Chapter 405: The Price of Leaving

In the Third Realm, the three Crown rulers had been silent for a long time.

Even the youngest of them, the Valcrest founder, was more than a thousand years old. They had ruled Realms and fought through more wars than most Lords could imagine.

That experience only made what they had seen more astonishing.

"What troop do you think she is?" the Valcrest founder finally asked. "I don’t believe Cassian would spend several Mythic Troop Souls on a single fighter."

Edran considered it before answering.

"A Crystal Princess."

"The only explanation that fits." The founder nodded, then frowned. "But why is his Princess so different?"

The Caerwyn Sovereign’s eyes shone.

"His Maidens are different too. They possess Crystal Metamorphosis, an ability that should belong to Crystal Mothers. If one of those Maidens becomes a Princess, is it so strange that she might gain Crystal Convergence?"

"That must be another of his peculiar advantages," the founder said. "Perhaps he pays for it, as he does for his custom troop types."

Between them, they had come remarkably close to the truth.

The Caerwyn Sovereign turned to his companions.

"Your younger family members are close to Cassian. Could you ask a favor on my behalf?"

Edran understood immediately.

"You want some of those unusual Crystal Maidens."

"Of course." He made no effort to hide it. "Even for us, Mythic Troop Souls are precious. A line that can produce a One-Star Mythic capable of fighting like a Four-Star through Convergence... Don’t tell me neither of you wants it."

"I can ask," Edran said readily. "But recruited troops can’t be traded. Embryos can. And if we raise them to Mythic ourselves, there’s no guarantee they’ll gain Crystal Convergence."

The Caerwyn Sovereign nodded.

"Even without it, a Crystal Princess is a Mythic Extreme troop. We could hardly call that a loss."

While the three rulers considered the possibilities, the battle changed again.

One was cutting through everything in her path. Rhea and the others were under heavy pressure, but they continued wrecking ships wherever they could reach them.

A second Heaven’s Judgment pierced the barrier, opening the way for another wave of troops to reinforce them.

Lyra had completed her cast as well.

Power gathered in the energy orb above the Five Elements Temple, drawn from its prepared fuel supply. Like other defensive Buildings, the Temple’s imprinted spells lost strength over distance.

The Covenant had surrounded it.

Now its fleet was about to discover what a Mythic defense tower could do at close range.

Steelrain Array formed.

Countless blades of sword energy swept through the air. More than a dozen ships fell in moments.

Hundreds of vessels had now been lost. The Five Elements Cycle Array was close to breaking, and this fresh assault was more than Evander could bear.

"Stop!"

His cry carried across the battlefield.

"Lord Cassian, stop! Fivefold Heaven concedes this battle!"

He forced out the rest.

"The Elemental Covenant abandons its claim on the Temple. We will honor our agreement and exchange the Firstborn Gate for it in the future!"

Once he knew he could not win, he was quick enough to admit defeat.

Cassian laughed in anger.

"You invade whenever you please, then leave whenever you please? Do you think the Homeworld is your own sitting room?"

Evander stared at him.

He had swallowed his humiliation and conceded. This lower-Realm Lord still meant to press him?

"What else do you want?" he demanded, holding back his rage.

"The Covenant is a pillar of Humanity. I have no wish to make this harder than necessary."

Cassian took a breath.

"Every Lord surrenders. Hand over all your Aether and equipment."

His voice hardened.

"And don’t try hiding it or moving assets away. Each of you will provide a capture of your asset panel and your recent Exchange transfer records."

He looked toward the enemy fleet.

"In return, I’ll let you leave the Homeworld. Your Heroes and troops can go with you."

Had another power betrayed him like this, he would already have ordered its destruction. With an upper Human Realm, he had to be more careful. He had enough enemies as it was.

The Human Sovereign title had changed something in him too. He felt a stronger connection to his race. A stronger Humanity would also mean greater benefits and authority for its Human Sovereign.

To Cassian, allowing the entire invading force to leave alive was a substantial concession.

Evander saw it very differently.

"Insolence!"

He looked as though Cassian had struck him across the face.

"You backwater fool! Do you understand what you’re saying? Fivefold Heaven’s will represents Humanity’s will! Seizing the Temple was for the good of our race. So was my offer to end this battle!"

His voice rose into a furious shout.

"Your demands make you an enemy of Humanity itself!"

Even Cassian’s patience had limits. Anger burned through him as he listened.

Yet most of the Homeworld’s Lords welcomed Evander’s words.

[Lord Ardent has said exactly what I’ve been thinking!] Corven Talcrest declared. [The Jade Court recognized Cassian as a traitor from the beginning. We saw what he was before anyone else!]

Gavin Roswell followed at once.

[Cassian betrayed the Homeworld long ago. Now he has betrayed Humanity! Fairford Province proposes that we formally request intervention from the upper Realms, in the Homeworld’s name. Remove this scourge and restore peace!]

Nerissa’s message was filled with grief and fury.

[What else could he be? Who but a monster would launch such a merciless war? Think of the millions of our Black Banner people!]

Cassian was too strong.

What they had just witnessed made that clearer than ever. If he lived, they feared that sooner or later they would be the ones to die.

His death, on the other hand, would leave a feast for everyone else. Divine Nation, the Fortune Town, the thirteen Crown Provinces—each of their factions could claim an enormous share.

That was what mattered to them.

Perhaps he could lead the Homeworld to greatness. Perhaps he could strengthen Humanity itself. Those were benefits for the Homeworld and the race as a whole.

They wanted benefits for themselves.

Across the thirteen Crown Provinces, and among other Lords who could still judge the matter honestly, anger rose at the blatant reversal of right and wrong.

Even Elara could no longer contain herself.

"They can’t tell right from wrong, loyalty from betrayal! There’s nothing left to reason with in these people!"

Cassian was calmer about the channel’s uproar. This was hardly the first time those same people had worked themselves into a frenzy against him.

He addressed Evander once more.

"Last chance. Accept my terms, and you can leave this behind you."

Evander laughed coldly. He did not bother answering.

"Disciples of the Covenant! Prepare to break out!"

Cassian understood.

They stood on opposite sides of this matter, and neither saw it as the other did. What he considered a generous concession, the Lords of Fivefold Heaven evidently considered intolerable.

There was no point wasting more words.

"Then we’ll see how many of you make it back to Fivefold Heaven today."

In private, he issued fresh orders.

"Faerie Dragon corps, stand by."

"Kinetic Mech corps, stand by."

"Blood Emperor corps... stand by."

The reinforcements he had summoned were in position. Ghost One had collected them outside the spatial seal and brought them back through the waters by sea.

At that moment, the immense barrier vanished.

It had not collapsed. Evander had dismissed the Five Elements Cycle Array himself.

The ships moved in disciplined order, swiftly forming a cone-shaped battle formation. Then the entire fleet surged away from Breakwater Isle.