Chapter 425: Your Talent Looks Useful

Caelus stepped onto the bridge with Sylvia beside him and opened the route stored in the ship’s navigation system. A large asteroid appeared on the screen beneath the name of the Titan Crown Syndicate.

Cities covered its surface beneath a clear barrier, with ships moving between several crowded docks. The place looked more like a small world than a drifting piece of rock.

"So that’s where Alaric lived." Sylvia leaned over his shoulder for a better look. "He certainly had enough space to stay home and leave us alone."

"Some people just have to make their problems everyone else’s."

Caelus selected the return route and settled into the pilot’s seat. Sylvia sat beside him as the ship hummed beneath them and the stars stretched into bright lines.

The journey was shorter than he expected. Before long, the asteroid filled the windows and a voice came through the communication system.

"Lord Alaric, please confirm your identity before approaching the dock."

"Alaric isn’t coming back. You can speak to me instead."

There was a brief silence before the voice returned.

"Who are you, and why are you aboard his ship?"

"Caelus Kross. I’m also the reason he isn’t coming back."

Sylvia glanced at him as the connection ended.

"You could have explained that a little better."

"I was getting to the explanation."

Red lights spread across the nearest dock as the defense towers turned toward them. Caelus watched energy gather at their tips and shook his head.

"Well, now they’ve interrupted me."

BOOM!

Several beams struck the ship’s shield and rocked the bridge. Caelus stopped the vessel beyond the docks before taking Sylvia’s hand and leading her outside.

[Talent Activated: Celestial Barrier.]

A golden shield covered the ship as the next volley arrived. The beams burst against its surface while Caelus and Sylvia flew toward the guards gathering above the asteroid.

Players were already stopping in the streets below. Caelus raised his voice so they could hear him as well.

"Alaric is dead. He attacked Genesis Kingdom and tried to kill everyone living there, so I killed him."

Several guards exchanged looks and lowered their weapons. Others backed toward the defense towers without taking their eyes off him.

"I’m taking control of this place. Lower your weapons unless you want to follow him."

WHOOSH!

A spear passed beside his face before he finished speaking. Caelus caught the shaft and turned toward its owner, only for a knee to drive toward his stomach.

BANG!

He blocked with his free arm and slid backward through the air. The man followed at once and pulled his spear free before Caelus could tighten his grip.

Dark armor covered the guard’s broad body, while pale scars crossed his shaved head. He was a Level 10 Origin Lord whose first blow had already carried more force than Alaric’s.

Caelus flexed his fingers as he studied him.

"You’re stronger than your boss. Did he know that?"

The guard ignored the question and pointed his spear at Caelus.

"This organization is under the Olympian Faction’s protection. Do you have any idea what they’ll do to you for attacking it?"

"Like I care. Alaric tried that same threat before he died."

"Then I’ll make sure you regret ignoring it."

[Talent Activated: Sovereign Discount.]

[Skill Activated: Blood Price.]

Red light spread beneath the guard’s armor as his muscles swelled. Blood flowed along his spear and formed a sharp outer edge around its blade.

He thrust toward Caelus’s throat, then turned the weapon as Caelus struck it aside. The other end swept toward his jaw and forced him to catch the shaft with both hands.

The guard immediately released it and pressed his palm forward.

[Skill Activated: Siege Burst.]

BOOM!

Light exploded between them and sent Caelus out of the smoke. His skin remained unmarked, though most of one sleeve had burned away.

Sylvia’s smile disappeared as she glanced at his arm.

"If you wanted our attention, you have it now."

[Skill Activated: Sanguine Genesis.]

Blood gathered around her hands and stretched into curved blades. They swept toward the guard from different angles, cutting off his path back to the docks.

[Skill Activated: Layered Bastion.]

Three shields formed around him just before the blades arrived.

CRACK!

The outer shield shattered, but another took its place while the broken pieces were still falling. Sylvia pushed her blades through the narrow gaps and opened a wound across his shoulder.

The guard drove her blood away with another Siege Burst, then rushed through the smoke toward Caelus.

Their fists met above the docks.

BANG!

The guard’s arm bent backward at the wrist. He gritted his teeth and retreated behind his shields before Caelus could grab him.

Caelus started after him, but the red light beneath the man’s armor flared again.

[Skill Activated: Blood Price.]

The wound on his shoulder widened as the skill took its payment. The guard forced his wrist straight and smiled despite the blood running down his arm.

"Did you think I’d run out of power after a few attacks? My Sovereign Discount is a Lower S-Rank talent that cuts every cost by sixty-seven percent."

He raised his injured hand as another shield formed in front of it.

"I spend less Mana on my skills and lose less health when I strengthen myself. Even my cooldowns are shorter, so I can keep attacking long after you’re forced to stop."

Caelus looked from the shields to the blood covering his spear.

"You got a talent that makes everything cheaper and decided to work as a guard?"

The man’s smile tightened.

"You don’t need to know why I’m working as a Guard."

"What’s the point of talking to a dead man?"

"Wow. Then you should have stayed at the dock."

The guard thrust both hands forward before Caelus could approach.

[Skill Activated: Siege Burst.]

Several points of light formed around Caelus and Sylvia. The guard spread them wide enough that avoiding one would put them in the path of another.

[Trait Activated: Star King’s Sanctuary.]

Golden starlight covered the pair as the blasts struck.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Caelus kept an arm around Sylvia while the barrier shook around them. Through the fading light, he saw the guard already preparing another attack behind his shields.

The talent really was useful. Alaric had barely managed to fight back, while this man had kept throwing costly skills at them without giving himself a chance to recover.

Caelus wanted it.

He released Sylvia and moved toward the guard as the last explosion faded.

"You should be proud of that talent. It’s the only reason I’ve let you keep going this long."

The guard’s hands stiffened.

Then Caelus reached his first shield.

CRACK!

His fist broke through it and drove into the second. The guard hurriedly gathered another Siege Burst against his palm, but Caelus caught his wrist through the final barrier.

He forced the hand upward just as the attack fired.

BOOM!

The blast passed above them and vanished into space. Before the guard could pull away, Sylvia’s blood wrapped around his other arm.

[Skill Activated: Sanguine Genesis.]

She pulled his arm behind his back and tightened the blood around his wrist. He twisted toward her, leaving himself open as Caelus drove a knee into his stomach.

BANG!

His armor folded inward and blood burst from his mouth. The shields flickered out as Caelus caught him by the throat.

The man’s eyes widened when Caelus drew back his fist.

"Wait! I’m not part of this faction! I-I’m just infiltrating this place so I can—"

BANG!

Caelus’s fist passed through his chest before he could finish.

The guard jerked once and went limp in his grip. Caelus pulled his hand free as Sylvia released the blood holding the other arm.

"You remembered that a little late."