Chapter 221: Space Will

Greater Demons were cunning and cautious. Their leader gave another elegant smile.

"You’re strong. But Human Lords have such irresistible flesh..."

All three vanished.

Their voices drifted back from empty air.

"We’ll leave once we’ve eaten our fill."

"But try to hunt us, and we’ll be very angry. You won’t like the consequences!"

Laughter followed them.

"Stop them!" Darian shouted. "With spatial movement like that, barriers won’t keep them contained. If they start ambushing Lords, our losses will be terrible!"

Maren pushed Aura Sight as hard as she could. She caught only blurred shapes.

"East. South. Northwest..."

Space Will had multiplied their speed. Within moments, they had passed beyond her detection.

Cassian had just granted Mira administrative access. She sent a warning through the Province Channel, then turned to him anxiously.

"Boss, we need hunting teams. We can’t let those Greater Demons destroy the Capital."

"Damn them!" Darian suddenly snapped. "Now I know why the Black Banner spent so much to put an Abyss Gate here."

Elara understood too.

"They want to keep our strongest forces occupied. We won’t be able to clear them out of Tidecrown, and Cassian won’t be able to concentrate on the Tower."

Her face darkened.

"They’re trying to keep him from becoming a Homeworld Champion."

The others finally saw the purpose of the attack.

Nessa patted her chest, drawing an envious glance from Lyra. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Cassian, you go to the Tower. Leave the Demons to us."

She meant it. Unfortunately, everyone knew her Legendary Knights could do little against Greater Demons of the same Level that could slip through space.

"If things haven’t improved in five days, I’ll leave Tidecrown," Rowan said at once. "At least that would move the boss up one place."

The others brightened. It was a last resort, but it could work.

"Me too!" Nessa said.

Darian answered generously.

"I’ll pay for the Advanced Relocation Writs to bring you back afterward."

Cassian had said nothing. Elara mistook his silence for worry and spoke earnestly.

"Don’t worry. Whatever it costs us, we’ll make sure you qualify."

[Your Faerie Dragon has killed Orvex Malgrath.]

[Battle Essence gained: 7,200,000.]

[Skill Book: Space Will ×1. Advanced Load Book ×1.]

Two more kill notices followed. Cassian smiled as he read them.

The Greater Demons were powerful, but Space Will could not bridge the gap between Legendary One-Star and Legendary Nine-Star. Their hunters were an Extreme caster line as well.

The three Faerie Dragons had approached unseen through Phase Wander, then struck together. The Greater Demons had barely finished their threats before they were killed.

Best of all, their leader—a descendant of the Demon God Malgrath—had dropped a Space Will Skill Book.

A passive ability.

Cassian knew exactly where he wanted it first: the Eclipse Muster Hall.

He sent the book back to Veyra through the Exchange. At the Hall, she consumed it and registered Space Will in the inheritance, making the new passive available to the Eclipse troops.

With Space Will reinforcing Sword of Space, their strikes carried twice the power for the same Aether cost.

The Black Banner Lords had seen Mira’s warning in the Province Channel.

Galen burst out laughing.

"Greater Demons! They really appeared! Sun Mother is finally smiling on us again."

He sent a mocking message.

[Galen Tervain: I hope the Crown enjoys my gift.]

Cassian was in far too good a mood to bother with him. He smiled at his friends.

"Let’s do as you’ve suggested."

Faerie Dragons were even more formidable than Dawnwings. He had no intention of revealing them casually.

Darian immediately took charge. Before long, he had organized the strongest Lords into three hunting teams, leaving Cassian out.

"As Governor of Tidecrown, I can’t simply stand aside," Cassian said solemnly. "From now on, I’ll guard this Abyss Gate myself."

He lifted a hand. Before the others could react, his Domain moved into the Farming site behind him.

They stared, then hurried to dissuade him.

Cassian insisted. It was his duty. He could hardly ask anyone else to bear it. He was determined to see the matter through.

The others could only admire his resolve.

Elara sighed.

"You need to focus on the Skyreach Tower. You should be using a Combat site."

"I’m not a War Lord," Cassian said with a smile. "I’ve taken an interest in farming lately. This site is perfect."

For a moment, no one could answer.

He had fought an entire Province by himself, and now he claimed he wasn’t a War Lord?

They did not know which crop interested him.

The Enlightenment Tea Tree.

A Farming site increased its growth speed by another twenty percent. His army already had far more fighting strength than it needed. Even without the Abyss Gate, this was the kind of site he would have chosen.

Finally, he turned to Elara.

"Could you contact Lady Aveline for me? I’d like to ask a favor."

"Whatever you need."

Elara brightened. She had received so much help from him. At first, she had insisted on paying, but now she simply couldn’t afford to repay everything. Having a chance to help him felt good.

"Something on the Homeworld?"

Cassian nodded.

"I need her to send something to the Black Banner military through an official channel."

"The military? What are you sending?"

Darian and the others looked curious too.

"A banner of thanks. As quickly as possible."

Cassian smiled.

"It should say..."

As he explained, their expressions grew stranger and stranger.

"You really do know how to enjoy yourself," Darian said, eyes shining. "Can you put my name on it too? Please. I’ll pay a hundred million Aether!"

"Do you know why I didn’t ask you to arrange it?" Cassian smiled. "I was afraid you’d change the name behind my back."

Elara had nothing to say.

Neither did Darian.

——

Dorian, Galen, and the other Black Banner leaders waited eagerly for news of chaos in the Capital.

Half an hour passed. Nothing happened.

An hour passed. The map remained quiet.

They began to feel uneasy.

On the Homeworld, the Black Banner’s military leadership was still awake, arguing over the news from Tidecrown.

"Useless fools! Every one of our Commanders has lost Gate access. Our newcomer Lords are trapped within the thousand-kilometer map around each Region."

"At least Colonel Hale reports Legendary Greater Demons appearing as soon as the Abyss Gate formed."

"The gods favor us. Those Crown brats will be too busy saving themselves to clear out the Province."

"Dragons. A self-created Epic troop line with that kind of strength. Extreme troops. And such personal fighting power... We must eliminate Cassian Vale."

"Fortunately, the Jade Court has been a great help."

"And make sure the next force brings enough Spatial Lock scrolls."

"Report!"

A junior officer approached Gordon Trelwick, who commanded a hundred sectors.

"An official Crown delivery, sir. A gift sent through House Vayne. It’s been examined. Nothing dangerous inside."

The defeat in Tidecrown had surprised everyone. Even Trelwick, who happened to be visiting the Homeworld, had been drawn into the matter. General Hale of Sector 632 was among those attending the meeting.

Cassian’s strength had shocked them all.

"A gift?"

Trelwick stroked his little mustache as he looked at the box.

"Nothing good comes in a gift from the Crown."

Even so, he ordered his men to open it carefully.

"A banner?"

He stared. Then he read the words.

His eyes blazed. His breathing grew harsh.

"Bastards!"

He slammed a hand onto the table and sprang to his feet, startling everyone in the room.