Chapter 519
Heaven, Earth, New Era
Chapter 519 Heaven, Earth, New Era
Kingdom of Matna, conference room.
A massive magical projection floated above the round table, displaying the battle of the Lion Plateau.
The images are transmitted back in real time by magical satellites in space with extremely high precision. Energy ripples and spatial distortions are accurately captured, and even the residual magical energy that has dissipated on the battlefield can be analyzed.
The high-ranking goblins sitting around the round table looked completely different from ordinary goblins.
They were well-proportioned, dressed in well-tailored clothing, and the fabrics, though not flashy, were of excellent quality.
What was most striking about them were their eyes, which lacked the cunning and impatience common among lower-class goblins, possessing only a calm and cautious gleam. The faces of several of them were as composed as the plates of an alchemical machine, their emotions revealing not a trace.
They watched the projection in silence.
In the scene, the Red Emperor's majestic body, as imposing as a mountain, falls down repeatedly, only to rise again each time.
His aura fluctuated wildly: sometimes as faint as a candle in the wind, sometimes rising suddenly like an awakening volcano, and sometimes erupting with a near-out-of-control rage...
Finally, he stepped over the remains of the Grand Lord Lorthorn and stood beneath the sky stained with blood and fire.
As time passed, the projection eventually switched to live feed instead of a replay.
The battle on the Ryan Plateau had just ended, and the Red Emperor was clearly not fully recovered from the fierce fighting. Although his dragon might was strong, signs of disorder were beginning to appear.
"He was resurrected three times... but in essence, it was only once."
A goblin's eyes gleamed with a data-like light as he analyzed in a calm tone: "Both his first and third resurrections relied on the Wild Path skill 'Fearless Fury,' and the bloodshot color that appeared in his pupils is proof of that."
He paused, then pulled up a few enlarged frames.
"In addition, the reason why Lorthorn's anti-resurrection spell failed is most likely related to his own characteristics or talents."
"This spell has an extremely high priority and cannot be exempted by conventional means."
"I second that."
Another goblin chimed in, his voice equally flat: "The Red Emperor showed no signs of losing his mind or going completely berserk throughout, which confirms that he has entered the Wild Path and is of a high rank. What is currently unclear is how he maintains his sanity in such a state of fearless rage."
In essence, being fearless in the face of death is not an insurmountable problem.
Not to mention that it is usually suppressed by resurrection spells, the side effect of completely losing its rationality and being unable to distinguish friend from foe is a fatal weakness in high-level battlefields.
However, this skill seemed to undergo an unknown mutation in the Red Emperor.
If the goblins hadn't possessed unparalleled information processing technology and high-precision magical satellites, they would have found it hard to believe that this dragon emperor could be compatible with the wild path and retain a terrifying rationality even in his rage.
To the side of the round table, a goblin in a dark gray uniform spoke in a low voice:
"Gun Fortress has completed final calibration, locked onto the coordinates of the Lane Plateau, target: the Red Emperor."
"Do you authorize firing?"
Gun Fortress, a strategic masterpiece built by the Kingdom of Matna over a century, is powered by a composite magic array, has spatial channels, and can achieve ultra-long-range strikes, making it extremely powerful.
At the outset of the fierce battle between Lorthorn and the Ora Legion on the highlands, Matner had already secretly completed his deployment.
The launch array was always aimed at the Lane Plateau.
According to the original plan, if Lorthorn and Aura were both severely injured, or if the winner was also on the verge of collapse, Matna would launch a swift and decisive attack to eliminate the most threatening target and thus seize control of the plains.
However, the current situation is still unclear.
Whether to fire or not became a decision that required careful consideration.
"The Red Emperor is not in good condition. He also paid a heavy price in this battle. This may be his only chance."
A goblin leaned forward and said, "I suggest authorizing the opening of fire."
“If we wait until he fully recovers, the entire Romanian plain will be shrouded in the shadow of the dragon's wings, and our room for maneuver will be greatly reduced.”
A rebuttal immediately followed, the tone still steady, but with a hint of caution.
"No, he hasn't reached his limit."
"The power of the Wild Dragon increases with the accumulation of rage. Although the Red Emperor can suppress his rage, observation data shows that his rage value continues to rise as the battle progresses, but he forcibly restrains it by unknown means."
"Once anger overflows and reason collapses, it will turn into a real disaster."
"Furthermore, the principle behind his resurrection mechanism is unclear, and there are too many hidden variables. To fight against him without sufficient information would be risky beyond acceptable limits."
The goblins began to argue.
More accurately, it should be a discussion.
The goblins remained calm, neither making a fuss nor getting agitated. They simply analyzed various possible scenarios based on existing data, with extremely high efficiency.
Just seven minutes later.
After several rounds of rapid and efficient discussions, opinions gradually converged, leading to a consensus.
"The Red Emperor's past records show that he did not have a tendency to kill indiscriminately, and his ruling style was pragmatic and orderly."
"The current laws of the Dragon Kingdom treat all human races equally, without discrimination based on racial origin. Even goblin people enjoy the same legal status within Aura."
