Chapter 237: The Dawnwing Corps Revealed

The Valcrest founder had barely spoken when the view shifted. The Lord broadcasting the battle turned his attention back to the extraordinary sight overhead.

"Dawnwings. So they are."

A squad of agile, four-winged Legendary troops swept across the image. The founder watched them closely.

"From their flight path, they’re fighting for Divine Province."

The Dawnwings dived. In little more than ten seconds, they surrounded and killed three Legendary Demonkin troops.

"Sacred Scepter explains their coordination," he said. "But why do their attributes seem no weaker than those veterans’ Legendaries? These youngsters keep surprising us. At this rate, could Divine Province actually win outright?"

Dawnwings could not match the Divines, and their attributes did not place them among the Extreme lines. Even so, their race ranked within the top thousand of the myriad races. All three rulers knew perfectly well what they could do.

Edran shook his head.

"They’re good troops. But for sheer destruction on a battlefield, they’re far behind Golden Behemoths. One squad won’t decide this war."

"One squad won’t," the Caerwyn Sovereign said. "What if there’s more than one?"

He pointed at the figures on the feed.

"Marshal. Vanguards. Arcanists. That’s a properly formed combat squad. It doesn’t look like a group drawn from random Troop Sigils."

Edran and the Valcrest founder looked more closely.

Did Riftward have another Epic Troop Building besides the Royal Hall? Or even a Legendary one?

Cries from the other feeds answered them.

[Where did those Dawnwings come from?]

[They’re ours! They’re fighting for Divine Province!]

[Four wings! Every one of them is Legendary!]

[Don’t tell me these are Cassian’s troops too!]

One squad. Two. Three.

Dawnwings appeared in every one of the dozen or so feeds the rulers were watching. Even after their suspicions, the three exchanged looks of disbelief.

"Not a Wild Troop Building. One inside his own Domain."

"A Legendary Troop Building, only a few months after the sector opened? Where did Cassian get that much Legendary construction material?"

"Are this generation’s youngsters that extraordinary? Or have we simply grown old?"

"Could it be another gain from Swordheart?"

Questions crowded their minds. Once he had recovered, Edran spoke with a complicated expression.

"So much for keeping a low profile."

The Valcrest founder looked aggrieved.

"Damn it. The Jade Court will be certain we’re funding Divine Province. We’ve only discussed it. We haven’t even sent them anything yet!"

——

Along the northern line, fifty women of House Fenwick led their Eclipse troops in the defense of more than ten kilometers of ground.

Lords, Heroes, troops—beautiful women filled the line. But anyone who mistook them for ornaments would pay dearly. Aegis Fold held their formations together, while Space Will gave their Sword of Space attacks twice the power. Nessa’s thirty-six Legendary Knights raced from one threatened position to another. The line had held firm.

The Daoist Lords from Dragon Tiger Province, defending the neighboring section, could not help looking over. Their Dao Soldiers were a fine Rare troop line. Beside the Eclipse Legionnaires, however, the difference was painfully clear.

Repeatedly using Grade-A skills came at a cost.

In the Fenwicks’ small Channel, Seren spoke up.

"Nessa, at this rate, our potions will last another hour at most."

"Hold on, everyone. If things get truly dangerous, Cassian won’t leave us to face it alone."

Susie’s shout interrupted her.

"Nessa! We need help! Dozens of Legendary troops have appeared in front of Domain 078!"

Nessa’s expression sharpened.

"Coming!"

She was about to send her Knights when another woman cried out.

"Domain 084 too! Dozens of Legendaries!"

"There are dozens of Spiritbound Lords here!"

Nessa understood at once. The Black Banner had singled out their section of the defenses.

"Ask for help," Seren urged. "We can’t hold off this many Legendary enemies for long!"

"I..."

Nessa frowned. This was her family’s first battle in Divine Province. She wanted them to earn respect, not become another burden for Cassian. But the danger was real.

She had just decided to request reinforcements when thirteen white figures flashed across the edge of her vision. They plunged toward Domain 078 like falling stars.

A clear, cool voice reached her.

"Lady Nessa. I am Harriet, First Marshal of the Dawnwing corps. Lord Cassian has sent us to reinforce you."

Nessa’s eyes widened.

The Dawnwing... *corps*?

Had she misheard? Had Harriet misspoken?

One hidden squad, or even a few, would have surprised her. Then she would have accepted it. Cassian always seemed to have another trick ready.

But a corps? Surely that meant at least ten squads.

For a moment, she could think of nothing at all.

"Dawnwings!" Susie cried. "A whole squad of four-winged Dawnwings! They’re holding off several times their number in Legendary troops! Look at them!"

Her excitement brought Nessa back to herself.

"That was fast, Nessa! You called them in just in time!"

"I..."

"He really listens to you," Seren said, impressed. Then her tone turned curious. "Are you sure you’re only colleagues? There isn’t a little office romance you haven’t told us about? We barely got into trouble, and his troops were already here."

Nessa opened her mouth. Then she lifted her chin proudly.

"Now you know how much I matter to Cassian. From now on, you can all call me big sister!"

Another shout came from the neighboring defenses held by Dragon Tiger and Hidden Dragon Lords.

"A Dawnwing corps? What the hell?"

Nessa recognized the voice. Ansel Fenholt, the leader of the Daoist contingent from Dragon Tiger Province.

He was no ordinary newcomer. A hundred years old, he had entered a new sector again. Rumor said he had brought Bean Soldiers, one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Arts, to Great Mastery. Age had done nothing to soften his hatred of wrongdoing. He had gathered his disciples and come to Divine Province out of sheer determination to help.

Now even that old master had completely lost his composure.

More cries followed.

[Look at the feeds! That’s more than ten squads already. It really is a corps!]

[A Legendary Troop Building! Cassian has a Legendary Troop Building! Could it be a Dawnwing Rebirth Pool from Heaven Mountain?]

[How is any of this real?]

——

In the northwest, Orion Valcrest had been casually cutting down one powerful enemy after another.

Then the Dawnwings flew overhead.

His jaw nearly dropped.

"I was wondering whether Cassian would send those Faerie Dragons into the battle. A Dawnwing corps? Even for an old power starting over, that’s astonishing."

All he knew of the Faerie Dragons was that Cassian had subdued several of them.

Suddenly, a brilliant light entered his eyes.

"Could he have chosen reincarnation deliberately? To overthrow the Jade Court’s rule in the Seventh Realm? And the people supporting him... Father and the others?"

The more Orion considered it, the more sense it seemed to make.

"To give up centuries of work, perhaps a thousand years, for the Crown’s future in the Realm. What a man."

He looked toward Cassian with deep respect.

"Since I’ve been given the chance, I’ll do everything I can to help. Even if it sends me through reincarnation once more."

The shock was spreading far beyond the first few people who had seen the Dawnwings.

And it had only just begun.