Chapter 161: A Name Beyond Humanity

Third Realm. Highcrest.

Edran Frost sat in his great chair, his expression thunderous.

"If that wretched Celestine ever comes to the Third Realm, I’ll have five Dragons tear her apart."

The lower Realms were the foundation of the higher ones. Lords of the Seventh Realm could enter the Sixth only after clearing the Heavenbreaking War, then continue climbing from there.

If the Crown collapsed in the Seventh Realm, the Human powers above would lose their flow of new Lords. Even the greatest Houses could not survive forever without new blood.

Closer to home, Darian stood to lose everything he had built over the past two months: his influence, resource sites, and Region Fortune. Losing the Warden’s privileges would also cost him a Hero Contract slot. One of his Heroes would be dismissed at random.

Every one of those Heroes was a Human predecessor honored in House Frost’s Hall of Ancestors.

Yet Edran could not simply send his forces down. Doing so would expose Darian’s identity, with worse consequences still. A descent from the Third Realm also required vastly more preparation and resources than one from an older sector of the Seventh.

The palace trembled under his anger. Heroes, troops, and vassal Lords throughout Highcrest waited in fear, wondering what could have enraged their lord so badly.

Merrick was furious too.

"If those cowards from the Jade Court dared ascend, my lord, you wouldn’t need to act. House Valcrest’s founder would cut them down in the Sixth Realm. Unfortunately, they know how unwelcome they are. They seem determined to spend their remaining years hiding in the Seventh."

A message arrived as he spoke. His expression brightened.

"Congratulations, my lord! Lord Darian’s rank has appeared. Twenty-second! Against so many powerful enemies. A worthy son of House Frost!"

"Twenty-second?"

Edran’s anger slowly eased.

"My nineteenth has no Legendary troops yet, does he? Twenty-second is very good."

After a little while, Merrick cautiously returned to the matter at hand.

"Lords from older sectors could descend on Tidecrown at any time. We cannot guard against them forever, and preparing our own descent will take time. Should I tell Lord Darian to move elsewhere and continue his development there?"

Edran considered it, then sighed.

"It seems we have no choice."

"Yes, my lord."

Merrick was about to leave when another message arrived. He glanced at it and froze.

"Impossible. That can’t be right."

Edran frowned.

"What are you muttering about?"

"I’ve just received a report, my lord. It’s rather difficult to believe. Please allow me a moment to confirm it."

Merrick checked more than a dozen of his sources. Every one gave him the same answer.

"It’s true..."

A chill brought his head up. Edran was staring at him with growing displeasure.

Merrick dropped to his knees.

"Forgive me, my lord. The news is extraordinary."

"Then tell me."

"You ordered me to watch Cassian’s Glory Battlefield ranking. The result is in."

He hated Cassian, but he would not dare conceal something his lord had asked to hear.

"Cassian has beaten every Divine, Demon, and Machine newcomer in the competition. He took first place. A Gold Battle Name."

Edran rose so sharply that Merrick flinched.

"What did you say?"

His lord had lost his composure. Merrick could not remember the last time he had seen that happen.

He raised his voice.

"Cassian took first place in Glory Battlefield, my lord. He has earned a Gold Battle Name."

Edran knew Merrick would not dare lie about something so easily checked. He paced across the hall, his eyes bright.

"First? A Human Lord beat those races? A Divine Scion has A-grade Aptitude. Each one can fight like a Legendary Hero!"

Could this year’s nonhuman newcomers have been weaker than they looked?

No. Darian had only reached twenty-second. That alone proved the competition was strong.

Edran suddenly laughed.

"Good! The boy has taken one opportunity after another from my nineteenth, but this time he’s won honor for the Crown. For Humanity!"

His laughter filled the hall.

"Riftward. A fine name for a Marches that produces Dragons."

Merrick listened miserably. For the foreseeable future, he could forget about causing trouble for Cassian.

Then another thought came to him.

