Chapter 669


    When faced with a decision between helping achieve a significant victory for Rutera and keeping his maximum power concealed, Anton hardly hesitated. Even if the enemy figured out exactly how his power worked, there was little they could do about it. Would they abandon their main and its defensive formations just to make him personally weaker? Certainly not. So when General Gabri asked him to pursue the Independence and the thief of Nicodemos cultivation, he happilyplied.


    As he approached his sun, his speed and eleration both became greater as his power and rate of replenishment both increased. He arrived not far behind the other two ships, which were maneuvering a significant distance from the actual sun. Both were able to draw in energy from that source, but as he got the Independence within his senses, Anton cut off the flow to its narrow portion of the sky. This was his greatest domain, and he could even turn the ship to ashes with little thought.


    Instead, he moved to board it. Slipping through a distorted hangar on its side was trivial, though the airlocks inside made him pause for a moment. He could easily melt them or tear them apart, but Rutera would rather reim their first gship intact. Or rtively intact. He could easily force the doors apart with maism, but it would be the same as any other method. But he did have some understanding of the possibilities. The door was held closed mainly by physical and technological locks. But a strong pulse should shut everything off.


    Anton just underestimated how much power he could wield here, even calling upon the features of Azun and not the local star specifically. An unfocused wave of maic energy disrupted the electronicponents of the whole ship- hopefully not causing permanent damage. At least it didnt seem to have extended in any significant measure to the Wayfarer.


    At least his excess made things easier. He easily flicked open the internal locks, and then moved down the corridor towards the most powerful individual. Along the way he was osted by numerous individuals and groups, but neither they nor the ship could stop him. He found the woman on the bridge, along with a number of other cultivators. This time, Anton made certain to restrain himself- but not in power. Instead, he just made use of Anish and the former Glorious me Pces techniques for burning only what he wished. In short, he avoided melting the bridge itself while sma arced off of him as he was surrounded with mes.


    The first weaker cultivator to attempt an approach died halfway to him- and the bridge wasnt of an inted size. Only the woman who had Nicodemos cultivation was actually able to approach, charging towards Anton with a de in hand. He felt the power behind the swing, but instead of dodging brought his hands up to catch her wrist and the de together.


    All this power, Anton shook his head, And you dont know how to use it, do you? What a waste. Anton <em>wanted</em> to turn her into a pile of ash, or at least char off her hands. Instead, he only burned away her external energy and just enough of her flesh that she could theoretically recover. Though she would die soon enough, he wanted the others to know he could be fair. You will all submit to capture or die. Those of you who have not engaged in cultivation theft may ransom your lives. Calling it Transferral was too generous, though he could understand why anyone who wanted to use it would have chosen the name.


    A few people either didnt believe him or thought he was bluffing somehow- perhaps they thought he used up all his power stopping their leader, or that she could still fight. She did technically still have energy inside her, but any time she tried to put it to use it would melt away. Nicodemo was below Anton in cultivation to begin with, and with the Independence out ofmission the bond was weak as well. Top that off with her not being familiar, and she simply couldnt match up. If only Anton could get the rest of the Transferall cultivators toe fight him here.


    -----


    Look what you did to the ship, Gabri shook her head as she idly pressed buttons on themand console. Nothing. Its gonna need all new wiring.


    I can melt it down for you, if you want, Anton grinned.


    She rolled her eyes. Obviously not. Thanks for getting it back mostly intact. And for catching <em>her</em>, Gabri referenced the woman who was taken away in the highest quality restraints. They managed to get her name first, Eyvor, but Gabri wasnt feeling to polite as to use it. I imagine we can learn a lot.


    I hope so, Anton said. Some sessful interrogation techniques had been developed, much more reliable and more ethical than simple torture. While it was impossible to get detailed information such as a cultivation technique, it was at least possible to learn general overviews of how things worked. Especially if there was a line of questioning that could be answered. Youre right, it does seem as if they dont inherentlye with the same proficiency to go along with the power.


    And I have suspicion of something else. That Aoibhin, she was a big problem, yeah? Anton nodded along, prompting general Gabri to continue. Well, Im not saying I could take her on anytime soon but I have the feeling she wasnt that great, yeah?


    What do you mean?


    How long have you been cultivating for? Three centuries now?


    Two and a third, Anton said. I didnt start till I was a hundred.


    Right, thats the number I was thinking of. And youve been in Assimtion for, a century or so. Anton nodded. Youre said to be quite talented, but we can at least use you as aparison point. Along with those in the upper realms. Assimtion and Integration seem to grow stronger at simr rates. What Im trying to say is she took some Trigold Cluster fools cultivation, right? Must have been in Integration or she would have to have ascended, plus otherwise the effort wouldnt have been relevant. So there was already a start there, add on another couple centuries, since that was thest full cycle as far as we know. And Aoibhin is still just trouble for the Wayfarer. You get what Im saying?


    You believe her cultivation was stunted. Slowed or stopped.


