Though pollution was a force that could not be clearly seen, when it grew stronger, one could still notice some indications—a scene slightly resembling flames twisted and deformed by a faint power.
And at this moment, when that pollution controlled by that “god” swept forward rapidly, it was hit by the twin flame-wreathed arrow shot by Chu Zao, and that force, so fiercely spreading forward, was abruptly held in check, forced to halt, and even began to recede slightly at the forefront.
Therefore, the instrument readings for pollution detection on the starship also dropped accordingly and they promptly reported the change to Amos.
And this had never happened before—
Because Ebinino’s judgment was correct.
If they did not stop the tide of pollution, they would all be consumed by it, and the little highness was already exhausted; his strength likely not sufficient to keep them away from the rising tide of pollution.
But after raging for nearly several thousand years with an air of invincibility, the pollution halted for the first time.
Amos, transformed into his Crown Clan form, grabbed Ebinino with one hand, turned and flapped his wings, and caught his own tottering young one.
With a few beats of his wings, he caught up with the starship.
Ebinino was actually still in a bit of a daze.
He had just come to his senses and seemed clear-headed, only because Little Chu Zao’s arrow stabbed him, and because all this seemed so familiar—back then, the First Army Group perished in pollution in much the same way.
Such a surge of emotion finally brought Ebinino to his senses a little.
Amos was holding him.
And on Ebinino’s scarred claw, a warm little hand rested.
Ebinino, his body nearly completely cold, looked down.
Chu Zao, his breath a little ragged, still managed to lift his eyelids and stare at Ebinino.
Ebinino’s form seemed unsteady; in his daze, he appeared to turn humanoid for a few seconds—
As a human, Ebinino was likewise tattered, riddled with wounds, many already decayed; he kept his eyes closed, just as in his true form, for his eyes were gone—he could only use psionic power to sense his surroundings—which was actually quite different from truly seeing with one’s eyes.
What Ebinino saw with psionic sense was even grayer, making the world even colder in the eyes of one who had always been in pollution, standing watch by that barrier.
He had long foreseen it; when he chose not to leave, but to create a psionic barrier to resist pollution, he had already anticipated—his own death.
Unlike other Crown Clan who self-destructed after their coronas shattered, Ebinino experienced, with even more pain and clarity, his life ebbing away.
He felt the spirit of the First Army Group slowly fading with time.
That was their willing sacrifice, and so long as it could bring peace and change to Holy Cas—they would be immensely glad.
Yet even so, it could not hold back the rising despair.
In pollution, all was gray and white in despair, until at last oblivion awaited.
Perhaps—no one in the universe would remember them again.
But—
Chu Zao struggled to flap the wings on his back, and this time, being close enough, he finally grasped Ebinino’s crown halo.
For a moment, Ebinino froze—where was he holding?
The sensation while awake was indeed different.
And the piercing headache seemed to ease, little by little.
Chu Zao’s corona glowed above his head, lighting up the small boy’s face, and seemed to illuminate the unchanging gloom in Ebinino’s vision as well.
The young one looked utterly spent, letting go for a brief instant, but was caught again by Amos.
Chu Zao was held in Amos’s palms, and finally he lifted his chin, as if a little child who had fixed something, presenting it for the grownups to see—“Great-grandfather, look—the crown, it’s fixed.”
Ebinino’s tattered body felt a sharper pain—no, not sharper pain.
But after the chaos and numbness of a long-shattered corona, there was at last a trace of clarity.
Ebinino’s form kept flickering between illusion and solidity, his psionic power reconnecting, which made him rather unstable, while the silver-black corona, glued together with golden power, gradually formed a small base, and the dangerous energy of the psionic force always about Ebinino also slowly subsided.
This child had always been like this since he was little—
So long as this little fellow promised something, he would go all out to accomplish it.
And one could see from Little Chu Zao—the Crown Clan’s inheritance was still steady.
Those worrisome young ones of the youngest generation, emotion-prone and quick to kill, had already become people who could hold their own.
Truly impressive.
Brat, oh, no.
