Chapter 184: The Will of Gluttony

Inside Riftward Region, the battle was far less one-sided.

Light flashed at the western entrance. A squad of Legendary Tyrants emerged.

"Hold them!"

Elara activated her Bronze Battle Name.

"Black Hole!"

"Storm Hammer!"

"Gravity Gun!"

Crystal One’s Black Hole caught the arriving enemies. The Hill Kings’ hammers fell, and gravity rounds struck the Tyrants in quick succession.

Troops that could control an enemy’s movements were among the most valuable a Lord could obtain, second only to Extreme lines.

Gareth had been lucky. An Epic Troop Sigil had given him a Kinetic Mech. Its Gravity Gun worked perfectly with Black Hole.

Under the gravity rounds, the Tyrants’ bodies became immensely heavy. They struggled, unable to tear themselves free of the pull.

Tens of thousands of ranged troops released arrows, spells, and bullets. Defensive Buildings added beams of light, lightning, frost, and flame.

Destructive energy filled the entrance.

"My Tyrants!" a Black Banner Lord roared from beyond it. "How are this year’s newcomers so strong?"

It took more than ten seconds for the Tyrants to break free. Only nine remained from the original squad.

More Epic and Rare troops kept pouring through behind them.

"Charge!"

Below Elara’s walls, hundreds of thousands of Uncommon Heavy Cavalry thundered forward.

It was a charge into death.

Every sweep of a Tyrant’s mace crushed a dozen riders into bloody pulp. A Sword Saint’s Quickdraw Slash could cut hundreds apart.

There were too many cavalry to clear at once. They pressed the Black Banner army back against the entrance. Supported by the defenders’ higher-Quality troops, they forced the veterans into a bloody stalemate.

More than ten minutes passed.

"Damn it! There’s no room to deploy here. They’re trading rubbish troops for our elites. We’ll lose too much if this continues. Wait for the other detachments, then attack together!"

"What about the other entrances?"

"Send troops to probe them. And where is Lord Tervain? Could something have happened?"

"Impossible. He has nearly a hundred Legendary troops with him. And that man-eater, Tobren Morvane."

After a brief discussion, the veterans withdrew. Roughly a hundred of their troops lay dead before the defenses.

The Crown Lords burst into cheers.

Their own casualties exceeded a hundred thousand, but those losses had been among Elite and Uncommon troops. They had killed Legendaries in return.

Gareth did not smile.

"So this is what an older sector can do. If they weren’t afraid of losing too many troops, this position wouldn’t last an hour."

Elara sighed.

"Cassian went out to raid them. With enemies this strong... I hope he’s safe."

They did not know he had already returned through another entrance.

Crystal Nine’s survey could cover the whole Region. After hearing her report of the fighting at the western entrance, Cassian nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. If the Marches concentrated its forces in one place, it could hold against five detachments even without me."

Once he was satisfied that the defenses were in no immediate danger, he turned to the prisoners at Forgotten Shrine.

Green light fell from the Mindseal Tower and covered the unconscious Osmund.

The veteran held out for a full minute before the success notice appeared.

Osmund opened his eyes, dropped to his knees, and began to weep.

"What have I done? I attacked the great Crown. I deserve to die!"

He bowed his head.

"Master, is there anything I can do for you and the Crown before my death?"

"There is."

Cassian explained what he wanted.

Osmund’s eyes brightened. Fanatical eagerness replaced his tears.

"The only good Black Banner Lord is a dead one! Veylan and Kelshore dared surround Riftward. I’ll send men to lure them inside for you to slaughter, Master!"

Cassian nodded approvingly.

Osmund was the leader of the expedition. If he ran to the border with a message himself, someone might grow suspicious.

After discussing the details, Cassian had the Tower take control of two of Osmund’s trusted Lords as well.

The Level-6 Tower now held six of its seven places. One remained.

Cassian pointed at Tobren.

As soon as the green light touched his head, a chaotic, evil voice sounded in every mind nearby.

"Small, ignorant Human. You dare try to control a god?"

Cassian did not look surprised.

"So it is a fragment of Gluttony’s will. One of the seven Evil Gods of the Spirit Realm. No wonder Tobren was so strong."

He ignored the voice and drove the Tower to its full output.

The fragment resisted. Even at maximum power, the Tower could not break it.

Cassian frowned.

"Upgrade."

He confirmed the requirements and paid to advance the Mindseal Tower from Level 6 to Level 9.

Its light intensified.

A black spirit rose from Tobren’s brow. Its shape kept changing: a monster that was all mouth, a ravenous serpent, even a Mythic Taotie.

The fragment struggled wildly. It could feel what was coming, and hatred poured from it.

"Seventh Realm. Sector 666. The Homeworld. Tidecrown. Cassian Vale, Commander of Riftward. I know your secret now. Wait for my true body’s revenge!"

"My secret?" Cassian laughed. "Did you think I hadn’t studied this? Riftward is under a Legendary communication seal. You’re only a fragment of will. How will you send the information out?"

He kept speaking, stripping away its confidence while the Tower pressed down on it.

A few minutes later, the fragment burst into black mist.

It had chosen to destroy itself rather than be controlled.

Cassian let out a breath. The danger was gone.

Such a will needed a host. Tobren was the only Spiritbound Lord present, and the Tower had taken control of him. The fragment could no longer exist on its own.

——

Half an hour later, Osmund addressed the ten Black Banner Lords outside Riftward Region. Tobren had been carried along beside him.

"From now on, make occasional probing attacks. Keep the Crown Lords here occupied."

He looked over the detachment.

"Once I’ve dealt with the other strong enemies, I’ll come to support you."

Strong enemies?

The detachment leader’s heart tightened. That explained why the other groups had not arrived.

He was curious, but he had the discipline of a military Lord. He had confirmed Osmund’s identity. That was enough.

"Yes, Lord Tervain!"

Osmund then visited Ironwake and Greyfen, giving their attackers the same orders.

Eight returned with reports of the fighting around both Regions.

Ironwake had held. Maren fought as a Legendary Hero, while Bren directed the line. Darian’s Lord Talent, his Bronze Battle Name, and the defenders’ existing Hero Command strengthened them. High-Quality scrolls and other one-use items were spent as though they cost nothing.

Greyfen had been much weaker. It had held only because the Crystal Maidens waiting outside had attacked the enemy’s flank and kept part of its force occupied.

Meanwhile, Osmund’s two trusted Lords were already heading for the border of the Marches.

Cassian had the whole operation in his hands.

——

Early the next morning, at Riftward’s border, Kelshore looked at his visitors with delighted surprise.

"Lord Tervain is inviting us into Riftward?"