2226 - The Rigid Ones
Mid Sector 99, Planet Necropolis
The Meeting and Command Hall, where Marshal Aru holds all his internal meetings. This place is always bustling with Planetary Generals, intelligence officers, and administrators seeking advice and orders. The Marshal used to spend most of his time here, unless he was inside one of the Note Supremacy-4 vehicles, personally leading one of his invasions.
Now, the Marshal has left to fight in the adjacent Sector 98. He has accumulated negative karma and is currently in the recovery phase, unaware of anything happening outside.
But this hall did not empty.
There was, naturally, someone who took the Marshal's place to manage the affairs of the sector... someone who learned a great deal from Aru, and taught him a great deal in return!
"Has Servon sent anything yet?" Supreme General Haros spoke with suppressed calm; anyone watching him for a moment would notice his tension.
Haros was the youngest and smartest of the Marshals under the Great Serpent Empire, and one of the first people to witness the rise of the Third Army. He was also the one who taught Marshal Aru all his limited knowledge of interplanetary warfare at the beginning of the journey, giving the Third Army a stronger start than the rest.
In the past, Haros would never have dared to sit while a number of Nexus States stood around him, addressing each of them as Supreme Master centuries ago… but now, not only did it happen, but he also gave them orders, each one governing a wing subordinate to a great empire that he himself commanded!
"Supreme General Servon has not responded to our messages," one of the Nexus States spoke seriously. "Should we send a force to check on him?"
"…" Haros stared at the map before him for a few moments. "We will wait a little longer. If my fears prove true and he is harmed in any way, what we send will not be merely a force to retrieve him, but our entire army."
Servon is the Seventh Prince of the Great Serpent Empire, the smartest follower of Pythor, and the highest-ranking officer in the empire at that time among Helen's officers, due to his shrewdness and choice of winning battles.
Servon was left with his siblings, the Three Witches, to reorganize the Third Army in the Young Belt and quickly annex planets to expand the Nihari Galaxy. He completed his duty to perfection, even continuously sending support to Aru in the Middle Belt without complaint.
But he was summoned after Aru left, to take on the role of assistant and secretary… a role Haros once held.
But he did not enjoy his new position for long. Just a few months after he began his service, the Millennium Eternal Chaos Empire sent a messenger, saying they wished to negotiate.
They added no other word.
By that time, Marshal Aru was wreaking havoc in the Sorcerer Galaxy, and the Vast Ice Empire had announced their annexation as a wing of the Grave Empire.
So everyone thought the Millennium Eternal Chaos Empire would also announce its surrender.
Thus, Servon was sent, along with the Three Witches, to discuss the terms...
That was six months ago.
Since that day, Servon has not left the Throne Hall after entering it, nor has he communicated with them, whether for good or ill.
Months passed. All forces of the Grave Empire were tense, ready to move if Haros declared war on the Millennium Eternal Chaos Empire, or if confirmation came that something had happened to Servon.
Then a war would erupt that would turn Mid Sector 99 upside down. In fact, it would encompass the entire sector.
A war between the Grave Empire and the Millennium Eternal Chaos Empire would have devastating effects that no one wanted to see.
“…Maintain combat readiness.” Haros rubbed his forehead, hesitant to make the major decision. “I will contact the Shadow Swords again to find a way to approach the Throne Hall and find out what’s going on. Perhaps I’ll speak directly to First Sword Theo this time.”
Then he sighed and pointed at a specific person. “Alright, as for your matter, you will—”
Bam
Someone rushed through The Gate in panic. “Sir, the Imperial Guard is evacuating all royal Spirit Masters from the planet!!”
“What?!” Haros shot up.
Beside the palace gate—
Whoosh. A person wearing the distinctive attire of the Burton Family’s Spirit Masters landed, then stared suspiciously into the eyes of the person standing by the gate. “What exactly is happening? Why weren’t we informed in advance so we could prepare for the relocation?”
“An emergency situation. You’ll find out on the other side. Please proceed, sir!” Wade gestured toward The Gate and spoke with polished words, but with a sharp tone and a threatening glare.
“…” The Spirit Master was taken aback by the manner, but entered The Gate in silence.
Wade, Malik, and the other Imperial Guard leaders held a rank just below The Three Marshals.
But even the Three Marshals cannot give them orders—that's what makes them special. Only His Majesty commands the Imperial Guard. If one day He told them to kill the Three Marshals or destroy the Grave Empire, they would not hesitate!
Wade's presence here means it is something related to His Majesty—that is certain.
Shadow Sword arrived quickly and landed beside Wade, but this time he was not wearing the attire of the Royal Spirit Masters. "Legion Commander Wade?" Haros was surprised. "I was not informed that you were here yourself."
Then he looked toward another Royal Soul Master who was leaving. "What is happening?!" Haros asked in panic.
The squad of Royal Spirit Masters stationed there was the second line of defense after the Arrays, and the first psychological support line for everyone in the Empire. Everyone felt reassured by their presence in the event of a war against the ongoing Chaos Empire… Their departure was a major blow.
"A small problem on Planet Donara." Wade shot a meaningful glance at Haros. "We may need more support."
"Donara?!" Haros understood quickly.
The planet where His Majesty resides, where the Gate that spews Space Beasts is located… Something had certainly happened there—something very big!
"Shall I gather the Wing Commanders for you?!" Haros asked quickly. What was happening in Donara was far more important than anything else, by a huge margin.
But he soon shook his head, knowing that Wade would absolutely refuse.
"No, the oath they took isn't harsh enough for us to trust them to that extent." Wade began advancing toward the Gate. "But tell them to stay ready... perhaps we'll need them, who knows."
Haros watched Wade disappear through the Gate behind the last Royal Soul Master on the planet's surface, then felt his steps falter slightly.
Just how bad was the situation there?!