Southern outskirts of the Imperial Capital — Headquarters of the 8th Imperial Guard Legion.
The once-bandit stronghold had transformed beyond recognition. Now it stood as a massive military encampment spanning nearly seventy thousand square meters—roughly twenty standard football fields in size.
The closer one moved toward the center, the taller the structures became. From the outer perimeter inward, countless soldiers clad in dark steel armor bustled about in orderly motion.
At the very heart of the fortress stood a monumental citadel—fifty meters tall and covering several thousand square meters. Multiple wide platforms jutted from its upper tiers, each armed with heavy artillery and massive ballistae ready for battle. Guards were stationed every few steps—five paces to a sentry, ten to a post—its defenses impenetrable.
Facing north toward the Capital, a grand stone gate of palace-like craftsmanship bore the banner of the 8th Imperial Guard Legion—a majestic golden-and-black double-headed eagle standard.
Even the surrounding landscape had changed drastically. Months of groundwater seepage had filled the explosion crater, turning it into a shimmering lake. To expand her army's territory, Selene had personally overseen a month-long "mountain-moving and land-filling" project.
Now hovering in the sky, Selene gazed down at the massive bridge stretching for miles across the lake. Holding the engineering schematics drawn by the Imperial Construction Bureau, she couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
I swear—never again will I get carried away like that! If I do, I'll call myself a pufferfish! she thought bitterly.
Blowing up a crater in front of her own base—wasn't that the definition of shooting oneself in the foot? And considering that, in her mind, the future Capital belonged to her anyway, damaging it felt even more foolish.
She exhaled deeply, surveying the fruits of months of labor with satisfaction. The main imperial highway connecting the Capital to the southern provinces was finally functional again—and more importantly, it now linked directly to the legion's fortress. She had even commissioned the construction of an elevated causeway straight to the Imperial Palace.
At present, Selene's 8th Legion served as the primary military force responsible for southern Capital security.
All that remained was to expand the road's capacity and reinforce its foundations.
Recalling her first days taking charge of the repair project, Selene couldn't help but smile wryly. Those early weeks had been exhausting.
The epicenter of the explosion lay roughly fifty to sixty kilometers from the Capital's outer walls. While the shockwave's range spanned tens of kilometers, most of the peripheral damage had been minor—some roads and structures needed only simple repairs.
The real challenge lay in the massive crater—tens of meters deep and utterly devoid of any surviving structures. Apart from the small hilltop area she had shielded during the blast, everything else had been obliterated.
With no foundation left to build upon and groundwater flooding the crater floor, large-scale construction was nearly impossible. The reconstruction of the southern highway faced indefinite delay.
So, Selene rolled up her sleeves and did it herself.
Each day she either broke mountains apart or carried them away.
First, she shattered nearby mountain ranges into fragments. Then, using her powers, she transported the debris to the fractured highway, piling the stones into a makeshift bridge across the newly formed lake.
Next, she used her spatial and Honkai-based abilities to fuse and solidify the unstable foundation.
And thus, under the astonished eyes of countless onlookers, Selene spent months flying back and forth between the Capital and the mountains.
Scarlet light filled the sky, followed by thunderous roars echoing through the valleys. Before long, spectators could see Selene soaring through the heavens, carrying entire mountain peaks hundreds or even thousands of times her own size—literally "moving mountains and filling seas."
The sight became a spectacle unto itself, drawing curious citizens from all over the Capital who came to watch the legendary display.
At the construction site, a foreman stepped out of his tent and gazed up at the distant sky where Selene floated high above. He couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "What incredible power..."
Even after witnessing her unmatched strength day after day, the sight never failed to fill him with awe.
Meanwhile, on the ground below, the progress was remarkable. On the wide new road, hundreds of massive, tamed Danger Beasts worked tirelessly—flattening and compacting the surface under the supervision of engineers and soldiers alike.
The pounding of heavy hammers, the clatter of stone and brick, the rhythmic march of patrolling guards, and the thick smoke rising from temporary kilns—all blended together into a vivid tableau of relentless construction.
Thanks to Selene's ongoing reinforcement and expansion efforts, the great southern highway was finally taking shape. The central avenue, now over a hundred meters wide, was once again fully functional and capable of sustaining heavy transport.
From a distance, the foreman took one last glance toward the horizon, then checked the sundial beside him before shouting:
"Pick up the pace, everyone! We've got just over a hundred meters of road left to level before lunch!"
"No slacking off! Anyone caught cutting corners will be executed on the spot!"
...
Descending slowly from the sky, Selene landed at the edge of the newly completed section of highway and stretched lazily. "Finally done," she murmured, gazing in satisfaction at the seamless road connecting the Capital to her legion's base.
"The 8th Legion should get moving again soon..."
"General!"
Before she could finish her thought, a familiar voice called out. A burly, tan-skinned man waved from the distance before running up to her.
"General, our 8th Legion's new headquarters is basically finished," Kinshasa reported, though his tone carried a hint of complaint. "But... isn't it a bit cramped? And, well, it's on a 'lake island,' so it feels kind of... restrictive." He frowned. "This feels like something the southern Navy would do... but we're the Imperial Guard."
Selene glanced at him with amusement. Who would've thought this straightforward, honest-looking man harbored such a strong land-army bias? Was he about to blurt out, 'The Navy are fools!'?
"Don't worry," Selene said lightly. "I'll expand the base later. It's fine for now." Then, waving her hand dismissively, she added, "But I've heard that while we've been busy building roads, the political scene at court has been... quite lively. Where's Sebas?"
She looked around, but her faithful steward was nowhere to be seen.
"Master Sebas didn't come to the camp today," Kinshasa replied, lowering his voice. "And yes, things are tense in the Capital. Several merchants have begun transferring their businesses under your name, General."
He glanced around cautiously, then leaned in to whisper, "The Empress has passed away. His Majesty's health is deteriorating fast. Several princes have also died under... strange circumstances. It looks like the succession struggle is coming to a head."
"And Minister Honest is supporting the youngest prince... What are your orders, General?"
Selene's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression unreadable. "We observe. The 8th Legion are loyal Imperial Guards. Politics isn't our concern."
"Don't think too much about it. I'll be heading back to the Upper City for now. You stay here and keep a close eye on the camp."
"Yes, ma'am!"