Chapter 1091 — Display

"The Grand Wall—that barrier spearheaded by the Silver Empire centuries ago and jointly built by the nations of the continent—has stood for seven hundred years. Many of us may have forgotten its existence as the years have passed, and forgotten the enormous price we paid to build it. Many of us live in safe zones far from the wasteland; were it not for attending this conference, these people might never come here in their entire lives. But the wasteland will not disappear because we forget it. The things that threaten the survival of all mortals are part of this world's natural order; they will always exist, waiting for the moment we let down our guard.

"And what is worse, the things in this world that threaten our survival are far more than a single Gondor Wasteland—far more even than another magic tide."

As Gao Yang's words fell, the holographic projections surrounding the outer ring of the stone circle shifted. They no longer showed only scenes from the wasteland—the people saw river gunboats fighting on the Gorgon River, legions of crystal clusters rampaging along the riverbanks, cities and villages reduced to ruins amid plains and river valleys, and the armies of Typhon and Cecil locked in confrontation amid wind and snow... These images were displayed in the most striking, most unsparing manner, many of them enough to fill the viewers with genuine fear. And the reason for their impact was simple: they were all real footage.

These were "materials" Gao Yang had been steadily accumulating since long ago—precious first-hand records from a series of catastrophic events. He had deliberately left these images unprocessed, because he knew that the delegates who had come to attend this conference... needed a bit of sensory "stimulation."

Finally, all the shifting holographic projections came to rest on the same scene.

It was the most shocking aerial footage from the Winter Fort front: thick smoke billowing over a plain reduced to scorched earth, flames and lava spreading unchecked, layer upon layer of the destroyed human defense line burning, twisted steel wreckage and human remains piled and tangled together, and hideous, bloodthirsty giants climbing the high mountains at the end of the battlefield—beneath the giants' feet, blood and fire everywhere.

This was the moment before the Winterhowl entered the battlefield, the instant the God of War broke free of control. Without question, its impact surpassed all the images before it. Even though the God of War had already fallen and the divine influence that accompanied it no longer existed, that scene—mingled with mad divinity, humanity, death, and the struggle to survive—still left many feeling suffocated.

Wenna felt her heart pounding. The gray elf chieftain felt immense pressure before these images, and at the same time she heard a low sound from beside her. Turning toward it, she saw that Camilla had risen to her feet at some point. The valiant orc queen was staring fixedly at the scenes in the holographic projections, her slit pupils full of vigilance, her back arched, and her tail raised high behind her like an iron rod.

It was the orc's instinct for vigilance, stirring the battle factor in her blood.

But fortunately, the images did not last—as Gao Song's voice rang out once more, the holographic projections around the Ring of Oathstones dimmed and vanished one after another, and the original desolate wilderness reappeared before the delegates' eyes. Many let out an audible sigh of relief.

Camilla slowly sat back down, a rumbling sound in her throat, then muttered under her breath: "This is the first time I've realized... this bare stretch of wilderness actually looks rather lovely."

"Are you all right?" Wenna could not help asking with concern. "You were completely bristling just now."

"I'm fine..."

Gao Yang was quite satisfied with the effect these images had produced.

Thanks to the structure of the circular meeting ground, he could see everyone's reactions. Many of the delegates were truly worthy of their status—even having witnessed those scenes of disaster at such close range and in such a striking manner, many of them still reacted with composure, and even in their composure they were seriously pondering something. Yet even the most composed could not help their eyes growing grave after seeing such things—and that was enough.

Gao Yang was not here to intimidate anyone, nor to create an atmosphere of fear. He only hoped these people could face the facts and focus their attention together.

"This is what I wanted everyone to see—I apologize that they are not pleasant sights, nor pretty propaganda for the future of the alliance. They are simply bloody facts," Gao Yang said slowly. "And this is also the greatest premise behind my convening of this conference.

"Before we discuss interests, we have gathered here first and foremost to survive in this dangerous world, to prevent similar disasters from destroying our civilization, to make this world safer. Many of us may not have realized before today just how close we are to the wasteland, how close we are to devastating war and uncontrolled supernatural threats. But after today, we must face this fact:

"Our world is not safe.

"So in order to survive in this unsafe world, so that our children and grandchildren may also survive in this world for ages to come—is it now necessary for us to establish a league of mutual watch and aid? To jointly withstand natural disasters, to jointly weather crises, and at the same time to reduce disputes among nations and reduce the internal friction among mortals—should we establish such an organization? Even if not everything will develop in the most ideal direction, should we not still strive toward that ideal?"

A slight stir ran through the delegates in the meeting ground. Some exchanged glances; many thought the time for voting had come, while some were pondering whether to raise a few "questions" beforehand in order to secure as many opportunities to speak as possible. But Gao Song's voice rang out immediately after: "Everyone, please wait a moment—we have not yet reached the voting stage. Before we formally finalize the resolution to establish the alliance, we first invite Miss Metzen Ponia, ambassador from Talrond, to speak—she has brought us some news from beyond the borders of our present civilization."

A dragon was going to speak?

The delegates perked up in an instant, and a great many curious gazes immediately converged beneath that banner of red ground and golden pattern. Under those gazes, Metzen rose with a solemn expression, calmly swept her eyes across the hall, and then said in a low, grave voice: "We killed our own gods—all of the gods."

This explosive statement instantly made the delegates on site even more alert than before...