Chapter 664: The Red Emperor in the City in the Clouds, the Real Show Begins

While the red iron dragon returned to the deep void and threw himself into the extreme tempering of the white dwarf, the war machine of the Halden Empire also began to roar.

One by one, the floating cities broke their silence.

These steel colossi perched atop ten thousand peaks had maintained a kind of oppressive stillness over the past days.

This stillness gave other nations a false impression.

It seemed as if this empire was struggling to breathe under the Abyss's pressure, barely able to maintain the status quo, no longer capable of exerting the influence that had once made all of Atlan tremble.

But now, that illusion was shattered.

Halden was still Halden.

Its foundation was so deep that it surpassed all others on the entire Continent of Atlan.

In fact, to some extent, it could be considered the foremost power on Bernardo.

When this long-slumbering giant finally opened its eyes and began to roar, everyone who had underestimated it had to re-evaluate their judgment.

Dense swarms of shuttle airships began to appear in the sky.

These creations combined alchemy and magic. Their silver armor reflected light under the sun, and the engines on their sides spewed deep blue flame trails, weaving an ever-expanding web of light across the sky.

They shuttled frequently between the floating cities, weaving back and forth.

The roar of the engines lasted from sunrise to sunset, never ceasing.

The giant dry docks in the military port area slowly rose as well. Sparks from welding cascaded like waterfalls, burning day and night without rest.

As time passed, more shadows appeared in the sky.

Heavy war fortresses surrounded the floating cities, like planets guarding the sun.

These fortresses were not as massive as the cities themselves, but they were still extremely grand. Each one resembled a small, mobile city. Beneath thick armor and energy shields, they carried heavy weapons capable of injuring legendary warriors.

On the side of each fortress, the military emblem of Halden was inlaid.

A silver eagle with outstretched wings, clutching a star in its claws.

The entire Halden Empire had fully mobilized, constantly devouring steel and energy, constantly spewing out flames and weapons.

This scene made all intelligent life realize one thing.

The days of peace and tranquility might soon be over.

Nations tensed their nerves. The whole of Atlan looked up at the sky.

Even though Halden had not yet issued any announcement to the surface nations, the air already carried something heavy.

It was like the humidity suddenly rising before a rainstorm. The skin hadn't yet touched a raindrop, but the smell of the coming downpour was already in the air.

Then, a message quickly spread across the entire Atlan and towards other continents.

An assault on the Abyss.

The Halden Empire officially issued its announcement, transmitting their intent and determination to every corner through runic broadcasts, magical beacons, alchemical communicators, and other means.

"The red iron dragon is about to launch a full-scale counterattack against the Abyss."

"This battle will be the final, decisive one."

"We vow to sever the Abyss's tentacles reaching into Bernardo and eradicate the scourge once and for all."

"The Empire welcomes any race, any nation, any life willing to stand against the Abyss, to fight side-by-side with Halden."

"Whether you are human, dwarf, elf, orc, giant, great dragon, or halfling, whether you represent a nation, an adventurer group, a religious order, or come alone in your own name."

"There is a place for you in the ranks of those who fight for this planet."

"The countdown to the counterattack has begun. Your courage will be remembered, your sacrifice will be sung, and your name will be carved onto the Gate of Triumph in the City in the Clouds, alongside the Empire's glory."

"......"

Giant landing vessels descended to the surface, accepting those willing to fight.

This made other nations realize even more clearly that Halden was serious and was about to fight to the death with the Abyss.

The vast majority of intelligent life held grudges against Halden.

For its arrogance, its condescension, its hubris.

These grievances were not unfounded.

In the past, the people of Halden truly did not care about the surface races, and they probably still didn't care much now.

But at this moment, for the planet beneath their feet, and to eradicate the claws and fangs of the Abyss, a portion of people still chose to set aside their grudges and prejudices and board Halden's giant vessels.

Then, two years passed in the blink of an eye.

New Calendar 748, Autumn.

The sky burned into a vast and magnificent tapestry at sunset.

The sunset clouds rolled upward from the western horizon, layer upon layer.

Deep red, orange-yellow, purple-gold, dark blue. All warm and cold colors interwove in the sky, as if someone had thrown all the clouds into a furnace, forged them to the extreme, then pulled them out and spread them across the sky to slowly cool.

The edges of the steel outlines were softened by the twilight.

Halden's City in the Clouds floated right within this sunset glow.

