Chương 346: The Shifting Guard

The ethereal and monstrous phantom of the void crab slowly faded from the sky. As it faded it took with it the soul-crushing pressure that had blanketed the battlefield. The silence that remained was serene, broken only by the distant and terrified screams of the routing enemy and the whistling wind. Aethelgard's great defensive formation flickered once and then stabilized, its multi-colored glow becoming calm and steady.

The immediate threat was gone, annihilated in a display of psychological and spiritual warfare that had left everyone, friend and foe alike simply staring. The armored airship slowly descended. Jian Xuan, his face still flush with the thrill of battle and his new role as a cultist quickly zipped back to the ship, landing on the deck with a triumphant thud. A moment later, Khaos simply appeared beside him, his expression as impassive as if he had just been for a quiet stroll.

The vessel flew over the blood-soaked eastern field, passing through the city's barrier—which opened just wide enough to admit them—and landing in the central plaza, a vast expanse of white stone now crowded with weary soldiers and healers. As the ramp lowered, Grand Elder Theron was waiting for them, flanked by a small group of haggard-looking cultivators. His ancient face was etched with exhaustion but his eyes were clear and sharp.

He nodded first to Lysander, a greeting of relief to his subordinate that had made it back in time. There would be a lot of work for both of them to do now. Then he turned his full attention to the newcomers.

"That," Theron said, "was the most outrageously ostentatious display I have witnessed in three hundred years." He looked from Jian's grinning face to Khaos's indifferent one.

"But it was also clever. And devastatingly effective. You have not just broken a powerful force of the enemy; you have planted seeds of doubt. That is a victory that will buy us precious time. We are in your debt, Grand Elders."

"Just establishing the brand," Jian said with a wave of his hand, puffing out his chest.

"The Abyssal Crab Cult is generous to its... potential neighbors." Theron wisely chose to ignore the comment. He gestured to the nervous cultivators beside him.

"Let us formalize the new command. This is Grand Elder Khaos. As of this moment, he is the new guardian of Aethelgard." The city's remaining leaders stepped forward. One was a man in scarred heavy armor, his aura that of a first-level Soul Formation cultivator. His name was Gavriel, the leader of this city and the one that controls the city guard. Gavriel eyes were wide and wary, staring at Khaos as one might look at a slumbering volcano.

The other two were at the peak of the Core Formation realm: Orin, a meticulous-looking man who was the chief array master, and Elena, the city's civil administrator, who looked terrified but was holding her ground.

"Grand Elder Theron..." Gavriel began, his voice rough.

"You are... leaving us? With... him?" Theron held up a hand.

"I am, and you will be safe." He stepped forward and presented Khaos with an ornate sealed box made of dark spirit-suppressing wood.

"Your payment, as agreed, Grand Elder. I trust you will find it to your satisfaction." Khaos took the box, his movements quick. He didn't even look at Theron, his attention already on the container.

"You may open it later," Theron added, though it was clear Khaos would do as he pleased. The Grand Elder then turned to Gavriel, Orin, and Elena. His voice became stern, leaving no room for misunderstanding. This was a command, not a request.

"Listen to me, all of you. Your new guardian is not a member of our order. He is… the word that describes him best is that he is a mercenary. One of immense power and fulfilling a contract. His terms are simple and absolute." He motioned to Khaos, who had already drifted to the edge of the plaza, his back to them and was inspecting the box.

"He will guard this city from all external threats. As long as you and your people remain inside these walls, you will be safe. He has given his word. However, anyone who chooses to leave the protection of the city walls is left to their own fate. He is here to make sure the city remains standing and its image is protected so as to not spread fear." Theron's gaze hardened.

"You will not interfere with his methods. You will not question his judgments in battle but you can help him tell friend from foe. You will not, under any circumstances, bother him with trivial matters. Treat him with the utmost respect, give him whatever he requires and stay out of his way. Do this, and Aethelgard will stand. Am I clear?" Theron was shaking his head internally as he said all of these things. If it were anyone else and the situation was different he wouldn't be having this man protect the city.

However, times were tough now and Khaos's power was undeniable. Gavriel swallowed, his pride clearly warring with his survival instinct. He looked at the smoking ruin of the eastern battlefield, then back at the indifferent black-robed figure.

"Crystal clear, Grand Elder." He and the others bowed stiffly, not in greeting but in wary acceptance of a new, dangerous reality. They were not gaining a leader; they were being protected by a caged, wild animal. With the handover complete, Theron's demeanor snapped back to one of battlefield urgency. He unfurled a strategic map in the air, its light illuminating their weary faces.

"Now, to the war. Khaos has bought us a reprieve, not a victory. The enemy's main forces are still active. I must go south immediately. The Bloodfire Rift is about to break. If it does, the Beast Faction will have a much easier time in the south. Our transportation and reinforcement lines will be broken if falls as well." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. He looked at Lysander.

"Lysander, I need you to take a team east. The coastal cities are being harassed by hit-and-run squads and our supply lines are being cut to ribbons. You must re-establish them." Lysander nodded, his expression grim.

"Understood, Grand Elder."

