Chapter 331: The Thousandfold Labyrinth

Cassian began with the Five Elements Temple’s spell list.

He searched through low-grade Skill Books, choosing useful spells and trading them through the Exchange for their complete Legendary counterparts. The books went into the trades along with the required Aether.

[Forest Hymn — Legendary, Wood. Aether paid: 14,000,000.]

[Wardsteel Array — Legendary, Metal. Aether paid: 18,000,000.]

[Earthfall — Legendary, Earth. Aether paid: 15,000,000.]

There were more to choose. He considered each carefully, then consumed the finished books to imprint their spells upon the Temple.

Cinderfall already occupied one slot. By the time he finished, all ten were filled. Some spells could sweep through an army; others concentrated their power on a single target.

With the Temple’s immense amplification, they could guard everything within five thousand kilometers, provided its casting costs were supplied. Anything below Mythic Quality that came within reach would be coming to die.

The remaining days passed quietly. The Homeworld seemed almost peaceful, though armies were preparing beneath that calm.

On the final day before Race Ascendancy, Cassian’s accumulated Muster Fortune reached the amount he needed.

[Muster Fortune consumed: 12,000,000.]

[Veyra — Mistveil March advanced to Lesser Perfection.]

[Current art bonuses: Physique +60,000 | Aether +60,000 | Spirit +36,000 | Load +36,000.]

Cassian looked over her new attributes with satisfaction.

Those were the bonuses of the new stage, replacing the old ones. With the thirty-percent increase from her Eclipse Sovereign title, Veyra’s attributes without equipment now far exceeded Aurelia’s.

The Legendary equipment set he had paid to bring to Level 85 made the difference greater still. Wearing it, she surpassed a Blood Emperor and could stand beside the Divine Dragon in raw attributes.

She had reached this strength with all seven chains still sealing her.

The rest of his preparations had been expensive too.

He had paid for further Flamecaller recruitment, bringing the corps to a hundred and twelve, including his original six. The Kinetic Mech Sigils from the naval war had also been put to use. Thirty-six Mechs had been recruited and raised with Battle Essence. Troop Souls bought through the Exchange brought them to Legendary Nine-Star, while further Souls strengthened the selected Dawnwings and Flamecallers.

The Eclipse fighting corps completed its paid Hall trials, reaching Epic Six-Star.

Then came Level growth. Cassian paid to bring himself, his four Heroes, Veyra’s manifestation, and his main combat troops to the Rank-XVI limit of eighty-five. Divine Dragon Amber received its paid upgrade too.

He reviewed the force he could now bring into battle.

At Mythic Quality, he had six Blood Emperors available through the Chalice, the Divine Dragon through its Amber, Lethria, and Bramrik. The summoned fighters still required their respective costs, but the power was there whenever he needed it.

Alongside his four Heroes—Aurelia, Celia, Liora, and Sylvara—stood Veyra, guarding the Domain.

The Dawnwing corps numbered more than a thousand, seventy-two of them Legendary Nine-Stars. His Eclipse fighting corps was of a similar size, all Epic Six-Star, with the nine Praetorians above them.

He had thirty-two Crystal Maidens, including their twenty-four-strong Nine-Star core. His eighteen Faerie Dragons included Mythic Lethria, Suzette and the other three Legendary Nine-Stars, and thirteen Legendary Two-Stars.

Eighteen of the hundred and twelve Flamecallers had reached Legendary Nine-Star. All thirty-six Kinetic Mechs were Nine-Stars as well.

Then there were the other Dragons, the Stormlance, and the rest of his fighting force. Every main combat unit was now Level 85.

If the other Lords saw this roster, a great many would lose sleep.

At noon, the announcement arrived.

[Race Ascendancy has begun.]

Fourteen pillars of light descended upon Divine Province. Cassian and its other thirteen Human Champions vanished together with their Domains.

——

In Mira’s Domain, she and Lyra were still staring at the defensive arrangements Cassian had revealed before leaving.

"He kept something this powerful in reserve," Lyra murmured.

Mira could scarcely believe it herself. The Five Elements Temple remained in Riftward, ready to guard the land while its strongest Lords fought elsewhere.

"The enemy is already on the way," Lyra said. "They’re going out to fight for Humanity. We can’t let them down here."

Mira smiled.

