Who the Fuck Are You?

Kaliusi, the interim Grand Speaker of the Southern Council, and his personally assembled Nemesis Company witnessed the fall of Griffin Williams.

Some say that revenge is not a pleasant experience; it only brings endless emptiness.

Someone else said, "Bullshit, it feels so good!"

But Kaliusi was able to confirm... it was the former.

Standing in the underground bunker, they looked up at the passage carved out by Kang De and witnessed Griffin being executed by the light blade, ultimately transforming into pure light and dissipating into the air.

Thus ended their vow of revenge, sworn with the blood of the dead and the tears of the grieving.

At this moment, the Avenger were even somewhat bewildered.

Is this the result they wanted?

Something seems off.

But the thought had barely formed when cheers echoed through the tunnel.

Immediately, an even more intense radiance poured in, a flash of light appeared, and as sand fell, the incomparably radiant figure plummeted down and landed steadily. The magnificent wings of light on its back fluttered a few times and then dissipated into specks of light.

It's Kang De.

The Arcane hunters' gazes were complex, then turned to expressions of disbelief and shock.

Because of the elements... they sensed the elements that permeated the heavens and earth, endlessly surrounding Kang De like the most docile servants, pulsating beautifully with his breath.

These most elite mages of the Arcane Council possess the best elemental affinity and perception, so they can sense that the Cathayan before them are like stars with immense gravitational pull, naturally attracting all active elements, Magic Power, and Arcane phenomena to them without any effort.

It even caused the magic power of these powerful spellcasters to boil and surge, almost to the point of leaving their bodies.

This is an extraordinary phenomenon that breaks the second law of Magic Power.

Those who can do this are undoubtedly...

An Arcane hunter exhaled a chilling breath. "The Supreme Mage..."

As powerful spellcasters, they felt an extraordinary suppression from a higher-ranking mysterious entity. For a moment, they even had the illusion that Griffin Williams was standing in front of them.

A look of shock flashed in Kaliusi's eyes as he murmured, "This is... the Fire Thief?"

He listened to the entire final conversation between Griffin and Kang De. Some parts of it were vague and elusive, which puzzled him. He didn't understand why Griffin believed that as long as he died at Kang De's hands, he would have a chance to save those who were being controlled by mind control. He didn't understand why Griffin, knowing that he had no way out, would endure the humiliation that even extraordinary strong people could not bear, and wait for Kang De to come and execute him personally.

Now he understands.

Kang De nodded. "Yes."

He rose into the air, and the earth naturally generated a repulsive force. The wind carried him through the air, past the crowd, and flew to the vicinity of the mental device, where he reached out and pressed the star chart that controlled the device.

"So that's why those God of the Star Palace are so afraid of you? Because you can not only kill them, but also take everything from them—power, honor, memories, and even their souls?"

"Right."

A white light shone in Kang De's eyes.

Kaliusi was silent for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "A mortal... is that possible? So you stripped Griffin of everything? Including his power?"

"Hmm," Kang De replied casually, "But the effect is usually not that good... Perhaps only a pure mind with an astonishing will that voluntarily opens its heart can allow this ritual of inheritance to be completed perfectly."

His mental energy carefully penetrated, establishing a connection.

The interim Grand Speaker fell silent again, gazing at Kang De's figure with a complex expression. The Arcane hunters around him involuntarily took a few steps back; the information revealed in this brief conversation was shocking to them.

The intelligent beings in this world are already a group standing at the top of the food chain, and the extraordinary among mortals possess supernatural powers that transcend the Mortal World, which they are proud of.

But I only found out today... there's someone above them in the predator-prey chain.

It can feed on the extraordinary and deprive living beings of the power they have cultivated through arduous practice.

How terrifying.

How damn it.

But...

They should have been filled with murderous intent, driven by instinct to eliminate this natural enemy and Predator, but looking at Kang De, who was operating the mind-control mechanism and seemed completely unguarded, they lacked the courage to make a move.

