Chapter 248: You Know Too Much

Every casualty in the individual matches was real.

Most intelligent races weighed the cost of a decision before making it. Even mechanical beings followed their own logic. Losing all one’s Heroes and troops for a Champion title was hardly worthwhile, unless the final Mythic prize was within reach.

When two opponents were evenly matched, the one prepared to risk everything could often force the other to yield.

Crystalkin were among the few races too stubborn for that. If an opponent wanted a fight to the death, they would oblige.

Lyra was strong. She had simply drawn the wrong opponent one step from qualifying. Once again, her friends were reminded how much luck mattered.

[Seraphine Valcrest: You made the right choice, Lyra. We still have the Legion Contest.]

[Nessa Fenwick: Look! Elara won too! She’s a Human Champion already!]

Elara appeared in the group, looking relieved.

[Elara Vayne: He was strong. Fortunately, I put on a convincing show. The Troll Lord thought I was ready to drag him down with me, so he withdrew.]

[Elara Vayne: A few more minutes and I’d have been the one to quit. Even so, I lost a Hill King and five Storm Guardians.]

[Cassian Vale: Casualties are hard to avoid. Darian, you’d better prepare a few more acting awards.]

[Darian Frost: Gladly. I’ll arrange it.]

Half an hour later, every match in the round that determined the top million had ended.

Mira, Divine Province’s chief administrator, soon had the figures.

[Mira: Of more than thirty-six thousand Homeworld Champions, eight hundred and thirty-seven have become Human Champions. Divine Province accounts for fourteen, including Nessa.]

[Seraphine Valcrest: Fourteen! Glory to Divine Province! That’s incredible!]

Cassian was pleased too. Even Tobias and Rowan, whose chances he had doubted, had managed to advance with luck on their side.

Other Provinces had three or four at most. Some had none.

The Homeworld’s total surprised him as well. In past contests, it had usually produced only around half as many Human Champions.

[Nessa Fenwick: Look at the Homeworld Channel. They’re at it again!]

Cassian took a glance.

[Eight hundred and thirty-seven! Is our generation really this strong? We have a good chance of reaching the top hundred in the Legion Contest.]

[Fourteen from Divine Province alone?]

[God above. I watched Lady Elara’s match. She only advanced because she was willing to cripple both armies. What use is a victory like that?]

[She plans to take the Legion rewards while everyone else does the work. Just as selfish as Cassian.]

[Our Black Banner warriors gave up their individual rankings for the Homeworld. And this is how they’re repaid!]

[Speaking as a neutral Sunspire Lord, I find Divine Province’s behavior disgraceful.]

[Cassian once begged to reclaim his ancestry and become a Sunspire citizen. Thank goodness we refused. He would have shamed us forever.]

The messages twisted every fact they touched.

This time, Nessa was far from the only one furious. Worst of all, the Crown Provinces controlled by the Jade Court were eagerly agreeing.

[Seraphine Valcrest: Why do the Jade Court and Sunspire somehow seem even more vile than the Black Banner?]

[Darian Frost: They make me sick.]

"Don’t waste your anger," Cassian said with a light laugh. "Results speak louder than arguments. The Legion Contest will show everyone who was right."

[Elara Vayne: The thought of joining a Legion with these people and building a World Wonder together makes me nauseous.]

[Cassian Vale: We don’t know how that will turn out yet.]

Elara paused. What did he mean?

Cassian did not explain.

[Cassian Vale: You’ve earned the Human Champion title and qualified for Stage Three. From now on, fight within your limits. The Legion Contest may be very difficult.]

There was more behind his words, but no one dwelled on it. They all agreed.

[Elara Vayne: That goes for you too, Cassian. Anyone left in the top million will be strong. You can’t expect to take the Mythic reward for first place, so don’t push yourself too hard.]

Cassian smiled.

[Cassian Vale: Don’t worry. I won’t have to.]

Before the next match, Cassian brought Sylvara to Nine-Star. He drew on the Legendary Hero Souls he had kept from her visit and bought the rest he needed through the Exchange. He consumed six in all and paid the Battle Essence required to raise her from Legendary Three-Star to Nine-Star. Her Level remained at 65.

Soon, the notices arrived.

[Round Twelve of the Individual Contest begins.]

[Matching opponent...]

[Match found: Virex, Lord of the Bloodcrystal Realm.]

"Close the arena broadcast."

[Arena broadcast closed. You will no longer receive viewing income.]

His fame had earned him eight billion three hundred million Aether from the first eleven rounds.

It had been delightful. Elara was right about one thing, though. The remaining opponents would be strong. Some might even surpass Azrak.

This time, he brought all four of his standard Heroes. Aurelia, Celia, Liora, and Sylvara were each Legendary Nine-Star at Level 65. With Liora and Sylvara joining the previous lineup, his force numbered two hundred and ninety units, still within the arena’s limit.

He was taking his strongest force. He had no intention of showing it all to the spectators.

The moment the feed closed, the Homeworld Channel erupted again.

[Lord Cassian, reopen the broadcast!]

[We sat through all those dull early matches. Now that the real fights are starting, you cut us off? What about your fans?]

[Our criticism must have shamed him.]

[So he does have a conscience.]

[What good is shame? If I were Cassian, I’d withdraw immediately and preserve my strength for the Legion Contest.]

[If I were Cassian, I’d donate all of today’s viewing income to the Homeworld Council.]

[Malcolm — Concord Province: On behalf of the Homeworld Council, I thank you for your generosity.]

Cassian smiled as he sent a reply to the shameless crowd.

[Cassian Vale: My opponent chose to close the broadcast. There’s nothing I can do.]

The rules required both Lords to consent. If either refused, the feed could not open.

He left them to decide whether they believed him and looked at his opponent.

Then he laughed.

"What a coincidence."

It was the very Crystalkin Lord who had forced Lyra to concede.

Unlike the Crystal Maidens, Virex took the form of a blood-red crystal sphere roughly three meters across. A black, vertical eye a meter long stared at Cassian from its center.

The sphere vibrated at a frequency too high for him to make out clearly. An emotionless voice emerged.

"Why did you close the broadcast? We will lose a great deal of income."

Cassian had never seen a creature speak without a mouth before. He studied it for a moment, then gave an apologetic smile.

"Every Lord on the Homeworld demanded that I close it. I had no choice."

Virex bounced twice on the ground, apparently nodding.

"I have just defeated a Human from your world. Will you fight, or withdraw?"

Cassian sighed.

"Let’s fight."

Twenty minutes later, Cassian looked down at the scattered fragments of Virex.

"I didn’t want to kill you. You knew too much."

Rhea sheathed her Heartsense Sword, admiration in her eyes.

"Lord, you stretched a fight we could have finished in twenty seconds into twenty minutes. You wanted to look weak?"

Cassian gave her a firm smack on the backside.

"Clever."

There was no broadcast to worry about this time.

"They say I’ve suffered terrible losses. Let’s add a little fuel to that story and see what they’re planning."