Chapter 1646 - 1646: The Right Bet

Northern Amberridge State...

Two groups were still locked in fierce combat.

On one side stood a band of ugly, heavily built men. On the other was a group of beautiful women with silver hair and snow-white skin.

The contrast couldn't have been sharper.

The women were Rimekin from the world of Frostfall. The ugly brutes were the opponents they had been assigned to hold back—the Gorvaks.

There were thirteen Gorvaks and only eight Rimekin.

From the start, it had been an unfair fight.

Fortunately, every Rimekin possessed ice-type abilities, while the Gorvaks specialized in strength-type abilities. Ice was an effective counter to brute strength, and the women's powerful control abilities were the only reason they had held out this long.

Even so, several of the Rimekin were covered in blood and clearly badly wounded.

"Patriarch, is this really worth it?" asked a Rimekin woman who appeared to be in her thirties.

The elegant woman leading them glanced toward the northeast.

"I trust Eira. She's never disappointed me."

"This is our opportunity. If the Rimekin want to rise any further and secure a place in this world, we have to take this chance."

"It's not that I don't trust Eira," the elder said. "But look at the situation. The humans may not even survive this themselves. How can they help us establish ourselves here?"

"That's why it's a gamble. A real gamble always comes with risk."

"Eira told me that New Atlas's Commander possesses terrifying abilities. Once he finishes growing, no race will be able to stand against him."

"If the Rimekin forge strong ties with humanity, our status will rise alongside theirs."

"But if we want their acceptance, we have to help when they need us most. If we wait until they've already risen to power, why would they have any use for us?"

Selene's voice was firm.

"This risk is worth taking."

"All right. But Patriarch, how much longer do we have to hold out? The others are reaching their limits."

"I don't know. We'll delay them as long as we can. Once the humans resolve the crises elsewhere, they'll come help us."

"Understood."

"Brothers, put some muscle into it!" shouted the hideous Gorvaks Patriarch. "These women can't hold out much longer!"

"Damn it, they've already delayed us for so long that we've probably lost any chance at that peak Tier 47 crystal core. At least if we take them home, this trip won't have been a complete waste!"

"Patriarch, once we take them down... can we have some fun with them?" one of the Gorvaks asked with a leering grin.

"Do whatever you want once we get them back."

"Now you're talking!"

The Gorvaks immediately perked up and attacked with renewed ferocity.

The women's control abilities had been infuriating, but the Gorvaks had far greater endurance. If the fight dragged on, the Rimekin were certain to lose.

Under the Gorvaks' intensified assault, the pressure on the Rimekin rose sharply.

Several of the women went pale at their captors' filthy threats.

If they were taken alive, they would rather die.

Just as the Rimekin were being forced steadily back, a dimensional rift opened overhead. A group of figures emerged from it.

Both sides instinctively stopped fighting.

The Rimekin looked up, their eyes brightening.

"Those look like humans!"

"They are humans." Selene finally breathed a sigh of relief, then called up to the newcomers. "Are you friends from New Atlas?"

"Yes. I'm Ethan, Commander of New Atlas." Ethan looked at the woman leading them. "Are you the Rimekin Patriarch?"

"You're New Atlas's Commander?"

Surprised, Selene immediately greeted him with the highest courtesy the Rimekin offered to members of another race.

"I am Selene, Patriarch of the Rimekin. It's an honor to finally meet you, Ethan."

She didn't look down on him for being only Tier 44.

Eira had warned her that New Atlas's Commander possessed terrifying abilities and could defeat enemies above his Tier as easily as eating or drinking.

Selene hadn't entirely believed her.

But when she saw a Tier 47 and even a peak Tier 47 standing obediently behind Ethan, she knew there was far more to New Atlas's Commander than his Tier suggested.

The other Rimekin were startled. Their Patriarch had actually offered Ethan the highest courtesy their people ever showed an outsider.

Still, none of them questioned her. They followed her lead and saluted Ethan.

Ethan smiled and nodded at their respectful reception.

"The Rimekin... I like what I see."

"Bring your people to New Atlas. As long as New Atlas stands, no one touches the Rimekin."

"Thank you, Ethan. You have no idea what this means to us," Selene said, overjoyed.

Ethan nodded in satisfaction, then turned his attention to the Gorvaks.

The dozen or so Gorvaks looked grim, their eyes wary as they studied Ethan's group.

There was actually a peak Tier 47 among them.

Worse, these newcomers were allies of the Rimekin. The situation had instantly turned against them.

"Now, let's not have any misunderstandings." The Gorvaks Patriarch forced an exceptionally ugly smile. "We were only fooling around with these lovely ladies."

"Is that so?" Ethan smiled. "Beautiful women generally don't fool around with men as ugly as you, so I'm pretty sure you're lying."

"..."

The Gorvaks' faces darkened.

The insult struck straight at the heart.

"There's no reason to take this any further," the Gorvaks Patriarch said. "None of these women have died. Let's put this matter behind us, and I'll take my people and leave immediately."

"Leave?" Ethan shook his head. "Yeah, that's not happening."

"You attacked people under New Atlas's protection, and now you think you can just walk away?"

"Kill them all!"

"Yes!"

The moment Ethan gave the order, everyone charged the Gorvaks.

Warmth spread through Selene's heart.

Instead of standing back and watching, she immediately led the Rimekin into battle as well.

Ethan nodded approvingly.

This woman really was smart.

Then he raised his poleaxe and charged into the fight. There were still other crises to deal with. This was no time to slack off.

The Gorvaks had only one Tier 47 fighter, and Theron was already beating him back, so Ethan ignored that fight and went after those below Tier 47.

Against enemies at their level, every swing of his poleaxe claimed another life. Wherever he went, skulls burst one after another.

Once he activated Nullspace Domain, no one around him was safe.

Even the Rimekin fighters hurriedly withdrew from his part of the battlefield.

"So... so powerful!"

The Rimekin women stared as Ethan tore through the Gorvaks unopposed, their jaws nearly hitting the ground.

"Eira was telling the truth!"

Selene stared at Ethan, her face flushed with excitement.

The Rimekin had made the right bet.