Chapter 293: The Peacebringer

While Aurelia and the others were still considering his choice, Cassian brought out an Epic Troop Soul, followed by a Legendary one.

He used them in order.

[Epic Troop Soul consumed. Dwarf Rocketier → Dwarf Cannoneer.]

[Legendary Troop Soul consumed. Dwarf Cannoneer → Dwarf Siege Gunner.]

Those two forms offered greater range, but they lost Mental Guidance. Against flying targets, their immense guns were far less useful. Cassian had never considered them a worthwhile investment.

To reach Mythic, however, Bramrik had to pass through both stages.

The second Mythic Troop Soul flew from Cassian’s hand and sank into the bewildered Dwarf’s brow.

Cassian drew a slow breath.

Every nation that possessed that forbidden troop concealed its origins carefully. The Homeworld’s forums offered little more than fragments and speculation. An ordinary Lord could hardly spend a Mythic Troop Soul just to test a theory.

He watched the transformation with an eagerness that bordered on anxiety.

[Mythic Troop Soul consumed. Dwarf Siege Gunner → Peacebringer.]

"It worked!"

Relief washed through him.

"So Peacebringers really do come from Rocketiers."

Bramrik had changed almost beyond recognition. His proportions were still those of a Dwarf, but he stood more than five meters tall, his body packed with muscle. The cannon resting on his shoulder was over twenty meters long and two meters across.

Even before it fired, the weapon made the air around it feel dangerous.

Cassian paid the Battle Essence for Bramrik’s Level growth as well, raising him from 20 to 75. Then he opened the completed panel, with equipment and other bonuses excluded.

[Peacebringer — Bramrik]

[When all things fall silent, peace follows.]

[Race: Dwarf]

[Level: 75 | Quality: Mythic One-Star]

[Physique: 31,520 | Aether: 128,250 | Spirit: 89,320 | Load: 24,325]

[Combat Rating: 68,353 stars]

[Skills: Peace Descends / Piercing / Life Extinction / Mental Guidance / Overload]

[Peace Descends: Fire a shell charged with the power of Destruction to annihilate its targets.]

[Piercing: The shell can penetrate physical and energy defenses.]

[Life Extinction: Destructive power remains throughout the area struck, continuously harming all living things.]

[Mental Guidance: Control the shell’s trajectory through Spirit.]

[Overload: Concentrate the user’s entire Aether reserve into one shell. Its power scales with the user’s Aether attribute.]

[Warning: The power of Destruction brings terrible slaughter and disturbs the balance of the Realm. Use with care.]

These were his bare attributes.

With the Domain’s various bonuses, Bramrik’s Aether could approach two hundred thousand.

The Dwarf suddenly dropped to one knee.

"Bramrik would give his life for you, Lord!"

[Bramrik — Loyalty: 100.]

"Get up." Cassian could not stop smiling.

The others could not see the panel. One look at Bramrik was enough to tell them that the result was extraordinary.

Aurelia made an unusual suggestion.

"Lord, let’s find somewhere for him to fire once. We should see what it can do."

"No. Do you think this is a firework?"

The noise and attention would be bad enough. Life Extinction alone made a casual test out of the question, especially anywhere near his own home.

Dropping a few shells in the Black Banner’s heartland, on the other hand... Perhaps when he had time.

The warning about disturbing the Realm troubled him less. He took it to mean harsher trials when ascending, or stronger inner demons during a breakthrough. He could face those when the time came.

Even Veyra’s curiosity had been stirred.

"Why not try it at sea, Lord? We have enemies there already."

That was a more sensible proposal. Cassian was tempted.

"Wait a little longer. If the battle turns against us, Bramrik can act then."

This was his strongest hidden weapon. He intended to keep it hidden until he truly needed it.

After finally quieting their enthusiasm, he turned to the Dwarf.

"Go back to your drinking, Bramrik. I’ll call when I have a task for you. Lethria, return to the Abyss Gate."

