Chapter 263: Stirring Up Trouble

Destroying a World Wonder returned part of the resources used to build it, just as destroying other Buildings did.

During the early stages of the contest, the Wonders had been too incomplete to justify a war. Many powerful Legions waited until the final day to explore the Spatial Vortices and look for prey.

They let the prize grow before taking it.

If the Legion on the other side was equally strong, both commanders could exchange a laugh and move on. If one was much weaker, armies would soon follow.

There were risks. The vortices changed every hour, linking entirely random locations. Keeping one stable required a vast number of Elemental Pearls. A failed raid could leave the attacker poorer than before.

Luck mattered as much as ever. One Legion might find Divines, Logicians, and Angels at every exit and become prey itself. Another might encounter Flower Lords or Halflings, seize their resources, and climb an entire band in the rankings.

When the difference in strength was overwhelming, bargaining became possible too. A Flower Legion facing Divines might hand over its Temple without a fight. The Divines could offer some compensation, saving time for the next target.

That made the third day the most brutal part of the contest.

After a moment’s thought, Cassian sent an order through his Lord’s Heart.

"If you find alien scouts, kill them at once. Aurelia, send strong Dawnwing units to guard the Spatial Vortices."

"Yes, Lord!"

Even if some extraordinarily lucky Legion kept finding weak opponents to plunder, the First Legion’s current progress should secure the top ten. Perhaps even the top three.

The best choice was to keep outsiders away.

Their remarkable progress owed most to their drop rates. That advantage did not give them the strength of an entire great race’s Legion.

A message appeared in the All-Races Champions Channel.

[Winged Folk Commander: Lord Gideon, Mount Celestia has always represented goodness and order. I hope you will not invade our territory without cause.]

Every commander who saw it grew alert. Cassian was no exception.

The wars had begun.

The Winged Folk were not a powerful race. They ranked below Humans, though they still held a place in the Racial Ranking. Under ordinary circumstances, they could reliably reach the top ten thousand and earn the Realm’s rewards.

Unfortunately, they had encountered Mount Celestia.

Their commander was plainly hoping public opinion could force Gideon to withdraw. The other Champions watched in silence.

Gideon soon replied with a quiet laugh.

[Gideon: We follow the rules of the Legion Contest. That is order. We declare war openly. That is goodness.]

[Gideon: Had you encountered a Void Insect Legion, you would have had no time to prepare. The battle would already be underway.]

[Gideon: In my mercy, I will give you ten minutes to consider. Hand over your Five Elements Temple willingly, and I will provide satisfactory compensation.]

Fine words. Everyone knew even a Mythic item could not replace the rewards of a top-ten-thousand finish in the Legion Contest.

Those rewards affected the Fortune of an entire civilization.

And was Gideon going to offer a Mythic item?

Not a chance.

[Winged Folk Commander: Could you find another target? We both have wings. Surely that makes us kin.]

If someone else had to suffer, the commander was willing to let them.

Gideon took offense.

[Gideon: You dare compare your wings with those of Angels?]

There was a saying among the races: wings did not make someone an Angel. They might only make him a bird-man.

So much for kinship.

The insult finally exhausted the commander’s patience.

[Winged Folk Commander: Destroy our Temple, and you destroy the future of this generation of our people. We may stand near the bottom of the Racial Ranking, but we are not yours to do with as you please. We’d rather take you down with us.]

[Winged Folk Commander: While your forces are here, I hope no other powerful Legion finds your unguarded Temple.]

Gideon was furious.

[Gideon: A mere Winged Folk Legion dares threaten Mount Celestia?]

Malcolm appeared again, as indignant as if he had been threatened himself.

[Malcolm: They don’t know their own limitations. If our Homeworld has the good fortune to encounter Mount Celestia, we will gladly offer our Temple to help you take first place.]

[Gideon: Such a difference in understanding.]

Two days of shameless flattery had steadily improved Gideon’s opinion of Malcolm.

[Gideon: My Lord will not neglect a faithful servant.]

Malcolm saw his chance.

[Malcolm: On behalf of the entire Homeworld, I pledge our service to your Lord. We would become a vassal of Mount Celestia.]

The Second Homeworld Legion’s Channel exploded.

[Did I read that correctly? He wants to give away the Temple we spent two days building?]

[Remove this idiot from command. Don’t let him say another word!]

[Our great Lords of the Jade Court, take a good look. This is the Homeworld Council you support?]

[Let’s return to the First Legion. Or form a Third. I’d rather give up the rewards than swallow this!]

[Damn it. The Realm says we can’t change Legions after the contest begins.]

Plenty of Homeworld Lords worshipped Mount Celestia. More resented it. Even foreign Lords who had opposed Cassian were furious with Malcolm now.

He hurried to explain.

[Malcolm: Please, calm down. It was only a figure of speech. There’s less than a day left. How likely are we to encounter Mount Celestia?]

His tone turned aggrieved.

[Malcolm: Why does no one understand what I’m trying to do for you? Mount Celestia represents justice and order. I sincerely hope the whole Homeworld will join me in serving my Lord.]

The Crown Lords were nearly choking with anger.

[Serve him yourself, you bastard!]

[Western Beacon has no foundations in the upper Realms, so you’re desperate for a master. The Crown has people protecting it from the First Realm down to the Seventh—the Sixth! We don’t need yours!]

Gideon could not see that argument, but he was no fool.

[Gideon: Can you speak for the entire Homeworld?]

Malcolm straightened.

[Malcolm: Not yet. But with Mount Celestia’s support, every voice raised against us can be silenced.]

Gideon understood. Malcolm wanted to use Mount Celestia’s power to unite the Homeworld under himself.

Ambitious.

Still, delivering an entire civilization’s faith to his Lord might raise his mother Calista’s standing. Perhaps she would no longer have to be Gabriel’s mistress. Perhaps he could finally escape the shame of being an illegitimate son.

[Gideon: Visit Mount Celestia when you have the opportunity. We can discuss it.]

Malcolm was delighted. His thoughts raced. He decided to press his advantage.

[Malcolm: Lord Gideon, I must report a Lord who has profaned the noble Angels.]

Gideon felt a flicker of impatience, but indulged him.

[Gideon: Who?]

[Malcolm: Cassian of our Homeworld! A lowly Human, yet he dares enslave noble Angels. This is an affront to your Lord. I hope Mount Celestia will punish him for it.]

Azrak joined in without warning.

[Azrak Thalor: I can confirm this. It was his Dawnwing corps that defeated me.]

Vespera was not about to miss a chance to hurt Cassian.

[Vespera: And they’re all female Angels. Who knows what he might be doing to those beautiful women?]

Cassian spat out the bite of Snowspirit Melon he had just taken.

He had been enjoying the spectacle. How had he become its subject?

Under the Realm’s rules, a Lord’s authority took precedence over racial divisions. A Human could recruit Angel troops, just as an Angel could recruit Humans. It had been accepted practice for countless years.

"They’ll use even an excuse that weak to get at me. Remarkable."

Cassian set down the melon, curious to see Gideon’s response.

Gideon knew the rule perfectly well. He even commanded a squad of powerful mechanical warriors himself. Normally, he would not have bothered with such a complaint.

Now everyone was watching.

And after Vespera had stressed that all the Angels were female, saying nothing would make him look weak.

Silently cursing Malcolm for creating trouble, Gideon adopted an accusing tone.

[Gideon: Where is Cassian? Come out at once and explain yourself!]