Chapter 127: Saint Cas First Group Army, Return to Formation

Chapter 127: Saint Cas First Group Army, Reporting for Duty

Though pollution is an indiscernible force, when it intensifies, traces become discernible—somewhat like an image warped like heat ripples over fire.

At this moment, as the pollution controlled by the "god" surged forward, it was struck by Chu Zao's arrow entwined with twin flames. The relentless advance was abruptly halted, forced to stop, with its leading edge fraying at the seams.

As a result, the readings from the pollution detection instruments on the starship dropped, relayed immediately to Amos.

This was an unprecedented event—

Because Ebinino's judgment had been correct.

If they hadn't blocked the oncoming tide of pollution, they would have been swallowed by it. And with the Little Highness already spent, his strength likely wouldn’t have been enough to keep them away from the encroaching pollution.

But for the first time in nearly a few thousand years of rampant devastation, the unstoppable pollution ground to a stop.

Amos, now in his true Crown Clan form, seized Ebinino, flapped his wings, and swiftly seized his own faltering fledgling.

With a few strong wingstrokes, he caught up to the starship.

Ebinino was still reeling.

His consciousness had just returned, and though he seemed lucid, it was only thanks to Xiao Chuzao's arrow—and because everything felt horribly familiar. This was exactly how the First Group Army had succumbed to the pollution back then.

Such intense emotional turmoil finally brought Ebinino a glimmer of awareness.

Amos was pulling him along.

And on Ebinino's mangled talons, a small, warm hand rested.

Ebinino, his body near-numb with cold, looked down.

Chu Zao, breathing heavily and battling to keep his eyes open, stared straight at him.

Ebinino's form wavered slightly, and in his daze, he seemed to flicker into human form for a few seconds—

The human version of Ebinino was just as tattered, covered in wounds, many already festering. His eyes were closed, just like his true form—his eyes were gone, leaving him to rely on his spiritual power to perceive his surroundings. Yet, psychic sight was different from seeing with real eyes.

The world viewed through spiritual power was darker, making the already cold reality of Ebinino—who had long been entrenched in pollution, guarding that barrier—even more desolate.

He had foreseen this. When he chose not to leave but instead erected a spiritual barrier to resist the pollution, he had already foreseen—his own death.

Unlike other Crown Clan members who ended their lives after their Halos shattered, Ebinino endured a more agonizing and vivid awareness of his life slipping away.

He felt the spiritual power of the First Group Army fading bit by bit over time.

It was what they had willingly chosen, and if it could bring peace and a turning point for Saint Cas—they would be overjoyed.

Yet even so, the gnawing despair was inescapable.

In the pollution, despair painted everything in monochrome bleakness, leading only to the inevitable wait for oblivion.

Perhaps—no one in this universe would remember them anymore.

But—

Chu Zao flapped his wings with effort, and this time, being close enough, he finally seized Ebinino's Halo.

Ebinino froze instantly—where had he been touched?

Being awake just hits different.

And the intense headache seems to be easing up little by little.

The crown atop Chu Zao's head glows, illuminating the young boy's face, and seemingly brightening the monotone gray that always clouded Ebinino's sight as well.

The little one appears dead tired, nearly slipping through his fingers for a moment before Amos catches him again.

Held in Amos's palm, Chu Zao finally lifts his chin, like a kid showing off a fixed toy—"Gramps, look—the crown, it's fixed."

Ebinino's beaten-up body feels an even sharper pain—no, it shouldn't be called sharper pain.

Rather, after the endless haze of pain and numbness from his shattered crown, he finally regains a sliver of clarity.

Ebinino's form phases in and out of existence as his reconnected psychic energy leaves him all over the place. The silver-black crown, patched together with golden light, gradually forms a small base, while the dangerous spiritual forces that once constantly swirled around him start pulling back.

This little one has been like this since he was very young—

Once this little one sets his heart on something, he'll go all out to accomplish it.

And from Xiao Chuzao, it's clear—the Crown Clan's legacy remains steady.

Even those hotheaded, trigger-happy youngsters have grown into standing on their own now.

Damn impressive.

You little—wait, no.

Amos... Your Majesty.

As the crown is repaired and true clarity returns, though pain and exhaustion surge together, Ebinino speaks his first words before slipping into unconsciousness—

"So this is how it feels when someone holds your crown..."

