Cub 108: The Millennium-Old Holy Cas Behind Us

In the boundless, pitch-black cosmos, that was not a minor variation composed by instruments.

Just a scattering of faint, star-like gleams.

—Remember them here, then bring them home.

See.

Cousin.

Isn’t this exactly what you’ve always wondered about, friend, family—what, in the end, is the relationship between the long-lived and the short-lived? In a moment, in the blink of an eye, it vanishes so fragilely, without giving you an instant to prepare—so you said: forget it, just let it go… let’s not get close anymore…

Yet at some time, some place, it stubbornly proves to you that the bonds you built are so solid, so lasting they make up the millennium-old Holy Cas behind you.

Because friends, family, and the leaders they followed were there, that’s why they remained here, steadfast to the end.

It is also a seed of sorrow soon to be buried, but that sad seed eventually sprouts, telling you—it’s alright, even if it’s only for a moment, that’s enough.

That’s already enough.

The departed Crown Clan elders were watching them. Even within the pollution, there was such a force desperately protecting them—not due to the hardness of life, but to the tenacity between lives.

“Is that so…? That’s how it is—”

Ayala looked at the barrier.

Centuries of erosion and decay were enough to leave Crown Clan bodies in such condition, let alone the First Army buried here.

The threads of mental power now showed no sign of once being living people; they stubbornly fused together, no longer you or me, standing as one here.

“That’s… how it is…”

Before this, no one could breach Ayala’s defenses.

Not even Zao Zao.

Ayala had clumsily tried to protect the little cub, yet dared not take even a step forward. Lien would even hide in a corner, proceeding step by step as planned, or freeze in place if Zao Zao ran to him. Ayala simply, when you neared, would retreat. The sudden losses of those closest to him had made him instinctively resist everything.

And a heart growing steadily calmer seemed to assure him—this was the right way.

Until now.

Ayala raised a hand, covering his eyes, his shoulders trembling slightly.

“Yes, I haven’t yet—brought them home—I’m really…”

Ayala lowered his hand, crimson eyes looking at Little Chu Zao, his gaze blurring from the bottom up, each blink further clouding his vision.

He sighed softly, looking toward the distant insignia of the Holy Cas First Army.

“Too pathetic—”

Those frozen emotions seemed to surge forth.

The little cub lay in Amos’s arms, only his large eyes showing as he watched Ayala.

Amos observed all this, then turned and held the cub, preparing to return for further arrangements.

The buzzing in their ears slowly faded as the entire galaxy returned to quiet once more, distant stars shining bright again, as always—only Little Chu Zao could see the stubborn imprints left at the barrier’s lingering moments.

“No, cousin.”

His little voice was muffled, low.

“You did well, or else they wouldn’t want to protect you, to protect Holy Cas.”

Amos spread his wings behind him. He left Feiman and Ayala here for now, carrying the little cub toward the starship.

Finally, a faint sound seemed to come from Ayala.

“Zao Zao—thank you. You possess a… power I could never imagine.”

Not just mental power, nor merely the rare ability to mend crowns and salvage despair.

Little Chu Zao lay on Amos’s shoulder, staring at the vast, endless barrier winding through the pollution, then tucked his head deep into Amos’s arms.

So strange—it was Holy Cas from centuries ago, a Holy Cas army Zao Zao had never known.

Not clansmen who looked like Zao Zao, nor Holy Cas friends he knew.

And yet—

He was deeply moved.

The little fellow only half-understood.

As Amos stepped onto the starship, the cub lifted his head.

The crown atop the still-exhausted little cub seemed to dim.

But he looked up at Amos with utter seriousness.

“Baba.”

“Hmm?”

Amos was calm, though all earlier indolence had vanished; his mood was heavy, but he still stood as everyone’s anchor, looking at his red-eyed child.

He handed his mental power longsword to the little one.

This time, the cub didn’t rush to gnaw at it.

“Zao Zao wants to protect Holy Cas.”

This child, not yet seven, the future king of Holy Cas, spoke earnestly to the current king.

“Just like Baba protects the Crown Clan, and protects Holy Cas.”

The tiny cub was growing swiftly—not just in power, but in body as well.

All those things the monsters had taught him were now being reshaped by Holy Cas, by the Crown Clan.

Like the crown on his head—even if it was only flickering with a tired light, it was still dazzling and fierce.

