Chapter 366: Twelve Blood Emperors

More than a hundred thousand Orc troops marched across the Grimward Steppe. Even the weakest were Level-105 Uncommon soldiers, each standing over three meters tall. The Shamans among them added Bloodlust and Berserk Rage, strengthening an army already brimming with violence.

They had barely left their tribe for the Pandora frontier when Cassian intercepted them.

Aurelia, Liora, Lethria, One, and Harriet struck together. The Orc formation collapsed almost at once.

"All Silverwing Lions, break through!" an Orc centurion roared. "Tell General Dravok who attacked us! These aren’t Pandora’s Elves. It’s that mysterious Homeworld Lord!"

Seven’s scouting had served Cassian well. Before each raid, he found the enemy, cut off their communications, and made certain no one escaped. After three months, the Bloodmaw Court still did not know who had been ravaging its territory.

He had no intention of changing that today.

Hundreds of Silverwing Lions sprang into the air. These Epic beasts, tamed by the Orcs, had bodies more than ten meters long and broad silver wings. They shot away from the broken formation like streaks of silver lightning.

Level 105 was impressive enough.

Against the women beside Cassian, it was nowhere near enough.

"Katrienne. Your turn."

The twelve beautiful Bloodkin bowed together.

"Yes, my lord."

Pale-gold wings opened. A moment later, all twelve had vanished from his side.

A thin line of golden blood-light passed a fleeing lion. Its head separated from its body before it could even turn.

More lines flashed across the sky.

Winged bodies tumbled onto the grass, one after another. In little more than ten seconds, every one of the hundreds of Epic beasts was dead.

The centurion stared blankly at the falling corpses.

"Blood Emperors..."

His voice rose to a shriek.

"A whole squad of Blood Emperors!"

Three months of relentless hunting and harvesting, purchases made regardless of cost, and Odette’s considerable help had finally paid off. The twelve Blood Princes Cassian had selected were now twelve permanent Blood Emperors.

He had supplied their Troop Souls and growth costs, kept the Chalice’s summons fed, and paid for every drop of the Emperor essence they condensed. The project had consumed two hundred and fifty billion Aether alone.

His first complete squad of Mythic troops.

Watching them sweep the sky clear, Cassian felt the money had been very well spent.

Without Domain defenses to shelter them, the Orcs lasted only ten minutes. More than a hundred thousand troops died on the open steppe.

Over a hundred Legendary Farmers followed the fighting force. As the last resistance ended, they spread across the bloody field and began casting Harvest.

Cassian looked north, toward the heart of the Bloodmaw Court.

"Even with us interrupting their movements, they’ve gathered hundreds of millions of troops for the attack. They’ll march on Pandora soon."

He considered the time remaining.

"Twenty-eight days until the Third Provincial Ranking settles. I probably need another twenty to reach Rank XVIII. That’s a little tight."

The Farmers finished their work.

Legendary Blood Essence: 2,812 drops.

Another excellent haul.

"Seven. Find the next target."

——

While Cassian quietly cut down isolated Orc armies and collected their wealth, the Bloodmaw Court was receiving three guests from the Homeworld.

Rank XVIII unlocked the Palace. After founding a Nation, a ruler could advance that Building into a Royal Palace, the visible seat of the new kingdom’s power.

Vargul’s stood at the center of his Domain, rising hundreds of meters into the air. Bold, strange totems covered its walls, giving the immense structure a savage grandeur.

"Great Emperor Vargul, that is our proposal."

The Black Banner woman standing before his throne had delicate features and a soft voice. A subtle, persuasive force ran beneath her words.

"You know that native Lords and Lords from beyond this world will eventually go to war. Cassian is the pillar of the Homeworld. Destroy his Domain now—or better yet, kill him—and when the restrictions on our Realm lift, what will remain to oppose you?"

She smiled.

"Its vast lands and rich resources will be yours for the taking. The enemy of an enemy can be a friend. The powers I represent are willing to join you against Pandora and Cassian. We ask only that you allow our Lords to hunt in your territory."

Even seated on his enormous throne, the Beast Emperor stood seven or eight meters high. Power pulsed through his heavily muscled body.

