The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 849: Volume 26: Biding Time, - 12: Dissection

Chapter 849: Volume 26: Biding Time, Chapter 12: Dissection

Thinking of this, Komer’s gaze subconsciously drifted towards the map hanging on the wall. Above Homer were the regions of Silesia, part of the Ferdinand Family, and Poznan, belonging to the Heine Family. These two regions, like a solid barrier, had long protected the entirety of Homer. However, once the entire North, including Jazair, had fallen, the significance of Silesia and Poznan for Homer had substantially diminished. Especially Poznan, in Komer’s eyes, the Heine Family of Poznan was simply a local yokel ripe for the taking, a family lacking in foresight and content with mere survival, yet daring to conspire with the Beastmen for a skin-deep alliance. Wasn’t this simply courting death? With a mindset so simple, since they were looking for death, why not just benefit oneself instead?

However, Komer also knew that Poznan and Silesia were two sides of the same coin. To challenge one was essentially to declare war on both. Komer didn’t possess such foolhardy courage yet, not wishing to take that risk until his troops were fully trained and battle-ready.

Komer carefully assessed the present dangers and troubles weighing on him. The other three Great Lords of the kingdom could no longer pose a substantial threat. Even if Zellin, Heine, and Ferdinand joined forces, they wouldn’t be able to influence Homer significantly under the current circumstances. The immense pressure from the Beastmen first and foremost left Ferdinand unable to move. The likelihood of Poznan and Galle uniting against him was slim; Komer doubted Zellin had the personal charisma to ensure the Heine Family would align themselves with such confidence.

As for Godeburg and Cartin, regardless of his own attitude, neither side could play a significant role. With just a bit of manipulation, letting Katya and Hoffman remain as relentless as fighting cocks was ideal. Whoever fell, he would support; whomever was more arrogant, he would discipline. Such a situation was the most suitable for his own survival. Even if Katya and Hoffman guessed his intentions, they were helpless to do anything unless they could set aside their past grievances. But that would be too difficult. As long as selfish desires persisted in their hearts, as long as they placed their own interests above those of the Kingdom of Nicosia, his strategy would always be successful. Komer firmly believed neither Katya nor Hoffman could easily achieve this.

Having eliminated the political threats, Komer turned his attention to his personal safety. The battle on the Busen Plain had greatly tarnished the reputation of the Church of Light. Subtle shifts were starting to occur within the religious institutions both within the Northern Alliance and across various factions of Nicosia. It was as if a seed had suddenly sprouted in the solid gap within the Northern Alliance. A series of changes would commence from there. If the Church of Light wanted to maintain their influence in the Northern Region, they had to counteract the negative impacts of the battle on the Busen Plain. If they failed to thoroughly resolve Komer and his allies, the pressure they would face would increase exponentially.

The Church of Light would not stand idly by. Komer was well aware of Vazinsky’s influence within the Church, and the several old enemies from the Religious Court had also behaved in such a peculiar manner after learning of his reappearance, further alerting Komer to the crisis. Generally speaking, it seemed improbable that Vazinsky and Noyola would join forces. Though both belonged to the Church of Light, their relationship towards each other could, on some level, be no better than each’s relationship with him. Under the premise of shaking the foundations of the Church, however, would they join forces against him?

This possibility could not be dismissed. Komer thought carefully, realizing that if both factions planned against him, having thousands of troops might still be insufficient to prevent their intrusion. He would either have to disappear and hide as before, or he would face a decisive battle of fate with his adversaries. This battle would come sooner or later, but how to preemptively arrange everything before the enemy acted required careful planning.

Komer counted on his fingers, assessing his own strength without the inclusion of the Army. His strength was still pitifully inadequate; facing the Religious Court alone would be extremely challenging for the Caucasian Mage Group. Even if he could withstand the toughest situation, Mihailovich and Clarence would be unable to contend with the other experts from the Religious Court. Rescuing Rebry might at least give them a fighting chance.

The undead legions of Uma and the dark forces of the Great Mysterium Sect, as well as the hidden powers of the Salvation Society, were all highly unpredictable elements. Especially considering Uma’s current state and whether the Salvation Society would dare stand openly with him were issues in themselves. By contrast, the situation with the Great Mysterium Sect might be easier to resolve. Under his firm demands, Komer believed Xerob and his followers would lend their support, even as they aggressively continued to infiltrate the South.

Uma had not yet fully subdued Iliana; the battle between their souls within the same body remained at a stalemate. However, with Komer’s cautious assistance, Uma had moved beyond the initial desperation of possible expulsion. Instead, Uma began to launch attacks progressively, gaining while the other lost, leading Iliana into a quandary. The conquest was tough, but without such a battle for survival, Uma could not truly possess such a precious body. And after this brutal struggle, Uma’s understanding of the sacred mysteries of light might deepen significantly.

Komer even looked forward to the day more than Uma did, when the Church of Light’s Saintess would finally transform into an unequivocal spokesperson of an undead sovereign. The sense of achievement from such a victory was even more gratifying to Komer than winning a battle on the Busen Plain. It was a victory of darkness over light and proved that darkness could indeed overcome light. The mantra of the inevitable triumph of light was but a shackle imposed on the minds and spirits of the masses through centuries of repeated lies and various performances by the Church, leveraging their traditional resource superiority. Once this divine decree, shrouded in layers of haloes, was stripped of all its beautiful pretenses, people would realize that it amounted to nothing more than an utter falsehood.

Perhaps it would be wise to preserve a small space for Iliana’s soul. Only in this way could Uma always maintain a sense of crisis. Such a method would also serve as an excellent bait for the Church of Light. Of course, it was better not to use this bait until he was ready to challenge the entire might of the Church.(To be continued... For the continuation, please visit www.qidian.com. There are more Chapters there, support the author, support authorized reading!)