Elder Cultivator

Chapter 920

The death of the Limitless Edge was a significant victory for the Scarlet Alliance. In addition to taking out an Augmentation cultivator, all of the Limitless Edge disciples went catatonic- those who hadnt already perished in the battle with Chikere, of course.

While they didnt make up the majority of the Exalted Quadrants forces, it still relieved the pressure on their alliance. That was especially important given that Sly was seriously injured. Once he recovered the addition of a new Augmentation cultivator would be extremely valuable, but at the moment he was a weakness. He hadnt really won his battle so much as hed forced his enemy to disengage for a sufficient length of time for reinforcements to arrive.

Yet even so, the Scarlet Alliance was pushed back on other fronts and there was still the looming threat of Zaur Beridze, the Domination cultivator of the Citadel of Exalted Light. Even without him, there were a sufficient amount of other Augmentation cultivators to keep the Scarlet Alliance on the back foot.

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The situation is looking dire, Catarina explained to a slightly larger council, due to the majority of their forces now being stationed on Lonkeon. Were near our last line of defense, and we have to assume were facing a Domination cultivator here. Id be hesitant to do so even around Xankeshan, but we cant just abandon this much of our territory without doing something.

Timothy nodded, providing the next pieces of information. Zaur Beridze is not our only concern. It should be noted that Zazil is missing. She was not lost during a battle, but instead seems to have slipped away almost a month ago. Many of you were already aware of the lack of contact, but this is the official confirmation.

What are we waiting for? We should go rescue her, Tauno declared.

We would if she had been captured and we knew where she was, Timothy clarified. However, by all indications she left peacefully, and the only indication we have of her direction was towards enemy lines, which would put her several systems away even if she didnt travel far. And we wouldnt know which system.

Why would she do that? Tauno asked.

We dont know, Timothy said. If she had some plan valuable to the alliance, she certainly didnt share it.

She could easily be turning traitor, Prasad offered.

No way in hell! Tauno said, cracking the table. She was one of the first of us. We fought a harder war against the Harmonious Citadel.

Was it? Prasad asked. Because they had fewer Augmentation cultivators.

But we did as well. Now were stronger. Theres no way shed give in.

Everyone has a price, Prasad said.

Tauno glared at him, but Timothy stepped between them. He wasnt particularly fond of the idea of standing between a problematically spiky individual and another of great power, but it had to be done. Lets not make it easy for them by fighting among ourselves. Ultimately, we dont have enough information about that to confirm anything either way. There is more time sensitive news that we need to concern ourselves with.

What is it? Tauno asked, huffing and turning away from Prasad.

The signals, Catarina said. Weve been tracking the Trigold Cluster fleet. They recently just circumvented Xankeshan.

Thats good, right? Tauno asked, looking around.

It means we dont know their destination, Prospero Vandale said. Which is still quite concerning.

Actually, its pretty easy to determine based on their previous path, Catarina said, pulling it up on the screen in three dimensions. Either theyre passing straight through the center of our Alliance to provoke us, for fun, or because theyre coming here, she said, pointing down.

Where? Hoyt asked.

Here, Catarina pointed down again. Lonkeon.

Prasad frowned. They might be working together. Intending to cut off our retreat.

They might be, Catarina agreed. But of course, we dont know. Were already relocating fleets from Xankeshan to help deal with that possibility. If were cut off here and wiped out well, the fleets alone couldnt defend Xankeshan without us for very long.

Kseniya coughed from the back of the room, drawing attention to herself. What if theyre coming to help us?

Then wed need to know how and why and what the cost will be, Prasad said. But allies dont slip in through the void. He glanced towards Velvet. Mostly.

Indeed, Timothy said. But unfortunately, were constrained to fighting here or retreating all the way to Xankeshan. We dont have sufficient defenses anywhere else to handle just the Exalted Quadrant.

Prasad frowned. I would very much like to smash in the heads of everyone coming for us. But its looking like it will be rather difficult. With us having already incorporated every potential ally in the region well just have to stand our ground. Unless something happened with the wildcard?

Though Prasad appeared reluctant to even say the name, his look towards Vari indicated his intentions clearly enough. I tried, she said. But I got kicked out. His projections basically said he was busy with something important and that I should go home. Except not that politely.

Nobody liked the idea of Everheart doing something important. But at least they could hope he would stay out of their hair.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

-----

Alva looked nervously into the skies, feeling the vague blob of approaching fleets. And, though she might be imagining it, a stronger point within it all. Are you certain the two of you should be here?

A bark answered her easily. Of course, Fuzz said, stepping up next to her. We are as much of a part of the Scarlet Alliance as anyone else.

Spikes also made herself known, growling. This is also our best chance to advance. A mighty test. I would be more concerned for yourself.

Ill survive, Alva said, assuring herself. But your pups Alva spoke in growls and barks, though the wolves could understand common language. It was good practice for whenever cultivators from Akrys began ascending and she would need to speak another non-human language. Actually, that was a good motivation to live.