At the same time, Garoth also hovered above the sea of clouds. His wings were half-spread, their tips slightly raised, maintaining a stationary posture by riding the high-altitude air currents.

His vertical pupils were half-lidded.

His gaze swept from one end of the horizon to the other, taking in every floating city and the legions continuously deploying on the periphery.

"Halden's foundation is far deeper than Sacred Aola's."

"That's not surprising. This empire has existed for a long time. Although courting disaster by developing the Abyss, their previous accumulations remain. By comparison, Aola is still too young, with a history of only a few hundred years."

Garoth thought silently to himself.

If Aola and Halden were to go to full-scale war, with himself and the Halden immortals not participating, the final victor would likely be the latter.

Even before Sacred Aola was born, this empire had long possessed the power to unify all of Atlan.

It just didn't value the Material Plane much, preferring to seek infinite resources in other planes, and ultimately entangled itself in its own doing.

Just then.

A warm ball of light descended and coalesced into a human form beside the red iron dragon.

Noxian's figure emerged from the light, standing in mid-air with his hands behind his back, looking at the surging tide alongside Garoth.

The red iron dragon didn't shift his gaze and asked, "Is Halden ready?"

Noxian nodded.

"With the Empire pouring in resources without regard for cost, the Platinum Star has awakened."

His voice was clear, with a hint of excitement hidden within. "The magical arrays capable of mass-transporting war machines have been constructed. All legions participating in the war are in a state of readiness."

"Everything is prepared. We only await the command."

The red iron dragon's vertical pupils shifted slightly, turning to look at Noxian.

The light of the sunset fell on the faceplate, tracing hard, cold outlines on the dragon scales.

His expression was calm as usual. He spoke briefly, "I am ready too."

Noxian tilted his head slightly, his voice solemn. "Then, in nine days, the legions will fully deploy. The Platinum Star will enter the Abyss first. Subsequent units will follow according to the predetermined sequence."

Then, he slightly raised his hand, making an inviting gesture.

"Before that, I would like to invite you to the City in the Clouds."

Garoth said, "Oh? An invitation to your central hub?"

There were many floating cities, but there was only one City in the Clouds.

It was Halden's central hub, the Valdo Palace, the core of the entire empire.

Under normal circumstances, no nation would allow a dangerous dragon near its heartland.

The corner of Noxian's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smile.

"Your name is known to everyone on Atlan, man and beast alike."

"But among us in Halden, very few have actually seen you. Before the war begins, letting the soldiers of Halden see for themselves what kind of being the legendary Scarlet Emperor Cangxing is—that's not a bad thing."

He paused, then spoke again.

"On the other hand, you can also enjoy the sights of our city above the clouds. What do you think?"

Garoth moved his gaze from Noxian's face towards the most magnificent floating city in the distance.

The City in the Clouds.

Its silhouette was exceptionally clear in the approaching night.

Every line, every ring of runic bands surrounding the city, displayed Halden's pride to the world. But if this war was lost, it probably wouldn't last much longer either.

"Alright."

"I'll head there immediately."

Garoth said.

Noxian nodded slightly. "Then, see you in the City in the Clouds."

As the words fell, his figure flickered, transforming into a thin golden thread, streaking across the twilight-shrouded sky and disappearing in the direction of the largest floating city.

After Noxian left, Garoth did not follow immediately.

He folded his wings, and his massive form descended from the high altitude, finally landing in his own dragon court.

"What form of clone is best suited for this war?"

The red iron dragon coiled up, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Over the years, besides tempering his own body, he had also developed his skills, not stagnating.

For instance, he could condense Star-Self clones of different mutated forms.

This was crucial.

The Star-Self clone was the most central and important skill a Star Path Dragon could acquire after reaching Legendary.

It could even be said that all subsequent skills on the Star Path—concerning the clone's strength, number, synergy with the main body—were almost entirely about perfecting and strengthening the Star-Self clone.

Garoth rarely used his Star-Self clone against enemies.

But that didn't mean it was weak.

Aside from lacking the core evolutionary traits, other traits like Undying Life were almost no different from the main body.

The clone also possessed extremely exaggerated stats. Under his long-distance, focused control, it could perform quite ferociously, not inferior to any Immortal.

The Star-Self clone could inherit one of his mutation forms.

However, it couldn't mutate after leaving Garoth's vicinity, so the most suitable form had to be decided at the very beginning.

