Ashen Dragon

"Enemy attack—"

"By Amanata, it's the Ashen Empire! They're almost here!"

The officers and soldiers on the city wall were suddenly thrown into chaos, rushing to and fro, heading to various defense mechanisms, returning to their posts.

"Quick! We can't wait any longer, activate the protection system of the entire August City!"

The courier pushed the door open and entered: "Lord Dayev, you need to go over now, the third defense zone is still short-handed!"

"Alright." Dayev clenched the emblem in his hand, nodded heavily, and then followed the city defense soldiers to his assigned defense zone.

Standing atop the city tower, the city defense officer waved the military flag and shouted loudly: "Hear my command! Activate the Alchemy Matrix!"

"Boom—"

The soldiers below the city strained to turn the capstans, activating the alchemy matrix within the runestone bastion, causing dozens of hexagonal force field shields with a diameter of a hundred meters to appear outside the city walls.

Meanwhile, Wilhelmis, standing atop the Sun Tower, watched the overwhelming, vast imperial army approaching from afar with a furious face, raised the Final Judgement Spear in his hand, pointing directly at the sky.

"My subjects, war has arrived! They're coming! Let these Evil Dragon Minions witness the greatness of the Lord of Eternal Radiance—"

His indifferent voice echoed above the city walls, as the song of the Holy Law Chanting Group grew ever grander and more resounding.

Under the sound that stirred the Magic Web, the Angel Divine Descendants also raised their longswords, shouting in unison, as beams of light shot skyward.

"For Thrace!"

"For the Lord of Eternal Radiance!"

In an instant, the top of the Eternal Sun God Tower released countless rays of sunlight, creating a light curtain several kilometers in diameter over August City, enveloping the entire city within.

The light curtain was like a dome, filled with ornate patterns, and accented with thousands of miniature suns, each emitting a dazzling light.

"A miracle! This, this is a miracle!"

"Such strength..."

"Long live His Majesty Wilhelm! Those imperial people can never breach August City!"

People looked towards the light-covered sky, collectively gazing at the sacred and unmatched king, who bore six wings on his back,

In several kilometers away, accompanied by the whistles and roar of engines, the eastern and western fronts of the Empire had already united, and the expeditionary army from various planes poured through the portals.

Together, they formed a massive torrent, almost surrounding the entire August City.

"Roar—"

A deep roar resounded through the sky, and suddenly the space atop the hill split open, and a mutated dragon beast, standing nearly ten meters tall like a small mountain, walked out with heavy steps.

On the towering back of the giant beast was a Dragon Vein Goblin with wings on his back, clad in luxurious and heavy armor, tall and burly—none other than Imperial Army Marshal Dolores.

"It's Marshal Dolores!"

"He has personally arrived at the front lines!"

From the moment of Dolores' appearance, thousands of eyes gathered on him, and the soldiers were in an uproar.

Upon seeing Dolores arrive, Derol, Arturo, and the officers of the expeditionary army hurriedly placed their hands on their chests, bowed their heads, and performed a standard imperial salute, unanimously saying: "For the Empire."

Dolores nodded slightly, placing his fist on his chest in response, "For the Empire."

The Goblin Marshal stood from the towering back of the dragon beast, lowered his head, scanned the numerous officers and soldiers with sharp eyes, then single-handedly lifted the Bloodfire Battle Axe, his voice reached everyone's ears through the loudspeaker.

"Soldiers! The shadow of the Giant Dragon's Wings has covered the walls of August! I can smell the fear in the marrow of the cowardly, just as they trembled, kneeling before the ruins of the old regime!"

"Victory! Victory!"

The soldiers raised their arms and shouted, their iron armor clinking.

Dolores swung the battle axe horizontally, shouting furiously: "And today, I ask you one question—why are we here?"

Accompanying his voice, the Green-Footed Dragon-Serpent Horn roared nonstop, like thunder bursting, the banners in the air fluttered.

"For conquest, to seize their lands, to let the Empire continue expanding!"

"For revenge, to make those who dared to insult the Empire and His Majesty pay the price! To let the Thrace People witness our might!"

"To realize the grand blueprint! To repay His Majesty Cassius's benevolence!"

The Empire's officers and soldiers vied to make a memorable impression before the Marshal, the atmosphere was particularly enthusiastic.

Dolores nodded in satisfaction, seemingly pleased with their answers.

Then his eyes widened in anger, issuing a powerful and forceful roar towards the crowd: "You spoke well because we are the offspring of iron and fire! The subjects of the Great Red Dragon! The conquerors who leveled the North!

While the southern people wrapped their cowardice in silk, our children wielded hammers by the forge; when August's nobles piled lies with gold coins, our sword blades had slashed through the throats of thirteen fortresses!"

Dolores drew the Bloodfire Battle Axe, pointing towards the distant Eternal Sun God Tower: Look! That hypocritical tower emits its final afterglow, but it will soon tremble before the Empire's great army!"

The heavy armor infantry struck their shields with swords, thundering like thunder, and distant artillery roared skyward with deafening sound.

"They say August will never fall? Ha!" The Dragon Vein Goblin sneered in disdain with a grin, "Ten years ago, the Grand Duke of the North boast similar defiance—until His Majesty Cassius scorched them with Dragonflame!