The aftermath of the battle rippled across the human domain like an unrelenting storm.
Only a day had passed, but the magnitude of what had happened was unforgettable.
Oberon had worked quickly, doing exactly as he had promised. He visited each sector of the human domain, crafting and inscribing defensive runes into every city, designed to detect the energy signature of Blackgate should he ever dare teleport into their territory again.
The alert system he created was not isolated to individual sectors—no, Oberon had ensured that if the alarm was triggered, every paragon in the human domain would know instantly.
A necessary precaution for an escalating threat.
As the human domain began its slow, painful recovery, another storm brewed—this one made of whispers.
News of Luminous's defeat, along with the humiliation of the Stellaris and Alverian families, spread like wildfire.
Conversations revolved around the same topic. It was the most talked-about event in the entire human domain.
People from distant sectors flocked to Sectors 2 and 3, wanting to hear firsthand accounts from those who had witnessed the clash between Magnus and Luminous.
Those who had seen Magnus and Luminous battle spoke of the fight with utter reverence, though even they could barely comprehend what they had seen.
The movements had been so fast, the strikes so powerful, that even for many grandmasters, it was nothing but a blur of energy and shockwaves. But the devastation left in its wake was all too real.
Buildings, forests, even the ground itself had been torn asunder by the forces unleashed.
Despite Luminous's brutal defeat, the Stellaris family's position in Sector 5 didn't shift. They were still a tier-one family, and that alone made them untouchable.
The power gap between the tier-one families and the tier twos was still as insurmountable as ever. No tier-two family dared to make a move against them, not even in their weakened state.
Instead, gifts and tribute poured into the Stellaris estate from families seeking to curry favor, hoping to stay in the good graces of the still-powerful family.
But inside the Stellaris estate, there was nothing but brooding silence. The shame of defeat weighed heavily, but for Luminous, the shame of losing his son cut deeper. Since entering his quarters, he had not come out.
While Sector 5 simmered with tension, the situation in Sector 3 was different, though not entirely calm.
Ravenspire was still being rebuilt, and the Ravenstein family was in a state of mourning. They were currently subdued, but not because of power struggles.
No one dared to vie for the Ravensteins' power after what had happened. The display of strength from Magnus had ensured that no one would be foolish enough to challenge them for a long time.
However, the annihilation of the Vermore family had left a void, and that void was quickly becoming a point of contention.
Dusk Town, a town filled with vast resources, had suddenly become the most sought-after territory in the sector. The tier-three families, many of whom governed various parts of the city, found themselves eyeing the opportunity to move up the ladder.
Some of these families had long been on the verge of becoming tier-two, possessing grandmasters in their ranks. The only thing that had held them back was the lack of territory. Now, with the Vermore family wiped out, that barrier was gone.
Tension ran high in Dusk Town as families jostled for influence, each trying to position themselves for a chance to claim the territory.
Despite this, none dared to make a direct move. The Ravensteins hadn't bothered to secure the land—they didn't need to.
Their implied dominance was enough. Every family knew that stepping on that territory would be suicide.
And then, as if sensing the shifting tides, the inevitable happened.
Tributes and gifts flooded into the Ravenstein estate in such abundance that it seemed impossible to manage. Tiered families from all over Sector 3, and even beyond, came to show their support and deepen their alliances with the Ravensteins.
Their reasons varied, but their intentions were clear—they wanted to be on the Ravensteins' side.
The most notable visitors came from the remaining tier-two families of Sector 3: the Aquilore and Lunahaven families.
The Aquilore, led by women, followed a strict matriarchal system. They were warriors through and through, and though their culture differed greatly from others in the domain, their strength was undeniable.
Atticus would have compared them to Valkyries from Earth's lore—a race of battle-hardened women who thrived in war.
Their bloodline was designed for combat, granting them physical enhancements far beyond the norm. They could boost their strength, speed, and reflexes with ease, and their mastery of battle made them both feared and respected.
When the Aquilore arrived at the estate, they came with a flood of marriage proposals. Their daughters were offered to the Ravensteins, the matriarchs hoping to strengthen the bond between the two families through blood.
The Lunahaven, on the other hand, were unlike any other family. Known for their brutish nature, they were what Atticus might have called "cavemen."
They wore minimal clothing, their forms large and imposing, and they had a simpler, more primal view of the world. While the Ravensteins controlled elements, the Lunahaven mimicked the characteristics of the elements themselves.
It wasn't as refined as the Ravensteins' elemental control, but their ability was powerful in its own way.
The Lunahaven didn't bring marriage proposals; they brought manpower. Their offer was to lend their strength to help rebuild the Ravenstein estate and assist in any way they could.
In just two days, the Ravenstein estate was rebuilt.
The earth elementalists of the family had worked tirelessly, reshaping the land, clearing the rubble, and restoring the grandeur that had been lost in the battle.
Though the estate wasn't fully complete, it still looked grand, perhaps even more so than before.
Despite the constant stream of visitors, the mood in the estate was somber. The war had claimed many lives, and the Ravensteins had lost someone important.
Dekai's absence weighed heavily on the family. There wasn't a single person in the estate who didn't know his name—the Father of Fire.
During this time, no members of the main Ravenstein family attended to the visitors. The sorrow was too deep, and the loss too fresh.