"They really brought that thing into play…"
Hill Dwarf King Enderoth muttered in disbelief. He still remembered the last time the Heaven's Emperor warship appeared — back then, it had hovered menacingly over the dwarven sanctum without firing a shot, and the dwarves surrendered without resistance.
"Hahahaha! He's finished! Adventurers are too weak to control the full power of Celestial Fortress, while the Emperor-class warship, even with inferior battle potential, can crush them with ease!"
A dry, hunched old man in black wrappings let out a shrill laugh. He hailed from Rockforce, a western vassal kingdom of the Empire. Though frail in appearance, he was a Demi-God Supreme and the sovereign of his land. His soldiers, known as Sandblades, could manipulate endless sand to reshape terrain and crush their enemies with geomagic.
"The Empress is truly brilliant. With her aid, the next emperor will restore the Empire's might."
The Frost Succubus Queen spoke coldly. Her body shimmered with crystalline frost, and her troops — all pale-skinned, white-haired women — exuded a dangerous, eerie allure.
"Orgod, your time is up! That warship is a royal divine relic, one that once subdued the realms!" Imperial Marshal Hugh Jackman sneered as he led the noble regiments forward.
Then, Orson's calm voice rang out.
"Tell me… are you all afraid of that warship?"
The monarchs stiffened.
Orson smiled faintly. "Marshal Hugh said this ship was used to subjugate all who dared oppose the Empire. But weren't those foes… your ancestors?"
The crowd froze. Every gaze instinctively shifted to the Heaven's Emperor warship and its eight massive dragonhead cannons.
That ship had shattered not only walls — but entire civilizations.
These monarchs all came from once-proud realms, kingdoms that had ruled their domains in splendor — until the Light Dragon Empire came, broke their thrones, and left them either annexed or shackled as vassals.
Tens of thousands had perished under those very cannons.
Hugh Jackman's face darkened. Sensing the hesitation, he bellowed, "Don't listen to that outsider's poison! Don't forget—your children are still in his hands! He seeks to divide us!"
Orson raised a brow and sighed. "I'm just stating facts. To raise your blades against the very man who destroyed your ancestors… feels like a betrayal, don't you think?"
He downed his wine in one swig, his eyes glinting.
"What if the Emperor's cannons turn on you again?"
He turned toward the Water Elves and Flame Elves. "Your races are natural enemies. Now that the Spirit King is old and feeble, who among you dares expose their back to the other?"
His voice wasn't loud — but it hit like a hammer to the soul.
The two elven factions shifted uncomfortably, eyes narrowing. Since the accidental death of Ku'Jalai, the Flame Elves had no clear leader.
Their troops quickly split apart, no longer marching in sync.
"Your Majesty… something's off."
A dwarven Saint Lord whispered to Enderoth. The king glanced back toward the imperial rear line — where the Holy Light Church's main force had yet to move.
Even his dull mind realized something was wrong.
Worse, if Orson's words were true, they could be flanked from three sides: the Church, the Empire, and the adventurers.
"Damn… Orson's mind runs deep. He actually made these monarchs hesitate."
"He's steady even now. The man's unshakable."
"Manipulating the cracks in the enemy alliance — what a move. This isn't just strength, this is pure political warfare!"
"But even if it works, they're still facing that damn warship. It's not enough…"
Viewers flooded the livestream with awe and frustration.
On screen, Triple Crown winner Orson stood calm and collected, steering the battlefield with words alone.
He was ice when the world burned.
"You are all children of the Light. Warriors chosen by the goddess herself!"
"The Supreme Light shall witness your glory!"
Jenonis's voice thundered across the battlefield, infused with divine charm. The monarchs' hesitation vanished. They bowed in reverence, trembling with fanatical devotion.
"…It didn't work," Raven muttered grimly.
In the end, their faith in Celestial Kingdom outweighed ancient grudges.
"There was never a chance of scaring them off. But I've achieved what I needed," Orson said with a smirk.
Raven blinked. "Which is?"
"They're no longer one."
Orson's voice was calm as ever.
Infinite Dimensions had a unique design: no single race could reach its full potential alone.
For example — hill dwarf cavalry specialized in heavy charges, but lacked ranged support. When paired with wood elves' mounted archers, the combination not only covered that flaw, but also triggered special buffs like Thorn Halo, which gave the dwarves passive retaliation damage.
As a seasoned archeologist, Orson knew every racial strength, every internal grudge, every shared pain.
If the enemy formed a true united front, the fight would be hopeless.
But now? They'd fractured.
Dust rose again. The imperial vanguard closed in. On the city walls, everyone tensed. Dragons and warbeasts snarled lowly.
Orson stood atop the wall, eyes sharp.
"Welcome to your grave," he whispered. "Your bones will be the stones that build the monument of our vengeance."
"For the Empire! For the Light!"
Jenonis flared his wings and raised his sword, mounted on a unicorn with snow-white hooves. His holy aura lit the sky.
"Burn for glory! Purge the heretics!"
Aetrexa charged behind him, roaring in fury.
The Empire roared to life. Armor clanked. Swords screamed. War drums thundered.
The army surged forward — straight into Orson's Deadly Whirlpool.
He stood like a conductor, smiling slightly, fingertips dancing in the air.
Forever City became a grotesque opera. BGM blared. Princess captives twisted like puppets under his spell.
An eerie, surreal beauty masked a deadly trap.
"Imperial warships — raze the city! Retrieve Bairinador's head!"
Jenonis's voice rang like judgment.
Hundreds of ships ripped through the sky. Wind elementals howled.
Thousands of magical circuits lit up as holy cannons primed.
Even obsidian walls couldn't survive this barrage.
This was Celestial Kingdom's will.
It could not be resisted.
"Damn it… he did everything he could. But this…"
"There's no way. The firepower's insane! Even if Orgod survives, the entire frontline's toast!"
In the skies, devastating energy beams converged, ready to reduce everything below to ash.
Orson raised a hand. His grin widened, eyes gleaming with madness.
"Heaven's Emperor. Celestial Fortress. Fire everything. Blow them to hell."