Fei Man and Finn, flying in from the starship, catch this remark.

Tears already welling in her eyes, Fei Man didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the unexpected comment. The Crown Clan shifts into their massive true forms, pulling the unconscious Ebinino forward.

Amos reverts to his human form.

He glances back at the receding contaminated zone.

That power just now—even Amos, the strongest among the current Crown Clan, got weird vibes.

And it rang a faint bell.

Amos also knows the source of this power, for he has come across it before in the Angelic Realm.

Unable to attack from a distance, and unable to approach due to the pollution.

That so-called 'god.'

Who looks down on everyone—finally sweating it, is he?

"Dad."

Chu Zao looks back as well.

Xiao Chuzao is having a rough time—he hasn't been through this in a long time.

His strength felt completely drained, and the power previously obtained from the Angel's Realm had violently fused as well. Those two arrows just now—the little one was actually in a daze, as if guided by the angel's power, loosing those two arrows.

Those two arrows were completely different from the previous ones.

And every breakthrough put strain on Chu Zao. Like now, the soreness and burning sensation surged through his body in waves, leaving him groggy and disoriented.

It felt somewhat like a fever, yet not as severe—after all, Chu Zao's constitution was far stronger than in his cubhood.

"Hmm."

Amos lowered his head, looking at Xiao Chuzao.

A cub his age was no longer suitable to be held like a child.

Amos could only fold his wings around his own cub, letting him lean against his chest as he did when he was little.

To the imposing Crown Clan, Chu Zao was still quite small.

Amos's voice was steady and reassuring. Every time he was present, everything seemed manageable.

"Sleep."

Succumbing to exhaustion, Chu Zao drowsily closed his eyes—

Ah, Zao Zao's so tired and sleepy—

Grown-up life is tough.

Dad, you're so strong, you take charge for now. When Zao Zao wakes up, he'll help you.

Fei Man and Finn were dragging the unconscious Ebinino toward the current location of the sacred territory, nonchalantly dispatching the low-level alien beasts swarming around while trading barbs intermittently.

Amos, meanwhile, escorted his cub onto the starship.

After landing, the hatch closed.

An awaiting Saint Cas soldier stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, we are heading toward the location provided by the descendants of the Saint Cas First Group Army. The surroundings may be teeming with alien beasts, and we still haven't established communication with them. Should we attempt to establish comms?"

"Hmm."

Amos nodded.

"Full speed ahead."

The alien beasts here were wily and vicious. After taking such a beating, they would surely try to retaliate somewhere.

And Saint Cas now needed a secure territory as a base to expand its influence here.

Judging by how that so-called 'god' grew anxious after Shan Huo's death—

What existed in this sector of space might be capable of undermining the very roots of the corruption.

Especially when it came to dealing with those already troublesome High-level Alien Beast Commanders, whom even Ms. Solan's coup de grâce doctrine couldn't neutralize.

"Yes!"

The person quickly responded, unable to resist glancing at the young lord.

"Your Majesty, the med-pod is ready."

Fortunately, this time the mission was originally intended to bring His Highness Finn and the young lord back. Although the Saint Cas Empire had only dispatched an advance squad, this grade of med-gear had been prepared quite thoroughly.

Amos took Chu Zao to the med-bay for a detailed examination.

Only after confirming that the scars on his fledgling’s wings had been fully treated by the healing pod did the parent finally let out a long sigh of relief, gazing at the downy wings.

Amos still had a few of Zao Zao's feathers in his pocket.

Unfortunately, there was no way to reattach them.

For once, the surroundings were quiet—no howling wind, no roars or clamor from the Aberrant Beasts.

Only the occasional beep of instruments broke the silence.

Inside the healing pod, the little one, still looking somewhat scruffy-looking, had indeed grown much larger compared to before—almost filling the entire pod. Scanning the injuries on Chu Zao's body, the Crown Clan of past generations had mostly adopted a free-range training approach for their young at this age. They probably never expected a little one like Zao Zao to exist.

The older generation—Amos mused, thinking of those before his father, His Majesty Clancy. It was said that during the time of his grandfather, Desmond the Great, the Corruption had just begun to spread, and that generation had fallen during reconnaissance. To be honest, Amos himself had only just been born around then and had few memories of his grandfather.