What about our pups? Spikes asked. They are safe and secure at home, or they are adults who are spreading our bloodline throughout the stars. Our lineage is secure. Unlike yours.

Uhh, I Alva shrugged. I didnt really feel the need.

Fuzz snorted. Catarina was only able to have one child. Perhaps you could have had your own for your familys sake.

Nah, Im good. Besides, there are like a million of us in the lower realms, Alva pointed out.

I was led to believe it was closer to ten thousand, Fuzz said.

I dont actually keep track of that stuff! Alva said. Anton probably does, though.

Regardless, Spikes barked. Most are not cultivators. We have few here in the upper realms.

Lots of people chose Assimilation. And I guess not all of us became serious cultivators, Alva shrugged. Dammit.

What? Fuzz looked up, sniffing.

I can sense it for sure now. That power. If thats not a Domination cultivator, then I dont know what is. She began fiddling with her bow and quiver of special arrows. Wed better be ready. Within an hour theyll be within-

At that point, she sensed a series of Spirit Arrows flying past over the atmosphere. From the progenitor of the technique, of course. Kseniya was still just as bad at teaching as she had always been, but a valuable asset to the Alliance. Maybe she could take out some of their enemies ahead of time. That seemed reasonable.

Until Alva picked out where the arrows were headed. And while she ultimately agreed that Kseniya had picked the easiest target, it was also the worst one. Zaur stood out like a beacon among everything else, as he had seemingly chosen to reveal his cultivation. So Kseniya could shoot at him, but could she really even hurt him? Most likely, she would just exhaust herself without really bothering him. She was only early Augmentation after all, and range wasnt good enough to make up for an entire realm.

Alva lost track of the first arrows after a minute or so, and she expected they would take a few to reach their target. Kseniya had launched a few more waves, most likely meant to arrive in groups to make it most difficult to resist- but Alva didnt know how much that would matter.

She just waited and watched until she felt something. A fluctuation of energy. Had Kseniya actually harmed Zaur somehow? That didnt seem possible, and so early if she had a trump card of some sort, why use it when he was at full power?

For a few minutes after that, she was still wondering what was going on. However, she had to keep comms clear. If there was something important then it would be reported. And then Alva sensed that important thing.

Zaurs energy was pulling away from the blob of the fleet, and approaching much more rapidly. Alva began to get a picture of Kseniyas plan, and as usual she didnt know whether it was great or incredibly stupid.

Her comms lit up a moment later, not that she didnt already know the message that was going to be reported. The Domination cultivator Zaur Beridze of the Citadel of Exalted Light is approaching rapidly. Prepare to engage upon his arrival with maximum intensity.

Two wolves growled next to Alva.

Well tear him to shreds, Spikes said.

Ill burn him alive, Fuzz added. Coming without his pack such arrogance!

Alva nodded. She really hoped it was arrogance.

-----

I told you it would work, Kseniya said to Timothy. Old cultivators are like kids. Easily provoked and stupid. She smiled, And yes, that includes me. Though Im hardly older than you guys, now. Even so, her appearance still remained older, as her more recent cultivation advancements had come late- and because cosmetic issues werent something Kseniya concerned herself with. A youthful appearance was worth as little to her as a broken bowstring.

Its a shame we couldnt prepare something better, Catarina said. I would be extremely surprised if our formations are sufficient here. In fact, I would actually doubt that Xankeshans formations would prove enough given what I am feeling. Our calculations were off by a significant factor. Then again, we never got to test against a Domination cultivator.

Im sure theyll do fine, Timothy said.

Catarina patted him on the head. Im just being realistic. What I really need you to believe in me for is my upgrades if we survive this.

When we survive, Timothy said.

Well, that part will be up to you I guess, Catarina said. Im going to be slinking into the depths of the barrier where Im most effective.

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Well I never expected this possibility, Prasad said as he flew towards the expected arrival location of Zaur along with Hoyt and Prospero. Do you think hes just trying to draw us together for some sort of trap?

Prospero Vandale shook his head. It feels far too honest for that. This will be a battle that will determine if any of us has the potential to reach Domination though even that wont necessarily mean the Scarlet Alliance survives to that point.

Id be upset, Prasad said. But I doubt that a few more centuries of huddling down in my sect cultivating would have gotten me far. Experiencing something like this well, it might be the only chance. And honestly Id rather go down fighting a Domination cultivator than having the sect swarmed by countless weaklings. He frowned. She stopped shooting.

Most likely conserving her energy, Hoyt commented. Hes likely still out of effective range.

Even managing to reach him at all is quite something, Prasad commented. I hadnt expected this. I knew she could attack from quite a distance but

Prospero grinned, She was probably fired up by her best disciple surpassing her distance by a significant margin.

Prasad frowned. That would be this Anton? In the lower realms?

Thats right.

What odd times we live in, Prasad said. Now then, how should we arrange ourselves? They pondered that as they approached closer, ready to readjust their positioning if Zaurs trajectory changed.