Wu Zetian is an 18-year-old peasant girl from the frontier Sui-Tang province. Her family subjected her to foot binding, leaving her reliant on a cane to walk. Fueled by anger over the death of her older sister, she enlists as a concubine-pilot to exact revenge on the famous male pilot responsible. She refuses to accept the misogynistic constraints of Huaxian society and possesses a remarkably high spirit pressure.

Gao Yizhi is the 18-year-old son of Gao Qiu, the wealthiest man in Huaxia. He leverages his immense privilege to secretly educate Zetian and provide her with forbidden internet access. He harbors deep feelings for Zetian and attempts to save her from her suicidal revenge plan, eventually following her into the military hierarchy to protect her.

Li Shimin is the 19-year-old convict-pilot of the Vermillion Bird, known to the public as the Iron Demon. As a half-Rongdi death row inmate, he is forced to pilot despite the immense psychological toll it takes on him. The military handlers manipulate his severe alcohol dependency to maintain control over him in the cockpit.

Ma Xiuying is the female pilot of the Black Tortoise Chrysalis and one of the rare survivors known as an Iron Princess. She has two toddler sons and takes a pragmatic approach to surviving Huaxia's oppressive society. She frequently advises Zetian to be cautious and to consider the safety of her family over open rebellion.

Dugu Qieluo pilots the White Tiger Chrysalis and is one of the few living Iron Princesses. She is a Rongdi nomad with unbound feet, a physical freedom that sparks intense jealousy in Zetian. She is cynical, highly guarded, and fiercely protective of her position within the military hierarchy.

Yang Guang is Huaxia’s top pilot and enjoys immense celebrity status across the nation. He uses his charm and authority to continuously recruit and sacrifice young women as concubine-pilots to power his Chrysalis. His actions directly resulted in the death of Zetian's sister.

Gao Qiu is the wealthiest man in Huaxia and a prominent media mogul. He treats people, including his own son, as investments and property. He views the military's top pilots primarily as opportunities for lucrative publicity and brand management.

Sima Yi is a high-ranking military strategist for the Huaxian central command. He manages the deployments and public relations of the Chrysalis pilots stationed at the Great Wall. He focuses on maintaining order and maximizing the military's combat effectiveness.

Zhuge Liang serves as a military strategist at Kaihuang Tower. He works alongside Sima Yi to evaluate the spirit pressure and combat viability of the surviving pilots.

An Lushan is a brutal military strategist who acts as Li Shimin's personal handler. He intentionally supplies Shimin with alcohol to ensure the convict remains dependent on the military and compliant with piloting orders.

Ruyi is Zetian's older sister who was sold by their family to serve as a concubine-pilot. Her suspicious death in the service of Yang Guang serves as the catalyst for Zetian's quest for revenge.

Yang Jian is the male pilot of the White Tiger and part of a Balanced Match with Dugu Qieluo. He is a distant cousin to the famous Yang Guang, a connection that complicates his standing with the other pilots.

Zhu Yuanzhang is the male pilot of the Black Tortoise and co-pilots with Ma Xiuying. He holds deep-seated prejudices against the Rongdi people and openly antagonizes pilots with nomadic heritage.

Auntie Dou is a military official tasked with testing the spirit pressure of incoming girls. She enforces the strict, patriarchal standards expected of concubine-pilots, emphasizing their duty to serve the male fighters.

Xiao Shufei is a fellow candidate for the concubine-pilot program. She notices Zetian's concealed weapon during their intake process, sparking an immediate rivalry before testing begins.

Dalang is Zetian's older brother who lives with their family in the frontier village. Like the older men in the family, he is complacent with the patriarchal rules that govern their society and benefits from the sacrifices of his sisters.

Wende is Li Shimin's former co-pilot. She died in the Vermillion Bird Chrysalis because her spirit pressure was too equal to his, resulting in her mind being overwhelmed during a battle.

Wang Shicong is the male pilot of the Sky Dog Chrysalis. He deliberately provokes a violent physical altercation with Shimin in the camp cafeteria to isolate Zetian from her co-pilot.

Qin Zheng is the legendary Yellow Dragon pilot who contracted a fatal disease centuries ago. He placed himself in a qi-induced stasis to await a cure, leaving his province undefended. He possesses mastery over all five qi elements.