But from these instruments, one could faintly discern the mindset of that generation.

This age was meant for hard knocks and grit-building—injuries were perfectly normal.

Gone, too, were the automated alerts that had once irritated Amos to the point of threatening to replace him as the parent.

It was as if the fierce battle and the crisis that had just occurred had never happened—eerily quiet.

Chu Zao was burning up, and the healing pod worked to keep his temperature within a tolerable range.

Worn out from the chaos, the little one didn’t even open his eyes.

Watching Chu Zao sleep so peacefully, Amos’s tightly wound nerves finally seemed to relax slightly.

Zao Zao was still quite resilient.

Amos thought—just as the healing pod had "reminded" him, in theory, he should have let Chu Zao fend for himself at this age.

But after some consideration, Amos chose to ignore all that.

He simply drew the blanket a little higher over Chu Zao, watching the little one steadily.

"Sleep."

He probably hadn’t had a decent sleep in days.

The star cruiser traveled for about half a day.

They were nearing the new enclave of the Holy Dominion.

At that moment, Lai Qing was holding the line against the Aberrant Beasts in the Holy Dominion.

Lai Te and others who had been severely injured earlier barely made it aboard the star cruiser.

Due to the change in location, the Aberrant Beast Legion commanded by the High-level Alien Beast Commander arrived to an empty stronghold.

In the end, they fanned out to hunt for the Holy Dominion’s new enclave.

They had only just located them, and the aberrant beasts had only just begun attacking in small groups as commanded.

In the broadcast, they had also seen the starships and noticed the emblems on them—

While here, Chu Zao had taught them to recognize the insignias of several Group Armies from Saint Cas. Their homeland had not forgotten their ancestors—the First Group Army’s structure and emblem were still preserved, though Saint Cas no longer had a true First Group Army.

It was a tribute to the First Group Army, which had sacrificed everything in the pollution.

And the moment they saw that emblem—

Someone leapt to their feet—it was the insignias of the Ninth and Tenth Group Armies, which the Little Highness had taught them!

These two Group Armies were elite forces under the direct command of His Majesty, Amos Dwight of the Saint Cas Empire.

Saint Cas had arrived—

Their long-awaited homeland had finally arrived.

Thus, even the battered Sacred Land mustered new strength to rally.

They were holding off the aberrant beasts, ready to fall back to another site per the Little Highness’s contingency plan if the situation turned dire. Then Lai Qing got a report from the front.

"Report! Multiple giant hostiles inbound. Probable Highlevel Alien Beast Commanders, Speaker! Should we take action?!"

Lai Qing hesitated.

Giant creatures?

"Any increase in aberrant beast numbers?"

"No, Speaker."

Typically, Highlevel Alien Beast Commanders were accompanied by numerous Aberrant Beast Legions, let alone several such commanders.

Lai Qing dreaded how long the Sacred Land could last against such an assault.

"Initiate Plan B—"

Lai Qing gritted his teeth and quickly gave the order.

"And evacuate all Sacred Land children to a single starship, ready for relocation—"

"All units, delay them at all costs—"

It didn’t matter. Lai Qing’s eyes hardened with resolve.

"We have seen the Empire."

They had seen hope—everything they’d done mattered.

They were born ready to die for this.

Their forebears—every generation—had walked this road.

And they had fulfilled their duties without hesitation.

Now, it had fallen to them—especially after interacting with Little Highness. Why had their ancestors followed the Crown Clan without question?—For glory.

Before Lai Qing could say more, the comms erupted in static, and in the sky—countless starship cannons fired in unison, striking the oncoming aberrant beasts. Two roars, one after another, effortlessly shredded through everything in their way.

Those High-level Alien Beast Commanders had just received the news of Shan Huo's death and were too afraid to show themselves. The forces they dispatched were just a ragtag mob to the Saint Cas starships, long accustomed to handling alien beasts with the Crown Clan, and to the Crown Clan members who had followed.

Countless alien beasts burst across the sky, while others, upon receiving the information, wheeled around and fled in panic before even arriving.

It looked like fireworks—reflected in the eyes of every member of the sacred territory.

Then, starships gradually descended through the grayish-white sky.

The flags of Saint Cas fluttered, and the battle-worn but unbroken insignias of the Group Army advanced toward them.

