Ashen Dragon

That is the Thrace Kingdom! As one of the successors of the Holy Fadlan, it holds a special place in the hearts of many orderly and good creatures.

Cassius sneered, explaining, "That's just what they want you to see, like those so-called Holy Guard, seemingly glamorous, but once you peel off that layer of hypocrisy, their filthy true nature is revealed."

Olivia stared at the magic image, seriously saying, "The Empire should expose their true colors to the entire world, only then..."

"Do you really think those sanctimonious guys can't see it?" Cassius let out a cold laugh.

"If that's the case, why..." Olivia looked up at the Red Dragon, puzzled.

"They are just pretending to be fools, in their eyes, the life and death of the Thrace people are insignificant, not as important as their own interests.

They would rather exhaust everything to oppose the Ashen Empire, which has resisted the invasion of The Abyss, than to deal with the Thrace Kingdom colluding with Hell and harming lives."

Finally, the Red Dragon leaned down, saying word by word, "Haven't you seen clearly? Ultimately, where is there any ideal and belief, it's just a tangle of interests."

"..."

Olivia stood silently, with a complex expression.

Ramp applauded repeatedly, praising, "The master speaks well, revealing the essence in one breath, only under the great blueprint of the Empire can the world truly have peace and development."

Cassius turned his head, instructing the Ogre not far away, "Ramp, continue to issue tasks, increase rewards, summon the Starfallen from all over the Empire to go to Thrace."

"Yes, master."

Ramp agreed happily.

"Angel Divine Descendants, Holy Sect Army, ancient weapons... It seems the Thrace Kingdom has indeed tried every means.

Ultimately, the outcome of this war will be decided by that City of Sunrise—Augustus."

The Red Dragon raised its head, looking towards the south, the flame flickering within its pale golden eyes, and the Solid Fortress beneath it let out a muffled rumble.

...

Thrace Kingdom, Saint Michael City.

This city is named after the archangel, hence known as the "Angel City," with a long history and numerous ancient relics of the Sun God Sect.

Saint Michael's geographical location is also extremely important; it's a military fortress in eastern Thrace, a pass in the Radiant Mountains, and the necessary way to Augustus.

At this moment, the city has been surrounded by the army of the Ashen Empire, the sky filled with massive clusters of airships, dense like dark clouds of bipedal wyverns and fire drakes.

On the ground are small mountains of steam tanks and armored vehicles, along with numerous high, heavy artillery, forming a mottled wave to the north of Saint Michael City with nearly a hundred thousand Imperial Army.

Outside Saint Michael City, both sky and land are occupied by the Empire's army, like a coming tsunami, and if ordinary mortals encounter such forces, they would have surrendered long ago.

But the city has endured days of assaults by the Empire and still stands firm.

The Empire's herald waved the battle flag, shouting loudly, "All units, fire——"

"Boom!"

"Boom! Boom!"

Roars shook the sky, as the muzzles of over a thousand heavy cannons simultaneously burst with blinding fire.

Meanwhile, the main guns of the hundreds of tanks also aimed at the walls of Saint Michael, launching armor-piercing bullets one after another.

The air was filled with the high-pitched whistling of tearing, and the arcs of shells interwoven high in the sky form a burning net intending to utterly dismantle Saint Michael City.

But a hemispherical light shield enveloped the entire city, and even armor-piercing bullets couldn't penetrate it, only leaving ripples of energy on it—this is why Saint Michael could withstand the assault for days.

In front of the white wall covered with angel sculptures stands a towering majestic barrier, the defensive machine left by the Holy Fadlan—Blazing Sun Barrier.

It is said that this machine, forged from ancient Sun God Sect-casted shards, once evaporated an entire Vampire army in the ancient Blood Moon War.

The defenders are operators who have passed the "Light Trial" of the Sun Priest—they are permanently marked with the Sun Wheel Mark on their pupils, having even gained temporary light elementalization ability.

Its main body consists of an arching giant shield of gold and white crystal stone, on the surface is carved with a relief of the Sun God driving a chariot across the sky, with a suspended "Sun Core Pupil" embedded centrally inside the shield, beneath which is a mithril Sun Holy Vase.

On both sides of the shield extend twelve foldable arc light prisms, forming a fan-shaped light wing when opened, like the feathers of an angel.

Its twelve light prisms adjust angles freely through a suspended array, forming the Light Prism Cooperative Array, which refracts core energy into different forms:

Focusing becomes a beam penetrating walls, scattering releases a rain of fire covering the battlefield, reflecting produces a city-encompassing light membrane.

At this moment, the Blazing Sun Barrier is in reflection mode, as the twelve light prisms aim outward, projecting a 300-meter diameter hemispherical light membrane over the city walls, capable of blocking both spell and physical damage simultaneously.

Besides, undead and demon creatures ignite upon contact, whereas ordinary enemies suffer continuous blind burning, dehydration, and unbearable pain.

"For Thrace!"

"Long live Holy Fadlan! Saint Michael City will never fall!!"

Inside the Blazing Sun Barrier, several Angel Divine Descendants flap their wings, floating mid-air, raising their flame longswords high, constantly pouring Sun God Power within their bodies into the Sun Core Pupil.

Ashes Empire's officer roared, "Attack! Crush their shell! For the Empire!"

"Boom——"

A fierce tremor shook as the ground trembled violently, tracks cutting deep scars into the earth as they rolled over it.

Wyvern minions are coming! Quick, prepare for the Sunflame Judgment."

"Buzz——"

The sound of trumpets echoed, six Sun Priests were casting divine power-laden gold powder into the central Sun Holy Vase.

The liquid inside the urn turned into a blazing white light after passing through several refracted mirrors, converging a hundred meters into the sky into a flare capable of melting gold and cracking stone.

"For the Sun!"

Under the cover of artillery fire and dragon bullets, a Dragon Vein Goblin pushed the lever hard, driving the steam tank, charging forward.

The Imperial Army on the ground coordinated with the steam tank in a combined offensive.

Seeing this, the stationed Paladins suddenly took off their helmets and crouched down—this was not a surrender but to avoid being blinded by the sudden burst of strong light.

"Praise the Sun! Praise the Holy Fadlan! Saint Michael City will never fall!!"

Praise the Sun! Praise the Holy Fadlan! Saint Michael City will never fall!!