'So they started it' Pef concluded inward as he arrived in the Indigo Realm, now transformed into the Legion's headquarters. Four hundred Legion Capitans and Colonels were already gathered at their combat stations, and more were arriving every second. Mostly In Avatar form, as they were rather busy fighting the Honey War in a distant Starfield.

'It was inevitable. Two tigers, one mountain.' the glove answered with a slightly ironical tone.

As if by accident, a certain White Tiger shifted realms and appeared beside Pef. Pef sighed inward and patted the old Godbeast on his head.

"The Heavenly Edict has spread to the Cloud Province too. We are declared rebles and heretics..." the tiger spoke with a rumbling tone, perhaps a bit annoyed by the human touching his head in such a irreverent way. Then again, the mighty tiger didn't want to become stew, so he wisely didn't comment on that.

Pef hummed audibly, while mentally scrolling through the glove's combat scenarios. It was also pointless to consider conventional war. Armies and regiments, war formations and universe-scale spells? What for? The Legion was fine fighting in the Bee Starfield and training the troops against nigh-unlimited bees.

The General's Avatar formed from a jade crystal and held a hand up to gather attention. "This isn't a fight for the Legion. Then again, I believe we won't be needed anyway. Right, Pef Xi?" the woman asked in a relaxed voice.

Pef nodded calmly, and waved his left hand to the side, producing a gigantic tower-shaped Artifact, surrounded by a golden halo. Its pressure caused the Indigo Realm of the Seven Color Pagoda to waver and buckle, as if the two Artifacts were contesting the same space.

"That's their Mercy Seat, General. There should be an actual armchair inside..." he explained in low-key tone, as if he hadn't just stolen the means to control the entire Middle Heavens.

The White Tiger blinked, suddenly not bothered by the hand resting on his head. His eyes focused on the General, awaiting her decision.

"I see. Perhaps I may eventually promote you, Pef Xi..." The General murmured in a barely audible voice as she entered the golden-glowing tower.

Pef shrugged, entirely unconcerned. It wasn't like he needed or wanted a higher rank in the Veritas Legion. His glove already had any and all commands codes he could want. As if he wanted even more power...

In a few seconds, the Artifact's pressure diminished and the spatial waves stopped.

"I've locked all the Junction Platforms, and cancelled the Heavenly Edict. Now the Authorities..." the General spoke from inside the Mercy Seat.

Time ticked slowly, as the General fought over the control of the Throne Authorities with the current Mercy Emperor. Still, seeing as their control ultimately derived from the possession of the ancient Artifact, the battle was already won. Only the exact moment of victory was left to decide.

"And done. 521 of them are under my control. Two Authorities are still missing, last spotted in the company of the Mercy Emperor. I'd guess he had another method of controlling them. Pef, be so kind and locate those three before they blow something up my new domain." the General asked from the Mercy Seat.

Pef frowned then stepped away, returning to the Violet Realm and his dangerous prisoner.

"Old Queen, the Mercy War has begun. The Mercy Emperor and two of his Authorities have escaped and are now on the run." he said in a level voice.

The old beast approached Pef slowly, her prismatic eyes measuring Pef with curiosity and calm rage.

"What do you wish of me, cricket? Will you send them here, so I can defeat them for you?" the old bee asked in a painful buzz.

"Old Queen, stop being so limited. Once the Mercy Seat falls, I will obtain a way and depart towards the High Heavens. You can join me." he said in a calm tone, even as the deadly bee entered lethal range, and stood face to face with him.

The words seemed to impact the Old Bee Queen very strongly, as her killing intent almost vanished. Almost.

"Do you? I have seen millions of these Bronze Realm cultivators try to Ascend...only five had done so, in all my life. Your divine cookies cannot..."

"Correct. If it was a question of Ascending, I wouldn't try it, not for a million Chaos Cycles. As for my Cooking, it is also not advanced enough to cross into Iron Realm, and will probably never do so, here. Even your precious honey is too low level to help." Pef answered in a sad voice, as he took out a bowl of Royal Honey and offered it directly to the Queen Bee.

The old bee took the metal bowl and sipped some honey, while searching Pef with her senses. In a minute, her eyes focused on his belt, where a strange Artifact resisted even her advanced senses. "You have something, cricket. Maybe a legacy insignia from one of the High Houses? Will they send an Emissary here to collect you?"

Pef smiled a bit sad. The Old Bee had seen enough in her long life to hit close to home, even without actual information.

"Something of that nature. Now, do you think you can control your base instincts and pretend you are my pet beast, until we reach there?"

A venomous sting sprang out from the Old Queen, reeking of Death and Venom Qi.

"You are insanely brave, human. A scratch from my sting and your insides would melt..."

"Good. I expect the Mercy Emperor will have many life-saving Artifacts on him, plus a large number of Dao Merit. I'll bring my two other beasts for this hunt." Pef replied curtly, as he Recalled the White Tiger and the Taotie to his position.

"Pef, what are we doing here?" the Taotie wondered as he eyed the old bee cautiously. Although its abilities were different, the Bee Queen was quite formidable.

"I found a new pet. My Queen Bee will help us fight the Mercy Seat." Pef declared in a joking tone, then jumped onto the Old Queen's back as if riding any normal beast.

The White Tiger sniffed the air and glanced sadly at Pef, as if expecting the idiot to die very soon.

Instead the Bee Queen shifted awkwardly, since nobody had ever used her as a mount before.

The Taotie grinned widely. His Master was ever a surprising man. "Can't wait to see what stupid stunts you pull in the High Heavens, Master."

Pef smirked knowingly. "At least they won't kick me out, like they kicked you."

"Let's just go kill something already." the Bee Queen demanded as the idiots were making her feel weird already. Who gets kicked from the High Heavens anyway?

"I'm not with them..." the White Tiger argued without much energy.

The Violet Realm shifted, as three beasts and an idiot vanished.