down corrupt dragons and traitors.

The Southern Council Nemesis Company, personally led by the newly recovered interim Grand Speaker Kaliusi, was formed immediately after the Tula Xiaye Incident.

All personnel were directly drawn from the Security Committee, the military, the Tula Xiaye University of Mysteries, and the Department of Magic Engineering and Alchemical Manufacturing. All the company members had one thing in common—they were all victims of the Tower of All-Seeing massacre. Whether it was a family member, a lover, a teacher, a close friend, or the lord of the clan they served, there was always one of them who died in the nightmare of the tragedy months ago. Thus, they had enough hatred and motivation.

The formation of this revenge force received full support from many magical factions and clans in Tula Xiaye, because the councilists were almost completely wiped out in that incident!

When core and peripheral members of parliament die, those who inherit their political and family legacies must prioritize revenge, as this is inherently politically correct and the ultimate manifestation of the legitimacy of their inheritance.

Using this, Kaliusi assembled an unprecedentedly powerful vengeful force bound by blood oaths.

The Southern Council united in its efforts to capture and execute Griffin.

In addition, the Brotherhood dispatched eight of its most skilled battlefield assassins, and even four Battle Gods from the Battle God City arrived. The Deceleration Field suppressed the combat power of martial artists and warriors to an extremely low level. Since it was a matter of survival, even those born battle maniacs had to be on high alert.

In addition, countries and forces that have temporarily maintained neutrality, such as the Church of the Sun and the Holy Empire, have also dispatched their own observation teams, ready to take action should the situation change.

Over the past few months, those who have been following this war know that Kang De deployed his troops and brought out his unique alchemical army to confront the Arcane Council's magic brigade. But what they don't know is that, under the cover of the thunderous cannon fire, the Cathayan have assembled the most righteous one-on-one lineup of this era!

Today the time was ripe. He ordered his troops to launch a full-scale offensive while simultaneously instructing the high-ranking thugs who had come from afar to prepare for a righteous multi-on-two battle.

These "guest troops" from various countries were indeed there to help, but they were also there to observe and even spy.

Kang De didn't quite trust them and was even more worried that they would leak information and allow Griffin to escape ahead of time, so he tricked them into entering the White Mist World and let them observe and spy as they pleased.

It should be pointed out that these powerful figures from various countries and forces are not actually the dog-like henchmen kept by the monarchs.

They possess immense power, thus wielding significant influence and authority in the region. Respected by the ruling class, they naturally have a broad perspective... Consequently, they have witnessed firsthand the wondrous Civilization of the White Mist World, which can be described as miracles, and are able to understand their significance.

The ammunition factory, which has already begun production, is spewing out ammunition like a "giant vomiting".

In the three-shift renovation and repair workshop, sparks from electric welding, precise transmission, metal is transformed into soft clay that can be kneaded at will. Mechanics, through the close cooperation of gears and levers, exude a rugged yet precise beauty.

Production lines that utilize drones and robots on a large scale operate with machines, perform tasks by machines, and complete all the tiring, dirty, monotonous, and tedious work.

A terrifying unmanned logistics system that requires no corvée labor, no rest, and no hard labor or livestock consuming 90% of the transported grain could revolutionize the entire form of warfare.

The hospitals and sanatoriums were as clean and tidy as temples, and the wounded soldiers were housed better than the nobles.

At its peak, Kang De's Spacetime Nexus allows him to complete hundreds of phase interactions with the Mortal World within a single second, is something he doesn't even need to control himself!

The power system is fully operational, bringing light and brightness everywhere.

And the modeling wonders, exemplified by Hall of Heroes —what are these things?!

It's fair to say that during these past few months, they have never witnessed the battlefield firsthand.

But from the legion's rotation and rest, the production and replenishment of equipment, the rescue and recuperation of the wounded, and the orderly operation of the White Mist World as a super logistics base... all the things they saw and the things that kept happening over the past few months have been telling them one Truth —who will win this war!

Finally, the moment of decisive battle arrived, and they were notified to prepare for combat.

These powerful individuals, who initially harbored doubts, curiosity, wariness, and even hostility towards the Cathayan, have now completely transformed into the shape of Kang De, inside and out.

My mindset has completely changed.

Initially, the mission was to "follow orders, go to the battlefield, and assist Kang De in eliminating Griffin Williams and his associates. After all, Distant Harbor is indeed lacking in high-end combat capabilities, and there are things that even the Cathayan cannot do."

