Chapter 2421

2421 - The Quiet Sector

Middle Sector 114

Not so long ago, this was one of the safest and most peaceful sectors.

Under the Cosmic Elder's instructions, Kiryān the Conqueror was unable to invade it, and under Helmor's watchful eyes, Kiryān never attempted to approach it further. Also, by nature, Kiryān was not fond of it.

He took the title "the Conqueror" because of his fighting style and the difficult path he carved from poverty until he became a Behemoth through Soul Power, with techniques he created himself. But afterward, he calmed down and devoted himself to taking disciples, and looking after his disciples' disciples, and his disciples' disciples' disciples...

Kiryān decided to invest in humans, not stone.

That is why he managed to halt Helmor's invasion to some extent.

Helmor, who came with fifty soldiers, and personally, found an enormous number of Kiryān's direct and indirect disciples who put their lives on the line for the galaxy, for their teacher... This alone enabled Kiryān to hold out until reinforcements arrived.

But even after they arrived, the Note Fleets were not capable of fighting soldiers; they only gave them hope that they were supported, and that strengthened them more, pushed them further into the bloody battle...

Beside a man like that, Sector 114 lived in prosperity without any interference, without fear of conspiracies, without major wars...

But not anymore—

*Swoooosh*

*BOOOOOOM*

The space of Middle Sector 114 turned into daylight, as shells from spacecraft and others did not stop for a moment.

The scale of the clash was heartbreaking; from the first glance, no one knew who was striking whom, but without a doubt, there was a massive battlefield stretching across an area nearly the size of a cosmic field.

*Swoosh*

A full fleet passed at that moment in the shape of a spear, with small combat vehicles forming the outer edges.

Note's Fleet.

Behind that fleet was a man with white hair chasing them, firing small, rapid projectiles from his eyes, each projectile turning one of the vehicles into something resembling powder. "You are delaying the inevitable," that man muttered.

*Hum* At that moment, space tore open destructively, and a fist emerged from it, striking the man's chin from the side and sending him flying.

"Gahh!!" The white-haired man managed to stop himself after a long distance. With a swift motion, he snapped his dislocated jaw back into place, then stared at the spot from which the blow had come.

Then he narrowed his eyes, "Helen..."

*Repeat* The destroyed spatial rift expanded further, and out of it stepped a breathtakingly beautiful girl. "My name is Third Sister, O one of the Second Tier."

"Your name is Dead Sister." *Zing* The man drew a short blade and nearly lunged at her.

"Wait."

At that moment, a thunderous sound struck the area.

"..." The white-haired man halted, then sheathed his blade and shot off in a different direction without a moment's hesitation.

"...?" Helen, however, stared in a certain direction with furrowed brows—she knew that sound all too well.

*Whoosh* Space opened like a blooming rose, and out stepped Helmor, hands clasped behind his back, gazing directly into Helen's eyes. "It's been a long time."

"...Not long enough." Helen turned to face him fully, then took a step back.

"You disappointed me by choosing to side with my enemy in this war... Helen." Helmor spoke calmly. "Could you not have stayed in the rear and watched, as your other useless siblings do?"

"Perhaps I simply didn't want to be called useless." Helen flashed a strange smile. "Besides, I haven't joined any enemy—I've joined my eldest brother."

"Same thing." Helmor raised his head slightly. "Come to my side; there's still a place for you... You are one of my finest works."

"Thank you for the praise, but there was no lost love between us. What my brother saw in you was due to his accident—I saw it in your eyes since I first became aware of the world." Helen spoke with steady, piercing eyes. "I always felt you weren't human, that something in you was dead and I couldn't pinpoint it. I never felt at ease with you… And looking at the Second Tier Brothers, it seems you've passed that trait on to them."

"You're making a grave mistake." Helmor narrowed his eyes slightly. "Roosters can fight each other over leadership of the coop as much as they like, but in the end they're still inside the coop—their boundaries are the same and their fate is one… You should leave the rooster fights, little hen, and think of a way to jump over the coop's fence. That's something I can help you with."

*WOOOOOM*

At that moment, space split open and a figure emerged with a wide smile on his face… Hedrick.

"Well, well." Hedrick chuckled. "Did the quarter-century meeting happen without anyone telling me?"

"…." Helmor cast a glance at Hedrick, then returned his gaze directly to Helen's eyes. "Think about what we discussed." Then he waved her off.

"…." Helen furrowed her brows tightly, then turned quietly toward her brother.

"Go." Hedrick nodded. "This place will become unsafe shortly."

After a final exchange of glances, Helen sighed, then turned and left the place. "Fine."

Only then did Hedrick laugh. "You're filthy, Helmor."

"That's no way to speak to your father." Helmor the Destroyer turned his entire body to face Hedrick.

"You don't deserve the title of Father." Hedrick stopped laughing and wore an angry expression. "Think about what we discussed... What a thing to say the moment I bring her here." Then he let out a puff of air. "So now, am I supposed to doubt her and stop relying on her because you whispered magic words to her? Perhaps I should kill her myself to end the doubt? And you pull this move on your *favorite* daughter of them all? What a dirty move."

"..." Helmor showed a faint smile. "I taught you well, but what a pity." Then he raised his hand and tapped his head twice. "Your mindset is not that of a leader, nor even that of a loyal soldier... but that of a lone rebel—useful only for a little exploitation until the right moment comes to dispose of it."

Then, with the same finger, he pointed at Hedrick. "Soon your new lord will realize this trait in you and dispose of you in whatever way he deems fit as well... that is, if I don't kill you both before then."

*Clang* A long sword appeared in Hedrick's hand. "Come on, kill me."

It was clear that his father's words had affected him; the anger on his face was unmistakable.

"Again?" Helmor laughed. "How many times have you fought us since this campaign began? Every time, you end up retreating."

"Three times... The first time, I was badly wounded after experiencing your true power for the first time." Hedrick nodded. "The second time, a single injury. And the third, I retreated without a scratch."

Then he began to advance. "I want to see what happens on the fourth."

*Whoosh*