"Then let’s get our Domains ready to move. Western Beacon, the Black Banner—even those bastards in the Jade Court—are going to have a surprise."

Lyra nodded at once.

——

[You have discovered the Thousandfold Labyrinth.]

[Prism Bridge ×1 received.]

[Choose solo or team progression. Once confirmed, this choice cannot be changed.]

[Defeating checkpoint guards and members of other races awards Labyrinth Points. Points determine racial and individual placement.]

[Participants may leave the Labyrinth at any time. Reentry consumes another Prism Bridge.]

[Labyrinth Points may be exchanged for Labyrinth items. Select to view.]

[Preparation time: 30 minutes. Progression begins when preparation ends.]

Gold faded from around Cassian’s Domain. Voices reached him from every direction.

"A labyrinth? As if clearing stages wasn’t enough!"

"Strength alone won’t do it. Choose the wrong route, and you could run straight into some monster from another race."

"Look at it another way. Humanity’s weaker to begin with. A map like this might give us more chances."

Cassian looked beyond his walls.

The Domains had appeared inside an immense hall. Its vaulted ceiling stood thousands of meters overhead. Ancient reliefs covered the walls: great warships struggling through storms, Human tribes surrounding enormous beasts. Even from a distance, the scenes carried a weight that made them seem older than the nations he knew.

A thin shield enclosed his Domain. Within this hall, it was invulnerable.

More than eight hundred Homeworld Domains stretched across dozens of kilometers. Beyond them lay forces from other Human Realms. Warships and Mechs hovered beside armored disciples, Knights, and Mages, their ranks continuing farther than he could see.

A clear voice sounded across the gathering.

"I am Ilyse Ardent of Fivefold Heaven. May I invite the Legion Commanders of the Ninefold Sanctum, Shatterstar Reach, Caladris..."

She named more than a dozen Realms before finishing.

"...to join me in discussing our tactics?"

Every one was a leading Human power, at least ten times stronger than the Homeworld. A lesser Realm like his did not even merit a place at their council.

Several dozen kilometers away, a slender woman rose into the air. An orb-shaped artifact circled beside her.

Cassian’s gaze sharpened.

"Her own strength should be no lower than Nessa’s. And that orb is Mythic."

Ilyse made no attempt to hide either aura. A dozen more powerful figures rose to meet her, none appearing weaker.

Their attendants were more impressive still. Cassian saw a six-winged Angel, an Elemental Overlord, an Ascendant, and a Doomwalker Mech. Mythic troops, all of them.

Those were merely the ones their Lords allowed everyone to see. There was no telling what else they held in reserve.

He smiled.

The stronger Humanity was, the better its chance of reaching the top hundred races.

His friends from Divine Province soon gathered in his Domain. Darian looked toward the distant council with obvious displeasure.

"That girl from the Elemental Covenant doesn’t think much of us, does she?"

"It’s not personal," Cassian said. "She left out all the middle and lesser Realms."

Darian turned to him.

"You’re very good at making people feel better."

After a moment, he let the matter drop.

"What are we doing? Solo runs or teams?"

"Solo," Elara answered immediately. "We’re strong enough. A team would be safer, but each checkpoint only has so many monsters. Every extra Lord means dividing the same points between more people."

She opened the exchange list for them.

"I checked. The points can buy Prism Bridges and other Labyrinth items. They can also be exchanged for Battle Essence."

That made the choice even more attractive. The others nodded as they talked it through. It was what Cassian had wanted as well.

"Then, since we all agree—"

Ilyse’s voice carried across the hall again.

"Human Champions, the twelve leading Human Realms have reached a joint decision. We will use team progression. Each Lord from a greater Realm will lead two Lords from the middle or lesser Realms."

She paused, letting the announcement spread.

"This will allow us to watch over one another, ensure that everyone contributes, and improve our safety. We ask for your understanding and cooperation. May Humanity earn a fine result in this challenge."

The response was mixed.

Many Homeworld Lords welcomed the decision. Western Beacon’s Champions were particularly pleased. They had intended to form teams anyway. Having a stronger Lord lead them was better still.

Much of Western Beacon’s technology had come from Shatterstar Reach. Following its Lords here was hardly a humiliation.

Inside Cassian’s Domain, brows drew together.

They had no desire to spend the contest carrying weaker partners. And Cassian doubted that the greater Realms were acting entirely out of concern for everyone else’s safety.