The sovereign, who had shielded the little one from all storms, let his crimson eyes rest softly upon this ever-growing young power.

His gaze finally gentle.

“Zao Zao, well said.”

Amos looked up again, and before him stood countless Holy Cas soldiers lined up. When Amos looked to them, they saluted: “Your Majesty!”

Their voices were orderly and solemn, a bit heavy.

Yet hardly different from the troops of centuries past.

Behind him, Feeney and the other Crown Clan had received Amos’s orders and were returning in succession.

They formed up behind Amos.

No daily banter or noisy laughter—before the barrier, the Crown Clan were cold and steady.

With eyes lowered, they waited for Amos’s further commands.

Just like the most feared image in the minds of those with ill intent across the stars—machine-like, calm, obeying only the leader of their clan.

*

The great upheaval in Holy Cas set off a chain reaction.

Previously, Holy Cas’s stability had kept the whole empire’s interior relatively relaxed and peaceful.

Their biggest worry was always the longevity of the Crown Clan king and princes.

Just like evolved exotic beast commanders like Storm and Black Spring, Holy Cas people were well aware that galactic peace depended on having the powerful long-lived Crown Clan holding those beasts in check, restricting their evolution to at most the level of beast army commander.

If the Crown Clan vanished, what would become of the galaxy, would Holy Cas’s future planning matter at all? It was a terrifying unknown.

Especially with the contrast now, not even knowing what “hell” might lie on the other side of the barrier.

Now, the appearance of the barrier had put all of Holy Cas into a state of chronic wartime—Amos himself issuing the order, published on the official star-net account.

—Prepare for long-term warfare—be ready at any moment for the barrier’s collapse and the battle to defend home.

Meanwhile, this year’s military academy enrollment on all Holy Cas planets had just begun, and applications had surged to many times their usual numbers.

And those who hadn’t gotten first-hand information, seeing even mighty Holy Cas go to long-term war, had their hopes dashed—surrounding nations and races were left in shock.

If the monsters could trouble even the Crown Clan—?

Just what kind of threat must they be?

So, countless nations and planets still eyeing galactic resources began to act, seeking news, organizing resistance to survive a little longer in the coming terrifying corruption.

On the secluded Holy Chalice Clan planet.

The place had already been exposed.

But the Holy Chalice Clan’s situation was under control, and the more severe cases had even requested Little Chu Zao’s help for healing.

Unskilled in combat, with the Crown Clan now their benefactors, they switched sides completely.

These specialists in technological development began to further research in the directions Holy Cas needed.

Some Holy Cas troops were now stationed here to secure the area.

Clan Chief Caverno read the news online—Holy Cas had yet to release any bad news about the corruption, but things clearly looked grim.

“Father.”

The Holy Chalice Clan’s young chief, Derick, pushed the door open.

“Is everything alright with Chu Zao? They won’t be in trouble in the corruption, right?”

Since last time, Derick had become a devoted follower of Little Chu Zao.

Caverno looked at his son.

“Relax, His Majesty Amos is right at the young prince’s side. Focus on your own work—if nothing unexpected happens, in the next ten, twenty, maybe even dozens of years—this galaxy will see tremendous change, change we could never predict.”

Derick looked at his father.

“Is that so—”

He, too, was dazed a moment, then exhaled deeply.

“Great change in response to the corruption—”

It was unclear whether to feel excited or afraid.

But—

“Dad, wasn’t your mental power chalice reduced to just a base, unable to function? Are you really—”

Caverno: …

You brat, why bring that up now?!

Caverno’s brows shot up as he glared, pointing to the door.

“Out! My mental power chalice is useless, but yours still works. As the patriarch’s line, go study now—I’m going to check on your progress later!”

Derick: …

Ah!

Meanwhile, on a more distant planet—a desolate place.

A half-grown youth, all swathed in cloth, stood quietly surveying his surroundings. He took off dark glasses—

The eyes beneath left a lasting impression at one glance. Silent, he turned, put his glasses back on, and walked away.

At the same time, Amos had already left the polluted zone with the little cub.

They needed to set up a new barrier defense.

Not just to secure the galaxy, but also to relieve Ebinino of further mental strain.

Some matters still had to be announced.

So, a day later, Holy Cas citizens received updated news.