Now it's time to show Duke Kang De our strength, worth, courage, and fighting spirit so that he will recognize that we can fight alongside him in the most critical moment. Besides, those weaklings in Distant Harbor can swagger around in power armor and driving combat vehicles; we can definitely do better.

As well as.

Everyone now believed that the threat posed by the Star Palace truly existed.

All intelligent beings possess an arrogant heart and are difficult to persuade. If Kang De were to travel around giving lectures or have a face-to-face conversation and say that there is a terrifying force in the stars that looks down on the Mortal World and will destroy it every now and then, the audience would certainly not believe it.

I think Kang De was either exaggerating or making unfounded accusations.

But now, to quote the Elf Sword Saint...

"While I still find it hard to believe, emotionally, that an ancient and powerful force, transcending eras, exists in the cosmos and seeks to destroy the Mortal World, my reason tells me, after seeing the war system Duke Kang De created, that I should believe it. Because I simply cannot imagine any Mortal World nation worthy of such a war system... It is undoubtedly designed to confront the gods!"

Yes, the statement "I'm making such a big show of force to fight off an enemy that will destroy the world" is more emotionally acceptable than "I'm making such a big show of force to conquer the Mortal World and kill you all one by one."

The instinct to escape, though shameful, can lead living beings to believe in safer options.

Change will happen gradually and subtly.

Almost all activity areas in the White Mist World are open to these powerful warriors who come to help. They can sit in on the political commissar's courses on reforming prisoners, apply to be temporary instructors to improve the tactics of the magic-powered legions, or make suggestions for the development of equipment adaptability, thereby earning temporary work points, which can be exchanged for cola, game coins, or even permanent souvenirs such as mobile phones and tablets.

This change is effective and meaningful.

Because they are not officials; they are powerful individuals who have earned the widespread respect and awe of all social strata in their respective countries through sheer force, and who possess extraordinary influence. If ordinary officials were to bring back their observations from here to their home countries, they would be met with skepticism, ridicule, and attacks. But no one would dare to do that to these powerful individuals, and no one would dare to openly question their courage and honor!

This is Mortal World of swords and magic, where the strong are born with authority and credibility.

Now, the first step of the united front has been successfully taken. Kang De has planted a crucial seed, and he has gained his first group of allies with undeniable strength and momentum. These people may not like him, or they may even be hostile and wary of him... but one thing is certain.

They were terrified enough.

Because of fear, one is more inclined to believe.

By now, they have completed their re-education in the White Mist World, acknowledged the threat from the Star Palace, and are even eager to demonstrate their power and value to Kang De.

So much so that when they were notified to prepare for battle, these formidable warriors, who had enjoyed their fame for decades, actually felt a great sense of relief, even showing a kind of joy at the prospect of war.

Ultimately, however, there is one thing that cannot be achieved through education, suggestion, or guidance.

That is, to let these people witness firsthand the threat, cruelty, cold-bloodedness, and tyranny of the Star Palace.

But now... they suddenly saw it.

"Real-time battlefield video transmission in progress... High-definition camera sample acquisition complete."

Several drones carrying display screens flew in, power was connected, images appeared, and a new wave of reconnaissance drones broke through the intercepting fire and transmitted battlefield images back.

The entire battlefield situation was systematically presented to everyone.

Elite warriors clad in heavy magical armor, powerful spellcasters in magnificent robes, ordinary conscripted soldiers in half-armor, and even auxiliary soldiers who weren't even worthy of leather armor... those who should be brave, those who must be brave, those who wouldn't be brave, and those who definitely wouldn't be brave—all the soldiers had become the most fanatical zealots.

Their eyes gleamed with an intense, unsettling green light.

Whether human, dragon, or elf, all the creatures present watched this scene.

This method has never appeared in the Mortal World, and it is certainly not a technology that the Council could develop.

Otherwise... it would surely become the standard in the Mortal World.

Not just soldiers.

Peasants, slaves, servants, workers... all the lower classes were entitled to a share.

... Star Palace.

Their expressions changed, and their eyes flickered unconsciously.

"--You all saw it."

Kang De's voice drew their attention; the Fire Thief's face darkened, his eyes sharp as knives.

Faced with that cold, scrutinizing gaze, even the bravest warrior couldn't help but tilt his head slightly.

They felt as if their innermost thoughts had been laid bare.

Are you really interested? Do you really want it?

