Chapter 878
As the war with the lower realms Trigold cultivators dragged on, more information about their structure was determined. Several core systems had been identified as key targets, and one of them in particular carried the planet of Zunrose, a significantly above average sized terrestrial planet. It was of note as the closest of the core worlds, approximately to the southwest of the rest.
Attacks were focused on driving a wedge into the occupied systems to reach the planet. If they could heavily damage the cultivation centers, the sects and clans, they would lose a valuable training ground.
It was impossible to keep their intent secret, as they didnt have the forces to attack on every front at once. However, they at least limited how many details would be known by sharing them only with those most important. They didnt anticipate any spies among them, but people could always be turned through threats or promises of wealth or power- and they could also be captured and interrogated. There was sadly no way to prevent that in a war. Even if cultivators were willing to kill themselves to die with their secrets, it wasnt always possible.
The plan was simple on the surface, and Varghese approved. If the plan was too complicated, it could easily fall apart. Theyd kept some things in reserve to make use of for just such an occasion, including the power of Varghese himself. In terms of absolute power, Assimilation cultivators like Varghese were in the second tier. First tier were those who were restricted to only a single planet or even part of a planet, such as Lev of the Grasping Willows.
Binding stars put Varghese in the second category, where there were multiple locations of power that could be added to. He would be slightly less strong than those bound to a single location, assuming all other factors were equal. Which they never were, but the theory was sound.
The third category were those who were truly free. Bound to some object they could bring with them or an ideal. This included Elder Sudheer of the SIlver Rhino Legion, as well as cultivators like Devon, Antons grandson. Though the latter was a clear example of where things broke down. All other factors being equal needed to account for quality of the cultivation method, the individual cultivator, and their absolute cultivation stage. After all, Assimilation wasnt the end of the road. It was simply another step along the path, and those in the early stage were most likely weaker than those in the mid or late stage regardless of the mobility tiers.
Devon was nearly in the Enrichment stage, like Anton. It was a shame he wasnt currently participating in the war, but Varghese also understood that there were other things going on. The integration of Nidec and Vrelt was a process that was still underway, and having a strong presence in the area was helpful for that.
Varghese wasnt the limit of the plans, of course. Sudheer was likely stronger, unless someone came to fight Varghese directly at the local star. No, there were more than a few other cultivators. And ships. Not just good scout ships or fighters, but proper battleships. Among their number was even the Wayfarer, under the command of General Gabriela. The oldest remaining Ascension-class battleship, with the Independence having been lost in the war with Ekict- destroyed by Gabriela and the Wayfarer.
It was the presence of the Ascension-class battleships that was the biggest secret. They would be moving into the system after the initial assault, and they had planned for them to hide in the shadows of several planetary bodies until they were needed.
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As predicted, the initial assault couldnt have taken down Zunrose- not with an acceptable amount of losses. The closer they got to core systems, the better defenses they had. More cultivators at a higher level, more powerful planetary barriers, and closer access to reinforcements if they needed it. But that was what they were counting on. The attack was mostly bait to draw forces away. And if the response was deemed to be too dangerous, the assault force could simply split from the ambush force and both would retreat.
Upon first entering the system, Varghese began to bind the local star. It was a fairly large white star, bigger than the yellow stars that were often the most comfortable homes for planets that would contain life in the range humans preferred.
It wasnt difficult to bind the star. Varghese had done it before, and while it wasnt an instantaneous process it was a matter of less than an hour as they drew closer. But he suddenly understood why Anton was reluctant to do it without permission. It felt wrong, somehow, even though they were literally at war and he intended to kill pretty much everyone. Not wrong enough to stop him, just enough to make him uncomfortable.
He could already feel himself weakening. Something was truly wrong. There was no way such a fleet should be able to damage a star. Their total power output should be merely a tiny fraction of what the sun produced itself every second. And yet, clearly it was working.
Varghese immediately rushed towards them, trying to control the power of the sun to lash out at them- but he wasnt close enough to properly sense them. His connection with this particular star being new, and his overall connection to the stars not running as deep as Anton, he found it difficult to do anything.
He made it about halfway there. But within five minutes from when he had first noticed the attack- less than half an hour of the fleet being in near proximity to the star- he felt it break. Dammit, he coughed as he felt the same thing happen inside of him. Retreat. As fast as you can. He could feel what was coming. A supernova, as the sun exploded billions of years before its time. He had no time to ask why or how. But he could feel it coming. And by the time he could actually see it, he would likely be dead.
No, none of that was right at all. Varghese clutched his belly, above his dantian. He felt as if a part of him had exploded and been ripped out at the same time. He shouldnt have rushed forward.
Hey kid, a metal clad hand clasped his shoulder. I appreciate people who run into battle. But if Im catching even a whiff of what actually happened over there thats not something we run towards. And you said it yourself.
Cant, Varghese grunted.
Figures, Elder Sudheer commented, wrapping an arm around Varghese. Now, Im not going to promise this will be comfortable. But well get out of here with plenty of time.
Varghese almost felt himself ripped apart from the outside. He was barely maintaining any of his natural energy to protect himself from the void of space, his cultivation in turmoil at the loss of a nearby bound star. And his mind as well. He hadnt even imagined this as a possibility.
And the ships they were all consumed by the exploding star already. Hed felt that, in its last moments. Had they known? There were certainly some fanatics among the Trigold Cluster, but so many of them? How long had they planned this maneuver?
Nothing made sense to him at the moment. Varghese let himself get carried along, trying to seal the hole inside of him out through which was leaking his natural energy and cultivation. He felt cold. But far, far away, he felt the warmth of his other stars. He wasnt going to go down so easily.
He couldnt help but wonder how had they known? Why would they do it? Was this why Anton hadnt joined the war? Not that Varghese was doubting his master. If Anton had known about this in particular, he would have warned him. But he might have had some instinct that spoke of the danger to him.
Something worth asking about, once he stopped dying.
Somewhere along the way Varghese caught a glimpse of ships scurrying away from Zunrose and he wondered how many people would manage to escape. One percent of them? Less? It seemed like the planet hadnt even been warned, and was merely reacting to the massive disturbance that would soon overtake the whole system.