"I will take my personal guard," Theron continued, "and..."

"You can count me in," Jian interrupted, stepping forward. His grin was gone, replaced by the eager look of a hunter.

"I didn't come to this continent to sit in a city. That's his job," he said, motioning to Khaos, who was now sitting on the edge of a fountain, the open box in his lap.

"I came here to fight." A flicker of relief crossed Theron's face.

"Your strength would be invaluable, Jian Xuan. The southern front is brutal and we are heavily outnumbered."

"Then I will come with you," Jian declared.

"We will free that area and secure it." He then turned and clapped Li Yu on the shoulder.

"And he's coming with me. No point in both of us getting bored." Li Yu nodded in agreement.

"Staying in this city was never my intention. I came to this continent for experience after all. A quiet city is of no use to me." Having firmed up his resolve during the earlier battle, Li Yu felt he was ready for action.

"Good," Theron said, a genuine rare smile touching his lips. He was clearly impressed by their immediate willingness to throw themselves into the dangerous war.

"The battle is pressing. We leave in one hour. I must use this time to arrange the city's internal command structure before I depart. I will meet you at the southern gate." Theron, Lysander and the Aethelgard leaders hurried off, their voices a low buzz of urgent planning. The plaza began to clear as soldiers were redeployed and cultivators skilled in healing arts rushed to the wounded. Li Yu and Jian walked over to where Khaos sat, now seemingly oblivious to the world around him. The box was open.

Inside, resting on a bed of velvet was an object that seemed to defy light itself. It was a crystal but it didn't sparkle or glitter. It looked like a shard of pure, solidified void, a piece of anti-light that seemed to suck in the surrounding illumination like a mini black hole. What looked to be swirling currents of captured darkness and infinitesimal dying stars moved within its depths.

Khaos had one hand hovering over it and Li Yu could feel the void-essence of the crystal being drawn out in a thin, black wisp and absorbed directly into his Khaos's palm. He looked blissfully content.

"Seems like he's already settled in," Jian remarked, eyeing the crystal with curiosity.

"Well, this war is... intense. But… doesn't feel that different from the ones back in my home or your home. It's just on a much, much larger scale. More fanatics, bigger beasts."

"And more demons," Li Yu said quietly. Jian raised an eyebrow.

"You sense them?" Li Yu nodded.

"I can detect demonic qi in the air. It's very faint, but it's everywhere. It's not like the concentrated aura in the north when the demon was summoned. This is more natural and just co-exist in the air. Theron mentioned this continent is linked to the demon realm, that qi from each realm passes through. This must be it." He flexed his hand, quietly drawing in a wisp of the tainted air. The demonic qi entered his meridians and just like before, it was easily absorbed, broken down and converted.

It was a strange, tingling sensation but not harmful. His unique constitution handled it perfectly. He still had his theory about demonic qi to test and he should get an opportunity here to do it. Could he absorb the qi directly from a demon, as he could from an aquatic bloodline beast? He still didn't think it was possible but he had to be sure. If he could, that would be extremely useful. He filed the thought away.

Since most cultivators couldn't use the demonic qi in the air, it was actually more abundant than the other elements or other random qi that are there. He could use it though, so it became an additional source of qi he can draw on for cultivation. Li Yu looked around. The plaza was a hive of activity. Soldiers were running to new posts, refugees were being guided to shelters and carts full of storage rings were being moved, most likely supplies.

Theron was deep in conversation with Gavriel and Lysander was gathering the Forest disciples. It was a good moment, the height of the transition. No one was watching them.

"I need a moment," Li Yu said to Jian, stepping into the deep shadow of a stone rampart, out of sight. He focused his mind a moment later, Fengliu stepped out. He was no longer in his recognizable robes but in the simple, nondescript brown-and-grey attire of a common traveler or mercenary. His face hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat and a simple glamouring cantrip that made his features plain and forgettable.

"The city is in chaos but stabilizing," Li Yu said, his voice low and quick.

"The command structure is shifting. Theron is taking a force south and Lysander is taking one east. Find a way to blend in with the refugees or attach yourself to a supply caravan. Slip out of the city in the confusion." He pressed a small, carved wooden token into Fengliu's hand.

"Theron gave these to us. It identifies you as an ally of the Forest. It won't stop a battle but it might get you through a friendly checkpoint or into a city. Explore this continent, learn the lay of the land and search for any clues about our enemies and your sister." Fengliu's eyes, visible even in the shadow of his hat, were like cold steel, burning with the deep, obsessive fire that defined him. He didn't speak. He simply palmed the token and gave a single, sharp nod. He had all the permission he needed.

He pulled his hat down, adjusted the simple pack on his back and melted into the throng of people moving across the plaza. He was just another displaced person in a city at war and in a matter of seconds he was gone. Li Yu stepped back out into the light, his expression unchanged. He walked back to Jian, who was idly polishing his sword.

"All set?" Jian asked, sheathing the weapon with a loud shing.

"All set," Li Yu confirmed.

"Good." Jian grinned, his battle lust returning.

"Let's go see what this 'Bloodfire Rift' is all about."