Chapter 111: The Fear of Being Dominated by the Future King of Saint Cas

Chapter 111: The Dread of Being Ruled by Saint Cas’s Future King

The little one nestled in Amos's arms, still somewhat doubtful.

"Then should Zao Zao... improve a bit more?"

Yes, you need to refine it further.

Amos sighed in relief.

Holding the little one, he headed inside.

"What are you all doing?"

"We were just saying the new National Day is coming soon, and Zao Zao is about to have another birthday!"

The little one clung to Amos's neck, his big eyes sparkling.

"In a while, we can plant new potatoes again. It was Zao Zao's first time successfully growing something edible. Papa, let's keep the seeds for the future. When Great-Grandpa comes back, we can let him taste them too."

"Alright, but we’ll need the Agriculture Department to check the seeds properly."

Amos continued speaking as he carried the little one—his new hope he’d fought for—into the house.

As for Xiao Chuzao's plan to save potato seeds for future generations, Zhong Zhiyi from the Agriculture Department had already examined it thoroughly, made a few tweaks, and confirmed there was nothing wrong.

She didn’t stay long on Saint Cas's capital planet either. In the years that followed, she continued traveling across the stars, hunting for new plant breeds.

Meanwhile, the unrest among the interstellar nations gradually subsided during this period.

Most realized that aside from Saint Cas's growing influence, nothing else really bothered them. There were even rumors circulating across the stars that if one could cross the pollution barrier, they might discover something new and transformative on the other side.

Whether true or not, countless nations and planets began taking action, focusing their research on traces of pollution.

After much effort—and thanks to Saint Cas's technological breakthroughs—the Saint Cas Empire played along with those seeking to help deal with the mutant beasts near polluted areas.

After all, the barrier line was just too huge.

Saint Cas kept expanding its military, maintaining high efficiency in operations, but achieving full coverage everywhere remained extremely difficult.

By the time Xiao Chuzao turned ten, the hazy Halo above Ebinino's head had finally condensed into a small fragment under the little one's efforts.

Ebinino also appeared far more stable than his previous frenzied state. Though he still didn’t recognize people, he could vaguely differentiate between them.

He lived long-term on a certain planet, resisting wave after wave of *Pollution Power*.

These *Pollution Tides* came frequently, and when the *Pollution Power* grew severe, it could distort and twist the space around it.

After all, pollution was also a force—one capable of affecting the most mysterious spatial powers in the galaxy.

However, perhaps because Ebinino had been guarding this place all along, the mutant beasts that appeared rarely reached the storm-level high-tier threats. It seemed they had suffered losses here before, so they seldom ventured deep into this area.

Yet, as the barrier grew visibly more unstable year by year, the mutant beasts arriving in Saint Cas's part of the galaxy had become far stronger than what the Crown Clan had encountered before.

Now, ten-year-old Zao Zao stood before the barrier. The Crown Clan waited not far behind him, while Ebinino fluttered his wings, pressing close to the barrier. His withered, seemingly energy-lit eyes fixed intently on the little one every time he visited.

The little one had gone from being startled into puffing up to gradually calming down.

By his side stood Chao Huangmu, Yun Songquan, and Peng Liang. As a new war was approaching, they’d ramped up their training.

They had just finished their training session. Xiao Chuzao withdrew his hand, the small golden crown atop his head gleaming brightly, dimming only slightly as he lowered his arm.

He looked at the faint traces taking shape on Ebinino's head.

His big eyes blinked—clearly very satisfied with his work, his tiny chest swelling with pride.

Perhaps because he was born at the Angel Spring and hadn’t been raised well as a child, the little one grew quickly but still appeared quite small, especially compared to the Crown Clan. Even by the time Crown Clan members held their coming-of-age ceremonies at seventeen, he would likely remain more petite, delicate, and downright adorable than the others.

But that didn’t mean Xiao Chuzao was weak—on the contrary, the little one’s psychic development was astonishing.

Especially his instinctive knack for swaying and steering emotions, something even the Crown Clan found hard to resist.

The little one gave a little flutter of his wings as he introduced his teammates to Ebinino.

"Great-grandpa, Zao Zao came to see you again!"

The ten-year-old’s eyes sparkled, clearly doted on by Amos and the rest, still the same sweet, soft-spoken, ever-smiling little thing.