Details about the barrier.

The Holy Cas army, previously fifteen army groups, would once again expand to secure the new defense line, and maximize deterrence against ill-intentioned foes before they acted.

All Holy Cas was waiting anxiously, until the news, sorted and posted by the official and royal accounts—

Heroes should never be left nameless.

All of Holy Cas was stunned.

Holy Cas people had a more stubborn and warlike nature than ordinary humans.

On the internal star-net, countless voices rose in chorus.

‘So, there have always been people protecting us in the corruption?’

‘Is it the First Army?’

‘I know of the First Army. I read in school how they, with Prince Ebinino, covered the evacuation of Holy Cas people from the crisis planet, only to perish in the pollution—’

‘So it wasn’t just monsters in the corruption, but people protecting us—’

‘They’re still there, their power is still there? After all this time? I really, really can’t believe it.’

‘Did you see the new footage released by the royal official account?’

‘No, I only glanced at the start and couldn’t bring myself to watch, was it really the First Army and Crown Prince Ebinino’s mental power still there? For centuries? Just alone, blocking the corruption, never even letting us know about these pollution tides?’

This shattered all the people’s understanding.

‘Yes, go see for yourself. We shouldn’t avoid it. Look, remember it, carry on with the resolve of our predecessors.’

‘When that battered barrier began an ancient song, I got goosebumps—in that cosmos, it was so moving. What else could be over the barrier?’

‘What else can we do for them? It’s just too sad—’

‘They protected us for centuries—’

Meanwhile, the royal official account released further news.

Few words—forming a new barrier defense, guarding Holy Cas alongside heroes.

It wasn’t explicitly stated—

But glancing at the new defense plan, all the unspoken words were plain.

Step by step, bring them home.

*

All Holy Cas entered wartime status, and this already somewhat mad empire, led by the Crown Clan, was more fervent than ever.

Holy Cas had long focused on internal affairs, or striking at exotic beast armies scattered throughout the galaxy.

Intervention beyond their borders had been weak.

That let others form dangerous ambitions.

But now, the strength displayed by Holy Cas, and the power of Crown Clan with their little cub king, had quieted the stars for a time.

In one deeply concealed galactic sector.

The base starship of the Hymn Organization lay hidden.

They’d yet to restock at the highest level.

Only three members remained.

With new gifts from their god, they’d been plotting further actions.

But Holy Cas’s sudden fervor had derailed some plans.

“What’s the situation?”

“Not clear. Most of our intelligence-gathering points have been found by Holy Cas, and we had to withdraw. The pressure from Holy Cas is just overwhelming.”

Perhaps due to the god’s favor, with the bestowed stones and possessing a power ordinary humans didn’t have, they gained a renewed sense of hope.

These already half-insane types grew a little calmer.

Their leader, Chastity, sat at the highest seat.

His fingers gently tapped on the table.

“We’re now at a disadvantage. The Crown Clan, who stole divine gift, are ascending anew. We can’t strike them now, or we’d only weaken ourselves.”

The others fell silent, listening.

Chastity exhaled gently, then looked up at his fellows.

“We should have seen this coming.”

Since that little cub appeared.

“At that moment, the Crown Clan, on the verge of extinction, entered a renewed ascent. We missed our last chance with them, lost the opportunity, and that led to this. The Crown Clan is a difficult, long-lived breed—we should have never forgotten that.”

“You’re right, all previous operations against the Crown Clan were successful. We even had many methods, and were waiting for a better time—until things went awry.”

“And later, after the little cub appeared, our missions failed again and again. We made some wrong judgments, and that’s my fault to all of you.”

Chastity looked at the screen, watching Holy Cas’s new frontline video.

It was all exposed now.

But the Crown Clan was no longer what it had been, and even with new power, the Hymn Organization was helpless against them for now.

All they could do was watch.

One thing was clear.

Every action after the young Crown Clan’s appearance had failed, then they stubbornly tried to eliminate him, but a Crown Clan pushed to the edge would never comply.

They should have thought harder in advance—wasting so much power for nothing.

Chastity sighed, eyes lowered.

“No, it’s not your fault.”

“Yes, the error was in those blasphemers, those long-lived thieves of divine power. You only wished to offer a holy gift to the god, let him descend and bring a fair new world.”

“And I believe, none who gave their lives for the god would regret it.”