"Rift Form, Ember-Annihilating Form, Super Flash Form."

"Among these three mutation forms, which one can achieve the best effect?"

Garoth pondered in his heart.

Undoubtedly, the Super Flash Overlord State had the highest ceiling.

The Double Radiant State would allow this clone to unleash the most dazzling light and heat at the very end, burning away all dark filth.

"Very well, then I choose…"

The red iron dragon opened his eyes. Dragon Qi throughout his body began to surge like a torrent, condensing into another dragon form.

A broad snout and chest, dark black scales with molten-like light patterns, and a vein of fire extending straight from the throat down to the chest…

The Ember-Annihilating Dark Dragon was shaped inch by inch, standing upright opposite Garoth.

Garoth ultimately decided to use the Ember-Annihilating Form clone, not the Super Flash Form.

The Super Flash Form was too pure.

It had nothing besides brute force. No breath attack. It couldn't even spit out a small flame.

Although its power was truly immense, it wasn't strong enough to punch through the Abyss yet. With only numbers, it would be difficult to exert its effect in a special plane like the Abyss.

Rift Form?

Fast, extremely agile.

In terms of speed and maneuverability alone, no other form could compare. But in battles of the Immortal level, speed alone wasn't enough. And the clone didn't need to focus on self-preservation.

After thinking it over carefully, Garoth still felt the Ember-Annihilating Form was the most suitable.

Its strength in long-range destruction needed no elaboration.

Moreover, even in close combat, because it was not afraid of energy damage, it could grab dragonqi bombs and smash them, unleashing terrifying destructive power even at close range.

"The key point is, I am not the core."

"The protagonist of this war is Halden, is the Platinum Star. The Ember-Annihilating Form can maintain distance, adapt better to changes, and also deliver the most critical blow at the crucial moment."

Garoth thought.

Then, he looked at the dark dragon before him, slightly closed his eyes, and concentrated his mind.

The next instant, the dark dragon's eyes opened inch by inch, revealing pupils that seemed to burn with raging flames. The entire dragon's body radiated an aura of brutality and destruction, sending chills down one's spine.

"I want to burn something, to create magnificent destruction with flames."

The dark dragon shook its head, muttering to itself. Its voice was deeper than the main body's, carrying a hoarse texture.

Because Garoth himself could adapt, his mutation forms only affected his emotions violently in the early stages. Later, this influence slowly faded away.

But the clone was different.

When it was infused with the power of the Ember-Annihilating Form, the thirst for destruction was also instilled within it.

At this moment, the red iron dragon also opened his eyes again.

The two dragons stared at each other, both seeing their own reflection in the other's pupils.

Garoth felt a strange sensation at this moment.

His vision, perception, and thoughts seemed to split in two.

It was like controlling two bodies simultaneously. One self was calm and rational; the other very much wanted to destroy things and pursued destruction as some kind of 'art.'

This was one of the flaws of the Star-Self clone.

The clone didn't possess any independent thought. It was just a shell.

Garoth had to constantly divert his mental energy to keep the clone active.

For example, the clone he left in the deep void as an anchor usually hung there quietly like a space meteorite, completely incapable of thought. It would only be activated when the main body needed to teleport there.

This was also why he didn't condense Star-Self clones during combat.

His spirit would be divided, unable to concentrate fully.

This state could sometimes expose more of his own weaknesses.

At the same time, to maximize the clone's effectiveness, he also needed to be fully focused. The main body should ideally not do anything else, just focus on remote control.

This meant that during the Abyss war, his main body would be in a state similar to dormant standby.

"Sorog, Samantha, Gordon."

"The war is imminent. Don't disturb me recently. I need to concentrate."

Garoth instructed his blood kin through the Mental Link.

"We'll be waiting for your good news."

A reply came back quickly.

The blood kin knew what Garoth was going to do, so they naturally wouldn't interfere.

Then, the red iron dragon glanced at the clone a few times, his gaze sweeping from the dark dragon's head to the tip of its tail. After confirming there were no defects, he spread his wings and slipped back into his lair within the dragon court.

He coiled up and closed his eyes again.

At the same time.

The next second after the main body closed its eyes.

A radiant light lit up in the dark dragon's eye sockets. It raised its head and looked towards the City in the Clouds.

Whoosh!