"Compared to Lortherne's implicit human-first policy, the plains order led by Aura is more advantageous to our country."
"In conclusion, we should terminate the hostilities plan and shift towards contact and cooperation."
Goblins belong to the category of humanoid races, but there is also a hierarchy of contempt among humanoid races.
For example, humans think that orcs are crude and barbaric.
For example, elves believe that humans are complex and fickle.
For example, dwarves can never tell the gender of elves.
However, almost all mainstream races look down on goblins.
In the eyes of most humanoid beings, goblins are on par with kobolds and gnolls, and even though Matna's alchemy skills are unparalleled on the plains, no one is willing to acknowledge their wisdom.
When people talk about Matner, there is always a subtle hint of disdain.
It was as if the goblins' achievements were some kind of usurpation that should not exist.
The worldview of dragons is much simpler.
From the perspective of dragons, all humanoid races are not very different.
They neither favored humans nor deliberately belittled goblins. This egalitarian indifference, ironically, became an acceptable neutral environment for Matna, who had long suffered discrimination.
Matner was once an ally of Lortherne.
But now, the goblins consider Aura a better choice, and as for Lorthorn... he's a thing of the past.
After the resolution was passed, the goblins began to work on a plan for contact.
Some suggested sending a mission, others suggested direct high-level dialogue, and still others advocated first congratulating the Red Emperor on his victory and then continuing the discussions, but the basic direction was already determined.
Almost at the same time.
The council chamber deep within the White Rock Palace of the Kingdom of Reipos.
A similar magical projection floated above the long table, but the image source was different, and the clarity was slightly inferior to the goblin's satellite imagery.
Those seated around included the king, some high-ranking officials, and legends.
Speculation about the resurrection of the Red Emperor has come to an end here, but the meeting continues.
"Besides his resurrection, the Red Emperor has another, even more important trait."
The young king, seated in the main seat, spoke.
He has gray eyes and a young face, yet he has already developed the composure of a king.
Adorned in magnificent robes and a crown, he was a warrior who had just entered the legendary realm. Although his rank was not high, he was still a true legend.
Darius Croan, King of Reipos VII.
His father, the former king, had limited talent and failed to reach the legendary realm.
The old king was exhausted by the previous defeat in the war and died soon after.
When Darius ascended to the throne, he felt no glory, only a heavy burden on his shoulders.
Reboss was eager to rise, but every attempt to climb up only resulted in setbacks and failures.
Today, the new king has found peace of mind.
He no longer harbors unrealistic ambitions, nor is he obsessed with reviving the glory of his ancestors.
For him, preserving the foundation of the nation was the most important task; if he could restore the kingdom to some extent, that would be even better, but he would not force it if that was not possible.
However, just before Lorthene began building its new federation and went to war with Aura, a diplomat from the Holden Empire approached Darius. During their conversation, Darius subtly hinted that the empire could resume its support if Reboss were willing to participate in the Plains Conquest again.
Darius neither agreed nor explicitly refused, only saying that he needed time to consider it.
And this moment is the crucial juncture that will determine the future of Rebos.
The king raised his hand and tapped lightly, and the projection in front of him split in two, displaying two images side by side.
First paragraph: For a moment, the figure of Sodrian, the Crown of Time, blurred, and the Red Emperor's body suddenly stiffened, then silently disintegrated into more than ten pieces.
The process was so fast that it exceeded the limits of what the naked eye could perceive.
No matter how much slower it is, it still looks like it was completed in an instant.
Second paragraph: Sodrian flashes again, and the Red Emperor freezes as well.
But this time, as the Red Emperor's head fell, Sodrien was also engulfed by the flames that appeared out of nowhere, turning into dust in an instant.
Both videos begin and end in an instant, with the process in between remaining a mystery.
A legendary figure clad in silver armor, with sharp eyes, pondered and said:
"The first time time stopped, the Red Emperor was almost powerless to resist. The second time, Sodrian did the same thing. Although he successfully beheaded the Red Emperor, he was also countered and died instantly."
"And then, considering the Red Emperor's unique body structure compared to other dragons..."
"I think he possesses some kind of evolutionary talent, which is perhaps his most terrifying aspect."
It can revive more than once, adapt rapidly in battle, render the same methods ineffective a second time, and even break rare time-based skills... Who would want to be enemies with such a monster?
King Darius remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Immediately after the meeting, send a congratulatory message of the highest level to Aura in the name of the royal family. The wording should be sincere. At the same time, form a high-level delegation, prepare generous gifts, and set off for Aura."
"Your Majesty, isn't this a bit too... hasty? Perhaps it will damage the kingdom's reputation."
One minister hesitated.
"face?"
The king shook his head, his expression serious: "Times have changed. If Rebos wants to gain a foothold in the new wave, he must rely on his friendship with Aura. This is not humble, but a clear-headed approach."
He paused for a moment, then stood up and placed his hands on the edge of the table.
"We can't afford to lose, everyone."
"The previous wars have already severely weakened the kingdom. This choice will determine the future of Rebos. I do not want the new king to face an even more decadent country when he ascends the throne."
The meeting ended half an hour later.