Her Mythic advancement had granted no new skills, but her attributes had risen enormously. Spirit, her strongest attribute, had reached a hundred and forty thousand. Another ordinary Mythic Demon would find a very different opponent waiting for it.

Less than half an hour had passed since Lethria’s warning.

Cassian’s strength had risen sharply again. His friends had already begun using the new Sigils, paying to recruit and develop the troops and Heroes they called forth. Divine Province had gained more than twenty squads of Legendary troops and a dozen or so Legendary Heroes.

The unease he had felt about revealing too many of his advantages seemed much less pressing now.

"What a wonderful Abyss Gate. I should send the Black Banner’s military another thank-you banner."

Vorlath’s final threat still warranted attention. Cassian kept his strongest fighters ready, waiting to see whether Avarrath would send anything after him.

More than another half hour passed.

The space beyond the Abyss Gate shifted to a different destination. No avenging army had appeared.

Cassian was almost disappointed.

——

He turned his attention back to the sea.

A large part of the seven-nation coalition had withdrawn. Only the Black Banner and Western Beacon remained determined to advance.

"Liora, make their Epic warships the priority." He smiled at her image. "You’ve worked hard these past few days. Once this battle is over, I’ll have a good reward for you."

The handful of Legendary enemy ships were too fast. If they concentrated on staying out of reach, even the Ghost fleet would struggle to catch them.

"Yes, Lord." Liora’s answering smile was bright. "Working for you is hardly a burden."

She gave little thought to the promised reward.

Cassian opened the Exchange. He traded in the Epic Meridian cruiser he had obtained, paying the difference for its Legendary counterpart. Aurelia carried the sealed vessel back to Liora through Ghost One’s Gate. Once it was released at the fleet, Cassian paid for the growth needed to put it into service.

A Legendary Phase Lance would make the Black Banner’s Mirage Ships much easier to deal with.

At the Goblin harbor, another twelve Heavy Ghost Battleships had finished construction. Cassian had supplied their materials; now he paid the Battle Essence to raise all twelve from Level 0 to Level 12.

Golden rings rose around the new ships.

A Gate nearly two hundred meters wide opened over the river. He paid to hold the passage to the outer edge of his Provincial sea access, well over ten thousand kilometers from the harbor. From there, the Legendary ships could make the remaining voyage under their own power. They would soon be joining the fight.

Inside the Abyssal Dockyard, the hammering never stopped. More resources went in, and new hulls took shape day and night.

The war was paying for the fleet that fought it.

A video request interrupted him.

Darian’s face was unusually serious.

"War has broken out in Hidden Dragon, Cloudrest, Harrowmere, and the others. You said Divine Province could send help. Was that a polite offer, or did you mean it?"

"I meant it," Cassian answered at once. "But I won’t be going myself."

Their ground and flying forces had little to do at home for the moment. Sending them out would earn Battle Essence, give them experience, and help their allies. If Divine Province needed them, the Gates could bring them back.

"Which Province are you reinforcing first? Southreach, for Nessa’s family?"

Southreach belonged to the Homeworld’s Crown Provinces, but most of its Lords were Fenwicks. It covered only a tenth of Divine Province’s area.

The descendants of refugees had little strength to spare. With Cassian’s support, they had paid for Blueprints and materials and built more than a hundred Eclipse Chapterhouses. The branches covered by Nessa’s fifty-Blueprint agreement had completed their required share transfers as well.

Even that was unlikely to let Southreach withstand the Jade Court’s offensive alone.

Darian’s answer surprised him.

"Harrowmere first. It has the weakest foundation. No powerful older-sector faction to send reinforcements."

"Hello!"

Nessa’s head suddenly appeared beside Darian’s shoulder. She had jumped onto his back from behind.

He steadied her without complaint, laughing.

"What have they been feeding you?"

She rolled her eyes at him, then faced the image with a proud smile.

"Cassian, the Fenwicks don’t need reinforcements."

He looked at her in surprise.

"You’re sure?"