Chapter 146: An Instant Kill

Cassian did not look offended.

"Boundless Divine Might. That’s your racial Talent, isn’t it? I’ve heard a commanding expression and tone make it work better."

Whatever pressure the Divine was exerting barely registered with any of them.

"You know a little." The Divine seemed untroubled that Cassian had recognized the skill. "It won’t change the outcome. Remember the name of the one who kills you: Tharos, Lord of the Divine race."

He raised a hand.

"I hope your Glory Points are worth taking."

Dozens of Rare Zealots rushed forward with a sword in each hand. The Human Marksmen drew their bows as readily as the rest. Sharing Cassian’s race did not trouble them in the least.

"Kill me?"

Cassian shook his head. A Divine who had brought Rare troops into Glory Battlefield might really be no more than a recreational Lord.

His brief curiosity had passed.

"Sigrid. Make it quick."

"Yes, Lord."

Lightning crackled around her body.

"Thunder Step."

The principle was simple enough: she used thunder’s power to launch herself forward.

A streak of lightning crossed the hundred meters between them. Sigrid appeared directly before Tharos.

"You—"

Terror replaced his arrogance.

He tried to lift his greatsword. His arm had barely moved half an inch when her spear struck his forehead.

His head burst apart.

Sigrid did not pause. She turned on his troops and continued killing, the Human Marksmen included.

[Your troop Sigrid has killed Lord Tharos — Divine. Battle Essence +180,000 | Glory Points +341]

Cassian read the reward.

"A farmer, perhaps. Or someone who entered the Realm for amusement. And he was this strong. No wonder the Divines rank among the top hundred."

Judging by the Battle Essence, Tharos’s personal strength had been roughly that of a Level-40 Epic Hero. About the same as Elara after taking Life Essence.

Elara was exceptional even among a million Human Lords. Tharos might have been an unremarkable member of his race.

The difference was plain.

Most of a Domain’s strength came from its Heroes and troops, certainly. But a powerful Lord could speed its early growth enormously. Seraphine was proof enough of that.

The Divines’ standard troops were stronger too. A normal Human Domain unlocked Rare Heavy Cavalry at Rank VII. A Divine Domain unlocked Rare Zealots, whose Combat Ratings were between one point two and one point four times as high.

Add all those advantages together, and a few years could put the Lords of the two races worlds apart.

Sigrid finished clearing the enemy force in moments.

Cassian put the comparison aside.

"Next group of monsters."

——

Glory Battlefield had no day or night. Ten hours passed, and the sky remained the same dull gray.

Thousands of kilometers from Cassian, two women were greeting each other with delighted cries.

"Nessa?"

"Seren! I finally found you!"

Nessa had no access to Southreach’s Channel and could not use it to locate her family. Finding them here had been a stroke of extraordinary luck.

Seren had gathered dozens of the Fenwick family’s women through the location function. Now they crowded around Nessa, questions coming from every side.

"How have you been managing over there?"

"What Rank is your Domain? Does your Region have any Fortune?"

"You haven’t come home in so long. Did some man persuade you to stay?"

At twenty-four, Seren was still petite, but she had the manner of an older sister who expected to be listened to. Once the excitement passed, she pinched Nessa’s cheek.

"The family head prepared an Advanced Relocation Writ to bring you back to Southreach. You haven’t used it, and you barely tell us anything about your Domain. Do you know how worried we’ve been?"

"Ow! Seren, let go. I know, I’m sorry. I’ve made friends there. They’ve been very good to me."

Seren released her, looking relieved. Then she glanced at Nessa’s Rare Hero and frowned again.

"And you still rush into everything. You entered Glory Battlefield with only a Rare Hero? Do you know there are Divines and Demons in here?"

Nessa’s eyes shifted. She gave Seren an appealing smile.

"But I’ve found you now. You’ll protect me, won’t you?"

Seren softened at once.

"Of course. We have dozens of Lords together and more than a thousand troops. I have two squads of Epic troops myself. We earn fewer points hunting as a group, but we can keep you safe."

Susie, the youngest, nodded proudly.

"We’ve already scared off several Divine and Demon Lords."

"Epic troops? And you scared off Divines and Demons?" Nessa looked at Seren in admiration. "You’re amazing!"

Seren tried to look modest, but she could not quite hide her pleasure.

"Someone has to look after you all."

Nobody noticed the sly gleam in Nessa’s eyes.

Humans had ranked only 5,825th among the races. A lone Human woman was an inviting target to many of the stronger races’ Lords, and Nessa had made no effort to keep out of sight.

They had come expecting easy prey. Instead, they had given her Battle Essence and Glory Points.

She had killed at least ten Lords from other races on her way here.

At last, Seren took a closer look at the Eclipse troops.

"Nessa, your soldiers look rather capable."

Nessa laughed happily.

"All right. I’ll tell you the truth."

She was about to explain that these were Eclipse troops, the original Epic line ranked fifty-eighth in the Homeworld’s records.

A quiet laugh interrupted her.

"Such lovely women. You look delicious."

The voice seemed to come from empty air.

"Is everyone here now?"

Seren’s expression changed.

"Who’s there? Show yourself!"

Space rippled like water. A Demon appeared in the air, no taller than an ordinary Human. A pair of wings beat slowly behind him, and a curved demon blade hung at his waist.

Dozens of Greater Demon Heroes and troops hovered behind him.

Seren’s face tightened.

"A Greater Demon Lord... one who can use spatial power."

She set her jaw.

"You’re strong, Lord Demon. But there are dozens of us. If we fight, both sides will suffer."

"Both sides?" He laughed softly.

Then he ignored her and turned to Nessa.

"What an unusual Human. I can feel the life force inside you. Have you eaten some precious spirit treasure? Perhaps eating you would let me become a King."

Seren’s expression changed again.

Among Demons, the Undead, and the dark races, King meant Legendary Quality—the equivalent of a Human Lord’s A-grade Aptitude.

If this Demon was telling the truth, he stood only one step below that threshold.

How had they managed to run into a newcomer this dangerous?

Seren turned to Nessa at once.

"Run when you get the chance. We’ll hold him back as long as we can."

Nessa had never faced an enemy like this. She took an involuntary step back.

Then she remembered what Cassian had given her.

"We’ll see who eats whom!" she called. "I hope your Glory Points are worth taking!"

She ordered her Eclipse troops to prepare Aegis Fold. Out of sight, her fingers closed around a chalice as red as blood.𝒻𝑟ℯℯ