"It's not the alien beasts—Mr. Speaker, it's home! The Empire! It's Saint Cas!"

"That's His Majesty and the other royals!"

Lai Qing and the others watched.

After a stunned pause, they hurriedly ordered the exhausted mecha pilots to return and rest.

He and his council members also rushed outside—

And the colossal figure became unmistakably clear.

Fei Man and Finn placed Ebinino on the open ground, shifting back to human form.

Finn glanced at his pristine sister, then at his own disheveled state.

He tutted.

"Grandpa's too huge right now—hard to fit into the medical pod—"

Fei Man was examining the wounds on Ebinino's body.

"Injuries this bad won’t fix easily in a med-pod. Let's wait for his psychic energy to recover a bit and heal slowly."

As she spoke, Fei Man couldn't help but glance at Finn again.

"What?"

Finn leaned lazily against the side, his earlier Crown Clan formality gone, replaced once more by the typical reckless Crown Clan prince. He raised a hand casually, waving toward Lai Qing, who was rushing out.

"Nah, just surprised Second Brother didn’t kick your ass."

Fei Man watched as the starship behind them also landed.

Finn raised a finger to his lips in a shushing motion.

"Second Brother has no time for me now," he said, flinching at the idea. After losing the cub for so long, it was easy to imagine how furious Amos must be. He’ll be glued to that cub, so where would he find time to bother with Finn? "Don’t jinx me."

Lai Qing had already stepped forward.

He scanned the scene, his stomach knotted with nerves—what were they supposed to do next? Were they about to meet His Majesty? Which one’s the Emperor? Who was this person before them? And this giant—another Crown Clan royal?

All these uncertainties churned in his gut.

Then, the starship's door opened, and in that instant, Lai Qing’s nerves settled—

No one would misread that aura.

Amos looked over at them—steady, calm, collected, unhurried—always able to calm those around him.

They saluted.

"Heirs of the Saint Cas First Group Army, reporting to you, bringing glory to the Sacred Crown."

Meanwhile, on another starship, Yu Ye and the others who had followed also saluted. Chao Huangmu stood behind them, this time without a smile. The usually cheerful pup looked upset, his puppy-dog eyes kept searching behind Amos.

—No trace of Zao Zao.

Ah… Chao Huangmu thought—he was pretty useless in matters like this.

At the same time, Ebinino, who had been asleep, seemed to sense something.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Lai Qing and the others—

In his world, now faded of much of its color, he still recognized the familiar pulse of his old comrades' spiritual energy.

He let out a shaky, grief-stricken cry—unlike anything the Crown Clan would feel.

Ebinino's spiritual energy had long fused with that of the other soldiers of the First Group Army.

Then, he slowly lowered his head again—

Good… He’d finally made one right call. Charging ahead, breaking through the corruption—indeed, some had survived.

"Ebinino."

Amos turned his gaze toward Ebinino.

At the name, Lai Qing spun around.

In the turbulent struggle for survival, they had lost so much. But the name Ebinino still lingered faintly in their memories—the First Group Army’s direct commander.

You… are still here too…? The ancestors would’ve been overjoyed.

Amos descended, the Saint Cas Army stood in tight formation behind him, their eyes burning with resolve.

Amos looked at Lai Qing.

"I won’t repeat unnecessary words. I assume my heir’s already briefed you."

"Yes! Little Highness laid it all out clearly. The First Group Army’s mission is complete, report’s done and ready to submit."

"Saint Cas First Group Army."

Amos spoke.

"Here!"

Lai Qing and the others turned their gaze toward him, toward this moment.

This was the world they had yearned for—for who knew how long.

Though they had long prepared themselves, now, they could hardly fight the tears.

"Fall in."

So declared the Emperor of Saint Cas.

"Yes!"

At this moment, the Saint Cas Empire's army had already begun assisting in managing affairs in the sacred territory.

Chu Zao remained in the med-pod, while Amos made his way to Ebinino.

Behind Amos, the commanders of the Ninth Group Army and the Tenth Group Army approached Lai Qing, grinning as they offered handshakes. "Welcome back."

Lai Qing could no longer contain himself and covered his eyes—once, they had fought hard, but standing before them were only those who mocked and scorned, nations that mocked their struggle. They resisted with difficulty, struggling to prove that yielding to the beasts was wrong, that the beasts would gradually consume them, reducing them to livestock—would they still be human then?