He glanced down at her. His voice shook the palace.

"A Divine Servant of Greed. You thought that pitiful mental art would sway me?"

Ivara Drelmont’s heart lurched.

Like House Morvane, which worshipped Gluttony, and House Velisse, which served Lust, House Drelmont belonged to the Black Banner’s seven great families of the dark gods. Greed was its patron, and Ivara was the outstanding talent of her generation.

None of that made the figure on the throne easier to face.

She lowered herself into a deeply respectful bow.

"Our interests are still the same, Your Majesty."

"They are."

Vargul rose. His full height exceeded twenty meters.

"I accept your terms."

Joy had only just reached Ivara’s face when he spoke again.

"But you must be punished for your insolence."

His left foot lifted over her head.

"No!"

She tried to move. Despite all the power that had made her a Divine Servant, her body seemed fixed in the air. She could only watch that enormous, filthy foot descend.

Her last thought was regret.

Why had she been so certain she could handle this mission?

Blood and shattered bone burst across the floor. Vargul ground his foot down once before lifting it away.

Then he looked at the two remaining envoys, one from Western Beacon and one from the Jade Court. Neither seemed capable of moving.

"Tell the people who sent you to bring fewer tricks and more honesty when they deal with the great Vargul. When I rule the Homeworld, perhaps I’ll permit them to kneel at my feet."

"Yes... Yes, Your Majesty!"

The two envoys stumbled out in terror.

Vargul dropped back onto his throne and turned his gaze toward Pandora Forest.

"Heaven’s Battle Array. The foremost Human prodigy among the outsiders..."

A trace of interest entered his voice.

"I hope you live long enough to amuse me."

——

"Western Beacon, the Black Banner, and the Jade Court are moving Lords into the Grimward Steppe?"

Cassian looked at Darian’s image in surprise.

"Confirmed," Darian said. "There’s less than a month left before settlement, but those Provinces have enormous populations. Should we send more people here too?"

Cassian considered it briefly.

"Divine Province doesn’t need any. Give each of the other twelve another hundred thousand places. Make Southreach’s increase two hundred thousand."

The native Lords he had killed over the past few months had yielded enough points to rival the work of a hundred thousand War Lords. If the next part went smoothly, he would soon have a much larger harvest.

Darian rolled his eyes.

"You really do favor Nessa."

Cassian offered no explanation. He simply sent over three Golden Behemoth Troop Sigils.

Darian stared at what he had received.

Then he practically bounced out of his seat.

"Favor her all you like! The more, the better! I have absolutely no objection—"

Cassian ended the call before he could finish.

The news had still given him something to consider. With his enemies cooperating with the Orcs, he wanted his Domain secure.

"Katrienne. Return home and help Veyra hold the Domain."

"Yes, my lord."

With a Blood Emperor directing it, the Blood Moat should become several times more powerful.

He soon reached the edge of the sealed area and paid to open a Gate home. Katrienne passed through. Rhea and the Eclipse corps returned with her, leaving Veyra in command of the defense.

The Kinetic Mechs and Flamecallers currently held in reserve came out to join him. Celia followed them. She had been back in her Enlightenment Enclosure, using its funded training time to nurture a fresh charge in her sword.

His field force was ready.

——

Another week passed.

The Bloodmaw Court completed its assembly. One billion one hundred million Orc troops covered the land before Pandora, filling the plains and hills as far as the eye could see.

On the final day, Beast Emperor Vargul appeared before the armies.

"I hear Queen Sylvara has lowered herself to become an outsider Human’s Hero!"

His voice rolled across a hundred kilometers.

"What a disgrace to every native Lord!"

A Level-115 Mythic Lord. Ten Levels above Vaurak, the Lord of the Labyrinth. The pressure he gave off was enough to make the hearts of those around him pound.

"Today, the great Vargul will trample Pandora Forest and wipe away that shame!"

The army answered with a vast roar. Then its endless ranks began advancing into the forest.

Tens of thousands of kilometers away, Cassian watched and held his position. He was waiting for Rank XVIII.

He had worked hard to enrage the Beast Emperor and draw the Court’s main army away. His real target was the seat of its royal power—the Bloodmaw Royal Palace.