"So, in other words..." Kaliusi said with difficulty, "If enough Mortal World are willing to dedicate their power, the Fire Thief will possess countless great powers and become a new god capable of shaking the Star Palace?"

"I don't know. Including this time, I've only had this experience twice."

Kang De frankly stated, "But I think it's probably useless."

"Why?"

"The Star Palace has destroyed countless eras. There will always be Fire Thief think of this path. Among them, there will inevitably be the bravest, the most resolute, and the most ruthless, capable of attempting and executing this plan," Kang De said calmly. "This is not my path."

Kaliusi did not speak; he simply stared at Kang De.

Kang De suddenly laughed, "Your eyes... Kaliusi, do you know, I've already connected to this mind control device. With just a few modifications, the tens of thousands of elite Council controlled by this battlefield will have a new master. They will fight to the death and regard my orders as supreme decrees."

"Even if I ordered them to kill their families with their bare hands, they would not hesitate to tear their parents, wives, and children to pieces and eat them."

He turned his head, a half-smile on his face, and said, "Do you think I should do this? They are my enemies, and the threat from the Star Palace is so imminent. Releasing them wouldn't necessarily make them grateful. It's better to turn the tables. Tens of thousands of elite troops equipped with my weapons and gear will surely be an invincible force. Who would refuse a fanatical, loyal, and utterly unbetraying army? The bigger picture is what matters."

The Council monks in the council all paled, cold sweat pouring down their backs.

Kang De shook his head and chuckled.

He pressed the button on his headset and spoke into the microphone, "All units in position, report status."

"The phased withdrawal and redeployment have been completed. Frontline troops have ceased combat, and trauma teams and officer training corps are on standby... Commander, we are ready."

"Okay... listen to my commands, five, four, three, two... one!"

Kang De raised his left hand, giving the middle finger to Kaliusi and the uneasy mages, like a swan looking down on sparrows. Then, a blade of light burst forth from his hand, piercing the pale green mental mechanism.

"You--"

With a forceful pull of his hands, he ripped the evil tentacles from the innocent soul.

"--It's free now!"

A violent storm swept through the mental world, like shattering glass with a continuous, cracking sound. The psychological Shadow that had shrouded the battlefield were stirred up and dispelled by an invisible force.

In an instant, evil thoughts vanished, and reason returned.

A soldier who was charging fiercely stumbled and fell to the ground, staring blankly at the shattered crystals covering his body. He screamed in terror and frantically tried to pull them off.

The mages, who had been relentlessly unleashing magical attacks while straining their mental energy, stopped what they were doing. They stared at each other in astonishment, their eyes slowly revealing pure shock, fear, and disbelief.

Reason is returning, and the entire battlefield has fallen into utter chaos and confusion.

But this confusion did not last long, because although he had lost his mind, what he saw, heard, and thought was like a dream, leaving traces.

They remembered what had happened before... it was as if they were possessed!

A sudden, desperate charge, the comrades' bodies smashed to pieces, wreckage crushed by the tracks— the Distant Harbor Army advanced with unstoppable momentum, crushing the Knight Astolfo on the battlefield.

And Kang De's command, his vow to kill, the final battle.

Even...

The scene of Griffin's execution.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

The most intelligent and quick-witted are always the spellcasters, officers, and elite troops. The more loyal they are to Griffin and the more steadfast their beliefs, the more painful it is when their faith is shattered.

After the shock and disbelief, she burst into tears.

The bad news spread faster than the wind, and soon, the bewildered soldiers began to weep.

In particular, the drone swarms in the Distant Harbor were already broadcasting messages with loudspeakers, and even using mobile playback devices to play previous battlefield footage, so all hopes had vanished.

Nightmare-like memories.

The still-warm flesh and blood of my comrades.

The result of these months of sacrifice, dedication, and following.

The meaning of loyalty was also rejected.

The whole world is absurd.

Some people couldn't accept this fact and, in a state of emotional turmoil, chose to end their lives.

