Chapter 850: Banquet of Chaos

Chapter 850: Chapter 850: Banquet of Chaos

"Crul," called out Ethan, feeling the tide of refined energy settling within his meridians. "Did you find out where they fled?"

[Indeed, Master], responded Crul, projecting a series of runic coordinates onto the display. [According to the portal logs, I locked onto their destination coordinates. They are off-continent. They escaped to the Phoenix Empire continent.]

"Where they’re holding my family, right?" muttered Ethan, his amethyst eyes narrowing. "I suppose we could pay them a visit."

[I wouldn’t recommend it, Master], warned the synthetic voice immediately. [I breached their network base. Since I established a link, I recovered contact with the beacon I dispatched alongside your family. As the beacon remains on that continent, I hold a feed. I’ve breached their operations network—work is in progress. However, I uncovered something of interest.]

"Tell me what you found," ordered Ethan, crossing his arms as the nightmare shadow at his back flickered.

[Currently, an emissary delegation has assembled in that empire], began Crul. [They represent the Leviathan Empire, along with factions from the Crimson Heaven Empire and the White Fox Empire. They are convening a summit to launch a joint strike against the Golden Dragon Empire. Unfortunately, I lack beacon coverage; we will need to forge additional units to secure total surveillance, just as we once did back on the island you called Earth.]

"That’s high on my priority list," said Ethan, grinding his teeth, "but right now I need my vengeance. Why shouldn’t I march in?"

[The Phoenix Empress sits far above all other emperors on this continent], explained Crul sternly. [Furthermore, the Leviathan Emperor and the Crimson Emperor are present. Infiltrating now would be a one-way trip.]

"Damn it...", growled Ethan. "What else did you uncover?"

[The following update brings good news, Master], continued Crul. [Intercepted transmissions reveal what transpired. It appears Vorian was no native of our empire; he was a plant deployed by the Leviathan Empire. He was an embedded spy meant to destabilize the Golden Dragon Empire from within so they could launch a dual-front invasion. The entire scheme was shattered by Emperor Aurelius. It seems he used the offense against you as a pretext to declare war; had that not occurred, he would have seized another cause to launch his strike. And that isn’t even the best part.]

"There’s more?" asked Ethan.

[Indeed! I told you there were good news], answered Crul with synthetic satisfaction. [The best part is that the other two opposing emperors were wounded. Emperor Aurelius’s power exceeds the boundary of this plane. Remember when I told you this realm is sealed? Well, anything exceeding the Divine Origin Realm is erased from existence, and the Emperor has touched that threshold. The three emperors were informed of this by the Leviathan Emperor and attempted to turn the realm constraint against Aurelius. The Emperor’s status is unknown, but he managed to nearly obliterate all three in a single blow, forcing them to flee before verifying if the celestial calamity finished him off.]

Ethan frowned, processing the tactical implications.

"That doesn’t sound like good news," said Ethan. "Without the Emperor, won’t we be wiped out by the neighboring empires?"

[That is one perspective, Master], countered Crul with logic. [The alternative perspective is that we can now devour two more empires without restraint.]

A smirk spread across Ethan’s face, the amethysts on his skin flaring with dark light.

"Now I see... I get what you’re planning."

Ethan turned toward the threshold of the imperial chamber and let his voice echo through the palace halls:

"Vaelen!"

The veteran general strode into the room, halting sharply before Ethan’s aura.

"Take all survivors and fall back to the Capital!" commanded Ethan with authority. "Inform the Emperor without delay to prepare for war. We have uncovered intelligence that the Leviathan Empire, the White Fox Empire, and the Crimson Empire are preparing a crusade against us. Report to him that we have conquered the Divine Wind Empire... and that we are marching upon the remaining two empires to exterminate them."

"Understood, sir," replied General Vaelen with a bow, pressing his fist against his chest. "I will take all the men and return. At this scale of battle, we are merely an obstacle in your path. I will personally inform your wife that everything went smoothly and that you faced no genuine danger, ensuring she does not worry."

"Good. Do that," Ethan nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I will return soon."

"Salute, Great General!" declared Vaelen, his voice surging with reverence. "For the glory of the Soaring Dragon Kingdom, and for the glory of the Golden Dragon Empire!"

"Waste no time," warned Ethan. "You must deliver the messages to the Emperor in time for him to prepare."

[Master, I have secured the coordinates], interrupted Crul within his mind, displaying the spatial rift array across his interface. [We are ready to depart.]

"I am taking my leave, Vaelen. Good luck," concluded Ethan.

Without waiting another second, Ethan’s form blurred through space and vanished into the ultra-long-range teleportation portal. Though ninety-five percent of his armada had been obliterated during the siege and the suicide drop against the imperial barrier, the remaining vessels plunged into the spatial vortex directly behind him, vanishing from the skies of the Divine Wind.

Meanwhile, Vaelen and the surviving veterans boarded one of the largest remaining transport dreadnoughts. Crul had already automated the navigation protocols on the bridge, requiring the soldiers merely to take their seats.

General Vaelen stared out the reinforced viewport, watching the ruined city recede as the thrusters ignited their course home.

"At last...", whispered the old warrior with a heavy exhale, letting out the accumulated fatigue of the slaughter. "Heading home."

Nostalgia filled Vaelen’s chest as he pulled a worn locket from his pocket and opened it with trembling hands. Resting inside was a miniature portrait of his wife and daughter, illuminated by the faint glow of the ship’s control panel.

"Your husband has not disappointed you...", he whispered, his eyes misting with fatigue and memories. "After this crusade, I shall retire. The world needs new blood... and it seems the man destined to lead this era was born right in our own kingdom."

The veteran general offered a smile as he gazed out into the starry void beyond the viewport.

"There is no doubt the princess possesses the finest vision of all... Only she could have found him. He reminds me so much of her mother... She was always one to make monumental decisions. Wherever she may be in the heavens, she must be smiling down, blessing her daughter."

Vaelen snapped the locket shut with a click and leaned back into his seat, letting the hum of the thrusters guide him home as the vessel cut through the clouds toward the horizon of the Golden Dragon Empire.