During this time, Bai Ze, who had just finished the battle, faintly heard the sound of knocking from outside, accompanied by some indistinct conversation.
He listened for a moment, puzzled. "What's that sound?"
After pondering for a bit, Bai Ze shook his head and said, "Forget it, it's not important. The battle's finally over. The priority now is to assess the casualties and ensure the creatures return to the mother planet."
Ignoring the strange sounds from earlier, Bai Ze quickly refocused his attention on his creatures.
As the distant, star-illuminating flames gradually faded, Bai Ze sighed and issued his command: "The battle is over. Start the retreat immediately."
"Return to the mother planet, grouped by species!"
Upon receiving the order, the leaders of each species began organizing their remaining subordinates swiftly.
The various species moved together with the pride of victors, steadily making their way back to the mother planet.
Within the mother planet, cheers erupted everywhere.
Creatures from different regions rushed to meet their respective lords, offering praises and blessings with unrestrained enthusiasm.
From the top-ranking Meteorite Insect Tribe to the lowest Treefolk Tribe, Bai Ze observed them all and sighed in exasperation.
"The losses are immense…"
The Meteorite Insect Tribe had lost half its numbers. The Sword-and-Shield Tribe was slightly better off, but the situation was most dire for the Sea Emperor Tribe and the Roc Tribe.
Both had served as bait at the start, suffering significant losses. Later, they launched a suicide attack to protect the main forces.
Now, looking around, there were only a handful of survivors from both tribes, most of whom were injured. Their numbers were less than a tenth of their original size, pushing them to the brink of extinction.
The Treefolk Tribe, however, was not a concern.
The mother planet was rich in flora, and its population could regenerate quickly. Losing a few wasn't an issue.
"It seems we'll need to rest and recuperate for a while," Bai Ze said calmly.
Although the biological losses were significant, the rewards were substantial too.
For example, the Liches trapped in the Storm Zone.
Unlike Bai Ze's God's Eye ability, which could see through all falsehoods, the Liches lacked such powers.
Relying solely on their instruments, which were disrupted by the Storm Zone's magnetic field, they would be completely disoriented and unable to escape.
In a few days, when they were all dead, Bai Ze could lead his creatures into the zone for a risk-free scavenging mission. Looting their treasures would be an enormous gain.
"Four tribes, hear my command: Disband temporarily and rest. Regain your strength."
"Avoid any internal conflicts or unnecessary losses!"
Bai Ze's orders descended, and the four extraordinary tribes bowed in unison.
The Sword-and-Shield Tribe retreated to the forests, the Sea Emperor Tribe dove into the seas, and the Roc Tribe soared into the clouds.
The surviving Meteorite Insects were temporarily housed in the forests to recover before returning to space.
Finally, Bai Ze turned his attention to Aurora.
After the four tribes had dispersed, Bai Ze addressed her formally:
"Miss Aurora, the Lich's main fleet is now trapped, and with my creatures guarding the area, they can't escape."
"With their resources cut off, the Lich homeworld will soon collapse and perish. So, what are your plans now?"
Looking down, Bai Ze saw Aurora had stepped off the Treefolk King's shoulder. She pondered briefly and was about to respond when Bai Ze interrupted her again.
"How about this? Since the Elven planet has been destroyed and your homeland no longer exists, you're welcome to stay here."
"Although my planet is small, it can certainly accommodate you."
"Besides, the ecological environment here is quite good. It should be suitable for elves to live in, right?"
Bai Ze's tone was modest, but the truth was far more extraordinary.
The ecosystem on his planet wasn't just "quite good"it was unparalleled.
His real intent was to recruit Aurora and have her work for him.
After all, she was a leader-level being with significant strength, and her tribe's Heart of the Sacred Tree was a rare treasure.
"Of course, if you later find any surviving clansmen and wish to rebuild the Elven Empire with them, I won't stop you."
"I can even offer you some assistance. So"
Before Bai Ze could finish, Aurora interrupted him.
"That won't be necessary," she said calmly.
"It was you who helped me destroy the Liches and avenge my people."
She then kneeled on one knee, placing her hand over her heart and lowering her head slightly.
"And so, I swear by the World Tree: I pledge eternal allegiance to you, to defend your honor and dignity."
"I will never betray, never fear, never retreat, and I will follow you until the end of my life!"
Her sincere declaration echoed across the Treefolk tribe.
Inspired, the surrounding Treefolk mimicked Aurora's actions, kneeling one after another. The scene was awe-inspiring.
Watching this, Bai Ze was momentarily at a loss for words.
He had only intended to recruit her temporarily as free labor.
Now, he had gained far more than expected.
He could recognize this as the knight's oath of loyalty, a solemn declaration of fealty.
"Well… if that's how you feel, so be it," Bai Ze said slowly.
"For now, you and your tribe can coexist with the Meteorite Insects. Once they return to space, the area they vacate will be yours."
Though surprised, Bai Ze realized having Aurora on board was advantageous.
For one, she solved the Meteorite Insects issue.
Their voracious appetites could deplete even the most resource-rich planet.
With Aurora and the Heart of the Sacred Tree, plant growth would be accelerated while remaining controlled.
Even if the Meteorite Insects stayed longer than expected, the planet's resources wouldn't be exhausted.
At that moment, a series of system notifications rang in Bai Ze's ears:
[Ding! The system has detected that the leader-class creature Aurora the Sacred Tree Elf has voluntarily joined the host's faction.]
[Ding! The host now has three leader-class creatures, meeting the requirements for advancement!]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! Your planet has broken its limits and advanced to a Tier-2 planet!]
Bai Ze froze momentarily before a delighted expression spread across his face.
"Advancement?! My planet has reached Tier 2 and unlocked its potential!"
Examining his planet, he noticed no visible changes.
Yet, as its creator, he could feel the world's barriers expanding, no longer bound by restrictive chains.
"So, having an excess of high-level creatures can trigger an upgrade?"
"This is a huge win!"
-support me in Patreon for more chapter, 450+ capters
patreon.com/LordoftheReader