Chapter 76 - Wings of War
The sky above Aetherion erupted into chaos.
Thousands of Eclipse Court warriors descended from the floating fortress like a black storm.
Shadow Wyverns filled the heavens.
Crystal Manticores roared across the floating islands.
Void Serpents slithered through the clouds, leaving trails of darkness behind them.
For the first time in a thousand years...
The Celestial Citadel was under siege.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts glowed.
World Event Updated
Siege of Aetherion
Enemy Forces:
12,847
Defenders:
8,391
Battle Status:
Critical
Primary Objective:
Protect the Fourth Guardian.
Secondary Objective:
Prevent the Eclipse Court from reaching the World Tree.
---
Grand Sage Orion raised his ancient staff.
A massive golden barrier spread over the capital.
"Citizens, evacuate to the inner sanctuaries!"
"The Celestial Knights will hold the outer districts!"
Hundreds of Beast Tamers answered his call.
Their contract beasts filled the skies with brilliant colours.
Fire Phoenixes.
Thunder Griffins.
Crystal Pegasi.
Storm Eagles.
The entire continent became a battlefield.
---
Kai turned to his companions.
"Everyone already knows their strengths."
"We don't need complicated orders."
He looked at each of them.
"Protect the innocent first."
"Stop the invasion second."
"And if you find someone in trouble..."
"Help them."
Everyone nodded.
---
Bjorn slammed his enormous axe against the ground.
The Earth Titan Bear roared.
"I'll defend the eastern gate!"
Aria smiled.
"My hummingbird is the fastest here."
"I'll carry messages between the defence lines."
Darius stepped forward.
"I know the Eclipse Court's tactics."
"I'll lead you to their commanders."
Some contestants glared at him.
"He was our enemy."
Kai answered calmly.
"He was."
"But today he's fighting beside us."
After a moment of silence...
Bjorn laughed.
"If the Beast Sovereign trusts him..."
"So do I."
---
Far above...
Lucien watched with amusement.
"So easily inspired."
He gently stroked the Void Emperor Dragon's neck.
"Show them despair."
The dragon spread its enormous wings.
The sunlight vanished.
A sphere of absolute darkness appeared above Aetherion.
It continued growing.
Ten metres.
A hundred.
A thousand.
Soon it covered the entire capital.
---
The Book flashed crimson.
Ultimate Skill Detected
Void Eclipse
Estimated Impact:
Complete destruction of the Celestial Citadel.
Time Until Activation:
7 Minutes
---
Selene looked up in horror.
"If that falls..."
Kai nodded.
"There won't be a city left."
---
Without hesitation, Ignis soared into the heavens.
Golden flames exploded around the ancient dragon.
"I will slow it!"
The Crimson Flame Fox leapt onto Kai's shoulder.
"Master."
"You're thinking about fighting Lucien."
Kai smiled.
"You know me too well."
---
Elaria stepped between them.
"You cannot defeat him."
"Not yet."
She placed her hand upon the trunk of the World Tree.
Its emerald leaves began glowing.
Deep beneath the roots...
Something answered.
A pulse.
A heartbeat.
The Fourth Star Fragment.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts trembled.
Resonance Detected
Fourth Star Fragment:
Awakening
Compatibility Scan...
Searching...
---
Kai held his breath.
Would it choose him?
The light beneath the tree grew brighter.
Brighter.
Then...
It split into two streams.
One flowed toward Kai.
The other...
Toward the hooded figure known as the Tenth.
The entire battlefield froze.
---
Compatibility Results
Kai Dragonbane:
97%
The Tenth:
96%
Decision...
Pending
---
Lucien's confident smile disappeared.
"So..."
"The Fragment cannot decide."
The hooded figure looked at Kai.
"It seems..."
"We must prove who is worthy."
Kai shook his head.
"Not now."
He pointed toward the growing sphere of darkness.
"If we fight each other..."
"Everyone else dies."
For the first time, the Tenth hesitated.
Then...
It slowly nodded.
"Agreed."
---
The Book suddenly revealed a hidden notification.
Emergency Protocol
Dual Resonance Available
Condition:
Two compatible Sovereign Candidates.
Effect:
Temporary sharing of Star Authority.
Risk:
Unknown.
---
Kai extended his hand.
The Tenth looked at it silently.
Around them, the war intensified.
Ignis clashed against the Void Emperor Dragon.
Bjorn's Earth Titan Bear wrestled a Shadow Behemoth.
Aria's tiny hummingbird moved faster than lightning, rescuing wounded soldiers.
The fate of Aetherion hung by a thread.
Kai spoke firmly.
"We can settle who's the true Beast Sovereign later."
"But today..."
"We save this world together."
The Tenth stared at Kai's outstretched hand.
Slowly...
It reached forward.
The moment their hands touched...
The four Star Fragments hidden across the world pulsed simultaneously.
Far away, in lands no one had yet explored...
Ancient Guardians opened their eyes.
A forgotten prophecy had begun to unfold.