Supreme Lord: I can extract everything! Chapter 1114: Rise of a New Era VI

Caesus delayed utilizing the Summoning Gate for the time being. Since there was no immediate necessity, he refrained from activating it; after all, his current forces exceeded 100,000 Silverfang Summons, and the modest wooden manor could only house a fraction of them.

"Begin erecting the tents and distributing the sleeping mats," Caesus commanded the Silverfang Summons. He further instructed, "Set up several large cooking pots as well. I intend to return with fish for our evening meal."

Following weeks of relentless travel, they had been restricted to meager rations. Although they had successfully hunted various monsters for meat and Caesus possessed some food supplies within his War Rune storage, those reserves were dwindling rapidly, and their fresh meat supplies were entirely exhausted.

Feeding such a massive host for several weeks was a daunting task, particularly since Caesus was the sole individual equipped with a War Rune Storage. As the only Awakened who had remained in the Origin Expanse to supervise the Summons and carve out a Silverfang territory, the burden fell on him. It would be quite some time before other Awakened joined him in the Origin Expanse, as they were currently overwhelmed by their responsibilities back on Tiagro.

While Caesus’ children were occupied scouting the wilderness and exploring the nearby terrain, they had reported sightings of immense fish dwelling within the sea. Consequently, Caesus retrieved dozens of enormous vats, energy-fueled campfires, and other necessary supplies from his storage.

The Summons watched him briefly before nodding and jumping into their tasks. Though they occasionally found his actions mysterious, their experiences over the past few weeks—and the decades preceding them—had built deep respect. Caesus might not be a deity, but he was the most powerful Silverfang they had ever encountered, which was more than enough for them to trust his judgment.

Stepping beyond the safety of the Protection Barrier, Caesus circulated Qi through his legs, sprinting toward the coastal gulf. He slowed down as he reached the edge of the vast Azure Ocean, a faint smile touching his lips at the magnificent view. The Azure Ocean appeared boundless, stretching infinitely in every direction. The scale was staggering, yet it filled him with a sense of thrill. While the ocean served as a natural fortification against rival Lords from that side, it simultaneously exposed them to potential threats emerging from the deep.

However, anxiety was not what Caesus felt. He viewed the Azure Ocean as a literal goldmine. It was the key that would eventually propel the Silverfang Tigerfolk to the pinnacle of all races. Though such an evolution might span millennia, Caesus felt no need to rush. He was content to progress steadily, unlike the frantic pace Michael had once maintained.

‘I’m actually finding this enjoyable,’ Caesus mused, channeling Qi into the soles of his feet. Forming thin platforms of energy beneath him, he began to walk across the surface of the sea.

The prey he had set his sights on was a Titan Whale, a behemoth stretching over two hundred meters in length.

He could have simply charged in to slay the beast, but there was no urgency. Moreover, Caesus wished to savor the experience.

The Giant Sharks seemed to have the same idea. His avian children had warned him of aquatic predators, but only now, as they launched their assault, did he truly grasp their massive size and sheer numbers.

Unwilling to let a competitor steal their Titan Whale prize, the sharks turned on him. A Giant Shark exploded from the depths directly beneath him, its jaws wide enough to gulp down half a dozen men of Caesus' stature. Yet, before it could snap its teeth shut and consume him, its massive frame was sliced clean in half.

A geyser of blood sprayed into the air as the bifurcated carcass slammed back into the waves. The surrounding water turned a deep crimson, a lure that immediately drew in other Giant Sharks. Several more breached the surface, though they ignored Caesus in favor of devouring their fallen comrade.

Caesus had no intention of letting them scavenge his kill. Transforming his hand into Silver Tiger claws, he lashed out, sending wide arcs of energy whistling through the air. The shark's body was shredded into pieces, and the scavengers attempting to feast on it met the exact same end.

The blades of energy carved through the water for dozens of meters before Caesus commanded them to dissipate. He then released his Qi to pull the Giant Shark remains into his storage. Just then, a group of even larger sharks lunged from the side. One discharged a surge of electricity powerful enough to incapacitate a High Awakened, but Caesus only offered a smirk. His claws swept out once more, slaughtering six of the seven massive predators instantly.

Only a single mutated Giant Shark remained.

"You have a choice: become my subordinate and serve me until your final breath, or perish. You haven't reached the level of a Divine Beast yet, but I can facilitate your breakthrough," Caesus remarked casually while gathering the remaining shark corpses.

The mutant shark remained still, staring at Caesus, but its gaze radiated nothing but pure murderous intent.

"You lack understanding? How disappointing. I presumed a creature on the threshold of becoming a Divine Beast would possess more intellect," Caesus chuckled. He was prepared to deliver the death blow when an enormous tail broke the surface. The tail, spanning dozens of meters in width and even more in length, blotted out the sun. It cast a heavy shadow over the mutant shark before descending like a titan's hammer. The impact pulverized the Giant Shark, ending its life instantly.

The strike missed Caesus by the narrowest of margins.

Towering waves erupted in all directions from the impact, but Caesus shielded himself with a shroud of origin energy.

For a brief moment, the wall of water swallowed him, obscuring his vision.

Caesus debated leaping out of the water to assess the situation, but he hesitated. A strange instinct compelled him to stay put.

Within seconds, the reason became clear. As the water subsided, a colossal eye appeared—one shimmering with profound intelligence and ancient wisdom. The Titan Whale had surfaced its head and was staring directly at him.

"So, you took out the shark," Caesus remarked, noting the obvious. Instead of remaining silent, the Titan Whale exhaled a spray of water and projected a wave of emotion. Caesus felt a clear sense of gratitude and joy.

"You actually understand me. I suppose... that shouldn't be surprising. To crush a Tier-6 Mutant Giant Shark with a single tail strike, you must be a Mythical Creature. You are still far from being a Divine Beast, but your potential is undeniable."

The idea of hunting the Titan Whale for food vanished from Caesus' mind. With over a dozen Giant Sharks already harvested, they had enough meat for a day or two.

However, he did not leave the water just yet.

‘What if I focused more of my efforts on the ocean? Very few Lords have the courage to explore the deep. Every secret uncovered here would massively boost the standing of the Silverfang Tigerfolk.’ Caesus took a deep breath, a confident grin spreading across his face.

"Would you like to enter my service?"