ERA OF DESTINY-Chapter 143: DAY 2: PRE-WAR NIGHT DECISIONS

Kiaria and his companions entered the pseudo palace together.

Kiaria walked ahead without haste and seated himself at the ruler’s seat at the head of the dining hall. The others followed naturally, taking their places without instruction. Fairy Fu Cai sat to his left, Diala to his right, Princess Lainsa beside Diala. Across from them sat Aizrel, with Azriel and Mu Long flanking her, while the twin subordinates occupied the remaining seats. Everyone’s posture loosened.

Relief settled in the room.

Kiaria laughed quietly.

The sound was light, unguarded–out of place after everything that had transpired.

Fairy Fu Cai did not relax.

"Patron," she asked, eyes steady, "why are you laughing?"

Her voice carried no accusation, only a question that had been weighing on her since the declaration.

"You accepted a war. And you refused assistance from outside forces. Why?"

Princess Lainsa nodded.

"I share the same doubt."

Kiaria smiled and lifted his hand. Cups and a jade wine jar emerged from spatial ring, floating gently as he poured for everyone himself, moving from seat to seat without distinction. When he reached his own place and Diala’s, the liquid shifted–wine turning into herbal tea instead.

"You’re right to doubt," Kiaria said as he set the final cup down. "And I know exactly what you’re thinking."

He returned to his seat.

"We don’t know who stands behind them. We don’t know their depth, their numbers, or how far their reach extends." His gaze moved slowly across the table. "And I appear weak. Alone. Refusing reinforcements."

He leaned back slightly.

"You’re wondering how someone like me intends to defend this place. How I intend to protect everyone. And whether wisdom alone can stop a herd that has already chosen madness."

Princess Lainsa exhaled softly.

"No war is won alone," she said. "Even the wisest will be crushed if the enemy charges without reason."

"Drink," Kiaria said.

They did.

When the cups were lowered, Kiaria extended his hand forward.

"Fairy. Sister. Shade."

"Touch my hand."

They hesitated only briefly before placing their hands over his. The black ring on his finger pulsed once.

The world vanished.

–

They stood on an obsidial-diamond terrace suspended within void space. Beneath them stretched an empire carved from darkness and crystal–structures layered in impossible geometry, floating platforms linked by spirit currents, and far below, endless ranks of disciplined movement.

The Yaksha Queen appeared instantly before Kiaria and bowed.

"Master."

Princess Lainsa froze.

Kiaria turned to her calmly.

"Big Sister," he said, "I didn’t intend to hide this. I simply didn’t have the time to explain."

He did not dramatize it.

"I am Royal Prince Kiaria–son of the Grand Preceptor. Patron-Purifier of Shadows. Ghost of the Ghost Shade of the Hell Tavern."

He paused once.

"And the Yaksha King."

Kiaria took Lainsa’s hand and guided her toward the terrace edge. He pointed downward.

Below them, one hundred and fifty thousand Yaksha warriors trained in coordinated divisions, their movements precise, synchronized, and relentless. Every unit moved as though bound by a single will.

Princess Lainsa swallowed.

"K-Kiaria..." she said slowly. "You’ve become... omnipotent in your first adventure."

The words slipped out before she could temper them.

"Your luck," she added reflexively, half-teasing, half-stunned. "It’s terrifying."

"Luck?" the Yaksha Queen echoed sharply.

She turned toward Lainsa.

"Is that what you believe?"

Princess met her gaze.

"Isn’t it?"

The Yaksha Queen’s expression cooled.

"It was earned."

She stepped forward, her aura sharpening.

"Let me ask you something. If I were to capture my Master–and this girl beside him–how long would it take you to respond? How confident are you that you could take them back?"

"Queen," Kiaria said sharply.

The word alone carried weight.

The Yaksha Queen bowed immediately.

"Forgive me, Master. I acted on impulse."

"Did you forget who she is?" Kiaria asked quietly.

Silence.

"I apologize," the Queen said. "It will not happen again."

Kiaria turned back to Lainsa.

