Chapter 272: A Sword Through the Temple

The sword light stretched for more than ten kilometers.

It was no hollow display. The immense blade was densely packed with power, its pressure terrifying even at a distance.

At least it was not aimed at Azrak.

"No!"

His cry joined those of the other Divine Lords as the sword swept toward the Five Elements Temple.

The World Wonder was already riddled with damage. This strike finally exceeded what it could bear.

Light flashed through it. Several kilometers above the ground, a diagonal cut appeared across the Temple.

Its five-sided base was tens of kilometers wide, but the structure narrowed as it rose. The sword had struck precisely where it needed to, severing the Temple at its waist.

Cracks rang out, one after another.

The upper half slowly began to slide.

Before it could fall onto the Divine Domains below, it dissolved into pure primordial energy. Otherwise, the falling mass would have destroyed an unknown number of them.

Everyone stared, stunned by what they had just seen.

Even Aurelia and Sylvara stared, their eyes narrowing in shock. ℯℯ𝘭.

"Celia’s Sword Nurturing..." Aurelia breathed. "At this stage, who could withstand that strike? Even a Mythic fighter would be cut down."

The normally aloof Divine Dragon showed fear in its eyes. That sword could have severed its body just as easily as the Temple.

Cassian alone felt a sharp pang at the expense.

"Even Swordheart Julian Lind and the Blood Emperor Mordane didn’t make Celia use that strike. And we’ve spent it here..."

But the Divine main force had returned. If he delayed any longer, how many of his fighters would he lose? The longer the battle continued, the greater the chance of their Bloodkin disguises being exposed.

Still, even he had not expected a sword strike of such power.

Celia had nurtured that sword with the Legendary Veinheart Art, drawing on the Domain’s Aether Vein and the paid fiftyfold time of the Enclosure. She had kept its accumulated power through battles that would have forced another swordsman to spend it.

Her Sword Intent was already at Lesser Perfection, multiplying the cutting and penetration of her sword techniques by 3.2. Now she had released that stored power with attributes approaching those of a Mythic Hero.

Even Celia stared at the broken Temple, scarcely able to believe what her own sword had done.

If Cassian’s own people were shocked, the Divines were beyond disbelief.

"Even a Mythic fighter at our current Level couldn’t strike like that. What happened?"

"An Eternal consumable?"

"Impossible! This sector has barely opened. How could an Eternal item appear already?"

"It isn’t real. It can’t be!"

"We’re the Divines! How could Humans and Bloodkin defeat us?"

Azrak’s face had gone gray.

"I lost. I lost to Cassian again..."

Then both sides received notifications.

[You have participated in the destruction of Brahma’s World Wonder. Combat contribution: 38%.]

[Obtained: Epic Metal Pearl ×4,538 | Epic Wood Pearl ×4,128...]

That was only the beginning of Cassian’s haul. Millions of lower-quality Elemental Pearls followed.

"As expected. Even with Celia’s final strike, we only contributed thirty-eight percent."

The notices received by the Divine Lords were very different.

[Your Brahma Legion’s World Wonder has been destroyed. You have lost the Legion Contest.]

[You have left the All-Races Champions Channel.]

[You have left the Brahma Legion Channel.]

[You will leave Fivefold Heaven in 10, 9, 8...]

Columns of golden light descended, enclosing every remaining Divine Domain, Lord, Hero, and troop. The defeated had no right to remain on the battlefield.

Ten seconds later, the light drew them into the void. They were gone.

Cassian watched his enemies disappear.

"At last. It’s over."

One wrong decision could cost everything. That was how cruel the Realm’s battlefields could be.

Still, those being expelled were the fortunate ones. The Divine Champions killed in his ambush would never leave this place. Each had been a brilliant talent, carrying the hopes of family and friends. Now they were dead.

Aurelia stepped forward.

"Fifteen Dawnwings fell, Lord. All fifteen have returned at the Fountain of Life."

As each death was confirmed, the Fountain had verified the fallen unit’s Domain belonging. Cassian had authorized immediate Life Reconstruction, spending the required stored Life Energy and Battle Essence. They were alive again at home, their Levels and star ranks intact. Their bodies had vanished from the battlefield as they were reconstructed, keeping the disguises from being exposed.

Disappearing bodies were strange, but leaving them behind would have been worse.

Even ordinary Dawnwings had fought with strength beyond Legendary Nine-Star under his bonuses. Yet the Divines were powerful too. As the Elemental Beasts dwindled, more pressure fell on his own force, and the casualties mounted. That was why he had finally ordered Celia to use her nurtured strike.

The reconstructions had cost him roughly ten billion Battle Essence, gone for good. It was the most costly battle he had fought since entering the Realm.

"I’m still too weak. Divine Province is too weak. So is the Homeworld."

His eyes remained bright. The words were much the same as Darian’s earlier complaint.

Fortunately, a rough count of the Battle Essence earned in the day’s fighting showed that he had about broken even.

"You’ve all worked hard," Cassian said. "There are less than three hours left. Clear the remaining Elemental Beasts, then stay here and keep hunting."

He raised a hand. The enormous golden Dragon shrank rapidly, becoming no larger than a loach within seconds before slipping back into the Divine Dragon Amber.

——

Soon, Cassian, Celia, and several dozen Dawnwings emerged from the Spatial Vortex.

For a moment, the Crown Champions fell silent. Then a deafening cheer welcomed their returning heroes.

The Lords from Divine Province crowded around. Nessa caught one of Cassian’s arms and bounced beside him, grinning helplessly.

"You actually did it!"

Darian thumped him on the chest, then glanced warily at the vortex.

"Have the Divines given up? What about the Bloodkin? Will they turn on us?"

Cassian resisted the urge to punch him back.

"Vespera and I got to know each other through that fight. We’re practically brothers now. You can all relax."

The crowd cheered again. Admiration filled their eyes.

Humans had little affection for Bloodkin, who liked to drink the blood of every race they met. Even so, making a friend of such a powerful Legion Commander was no small achievement.

"Less than three hours until settlement," Cassian called. "Keep going, everyone. There’s still time to hunt!"

He did not submit his enormous haul of Elemental Pearls yet. Nor did he tell them he had destroyed and plundered the Divine Temple. He wanted them to keep working.

"Yes, Boss Cassian!"

A thousand Crown Champions answered as one. Without discussing it, they had all changed the way they addressed him.

Cassian paused in surprise, then smiled.

"If you need scarce resources, contact Mira. Riftward Marches may be able to help."

These Lords were a formidable force. If they developed well, they could become another source of support alongside the Fenwicks. Naturally, he would still have to choose carefully.

The offer delighted them. Rumors had already reached them of Legendary resource sites appearing in Riftward.

Almost three hours passed quickly. With only a little over ten minutes left before noon, the Five Elements Temple had reached ninety-six percent completion.

Everyone had worked as hard as they could.

"What a shame," Lana said. "We still couldn’t finish it."

Darian gritted his teeth.

"If the Divines hadn’t attacked, we might have had a chance."

The others felt the same regret. No one knew whether completing a World Wonder would bring an extra reward.

Cassian smiled.

"If you have any Elemental Pearls left, submit them. I’ll submit mine too."

The Crown Champions froze.

What did he mean, "I’ll submit mine too"?