As Sein led the Magus Civilization legions toward Planet Aquaria, he first summoned Orric to his side.

Under Sein’s questioning, it soon became clear that Orric had indeed reached an agreement with the sea races of the Magus World, represented by White Stella.

Orric had persuaded White Stella to lead the sea race legions into this medium-sized star domain ahead of schedule, in exchange for relinquishing half of the Aquaria Star Domain’s total output for the next five thousand years. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

“Half the output?” Sein said, fixing Orric with a steady gaze. “Do you realize that even after the Aquaria Star Domain joins the Magus Alliance, it will still be required to pay a fixed quota of resources to the alliance every century?”

“I know,” Orric replied. “But what I fear more is Orven. Driven by desperation, he might commit unforgivable acts against the Aquaria Star Domain.”

“Planet Aquaria is exceptionally rich. Over the years, its total resource output has even surpassed that of the Shadowbat Civilization. The number of law-wielding beings on Planet Aquaria alone exceeds that of the Shadowbat Civilization. That is the most direct proof.

“If we can intercept Orven in time and prevent most of Planet Aquaria’s wealth from being drained away, then I won’t only fulfill every resource commitment made to the Magus Alliance and White Stella, but also ensure generous war compensation for you and the other Magus Civilization powerhouses,” Orric said, his tone firm and resolute.

Hearing this, Sein could not help but stare at the rough-looking Ocean King a few more times.

It had been some time since their last meeting, and Orric’s change was nothing short of dramatic.

Had his words from before finally reached this fellow?

Using resources and profit as leverage to forge ties with Magus Civilization powerhouses, securing both the early deployment of the sea races and the support of Sein’s forces...

If Orric’s plan succeeded and Orven was intercepted along with the bulk of Planet Aquaria’s wealth, the outcome would be several times better than simply allowing events to unfold.

Orric’s greatest fear now was that Orven would destroy the legacy accumulated by more than a dozen generations of Ocean Kings on Planet Aquaria. He might strip every plane in the Aquaria Star Domain bare, taking all those resources with him out of spite, leaving Orric with nothing but ruins.

Even if Orric later became the new Ocean King of the Aquaria Star Domain with the Magus Civilization’s backing, the crushing taxes and relentless resource extraction imposed by the Magus Alliance would be enough to break him.

Sein looked at the clearly more mature Orric and nodded in approval.

“Not bad. Not bad at all. You have grown quite a bit,” he said.

“Who taught you all this? And how did you come into contact with White Stella? Could it be that White Stella...” His voice trailed off, genuine curiosity showing through.

Orric smiled wryly. “Weren’t you the one who taught me all this, Mage Sein?”

“As for White Stella...” Orric shook his head. “She isn’t interested in me. I didn’t even see her when I went to subspace this time. I contacted her through a Rank Five sea race member from Magus World.

“That creature and I share a bit of a connection. I lent him a hand during a battle in the subspace, and we have worked together a few times since,” Orric replied honestly, hiding nothing from Sein.

“I see,” Sein replied, nodding in understanding. “The sea races of Magus World may not wield as much influence as knights or mages of the same rank, but they are native to Magus World. With their own overlords in command, they are more reliable than most alliance creatures.”

“Cultivate that relationship well. The more friends you have, the better you will fare within the Magus Alliance.” Sein patted Orric on the shoulder. Orric was bigger than Sein himself. Without body tempering experiments, Sein would have struggled to meet his gaze.

Orric gave him another wry smile. “I’m happy to make friends, but when it always revolves around interests, it just feels off.”

“Maybe I’m not cut out to be an Ocean King,” he admitted. “But for my father and my people, I’ll do my best to live up to that role.”

Sein nodded, giving him a firm double pat on the back without another word.

***

White Stella and her legions advanced from the Marvelous Plane battlefield, while Sein and his forces set off from the border of the Shadowbat Civilization’s star domain.

Caught between these two advancing fronts, it was easy to imagine the immense pressure bearing down on Orven and his men, who had only just withdrawn from the subspace battlefield.

At present, the largest force on Planet Aquaria still consisted of the star domain’s native legions. Roughly two-thirds of them were remnants that Orven had brought back.

The bastard certainly knew how to make a clean escape.

Marshal Rommel and many of the Gallant Federation’s generals had originally intended for the Aquarian legions to serve as a rearguard, burning away their last strength on the subspace battlefield.

Yet somehow, without violating any orders, Orven and his forces managed to slip away alongside the federation’s final evacuation convoy. They escaped the subspace battlefield just in time, fleeing the chaos.

But Orven’s return to Planet Aquaria brought little relief.

Within just a few years, the Magus Civilization’s legions swept through neighboring star domains, conquering everything in their path.

Not only did they swiftly eradicate the Gallant Federation’s remaining forces in subspace, but they also reclaimed the entire Shadowbat Star Domain in roughly two years.

And now, their next target was set squarely on the Aquaria Star Domain!

Over the years, several federal generals who had grown close to Orven advised him to abandon the Aquaria Star Domain and retreat with them to the Arid Expanse Worlds.

There, the Gallant Federation and the Grand Apocalypse World had already established extensive wartime fortifications. This was also the official directive they had received from federation’s military headquarters.

As for the assets on Planet Aquaria, they would naturally take everything with them!

The federation’s military had even dispatched specialized warships to mine Star Cores.

As long as Orven could leave with this enormous wealth, those commanders firmly believed he could rebuild his power anywhere.

Yet for Orven himself, abandoning his home planet in favor of the uncertain Arid Expanse Worlds was hardly an ideal choice.

The Aquaria Star Domain’s rich hydro elemental energy nurtured vast, thriving marine ecosystems. More than ninety percent of the complete planes within it were hydro-attribute.

Beyond those, there were even more hydro-attribute demiplanes and broken planes.

To leave this familiar aquatic environment for the Arid Expanse Worlds, a region dominated by deserts and arid climates?

Even if Orven himself could accept such a move, would his followers agree? Would the Rank Four and Rank Five creatures of Planet Aquaria be willing to follow?

And what of the countless billions of marine life scattered throughout the Aquaria Star Domain?

Would the defeated forces of Planet Aquaria truly abandon their homeland, forsake their kin and subjects, and follow their Ocean King into an unfamiliar star domain?

This was a harsh reality, framed as a question.

Yet regrettably, the Gallant Federation had no intention of considering Orven’s perspective, nor that of Planet Aquaria.