Elder Cultivator

Falling Stars suddenly found themselves free to seek new targets, as Zaur ceased to be a threat. Even if someone managed to avoid them on one pass, they would inevitably strike somewhere in the enemy fleets.

While the Scarlet Alliance had kept an advantage even with fleets from both the Citadel’s allies and the Trigold Cluster, their enemies suddenly became aware of how much of their energy had been devoted to suppressing Zaur. Of course, the Domination cultivator had caused significant damage and strain on their forces… but even just a few moments after his death the course of the battle shifted.

Morale was a serious factor in battles, even among those who were not cultivators. Those who were afraid to fight could hardly be effective. For cultivators, the rift was actually larger. Without strength of purpose behind them, their use of energy was severely hampered.

That wasn’t counting the actual disciples of the Citadel of Exalted Light, because they were in a far worse state than any others. Many others tried to organize their withdrawal, some broke into a chaotic retreat- but the disciples of the Citadel simply… stopped. Not all of them, but the psychic shock was so great that some of them died due to their energy running amok inside them. Cultivation was a practice of belief- in one’s self or also in others. When an ‘invincible’ leader died, what were people to do?

The Imbued Fragments and Broad Eyed Harvesters had been trying to take advantage of the situation, though it wasn’t clear what their final goal was. However, with Zaur’s death they quickly began to withdraw as well. That included their great battleship made entirely of worldheart, though it likely would have had to withdraw regardless. Though Aconite’s metal-eating bacteria weren’t infinitely sustaining like on lesser metals, their ship had numerous patches of damage that they could not repair, at least not at the moment. Keeping such a valuable ship intact was more important than whatever else they could retrieve from the battle- though it was seen that they did drag the remnants of various ships with them.

At some point in the past, the Scarlet Alliance had considered various modifications to their spatial distortions. One of those was to not only draw everyone to Xankeshan, the most fortified location… but also to make the trip one-way. It was a nice thought, preventing their enemy from retreating, but simply infeasible unless they had a massive advantage. They might be the victor here, but their own forces weren’t limitless and all powerful. Forcing those who remained into a battle to the end simply wouldn’t be worthwhile. They did cut down all those who were still fighting and if they had the opportunity, all who were attempting to flee.

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For those deep inside the Citadel of Exalted Light’s territory, the bad news was that every disciple knew what had happened and would kill them if given the slightest opportunity. The good news was… they were in no state to pick out a single hidden ship. Not every single cultivator within their systems was a disciple of the Exalted Light, but all those who were simply… couldn’t.

Velvet had the misfortune of dropping right next to one of their fleet patrols when attempting to stop to replenish their ship’s energy. She could hide a lot, but the spatial fluctuations from rising out of subspace came before she was able to affect anything in her current state. Well, she was able to make it about half subtle.

She panicked as she expected the enemy ships to immediately turn on them, or at least throw out cultivators to assess them. By the time they actually reacted, she had properly reestablished illusions around the ship and they were zooming away from the fleet. Even then, the search parties seemed… lackluster.

Though that didn’t convince Velvet to linger any longer than necessary to replenish their ship. Not that she felt comfortable moving slowly regardless, with Timothy and Catarina in their current states. Chidi was… fine. But they were most certainly not, and she thought it important to reach someone who could help as soon as possible- if that was even feasible. It would still be a journey of months, so hopefully they could last.

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Though Velvet stayed far away, as the group worked their way towards less populated areas they came into contact with the ripple effects of the Guardians of the Veiled Brilliance’s attacks.

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There wasn’t much conversation to be had, with half of the team incapacitated. However, Prasad still had some comments. “It is unfortunate Ratna was not able to personally experience his death.”

“Hopefully she’ll still appreciate it,” Velvet said.

Durff frowned. “He disintegrated, right? I guess the closest thing we have to a souvenir are those chunks of crystal.”

“Yeah,” Velvet agreed. “Are they… reacting?”

Durff shook his head. When he was not focusing on recovery, it was his job to watch their scavenged supply of bits and pieces of the citadel. “It seems pretty dead. I don’t think he could fake something like that.”

“It’s not like he’s Everheart,” Prasad agreed. “Though we would do well to be cautious regardless.”

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The news of the death of Zaur spread like wildfire. Even if the Exalted Quadrant tried to quash the information, it only spread more quickly. Nor did the information propagate from just a single point. Every disciple felt his death to some extent, both throughout the upper realms… and in the lower realms.

Over the next several years, the fanatic cultivators who chose to ascend even unto death began to break their bonds to the lower realms… bringing with them destruction to various sects in the Exalted Quadrant that could not afford to take further damage to their foundations. Just like with the death of Sudin, surrounding sects converged on the territory of the Citadel of Exalted Light, and there was hardly any resistance to be found with many still shocked to their core.

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Koralo looked at the pair of cultivators in front of him, as he had done for so many days. He simply shook his head. He knew he was Catarina’s apprentice, but every time he thought he was catching up she went and did something like this.

Uzun was consulted as well, but he didn’t have much in the way of answers. “Much like yourself, Koralo, unless you have further insights… disrupting the situation within them is likely a great risk.”

