Military Parade

March 27, 1790, Third Era, on the Istaria City, Plain Military Exercise Field.

"The military parade is about to begin—"

"Please stay in the designated audience area. Unauthorized entry into the military exercise area is strictly prohibited. Otherwise, you will be responsible for the consequences."

The shouts of Tiefling Guard came from the loudspeaker, and the Imperial Guard cleared out the area within a ten-mile radius, leaving only designated areas on both sides for the audience to stand in.

Tiefling, armed with rifles, stood guard along the edge of the field, forming two neat rows to prevent anyone from entering.

Even before the parade began, the venue was already bustling with people discussing the impending war and eagerly anticipating the parade.

"What a huge venue!"

Will His Majesty really come?

People from all over the empire and even the world crowded on both sides of the venue, eagerly awaiting the emperor's appearance.

This grand military parade, concerning the war between empire and evil, and extensively publicized by the authorities, attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators from all over the world.

However, it pales in comparison to the coronation ceremony that caused such a stir in Fei An Suo back then.

At the end of the military training facility is a temporary platform, or even a small hill, created using magic – that is the "throne" prepared for the Red Dragon.

Suddenly, a cacophony of roars and the howling of wind arose in the distance.

"Look, it's the Wyvern Legion!"

"Keosius above"

"This is spectacular!"

Some people looked up at the sky and saw hundreds and thousands of Wyvern crowding the horizon, flapping their wings haphazardly, like thick dark clouds that covered half the sky.

At the very front was an exceptionally large Wyvern, which stretched its neck and roared hoarsely.

"Aww—"

This Wyvern is a full fifteen meters long from head to tail. If it weren't for its unique bipedal feature, Dragon Scholar would probably think it was a real Red Dragon.

—That was Smaug, the leader of the Wyvern Legion, a relative of the Embers of the Burned Emperor, and Smaug.

In the crowded stands on both sides of the venue, Adelovel looked up, adjusted his glasses, and gazed solemnly at the Wyvern in the sky.

"This Bloodline Concentration is already close to that of True Dragon."

This Wyvern possesses strength comparable to, or even surpassing, that of Young Silver Dragon Silver Dragon.

"Boom! Boom!"

"Waaah—"

Suddenly, the ground trembled, making a dull thud, like the beating of war drums, followed by the familiar roar of a steam whistle.

That is...

"It's the Terrestrial Dragon Beast Legion!"

"No, it wasn't just the Terrestrial Dragon Beast, there were other things too! That was the sound of a steam horn!"

Thick, billowing steam rose from the distant horizon, and as the ground trembled, a colossal figure emerged from it.

First came a dozen or so Terrestrial Dragon Beast, each the size of a small mountain, clad in heavy iron armor, carrying Hobgoblin tamers on their backs, emitting deep roars.

"I know it!"

"That dragon beast is called Black Rock! It once trampled an entire Northern Lands Knight Order to death!"

These are all powerful dragon beasts carefully bred on Storm Highlands Ranch. They are battle-hardened and each one is equivalent to a small fortress.

However, this is only the beginning.

Twelve terrifying mechanical monsters, rumbling and billowing steam, burst forth from the steam cloud at a speed disproportionate to their enormous size.

The bottom of these "monsters" is not Limbs, but high-speed rotating tracks.

Instead of a head, what lay before him was heavy armor engraved with the imperial insignia, gleaming rams, and a thick, spine-chilling cannon muzzle.

"This, this is..."

"It's Steam Tank!"

"By Keosius, this thing wasn't just on paper? The Imperial Technology Department has actually built it!"

Imperial Citizen subscribed to the Military newspaper exclaimed in surprise as they gazed at the mechanical behemoths.

In fact, these Steam Tank were not created by players.

Earl Gilmore Sparrow of the Imperial Technology Department drew upon the knowledge of the Starfallers to personally design and manufacture these steel behemoths, equipped with rams and Steam Cannon.

In honor of the old dragon Garr, who died in the Northern Lands War, this Steam Tank was named the "Old Pal Class".

Imperial military officials generally believed that these mechanical behemoths were more impactful and cost-effective than the slow-moving, food-consuming Terrestrial Dragon Beast.

This was the first time that Steam Tank had made a grand appearance in front of the vast majority of the imperial people, giving them a great shock.

"O gods!"

"This, this is too outrageous!"

"By Keosius, even demons would be crushed by these iron lumps!"

Wyvern filled the sky, giant beasts dominated the land, gunfire and artillery roared, and more troops were arriving from afar.

"Bahamut above."

Adelovel, standing in the crowd, watched all this unfold, his expression growing increasingly serious.

In terms of sheer power, the army of the Embers of the Burned Empire is no less formidable than that of the Holy Fadlan of the past.

He finally understood why Jennycis valued this country so much, even to the point of panic, and also why the imperial masses were so excited.

With such an army, why worry about defeat?

Beside him Jennycis silently gazed up at the sky, her shoulders trembling slightly, her eyes revealing tension, as if she were waiting for something.

She couldn't help but cover her chest.

The military parade had just begun when the empire's army displayed its overwhelming power. And what about the emperor?

"Heave-ho, heave-ho"

With heavy breathing, the Ogre Artillery dragged their heavy cannons into the Military Exercise Field, then adjusted them and pointed the muzzles at the sky.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The roar of artillery fire filled the air.

One after another, the shells shot straight into the sky, then exploded high in the air, forming two neat rows of fiery clouds that turned half the sky orange-red.

Those were imperial Firework Shell, capable of creating extremely dazzling flames.

The fiery clouds surged up like a tide, gradually forming a path composed of flames and smoke.

"Roar--"

A deafening roar echoed from afar, drawing everyone's attention to the enormous figure that appeared on the horizon.

The Red Dragon hung high in the sky, its pale golden pupils gazing down upon the earth.

With the slow flapping of its broad wings, a hurricane carrying flowing flames surged on both sides of its body, and all the Fire Elemental in the world seemed to be restless and leaping.

—The supreme ruler of the empire, Embers of the Burned Emperor Keosius, finally appeared at this military parade!

"Keosius above"

Praise be to Keosius!

"He... he really came!"

The imperial citizens in the stands looked up at the sky, gazing at that figure, their faces filled with piety and fervor.

They clasped their hands together, closed their eyes, and chanted incantations as if witnessing a divine descent.

"By Bahamut, what is this?"

Adelovel, mingling in the crowd, couldn't help but swallow hard; he never expected such a massive Red Dragon.

As a mature Silver Dragon, he was not even half the size of the emperor, and in comparison, he looked like a fledgling dragon.

No wonder he was able to defeat his highly respected uncle; such a dragon has already transcended the boundaries of ordinary dragons.

"Hmm"

Meanwhile, Jennycis was still clutching her chest with both hands, seemingly not yet recovered from the shock.

She looked up, her heart pounding, her blue-gray eyes reflecting the firelight and—the majestic figure of the dragon.