"These are Zao Zao’s teammates—Dad and the others are behind us. Auntie’s off duty now. Later, when Zao Zao tells Auntie about your condition, she’ll be so happy!"

The little one babbled on, while the guards around him seemed slightly uneasy.

This was their first time encountering Ebinino.

The Crown Clan’s prince who had been frequently mentioned across the star network lately.

The Crown Clan members watched from a distance.

"The results are plain to see," Finn observed from afar, glancing at Amos.

After their coming-of-age ceremony, Crown Clan members would continue growing until reaching their peak, their appearances remaining fixed until their powers spiraled out of control and their crowns shattered, at which point changes would gradually appear.

At this moment, the Crown Clan of the Dwight family remained in their prime, nearly unchanged after all these years.

But clearly, their presence had mellowed considerably.

No longer that icy, hopeless generation as the Crown Clan once described.

"Yes, it took years just to condense this much. The process is so long. I wonder if we can put Great-grandpa back together before Zao Zao’s coming-of-age ceremony," An Ya mused before chuckling.

The Crown Clan had grown calm and fully confident that Ebinino could still be saved—after all, his crown was slowly coming back, and thanks to the First Group Army’s psychic energy, Ebinino’s own powers remained stable.

"If we don’t finish in time, Great-grandpa won’t be able to attend Zao Zao’s coming-of-age ceremony."

"Amos, isn’t it too early to plan giving Zao Zao his crown at the ceremony?"

By then, Zao Zao would only be sixteen or seventeen—still a baby by Crown Clan standards. Even if he could no longer be carried in their arms, he’d still be a little one who needed their doting. Of course, a big part of that was simply because this sixteen- or seventeen-year-old was Zao Zao.

If it were Finn, His Majesty Clancy would’ve long since kicked the troublemaker out to toughen up.

Amos finally looked over.

"Is it too early?"

The Emperor in his black uniform turned his gaze back to his slowly maturing little one.

In the short term, the little one couldn’t surpass him yet, but perhaps in a few decades, a century later, when reaching his true peak, Xiao Chuzao's power might even exceed his own.

Amos anticipated this, yet felt a pang of regret—his little one was growing too fast. The day he realized the child had begun calling him "Dad" with clear enunciation, the day the child grew too tall to hold without feeling self-conscious...

"If he could, he’d have wanted to give him everything he possesses much earlier."

To his little one, to his only baby.

An Ya and Finn both glanced over.

Frey also took a look in their direction.

They stayed quiet.

After all, though they often claimed Amos was overly protective of Xiao Chuzao, in truth, not a single Crown Clan member could relax.

In fact, Amos' protective nature toward the little one gave them some reassurance—enough that they could nudge Amos to let Xiao Chuzao grow with appropriate freedom.

"Recently, the Hymn Organization made a move, losing quite a few members. Their target is still Zao Zao, but it's become much harder now. After months of increased patrols, they seem to have vanished again, with no further activity."

Frey reported.

"Mm."

Amos acknowledged.

"Any leads on their so-called 'deity' yet?"

On this matter, Finn was the one to ask.

"Ah—I've hit multiple Hymn bases and labs, destroyed many of them. But regarding their 'deity,' it seems to be nothing more than a blind faith for their cultists. The upper echelons of the Hymn Organization haven't passed down any concrete information."

"‘Went’ there, did you? You clearly just got lost and stumbled in."

An Ya cut in.

"Your luck’s downright weird—you’re not doing this on purpose, are you? It's been years."

Either he’d wander into Aberrant Beast territory, or trip over a secret lab. The most absurd was the time Finn, along with his entire fleet, got yeeted through a random wormhole and face-planted right on top of a minor Hymn Organization base.

He almost didn’t make it back.

Finn, now baby-faced without his beard, turned to glare at An Ya.

"You try replicating that."

"Well, true—even on purpose, no one could come up with so many wild mishaps—"

After all, mere mortals can’t compete, but Finn defies all logic.

Amos remained silent, letting his brothers’ squabble fade to background noise.

Fei Man went off-duty to rest, and this time An Ya and Finn were paired up.

The rest of the Crown Clan had scattered across the stars again, with only a few remaining on Saint Cas’s imperial planet.