Amos… Your Majesty.
With the corona repaired, truly coming to his senses, yet overwhelmed by exhaustion and pain, soon to fall into slumber, Ebinino spoke his first words—
“So this is what it feels like when someone else holds your crown…”
Feiman and Feeney, flying over from the starship, happened to hear this.
Feiman was already in tears, but suddenly hearing this, she was at a loss between tears and laughter; the massive Crown Clan forms moved forward, dragging the unconscious Ebinino along.
Amos shifted back to human form.
He turned to glance back at the receding pollution zone.
Just now—that power—even the strongest Crown Clan, Amos, sensed something off.
Yet it was a little familiar.
Amos also knew the source of this power, for he had seen it in the Angel Realm as well.
Unable to attack from afar, and unable to get close because of pollution.
That so-called “god.”
Seeing all beings as ants—are you finally anxious now?
“Baba.”
Chu Zao also looked back.
Little Chu Zao felt awful now—it had been ages since he felt like this.
His power seemed hollowed out, and the power he’d gained from the Angel Realm forcibly merged within him; he was half-asleep and half-awake, as if guided by angelic power, when he shot those two arrows just now.
Those two arrows were entirely different from before.
And every breakthrough was a strain for Chu Zao: just like now, soreness and burning swept over him in waves, leaving him muddleheaded and barely conscious.
It was somewhat like having a fever, though perhaps not so severe—
After all, Chu Zao was much healthier than in his infancy.
“Mm.”
Amos looked down at little Chu Zao.
A young one of this age was no longer suitable to be cradled in his arms.
Amos could only wrap his wings around his child, as in younger years, letting him rest close.
To the towering Crown Clan, Chu Zao was still so small.
Amos’s voice was steady, calm and cool; whenever he was around, nothing seemed to be a problem.
“Sleep.”
Chu Zao, struggling with fatigue, drifted off, eyes closed and muddled—
Ah, Zao Zao is so tired and sleepy—
It’s hard being an adult.
Baba, you’re so amazing, you hold out for now, and after Zao Zao wakes up, he’ll help you again.
Feiman and Feeney, dragging the unconscious Ebinino toward the current area of the Holy Sanctuary, dispatched lower-tier aberrant beasts as they went, arguing from time to time as usual.
Amos, carrying his own young one, boarded the starship.
After landing, the hatch closed.
Holy Cas soldiers, already waiting, came forward.
“Your Majesty, we are proceeding as directed toward the area where the descendants of the First Army Group are currently residing. There may be many aberrant beasts nearby, and communications haven’t been established yet. Shall we build communication facilities?”
“Mm.”
Amos nodded.
“Full speed ahead.”
Aberrant beasts here were cunning and fiercer; after suffering a big loss, they would surely try to make up for it somehow.
And Holy Cas now needed a stable base as a starting point to expand its presence.
From the way the so-called “god” became anxious after Flashfire’s death,
There might be something here in this star region that could shake the very foundation of the pollution.
Especially when it came to dealing with those high-grade aberrant beast commanders that had been so troublesome that even Lady Solan’s finishing-strike theory couldn’t resolve.
“Yes!”
The soldier replied quickly, sneaking a glance at the little highness.
“Your Majesty, the medical pod is ready.”
Luckily, their main mission was to bring back Prince Feeney and the little highness. Though Holy Cas sent only an advance team, the medical equipment prepared was quite comprehensive.
Amos took Chu Zao to the medical bay for a thorough examination.
Only after making sure his child’s injuries, especially on his wings, were fully healed by the medical pod, did the parent finally breathe long, looking at the tousled little wings.
Amos even had some of Zao Zao’s feathers in his pocket.
Sadly, he could not stick them back on.
It was rare for things to quiet down—no wind, no beast roars, no noise.
Only the occasional beep from the instruments could be heard.
