CHAPTER 211: LUNATIC

"Are you all seeing this?"

"What is going on? I thought the invasions were over?"

"I asked my brother, there were no orders given to the breakers."

"My dad was a lookout on the western wall. He said almost everything that attacked us joined the Weapons!"

"I was on duty on the eastern wall as a janitor; I saw them revive the wind monsters!"

Such whispers and murmurs spread in and about Crestfall City. People in the military, relatives of one, or even normal people saw the revivals of the Psychomancers. Everyone knew something big was going on. Even online, it was crazy.

[Look at these, you bastards! These are satellite images of Crestfall between 6 to 10 PM.]

[Wow. Aren’t there twice as many dots on the last pic?]

At some point, the entire world knew it was only a matter of time.

[If the Weapons decide to attack the Big Three, aren’t we dead?]

The Big Three originality monopolized everything as there was no alternative. It sacrificed cities because it couldn’t save everyone. But not anymore.

[Dude, my city is in open revolt. The stream of Crestfall being defended went viral.]

[Mine too. We got about 50,000 refugees from Red Cliff.]

[Red Cliff, didn’t that city get washed away by a tsunami?]

[Nah man, it was monsters. An invasion from the looks of it.]

When a hero rose from the ranks of humanity, it was inevitable that everything would change.

[JOIN THE FIGHT, MY BROTHERS! FIGHT FOR FREEDOM!]

[Woah! We got a keyboard warrior here. Still, I heard the Crusaders are straight-up kidnapping anyone who criticizes the pope.]

[That’s nothing, my aunt works as a maid for an Ascendancy Baron; just mentioning Elian Reed’s name gets your head chopped off.]

The Big Three desperately tried to maintain its power. But when a government starts slaughtering its own citizens it already lost all credibility.

The more Crestfall stood. The worse the standing of the Big Three became. All of a sudden, their influence, industry, and even their military strength all grew weaker and weaker.

Although isolated, maligned, and afraid, humanity already made its choice. And Earth chose Elian Reed.

***

The moment the legions entered the portals, announcements popped up to Elian.

[Please select a privacy setting for invasions: Public | Protected | Private]

"What’s the difference?"

"Elian?"

[Public announces it to Earth. Protected limits the announcements to allies. Private denies the system from sending out an announcement.]

Ideally, Elian would have chosen Protected, but in order to increase their numbers, he needed people to fight him and die. How else was he going to create more weapons?

"Public. Announce it beyond Earth if possible."

"Just what are you babbling about?"

[There is an option to upgrade the announcement to all Iron-ranked worlds for 100 CP for each announcement. Proceed?]

"Hmm, quite steep, but the shock factor is more important."

"Elian, how boorish! Stop ignoring me!"

Elian faced Bianca only to see her pouting unhappily.

Cute.

"I am not ignoring you, darling. The system is asking if I want to let people know about us invading other worlds."

The witch turned away but kept one eye on Elian. "So, what have you decided?"

"To let everyone know, even worlds beyond Earth. Although I have to pay 100 CP per announcement."

"CP? Didn’t you only have 400 from the stream?"

Elian nodded, "Yeah, just enough for each legion."

"Sigh, you are really insane. You intend to use the fact that we invaded four worlds as a deterrent? If anything, the Crucible would think humans are nothing but brutes!"

"But can you imagine how they would see it if we conquered four at once?"

Bianca thought for a bit, then exhaled heavily.

"Elian, I have much to say about that, but you already made up your mind, haven’t you? To go with the loudest bang you can?"

The Tyrant didn’t answer but instead made a savage grin. He then nodded his head vigorously with excitement.

His lover facepalmed, exhaustion evident on her face.

"Sigh, this is what I get for falling in love with a madman. Most people would be terrified of fighting the Big Three, but here you are already thinking about bullying the rest of the Iron-ranks."

Bianca then placed her hands on her hips and added, "Still, Whatever you wish to do, I will follow you regardless."

Hearing her vote of confidence, Elian rushed to grab Bianca by her waist. Pulling her closer, he greedily sought her lips. Bianca didn’t resist but wrapped her arms tightly around him. She made a small yelp but soon melted from the Tyrant’s affectionate kisses.

When they parted, Bianca’s eyes were glassy and full of desire. But Elian’s face was warped with a savage grin.

"System, proceed with the Iron-rank level announcements."

[Alert: Crucible-wide Iron-rank Announcement: Earth has invaded Virexar.]

