Alarak’s action arouse a wave of comments among the spectators.

Nuroka was obviously pissed off, which the exact opposite to Guraj’s reaction.

As soon as Alarak declared his allegiance, his units responded quickly. They weren’t notified of the plan, but that didn’t stop them from following the footsteps of their leader and turning on the forces of Nuroka and Zenish.

Previously in the battle against Guraj Alarak’s forces had been mixed up with that of Nuroka and Zenish. When they all of a sudden turned, they managed to cut their former allies apart.

Nuroka’s forces suffered heavy losses. They were already weakened from the clash with Guraj’s forces. Their formation was broken, and they didn’t expect Alarak’s forces to all of a sudden turn on them. Some of the zealots in the back didn’t even activate their shields. They were the first to fall.

“Alarak!” Nuroka screamed. Zenish’s death and the rapid decrease in the units supporting him lowered the psi aid he received. On the contrary, Alarak and his units pledged their allegiance to Guraj, granting her extra psi power. This helped the psionically weaker Guraj to get out of danger and even push Nuroka back. “You will suffer for this!”

A small group of Nuroka zealots came together under the command of a lower ascendant. They made an attempt to rally more friendly units, but they never got far. Alarak charged into them and unleashed his psionic energy. When the crimson psi energy faded away, the group was gone.

Noticing Nurota’s threat, Alarak smiled wickedly. Guraj’s units were pushing in the front while his units were hitting from the back. Nuroka’s forces were cut off into small pieces and swallowed up one by one. His chance of living through this would be...pretty low.

In the air Nuroka’s mothership was now in distress. The flagship of the ascendant was surrounded and besieged by Alarak’s destroyers. When he pretended to be a friend Alarak had sneakily positioned his destroyers next to Nuroka’s motherships and carriers. Nuroka didn’t think something of it. When the backstab was done, the destroyers turned on the armored capital ships at once.

In a fair fight the mothership and the carriers could wipe out the destroyers before they even got close enough to open fire. The abilities on the mothership could make sure the distance from the carriers opening fire to the destroyers opening fire take a decade. The interceptors could overwhelm the anti-armor vessels.

But this wasn’t a fair fight. In fact, nothing about this fight was fair. Nuroka’s forces were in utter confusion while Alarak’s reacted quickly. The destroyers were designed to take down capital ships. They were so close the destroyer pilots could hit their target with their eyes closed. The interceptors of the carriers were all in the front. The energy and the shield of the mothership was depleted.

When the mothership hit the ground in a brilliant explosion of red flares, Nuroka knew he was lost.

…

Among the audiences, Ji’nara stood in awe as the Fourth Ascendant carried out his plan with complete success.

Ji’nara knew the situation was great for Alarak. In fact, she had seen things most other tal’darim had failed to see.

Guraj’s forces were heavily damaged when the combined forces of Alarak, Nuroka, and Zenish attacked. Zenish was dead and his forces perished. Nuroka was still alive, but not for long.

When all was over, Guraj and Alarak would be the top two ascendants left. Guraj would become the Highlord, but her forces would be much weaker. Alarak would be the First Ascendant and below Guraj, but his forces would be the strongest among all the ascendants. He could take the place of th Highlord whenever he wanted to.

Ji’nara had to admire Alarak’s ability to use conspiracies to his advantage. The way he earned Nuroka’s trust and then betrayed him was just pure clever. Alarak chose the specific time when Nuroka was occupied fighting Guraj when he stepped in. Nuroka was in distress, and a chance of salvation was enough to make him ignore the possible conspiracies behind this.

When Guraj was on the brink of destruction Alarak turned and executed Zenish. He chose the exact time when Guraj had suffered heavy losses but before she was killed. The betrayal would likely leave Nuroka defeated and dead and his forces gone. Guraj might be the Highlord, but Alarak was the real winner.

But as far as Ji’nara admired Alarak, she needed to think for herself. If she did nothing, she would become the Third Ascendant, and the second when Alarak eventually took down Guraj, but why would she stop at being the third when she could be the second immediately?

She glanced at Nyon.

“Are you sure you want to stay out of this? WIth this victory Alarak will be the strongest of us all. There will be no challenging him anymore.” She provoked.

Nyon tapped his chin with his metal armor protected finger. “Don’t play your tricks on me. Alarak poses no threat. Not anymore.”

Ji’nara’s eyes widened. Nyon was oddly confident, which meant he either had too much terrazine or he had something planned. She decided to push a little further and see if she could get any attention.

“Careful, ascendant. Alarak is higher on the chain. He will not be happy if he heard what you said.” She said on purpose.

Nyon smirked. “I told you. Don’t play your games. I am beyond that point.”

“I don’t understand.” Ji’nara played dumb.

Nyon leaned closer to Ji’nara and stared into her eyes. “You want to provoke a fight between me and Alarak. Whoever the victor is, you’ll rise higher.” Ji’nara didn’t say anything. Nyon sat back.

“Ascendant.” He ordered, and an ascendant under Nyon stepped up. “Where is my fleet?”

The ascendant glanced at Ji’nara as if asking whether or not she should say this before Ji’nara. Nyon insisted, and the ascendant finally spoke.

“My lord, your fleet is ready for combat. All forty ships can jump in at your command.”

Ji’nara frowned. Forty? Even Ma’lash’s fleet had around that ship count. The three players of this game of Rak’shir each had around two dozen ships. Where did Nyon get his forty ships? He must be bluffing.

“You think I’m bluffing.” Nyon spoke, and Ji’nara frowned. How did he know what she was thinking.

Nyon had no intention of solving Ji’nara’s confusion. The Assistant had developed a helpful trick. She created profiles on different individuals and simulated the response these individuals would give when facing certain situations. Simulations showed Ji’nara would doubt his words if he gave no proof.

It was fine. Nyon didn’t need Ji’nara’s forces anyways. Her one carrier and two destroyers were nothing. He just needed an audience to observe his rise to power.

“Stay here and observe, and your doubt will be answered. You will learn what is the right thing to do.” The duel was reaching an end, and Nyon knew his stage was set. He stood up and turned to the zealots around. “Keep her here.”

Ji’nara stood up, insulted. “You dare imprison me? What is my crime?” A higher ascendant could only punish a lower ascendant if the latter showed disrespect. But as soon as she stood up twenty zealots around her ignited their blades threateningly. The wave of red told Ji’nara she should sit down, which she did.

“You should thank me, Ji’nara.” Nyon paused on his way to the pit. “You are much more fortunate than those fools down there.”