"I've already heard that someone committed suicide."

The loudspeaker's announcement was originally a warning. "Officers and soldiers of the Council, please remain calm. The mind control has been lifted. There is no need to continue the war. Please lay down your weapons and wait for assistance. The Distant Harbor has taken the initiative to cease fire. Any continued attack will be met with the most severe punishment."

Now it's Kang De's voice.

"By the way, I am Kang De, the one who killed Griffin, defeated the Council, and saved you all."

To make a long story short...

"Listen up, you cowardly, spineless cowards of the Council!"

Kang De cleared his throat and said calmly, "From now on, anyone who commits suicide will be treated as a war criminal. One-third of their family members will be killed. Those who survive will be sent to prisons for the men, brothels for the women, and the children to suicide squads for brainwashing. When they grow up, they will learn from you and be strapped with explosive crystals to blow up the Star Palace."

After a brief silence, the bewildered officers and soldiers on the Council suddenly looked up.

It revealed a variety of complex emotions.

Kang De did not give them the opportunity to express themselves.

"Fuck your still-attractive mothers, you cowards in the Council, are your brains filled with shit? Damn it, if you wanted to commit suicide, you should have said so earlier. I have a hundred ways to turn you bunch of scum who were just beaten to a pulp by Yuri into a pile of rotten flesh. And now that you're free, you're pulling this trick on me? Huh?"

The crude language of the Cathayan echoed in the skies above the battlefield.

"Damn it, do you even know how many soldiers were wounded or killed in battle because I was forced to fight you head-on in order to break you out of mind control?"

"I'm going to personally confront the God of the Star Palace head-on, from the Phoenix King to the Dragon Emperor, I'm going to fight the God of the Star Palace in his self-destructing state in close combat, all for you bunch of stupid idiots!"

"Come on, you wanted to commit suicide? Hurry up! Every single one of you will be recorded. Before I wipe out your entire family, before I throw your father, your brother, your uncle, and your son into the mines to work, before I throw your mother, your sister, your wife, and your daughter into a brothel to solicit customers, I'm going to tell them all—"

"You didn't die in the previous positional battles, nor in the chaotic battlefield under control. Instead, after being rescued, you had a meltdown, became suicidal, and committed suicide! I'd say you're brave! You could have lived to go home and reunite with your family, but then, just like that, you were dead!"

Kang De's voice was neither pleased nor angry, as if he were talking about something ordinary.

"That's how it'll be done. You've all heard of my reputation and know my usual style. If one person commits suicide, I'll deal with one family; if a hundred commit suicide, I'll deal with a hundred families. If you're so capable, even if tens of thousands of you take your own lives, if even one of your family members or relatives manages to escape, then I, the Kang family, am a coward."

The battlefield was deathly silent.

These soldiers who had narrowly escaped death originally wanted to curse and yell, but now they didn't even dare to.

"Don't expect me to show any mercy, and don't spout any nonsense about not 'family members being harmed.' Damn it, you pretty girls, you scum who barely survived the battlefield don't even cherish the chance to reunite with your families. Do you expect me to have pity on them? Do you really think I run a charity?"

"--Listen up, all of you!"

Fighter jets roared low, and airships like giant beasts pressed down from the sky, even forcing the Wyvern to land—not to mention the arrival of the Dragon Emperor, the Deceleration Field had already collapsed, and under the overwhelming air superiority of the Distant Harbor, the Wyvern didn't even have a chance to escape, and the battlefield situation was completely settled.

After a brief withdrawal and reorganization, the formidable military force of Distant Harbor pressed forward once again.

With an imposing momentum like a torrent, and steel as its sharp edge, it swaggered and displayed its might.

That was an army that even the Council 'Council massive forces, under mind control and with their relentless suicide attacks, could not be stopped.

Under this combined air and ground encirclement, and with the morale of the council 'Council troops low and their spirits confused, the power of Kang De's rebuke was amplified infinitely.