[Alert: Crucible-wide Iron-rank Announcement: Earth has invaded Gnareth.]

[Alert: Crucible-wide Iron-rank Announcement: Earth has invaded Sylphane.]

[Alert: Crucible-wide Iron-rank Announcement: Earth has invaded Astrapheia.]

"Beautiful."

Seeing the announcements side by side pleased Elian. Such acts could be interpreted in at least three different ways: Earth was confident, Earth was arrogant, or the worst of all, Earth was insane.

Elian was hoping that most would think Earth was both arrogant; that way, many would come to put the upstart in its place.

"Elian, you are making a disgusting face."

"Hehe, I can’t wait for the arrogant bastards to offer themselves to us for materials."

"Sigh, my love, you are too brazen; try and keep it under control, okay?"

[Alert: Tyrant candidate has completed one of the prerequisites. Invade another world.]

[Alert: All prerequisites have been fulfilled. Elian Reed is now eligible to invoke the Crucible for Earth. Proceed?]

When the option finally appeared, unspeakable joy and bloodlust surged out from Elian. Parts of his body began to break out in ripples; it was so strong that even Silent and Bastion had their bodies similarly flash swords and blades.

Both approached him with stern expressions.

"Son-in-law, is it time?"

"Yes, mother-in-law. It is. Time to put our regrets to rest."

Elian and Silent made bloodthirsty smiles, both excited for what was to come. Bastion and Bianca, their partners, could only look on in worry. Just as they were about to leave, a small group of people came forward.

Sunny, the Everflame Tyrant; Flare, her Anchor; Silas Dornevale; Marcus Steel; and Tessa Potts.

"Good grief, as if you don’t have a large enough target on your back! You really broadcast to the rest of the Iron-rank?" Sunny rebuked.

But Elian answered confidently, "Cool, right?"

Seeing as the lunatic would not change his perspective, Sunny instead changed the topic.

"Do not worry about the city, we will make sure that she remains safe. As with the others. Just make sure you four come back alive."

Bianca took Elian’s hand and raised it to the others. "We will. This is for our happy ending, after all."

Her words caused those around her to smile wryly. Flare, chuckling, nodded as he praised. "You two are a match made in heaven. It’s not a path many can understand, but I wish for your happiness all the same. Go in peace."

"Thanks, Flare," Elian replied. "Silas, I leave the city to you. I’m off to end this."

"Godspeed, my Tyrant. The next time we meet, the Earth will welcome a new age."

"I don’t know about that, but it will certainly be busy," the golem joked.

Seeing the former Breakers from the Bloodright of Conquest, Elian waited if either would say something. When neither did, he turned around and called to the system.

"System, I wish to invoke the Crucible for Earth."

[Please designate your Anchor...]

"Bianca Valestra."

The witch had a pop-up window appear before her. When she saw the word Anchor, she happily pressed accept.

[Accepted. Please designate your knights; you may choose up to twelve.]

"Just two for now: Silent Frozen Star, Unyielding Bastion."

When the two Beowolves accepted the positions, Elian felt a wave of mana radiate from him to the other three. But before he could verify what was going on, the System got to work.

[Confirming, Elian Reed of the Weapons of Valestra Faction has invoked the Crucible for Earth. All eligible Tyrant Candidates will be summoned along with their inner circles, this summon cannot be rejected. Standby for warp to the crucible...]

[Eligible candidates:

Truthsong Church Faction: Seraphi Cavour

Bloodright of Conquest Faction: Shang Jian

Noble Ascendancy Faction: Gerald R. Nobel

]

Seeing the names of the people who lead the world, Elian’s body burned in rage.

"Charade: Shark."

At once he transformed into his silver chainsaw armor. Bianca, similarly armed herself. Bastion and Silent on the other hand transformed into their Weapon modes.

Bianca’s father turned into a 13-meter onyx Beowolf. A powerful form with only survival in mind. Its body despite it’s size was nimble and was covered with various guns and turrets turning it into a makeshift tank.

Her mother on the other hand shapeshifted into a pitch black 3-meter wolf covered in smoke. The smoke looked dazzling under the sunlight, black and ashen particles mixed into a fog that obscured the small wolf.

Armed to the teeth, pillars of light fell on Elian and his inner circle, along with a Earth wide system message.

[Earth Wide Announcement: The Crucible for Earth has begun. All Tyrant candidates will be summoned and fight to the death. The survivor will be crowned Tyrant of Earth. Glory be to the Tyrants!]