It was a difficult decision, not going around and simply destroying every member of the Twin Soul Sect who had wormed their way among the people living on In’istra. However, that would only be a short term solution. If somehow Anton missed any they could rebuild. And during the next cycle, In’istra might just have more infiltrators. He couldn’t just go around eradicating every problem and assuming things would be alright from then on. No, the people needed to be built up to handle things on their own.

But it sure was difficult with a place as desolate as this. Cleaning up the area after the invasion was an ongoing and slow process, with little motivation. They didn’t need the space- there were enough deaths that they weren’t hard pressed to replace buildings. It just looked bad, and would remind them of what happened. That part was actually good… if the history didn’t get twisted.

That was another reason Anton didn’t just kill all of the Twin Soul Sect. Here, he could watch them and how they worked. He didn’t enjoy allowing the people to be test subjects, but he had enough reason to leave the problem for the moment that he had to deal with those feelings.

After two months, Varghese had fully formed the first star, taking his first real step as a cultivator. That wasn’t particularly quick, but he also wasn’t in any rush. He had family and work to deal with, and though Anton made him cultivate even during manual labor the young man didn’t suddenly no longer need to work. Nor had his performance yet increased to the point he could do the same work in a significantly reduced time and ask for a higher pay. So for those two months, things had been hard. He’d only just begun to actually grasp reading.

“Master Anton…” Varghese said dejectedly. “Have I actually grown over these past two months?”

“I will answer your question with another. How long did it take you to get up here?” Anton gestured around him at the same empty rooftop.

“I don’t know,” Varghese admitted. “A minute or two?”

“Was it difficult?”

“Not particularly. But I could do it from the beginning.”

“Did you use natural energy?” Anton asked.

“Well, no,” Varghese admitted. “I’ve been saving it to temper my body, but I’m unsure how much it helps.”

Anton shook his head, “In that case, I would suggest paying more attention to such things. Come, I’ll give you some tests of strength so you can know for certain how much you’ve grown.” Sometimes, Anton forgot that people could be young. As someone who could not quite be called a full man, Varghese had probably been changing constantly for the past years but if he wasn’t tracking that he might not notice. Different students needed different methods.

After the tests, mostly pointless but clear measurements like how much weight he could lift, Varghese frowned. “Master. How come you haven’t taught me how to fight?”

Anton frowned, “Do you want to fight?”

“Of course, isn’t that what cultivators do?”

Anton sighed, “I will admit that is often the first focus of those who gain strength. But not all of it has to be used for martial prowess. On the other hand, now that you have a clear aura of natural energy about you, any other cultivators will expect you to be capable. So I will teach you about combat. Where did you get your sword?”

“... I found it,” Varghese said defensively.

“I was just wondering if it meant anything. Do you know how to use it? Have you tested your aptitude with various weapons?”

“I’ve got some experience with the sword,” he said.

Anton had the feeling the sword meant more to him than just something he found. Perhaps it was from dead family, or a friend. Or maybe it was just a symbol of strength he was lacking. “Weapons training will take time. In addition, I’ll need to be certain you will use the knowledge appropriately.”

“Are other cultivation masters so… particular?”

“All the sensible ones,” Anton replied.

-----

“Yeah, I don’t care how you use this,” Everheart admitted. “I mean obviously it will be against the Harmonious Citadel, but you can use a lot of this stuff against others.”

Vari nodded seriously. “I will properly respect the power I have.”

“I just said you don’t have to do that. The only thing I expect from you is to cover up any flaws you find.”

“That’s… I cannot comprehend any flaws in them.”

“Sure, not now. But you’re young still. You might find the flaws eventually.”

“Why not teach me without the flaws, then?”

Everheart clicked his tongue and leaned in conspiratorially. “Here’s a secret. I’m not actually perfect. As far as I know everything I use is without flaws. And then I always improve and find a flaw in previously perfect fighting styles. Or worse… someone else finds the flaws.” Everheart made a face. “That kid Anton did that an annoying number of times. And at least in terms of archery, he vastly surpasses my understanding. Speaking of which, don’t make that guy mad if you’re planning to be anywhere in the lower realms. The range he has…” Everheart shook his head. “I mean, I can cover the distance in a few hops, but I’d never match him at a distance. Without formations.”

Vari hung her head. “I’m sorry to say I have little talent in that regard.”

“That’s fine,” Everheart shrugged, “Honestly I could do without the competition. I already have to worry about Catarina. A person that young should not be covering a whole planet with formations laced in sub-runes. It’s totally unfair.” Then Everheart grinned, “But I guess that’s all due to me being such an amazing teacher.”

Vari kept her reaction to that internal. Everheart had great understanding, and could spot flaws well enough that she could correct mistakes. But a good teacher? That was debatable.

“When are we going to make our attack?” Vari asked.

“Unfortunately, we have to wait. We can’t just go to Rouhiri and expect to take the guy out. But it won’t be long.”