Amos made a rough estimate, taking in Ebinino’s current crown, then considering the little one’s growing psychic power—it would likely only be after Xiao Chuzao’s coming-of-age ceremony that Ebinino’s crown could barely assemble small foundational pieces.

And just then.

He heard the little one babbling excitedly over there. Though he seemed a bit steadier now, the still beautiful and soft little one was pressed up against the barrier.

"Ah yes, Great-Grandfather! After years of practice, Zao Zao thinks he can sing that song really well now! Zao Zao will sing it for you."

After all, everyone always said Zao Zao sang wonderfully.

Especially Chao Huangmu.

At this moment, Chao Huangmu, who had been fidgeting nervously in front of Ebinino, heard Xiao Chuzao’s voice. When he turned to the little one again, his face broke into a beaming smile, already raising his hands, poised to applaud.

Not to be outdone, Peng Liang, and Yun Songquan paused before lifting his hand as well. But despite his usual cool demeanor, he even nudged Peng Liang, who was standing closest to him, trying to secure a better spot.

All scrambling to heap on praise.

Amos: "…"

Finn: "…"

An Ya: "…"

Frey: "…"

The parents collectively fell silent.

Meanwhile, once again brimming with confidence, Zao Zao cleared his throat and began.

A moment later.

The light in Ebinino’s eyes flickered uncertainly.

He didn’t recognize people, nor did he yet have consciousness. His crumbling crown was barely holding together, so all his actions were instinctive reactions.

Like when he’d fly out from his resting planet whenever Xiao Chuzao came to see him, or how now, he flapped his wings, retreated slightly, then turned tail and left.

Zao Zao: "…?"

Xiao Chuzao stopped, blinking. "Great-Grandfather?"

Why’d he leave?

Didn’t he hear?

"Great-Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Great-Grandfather—"

The little one even grabbed onto Ebinino’s translucent psychic threads, trying to fish for praise—

But whether Chu Zao imagined it or not,

After he called out, Ebinino didn’t even look back, as if speeding up his escape.

Xiao Chuzao let his little head droop in defeat.

But applause from Chao Huangmu had already broken out beside him.

Behind them, Amos and the others finally burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, after all these years, how can he still be this tone-deaf?"

Finn was bent over laughing, his shoulders shaking.

"Still adorable," Frey commented.

An Ya was also shaking with laughter as she glanced at Amos, who wore a helpless expression.

"Some things never change at their core. Just like how you can still easily bribe him with candy. But Second Brother, after he turns ten, you should start stepping back little by little and let Zao Zao get more training—"

Instead of how it is now—

Whenever Little Chuzao went out for training, a group of parents would often follow behind. Any Crown Clan member with free time would join in.

After destroying the Angel's Domain—though there was still that damn 'god'—Amos, who had finally begun to relax from his high-alert mode during Little Chuzao's growth, grunted in response.

He raised his hand, and a Psychic Sword appeared in his hand. Lowering his gaze, he examined the little teeth marks on it—

But still said, "No hurry. We’ve got a few more years. It’s not too late to wait until closer to his adulthood ceremony."

The other Crown Clan members were quite pleased with Amos's current state.

After all, Amos in high-alert mode was exponentially more dangerous—one misstep, and you’d get hauled into the training room by him.

Over the next few years, thanks to Little Chuzao's steady work—restoring his psychic energy periodically and rushing to the barrier to help Ebinino repair his crown—by the time Chuzao turned sixteen, Ebinino's crown had started taking shape.

Though it was still fragmented, not yet fully connected, leaving his condition a bit unstable—still unconscious, without memories of the past. But thankfully, he seemed to gradually recognize that these people before him were his family.

The barrier also began to become less hostile to their entry.

However, since Ebinino remained unconscious, they still couldn’t get through easily. Over the years, though, gaps big enough to slip through had begun to appear in the barrier. Of course, the pollution and attacks from the mutant beasts also grew fiercer.

This was yet another training drill organized by St. Cass First Military Academy.

Following their previous experience, military academies across the Saint Cas Empire began emulating Saint Cas First Military Academy, organizing combat drills and various training exercises near contaminated areas.

With the Saint Cas Army's regular patrols along the barrier and the addition of the Grail Clan, the empire's research into pollution advanced further, letting them run training exercises closer to the barrier.

