Chapter 352

Chapter 352: The Return of Three

“Victory?”

“Victory…”

“Victory!”

Watching the sect headquarters’ fleet retreat in disarray, the warriors of Blood Purification and the Hawk Brigade struggled to believe their eyes.

This massive fleet had over fifty warships with two temple leaders commanding them.

Their main attacker was the terrifying legendary Leader himself – a six-tentacled Super Heart-Seizing Demon.

Even during Midi’s fierce clash with this monster, invisible energy from their psychic battle radiated across nearby warships, making crewmembers shudder.

Had Midi failed, everyone in the alliance fleet would’ve been reduced to mindless husks.

The enemy held overwhelming mental and physical dominance.

With the All-Seeing Demon’s constant surveillance across Star Ocean, Blood Purification and the Hawk Brigade had nowhere left to hide.

Most seasoned warriors had mentally prepared for death rather than defeat.

Yet everything changed the moment the Wind King Warship arrived bearing two human women from Arad.

Within thirty minutes of their battlefield appearance, the tide turned completely. A temple leader got dragged into another dimension before stunned onlookers, becoming the Crystal Spider Queen’s meal.

Battered by relentless Magic Beams, the sect’s fleet fled in humiliation.

This wasn’t just miraculous – it was the miracle itself!

When Midi, Fina, and Alice disembarked onto the alliance-held floating island, they faced a sea of people beneath the Wind King Warship.

Every soul craned to glimpse the women who’d wrought this miracle. Some already whispered “Goddesses of Victory” – for believers naturally seek divine figures, and what better icons than these beautiful, mighty Valkyries?

“Let’s greet our Star Ocean comrades,” Fina said, nudging Midi with a smile.

“You’re the commander,” Midi countered.

Though Fina and Alice deliberately flanked Midi on the warship’s deck, placing their deputy leader center-stage broke protocol. Yet Fina dismissed formalities: “Then as commander, I order you to take the lead.”

“Fine,” Midi sighed, striding forward without further protest.

All eyes watched history unfold – the Hawk Brigade’s Iron Triangle reunited since their awakening, fighting side by side once more.

Judge Marcel’s gaze held newfound trust tinged with melancholy at his own fading relevance. Younger warriors like Sandur and Rot abandoned earlier defiance, staring complexly at Midi and his formidable companions.

Only the dark elf assassin Avril, the so-called Holy Maiden, seethed inwardly. Her sister Emil’s warning finally made sense – these women were indeed “troublesome” beyond measure.

"This isn’t just difficult—it’s utterly flawless!" Avril sighed deeply as she watched the red-haired and black-haired girls who’d journeyed with Midi, appearing destined to stand by his side.

Beside her, Wiseman of the Hand of Nightmare completely disregarded Avril’s mood as he remarked to Reinhardt, "What’s taking those three so long? At their level, why aren’t they invading the Delos Empire already?"

The fourth prince nearly coughed up blood at this heartless question.

"Belmar and Delos remain allies," Fina said with a faint smile, tugging Midi’s sleeve before addressing their former adversaries. "So long as rulers aren’t tyrants, most people wouldn’t care whether the Sword Emperor’s lineage or the Hamiltons govern. Why not let Arad enjoy more peace?"

"In short, you’ve no interest in world domination," Reinhardt observed calmly, having fully transitioned from adventuring companion to diplomat.

Midi shrugged. "Conquering the world’s no simple task. Your father Sword Emperor Yuren alone would prove troublesome."

"Resources aren’t scarce enough to require hoarding," Fina declared clearly. "Let’s share them."

Her words served dual purposes—answering Reinhardt while reassuring the wary Blood Purification faction. The Iron Triangle’s overwhelming display had left observers both awed and fearful, but Fina’s statement eased tensions while affirming their stance.

The Belmar-Delos exchange proved mere prelude to the true agenda. Within the newly erected command tent gathered Judge Marcel of Blood Purification, the Hawk Brigade’s Midi, Fina and Alice, Reinhardt and Wiseman as Arad allies, plus Avril bridging Blood Purification and Sea of Clouds factions—all converging to strategize.

Such diverse interests typically bred discord, yet when the fiery redhead and icy black-haired woman flanked Midi, all objections dissolved. The coalition swiftly reached its decision:

March on the Behemoth.

Back aboard the Wind King Warship post-meeting, Midi exhaled heavily. Their rapid reversal of fortunes against the Blue Truth Sect signaled favorable tides, yet he found himself oddly detached from Star Ocean developments.

"Regretting our presence?" Fina teased, twirling her hair ends.

"Not regret—but Belmar’s base and Sky City house King Bacal’s legacy. If compromised…"

"You just don’t want us fighting. How hypocritical," Alice interjected icily.

Meeting the dark-haired girl’s piercing gaze, Midi conceded his duplicity. However logical his reasons, the core truth remained—he feared seeing them harmed.

Yet their presence here contradicted his assumptions.

"Midi, you’re being selfish," Fina accused, holding his gaze. "Keeping us shelved like decorations because you can’t bear our getting hurt? Wrong."

"…It is wrong," he admitted after pause.

"And don’t you miss us?" Pink tinged Fina’s cheeks as she laid bare the question.

"Every moment!" Midi answered before she finished speaking.

"Sweet talker," Alice muttered ambiguously.

"Then it’s settled," Fina declared, voice softening paradoxically. "Others can manage Belmar and Sky City. The three of us fight together—it’s meaningless otherwise."

The message was clear: containing these battlefield Valkyries for his peace of mind was folly. Choosing safety through separation inverted life’s priorities. True victory meant facing perils together and emerging triumphant.

"Together it is," Midi vowed.

Fina nodded without turning, hiding her expression. Alice’s fleeting smile—rare as winter blossoms—warmed Midi’s heart.

No more silent resolutions. "We’ll face a weakened supreme expert in the Behemoth’s depths," Midi announced openly. "Mysteries surround him, but battle’s inevitable. I need you both."

Alice inclined her head while Fina’s voice rang clear: "Together, we’ll prevail—even against a supreme expert!"