Chastity listened, still downcast, quiet. The room stilled a moment.

Then Chastity spoke again.

“I pray my comrades return smoothly to the god’s embrace—”

He exhaled.

“Our next plan is clear—”

He looked up again, gazing at the battered barrier on the screen.

“There are god’s messengers within the corruption—”

He said, his hooded face hidden, but his sudden rise betrayed his agitation.

“We must further exploit the corruption, develop ourselves under Holy Cas’s pressure, and wait for a new chance—”

He looked to his companions.

The other two stood, also turning toward him.

“Seize new opportunities, offer up the holy gift, bring down God. No matter how strong the Crown Clan or other long-lived breeds are, they’re just galactic races. They can’t withstand such enormous tides—”

Just as the Crown Clan themselves predicted—without the barrier, the exotic beasts would pour forth, and the Crown Clan couldn’t protect Holy Cas forever.

“Yes!”

“Next—”

Chastity looked up again—the Hymn Organization’s leader deciding to go to ground. They had long been mad, fixated on “equality”, especially after seeing the Angel Realm. There was no closeness between them, only the self and faith in “God”—so the madness deepened, twisting ever further.

“How goes the assessment of that so-called Shenghua?”

“Still ongoing. She’s slick, but should be the talent we need—”

Even now, no one questioned Shenghua’s background or history.

“Good, then keep assessing. There are things we’ll handle ourselves, and new candidates—show the believers our power. Comrades, do not squander God’s gifts—sing hymns for God!”

“Yes!”

“For God, sing the hymn!”

*

On the Holy Cas side.

Some Holy Cas warships were returning to the imperial star.

The new defense line was still forming, and still needed rotating shifts—for the pollution was highly risky to both Crown Clan and humans.

No one, nor any machine, could last long in such conditions—so the new front was mainly for patrolling and was based near Ebinino’s location.

Outside the pollution zone, Holy Cas boosted the cleansing and defense of the outskirts.

Feiman and Ayala would remain at the new line for now. Amos would take Little Chu Zao back to the imperial star—the cub hugging his Angel Spring Source stone, still yearning for Teacher Hel’s wings.

Yet before this, the cub had one more thing to do. Amos stood by as the little one toddled off in a certain direction. Feeney sighed, “He’s growing so fast, soon you won’t be able to carry him around, Amos. At best, you’ll get to carry him another year or two?”

Amos: …

He turned, the shadow on his face thickening, but his expression remained placid, calm as ever. He raised his hand—placed it on Feeney’s shoulder—

Feeney: ?

Anya stepped back to stand by Frey, watching Feeney get dragged off—likely to the training room yet again.

Frey looked at Anya inquiringly. Anya replied, “I’m afraid second brother will beat third brother and I’ll get splattered with blood—especially when someone says what Amos doesn’t want to hear.”

Frey: “Still, Amos should let go of Zao Zao more. He’s stronger than any of us imagined.”

Anya: “Oh? You go tell him? Big brother.”

Frey: “…Let’s discuss the new defense line instead.”

…

“Here?”

Little Chu Zao stood at the door, peering into a pitch-black room.

“Yes.”

“Your Highness, Chao Huangmu won’t come out—”

Yun Songquan and Peng Liang stood at the door, too timid to enter, looking rather crestfallen as they relayed the situation to Little Chu Zao.

The little cub, after a break and with the parents escorting him on the way back, still hadn’t had a fever from power overuse but was looking droopy, blinking his big eyes as he toddled inside.

Bundled in a corner, suppressing his power and emotions, a bit irritable and ready to lash out at anyone, Chao Huangmu suddenly heard the voice and looked up at the bright, familiar little golden crown, instinctively wanting to—yet in such a sorry state… to be seen by the young prince was so humiliating…

Gritting his teeth, he braced against the side of the bed, trying to stand up.

He wanted to prove he was fine, resisting the restless power within.

He was just about to speak.

Then he heard—

“It’s pretty dark. Zao Zao will have a look—”

Chao Huangmu watched as the golden little crown, drifting in slowly, suddenly burst into radiance, lighting up the whole room—almost blinding him.

Bathed in the sudden brightness of the crown and left with nowhere to hide, Chao Huangmu: …

Once again, the sunshine pup was left crestfallen and stripped of his smile.JPG