In the medical pod, the little one still looked gray and grubby but had grown much compared to before, nearly taking up the whole pod. Scanning for wounds, it was clear that past Crown Clan typically let young ones roam free at this age for training; no one likely expected a young one like Zao Zao to appear—
The older generations—Amos mused, recalling even before his father, Emperor Clansis: during the early spread of pollution, his own grandfather, Emperor Desmond, had fallen on an expedition. Honestly, Amos had only just been born then, with little memory.
Yet from the instruments, one could still glimpse that generation’s philosophy.
This was the prime age for training and toughening; injuries were normal.
And gone were the days of that irritating medical pod voice that once threatened to reassign parenting if Amos was too harsh with his young one.
As if that great battle and crisis had never happened at all, the peace was almost eerie.
Chu Zao was running a fever, with the medical pod doing its best to keep his temperature bearable.
The cub was utterly exhausted; after so much, he didn’t open his eyes even once.
Watching Chu Zao sleep quietly, Amos, nerves always taut, finally relaxed a little.
Zao Zao was still remarkable.
So thought Amos—like the medical pod “reminded,” in principle, he should let go more as Chu Zao grew.
But after considering, Amos simply ignored all that.
He just tucked the covers snugly over Chu Zao and watched him quietly.
“Sleep.”
He’d likely gone many days without a good rest.
Half a day passed on the starship.
They were nearing the new residence of the Holy Sanctuary.
At this moment, in the Holy Sanctuary, Lai Qing was leading a resistance against aberrant beasts.
Lai Te and other wounded, though still staggering, managed to board the starship.
Because they had changed locations, the beast troops commanded by the high-grade aberrant beast commanders missed their target.
At last these beast forces dispersed to search for the Sanctuary’s residents.
They had only just barely located the place; these aberrant beasts began only limited attacks following orders.
And in their final broadcast, they also noticed the starships, paying attention to the insignias—
During the past few days, Chu Zao taught them to recognize the badges of the current Holy Cas military groups. Their homeland had not forgotten their forebears; the structure and insignia of the First Army Group remained, though Holy Cas no longer had a “First Army Group” in the true sense.
That was a tribute to all those who gave their lives in the pollution.
And the instant they saw the insignia—
Someone leapt up—those were the badges for the Ninth and Tenth Army Groups that the little highness had taught them!
And these two groups were directly under the Holy Cas Emperor, Amos Dwight’s, elite forces.
Holy Cas had arrived—
The homeland they longed for had finally arrived.
With this, the battered Holy Sanctuary seemed to regain the strength to organize.
As they fought the aberrant beasts, they resolved that if things worsened, they would follow the little highness’s contingency plan and evacuate; Lai Qing then heard a shout from the front.
“Report! Giant lifeforms approaching, more than one—could be high-grade aberrant beast commanders, Speaker! Should we take action?!”
Lai Qing froze.
Giant lifeforms?
“More beasts gathering?”
“No, Speaker, not yet.”
Normally, a high-grade commander would be accompanied by many beast legions, not to mention several commanders together.
With an attack like that, Lai Qing doubted the Sanctuary could hold long.
“Prepare to execute Plan Two—”
Lai Qing gritted his teeth and quickly gave orders.
“And send all Sanctuary children onto a starship, prepare for evacuation—”
“All units, stall for as long as possible—”
It didn’t matter, a firm light was in Lai Qing’s eyes.
“We have seen the Empire.”
They had seen hope; all they did was meaningful.
From birth they had been prepared for sacrifice.
Their parents and grandparents—all did the same.
And all had unquestionably fulfilled their duties.
Now, as it passed to them, especially after being with the little highness: why did their ancestors follow the Crown Clan so steadfastly?—it was glory.
Lai Qing didn’t have time to say more; the channel burst into static, and in the sky—countless starship cannons fired in salvo at the onrushing aberrant beasts. Two roars, one after the other, easily tore apart any in their way.
The high-grade beast commanders, still reeling after Flashfire’s death, dared not show themselves; the troops sent out were but a disorderly mob to the Holy Cas starships led by the Crown Clan, who were used to fighting aberrants.
Countless beasts exploded in the sky; many others, receiving word but not yet arrived, turned tail and fled in panic.