The Kingdom of Reipos immediately issued an official proclamation to the entire territory, slightly later than Theo, congratulating Aura on his great victory at the Lyon Highlands. At the same time, the king severed all communication channels with the envoy of Holden and destroyed related items.
Matna, and the dwarven kingdom of Cambrook, followed suit, congratulating Aura on her victory.
Not long after, in the Holden Empire, in the Floating City.
Glenn, the official in charge of affairs in the Romanian plains, put down the shattered communication crystal in his hand, his brow furrowed slightly.
The King of Reipos made a more decisive decision than he had anticipated, not only explicitly refusing but also completely severing all channels of communication with him.
"Oh."
Glenn gave a soft snort, his face showing no emotion, and simply swept the fragments into the waste bin beside the table.
He picked up the tablet-like communication device used to contact Imperial headquarters, and quickly swiped his fingers across it, causing runes to light up one by one.
Then, he began writing the report.
The title is: "Emergency Assessment Report on Potential Risk Sources in the Romanian Plains".
He meticulously recorded the major events since the Red Emperor's emergence, with a particular focus on the Battle of Lane Plateau. He then characterized it as a "potential source of risk that could affect the long-term interests of the Reich," and summarized the Red Emperor's four main characteristics.
1. Uncontrollable resurrection ability (the principle is unclear, but the resistance is extremely high);
II. Adaptive evolution in actual combat (suspected talent, threat level increases with combat duration);
III. Multiple pathways and unknown talents (the combat and wild pathways have been confirmed, and there may be hidden ones).
Fourth, possessing ruling wisdom and strategic patience (not simply being powerful, but having the ability to establish and govern a country).
Finally, he concluded that there is a high probability that this goal will break through the Grand Rank bottleneck and reach the Destiny level; if his talent has no major limitations and continues to be effective, his growth potential is immeasurable and there is a possibility of achieving immortality.
Given that the Kingdom of Reipos has completely sided with Aura, the power of Lorthen has collapsed, and the other alien kingdoms are no longer of great use.
Glenn suggested that the Empire adopt two countermeasures.
First, attempt non-hostile contact to win over and observe the situation; second, if it is ultimately determined that the Red Emperor poses a significant threat to the interests of the empire, then eliminate him as soon as possible at all costs.
The report is now complete and uploaded.
Glenn put down the tablet, leaned back in his high-backed chair, and rubbed his temples.
He personally attached great importance to the existence of the Red Emperor and repeatedly emphasized the potential risks in his reports.
But he was also well aware that the attention of the entire empire was currently focused almost entirely on the Abyss development project.
Power shifts in regions like the Romanian plains rarely attract the genuine attention of the central government.
If it weren't for his duty, he probably wouldn't have cared.
Glenn could almost foresee the fate of this report.
It might be archived and viewed by some high-ranking officials, which might spark a few discussions, but it will eventually be shelved and no one will care.
It could not possibly be delivered to the decision-makers at the heart of the empire.
Those important figures were only concerned with the progress of the Abyss's development, strategic competition with other empires, and how to maintain Holden's hegemonic position.
As for him personally expending enormous resources and using valuable connections to push forward this report...
To be honest, he didn't have that idea.
In the vast system of the Holden Empire, officials like him, who were responsible for specific regions, held a high position, but were far from being considered core members.
Generous salary, residence in the floating city, servants and alchemy rations.
All of this is based on properly fulfilling one's responsibilities.
As for the additional costs?
He has fulfilled his responsibilities and submitted a detailed report.
He couldn't and didn't want to concern himself with other matters. Besides, with the power of the empire, even if the sky were to fall, those truly important figures would bear the consequences; it wasn't his place to worry about it.
After finishing his official business, Glenn poured himself a warm cup of citrus tea and slowly walked to the window.
Outside the window, the sea of clouds surged, and as far as the eye could see, there was only boundless pure white.
The array of runes at the bottom of the floating city flickers and flows, maintaining the city's levitation in the sky.
In the center of the giant city, a huge dark purple rhomboid crystal hangs high in the sky, providing the floating city with almost unlimited energy, allowing them to suspend in the sky.
This is Holden.
Dwelling in the heavens, looking down upon all living beings, it is like a god looking down upon ants.
They have the resources and the mindset to do so.
Glenn sipped his tea, his gaze sweeping across the clouds as if he could see the Romanian plains, where everything happening was nothing more than a tiny ripple on the ground to the inhabitants of the suspended city.
"...The Red Emperor, huh?"
He muttered to himself, then shook his head and finished the rest of his tea.
That concludes today's work.
Glenn put down his teacup, preparing to enjoy dinner and then relax.
He has another report to write tomorrow, a recommendation on tax adjustments for a certain vassal state, which is related to his annual performance review and is even more important to him.
As for the new ruler of the Romanian plains?
Let others worry about it.
Outside the window, the floating city slowly turned, moving towards the direction of the setting sun.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, bathing the entire city in warm hues, while on the land beneath the clouds, a new order was being born amidst blood and fire.
But here, in the heavens, everything remains as peaceful as ever.
(End of this chapter)