“Maybe we can stabilize their surroundings? No, that’s not quite right. Neutralize them, maybe. I know we shouldn’t move them too much, but maybe we should place them next to our star?” Koralo sighed. “I haven’t found any details on something like this, and I doubt I could get into her secure storage bags. Though there’s also some chance that all of this was in her head. Obviously the situation wasn’t ideal, but should I fix it?”

“I think the better question is what we should do about that,” Uzun gestured to Timothy’s chest, and some wounds which were beginning to scar. “Is it better to let them heal and the effect fade out, or do they need to be maintained?”

“If only Chidi were conscious,” Koralo grumbled. “How’s that going anyway?”

“His vital signs are stable,” Uzun said. “At least, that is what the hospital tells me. They were quite surprised to require entirely mundane technology, but everything else was faulty.”

Koralo nodded. “I fully understand that. He’s like a perfect neutralizer for all the energy around him- and I’ve seen void ants. Though I imagine it’s quite difficult for his body and mind to come to terms with that. It’s quite a shame that we can’t celebrate these heroes as they deserve.”

“Considering what we expected…” Uzun shrugged. “Having anyone return was quite a miracle. The same with having a home to return to.”

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Velvet wanted to stay on Xankeshan for the next century, but unfortunately other difficulties were conspiring against her. Information from captured Imbued Fragment cultivators was quite worrying. Lower level disciples seemed to have no concept of any connection between the upper and lower realms, and they hadn’t been able to capture anyone stronger alive.

But they did hear some interesting stories that had to be confirmed. And as the foremost stealth specialist, Velvet couldn’t just sit around. The Scarlet Alliance had other operatives, but Velvet felt the need to go herself. The Trigold Cluster had too many mysteries, and had shown themselves to be a persistent enemy of the Scarlet Alliance. Not that they expected otherwise, but they had grown large enough to be recognized… and they anticipated further trouble.

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Runa heard about Zaur’s death from Exalted Quadrant cultivators before she heard about it from Velvet- though that was quite reasonable, given Velvet’s unwillingness to send a message within Exalted Quadrant territory.

The exact details were difficult to confirm. Some said the Citadel was launched into the sun and then Zaur exploded. Others were adamant Zaur had been cut into tiny pieces by a grandmaster of the sword and then the Citadel crumbled. Some said Zaur transformed into light and escaped- though that didn’t mesh well with the clear certainty every disciple had. The feedback from his death had devastated them.

“I can’t believe we missed it,” Misi complained. “The things we could have seen…”

Juli rolled her eyes. “You know we’re not strong enough for that. Our heads may be filled with information, but we’re not strong enough to fight that. You sensed the old recordings.”

A small but notable figure made her presence known, nipping a bit of energy from the air to draw attention. “It is only as expected,” Crossed Antennae signed. “Victory was inevitable.”

Runa shook her head. “I’ve heard and seen much from the Scarlet Alliance, and as impressed as I have been I wouldn’t say so. Domination cultivators are in their own tier of power. Insurmountable. Or at least… by conventional wisdom. Obviously no one is truly undefeatable, but I wouldn’t say this was inevitable.”

“Those who live in fear are never truly strong,” Crossed Antennae said, as if that explained everything.

“You think Zaur was… afraid?”

“Not just him. All Domination cultivators.”

“Afraid of what?” Runa asked.

“Of us, obviously,” the void ant specifically gestured to herself. “Void ants.”

Runa thought for a moment. “Why do you say that?”

“Because otherwise they wouldn’t exterminate us.”

“That is… the natural reaction of many cultivators. The Domination cultivators aren’t responsible.”

“Why is that natural?” Crossed Antennae asked.

“You know why. You’re dangerous.” It was simply the truth. Runa herself was also dangerous.

“To a Body Tempering cultivators, a small army of us is hardly more dangerous than a Spirit Building cultivator. Do you really think the common folk fear us on their own? Any number of beasts are more deadly than us.”

“I know they do,” Runa pointed out. “If I asked any person who did not know any of you personally about void ants-”

Crossed Antennae swirled her forelegs. “They would repeat the lies told by Domination cultivators. Because they are afraid.”

Misi leaned closer. “Do you have any proof of this? I hadn’t heard it.”

“It is self evident. They create fear in their subordinates, because they are afraid of void ants. If they were not so full of fear, they would not care.”

Misi sighed. “So there’s still no actual proof.”

“Don’t need it,” Crossed Antennae said. “I wonder if their energy is tasty…” Runa naturally recoiled, just a bit. “See? And you have Domination cultivators to fear. But if we were the only ones, would not we be the most fearsome? Yet we can be crushed by a small child.”

“Not all of you,” Juli pointed out.

Crossed Antennae performed her version of a shrug. “It takes many billions of us to produce one like myself. And I must still take care not to be sat upon.”

Perhaps she was underestimating the durability of certain void ants, but not by far. And all agreed that whether or not she was entirely correct, Domination cultivators certainly had reason to amplify that particular fear.