Chapter 0: I Have a Dream
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Outside Cold Wind City.
Old Drill Wind was trembling on the ground, drenched in cold sweat, afraid to lift his head.
In this moment, all his pride and smugness, which had soared ever since two Great Demons had submitted, evaporated like morning dew—gone without a trace.
He wasn’t afraid, of course not.
But let’s say, hypothetically, if the Great King were simply holding a standard surrender ceremony and housing all the surrendering troops in Cold Wind City,
Then even if those two Great Demons hiding here were temporarily inactive, they were still a ticking time bomb for Cold Wind City.
It was entirely possible that one day, when the city was on the brink of life or d*ath, they’d stab him in the back with a kn*fe.
Originating from this, Old Drill Wind was the true instigator of disaster!
If he hadn’t been so eager to show off, recklessly bringing all the surrendered troops back to Cold Wind City, none of this fate-altering chaos would have ensued.
If it hadn’t been for the Great King noticing the signs in time and using near miraculous means to force the two Cave Masters hidden among the surrendering troops to confess, the whole city might have been left in the dark until it was too late.
For the first time, Old Drill Wind felt fear.
Before this, he had respected Cold Moon Great King,
But that was merely the instinct of the Monster Race—weaklings obeying the strong was as natural as breathing. He had never thought much of it.
But now, he was filled with a bone-deep terror and submission to the Cold Moon Great King.
The Great King’s unparalleled power had reached a level where even the hellish ghoul would willingly be her servant. She could have gleaned who had ulterior motives without making a fuss,
Yet she chose to release an irresistible pressure in front of everyone.
Her purpose wasn’t just to show a strong stance to the surrendered troops; it was clearly a warning to the embassy he led, making it abundantly clear who truly held the power in Cold Wind City.
Her will was something that none could defy.
Even though she had been in seclusion for a long time, she was still keenly aware of everything happening outside.
Old Drill Wind’s petty schemes were as laughable as a child’s play in the eyes of the Great King.
At this moment, he felt utterly small, like a speck of dust. The only place he could find his worth was in Cold Wind City; outside of it, he was nothing.
Old Drill Wind had an epiphany.
He buried any aspirations of power he once had deep down,
Now, he felt like a devout disciple beneath the Great King’s throne, completely stamped with her will.
And it wasn’t just Old Drill Wind; inside and outside Cold Wind City, including the newly joined Evil Merman troops, all the Monster Race that had previously doubted or wavered were transformed after experiencing the hellish ghoul’s influence, radiating a newfound reverence and admiration for the Cold Moon Great King.
In that instant, Cold Wind City was,
Apart from those two Great Demons who were banging their heads against the ground, lamenting until they fainted, everyone else was deathly quiet, kneeling in place, eagerly awaiting the Great King’s command.
Sure, the Great King hadn’t spoken a word since her entrance, yet her unspoken aura had rendered everyone motionless,
No one dared to stir.
Even if the Great King commanded them to kneel until the end of time, they wouldn’t dare utter a word of complaint.
“Get up.”
As soon as she spoke, the dark clouds that loomed over Cold Wind City dispersed completely, and brilliant sunlight poured down,
Standing atop the city wall, the Great King seemed to shine with a golden glow, her flowing dress and inky hair reflecting the captivating golden light.
The heavy weight pressing down on everyone’s hearts shattered into pieces.
Only then did people feel their legs regain strength.
With the Great King’s command, all of Cold Wind City stood up in unison, their movements so synchronized even the most elite army would be envious.
The eyes of the crowd were filled with hope and anticipation for the Great King.
Cold Moon, Old Drill Wind, and Little Drill Wind were somewhat better off; they had been with the Great King long enough and often heard her teachings.
But the other Monsters who had just joined Cold Wind City knew that the Great King was an extraordinary top-tier demon, eager to serve her, yet hearing her voice directly felt like a distant luxury.
However, this time, they had such an opportunity.
They even envied the Evil Merman troops, who had just submitted and got to witness the Great King’s miraculous presence and receive her direct command upon arriving in Cold Wind City.
Such good fortune was something they had been waiting earnestly for ages.
Cold Moon also stood, her heart racing as she looked towards the Great King.
The Great King’s wisdom and unparalleled perspective were especially awe-inspiring for the Great Demons led by Cold Moon.
This was their golden opportunity to learn from the Great King’s wisdom and grasp her profound thoughts.
Lin Nan cast her gaze over the crowd.
To be honest, at this point, it seemed she couldn’t just leave without saying something.
She couldn’t just unleash a wave of pressure and then exit without a word.
If she did, her reputation as the Cold Moon Great King might only be remembered for tyranny and capriciousness.
That would definitely affect her subsequent image-making. These guys were probably holding back their Cold Values, just waiting for her to speak before launching their collective grand performance.
But what to say?
Lin Nan took a deep breath, and suddenly a thought struck her.
“All monsters are born equal, endowed with the inalienable rights given to us by the heavens, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
“But right now, how many among the Monster Race can truly control their own destiny in this Chaos Forest?”
“Those ruthless Great Demons have never regarded Little Demons as living beings, readily using violence against them and even taking pleasure in it. Our dignity is utterly trampled, our lives teeter on the precipice, and our futures appear dim.”
“Must it be, that the Monster Race is destined to either enslave others or be enslaved by others, forever and ever, round and round?”
“Everyone, although we shall still face many difficulties and setbacks in the future, I still have a dream deep within my heart.
I dream that one day, all Little Demons will rise up and truly realize that all are born equal.”
I dream that one day, in White Feather City, the common Little Demons will be able to sit alongside the sons of former city lords, sharing brotherly bonds.
I dream that one day, even this Chaos Forest, where justice is hidden and oppression is rampant, will transform into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I dream that one day, the children of the Monster Race will live in a world assessed not by their strength but by their character.
I have a dream.
I dream that one day, the valleys will rise, the mountains will lower, the rocky roads will become smooth, the beautiful rays will illuminate the world.”
(Adapted from the classic piece “I Have a Dream.”)
As Lin Nan reached this part, her eyes suddenly felt moist.
The crowd felt as if their hearts were thrown into boiling magma, instantly bubbling and bursting.
In that moment, the Monsters could not hold back their tears, utterly overwhelmed.
This verbal shock was like a nuclear explosion, painting them a picture of a beautiful new era.
Could… could all this really come true?
P.S.: Daily ticket request, la la la!