So anywhere between a week and, what, a decade? Vari knew Everheart had a skewed sense of time. “I’ll be waiting.” She did want revenge. But she also wanted the opportunity for her allies to make some progress in the war.

-----

In the void of space, upon an unassuming asteroid, sat a man who was amazingly young for his level of power. Personal power, at least. Tauno Heinonen could be considered influential in the Scarlet Midfields, but only by those who knew he existed. And even then, he’d only recently grown into his power as an Augmentation cultivator. If he had been an Augmentation cultivator a few centuries ago, then the Dancing Slayer Sect would probably still exist. Though to be fair, they still sort of existed. They had simply folded into the banner of the Dark Ring, where they nursed their wounds and were raising new generations of disciples for the time they could once again claim territory.

Xankeshan was a great boon in that regard. Though nothing was truly unassailable, the planet served as enough of a deterrent that many people were able to live there in peace, instead of being constrained to remote asteroids like Tauno. He could go there- but if the Harmonious Citadel caught wind of his life and current strength, they would seek to annihilate him. So he trained patiently, and waited.

Today was a good day, as he had a visitor.

“Sect Head,” a pleasant woman inclined her head as she approached from the ship that landed on the other side of the asteroid that was only a few kilometers across. “I come bearing news.”

“Oh?” he raised an eyebrow. “Not just making sure you haven’t lost me?”

She didn’t respond to that, instead continuing with her official duties. “Word comes from the alliance that there is going to be an attack on the Harmonious Citadel. We plan to launch an offensive of our own, occurring more or less simultaneously. At least, before they can react.”

“And who can be launching such an attack?” Tauno asked. “I don’t know of many sects with Augmentation cultivators, not nearby or willing to join. Could it be they have angered the Trigold Cluster somehow?” He shook his head, “No, in that case we would not need to act.”

“It’s Everheart, Sect Head,” the woman explained. That alone was sufficient.

“I see. The only reservation I have is… actually presuming we can predict Everheart’s actions.”

“We have a reliable source, though I am unaware of the details,” the woman explained. “It is also my understanding that we will not be launching truly simultaneous attacks. We have an advantage in communication speed due to the Formation Grandmaster. Once we hear of Everheart’s attack, we can be confident in making another strike. With losses in two areas, the Harmonious Citadel should be less able to retaliate as they wish.”

“And if there’s no attack…?”

“It is my understanding that we would simply withdraw. It would come with some risk of revealing Augmentation cultivators, but Everheart seems to have a grudge with the Harmonious Citadel.”

“Who doesn’t? And the other way around.”

“Our alliance is presumed to not be on the top of his grudge list,” the woman stated.

“That’ll have to suffice,” Tauno nodded. “Am I planned to return with you?”

“You will be taken to an outlying base. Less obscure, but sufficiently secret.”

Tauno followed her back to the ship, where he noticed something. “The design of this vessel is strange.”

“It has been augmented with Technology from the lower realms. Rouhiri, specifically. I have only heard that such modifications come with an increase in efficiency. Five or ten percent, at least by the numbers I heard.”

“Hmm,” Tauno stroked his chin. “It’s a strange design. However, if it is reliable and comes with no drop in power, it’s actually quite remarkable.”

“Their vessels require more maintenance, but those who are versed in such things indicate they are ultimately superior. Though they still rely on the power of traditional formations, the designs can vary significantly and work towards specialized purposes.”

-----

Catarina wished this war could wait a decade or two. Engineer Uzun had barely begun his work! Given sufficient time, their fleets could significantly change the balance of the war. In addition, though the Harmonious Citadel was constantly spreading, it was actually slowing its overall growth, while Xankeshan and the alliance were accelerating their pace of growth. They even had gotten in contact with individuals from the lower realms, and while the cultivators from Doruma were not a large sect, each ascender was another Integration cultivator, and those could not be discounted.

It was just difficult getting in touch with them. Anton and others would be getting in contact with further groups, improving their alliance through diplomacy rather than having to raise new members.

So if the war would just wait ten or twenty years before reaching its peak, then-

The door swung open, revealing Chidi. “You sound like you’re thinking hard.”

“What does that sound like?” Catarina asked.

“Your breathing becomes slow, and your head muscles tense up.”

“My face?” Catarina asked. She supposed she could have been frowning.

“Not just that,” Chidi said. “Around the neck, and even your ears and stuff.”

“How can you hear all that?” Catarina asked.

Chidi shrugged, “Spikes can. She knows when the pups have strained a muscle even if they don’t walk with a limp. I can hear it now, a little bit.” He held up his fingers, waggling them. Then he flexed his arm. “Hear that?”

“Not really,” Catarina admitted. “Try asking auntie Alva about things like that. She’s trained her senses better. She might even have some hints for you.” Unfortunately, sight was always going to be Alva’s primary sense. “I do have some work to do.”

“Okay, I was just stopping by to say high. Go back to your thinking stuff,” Chidi waved.

Yes, her thinking stuff. It was too bad the war couldn’t wait. Actually, Catarina changed her mind. This was the best timing they could hope for, now. Unless they could wait a full century.