Him and their stars.

Chapter 2168 They didn't have any ulterior motives.

Since even Duke Géribean, the legitimate Grand Master, had nothing to say, what else could anyone else say?

Then Countess Giafil continued, "However, having fought to this extent, I believe you all have already seen it. General Sobek, conventional firepower is insufficient to destroy this monster in a short time. Its core is protected by layers of protection and is constantly drawing power from the Void Realm! More importantly, our firepower is stimulating it to continue expanding the Void Realm rift. Now, the Star Gazing Pavilion has analyzed that the Void Realm contamination area is still expanding, already including the space cities in the outer ring D1 to H7 areas. And at the current rate of growth, it will expand to the middle ring within 2 hours."

Everyone was horrified. The cities on the outer ring were relatively not densely populated or large in scale, but even so, more than 100 million people were already threatened by the virtual realm.

If we expand to Central, there are massive space cities with tens of millions of inhabitants.

"Fighting the Void Realm is the domain of psionicists, while protecting the people is the duty of the Knights of the Astral Realm. We need psionicists to penetrate its weak points and sabotage it from within or at key points!"

“But, what you just did…” Sobek wanted to say something.

Giafil interrupted, "We have too few troops. The attack just now was just a probe, and it has been proven that we only 12 people entered the yellow zone. This tactic can succeed. I need to wait for the main force of the Knights to arrive. Also, the more experts the better."

A silence fell over the bridge of the Yutu.

All eyes were on Duke Géribian, who had been resting with his eyes closed.

She may be the least noticeable Grand Master of the Knights in centuries, but she is indeed the legitimate Grand Master.

A long time passed, or perhaps just a moment later—in any case, everyone is now quite insensitive to the passage of time—Duke Geribean slowly opened his eyes, and there was a hint of grievance and pity in his golden eyes.

"You've taken away the Knights' command, and now you're spouting nice words?" the Duke said. "You've clearly been plotting this for far too long, haven't you? The Dawn Angel and the Barbarossa had barely entered the Central Sector when you inexplicably appeared at the Holy Wing Fortress headquarters in orbit around Rui Star. What about the fleet? Aren't you going to care?"

The Holy Wing Fortress is a military space station located in orbit around the Imperial homeworld, Ryx. It is not large, less than one-tenth the size of Skyward Fortress, and its dock can only accommodate battlecruisers and aircraft carriers at most, without any large main guns. However, this unremarkable fortress is very important, as it is the headquarters of the Knights of the Stars.

"Ostanna and the others are all there with the fleet. They'll arrive at the right position when it's time to strike," Giafil said with a warm and gentle smile, her tone as if she were comforting Ang.

"What do you mean by the correct position?" the Duke asked. "Is it heading towards the Celestial Realm, or blocking King Werrent's fleet?"

Is this the kind of thing someone like me should listen to? You royals can fight all you want behind the scenes, but can you please not show it off in front of us? Sobek was getting a little uneasy.

The only saving grace was that a soundproofing field was deployed on the bridge. Only the senior officers in the command console could hear it.

Then, he noticed that Captain Pegsey and Miss Sellu both had expressions of sudden realization. Hermisa, the Star Official, had even stood behind the Duke, subtly tapping the Duke's neck and asking him a question with her eyes.

So, what exactly did you all understand?

On screen, Giafil's smile remained full of tolerance and healing, as she answered irrelevantly, "As a Knight Commander, it is only natural for me to have my own spatial beacon in the fortress headquarters."

Despite having just experienced a bitter defeat, she still appeared very patient. Although she was fifteen years younger than her opponent, she seemed more like a maternal and compassionate older sister, making the higher-ranking commander appear more like an impotent and furious delinquent.

Considering her temperament and her consistent role as a pillar of common sense and conscience within the team, Miss Giafil is indeed very suitable to play the role of the eloquent and principled conscience of the empire.

Giafil said, “The important thing is, Your Highness, I told everyone that the knights’ top priority is always to protect the people. They all agreed with me and chose to go out.”

Duke Gérène was silent for a moment, then suddenly gave a bitter laugh, and his whole body slumped down: "Look, Princess Brunhilde has arranged everything so meticulously, how could she possibly need me?"

"You are the Grand Commander, Your Highness."

Duke Gai fell silent for a moment, and when she took action again, all the hesitation and difficulty on her face had vanished.