The dark dragon spread its wings. The wing membranes were taut like two sails covering the sky.

It soared into the sky. Its massive body cut through the clouds, flying towards the giant city hovering above the sea of clouds.

The closer it got to the City in the Clouds, the livelier the surrounding airspace became.

Shuttle airships zipped back and forth across the sky. The engine exhausts traced arcs of light in the night. They were densely packed, orderly, surrounding the City in the Clouds like numerous planets guarding the sun.

Until the dark dragon appeared in their vision.

A brief moment of stillness.

Then, the shuttle airships that should have issued warnings and intercepted, began to evade, pulling away to both sides, clearing a wide passage in the sky.

They had clearly received their orders.

The corner of the dark dragon's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a row of ferocious teeth.

It folded its wings slightly, accelerated, and like a black meteor, streaked into the airspace of the City in the Clouds.

Passing through the outer protective shield, the full panorama of this city finally unfolded before its eyes.

Up close, the City in the Clouds was even more massive than it appeared from afar.

Its base was a giant floating platform fortified by magic. On top of the platform was a super-metropolis housing an untold population.

There were no outer walls. Instead, there were docking ports and dry docks one after another.

The towers between the docks maintained shields that deflected high-altitude winds and also blocked attacks.

Inwardly, buildings rose layer upon layer towards the center, like a terraced mountain. Each level was connected by broad stairs and suspended walkways. Shuttles and pedestrians each had their own paths, moving in perfect order.

At the very top, a building like a platinum giant sword stood majestically.

Halden's royal court.

It emitted a cold, platinum-white luster under the night sky. Every line was impeccably sharp. Its base was a wide platform and a complex of palaces, while its blade pierced straight into the sky.

However, what truly surprised Garoth was not the grandeur of these buildings.

It was the atmosphere inside.

He had expected to see a scene shrouded in dark clouds.

After all, the war was imminent. Any rational being should feel nervous and uneasy.

But when he actually entered the airspace above the City in the Clouds, he saw a completely different picture.

The streets were crowded with people. People strolled leisurely under the night sky. Every corner of the city operated as usual, as if what was coming wasn't a war of life and death.

This was the attitude of the Halden people towards this war.

They didn't believe they would lose.

Their pride wasn't just a slogan on their lips; it was fused into their very bones.

They truly believed the Empire would win, that the banner of Halden would be planted on the corpses of the Abyss lords.

This confidence made Garoth find it interesting.

But it wasn't his concern.

He was here to watch the show, and at the right time, to step in and ensure the outcome of this war aligned with his interests.

Meanwhile, the people noticed this dark dragon.

"Wow, it's the Scarlet Emperor Cangxing of Sacred Aola! He really came!"

A half-grown boy, riding on his father's shoulders, pointed at the sky and shouted.

"So majestic and awe-inspiring! No wonder he's the foremost dragon on Bernardo, a being who rose like a comet and established a Dragon Empire." The father also praised.

"I want to touch his dragon scales. They look very hot, but they are so magnificent and beautiful."

A young girl leaned on the bridge railing, her chin resting on her hands. Her companion burst out laughing, saying her idea was simply crazy.

"..."

Various exclamations erupted from the crowd.

Amazement, praise, awe… but fear was conspicuously absent.

Even when covered by the shadow of the dragon's wings, the citizens of Halden showed no fear.

They already knew.

The Scarlet Emperor Cangxing, the Red Emperor, the founder of Sacred Aola, the most powerful dragon on Atlan, would fight alongside Halden.

This matter had caused quite a stir in Halden.

But no matter their views, the Halden people maintained a certain respect for the Red Emperor.

Sacred Aola posed a threat to Halden's position.

That was an indisputable fact.

However, the people of this empire did not harbor malicious speculations or hostility towards the Red Emperor because of this.

On the contrary, because of his strength and majesty, the Halden people respected him, considering him an opponent worthy of respect.

Halden people appreciated power and respected the strong.

Even if that strong person was their competitor, even if he surpassed them in some respects, they wouldn't harbor resentment over it.

In their view, being challenged by a powerful opponent was more meaningful than being surrounded by a bunch of weaklings.

Now, that powerful opponent choosing to fight alongside them was a pleasant surprise for the Halden people.

The dark dragon heard the crowd's cheers and felt their eager gazes.

He was very satisfied.

So, the dragon slowly circled above the city, freely displaying his massive form.

