Chapter 1299: Begin
Another tense atmosphere settled in the hall. But a voice broke it.
“He’s right.”
To the representatives, it was unfamiliar. The fourth star had almost never spoken. Though they had watched the Virelenna alongside him and the others, he had never once addressed them directly.
They had always considered this star the weakest of the four.
But as his voice rang out, many hearts couldn’t help but tremble. It carried a weight, a heaviness that even Iron Crown didn’t possess.
All eyes turned to Quiet Flame. He held the attention of the entire room.
“He won the Virelenna without deceit. He won the right to ascend. If you wanted it to be compulsory to choose a faction, then you should have added it to the rules.”
Iron Crown and Crimson Hollow narrowed their eyes, but it was Dreaming Sea who spoke next.
“The child is surely a talent, old man,” she said, voice like a still lake. “But it’ll be to your detriment if he doesn’t make it far.”
Quiet Flame suddenly laughed. The sound made Dreaming Sea narrow her gaze.
“You all seem so sure he won’t make it far. You’ve all grown so weak since my time.”
“You speak nonsense,” Iron Crown said coldly.
“It’s the truth.” Quiet Flame’s voice didn’t waver. “Before these useless factions came into play, how did we operate? We ascended our winning god without question. We raised warriors back then, not these ridiculous boys.”
Nex hid the anger bubbling inside him. He could feel that Quiet Flame’s words were directed at him. But unlike Atticus, he knew his place.
“You’re insane to compare the past with the present,” Iron Crown snapped. “Our gods are stronger than ever. The Astryx we’re gaining from the ascending worlds can’t even be compared to back then.”
“That may be true, but at least we didn’t have to rely on others just to survive. That’s pathetic.”
Iron Crown was on his feet before he realized, his teeth gritted, eyes blazing. Somehow, those words stung deeper than usual.
He didn’t know if it was what was said, or because it came from Quiet Flame.
This useless relic had dared call him pathetic.
The Iron Hall began to tremble. Power surged. Everyone inside struggled to breathe.
“Both of you should stop acting like children,” Dreaming Sea’s soothing voice smothered the tension.
The pressure vanished. Everyone gasped for air.
Iron Crown blinked, suddenly regaining control of himself. He glanced around and saw the fear stricken look on Nex’s face.
He exhaled and sat down, his glare never leaving Quiet Flame. It was obvious, unresolved issues lingered between them.
Quiet Flame smiled at Dreaming Sea. “Some of us still have some growing to do,” he said, and the intensity of Iron Crown’s stare spiked again.
“Old man,” Dreaming Sea said firmly. “The past is the past. We’re in the present. Selecting a faction has always worked for us. We lost too much during this Virelenna, we can’t afford to ascend a god who won’t make it far.”
“He will make it far,” Quiet Flame suddenly said. The certainty in his voice made Dreaming Sea and Crimson Hollow raise their brows.
“You sound so confident,” Dreaming Sea said.
“I am,” Quiet Flame replied, glancing at Atticus before turning back to her. “Why don’t we place a bet on it then?”
Dreaming Sea furrowed her brows. Even Iron Crown and Crimson Hollow looked confused, though Iron Crown still wore his cold expression.
“Yes. A bet,” Quiet Flame nodded. “If he doesn’t survive, I’ll relinquish my gains from the ascension.”
The stars’ eyes constricted. They stared at him like he had lost his mind. And maybe he had, because what he proposed was insane.
During the ascension, they gathered centuries, sometimes millennia, worth of Astryx, the energy of the universe, and poured it into the winning god’s star.
That process gave the star enormous power. It could be used to create new worlds, new life, or most importantly, heal grievous wounds.
Quiet Flame relinquishing that power meant the others could retain some of what they had gathered across ages. It would allow them to create more worlds and begin restoring what they had lost.
It was a great wager. But a dangerous one for Quiet Flame. His one chance to heal would be gone. That was what none of them could understand. Why would he risk that?
“I accept,” Iron Crown suddenly said, causing the others to nod in agreement.
At least, if Atticus failed, they would regain some of the Astryx lost.
As the stars agreed, Quiet Flame turned to Atticus.
“Now it’s all in your hands.”
Atticus finally looked away from Iron Crown and turned to Quiet Flame. He gave a single nod.
“We will begin the ascension now,” Iron Crown’s voice boomed. He seemed more eager to get it over with.
Atticus felt the piercing stares of the representatives as Iron Crown waved his hand.
In an instant, he was hovering above the familiar skies of Eldoralth. He was just about to glance around when Whisker spoke.
“Looks like it’s starting.”
Ozeorth, Magnus, and Aric appeared by his side. Avalon and the others who had stayed behind were about to speak, when a blinding light swept across the entire world, followed by a booming voice. Iron Crown’s.
“God and people of Eldoralth. As winners of the Virelenna, you have been granted the right to ascend to the middle planes. The ascension begins now.”
Atticus’s gaze pierced through the light and landed on the giant forms of the stars. Each one radiated divine light, their hands pointed toward Quiet Flame at the center.
Beams of energy shot from their palms, striking Quiet Flame. He ignited in blinding light, and even Atticus had to shield his eyes.
When he looked again, Quiet Flame was already channeling his energy.
A golden beam burst from Quiet Flame’s palm, aimed directly at Eldoralth.
That was the last thing Atticus saw before the world was engulfed in light.
Just like that, Eldoralth began its ascent to the middle planes.
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