Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 180: I don’t know

Vale sat down to get his heartbeat under control and to wait for the others. Apparently, Slya had used shadow steps to get ahead of them when she heard the clash from afar and brought the message from Steelclaw with her.

An artifact!

What Vale wrote to Steelclaw was a chance for revenge against the Athrimir Clan, but most especially his father. It was a simple decision for Vale to make. After all, his goal was to turn to the Clan once he was done with the Borderland.

Steelclaw wanted to maintain his neutrality somewhat and hated Vale and his Clan’s guts. They shared that in common, and he had used that to ask for help and secure a temporary alliance that should last until they finished with the Athrimir.

The reason Vale didn’t go himself was that he didn’t want to alert Sevrix, but mostly because the alliance he was preparing was simply for the Rift. Acquiring an artifact was merely a bonus, but it turned out it would be what saved his life.

’...I owe him one now...’ Vale thought as he examined the artifact. A white bone bent into a bow with strings that seemed to be made of human hair. The arrow was of the same material—straight and narrow.

"It’s called Carnifex. A legendary artifact. It’s pretty powerful. Once you shoot it, it will disappear—you won’t even be able to detect it. But if you can keep your eyes on it and track it, then you will see it. Blink even once, and it will disappear until it reaches the target."

Slya grinned. "You saw the effect, right? Once it pierces flesh, it freezes them in place, turning them statue-like."

Vale studied it again, feeling it with his hand. "Carnifex. What did Steelclaw say?"

She frowned. "That you should not go back on your word. And he said he would be thinking about the other one, but you can send for him about the Rift." She paused. "You’re really clearing the Rift?"

Vale raised his brows. That wasn’t what he was expecting. He thought Steelclaw would be eager for the chance to strike at the Clan and would want to make use of him.

’.....He’s not interested in fighting my father? Or he has his own way of dealing with the Clan... But he wants to clear the Rift... I’ll have to take what I can get then...’

He answered Sevrix. "Yes. We will be clearing the Rift as soon as we are ready. Oh, come on, Slya. I don’t know if you guys will be going along. How will you serve me if you’re dead?"

"We won’t have anyone to serve if you’re dead either," she pointed out, then added, "Besides, we don’t know what will happen to us if you die... you know."

Vale rolled his eyes. "And here I thought my subordinate cared about me, and that’s why she’s worried."

Slya chuckled. "It’s a little bit of both."

Just then, Pomora swooped down on a jet of water. She looked as if she had been chewed up and then spit out. She landed beside Sevrix’s body and stared down in distaste. She crouched and picked up Deconstruct. "I will be taking this, Commander. I have taken the Hydra’s body as my spoil as well."

Vale shrugged. "You have earned it. Just bring it along when we go to the Rift." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

She nodded deeply at him, then flew back into the air, carried away by a stream of water.

Slya watched her go with a mixture of envy and fear. She shuddered. "Master Knights are so terrifying. I saw the end of their fight, and it was brutal. When I reach that level..."

Vale smiled at the anticipation in her voice. "Or when I reach that level! You can only start dreaming then!"

It was the truth. Vale’s level would determine whether it was a level they could advance to. Slya grumbled at that.

Before long, Tiber and Manefor, together with the team he sent back, also reached them. They briefed him while they examined the battlefield.

Manefor then went to assist his chief. Takoda had sustained a heavy injury in the back that wouldn’t stop bleeding, and he was hurried away to the underground, where his people were hiding, to find a healer.

"Vale? What are you going to do about them?" Tiber said as he moved to his side. Slya took his other side, and together they faced the ones approaching them.

Out of the five enchanted towers that engaged in battle that night, only one survived. Tower Captain Sybila limped into the clearing. Her eyes flickered to her Master’s body and hardened, but she showed no anger as she bowed to Vale. "Commander."

Vale studied her for a while without saying anything, then he asked, "What are you going to do now?"

She hesitated. "I... I don’t know."

Vale nodded as if it was something he expected. And indeed, he had thought about it, because it was a problem that would naturally arise once he took care of the Flagbearers. The easiest option was to absorb the two remaining forces.

But the problem was that they would become Vale’s main force, which provided the opportunity for betrayal. It was almost certain that they would turn on him at a crucial time.

He, a mere Knight rank, was instrumental in killing their master, and now he wanted to command them?

Vale didn’t want to be constantly looking over his shoulder. It would be very easy for the people backing Sevrix to keep track of him and use them against him otherwise.

So he would go with the second option he had thought of, which was to split the two forces and share them among the remaining Flagbearers.

It would make rebellion difficult and, at the same time, strengthen his allies.

’...I’m going to be giving orders to the Flagbearers... for now, anyway...’

"You can return to your fortress. I will decide your fate and that of your comrades tomorrow morning."

Vale waited until she turned, then he called out, "On the other hand, wait. We will go to the fortresses tomorrow. You will wait here till morning."

Tower Captain Sybila opened her mouth as if she wanted to argue, but then she shut it and bowed. "As you wish, Commander."