2311 - Sector Status
Middle Sector 101 — Bright Galaxy
Here, the throne hall of the Bright Galaxy, the seat of the Ruler of Purity, the hall that once received all Behemoths and great emperors with splendor and gleaming whiteness… was dark.
Kaylis, sitting on her throne in grim silence and a gloomy atmosphere, was watching the other side of her hall, staring at a wall, as if she were asleep with her eyes open.
Her eyes…
Kaylis's captivating eyes, which had enchanted everyone who saw them, Kaylis who had been the dream of every Behemoth, every emperor, and every ruler since she appeared on the scene, until she finally announced that she had randomly married into the Pureheart Family, a weak man who lived in her shadow, and died a happy death in his bed after a few thousand years of life and fruitful procreation.
A man who lived to be a breeding stallion, a means for Kaylis to have children to strengthen the family and secure her rights, a means to ward off the powerful suitors who would have cast her into their shadows and swallowed her family… a means to keep Darvion away.
But he lived contentedly; he slept beside the woman who was the dream of all the universe's leaders, the woman who was the heroine in the dreams of every man who had seen her.
The woman who, if you looked at her now, would make your senses tremble and you would look away…
Her enchanting eyes, once beautiful, were now sunken and hollow, her face thin with protruding bones, her hair barely styled, and her lips dry.
It was a look befitting a woman who had lived on the streets for years… not the pure Kaylis.
Step. Step.
"Mother," from the open door, a girl entered with hurried steps, "we need to talk."
"Hmm?" Kaylis turned toward the source of the sound with an unsteady expression, "Serine?" Then she asked in surprise, "…What do you want?"
"I want to move the army." Serine, the girl with thick curly hair, showed a serious expression, "And I want it to happen immediately."
"…Has something new happened?" Kaylis asked without energy, as if the question itself exhausted her.
"The war front has calmed down, and no one expects anyone to make a move. It's time to strike our blow." Serine continued, "…After the initial rage of the Cursed Darvion's sons, following the killing of their eldest brother and their rampage throughout the Sector, things are no longer as dangerous as before. We can move."
"…." Kaylis showed a faint smile, "Their rampage has lessened, and their movements have become calculated—not because they've grown weary or afraid of anything, but because they've already gotten what they wanted."
She continued, “…All the capitals of the Six Greats were attacked, and each one fled more than once using random Displacement Gear. Several of their major planets were also destroyed—planets of industrial, storage, and military importance—all gone to waste… The so-called Six Greats were humiliated in every possible way, and aggressive action against them no longer yields any results.”
“…All the other forces in the Sector are exhausted; they have depleted their troops and ceased resistance. Every ruler has two spaceships hidden underground and no longer wishes to deploy them offensively or defensively. No one wants to take on the role, no one wants to pay more for a war that isn’t theirs… Most of the hundred or less powers have already accepted the fact that Darvion is their new master.”
Then a sound that resembled a laugh escaped her nose, “Even the armies of the Six Greats no longer appear anywhere; they have vanished. In fact, even the Note Fleets, which achieved several major successes, no longer exists.” She then turned toward Serine, “Under those circumstances, do we say that Darvion’s sons have calmed down, or do we say that their enemies have surrendered and no longer have an opponent?”
“…” Serine looked down. “I’ve always told you not to trust that person called Lord Human. He’s using us and everyone else. He supplies weapons and vehicles, but he never sends any real experts to help. What can we do with weapons and vehicles against Royal Spirit Masters of the Seventh Level and above?” Then she stared into her mother’s eyes. “I still believe your agreements with him are unfair and unjust.”
“…I didn’t have many options.” Kaylis turned her gaze away again.
“What about now?!” Serine spoke quickly. “Cancel that so-called partnership and reclaim your position, since we’re not benefiting from him anyway.”
“…I still don’t have options.” Kaylis chuckled. “Even if it’s only equipment and money, without what the Shadow Swords do, we wouldn’t be standing here talking right now. The Arrays they bring for those six, the endless Pearls, the Healing Talismans, and the nearly unlimited funding—whether in resources or information—are what keep them alive, present… and keep the Sector in a state of calm rather than total submission to Darvion.”
"...." Serine nodded. "I have a solution." Then she lifted her head slightly. "Give me the army and twenty of my brothers. I will exploit the calm here and lead them all toward Middle Sector 102. We can use the Forced Purification Properties to defeat Darvion's Retinue. Over there, he has no more than 500 Fleets and 10 of his sons. We can win!"
"Heh~" Kaylis laughed. "First, Darvion alone could tear all of you apart." Then she turned to her. "Second, you are not allowed to leave the Sector. That violates my agreement with the Shadow Swords regarding you."
"Are you still going to bring up that agreement?!" Serine shouted. "Your empire is crumbling while you wither away here in depression and a sense of failure, yet I'm the one who has to marry a stranger? Let me lead the army, and let us die with honor on the front lines. That would be better for me and the entire family. At least history would record something honorable about us instead of this farce!"
"Silence!" Kaylis finally showed some emotion in her voice. "I have enough enmity with the Cursed Galaxy as it is. I will not go now and break my agreements with the Shadow Swords, nor will I allow you to run into the arms of your knight in shining armor. Learn to control yourself. Your father wasn't even someone I knew—he was assigned to me on our wedding day after the pressure mounted against me!"
Serine pressed her hand firmly against the side of her head. "What does any of this have to do with me? I am no Behemoth, and I have no dreams of—"
*Huum*
At that moment, a rectangular golden door appeared at the side of the hall.
"...?!" Serine recoiled backward, and her mother rose from her throne, her eyes emitting a destructive gleam. Both of them braced for battle.
Then, step, step.
"...Richard?"