She stepped forward, bypassing Sobek, and asked the captain directly, "Where are the dummy soldiers who were said to have landed on this ship?"

"Please rest assured, our ship is relatively lucky, with only 4, which have now been eliminated." Although Captain Pegsey planned to regard the Duke as an enemy, he had not yet broken off relations and still maintained basic respect on the surface.

"As for the rest of the warships, most of them are also under control. The only one that is struggling is the battlecruiser HMS White Griffin," Miss Serlu, who is in charge of the chief of staff, added.

Overall, everything is still under control for now. However, if the cracks in the virtual realm continue to widen and the level of contamination deepens, things could get complicated.

There was no time to hesitate. Duke Gérard seemed to understand this, nodding slightly, then slowly raising his chin, his face gradually revealing arrogance and imposing manner, followed by an undeniable determination.

She suddenly exuded an aura of dominance.

If we ignore the previous nonsense, everyone might think that such an aura that can reach hundreds of meters away is an innate characteristic of the imperial dragon kings.

“Count Lamut is absolutely right. Such a blasphemous evil dares to show itself in the capital and deserves to be purified by the Empire’s sharpest holy sword! I will personally lead the attack to open up a path to victory for our fleet and for our allies!”

She proclaimed loudly, "Give the order to all the Star Knights of the entire Sky Realm to prepare for departure! And... if I fall in battle, Count Lamut will take command. You will be the next Grand Master!"

"Understood! I will begin preparing the tactics for the second assault!" Giafil saluted and then closed the communication.

Amidst the stunned silence of the crowd, Hermisa Star muttered under her breath, "Can such a position really be appointed by imperial decree?"

The Duke pretended not to hear and continued, "Notify the Imperial Sword to release my dragon! Also, Jaeger... you are a renowned general of our time, can I trust you?"

I've already said I'm no longer some famous general. Although Jaeger Sobyk felt a bit tired, he had nothing to say, so he stood at attention and said, "What are your orders, Your Excellency?"

"For the sake of our years as colleagues, you must help your sister. You must prove to the world, especially to His Highness Brunhilde, that I, too, can love the people. I am also giving everything to protect them!"

"This... I will do my best."

Sobek was, after all, a kind-hearted man. Ignoring Miss Sellu's subtle shaking of her head, she made a promise.

He had truly forgotten that just two hours earlier, the Duke had been preparing to attack him.

"You are a noble man." Duke Gai was deeply moved, tears welling in his eyes, and he gripped Sobek's hands tightly. "Please remain in command. If I am not mistaken, more Void Realm monsters will land, but as long as you all hold firm under your wise leadership, a glorious future awaits us."
"That's a rather exaggerated claim," Sobek thought. "But this so-called 'glorious future' probably refers to more than just victory in this battle."
"Major General Serlu Seredin, please remain in command," the Duke instructed again. The Viscountess readily complied. She was only a third-ringed Knight, and although she held the title of Astral Knight, it was merely a position with an extra identity to collect stipends; she was, after all, not an expert in dragon-riding charges.

“Then, may I accompany you on your journey.” Hermisa Star saw that the official had volunteered: “Count Lamut said that he needs a skilled warrior. Please prepare an extra dragon on the Yijian. Do you have any spare Long’an on board?”

“There are dragons up there.” The Duke hesitated. “But you are…”

"A star-gazer? I am not an ordinary star-gazer. Shouldn't Your Highness be aware of this?"

I truly understand. A Star Seer who can wield a light spear so skillfully might also be a potential dragon tamer! Duke Gerebean gritted his teeth while revealing a flawless, business-like smile, and grasped Miss Hermisa's hands: "Then, my back is in your hands."

They had nearly dismantled the bridge two hours earlier, but that was all in the past. Faced with a common enemy and for the greater good, they had reconciled.

This is truly a stroke of luck for the empire!

Suddenly remembering something, Miss Hoshimi asked, "Also, what exactly are these orders? I'm genuinely interested. If we all survive this battle, will we be able to find out?"

Duke Gerebian stared in disbelief, probably never expecting her to still be so fixated on this issue. After hesitating for a while, he said helplessly, "Hermisa, the Therider family is a prestigious imperial family with a three-thousand-year history! They are loyal subjects of the empire."

“The Therider family is just a branch! The truly loyal and prestigious family that has existed for three thousand years is the main family, but it has already died out.”

The two saints exchanged meaningless lines, marching with firm steps, their postures upright as if they were flagpoles carrying a battle flag.