Only students with strong psychic abilities participated in such exercises.

Mostly, they dealt with mutant beasts.

However, these beasts, under the Saint Cas Army's defenses, were orders of magnitude stronger than those outside the contaminated zones.

At that moment, on a certain planet—

"Copy that, coordinates locked in—"

Peng Liang was piloting a small starship, swiftly navigating through space. Frowning, he surveyed his surroundings and spoke into the communicator.

"Yun Songquan, have you reached the designated position yet?"

"Mm."

A single icy word came through the communicator.

Peng Liang couldn't help but curse under his breath.

Would it kill him to say a few more words?

The older he got, the more this guy turned into a brick wall—completely uninterested in engaging with others.

It was hard to even know what to say about him.

But at least there was still—

"Ah Huang, how's the situation on your end?"

"Leak point confirmed."

Chao Huangmu's voice remained sunny and bright, sounding completely at ease.

"Report coordinates—"

Because of their species, in operations like this, he and Chu Zao often worked together.

They were very close.

Chao Huangmu had also exited the temporary mecha, watching the swarming alien beasts. After reporting the coordinates, he hefted an energy cannon and ramped up his attacks.

The alien beasts caught the scent of blood and advanced hungrily. Among them was one with independent consciousness—a beast with octopus-like limbs that more closely resembled branches. When first discovered, Zao Zao had casually dubbed it the "Branch Monster." Thanks to the Saint Casians' unwavering devotion for the Crown Clan and the parents' indulgence toward the little one, the name stuck.

This was the new world—devour everything here, grow stronger—no one, no one could stop them—

The alien beast let out a deafening roar that rippled through the star system.

On another planet.

"Great-granddad seems to recognize Auntie now? Right? Wait, I'll go take a look—Huh? Dad, I'm training—Who? Third Uncle is following me? I don't see him—"

A young boy of about sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a black military uniform adorned with shining gold trim, had warm honey-colored eyes and fine features. His curly hair fluttered slightly in the wind. Above his head, a radiant golden crown appeared. Chu Zao glanced around instinctively.

His wings folded behind him as he received the coordinates, only to be interrupted by that infuriating screech.

The not-quite-adult Little Crown Clan member suddenly turned toward a certain direction, his fine brows knitting. He took a deep breath, giving a slow blink.

How rude.

Didn't they hear him talking?

"My teacher taught me that interrupting others is wrong, you know."

He blinked again, then smiled.

Speaking into the communicator, he said, "Coordinates reconfirmed—please evacuate."

After receiving confirmation from the other end, the young boy straightened up. He raised his hand, and a spark ignited in his palm. The flames reflected in his stunning eyes as his soft curls swayed in the wind. With a swift motion, he grasped a golden bow wrapped in flames—the flames shifting from gold to a sinister black fire. He drew the bowstring.

"I'm in a hurry. Would you mind dying as quickly as possible?"

Zao Zao's got manners—

The beautiful Little Crown Clan's wings spread slightly behind him, gave an instinctive flap as he spoke innocently, "Thank you."

In the distance, Chao Huangmu had already retreated, while above his head, a long black-flame arrow streaked through the air, leaving a fiery trail, gradually reflecting in the eyes of the beasts—

The Branch Monster, which had begun developing self-awareness, sensed the danger. It stared dumbly at the arrow overhead, attempting to shrink back behind the barrier.

But the next second—the arrow was faster. It split abruptly midair, and from a single point, a shower of radiant light erupted. Amid the vast, silent pollution, it was like the dawn of a new apocalypse.

Then the arrow rain fell, exploding in a burst.

What was that—what kind of terrifying power was that?

The beast, despite its quick retreat, was still struck by the relentless arrow rain, shrieking in panic before instantly falling silent. It ripped away some of its own tentacles before retreating in disarray behind the barrier, fleeing in panic.

The Little Crown Clan, who had grown powerful enough psychically to easily handle the beasts, had his clothes fluttering fiercely in the wind. The glow in his hands gradually faded, the soft radiance illuminating him dissipating. His honey-colored eyes gleamed faintly in the shadows, while behind him loomed the silhouettes of countless warships advancing—the looming pressure of Saint Cas’s future king, still growing.