Chapter 175: Captain Reach

?He had initially assumed that the seven Lords from the shuttle represented the entirety of their passenger group. However, a quick scan revealed that several others were already present.

?Some sat quietly on the sofas, conversing with their companions. Others stood near the viewports, observing the starship’s final prep sequence.

A few had deployed their Champions, whose appearances varied wildly, ranging from humanoid warriors clad in glowing, rune-carved armor to terrifying alien monstrosities that barely resembled anything found on ordinary worlds.

?All of them were bound for the exact same destination: the Orion Rift.

?Cassian found the gathering interesting. The rift had only recently drawn widespread attention, yet the number of high-tier Lords willing to spend an absolute fortune to reach it suggested that the rumors of its inheritance were spreading fast.

’?I wonder how they would react if they knew what they were actually walking into.’

?Before he could dwell on the thought, a sudden, suffocating pressure swept through the lounge.

?It was brief, lasting only a fraction of a second, but its impact was absolute.

?Several conversations cut off mid-sentence. A few Lords straightened rigidly in their seats, while others snapped their heads toward the source of the aura.

?Cassian’s eyes narrowed.

?Beside him, Nyxara’s hand instinctively hovered near her hip, her gaze sharpening to a lethal point.

?They had both felt it.

?Someone had entered the lounge without making a single sound, and the presence surrounding that individual was far from ordinary.

?An elderly man now stood several paces away from them.

?He had a full head of neatly groomed silver hair, a trimmed beard, and a pair of razor-sharp eyes that seemed to dissect everything in the room.

His deep blue uniform was adorned with silver insignia marking him as a senior commanding officer of the Astral Voyager.

?Despite his age, he stood remarkably straight, his hands clasped firmly behind his back.

?Cassian studied him quietly.

’?His aura...’

?There was something strangely familiar about it.

?The pressure wasn’t identical to Louis Ferdinand’s, but it shared the same underlying weight, the distinct signature of an Ascendant veteran who had spent centuries surviving cosmic battlefields and could remain entirely unfazed in the presence of dangerous Lords.

?The elderly officer offered a polite, grandfatherly smile as he surveyed the room.

?"Good afternoon, everyone. I apologize for the brief intrusion."

?His voice was calm, carrying effortless authority across the wide lounge.

?"My name is Captain Reach, and I will be overseeing your passage aboard the Astral Voyager. I’ll do my utmost to ensure your journey to the Orion Rift is comfortable, safe, and free of unnecessary complications."

?He paused, letting the weight of his presence settle over the assembly.

?"Naturally, I expect the exact same cooperation from all of you."

?The warm smile remained on his face, but the look in his eyes turned razor-sharp.

?"If anyone decides to cause trouble aboard my vessel, you will be issued a full refund."

?Several Lords exchanged nervous, bewildered glances.

?Captain Reach continued in the same pleasant, unhurried tone.

?"However... you will have to find your own way back."

?Silence gripped the lounge.

?One of the younger Lords visibly swallowed, his throat tightening.

?The captain’s smile widened slightly as he registered their reactions.

?"Fortunately, I don’t expect any of you to be that foolish."

?He let out a sudden, hearty laugh, a booming sound that felt completely at odds with the implicit threat he had just delivered.

?"Now, there’s no need to look so solemn! We’re about to set out on a long voyage, and the kitchen staff have prepared an extraordinary welcome feast for our distinguished guests. I strongly suggest you take full advantage of it before we jump. Good food breeds good company, and good company makes for a pleasant voyage."

?He offered the room a crisp, formal nod.

?"Enjoy yourselves. I will see you all when we reach cruising velocity."

?With that, Captain Reach turned smoothly on his heel and strolled down the side corridor, leaving the lounge behind.

?For several seconds, no one spoke.

?Gradually, the quiet murmur of conversation resumed, though the captain’s implicit warning had clearly left its mark on every Lord present.

?Nyxara watched the corridor where the officer had disappeared. After a moment, she turned toward Cassian.

?"My Lord... are all human elders like him?"

?Cassian considered the question, then gave a light shrug. "I certainly hope not."

?Nyxara tilted her head slightly, her long ears twitching.

?Cassian had to admit the captain was quite a character. The man possessed a formidable aura, delivered a chilling threat as casually as a greeting, and then immediately invited everyone to a feast as though nothing had happened.

’?I hope I don’t turn into an eccentric like that when I get old.’

?The thought made him pause.

?Awakening as a Lord dramatically extended one’s lifespan. Depending on rank and cultivation stage, an individual could live for centuries, or even millennia.

However, an extended lifespan didn’t mean time ceased to leave its mark.

?A Lord might retain the physical appearance of a twenty-year-old for a thousand years while carrying a thousand years’ worth of memories and trauma.

The body remained pristine, but the mind was an entirely different story.

?After centuries of war, political maneuvering, dangerous rifts, and encounters with cosmic horror, it was hardly surprising when veteran Lords developed bizarre quirks.

’?Actually, considering everything I’ve already lived through, I might already be well on my way.’

?Cassian shook off the idle thought. There was no point pondering who he might become a thousand years from now when he had immediate matters to handle.

?He turned to Nyxara. "Come on. Let’s get something to eat before checking our suites."

?The undead elf nodded obediently. "Understood, my Lord."

?They started toward the dining area, where several crew members were laying out silver platters for the feast Captain Reach had promised.

?However, they hadn’t taken more than three steps when a shadow fell across their path.

?Cassian stopped.

?Nyxara’s violet eyes narrowed to sharp slits.

?Blocking their way was a young man clad in an expensive, custom-tailored combat suit, his posture radiating the casual arrogance of someone accustomed to getting whatever he wanted.

?Two older Lords stood shoulder-to-shoulder behind him, acting as clear muscle.

?The young man cast a dismissive glance at Cassian before turning his full attention toward Nyxara. His eyes swept over the undead elf’s striking features, and a slow, predatory smile spread across his lips.

....

Author’s Note

Hey guys, I know you missed me, well, I’m back, so no more missing me!

On a serious note, the past few Chapters have been a bit slower in pacing. I was preparing for a school test and wanted a completely clear mind while writing Cassian’s development so I wouldn’t make any narrative mistakes. I finished that test yesterday, and my schedule is completely free for the upcoming days. So we’re heading straight back into the action.

As a bonus:

Each Privilege Tier will increase by 5 Chapters!

The Highest Tier will increase by 10 Chapters!

Prices remain exactly the same, so everyone reading ahead is getting a massive mass drop for next month!

Don’t worry, this Privilege boost won’t affect regular releases at all. The daily 3-Chapter release schedule stays locked in!

P.S. Regarding the 300 Power Stone condition I set for the 3 daily Chapters... I completely forgot to check it while studying! Plus, that shiny trophy occupying the Power Stone spot made it pretty hard to see the exact number anyway (forgive the mild flex). So I just stuck with releasing 3 Chapters a day regardless.

But that doesn’t mean you should stop dropping Power Stones! When next month hits, I want you guys to stone me to death, metaphorically, of course.

That’s all from your handsome author. See you guys next month!