"I defeated them during assessment," he said simply. "The Queen surrendered after realizing I saved her children. They are recuperating and cultivating within a relic world under my control."

He paused.

"And yes–this all became possible because of the Formation Master."

Princess closed her eyes briefly.

"So... what’s the plan?" Fairy Fu Cai asked.

Kiaria gestured toward a stone table forming nearby.

"Simple. But first–sit."

They did.

The Yaksha Queen remained standing.

"You too," Kiaria said. "And call Fei Fei."

The Queen’s antennae vibrated.

A moment later, Fei Fei appeared and bowed.

"Greetings, King. Queen."

"Sit," Kiaria said.

She obeyed.

"How is the training?" Kiaria asked.

"Progress exceeds expectation," Fei Fei replied. "Your Spiritual Spring expanded our consciousness and reinforced our foundations beyond prior limits."

Kiaria nodded.

"So," he asked evenly, "if we fought again... could you defeat me?"

Fei Fei hesitated, then shook her head.

"My King, you remain beyond our current capacity. Your calculations outpace us."

Kiaria leaned forward slightly.

"That’s a problem."

The table quieted.

"If you can’t defeat me," Kiaria said, "how do you intend to defeat tomorrow’s enemies?"

The question lingered–heavy, deliberate.

Fei lowered her head slightly."King... forgive us for our inadequacy. We will train harder."

Kiaria nodded once, neither displeased nor comforted."That was expected."

Diala leaned forward, resting her forearms lightly on the table."Then what is the plan?"

Kiaria turned his gaze toward her and Princess Lainsa together, his expression steady, already settled on the path ahead.

"Within the range of the Dandelion Feather Land," he said, "no beast or force can form a rift. If I sought external aid, they would have to be transported through my black ring."He paused briefly."Even if they arrived safely, the moment they witnessed their companions in captivity, hesitation would infect every decision they made."

He leaned back slightly, fingers resting against the obsidian surface."That would weaken us–not strengthen us."

Kiaria continued without raising his voice.

"If I stand alone, they will assume confidence. And confidence, to them, signals a formidable opponent."His eyes narrowed slightly."Their first move will not be attack. It will be intimidation."

Princess Lainsa nodded faintly.

"When intimidation fails," Kiaria went on, "they will resort to leverage. Captives. Emotional pressure. Forced negotiations."He glanced toward the invisible horizon of the void space."If the tribes stand beside us, we lose the freedom to make absolute decisions."

Silence settled.

"And that will not happen," Kiaria added calmly."No one can enter this place anymore. And no one can destroy it."

He let the statement stand on its own before continuing.

"A siege is their next theoretical option," he said. "But any projectile, formation, or weapon carries at least a trace of spiritual energy."His gaze sharpened."That contamination alone is enough."

"The wind generated by a siege will scatter dandelions before impact," Kiaria explained. "The erosion will begin midair. Nothing they launch will ever reach the fortress."

Diala exhaled slowly."So... no direct assault."

"Exactly," Kiaria replied."They will avoid frontal engagement altogether."

Princess spoke next, her tone measured."Then we respond the same way they do."

Kiaria shook his head once.

"No.""There is another option."

The room stilled.

"Silent assassination," Kiaria said.

Princess looked up sharply."Assassination? How?"

"Leave it to me," Kiaria replied without elaboration.

The simplicity of the answer carried more weight than explanation.

Princess Lainsa nodded after a moment."If you have decided, then we trust you."

"Good," Kiaria said.

He rose from his seat.

"We should return," he added. "Confusion has already taken root outside."A pause."And the primary preparations required for assassination are complete."

Diala looked at him."Completed?"

"The Spiritual Spring Embryo has already fulfilled its role," Kiaria replied."The rest... is mine."

There were no further questions.

They returned to the pseudo palace, seating themselves once more as the void space folded away. Kiaria’s gaze moved briefly to Princess Lainsa and Fairy Fu Cai. He nodded.

Then to Diala.

Another nod.

"Ru. Yi. Azriel. Aizrel. Mu Long," Kiaria said evenly."None of you will accompany me tomorrow."

