Chapter 241: Too Late

[Announcement: Stage Two of the Contest of Champions has opened.]

[At 12:00 noon tomorrow, all Lords holding the title Homeworld Champion will represent the Homeworld against the myriad races.]

[The Homeworld has been assigned to War Realm 77, alongside Florentia, the Singer Realm, Brahma, Five Thunder, and other Realms.]

[Stage Two consists of an Individual Contest and a Legion Contest.]

[Individual Contest: Arena battles. Each victory grants a corresponding reward. The top one million participants will receive the title Human Champion and qualify for Stage Three. Select for detailed rules.]

[Legion Contest: Homeworld participants will form the Homeworld Legion and work together to construct a World Wonder. Rankings will be determined by construction progress. Rewards for the participating Realms include Fortune, territory, resources, ambient Aether, and Lord attribute bonuses. Select for detailed rules.]

[All combat casualties during the Contest of Champions are real.]

[Lords throughout Sector 666 may purchase tickets to watch live feeds. Arena broadcasts require the consent of both participating Lords.]

Further notices followed.

With so many people already watching Divine Province’s war, almost everyone saw the announcements immediately. The Homeworld Channel erupted.

The Champions were especially excited. Many forgot the ongoing battle at once. However impressive it might be, it was someone else’s war. This concerned them directly.

[Arena battles? I thought it would be tower defense! I built dozens of towers for nothing!]

[More arena matches mean more broadcasts. The Realm gets to sell more tickets. Makes sense.]

[Look at the prize for first place! A Mythic reward!]

[First place always gets a Mythic reward. What does that have to do with us?]

[Why shouldn’t it?] a Divine Province official demanded. [You’ve seen what Cassian can do. He might have a chance at first place.]

[Have Crown Lords lost their minds? Or do you simply know nothing about the powers among the myriad races?]

[Arena battles depend on Fortune as well as strength. Cassian started as a commoner and came this far. Clearly, his luck isn’t bad.]

[You still believe that story about him being a commoner?]

Cassian had no idea what to say. Somehow, they had found time to argue about him.

Soon, though, attention shifted to the Legion Contest.

[An individual ranking benefits one person. The Legion Contest affects the Homeworld’s Fortune—the future of ten billion Lords in this sector!]

[A century ago, Sector 555 reached the top hundred. They called it the Homeworld’s strongest sector in the Seventh Realm. Resources across all our Realms increased by more than thirty percent.]

[The strong only get stronger.]

[Construction contests involve gathering and defense. The number of Lords matters a great deal.]

[Malcolm — Concord Province: I advise everyone to preserve their strength during individual battles. Minimize Hero and troop casualties. Above all, no Lord should die. Concede when necessary. Every additional person can contribute to the Legion Contest.]

[Walter — Norman Province: The councilor is right. For the Legion Contest, I would even forgo the Individual Contest.]

[Nerissa Vaust — Vaust Province: An admirable attitude, Lord Walter. Unfortunately, some people may not share it.]

[Walter — Norman Province: Lady Vaust, you mean...]

He understood. Frowning, he looked back at the battle feed.

Nerissa’s next message was fierce.

[Nerissa Vaust: Cassian! Everyone is coming together for our world, and you’re attacking Homeworld Champions? Do you intend to become a criminal in the eyes of the entire Homeworld?]

Only then did many viewers remember that some of the Lords needed for the Legion Contest were about to die on their screens.

Even neutral Lords who had kept silent throughout the war began to object.

[Lord Cassian, friends of Divine Province, the Black Banner was wrong to attack at a time like this. But building a World Wonder requires everyone to work together!]

[Why not make Galen pay a ransom? Both sides would benefit.]

"Hahahaha!"

Seeing so much of the Homeworld pressing Cassian, Galen regained his confidence.

"Accept my terms, Cassian. I’m willing to pay one hundred Aether for my release!"

He brazenly turned his feed toward Cassian.

Nerissa and the others cursed him inwardly. The fool was still provoking the man who could kill him. But they had to save him now, whatever they thought of his behavior.

Elara and Seraphine flew over to join Cassian. Both stared angrily at Galen.

Who could have expected the rules to appear at this exact moment? The contest would begin in less than a day, and the Legion Contest required construction. If they killed those Black Banner Champions now, their enemies would accuse them of sacrificing the Homeworld’s interests.

The situation had turned in an instant.

Even Darian hesitated.

"Cassian, perhaps we should—"

"You call yourself a Homeworld Champion?"

Cassian’s roar cut him off.

"By my reckoning, there’s a ninety-nine percent chance the Legion Contest will be a mass battle. I alone am worth all of you put together. What use do we have for trash like you?"

Everyone stared.

A golden fist a hundred meters across formed in the air, its power compressed to an extraordinary density. It shot across the ten kilometers between them.

Galen’s eyes widened.

By his reckoning? A mass battle?

The Realm had already announced the rules!

Then he understood. Cassian was pretending not to know. He meant to kill them first and deny knowing anything afterward.

"You bastard! Read the announcements! The contest has already—"

He tried desperately to dodge.

Origin Divine Fist was not Sword of Space. However fast it moved, it still had to cross the distance to its target. At ten kilometers, Lords of their current strength had a chance to escape its path.

But the moment Galen and the others tried to move, an irresistible force held their bodies in place.

They could only watch the golden fist descend.

"No! I still—"

"Cassian, I’ll haunt—"

"Avenge—"

The impact swallowed their cries.

Even Julian Lind had failed to withstand Origin Divine Fist. These men had no chance. A small mushroom cloud rose from the ground where they had stood, conveniently gathered together.

Hadrian somehow escaped the blow. It did him little good. The Dawnwings arriving behind the attack cut him down with ease.

Cassian breathed out. Forming such a concentrated fist so quickly had taken some effort. The distance was the main problem.

"Ah!"

He suddenly cried out, looking utterly astonished.

"The Contest of Champions has opened already?"

His expression changed to dismay.

"Damn it! World Wonder construction? I thought it would be a mass battle!"