    Something like that, Gabri said. And while we dont have Aoibhin here, we can still ask someone who might know if thats a feature. I suppose we can also find what happened to Nicodemo, but I assume if were lucky hes in a hole in the ground, properly buried. Cant imagine anyone surviving, or keeping them around if they did.


    Anton nodded. Lets hope we can find something useful. Though it may note into y before the assault. Until then I could push this ship into a nice orbit around the sun, if youd like.


    You can? That would help immensely. I was trying not to think about how wed nudge it around with fighters and the like. Because we cant just let it drift off or fall in.


    It is within my power, Anton said. Especially here.


    Gotta get me a sun, Gabri grinned.


    As long as you dont mind being charcoal, go ahead and try. Though I cant say the results will turn out in your favor.


    Im not a fire cultivator anyway, she admitted. Nor am I a capital ship kinda gal. I dont think I could ever be Nicodemo.


    Maybe bond to a whole fleet, then. Ships or people, whatever makes more sense.


    I- Gabri blinked. I hadnt seriously considered that. How much does a consultation like this normally cost?


    The life of a loved one, I guess, Anton shrugged. But you can pay me back with two more Assimtion cultivators. Or some equivalent. Either way, I dont think youll have a chance before the assault. Dont rush it.


    She nodded, Youre probably right. But its nice to see the potential paths open up. Howd you know that?


    I know everyone above Life Transformation, Anton said. And I know Vincent better. He bonded with a great portion of our sect, and could likely guide you in better detail should you proceed down that route. And dont worry, the only real payment I want is you doing your best to improve the general standard of life. Help others. That sort of thing.


    No wonder youre not the richest man in the whole Alliance.


    Not sure about that, Anton said, thinking of his bow. Though Everheart hadnt been great for the sects finances, without even considering his contributions to the war this particr bow might have been worth it. It was basically a bribe to stop mutual destruction when they first met, but Anton still treasured it. And if the guy ever came back he was going to be punched in the face or shot with the bow. Or both.


    -----


    Leaving the warm embrace of a star drained Anton, even if in truth he was only returning to a more reasonable level of power. But power was only valuable if he could use it, and Anton couldntunch attacks from anywhere in a system yet. Even if he could, it might lose potency as it left the stars proximity, even if he himself remained there. A question to resolve at a higher realm of cultivation, he supposed. But he wouldnt have to think about that for a century or more, so he put that aside.


    For the moment, he had to deal with the immediate future- which included retrieving Annelie. His monitoring of the situation at the Northern cier Sect found her still alive, but he couldnt do much more than that with the barrier in ce. But with recent victories, the confidence of the Trifold Alliance was high, and they were willing tomit to greater moves. There were many others than just Annelie to get back. While they had noble intentions to sacrifice for others, theplements of void ants should have let many of them retain their lives instead. It was only appropriate, given how Ekict hadnt intended to follow through on their end.


    There was a tingling thought at the back of Antons mind about that. It was odd that so many had gone through with it but it was what it was, and at least they could try to save as many as possible still.


    This time Anton wouldnt be passing through the barrier. They didnt intend to let it close up anyway, since they were nning on a speedy retrieval, but he would feel morefortable remaining above. And what was a few dozen kilometers of atmosphere to him anyway? Yes, better to simply attack from the far side of the barrier and contribute to keeping it open. The formation masters were confident it wouldnt be able to manage their simultaneous attacks, though it was unlikely they could permanently topple the barrier today.


    When the time came, Anton started off with some Ascension energy. On its own it was not enough to break the barrier, but he had dozens of ships and Life Transformation cultivators with him, as well as Naid Conaire. The formation master was not him for the sake ofbat prowess, but because the Northern cier Sect held one of the key points of the global formation, and the chance to weaken or destroy it was quite valuable.


    The barrier bowed then tore open as Anton sensed others around the doing the same. Ships and cultivators tearing through the barriers. With the barrier opened, they were free to move.


    Anton immediately got a clearer sense of things. The Northern cier Sect had their own barriers, but they were hardly relevant. I dont sense Nurcan, Anton informed the others. Strongest opponents should be Life Transformation, but maintain caution. While Anton very much wanted to kill the woman who was one of the coordinating efforts, he was more interested in retrieving Annelie first.


    She seemed to have sensed the iing attack- along with literally everyone else. Anton felt her power re, and- morbidly- focused his senses on her to make sure it really <em>was</em> his granddaughter. He breathed a sigh of relief to feel her face, and the little pockets of nothing that signaled thepanions sent with her. It took no time at all for her to break out of the prison area she had been staying in for whatever reason and then she was heading towards other buildings. Not a treasury, but a library. A good head. Anton was going to have to direct someone with storage bags towards her position, though.


    As for helping her along the way, she was quite capable of dominating most opponents. But she would eventually grow tired, so Anton took the opportunity to snipe about half of those on her path, and others who seemed to be thinking about interfering. He continued to keep half his attention on her while he aided the rest of the battlefield and asionallyunched attacks at the barrier trying to repair itself.