Sacrifice: Time of Mine

Before Old Mayton lost control of his elesp, Arcansas looked down upon the Rank Es Elementalists.

The first-ever Rank Eses ascended.

At least, to the best of their knowledge.

Gamon, Old Maytan, and the rest of the Rank Es Elementalists felt both nostalgia and fear.

Nostalgia because, in Flasse, hierarchy is prominent. The phrase "there is always someone better" can be both true and false. The gap each rank is so wide that even strong Rank Bihs cannot compare to Rank Eys. A greater rank means a higher position. From birth, how many times does a person have to go through bowing their heads until they get to the very peak, Rank Es?

Fear because even though they have reached the very peak, Rank Es, they felt nostalgic, the memory of being inferior. An emotion that could only be felt by those Rank Ey and below.

Rank Eses... this is the real deal. As long as no second Rank Eses ascends, this person will rule over the world for countless generations while keeping an eye on the Rank Es Elementalists with the potential to ascend.

'Is this it?' the other family heads already lost all hope before they even fought.

Arcansas turned her head around. This action alone made the others flinch.

"Quiare, are you the Matriarch?" her voice banged like war drums.

"Yes, Queen. However, I shall return the position to you."

Striding in the air as if there was ground, Quiare proudly passed through the other family heads and their elders who had darkened faces. Before her queen, the matriarch kneeled down once more.

"Hm? These are the children from the Wrenwor, Freyor, and Sharya Family, correct?"

"Yes, Queen."

"From the situation, it seemed like they are a bit too late in stopping my ascension. A very wonderful job in protecting me, Quiare, for that, you shall keep your matriarchy."

"Ah... yes, Queen."

Quiare hesitated a little, thinking that being a matriarch would mean that her position will be higher than Arcansas. However, now that their Queen had reached Rank Eses, position means nothing.

With her head tilted up, Arcansas felt her own power. She was filled to the brim. This was her peak.

"I am feeling Haliviana's presence..."

After she spread her energy, she touched upon Haliviana's cocooned aura.

Arcansas' eyes rolled towards Gamon who held Haliviana's core.

"Hmph!" Gamon could only accept defeat.

While there was the pause earlier, he had already inspected Arcansas' power. And until now, he could not see the end of it.

'Even all of us here turned against her, we could only tire her out.'

So when he felt Arcansas' intentions, he didn't hesitate to throw the core towards the fiery maiden.

Swoosh*

As if she expected it, Arcansas caught the core that was thrown in a flash.

"Haliviana, I've won."

She smiled.

The situation had yet to sink in for Quiare and her fellow clansmen. This was so surreal.

'This is it. We've won. The Crome Family will now rule over the world.'

"Quiare, what's the situation of Flasse. Is there an ongoing war?" Arcansa only looked at Haliviana's core with fascination.

"War...? Yes, Queen. There is a new rising genius called the Great Darea, titled, the Conqueress. In just the past decades, she had conquered three continents and she just killed God Centre. Mea-"

"Killed God Centre?" Arcansas showed shock.

"Yes, Queen. That is why her army is in the middle of taking the Centre Continent. However, learning from our spies in the Centre Continent, the Conqueress' army suddenly took a sharp turn towards us. We are just waiting for the Shoreland's message."

At this moment, the anxious Rossiya from Shimeshemat Shoreland finally stepped forward and abruptly added.

"Um, actually! Yesterday, the Conqueress's army had already reached the Shoreland."

"... who are you?" Matriarch Quiare asked.

"Ah... I apologize!" Rossiya timidly bowed her head and introduced herself, "My name is Rossiya Merkas from the Merkas Supreme Royal Family in the Shimshemat Shoreland. I was sent here yesterday to get reinforcements!"

After her words, Rossiya didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

'I've finally said it... but it's already too late...!'

Meanwhile, the others didn't have the mood to comment about her strange behavior except for the elated Matriarch.

'Didn't she already arrived here yesterday?... Well, we don't really care what happens to the Shoreland. If they blamed us, we can just pin it on their weird messenger for reporting it late.'

"So it had only begun..." Arcansas muttered before turning her head towards the underground laboratory she came from. At that moment, she saw an interesting couple within a World Barrier Elesp.

With her newfound powers, she found the link between Old Maytan and the barrier. With just a little input of Fire Elemental Energy, she disrupted the old man's focus and the barrier disappeared.

"You, put energy in this thing."

Arcansas pointed at Alisera who just stood up while pulling Avion up.

In front of this, the princess whispered to Avion.

"I got this."

While the other Rank Es Elementalists were confused about what Arcansas just said, Alisera then said.

"A..." she was about to open her mouth but she hesitated before continuing, "Fire woman! You need me to put energy in Haliviana's core?"

"Her name's Arcansas, Alisera." Avion whispered back.

Alisera frowned as he glanced at him, "I-I know that...!"

'I guess she really hadn't change much.' Avion internally commented, 'Old habit die hard. But, still, she is on her way of this change.'

"Yes, little girl." Arcansas continued which shocked everyone.

"I want you to complete Haliviana's ascension."

"Queen!?" Matriarch Quiare exclaimed in shock as she doesn't understand why Arcansas would want this.

"Be quiet, dear. I know what I am doing." Arcansas didn't even bat an eye to her.

"Sure, I will. However," Alisera confidently placed a payment, "I want you to bring us to the Lord Sorcerer!'

"..." Avion was taken aback by the princess' words.

"The Lord Sorcerer?" Arcansas raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, he is the-"

"I know who he is." the queen interrupted the princess.

"But sure. I will bring you to him if you put all of your energy in this."

Arcansas hovered over to Alisera and handed Haliviana's core.