Sobek watched their departing figures, and the image of the Star Knights—who throughout history had sacrificed their lives for the weak and become models of imperial propaganda—overlapped with their upright figures, making them appear even more majestic.

Jaeger Sobek wiped away the tears that had appeared in the corners of his eyes without him noticing, and finally gave a firm command: "Understood! Full fleet, continue the fire suppression! Create an opportunity for His Excellency the Duke and the knights! Also, ask the Earthlings over there if they have any other cooperative plans?"

However, just as the two saints left the Imperial Rabbit and before Commander So's orders had been fully carried out, he received another report from the captain.

"The virtual reality reaction has occurred on the ship again."

"Oh..." Since everything was as expected, Sobek's emotions remained generally stable.

"A spatial rift has appeared in compartment 3 of area A, and another monster from the Void Realm is about to land. This time it's... how come it's getting uglier each time?" Captain Pei looked at the screen and was immediately disgusted by the monster with twelve twisted heads, seven arms, and an oily green mist emanating from its body.

Sobek, however, was not concerned with appearance.

"A3? Isn't that right next to the bridge?"

Miss Sellu did not answer, but took action. She closed her mech's helmet, picked up her warhammer, and walked towards the bridge gate, surrounded by a group of bridge security guards.

I don't know when, but she had already put on the emblem machine.

Of course, Jaeger Sobek was already wearing armor. Even he couldn't really let the girl and the "mortal soldiers" stand at the front.

"You take command, and tell them it's my order," Sobek said to the captain.

All we need to do now is maintain the firing formation; there are no complicated requirements. Captain Pegsey, an elite officer from the Royal Fleet Academy, is more than capable of handling it!
Or perhaps he would have done better without me.

"Charge! Drive away these demons! Protect our Jade Rabbit!" Sobek raised his light spear, revealing a blue energy blade. It was, in fact, the first time he had ever displayed his "Spear of Peace."

"Prepare to charge!" Riding on the back of an ancient Flame Wyvern, Giafil Lamut gave the order as he watched Duke Galibean and Hermisa Star Official approaching from afar.

This time, she was backed by 123 Star Knights riding Star Dragons, just like the fearless warriors in ancient mythology who fought against evil gods.

So, where were these warriors, who were resting and recuperating and adorned with complete heraldic emblems and dragons, hiding before?

If it were Yu Lian, he would definitely ask the same question.

"Giri's next charge is about to begin! Good luck to them." Brunhilde in Dragon's Palace encouraged her comrades in the distance with her eyes.

"So, where exactly were they hiding before?" Amida Berencaster, in Dragon's Palace, asked this question on behalf of Yu Lian.

“The fish said the emperor invited him. This was obviously prepared for him,” Fei Fei sneered.

The illusory monster that had just appeared in Dragon's Palace has been eliminated.

As it turns out, in the presence of these three women whose combined rings exceed twenty, all external evil beings below the Void Realm Lord level are equal and cannot cause any trouble.

Princess Rainbow Rose even stepped in to repair the spatial rift at the scene, which temporarily contained the source of pollution within Dragon Palace.

Brunhilde proudly introduced, with a tone that was not ashamed but rather proud: "All the shipyards of space cities of level two or above in the capital can accommodate large cargo ships, so of course they can also dock dragon ships. As for dragons, they are actually all well-trained warriors, and for a short time they can hide in the park and disguise themselves as ornamental animals."

“Very well, His Majesty the Emperor has certainly planned this carefully. That’s why Yu Lian said he was invited.” Ya Ni laughed, “But he never imagined that someone would be hiding behind the scenes and plotting against him.”

Feifei crossed her arms and sneered, "I see now that whether they are dragons or humans, the Empire is actually better at hiding their true colors."

"Earthlings' classical military strategy also emphasizes the importance of being as unpredictable as the shadows before acting swiftly like thunder. While moving in the heavens, one must also conceal oneself in the earth," Brunhilde concluded eloquently.

"Speaking of which, how long has it been since Lady Grey disappeared?" Yani decided to get back to the main topic.

Feifei glanced at Xia Li in the bushes: "It's been twenty minutes. We can only trust her now. Let's wait patiently. Pudding, you've waited so many years, a little longer won't make a difference."

"Yes! I've waited patiently for so many years... Wait, please don't portray me as a scheming, treacherous son waiting to murder his lord, okay?"