Chapter 2401

2401 - The First

After another week— Middle Sector 98

*Crackle*

The sound of communication devices in the spacecraft began to buzz with excitement

*Crackle—crackle—*

"Ladies and gentlemen, followers of the True Beginning Empire..."

Aru's voice exploded into the ears of every officer, every soldier, and every admiral.

"...We have won."

*BOOM*

The massive Note Fleets, about 140 fleets remaining, all fired celebratory salvos into space as they advanced in a calculated spherical formation and a tight defensive arrangement... even after the declaration of victory, none of them relaxed their defenses.

Even Renara—

*THUD*

Renara landed on the ground of the Cursed Planet with furrowed brows, clutching her spear tightly as if afraid of losing it.

*Step* *Step*

With majesty and grace, Renara began to advance, her nine tails playing behind her back.

Wherever she cast her gaze, there were hundreds of people fallen to their knees—women and men, children and slaves, humans and others... all on their knees and palms.

Everyone here had seen or heard of Renara's power and what the Galaxy Defenses had done over the past weeks; no one wanted to test her further.

And also... if any one of them raised their eyes, they would find thousands of war vehicles gleaming in space... The war had ended and the Seed had been besieged; those vehicles could rain down upon the planet and destroy it with just a signal from the horned Marshal, Aru!

"..." Renara halted after a few steps, then called out in a loud voice, "Zargul!!"

"......"

"Zargul, you cowardly scoundrel, here I stand in the very heart of your domain!" Renara brandished the spear seriously, "Come out and face me, come out and bring whatever sons you have left—I alone will take care of all of you, here in the heart of your planet!"

"......"

Renara began releasing her spiritual sense wildly in every direction, her irritation growing.

She had advanced with the army with caution and discipline so as not to give Zargul and his sons any chance to destroy it, and despite that, more than 50 Fleets had been destroyed in total.

Now, finally, she had reached the heart of the Galaxy, awaiting the greatest test of her new power—the Sorcerer Behemoth, supported by the Galactic Seed... but he had not appeared!

The mere thought that he had waited until the planet was completely besieged was strange, for those vehicles could destroy the planet and severely weaken it if a major battle broke out, so everyone was on high alert in case a trap had been set...

But apparently, there was nothing!!

...Renara gestured to those around her, "You there, where is your Lord?"

"Y-Your Mistress," one of the people dressed in royal attire stammered, "that filthy Father called Zargul hasn't appeared for 8 full days now—he must have fled."

"Fled?!" Renara exclaimed, "How could he flee and leave his polished planet vulnerable to attack?!"

Of course, the idea of Zargul changing the planet's coordinates was something not up for debate.

First, the Galactic Spirit would revert to merely a planet's spirit if that happened and it left its place. Second, changing the location would still be within the same Sector and would be found again. Third, only he could change the coordinates and move the planet, which meant he would remain bound to the planet, jumping with it from one set of coordinates to another every time it was found—and that would drag his reputation through the mud if he did it.

There were only two options... stay and benefit from the Galactic Spirit's power and defend.

Or abandon everything and flee, bearing whatever consequences would follow.

Could he really have chosen the second?!

"What is that person trying to do..." Renara furrowed her brows tightly, then soared and shot *bam* toward the Imperial Palace.

*Whoosh, bam*—Renara pierced through the palace's suspended dome and entered the hall that looked as if it were made of dark clouds, and immediately made her way to the throne... and sat upon it.

Then she placed both hands on the arms of the throne and began looking around her with defiance.

If there was any final trap, it had to be here.

"..." After a full minute of silence, Renara's expression showed increasing irritation, "That bastard actually fled our fight?! Tsk..."

Then she looked around and snapped her finger, "Show yourself, don't force me to visit you in your domain, or else the meeting will be unpleasant for you."

*Whoosh* The air around Renara began to condense until it took the form of a strange-looking woman in her thirties.

She wore loose gray robes from the waist down, held both hands in front of her navel, and her face revealed nothing but a small black mouth and gray skin, while her eyes were covered by two identical leaves that looked like somber talismans.

"Where is your master?" Renara immediately recognized who stood before her.

"He has left, taking his remaining elder sons with him. I heard him speak of seeking refuge with the Syndicate." The Galactic Spirit replied calmly and directly.

"How is that possible when we didn't spot him at the Great Space Gate?!" Renara stood up nervously.

"..." The Galactic Spirit shrugged.

"Tsk." Renara took two steps to the side, "Did he abandon you?"

"No, Zargul the Sorcerer is still my Lord." The Galactic Spirit replied directly.

"Interesting..." Instead of being annoyed, Renara showed a wide smile. "Show me your core, and I'll polish it for myself."

*Hoooom* The Galactic Spirit brought out a dark, circular object that began to float between it and Renara.

From behind that sphere, the Galactic Spirit's calm voice emerged once more. "I warn you before we begin—my Lord abandoned it because he knows no one can destroy his imprint. He is a Ten-Star Soul Master, after all."

In truth, this was one of the strongest reasons that gave the Ten-Star Soul Master the title of Behemoth. For even if a powerful Monarch could somehow defeat him and drive him away, he could never wrest the galaxy from him!!

"Ten-Star Soul Master?" Renara smiled and extended her arm. The Five-pointed Golden Seal appeared on her forehead and began to rotate slowly. "We'll see about that."

In the middle Sector 750—

"Damn it!" Zargul kicked one of the chairs in his small room, shattering it.

"Calm down, Father. Things aren't that bad!" One of the fifteen boys in the small room spoke up, all of them wearing grim expressions as they stared downward.

"Not that bad? Marlik the Butcher doesn't even want to meet me—we only saw one member of his retinue and were left here. They think we're useless now!" Zargul gazed into the distance, his Eye gleaming with malice. "But it's fine, it's fine..."

Then he smiled. "My galaxy will remain mine—no one will touch it until I return victorious. Just wait, Robin Burton, wait for the day when—...? AAAAAAAAH!!!!"