"It would be a shame to lose such a talented Lord. Shall we invite him to withdraw with Lord Darian? Once he leaves the Marches, he could settle down and serve your son."

First place. So what?

He would still have to abandon what he had built and start over. His Warden and Commander bonuses, his resource sites, his Region Fortune—most of two months’ work would be gone.

The thought gave Merrick considerable pleasure.

"Let Cassian decide for himself," Edran said.

"And he’s brought the Crown great honor. He likes money, doesn’t he? Award him a billion Aether in House Frost’s name."

Merrick’s eyes nearly burned with envy. He dared show none of it.

"Yes, my lord. I’ll see to it."

——

In Glory Battlefield, a Divine Lord in golden armor watched the list with a calm expression.

"Seven million eight hundred thousand points, and only second place. Behind a Human."

He studied the name above his own.

"Neroth, that useless fool. He didn’t even send a report before he died. Was Cassian the one who killed him?"

A faint smile touched his face.

"How long has it been since a Human name appeared near the top of a ranking like this? Interesting."

This was Azrak Thalor, the second-place Lord.

Behind him stood Epic Soulhunters and two full squads of Legendary Light-and-Dark Templars.

The Templars were an Extreme spellcasting troop line of the Divines. Under a Divine Hero’s Command, they were far more formidable than Neroth’s Tyrants.

The Templars combined an Extreme troop line with a Hero whose Command was suited to it. Cassian’s Crystal Maidens were an Extreme line too, but none of his three Heroes specialized in commanding them. His Dawnwings had Aurelia’s Command, but they were not an Extreme line.

Azrak had two full squads that combined both advantages.

Azrak looked at the golden name once more.

"Cassian. I’ll remember you."

A pity Glory Battlefield was so vast. They had never crossed paths.

"Perhaps we’ll meet in the Contest of Champions. I’d like to fight you there."

Light flashed, and Azrak left the battlefield.

He was not the only one to remember the winner. Divine, Demon, and Machine Lords across the competition fixed Cassian’s name in their minds.

His name had spread beyond Humanity.

——

Even after the long buildup, seeing Cassian officially declared first left Tidecrown’s Lords dazed. An uncanny silence settled over the Province again.

[Glory Battlefield will close in ten minutes. All remaining Lords will be returned to their Domains.]

[All unspent Glory Points will be cleared when the battlefield closes.]

The notices finally shook them awake.

[Selene Rook: Lord Cassian, I sincerely invite you, Lady Nessa, Lord Tobias, and Lord Rowan to return to the Dawn Coast Confederacy. It will always be your true home.]

Nessa had finally had enough. Now the woman was trying to claim her too.

[Nessa Fenwick: Our forever home? What is the Dawn Coast, an urn for our ashes?]

[Selene Rook: ...]

Seeing her silenced gave the others enormous satisfaction.

[Corin Alder: Incredible, Cassian. A Gold Battle Name! You’ve done the Crown and all Humanity proud.]

[Lydia Venn: And twenty thousand Renown! Twenty thousand! Think of what that could buy in the Hall of Renown.]

[Alexei Petrov: Several Legendary Troop Sigils, surely. The Crown has always produced great Lords, but seeing this for myself... Cassian, you have my respect.]

[Colonel Mercer: Remember, his earlier ten thousand Renown was enough to bring a Hero to his doorstep. Now he’s earned another twenty thousand. Perhaps the next one will be Legendary!]

The thought filled everyone with envy.

It also made some of them pause.

A squad of Dragons was powerful, even more so with Black Hole unlocked. But would that alone have been enough to win first place against all those races?

Cassian had other cards he had not shown them.

One early lead had become another, then another. Now he stood above the whole battlefield.

On the third floor, a notice appeared before him.

[A squad of Champion Knights has heard of your Renown and will soon arrive at your Domain.]

Cassian looked at it and smiled.

"Renown certainly works quickly."