Kang De coldly said, "The Deceleration Field can weaken the power of my alchemical weapon, which has overjoyed all the nations. They were so eager to curry favor with Griffin that they wanted some of his favor. But when they saw that even with that thing, Griffin couldn't do anything to me, they started to bet on both sides..."

"Now, he's come up with something new."

"It's even more useful, isn't it? It seems that with this thing, even the most timid soldier can become a qualified warrior. Don't you want to let the peasants in your territory use it too? The lowly people are disobedient, let them use this too. The workers refuse to work overtime every day and keep clamoring for rest, why not give this a try..."

His expression turned cold and stern.

"--idiot!"

The Fire Thief roared, "You dare use things from the Star Palace? Aren't you afraid there are backdoors? You dare use them to discipline your soldiers and commoners? Do it in your homes, do it in your capital, do it in your military camps! Smuggle it into the cities, smuggle it into the palace, and we'll turn your country upside down in no time! Don't you realize what you're doing? The Star Palace is attacking!"

He abruptly turned his head and looked at someone at the back of the crowd. "Imperial, what do you say?"

"His Majesty has already given instructions."

The imposing figure, no less imposing than an elf, removed his helmet and bowed slightly to Kang De: "He said that whatever His Excellency the Duke commands, the Sun Imperial Guard and the Royal Mage Guards will obey."

The emperor also sent people, but very discreetly... It is common knowledge that the empire is not well-liked by Kang De. Even though Kang De has corresponded with the emperor several times in the past few months and their relationship has eased somewhat, there is still no concrete statement or characterization. Everything depends on the end of this war.

Kang De's gaze shifted, and the high priest of the Church of the Sun immediately closed the scroll and raised his mace.

The Dark Brotherhood, the Battle God City, the Frost and Snow Winter Court, the Shadow of Magsa, the Highland Moonwell, the Quiet Spirit Monastic Order... all the major guilds, organizations, and churches summoned by Kang De have expressed their stance.

Upon first witnessing this phenomenon, I was indeed instinctively filled with greed and curiosity. But now, having come to my senses, I feel a chill run down my spine—is this the power to so easily manipulate people's hearts on such a large scale truly the strength of the Star Palace?

If they had previously intended to give 95 to 98 points of effort in this battle, now they should give 120 points.

"At all costs, capture Griffin and the God of the Star Palace behind him, interrogate them for details about this phenomenon, and find out if there are any ways to break or control it... Does anyone have any objections to this strategy?"

No one answered, so Kang De stretched his neck.

"Horus, order the frontline troops to slow their advance, closely monitor the physiological indicators and mental state of all combat units, and be prepared to execute a large-scale recall at any time."

"Yes."

He looked at Dairila: "Continue to patrol the land for me, don't let them escape."

The Elf Queen's expression was solemn, and there was no smile in her eyes. She immediately gave an elven military salute.

"Yes!"

Everyone who saw this was filled with awe.

Kang De then looked at the Dragon Emperor: "Your Majesty, please survey the sky and await any requests for assistance."

"Good!"

"Dong Tianming."

"Your old minister is here!"

Kang De ordered, "Horus will command the regular battlefield. From now on, you will lead these elite warriors carrying out the hunt. Arrange their defenses and flanking maneuvers, ready to hunt down the enemy chieftain at any time... Now, bring me some live prisoners."

"Only!"

Dong Tianming stepped forward, bowed to receive the order, then turned around, his hair and beard bristling, exuding an imposing aura.

The Imperial Tutor of Cathay had a great reputation and an imposing presence. When their eyes met, their spiritual energy collided, and their true qi surged. He used his aura to display his cultivation, taking the initiative and suppressing these arrogant powerhouses.

Then he calmly issued commands, speaking clearly and precisely, from the Imperial Guard to the Elven Sword Saint, and even the Brotherhood assassins, the priests of the Church of the Sun, and the alchemists of the Highland Moonwell... according to their respective skills, areas of expertise, and differences in strength, he knew them all in his mind.

The procedures were meticulously detailed, the dispatch and issuance of orders were thorough, and the responsibilities were clearly explained.

These powerful figures were first secretly impressed by Kang De, and then they saw that even the mighty Dragon Emperor and Phoenix King obeyed Kang De. Moreover, Dong Tianming was no incompetent person. After a moment's hesitation, they obeyed the order and began to carry it out.