They did not protest.

"Your sole duty is the safety of this place," he continued. "Nothing else matters."

He turned to the twins.

"Ru. Yi. Continue producing Spore Balls. Deliver them to me before morning."

Both bowed immediately."As you command."

Kiaria stepped back, already withdrawing from the moment.

"Rest," he said."I have one final matter to attend to."

Without further sound, he left the pseudo palace.

The night sank deeper, swallowing the world whole.

No moon. No stars–only darkness, absolute and soundless.

Kiaria dissolved into shadow.

His form thinned, stretched, and faded as he entered Shadow Ghost state. In the same breath, Star-Feather Technique fused into his movement. He surged forward.

No footstep or wind.

He was lighter as shadow.

The fortress entrance loomed ahead–its formations alive. Yet Kiaria passed through them without forming a ripple. The formations did not sense him.

Beyond the gate, the Dandelion Feather Land overwhelmed over the night’s darkness.

Golden dandelions glowed with soft radiance. White, silver, and rose-pink blooms shimmered beside them, illuminating the field like a quiet constellation scattered across the earth.

Kiaria crossed the land without letting them feel touching it.

He ran above the dandelions, his faded shadow-body skimming the air. Not a single petal trembled. Not one stem bent. Even the land itself seemed to hold its breath as he passed.

"Eyes of Insight."

His vision deepen and saw Spore Balls aligned as planned.

Kiaria stopped.

He knelt and placed his palm against the soil.

"Earth Elemental."

He whispered.

The land answered.

The land crest, the slow breathing of underground water, the patient shifting of roots and minerals–all of it rose into his awareness. The earth spoke not in words, but in truth.

"Shift."

The command flowed through the ground like a gentle tide.

Countless Spore Balls moved silently, their positions altered as the land itself adjusted its form–natural, seamless, unquestioned.

Kiaria lowered his head.

"Thank you."

Warmth bloomed beneath his palm–a quiet, approving response.

When he lifted his hand, something remained.

A seed.

Smal and heavy than other seeds.

A World Tree seed.

Kiaria did not recognized it. He placed his hand to the earth once more.

"Thank you for the gift. I accept it. I will keep it as a priceless treasure."

The warmth lingered–then faded.

He rose and returned the way he came, retracing his path through shadow and silence. At the fortress edge, his form solidified, the shadow peeling away as he resumed his Patron form.

In the next instant, space folded.

He appeared within the Miru Tribe’s tunnel.

Mimi felt him before anyone else.

Her breath caught. She tapped Geng’s shoulder. He turned–and froze.

"Greetings, Master."

Mimi dropped to her knees. Geng followed instantly. Both kowtowed, foreheads touching the stone.

"Rise," Kiaria said.

His voice was calm. Absolute.

"Mimi. Come here."

She obeyed without hesitation.

His gaze pierced her with Eyes of Insight.

"Your meridians are intact," he said. "But your spiritual energy gathering is weak. I will teach you a cultivation technique."

She stiffened, listening with everything she had.

"It will be rough. Painful. You must endure it to strengthen your physique and awaken your Earth Elemental Bloodline. What you saw–the tower I created–that was Earth Elemental power. Your bloodline also carries dormant Spatial ability."

Kiaria raised his hand.

A book manifested.

"This is the first volume of the Yaksha Spatial Technique. It is not forbidden, nor secret. Once learned, you will form a connection with the Yaksha tribe. But remember–do not rely solely on borrowed paths. In time, create your own skills."

He met her eyes.

"Spatial abilities integrate naturally with Earth techniques. Do not waste your talent. Only relentless effort will honor it."

Mimi accepted the book with trembling hands.

"Geng," Kiaria said.

Geng straightened.

"You are mortal and have never cultivated. Your meridians weakened with time. I will heal and reinforce them using my pressure. After the war, I will prepare what you need."

His gaze hardened slightly.

"Do not forget your duties. Both of you."

"Yes, Master!" they replied in unison.

But the tunnel was already empty.

Kiaria had vanished and returned to pseudo palace.