He even slowed his flight speed, lowered his altitude, fully spreading his wings. The wingspan blotted out the sky, casting a huge shadow stretching hundreds of meters on the ground, letting everyone feel his presence.

Garoth's purpose was also simple.

To give the little crawlers on the ground more time to be infatuated with his magnificent form.

In this state, he enjoyed this feeling.

At the same time, the dragon lowered his gaze.

His burning-like vertical pupils swept across the dense cluster of buildings below.

Tall buildings, layered suspended decks, intricate aerial corridors, shuttles coming and going—these creations came into view, carrying a unique style, completely different from Aola.

Soon, the dark dragon flew over the top of the city.

The building like a platinum giant sword stood before his eyes, as if planted in the very center of the City in the Clouds. No other building could stand beside it. All palaces and high-rise buildings could only crawl at its feet.

Halden's royal court.

The dark dragon slowed down and saw a familiar figure on the wide platform at the hilt's position.

The Dark Star stood there, his hands naturally hanging by his sides.

He wore a dark set of casual clothes with no adornments, still looking like an ordinary man just walking in from the street.

As the dragon approached, the Dark Star looked up. There was no extra expression on his plain, ordinary face.

"The Dawn of our Empire and the Emperor are making the final calibrations on the Platinum Star. Not a single mistake can be allowed."

"They can't spare the time right now."

The Dark Star said, "If you'd like to look around somewhere, please feel free. Just try not to cause too much of a commotion and avoid casualties and destruction. The residents of the City in the Clouds already know you are coming."

His expression was very calm, his tone very natural.

He didn't mention their late-night secret meeting or his rejection at all. It was as if nothing had happened, as if the private conversation had never existed.

The dark dragon lowered its head slightly, its gaze falling on this unremarkable human before it.

It grinned, revealing a few thick fangs.

"The City in the Clouds is indeed grand and magnificent."

"But, Dark Star, have you ever thought about what scene it would make when it falls from the clouds and erupts into a magnificent blaze upon the ground?"

The dragon asked.

The Dark Star's brow twitched slightly, then returned to normal.

He said, "Please don't make such jokes. The City in the Clouds is the successive capital of Halden. Countless people live here."

The dark dragon stared at him for a few seconds, then let out a low laugh.

"Yes, I'm just making a little joke."

"No need to be tense, Dark Star."

"After all, this isn't our first meeting. You know me. I occasionally have this inappropriate sense of humor."

He said very casually, his tone light.

Hearing this, the Dark Star frowned slightly. The shadows around him twisted for a moment.

He found that the Scarlet Emperor Cangxing before him, clad in dark dragon scales, was completely different from the one he had met on the lake surface before.

This one was more flamboyant, more savage, his words carrying an undisguised desire for destruction, with no regard for the current situation.

A different personality for the clone?

Or was this the true other side he had suppressed in his heart?

The Dark Star didn't think too much about it. He just nodded slightly.

"In that case, make yourself at home."

"The City in the Clouds does not set up defenses against allies."

After he finished speaking, his figure began to fade, merging into the night.

The dark dragon watched him leave and snorted two streams of hot air from its nostrils.

The Dark Star's reaction amused it.

This time, it fully spread its wings.

The wingspan blotted out the sky, casting a massive shadow on the ground.

It flew low, letting the shadow cover every corner of the city in turn. Wherever it passed, people looked up and exclaimed. And it occasionally responded.

This dragon was clearly visiting for the first time, yet it acted with shocking presumption, as if it were completely adapted to this place.

Its posture was more like it was inspecting its own territory.

At the same time, Garoth was also thinking that if, after this war, the Halden immortals all died in the Abyss, perhaps he could really take this city for himself.

Of course, it was just a thought.

But various possibilities were indeed being calculated in his mind.

Time flowed over the drifting winds and clouds, passing by in the blink of an eye.

The dawn of the ninth day arrived as scheduled.

On the eastern horizon, the night had not yet fully faded. Then, the first ray of light burst from the horizon. It cut through the clouds, cut through the lingering night, dyeing the sky a piercing silver-gold.

The dark dragon hovered in the high altitude.

His vertical pupils were half-lidded, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding airspace.

As far as the eye could see, changes were taking place in the vast airspace between the floating cities.

Some larger, specially constructed shuttles converged from all directions, gathering in the airspace before the City in the Clouds.