It was all like fireworks—reflected in every Sanctuary member’s eyes.
After that, the gray-white sky gradually filled with descending starships.
Holy Cas banners flew high, Army Group insignias battered but never defeated, coming towards them.
“Not aberrants—Speaker, it’s home! It’s the Empire! It’s Holy Cas!”
“It’s His Majesty and the other highnesses!”
Lai Qing and company watched.
After a beat, they hurried to get their exhausted mecha pilots back to rest.
He and his parliamentarians also rushed out—
And there, clear to see, were the giants.
Feiman and Feeney placed Ebinino on the ground, returning to human form.
Feeney looked at his clean sister, then at his own bedraggled state.
He clicked his tongue softly.
“Grandpa’s too big right now to fit in the medical pod—”
Feiman checked Ebinino’s wounds.
“Wounds like this, the medical pod likely can’t heal; wait for his psionic strength to recover, and heal slowly.”
With that, Feiman couldn’t help glancing at Feeney.
“What?”
Feeney slouched aside, his previous solemnity gone, back to a wilful, unruly Crown Clan, waving casually towards Lai Qing’s group.
“No, just, I’m surprised Second Brother didn’t beat you up.”
Feiman glanced at the starship landing behind.
Feeney raised a finger, gesturing for silence.
“Second Brother honestly has no time for me,”—having lost track of his kid for so long, no wonder Amos was so irritable now; he could hardly spare a glance for him. Feeney shivered. “Don’t you bring me up to him again.”
Lai Qing had already come up.
Looking at everything, he still felt a mix of dread and nerves—what next? Are they to meet the Emperor? Which one is His Majesty? And who’s this before them? The giant beast—is he a Crown Clan highness too?
So many uncertainties pressed on his heart.
The starship door opened, and at that moment, Lai Qing felt his nerves settle—
No one could mistake His Majesty.
So thought Lai Qing.
Amos’s gaze fell their way, steady, cool, calm and unhurried, always putting those around him at ease.
They saluted.
“Descendants of the Holy Cas First Army Group, reporting to you, to offer glory to the Sacred Crown.”
On another starship, Yu Ye and the others also followed suit; Chao Huangmu stood behind them, not smiling this time, the sunny puppy-looking rather unhappy, big doggy eyes darting to and fro behind Amos—
—Zao Zao was not there.
Ah…Chao Huangmu thought—he’s really useless here.
Meanwhile, deep in sleep, Ebinino seemed to sense something.
Slowly he lifted his head, looking at Lai Qing and the rest—
In his faded world, he could still sense his old subordinates’ kindred spirit power.
He let out a tremulous wail—not like a Crown Clan’s emotion.
Ebinino’s psionic strength had fused with the First Army Group’s for too long.
Then he drooped his head again—
Good, finally made the right call: dashing forward out of the pollution—there really were people who survived.
“Ebinino.”
Amos looked at Ebinino.
Lai Qing heard the name and whipped around.
In the turbulent survival struggle, they’d lost so much, but the name Ebinino—they still remembered vaguely—the First Army Group’s direct highness.
You…are still alive…? If the ancestors knew, they would be glad for sure.
Amos came down, Holy Cas troops arrayed behind him, resolve in their eyes.
Amos looked at Lai Qing.
“No need to repeat myself; I believe my heir has explained everything clearly.”
“Yes! The little highness was very clear—the First Army Group’s mission is completed, the report ready to submit.”
“Holy Cas First Army Group.”
Amos spoke.
“Here!”
Lai Qing and the rest looked this way, at all before them.
This was the world they had longed for, for who knows how long.
Though they had prepared long ago, now they could not help the prickling in their eyes.
“Return to ranks.”
So spoke the Emperor of Holy Cas.
“Yes!”
By now, Holy Cas troops had begun helping with everything in the Sanctuary.
Chu Zao was still resting in the medical pod; Amos had already gone to Ebinino.
Behind Amos, the commanders of the Ninth and Tenth Army Groups approached Lai Qing, smiling and reaching out: “Welcome back.”
