Primordial Conquest

Chapter 65: Negation

Renegade Commander Sagitta had immediately launched an area-wide scan the instant he materialized above Hai through Sagittarius. His enhanced senses took in the village's desperate state in a single heartbeat.

Panic and dread had already spread like a plague through the hearts of the people of Hai. Countless Tarokians and their visitors fled toward the outskirts of the village while their warriors surged toward the center of the chaos with loud battle cries.

Thankfully, he had also appeared there as well, right next to his target.

His breath caught as he registered the Reincarnator's appearance.

'A child!!' he thought with a shocked expression as his mind raced with several thoughts.

Before arriving, he had prepared himself for the worst.

He was no fool.

He knew his strengths and weaknesses perfectly well.

Commanders were powerful. They were the most numerous powerhouses in the Renegades. That was because most Renegades never ascended beyond this rank, their progression through the Heart shard hitting an insurmountable wall. Not every solar system under their rule had a Sentinel or high Commander. But every single one of them had experienced Commanders that had been stuck in the same rank, just like him.

Even so, Reincarnators were simply stronger.

He was unsure of how their species usually got more powerful, or how they ascended. But he was fully aware that they seldom got stuck at the same level of strength for too long.

That is why Humans were the greatest threat in the entire universe. Their potential and rate of ascension was simply monstrous.

He didn't know how strong the threat he would be facing was. There was a possibility of it being an old Reincarnator that had already had time to grow exponentially stronger. There was also a possibility of it being a relatively new one who was still learning about their strength.

There was even a possibility of this Crisis being caused by the boy, Arbus, awakening to his father's abilities. He wasn't sure if that had ever happened before, but he couldn't rule out the chance. Even though he desperately hoped it wasn't the case.

If it was a fully realised Reincarnator, he had planned to hold out as long as he could until more commanders, or high commanders arrived on Tarok. Even if it cost him his life.

What he hadn't expected to see, was a child attacking Hai with such murderous fury.

He'd been prepared to fight almost any Reincarnator, regardless of personal risk.

The only exception being children.

He gritted his teeth in frustration as he decided to quickly neutralise her threat first.

He decided to activate his Negation.

The Negation was the ability exclusive to high-ranking Renegades. It was a method of channeling the Heart shard's natural influence to weaken or neutralize Reincarnator abilities. Its effectiveness depended entirely on the power gap between the wielder and the target.

He pinned her to the ground effortlessly, his Negation bypassing her strange destructive field despite its fierce resistance. He was careful to control his strength, since she was still just a child, regardless of her capabilities.

His gaze swept the battlefield somberly as he took note of the number of lives lost. He could only see what was left of the Tarokians Arora hadn't completely erased.

A deep sigh escaped his lips as his gaze landed on the girl desperately thrashing beneath his boot.

He remained silent for several moments, then spoke evenly.

"Human child, you can stop struggling now. I don't know what teachings your fellow Reincarnators have filled your head with, or why they burden children with such hatred. But I want you to understand... what you're doing isn't the answer."

The girl continued fighting against his hold, completely ignoring his words. The fear and desperation etched across her features pierced straight through his heart.

"Please, child. You don't need to be afraid anymore. I give you my word that I'll do everything in my power to ensure your safety. All you have to do is surrender."

His tone hardened with resolve. "If you refuse... then I'll be forced to do something we'll both regret, to protect the innocent lives your rage hasn't yet claimed."

Arora blocked out the Renegade Commander's words as she fought against the crushing weight pinning her down.

Despite everything she'd gained, despite the power awakening within her, she just felt like a child wrestling with a full grown adult.

She felt completely powerless against this Mornan who had appeared from nowhere.

Just like she'd felt against Raymond.

She was afraid.

She couldn't accept this. Not after everything she'd endured. Not when her life was supposed to be different this time.

The emotions of her past self surged to the surface like a breaking dam.

Her features twisted with pure indignation as she screamed, the sound echoing across the crater now that Interitus had been dispelled.

She glared up at the commander with undisguised hatred.

Norman gazed down at her with pity as he held her in place, his booth pressing firmly against her.

"Yahhh!!!!"

"She's down!!!!!!"

"The human is finished!"

The Tarokians who'd been fleeing in terror came flooding back into the crater, their voices raised in triumphant celebration.

They typically held nothing but contempt for red Mornans, viewing them as the weakest specimens of their species. But this Renegade had proven himself different from his pathetic peers. They had no qualms with showing respect to a superior ally.

They celebrated loudly for several long minutes.

After a while, five elderly Tarokians pushed through the crowd of celebrating warriors, their presence immediately silencing the gathered fighters.

Three were males, their faces lined with countless battle scars earned over centuries of conflict. The other two were females bearing equally distinctive markings and disfigurements. All five wore ceremonial robes adorned with special ornaments that marked their status. They had all lived over two centuries, and unlike the planet's Chief and the recently deceased ex-captain Elder, they possessed no Heart shards to slow their natural aging. Dark wooden canes supported their weathered frames.

These were the village elders. Their authority was absolute in this village. They were second only to their country's Councilor and the planet's Chief for the people of Hai.

The oldest female stepped forward to speak, her voice harsh and raspy.

"Renegade Commander Sagitta... we are grateful for your swift arrival and your handling of the threat that befell our humble village during such a momentous week."

She shook her head with visible regret.

"If only this had occurred a few days earlier. The human would have been swiftly dealt with by our more powerful Renegade Tarokians, who graced us with their presence for the Crowning of Champions ceremony."

Commander Sagitta's brows furrowed slightly at her words. He wasn't sure if she was discreetly trying to call him weak for a commander, despite what he had just Accomplished. If so, it wouldn't surprise him. The Tarokians were the second most prideful species he'd encountered, surpassed only by the elites of his own.

"You are... most welcome."

He surveyed the devastation once more, sighing with genuine remorse.

"I am deeply sorry that I failed to arrive in time to prevent the tragedies that have already occurred."

The elder waved dismissively.

"Think nothing of it. Our brave warriors died in glorious battle against a Reincarnated Human. That is a more honorable death than most in this village could ever hope to achieve. We shall bury them as the fallen heroes they are."

The other elders nodded in agreement.

Norman suppressed a frown. The Tarokians obsession with honor and glory, even in death, had always unsettled him deeply.

"Not everything is about how history will remember you, wise elder. My regret remains nonetheless."

The female elder merely grunted, her attention finally shifting to Arora.

"Well then, Renegade Commander. What exactly do you intend to do with this human?"

Norman's gaze flickered to Arora before returning to the elders.

"I intend to take her into custody, naturally."

"I will personally ensure that she faces justice for her crimes and receives appropriate punishment."

The female elder's expression darkened as her scarred features twisted into a scowl. She exchanged meaningful glances with her fellow elders before turning back to him.

"We refuse, dear Commander."

"If you are truly as sorry as you claim about the tragedies that unfolded here today..."

"Then you will let us execute the Reincarnator here and now."