Chapter 193: A 3 Faction Battle of Aethalgard
Elton's group, along with the Umankan troops, cut across the sea. Murky waters were thick with corpses, and a mix of wariness and grim resolve showed on the Umankans' faces.
"Looks like we moved too late," Elton said, gaze tracking the tides. "Shay and the others are already on the move… but they're off-course from where we were supposed to head."
"Gege, I've located them," Christy replied. "Strangely… I'm getting the sense of a three-way faction war. Shay and the others are intermingled with one faction. I could be wrong—they're pretty far."
"It doesn't matter. We're heading there first. The mayor and the others splintered off to use us as bait, but they didn't see this coming." Elton turned to Obianuju. "You know what to do."
"Yes, Elton." Obianuju dipped her head. "I'll relay the orders and… make the preparations we discussed. Though the number might be larger than expected thanks to your exploits…" She gave a wry smile, glancing at a few Umankan soldiers who weren't originally part of the plan—but had earned her consideration over the years.
"Haha, it's fine. Let's get started." Elton waved it off. Obioma kept her eyes on him, slightly flushed. Obinna's expression was calm, tribal markings glowing faintly across his body—squirming like a crawling curse.
The sight had nearly broken his sisters and a few close kin the day before. He'd gambled on a forbidden technique left by their father and came near death. If not for Shayleaf and Christy helping him tame the surge, he might not have survived—just as their father hadn't, even with better compatibility.
But Obinna shattered his bottleneck, stepping from Gold tier 3 into Gold tier 4—slightly surpassing his eldest sister, leaving her proud, relieved, and worried all at once.
By evening, the seas thundered with war cries and constant detonations. Christy's read was right.
Ahead, a battered floating island of trees hurled a rain of ranged techniques. Hundreds of forest golems and insect summons swarmed over wood and water, tearing into experts from two different Aethalgard factions. The four groups forced into service under Elton's banner were fighting like a storm alongside them, while the two enemy factions also clashed with each other—and a third Aethalgard faction had oddly joined Shayleaf. The battlefield was chaos.
"Damnit! Those people brought reinforcements! It's the Umankans!" a fishman from one enemy faction shouted.
"What's happening?! Why has this turned into this?!" yelled another from the other faction.
"Hawhawhaw! As you said, Brother Longar—the Umankans, led by that strange man who captured so many of you, really did come! And just in time to deal with that sneaky Third Imperial Minister—he's heading here instead of the main front. Let's wipe these bastards out!" crowed the leader of the third force aiding Shayleaf.
Elton exchanged a look with Christy and Tongsheng atop Elchris. The great bird dove and landed on the island after blasting enemies from the air with balls of flame.
"Brother Elly! Sister Chris! Sister Tongsheng! You're finally here!" Shayleaf bounded over, leaping into Elton's arms before hugging the others. "Hehe, it's been such an interesting battle."
"By the looks of it… you didn't really need us," Christy said dryly—then her gaze sharpened. "At least, not until that guy showed up."
Elton followed her eyes, then vaulted onto the Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer and rose into the sky.
"You all hold this position and only step in if necessary," he said. "We're not doing those bastards' dirty work. Isn't that right, sir?"
"Hawhawhaw! Yes, yes—of course, Sir Daoist Blue Heavens Sword," laughed a fishman on a flying sea-bird, water-light flickering across his scales. "I may just be a false Mortal Lord like you, but between us we can handle that man. In fact, you're stronger—I bet we can take him down, so long as the others don't interfere."
A towering Mortal Lord aura erupted in the distance. Vast sheets of seawater bucked into ripples and tidal waves. One section boiled, compressing into a giant orb that tore toward the tree island, smashing enemy and ally alike.
The island's barrier flared, blazing as the orb hammered into it and shook the world.
Five counterblows smashed into the water-sphere and shattered it. Elton, Tongsheng, Christy, the allied fishman leader, and his deputy unleashed in tandem.
Through the hissing steam of ruptured mist, a figure stepped forth.
"Tch. Troublesome gnats," the newcomer said coolly, killing intent thick in his tone. "And you dare betray the Aethalgard Dukedom? Prepare to be punished."
"Betray the Dukedom? Ah? Don't be ridiculous," the allied fishman leader sneered. "Given your actions, I'd say you're planning a rebellion—to overthrow the current Duke. Don't think I don't know what you've been up to. Hawhawhaw!"
"Hmph. All forces—annihilate these traitors." The Imperial Minister's Mortal Lord aura exploded, and he moved.
The two enemy factions—who'd been at each other's throats—joined forces against the third faction allied with Elton's mixed force. The sea detonated as battle re-ignited.
Elton smiled slightly, gaze fixed on the Imperial Minister. He called Royal Elven summoning magic, and fifteen crimson-gold branches surged up as fifteen trees detonated on the island. The power condensed into each branch was far greater than when he'd fought Gwarola. All fifteen took on the shape of the Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer; fourteen hung around him, and the fifteenth rested in his hand.
He shot forward at incredible speed atop the true Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer. The fishman leader and his deputy traded a look of awe, then leapt from their mount; thin water-wings unfurled from their backs as they sped forward with heavy momentum.
And just like that, three Golden Lords clashed with an Early Stage Mortal Lord—driving a fresh wedge into schemes that had seemed so certain minutes before.