Chapter 252: The Mythic Prize

Mordane’s face changed.

The longer one lived, the harder it became to face death. He acted without hesitation, though the cost plainly pained him.

"Primordial Blood—burn!"

Dense blood energy burst from his body. In a few violent movements, he tore through the restraints laid by Sylvara, the Faerie Dragons, and the Crystal Maidens. He fled a kilometer before stopping, still shaken.

"Mythic Heroes really are powerful," Cassian said. "Stronger than the textbooks make them sound."

So many of his best fighters had worked together, catching the enemy off guard, and Mordane had still escaped.

Vespera’s Lord Talent had to be formidable too. Probably a Grade-A War Talent.

Celia released her sword hilt, looking annoyed.

"His senses are too sharp. I have to lock on to the target before releasing the power of Sword Nurturing. That instant was enough for him to notice."

"It doesn’t matter." Cassian was untroubled. "The strike might not have killed him anyway. Spending all that stored power on one Mythic Hero would probably be a bad trade."

Cassian bought the premium-grade Aether Crystals he needed through the Exchange and fed them to Godslayer. Golden light flashed at his brow as he activated his Battle Name.

"Human!"

Mordane’s voice reached him from a distance.

"You have earned my respect. Withdraw, and you will receive a billion Aether in compensation, along with the friendship of the Blood Throne."

Force had failed. Now he wanted to negotiate?

Cassian considered the old Bloodkin. Perhaps Mordane was a guardian like Maren. By slipping through the River of Blood, he might have retained his Mythic rank. What had that cost?

And what was Vespera’s background?

The Blood Throne... he had never even heard of it.

"Are you joking?" Cassian asked with a smile. "I’m the one winning."

Mordane looked displeased.

"Young man, you should understand this. With my speed, even if I cannot kill you, you cannot do anything to me. The match lasts only half an hour. If we let the time run out, neither of us gets the Mythic reward."

He was right about the rules. If no one won within thirty minutes, the contest would have no first-place winner. They would not share the title.

Cassian’s smile remained.

"Have you forgotten what I just said?"

"What?"

A cry came from behind Mordane.

His expression changed. Vespera!

He shot back toward his Lord.

Cassian frowned. All nine Praetorians had struck together, their Sword of Space reinforced by Space Will. Yet the Bloodkin Lord was not dead. She was not even wounded.

Mordane reached a frightened Vespera, his own expression no better than hers.

"Blood Puppet triggered. That means the attack would have killed you."

A Blood Prince guarding her hurried to explain.

"Lord Mordane, we had a slight advantage. Then nine peak Legendary fighters suddenly used Sword of Space..."

Mordane already knew how strong Cassian’s people were. Now another nine peak Legendary enemies had revealed themselves.

His head was beginning to hurt.

Cassian’s voice carried across the arena.

"I told you. Even if I can’t kill you, I can kill her. There’s only so much room in this arena. She won’t be that lucky every time."

Mordane frowned, searching for a way to answer. Vespera spoke first, her voice pitiful.

"Grandpa Mordane, with my potential, I’ll have plenty of chances to get Mythic items. There’s no need to take this risk."

He sighed inwardly.

Her bloodline was incomparably noble, almost at the very source of the River of Blood. Her temperament still needed work.

He straightened and addressed Cassian.

"Human. Keep what you saw today to yourself. Otherwise, don’t blame the Blood Throne when we come to your Homeworld."

"The same goes for you," Cassian replied calmly. "Keep your mouth shut, and I’ll keep mine shut."

He was not afraid of their threat, but there was no need to provoke Mordane further.

The Blood Emperor looked over the powerful figures in Cassian’s army. Understanding flashed in his eyes.

So they both liked keeping their strength hidden. That made matters simpler.

A moment later, pillars of light descended. Mordane, Vespera, and all their Bloodkin rose slowly out of the arena.

Cassian watched them disappear before letting out a breath.

The fight had lasted only a few minutes, but those minutes had been dangerous. A Grade-A War Talent. S-grade Hero Command. In those two respects alone, he could not compare with his opponent.

Fortunately, the Glory Battlefield had given him a Gold Battle Name. Together with so many Legendary Nine-Star fighters, it had let him gain the upper hand.

Then the notices he had been waiting for finally arrived.

[You have defeated Vespera, Lord of the Blood Throne, and taken first place in the Individual Contest of War Realm 77’s Contest of Champions.]

[Reward: Divine Dragon Amber — Mythic ×1.]

[Title obtained: First Champion.]

[Renown +30,000. Legend +300.]

"Divine Dragon Amber?"

Cassian immediately took out his third Mythic treasure and opened its attributes.

At the same moment, a brilliant golden announcement appeared in the Homeworld Channel.

[Announcement: Stage Two’s Individual Contest has ended.]

[Cassian Vale of the Homeworld Realm has taken first place in the Individual Contest of War Realm 77.]

[The Legion Contest begins tomorrow at 12:00 noon. All Lords, please prepare.]

The Homeworld Lords who had waited through the night went wild.

[First place! Cassian actually won first place!]

[This is unbelievable!]

[The final only lasted a few minutes, but imagine how fiercely they fought for that prize!]

[Our boss! The Homeworld’s number one!]

[Pure luck. All his opponents were cowards.]

[I could have won too.]

[Keep being bitter. Which of our great Crown rulers—or your King Arthur, Ashoka, or Caesar—had achieved anything like this at Cassian’s age?]

[That proves he’s talented, not that he’s a great power. He could die any day. And don’t forget the losses he must have suffered for that title.]

Another argument swept through the Channel.

Then Nerissa Vaust spoke.

[Nerissa Vaust: Everyone saw the announcement. The Legion Contest begins in a day, and the Homeworld’s Fortune depends on it. As one of us, Cassian should contribute his Mythic reward. At the very least, he should show us its attributes.]

[Nerissa Vaust: If I had won it, I would give it up without a moment’s hesitation.]

For an instant, the Channel went quiet. Then agreement flooded in.

[Lady Vaust is truly selfless!]

[Quite right. Without us wearing down the other races’ champions, how could Cassian have been lucky enough to win?]

[We can’t ask him to make the only sacrifice. If Cassian contributes the artifact, I’ll donate a thousand Aether toward the Legion Contest.]

[Orsen, a man of principle!]

[See that, Cassian? Even people with nothing to do with this are willing to give. Will our First Champion remain unmoved?]

[Being a champion takes character as well as strength. Don’t disappoint us, Cassian!]

Generosity with someone else’s possessions. Guilt disguised as duty. Facts twisted beyond recognition.

Jealousy had brought out the worst in them.

Even Walter, usually neutral, could not resist joining in.

[Walter Norman: Lord Cassian, why not show us the reward’s attributes? We could see whether it would help in the Legion Contest.]

Cassian had no time for those dogs.

He was staring at the Divine Dragon Amber’s attributes, his face filled with delight.