Lai Qing finally couldn’t help but cover his eyes—once, they had fought back as hard as they could, but those standing before were always cold, mocking nations and people. They struggled, trying to prove that submitting to aberrant beasts was wrong, that beasts would devour them and turn them to livestock—would that still be people?
They were betrayed, abandoned, ostracized.
They’d wondered if they should give up, just go with the flow, or simply let extinction claim them.
Especially as they persisted, battered and broken—they were used to planning for the worst.
Until this moment, not far off was a trustworthy Imperial Majesty, ahead were allies sharing their principles.
At last, they had waited for it—the ideal Empire they dreamed of—without the slightest deviation.
The first base of the Holy Cas Empire in this alien star field was now established.
Chu Zao slept on and on—he was simply too tired, not waking at all.
Amos and Feiman had basically figured out the area’s twisted situation.
Much had to be done.
For now, they had no way to establish contact with the Holy Cas homeworld.
At present, aberrant beasts and pollution seemed deadlocked with them, unsure of the other’s strength, neither side willing to act first, creating a strange, tense stability.
While Ebinino appeared stable overall, problems must be arising at the barrier as well.
If all went as planned, the next team led by Frey would soon traverse the pollution and arrive, taking on greater responsibilities.
Just as Amos and the others had imagined.
Frey had, indeed, spotted the tracking point on the Crown Clan.
He began preparing the next crossing.
And when Ebinino’s psionic corona reformed,
The barrier itself was shaken violently, contracting, opening multiple cracks, and attracting attention from other nations exploring the area—
Though being pollution, everything progressed slowly.
At this moment, the self-satisfied types were, in fact, the Gesen Empire and the like.
The local calm sent these arrogant, barely capable, ever-sensitive braggarts the wrong signal.
“No movement anywhere?”
“Yes, Your Majesty—no sign from the Sanctuary, the aberrant beasts are still, and all is calm. There’s no sign of a new survival round, so should we now—”
After brief chaos, the Gesen ministers regained their composure.
“No rush, they are outsiders.”
Emperor Yakai of Gesen had figured things out in the last few days.
“They do come from unknown regions, unfamiliar with us.”
“What do you mean?”
“Beasts are still beasts, while we are the strongest empire here—we have all the data about this star field, the prime spots; they must cooperate with us. Send people to scout near the Sanctuary to test the waters—and judging by the attitude of other national alliances, the Sanctuary hasn’t acted against them anyway—”
Emperor Yakai continued.
“We ought to get some returns suited to our imperial interests—surely, at a time like this, these people won’t act against fellow humans like us, will they?”
“You’re quite right.”
*
Back at the Holy Cas Sanctuary.
On the Holy Cas starship.
In the medical pod.
Little Chu Zao, asleep for two days, stirred. His golden crown atop his head glowed; Chu Zao opened his eyes, still muddled, and slowly crawled up.
Amos had tidied him as best he could, but Chu Zao still looked a bit of a mess, small curls flying.
He only felt feverish, head aching, dizzy, and very hungry.
“Little highness, you’re awake?”
The medical staff in the room hurried over.
“I’ll report to His Majesty right away—”
His Majesty…?
Oh, Baba.
Still feverish and fuzzy, the little boy crawled out of the pod, his honey-colored eyes misty with fever, yet very bright.
“Zao Zao, I’ll go myself.”
His voice was even a little slurred—
After every power breakthrough, Chu Zao always had one of these spells. From panic at first, everyone had grown used to it, becoming unruffled—but now, with the little highness’s whims during these periods…
The medic widened their eyes, extending a hand.
“Little highness, careful—you seem to be running a higher fever.”
Find Baba, find Baba, find Baba—
Chu Zao paid no heed to what they said and headed out, still a bit dizzy.
After finding Baba, he was going to chew a lot of “brains”, and eat lots of food.
Eh?
Chu Zao suddenly spread his wings, folded them neatly in front, reached to tug them, and his little wings puffed up with joy.
All neat—Zao Zao was no longer a dirty little Crown Clan child.