"Fighting against the Star Palace is no child's play. Everyone should strive to be the first to act, and then we will have a chance of winning."

After Dong Tianming finished giving the order, Kang De calmly said, "The Mortal World uniting against the Star Palace is only the first step. Similar things will surely happen many more times in the future. I know that many foolish things will happen in the future, and there will always be those who are reckless and ignorant of their own mortality. Today, I will establish a rule for the Mortal World."

"Anyone who harbors selfish motives in the war against the Star Palace, who hinders the overall situation, and who causes losses and failures due to their own stupidity, cowardice, or recklessness, is a traitor who has betrayed the Mortal World and sided with the Star Palace. I will never tolerate such a person and will make them pay the most painful and desperate price. After all, people living in this world may be fearless of death, but they usually have things they cherish."

He paused for a moment, Kang De revealed his gleaming teeth with a sinister smile.

"And I can usually find them."

He cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd, a Cathay gesture from China that was not common on the mainland, but everyone understood it. Not only that, they also awkwardly returned the greeting with Kang De hands.

"I hope we can continue to fight side by side as we do today until victory is achieved, and that we will see things through to the end," Kang De earnestly said. "And please, please don't become like that dead chicken in my hand, used to scare the monkey."

After saying that, he gestured and casually said, "Go—keep an eye on this man for me, don't hurt him."

The Phase Gate opened invisibly not far away, and a person fell from nowhere.

The man, dressed in the half-armor of a Council of Seneca crossbowmen, looked around blankly with a tense Council. But the next moment, his body trembled, and a bright green light suddenly flashed in his eyes.

At least a hundred people were watching him, and at least seven of them were only a few steps away from him. But he immediately looked at Kang De, who was farther away, let out a roar that was not human, his face was ferocious, and he suddenly charged forward!

The next moment, an elven swordsman, who was three steps away from the Council crossbowman, stepped forward, pushed him with one hand, and gently hooked him with the other foot, knocking the soldier to the ground.

At the same time, a spear-axe, a greatsword, and a Warhammer fell almost simultaneously, vines rose from the ground, gripped their wrists, and froze their legs in ice.

The baker's son, who was drafted into the army, suddenly enjoyed royal treatment.

The men who made the move were all very measured. Although they completely suppressed the opponent's ability to move, they didn't hurt him at all. After all, they were all shrewd people, and this soldier was summoned by Kang De.

Kang De looked at the soldier who was being pinned to the ground, struggling and yelling, and shook his head. "Let him go."

The weapons were moved aside, and the ice and vines dissipated.

The Phase Door opened, and the soldier vanished into thin air.

The next moment, the crossbowman appeared in the Spacetime Nexus and was teleported to a white room. He remained prone on the ground and was then pulled up.

The soldier looked bewildered as he glanced at the staff member beside him who was dressed in strange, full-body clothing.

"Is this... alright?"

"That's enough. Thank you for your hard work and your voluntary dedication. You can go home after the war."

The staff member smiled and said, "But according to regulations, you will be subject to quarantine. We will provide sufficient food, a clean room, and even some entertainment, but you must stay home for at least two weeks. Any problems?"

"N-no!"

A second soldier was teleported out.

Then came third place, and fourth place.

"The soldiers who surrendered in this battle were completely ignored in the White Mist World, but went mad after arriving in the Mortal World."

As Kang De conducted his experiments, he analyzed, "By conducting experiments on soldiers who surrendered using Paradox Crystal before the war, according to the time of their surrender, we discovered a pattern: soldiers who surrendered approximately forty days prior were unaffected and remained calm in the Mortal World."

"This indicates that this insane mechanism is not a direct interference with mental strength, but rather through some factor... This factor was only used forty days ago, which explains this situation. The most likely and convenient way to subject soldiers to this factor on a large scale is through food and water."

After a moment's thought, Kang De said, "A Fu, draw medical personnel from the Truth Office Division and conduct a joint consultation. Divide the surrendered soldiers into two groups, using forty days as the dividing line, and perform a comprehensive and detailed comparative examination of their bodies and souls to see if we can find this key factor..."

"Yes, sir!"

"Dong Tianming."

"Your old minister is here."

"Change the plan. We don't need to capture prisoners anymore," Kang De said calmly. "Tell them Horus will continue his advance. Have them accompany the troops and devise a capture plan... capture high-ranking officers and commanders."

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PS1: This chapter took me six or seven hours to write... amazing.