Chapter 194: The Queen Who Came Too Late

[Cassian Vale has relinquished the office of Riftward Regional Warden.]

[Elara Vayne has become Riftward Regional Warden.]

[Cassian Vale has relinquished the office of Marches Commander.]

[Cassian Vale’s Domain has left Riftward Region.]

The notices left Lords staring at their panels. In Riftward itself, disbelief quickly became alarm.

[What’s happening? Why has the boss left?]

[He hasn’t abandoned us... has he?]

Cassian had always taken a hard line against their enemies. Moving away at a time like this still invited unpleasant thoughts.

Elara spoke immediately.

[Elara Vayne: Don’t panic. Cassian has gone to complete a task. He’ll be back in a few days. I’m holding his offices until he returns. Carry on with your work.]

The Region breathed again.

News of his departure soon became the biggest story in Tidecrown.

The Black Banner Lords could not even agree on whether to celebrate.

[Wonderful! We finally frightened that menace away!]

[Wonderful? He killed so many of our Lords, and now he’s escaped before the Governorship contest! How can you be pleased?]

[Our leaders should demand that the Crown hand over this war criminal! Let us deal with him!]

[A task? What a convenient excuse to flee Tidecrown and save the last scraps of his pride.]

[All that strength, and he’s still a coward!]

The Crown Lords answered just as fiercely.

[Where were you all when Cassian was here? Not one of you dared show your face.]

[They were afraid he’d get angry and wipe them out. Brave against the weak, silent in front of the strong.]

In the Marches management group, no one was surprised. Cassian had told its members beforehand.

[Rowan Ashford: It feels strange without the boss here. A little empty.]

[Nessa Fenwick: I miss Cassian already.]

[Tobias: He’s been gone for one minute. One!]

[Darian Frost: That’s Nessa. Always ready to flatter him.]

[Elara Vayne: Hard to argue with that.]

A little over ten minutes after Forgotten Shrine vanished, several dozen figures arrived at its former site.

Broad cloaks concealed slender bodies. Hoods covered half their faces, leaving only finely shaped chins visible.

One visitor pulled back his hood.

Fendrel. The Elf who had been so reluctant to leave Cassian’s Domain now looked anything but carefree.

"He’s moved? Your Majesty, I sent word as soon as I learned he had reached Rank XII and gained another Hero slot. He was still here yesterday!"

A clear, pleasant voice answered him.

"Fendrel. Are you certain you sensed a Fountain of Life?"

The easy manner he had shown Cassian was nowhere to be seen.

"I couldn’t mistake the scent of fresh Life Water. What else could produce it?"

The Queen lowered her hood, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty.

She gazed at the empty ground.

"If it will save the World Tree, I will pay any price. Even... give up being a Lord."

——

[You have become a resident of Swordheart Region.]

[Swordheart Region Fortune: 283.]

[Domain Aether Vein: Fortune Resonance has reached the advancement threshold of 100%.]

[Domain Aether Vein advanced: Intermediate. Existing effects improved. New effect unlocked.]

[Intermediate Vein — Current Fortune Resonance: 28.3%.]

"Two hundred and eighty-three?"

Cassian drew a sharp breath. The Region had been abandoned for a century!

At its peak, Swordheart’s monsters must have reached the Seventh Realm’s Level-200 limit. He did not know its former Fortune, but it must have exceeded a thousand. After all this time, more than two hundred points still remained.

He opened the Vein’s panel.

[Domain Aether Vein — Intermediate]

[Daily natural condensation: Aether ×2,830,000.]

[Improved chance of higher-Quality Wild Resource Points appearing in or near controlled Domain territory.]

[Improved chance of higher-Quality candidates from Buildings with random Recruit results.]

[Lord / Hero / Troop units formally belonging to Forgotten Shrine: standard loot-drop probability from valid kills +566%.]

[Cassian Vale: base probability of a High-Fortune Result when opening a random-result Chest / Reward Container ×10.]

[Natural growth cycles of animals and plants within the Domain reduced to 30%. Quality mutation chance: 18%. A successful mutation raises Quality by one tier, to a maximum of Legendary.]

[Weapons and armor produced within the Domain have a 10% chance to receive Divine Favor: equipment attributes +20%.]

Cassian stared at the improvements.

"So my visit comes with a trial of an Intermediate Vein?"

The fifth effect pleased him most. His Enlightenment Tea Tree would grow faster again.

The sixth did little for him at present. Once he obtained the Swordgrave, it would be extraordinary.

A shout came from the Eclipse soldier on duty at the Beacon Watchtower.

"Lord! Monsters outside the Domain!"

Cassian’s expression sharpened. He rose into the air at once and landed on the wall moments later.

Veyra was already watching the approaching monsters, her face grave.

"All above Level eighty, Lord."

He nodded. That much, he had expected.

[Ironbone Demon Serpent — Elite]

[Race: Demonkin]

[Level: 82]

[Combat Rating: 3,250 stars]

The Residency Writ had placed his Domain at random. Beyond the walls stood a forest of dead trees.

The monsters there had not scented living arrivals in a hundred years. The sudden appearance of a whole Domain had driven them into a frenzy. Hundreds crowded through the lifeless woods.

Veyra needed no instructions. As the Domain’s chief administrator, she gave the order herself.

"Kill them."

There was no need for the Heroes or even the Dawnwing corps to fight.

With Command and Battle Name bonuses, his Level-60 Eclipse Legionnaires had Combat Ratings close to four thousand stars. These ordinary monsters in their eighties were well within the Legionnaires’ strength.

Battle erupted.

Hissing filled the dead forest.

The Ironbone Demon Serpents were a grayish white, with rows of ugly bone spurs running along their backs. Even the smallest stretched for dozens of meters. Their size did nothing to slow them. Tongues flickered as they raced toward the Domain.

The Eclipse Legionnaires spread their Wings of the Windlord and flew out to meet them. Rank-XII walls would do little to stop monsters above Level 80.

"Ninefold Blade Art!"

Lianne, one of the seven hundred veteran Legionnaires, led the attack. A bright edge of sword energy swept from her weapon.