They faced betrayal, abandonment, and collective rejection.

Once, they had even considered giving up, just going with the flow, or simply perishing.

Especially when they persisted, beaten down—they had grown accustomed to expecting the worst in everything.

Until now, when not far away stood an emperor they could trust, and ahead were allied forces who shared their ideals.

They had finally waited for it—the empire they'd dreamed of, one that matched their vision perfectly.

The first outpost of the Saint Cas Empire in the unfamiliar star sector was now established.

Chu Zao had been sleeping all this time—this time, the little one was utterly exhausted, not even twitching awake.

Meanwhile, Amos and Fei Man had roughly understood the messed-up situation here.

There were many matters to handle.

At present, they couldn't establish contact with Saint Cas's imperial capital.

For now, the beasts and the pollution seemed at a standoff with them. Neither side understood the other's true strength, and neither was willing to strike first, resulting in an uneasy calm.

Ebinino appeared to have stabilized overall, but it was clear that there were bound to be problems on the other side of the barrier.

If things went according to plan, the next team led by Frey would soon cross through the corruption and arrive here, shouldering greater burdens.

Just as Amos and the others had anticipated.

Frey had indeed picked up the tracking signals carried by the Crown Clan.

Preparations for the next phase of the crossing began.

And when Ebinino's Psychic Crown fully closed again.

The entire barrier indeed was wracked by violent tremors, contracting and splintering with cracks. Other nations also began exploring this area—

But given the pollution, progress remained slow.

At this moment, the ones smugly patting themselves on the back were places like the Gesen Empire.

The surrounding calm seemed to give these puffed-up blowhards with more ego than skill, and who were overly sensitive and loved to brag, the wrong idea.

"No movement at all?"

"That's correct, Your Majesty. The sacred territory is completely still, nor do the beasts. Total radio silence. The Survival Contest also shows no signs of restarting. What should we do—"

After a brief period of chaos, the ministers of the Gesen Empire seemed to collect themselves.

"Don’t rush. They're outsiders here."

Emperor Yakai of the Gesen Empire had made up his mind over the past few days.

"They indeed come from a star region unknown to us, so they don’t understand us."

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"Alien beasts are still alien beasts, and we remain the most formidable empire here. We possess all the data of this star region, the best positions—they will have to cooperate with us. Send people to scout near the Holy Territory and probe their intentions. Besides, judging by the attitude of other allied nations, it’s clear the Holy Territory hasn’t taken action against them either—"

Emperor Yakai continued.

"We should be able to secure something that aligns with our empire’s interests—those outsiders surely wouldn’t dare attack us, fellow humans like us, at a time like this, would they?"

"You are absolutely right."

*

Meanwhile, in the Holy Territory of Saint Cas.

Aboard the Saint Cas starship.

Inside the medical bay.

Little Chuzao, who had been unconscious for two days, stirred slightly. The golden circlet atop his head suddenly gleamed brightly as Chuzao blinked groggily and slowly sat up.

Though neatened by King Amos, Chuzao’s hair was still a bit unruly, his little curls sticking out in all directions. He felt burning up, his head ached dizzily, and his stomach rumbled with hunger.

"Young Highness, you’re awake?"

A medic in the bay quickly spoke up.

"I’ll go report to His Majesty at once—"

His Majesty…? *Oh, Papa.*

Still feverish and slightly disoriented, the young boy climbed out of the medical bay. His amber eyes were hazy from the fever yet strikingly bright.

"Zao Zao go… self."

His words were even a bit mumbled—

Every time Chuzao’s powers advanced, it usually led to something like this. What was once a cause for panic had now become familiar to everyone, no longer alarming. But as for the Young Highness’s quirks during this phase…

The medic widened his eyes and reached out.

"Young Highness, be careful—your temperature seems to have risen again."

*Find Papa, find Papa, find Papa—*

Chuzao paid no attention to the words behind him, already stumbling out dizzily.

Once he found Papa, he would gobble up lots of ‘brains’ and eat lots of snacks.

Hm?

Chuzao suddenly spread his wings, tucking them snugly forward before reaching out to tug at them. His little wings perked up happily.

All neat—Zao Zao’s no messy Little Crown kid now!