The voice that echoed through the space belonged to none other than the Sentinel Overlord, the strongest member of the entire Sentinel Order.
His words carried such authority that even the raging clamor of the battlefield fell silent.
"Young Tritos, why don't you let Mahoraga's soul return to him for now?"
With those words, the ancient tome's dark hold shattered. The pressure binding Mahoraga vanished, and his soul snapped back into place. He staggered briefly, drawing in deep breaths as the crushing force lifted.
Tritos hadn't expected the Sentinel Overlord to intervene so directly. A brief flash of surprise crossed his face before he concealed it. Still, the Overlord's presence had completely shifted the balance of the confrontation.
Though Tritos had grown immensely powerful, he knew better than anyone that he still couldn't compare to beings like the Overlords themselves.
He was also painfully aware that he hadn't reached the level of the Sentinel Overlord's First or Second Disciples, individuals who stood as the strongest beings just below the Overlord.
Even now, Tritos wasn't confident he could defeat the Second Disciple, let alone the First, whom the Sentinel Overlord was grooming as his successor.
The reason the Fiend Race had dared to send so many Fiend Sovereigns into Sentinel Territory was precisely because of the severity of the Bloodline Realm's significance, coupled with the emergence of the Holy Child of Fate.
If they could deal with both at once, even at the cost of several Fiend Sovereigns, the Fiend Race deemed it worthwhile.
Maintaining a respectful yet firm tone, Tritos spoke once more.
"Sentinel Overlord, we are here only for the Bloodline Realm. If it is handed over, Lord Bazil is willing to transfer control of the Artifact Realm in exchange."
The Sentinel Overlord replied calmly, his voice laced with faint amusement.
"Oh? The Artifact Realm? How generous of Bazil, offering an already explored realm in return for a newly unsealed one."
Tritos remained silent.
He knew the offer was far from fair. But it was the only Gated Hidden Realm the Fiend Race controlled that could even remotely match the importance of the Bloodline Realm.
Just as the Frame Realm was under Sentinels' control, granting them the immense power of Frames, the Artifact Realm was the Fiend Race's greatest asset, providing them with artifacts so potent that even the Sentinels could not easily contend with.
But now, they were willing to part with it for the sake of the Bloodline Realm.
Tritos believed the Sentinel Overlord wouldn't reject the offer outright. Doing so would almost certainly ignite a full-fledged war between the two sides.
Silence followed. After a long pause, the Sentinel Overlord finally spoke.
"Handing it over entirely isn't feasible. However, since it has come to this… we can allow youngsters from both sides to enter the Bloodline Realm. Whoever is capable may claim whatever treasures lie within.
In return, we want access to the Artifact Realm, and you Fiends have to forgo the upcoming Galactic Siege. What do you say, Young Tritos?"
He hadn't expected the Sentinel Overlord to concede so readily. He had anticipated resistance, even outright refusal.
The proposal to share access to Hidden Realms was something Tritos had foreseen. But the demand regarding the Galactic Siege caught him off guard.
A Galactic Siege took place once every century. It was a rather large-scale war fought by the new generation of both Fiends and Sentinels to determine control over newly assimilated Galactic Clusters.
Over billions of years, it had become a grim tradition. One that decided the fate of nearly fifty Galactic Clusters every century.
Forgoing the next Galactic Siege would mean those clusters would automatically fall under Sentinel control. Given that nearly half of the Universe was already under Fiend dominion, the loss seemed insignificant on the surface.
But Tritos knew better. This wasn't about the Galactic Clusters. It wasn't even about the Siege itself.
The Sentinel Overlord wouldn't make such a demand without reason.
After a brief pause, Tritos replied, "This decision lies beyond my authority. I must seek permission from Lord Bazil before giving you an answer."
With that, he stepped into the Dream Space, extending his consciousness across light-years to contact the Fiend Overlord.
Moments later, Lord Bazil's presence manifested within the Dream Space.
Tritos said gravely, "Lord Bazil, the Sentinel Overlord knows. He knows about the Holy Child of Fate. Otherwise, he wouldn't have demanded exemption from the upcoming Galactic Siege."
He then relayed the Sentinel Overlord's proposal in full, waiting for the Fiend Overlord's judgment.
"Hmph… so what if he knows," the Fiend Overlord said dismissively.
"With all the plans and contingencies we have in place, the advantage is still ours. Even if it is the Holy Child of Fate, he won't escape our grasp inside the Bloodline Realm. And then even if the Zephyr Galactic Cluster doesn't fall under our control, it hardly matters."
Tritos, who was usually confident in his schemes, showed a trace of hesitation. After a brief pause, he spoke carefully.
"But Lord, with the Holy Child of Fate involved, the future timelines I can observe are fluctuating. The instability only grows with time. I'm not sure if this is the Universe Embryo interfering… or if there's an unknown variable we haven't accounted for."
Instead of concern, a faint smile appeared on the Fiend Overlord's face.
"There is an artifact our race has sought ever since we learned of its existence within the Artifact Realm. One that would make dealing with Holy Children of Fate far easier. After scouring the realm to its very edges, we finally found it just a few days ago. Perhaps our race's fortune is finally smiling upon us."
He raised his hand, revealing a small black jade gavel, its head stamped with a crimson-glowing seal.
The Fiend Overlord continued, "With this artifact, do you still believe the Holy Child of Fate can escape us?"
Tritos quickly accessed the artifact's information, and his eyes widened in shock.
"This… this… even the Universe Embryo may not have accounted for something like this."
The Fiend Overlord nodded slightly.
"I will personally enhance the bloodlines of the most talented Fiend younglings under a hundred years old and send them to you. The Holy Child of Fate will be will be what? Tier-4, at most Tier-5. How could he possibly escape those at Tier-7, especially when they are supported by this artifact?"
Only then did Tritos feel his unease fade. No matter how favored by fate the child might be, this time, there would be no escape.
Still, the realization left him dazed. This might be the greatest opportunity the Fiend Race had ever encountered.
If the Bloodline Realm could also be used to further purify their bloodlines, it would become a treasure worth waging an all-out war against the Sentinels to monopolize.
Tritos soon returned from the Dream Space and conveyed the decision.
"Lord Bazil has agreed. Fiend youngsters will be sent in soon, and whoever is capable may claim whatever treasures lie within."
With the matter settled, the Sentinel Overlord turned his attention to Mahoraga.
"Now that this is resolved, take charge of everything here. I will send your second brother shortly."
Freed from Tritos' grasp and having regained his composure, Mahoraga bowed, "Yes, Master. I will carry out your orders."
The Sentinel Overlord's attention then shifted to the Blind Sentinel.
"You did well, Dutan. Remain here with your third brother until the first exploration is complete. Return to the Nexus afterward. I have a task assigned for you."
Dutan, still recovering from the wounds he had sustained while holding back the Fiend Sovereigns, lowered his head in a respectful bow.
"I'm honored by your words, Master. I will do as instructed."
With that, the majestic halo carrying the Sentinel Overlord's presence slowly dimmed, its light fading before returning to Mahoraga.
Only then did the surrounding tension finally ease. The clan elders and their younger members, who had been holding their breath since the confrontation began, released a collective sigh of relief.
With the agreement in place, they were no longer in immediate danger, at least for now.
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