Chapter 247: Human Champion

Cassian felt both relieved and disappointed as he looked at the Elf.

Relieved that he would not have to lose more troops. Disappointed that this match was unlikely to yield another powerful Troop Sigil.

After a moment, he said, "You should withdraw."

Odilia frowned.

She had beaten hundreds of thousands of rivals to become a Champion of Florentia. She had her pride. Besides, the forest was her own kind of battlefield.

She gave a cold snort and opened her mouth to answer.

A hundred and thirty Dawnwings spread their wings and rose slowly into the air. Their gazes settled on her without a trace of emotion.

"Dawnwings? Four-winged Dawnwings?"

For a moment, Odilia froze.

"Withdraw!"

Only when the invulnerable pillar of light enclosed her did she breathe again. She bowed slightly to Cassian.

"Handsome Lord of the Homeworld, thank you for showing mercy."

Before he could reply, she cried out again.

"So many spectators! I’m rich! I’m rich!"

She was still exclaiming as the light carried her away.

Rhea watched the departing light with a puzzled expression.

"Lord, ten Eclipse veterans could have killed her before she reacted. Her best troops were only Epic, but even a few tens of millions of Battle Essence would have been worth taking."

Cassian appreciated her concern for the Domain’s income.

"Florentia has diplomatic relations with the Homeworld. There’s no reason to make an enemy of an allied civilization for that."

Rhea nodded.

"I thought perhaps you found her pretty."

Cassian gave her a look.

"If we weren’t live, I’d give you a good smack on the backside."

"A punishment?" Rhea asked, untroubled.

"A reward."

Aurelia cleared her throat.

"Lord. We have an audience."

The spectators had expected a fierce battle. Their complaints flooded the feed.

[That’s it?]

[What was the point? Nothing happened!]

[Ten Aether wasted.]

[Why does Sun Mother keep favoring Cassian?]

[Nessa Fenwick: Are you an idiot?]

Odilia turned out to be quite popular herself. More than a million Lords from Florentia had joined the broadcast. Even that was nothing beside Cassian’s hundreds of millions of followers, though most had come hoping to see him lose.

This match earned him another eight hundred million Aether.

——

Florentia.

In a royal court of exquisite beauty, a cool, musical voice came from the throne.

"The Homeworld. A young Lord called Cassian. A Dawnwing corps..."

The Queen sounded puzzled.

"Isn’t the Homeworld in constant disorder? More than two hundred nations on a single planet. How did they produce such a talent?"

The High Priestess below the throne retained an elegant beauty of her own.

"A million Lords saw him, Your Majesty. And that fortunate little Odilia earned eight hundred million Aether from her share of the broadcast. That should tell us how popular Lord Cassian is on the Homeworld."

Even she could not help marveling. Money earned for doing almost nothing.

"Very well. With a Dawnwing corps, he is certain to become a Human Champion. Whether he can reach the top ten thousand is another question. Place him in the Grade-A files for now."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Queen was plainly more interested in another matter.

"Have you learned anything about the Lord we call the Divine Farmer?"

Some time ago, they had noticed an unknown newcomer selling a steady supply of Legendary produce. The range was astonishing. Some varieties had already become extinct on Florentia.

They urgently wanted to find this powerful Farming Lord, establish friendly relations, and perhaps buy seeds.

The Worlds Market allowed neither real names nor messages. They had been forced to give the seller a name of their own: the Divine Farmer.

"It is strange," the High Priestess admitted. "The lowest transaction fees indicate that this Lord’s Realm cannot be far from Florentia. Yet Nightfall has searched openly and in secret for a long time without finding a single lead."

She paused.

"Perhaps one of our own elders has started again..."

The Queen sighed.

"Make this a priority. If we find the Divine Farmer, we may gain more than seeds. We might even attempt to open the Venom Temple in the new sector."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will oversee the search myself."

——

Cassian sneezed.

His expression sharpened.

"Another curse?"

A few months earlier, Felton Blackwell had sacrificed his life to curse him. That had made him sneeze too.

"No. A newcomer casting a curse would produce a visible sign."

Had his performance attracted the attention of someone truly powerful?

Beyond a certain level, an individual’s will and presence could affect reality. Some beings were said to drive people mad with a glance. Deliberately focusing their attention on someone could do far more.

That was one reason Cassian still had no intention of returning to the Homeworld, despite his enormous gains in strength. Without a powerful Crown Lord protecting him, the Black Banner would have little trouble killing him there.

"Still too weak."

The Realm’s rules protected him here, but he felt a renewed urgency.

"Then I’ll give the Individual Contest everything I have. I want that Mythic reward for first place."

None of his next opponents came close to Azrak. Cassian swept through them.

The strongest was a Demon Lord with a squad of Legendary Balors. Before that Lord could react, the hundred and twenty Eclipse veterans concentrated their fire and killed him.

Against Demons, the ancient enemies of the humanoid races, Cassian saw no reason to hold back.

Six more hours passed.

[You have defeated Morse Chip of the Logic race and advanced to the next round.]

[Match duration: 3 minutes. Reward: 24,000,000 Aether.]

[You have entered the top one million and earned the title Human Champion. Epic Troop Sigil reward granted.]

"Stingy."

Cassian was not impressed by the reward for becoming a Human Champion.

Messages immediately appeared in Divine Province’s management group.

[Nessa Fenwick: Congratulations, Cassian! Human Champion!]

[Darian Frost: Nessa, you always manage to be first with the flattery. No wonder he likes you so much.]

[Tobias: I used to be his favorite lackey.]

[Cassian Vale: Are your opponents that weak? You all have time to talk nonsense?]

[Darian Frost: My opponent isn’t weak. I’m simply stronger.]

His confidence was unmistakable.

[Nessa Fenwick: Stronger than Cassian?]

That silenced him.

[Darian Frost: You little troublemaker. After how well I’ve treated you!]

[Nessa Fenwick: You started it.]

Once the Dawnwing corps appeared, Darian had abandoned his private rivalry with Cassian. The Golden Behemoth Sigil Cassian had casually tossed him afterward had put an end to any remaining doubt.

Then Lyra spoke.

[Lyra Valcrest: I conceded...]

Cassian’s eyes narrowed.

[Cassian Vale: A powerful opponent?]

[Lyra Valcrest: Two squads of Legendary troops. But if we’d fought it out, I would have won!]

An idea occurred to Cassian.

[Cassian Vale: What race?]

[Lyra Valcrest: Crystalkin.]

Cassian understood. He sighed.

"Unlucky."

It came down to the rules of the Individual Contest.