"Lay down your weapons, seal up any important equipment and assets. From this moment on, you are all prisoners! Distant Harbor will treat prisoners well. Your old comrades will be taking over and managing you in a short time. I allow you weaklings to sob in their arms."

"You will be sent to a prisoner-of-war camp for a physical examination and adjustment to remove the factors that caused your previous mind control. You will then undergo a period of isolation and observation, which will likely last for about a month."

"Then, you worthless bastards, worse than women, can go home!"

These words caused an uproar among the soldiers; they were stunned... Could they go home?

"Although I often break my word, I always keep my promises made in front of my army and the people. That's right, as long as you obediently surrender, don't damage the spoils of war, don't resist re-education, and cooperate with the inspection, you can go home after the one-month observation period."

The terms were so favorable that the soldiers looked at each other in disbelief.

"How?"

Kang De chuckled, "You think it's not that simple? You think I'd invite you to join my army and embark on a counterattack and revenge against the Star Palace?"

After a brief pause, he snapped, "Who do you think you are? Do you even deserve to be called that?"

"A bunch of spineless cowards who can't even beat us when their morale is low, crying and whining when they get betrayed, do they even deserve to fight alongside us? I saved a dog, and it wagged its tail at me. I saved you all and even helped you kill Griffin to vent your anger, and you won't even call me a 'good Samaritan'!"

"Damn it, you've got the guts to cry, the guts to commit suicide, but you're not so brave as to challenge Star Palace to a fight?"

Kang De spat and yelled, "Alright, that's it. Training team, propaganda team, go and carry out prisoner resettlement work. Council, look who's still alive. The highest-ranking ones, get over here. I have something to say to you... Damn, what a bunch of bastards."

Loud spitting sounds blared from loudspeakers throughout the battlefield.

Silence reigned.

Kaliusi, who had come out with Kang De, sighed, "Is this your path? Not to control these soldiers, but to give them freedom... You simply despise them?"

"Can't understand it, can you? Because you've never seen a real army," Kang De said calmly. "The power of conviction and will... those beasts who only know how to use Assault Ingots can't beat them."

Kaliusi looked puzzled.

Kang De shook his head and said, "It's a pity that we've been lost for too long; we no longer have their land, their blood."

The interim Speaker was increasingly perplexed.

The Council's army didn't experience much turmoil, perhaps because morale had already collapsed, or perhaps because they were intimidated by Kang De... In any case, everything went smoothly.

They consumed the Paradox Crystal as a group and were transported to the White Mist World.

Having previously used prisoners from the Azure Fleet and the Azure Fleet as practice, the training team knows how to manage prisoners... and even the previous prisoners know how to manage the later prisoners.

The aftermath of the war had nothing to do with these ordinary soldiers.

Just as Kang De promised, they could go home once the observation was over.

Under the watchful eyes of the monarchs and observers, several generals approached Kang De with somber expressions.

"I won't say anything more; you all understand. This war was a mistake from the start, and Griffin has already paid the price. I believe you are already aware of the threat posed by the Star Palace; if not, I will arrange for you to take additional courses... In short, I think we should reach a consensus on this matter: the inevitability and righteousness of revenge against the Star Palace."

"This will be your work for the next period of time."

The generals looked at each other, but no words were spoken.

Just then, Grand Chancellor Kaliusi said, "The division of the nation was a mistake from the start. Tula Xiaye will end the war, reunite power, and restore the honor of the Council. You are all loyal soldiers of this nation, and I believe..."

He stopped abruptly at this point.

For the generals are watching him, the envoys of the nations are watching him, and the two emperors are watching him.

The interim Speaker's heart sank.

Because Kang De was also watching him.

He paused for a moment. "Kant... Kang De in power?"

Who are you sending it to?

"Um?"

Kaliusi could not understand.

"What I mean is..."

Kang De looked at him, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

"You don't think this war is over, do you?"

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PS1: Damn, I can't finish this chapter, so I'll just post 5,000 words first.