Their flight paths weren't random. One after another, the distance between them was precise to a hair.

The dark dragon narrowed its eyes slightly.

It saw that after these shuttles completed their assembly, they began to disperse.

The dispersal action was just as orderly as the assembly. All shuttles moved away from the center at a constant speed, very slowly, almost inch by inch.

One could see.

Along the way, they left behind enormous runes, several meters in diameter, floating in mid-air, as if branded into the air itself, unwilling to drift or fade.

The dark dragon's gaze followed the trails of those shuttles.

It saw that a giant circle was being pulled out, inch by inch.

As time passed, the runes spread out layer by layer. The edges of the circle gradually took shape, connected to each other by thick arcs of light, forming a complete and sealed circular boundary.

The space inside the boundary was an unfathomable pitch black.

A planar transmission channel.

A giant gate leading to another plane.

"It's much more stable than the rifts I tear open."

"No wonder they chose to develop the Abyss in the first place. Halden must have deep expertise in planar travel."

"If Aola plans to launch a Grand Expedition in the future, we'll at least need technology to construct large-scale, stable channels. We can't rely solely on me tearing space open by hand. The efficiency is too low."

Garoth narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking.

Looking around, there were many such channels.

And around each channel, war fortresses were already waiting for the command.

In addition, countless shuttle ships were arrayed by formation, their formations like layers of white waves rolling on the sea, reflecting glimmering light in the dawn.

Everything was in place.

The entire war machine of the Halden Empire waited silently in the dawn.

Before long, a figure slowly walked out from the royal court building shaped like a platinum giant sword, stepping onto the widest parade platform at the tip of the hilt.

Fafnir.

The King of Halden.

He wore a set of platinum-white light armor, with no cape or crown.

His white hair was neatly combed. There were more wrinkles on his face than in his youth. But his back was ramrod straight. His gaze was brighter than ever, without a trace of the murkiness of old age.

He stood at the edge of the platform, facing the fully arrayed army.

"Citizens of Halden! Soldiers of the Abyss Expedition!"

He spoke. His voice spread to every corner through the runic broadcast network spanning all floating cities. His image was projected into the sky of every floating city, allowing everyone to see his face.

"At this very moment, on Atlan, on other continents, countless eyes are watching us. With accusation, with mockery, with schadenfreude."

"They say, 'Look, Halden has finally paid the price for its arrogance.'"

"They are not wrong."

"We opened the rift to the Abyss. We brought disaster to Bernardo. We caused countless people to lose their homes and lives because of us."

"But this is absolutely not the end of Halden!"

His voice suddenly rose several octaves. The low self-reflection of a moment ago instantly transformed into a passionate declaration.

"The mistakes we made, we will correct ourselves! The calamity we brought, we will end ourselves! Halden has never been a coward that hides in a corner and wallows in self-pity after making a mistake!"

"We are warriors! We are victors! We are Halden people who never bow our heads in the face of danger!"

He raised his right hand, pointing towards the bottomless, giant planar transmission channel.

"Today, we fight back!"

"Not for those who accuse us. Not for those waiting to see us fail. It is for the comrades who fell during the Abyss invasion. It is so that the children and grandchildren of Halden will never have to live in the shadow of fear again."

"We owe them a victory."

"We owe it to the martyrs who died under the Abyss's fangs. We owe it to the comrades who lost their sanity to the corruption. We owe it to the warriors who chose to put aside their grudges and fight alongside us."

"We owe a victory to all of them."

Having said this, he took a deep breath, then raised his right fist high.

"Today, we give them the victory they have long awaited!"

"With the sword in our hands! With the fire in our hearts!"

"This battle will be the final, decisive one."

"Halden... must... win!"

A brief silence, then, a wave of sound like a mountain roar and a tsunami swept forward.

"Victory! Victory!"

"Halden must win!"

"Must win! Must win! Must win!"

This empire perched high in the clouds might have had its many problems. But their sense of national honor and pride was just as strong as Sacred Aola's, and in some ways, even stronger.

The people firmly believed that, no matter what they faced, the Empire would always achieve final victory.

This belief was, in itself, a fatal arrogance.

But at this moment, under the illumination of this dawn, on this floating city, it was the most fervent fuel, driving the entire war machine to full operation.

The dark dragon hovered above the formation, taking in this entire scene.

The corner of its mouth lifted slightly.

The real show was about to begin.