Centaurus had just one rank 5, only four rank 4s. The pillars of the Duchy had always been the rank 3s.
Despite its expanse and population, it had only a limited of these. Even if the 500 billion population was searched, one wouldn't find more than a hundred rank 3s.
The official number was always less because a lot of rank 3s when facing the end of their lives would go into a secluded retreat for one last try or just give up the divine paths altogether and live a normal life.
In everyone's minds, even if the sky fell, they would be there to hold it up. For a province like Barix, rank 3s were supposed to their rulers. But thanks to Lord Jorand's unexpected resources, they become important fighting forces.
Even though they were disadvantaged against the Duchy's forces, thanks to the traitors that emerged at unexpected moments, the province's rank 3s now had a definitive edge.
