SSS-Tier Extraction: From Outcast to Overgod!-Chapter 67: The Vassalage Contract

The battlefield on the floating islands fell quiet. The only sounds were the gentle hum of the god Nodes and the wind whispering through the strange, twisted trees.

On Node Alpha, Chris "Boulder" Magnus was busy polishing a tiny scratch on his shield, muttering to himself about how it "ruined the whole look." Emma was passing out rations, and Jennifer was sitting with her eyes closed, enjoying the sudden peace.

Scarlett stood watch, her sharp eyes scanning the empty sky, a silent guardian. They had won the fight, but now came the boring part: waiting. The rules said they had to hold the nodes for one full hour.

It was possibly the most boring hour of their lives.

Chris tried to start a game of "I spy," but it was hard to play when everything was either "rock" or "cloud." Emma tried to explain the complex energy theories behind the floating islands, but everyone’s brains were too tired to understand. They mostly just sat, ate their rations, and waited for the clock to run out. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Finally, after what felt like a year, a deep, booming voice echoed across the sky, speaking to every player in Sector Gamma at once.

[UNIFICATION CHALLENGE CONCLUDED]

[Genesis Outpost #7, under the leadership of Provisional Governor Ryan Stone, has successfully maintained control of the required god Nodes.]

[VICTOR: OUTPOST #7]

[DEFEATED: OUTPOST #12]

[As per the rules of the challenge, Crimson Banner (Outpost #12) is now a vassal of Sector Governor Stone for a duration of 7 cycles. They will contribute 20% of all gathered resources to the governing Outpost.]

A new message popped up on Ryan’s personal screen.

[You have gained +5 Influence!]

[A new item has been added to your inventory: Vassalage Contract (Crimson Banner)]

The contract looked like an old, glowing scroll in his inventory. It felt heavy with responsibility..

In the command center of Outpost #12, the mood was dark. The remaining members of the Crimson Banner stood in silence, their shoulders slumped.

Tom Kane stared at the glowing screen in front of him, his face like stone. The Warden’s announcement of their defeat hung in the air, a final, shameful confirmation of their failure.

A glowing scroll icon appeared on his interface, pulsing with a faint blue light, the color of Outpost #7. It was his copy of the Vassalage Contract. It was a digital chain, binding his proud Outpost to the will of another. He could almost feel its weight.

His soldiers looked at him, their faces a mixture of anger and confusion. They were waiting for him to rage, to curse, to declare revenge. But Kane did none of those things. He was a man of logic. He had lost. The rules were the rules. Throwing a tantrum would accomplish nothing.

With a deep sigh, he opened a private communication channel directly to Ryan Stone. He typed a short, simple message.

Tom Kane: You fight unconventionally, Stone. But you win. The Crimson Banner will honor the contract.

He sent the message and then turned to his soldiers. "This is a defeat, but it is not the end," he said, his voice firm and clear. "We will learn from this. We will get stronger. For the next seven days, we follow the Governor’s orders. After that... we will see."

Back on his lonely island, Ryan read Kane’s message and nodded to himself. It was a message of grudging respect, and that was more than he had expected.

The world around him and his team dissolved into a brilliant white light. The strange feeling of being pulled through a tunnel returned, and a moment later, they were standing back in the central plaza of Outpost #7.

The celebration was already in full swing.

The entire Outpost was there, and the roar of the crowd was deafening. People were cheering, whistling, and setting off virtual fireworks that exploded into showers of blue sparks. As Ryan and his team appeared, the crowd surged forward, patting them on the back and shouting their names.

"RYAN! RYAN! RYAN!" they chanted.

Ace Striker, his face red with excitement, pushed his way to the front. "A stunning victory! A display of tactical genius that will be studied for generations!" he yelled over the noise. "Our great Governor forced the enemy into a strategic withdrawal with his sheer willpower! I knew it! I always knew it!"

Chris "Boulder" Magnus was loving the attention. He flexed his huge arms, and the crowd roared even louder. "Did you see me hold that line?" he shouted to anyone who would listen. "I was like a big, handsome rock! Nothing could move me!"

Scarlett, Emma, and Jennifer looked a little overwhelmed by it all, but they were smiling. They were heroes, and it was a good feeling.

After a few minutes of celebrating, Ryan excused himself from the happy chaos. There was one last piece of business to take care of. He walked to a quieter corner of the plaza and took out the prize he had won for defeating the Alpha Sky Titan.

The "Alpha Titan Cache" was a large, heavy chest that looked like it was made from a swirling, solid storm cloud. Veins of golden lightning crackled across its surface. It hummed with immense power.

He placed his hand on the lid. With a sound like distant thunder, the chest opened. A blinding flash of golden light shot into the sky, and inside, resting on a cushion of pure energy, was a single piece of armor.

It was a long, flowing cloak, the color of twilight just after the sun has set. It seemed to be woven from threads of shadow and starlight. Faint, intricate patterns that looked like captured lightning moved across the fabric. It was beautiful, powerful, and it seemed to absorb the light around it.

[You have obtained: Sky Lord’s Mantle (Tier 5)]

Grants the ability of Flight (limited duration, recharges over time).

Lightning Resistance +50%

Agility +30

"Wow," Ryan breathed. This was a serious upgrade.

He mentally commanded his system to equip the new mantle. His old, tattered Cloak of Shifting Umbra dissolved into motes of grey light. The new Sky Lord’s Mantle materialized on his shoulders, settling around him as if it had been made for him.

It was incredibly light, and he could feel a new power flowing into him, a feeling of freedom and speed. He felt like he could jump and simply decide not to come down.

He stood up, the dark, magnificent cloak swirling around his ankles. He was no longer just a survivor in a strange new world. He was a Sector Lord, a leader, a hero. And he had a feeling that his adventures were just getting started.

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