Chapter 2422

2422 - Love of the Game for Its Own Sake

Middle Sector 107—

At this moment, Zavarus was seated on a massive couch on a densely forested planet, gazing at the horizon. His eyes were not attempting to appreciate the planet's beauty, but rather piercing beyond it… From that very spot, Zavarus could see the Buffer Zone leading toward Middle Sector 108.

With a motionless expression but eyes gleaming with seriousness… it was clear he intended something.

Nearly two decades had passed since he officially joined under Lord Robin's cloak and swore a solemn oath of loyalty to him, bowing his head in shame… And since then, much had changed.

His dominion over Middle Sector 105 was not stripped away—rather, it was reinforced, and the Galaxy was strengthened to a level it had never witnessed before or even approached.

He was not hemmed in—rather, he was supported to take control of Sectors 106 and 107, gaining a territory he had never held before. The Shadow Swords had even contacted the powers of that region beforehand, telling them that their safe path lay in coordinating with Zavarus and heeding him, granting him immense prestige!

And yet… Zavarus still felt neglected.

All the other Behemoths were engaging in real action, real expansion, orchestrating and storming into colossal wars. All of them were at the forefront, dominating the headlines—while he remained tethered here.

There is no need to discuss what is about to erupt in Middle Sector 89; the entire universe is watching. Anyone with even a shred of importance knows what is happening. The hordes of lone trainees for whom Lord Robin laid out a carpet to launch from have already begun migrating there to volunteer for the war that will destroy an entire sector.

The war that will either stop the True Beginning Empire in its tracks or establish its prestige forever.

That war involves the Behemoth of Gravity, the Behemoth of Time, Marshal Aro with his full forces, the Shadow Swords with the military legion that recently appeared, and even a staggering number of Imperial Guard.

The movement of all these forces will be terrifying... truly terrifying.

But these are the men of the Eastern Region; he cannot complain that he is not part of it.

But why is Kiryān expanding and fighting several Millennium Empires with the Syndicate's support in Sectors 116 and 117, and preparing to invade 118 as well, all on his own?!

He was completely excused from the mission of fighting Helmor and given the mission of *conquering* the neighboring sectors.

On one hand, they want to exploit his offensive and expansionist abilities, which he excels at—every one of his disciples can lead a Star Field alone... and on the other hand, it is a slap and an insult to Helmor.

Of course, Helmor was not pleased with that. After his entire army arrived at Middle Sector 114, he prepared to attack and eliminate Middle Sector 115 once and for all. Yes... Helmor declared that he would destroy the entire sector then.

But the response was decisive and swift.

Deputy Marshal Peon sent a thousand Note-4 fleets—nearly everything the First Army possessed—and dispatched a number of Royal Soul Masters. He also requested support from Kaylis, Zavarus, and Kiryān, taking five sons or disciples from each one...

That colossal squadron appeared in Middle Sector 115 suddenly and surged toward the border, breaching it immediately.

At the same time, Lord Hedrick had emerged from his seclusion and held a ceremony celebrating his coronation as Behemoth over the Fundamental Law of Destruction—a self-proclaimed, usurped coronation that no one managed to utter a single word against.

Hedrick left the ceremony that day and headed toward Middle 114 through a great Space Gate. There, he attacked Helmor the Destroyer's army and inflicted heavy losses upon it, scattered the Formation, and prevented them from advancing, trapping them within the sector.

True, Helmor eventually came and inflicted severe wounds upon Hedrick, but he managed to retreat with his life, and to wound Helmor himself during the battle—in a monumental event that shook the universe.

Over three years, Hedrick continued harassing Helmor's forces, until finally, reinforcements arrived from Middle 114, and from that moment, the real war began.

A colossal war between two great powers has been raging for years now, with no clear sign of who will emerge victorious.

But once again in that war, the Note-4 Fleets proved to be the greatest force in the universe so far… a thousand fleets fighting against four thousand fleets belonging to Helmor, yet they remain steadfast, their numbers dwindling slowly, causing great concern and forming an impenetrable wall against any attempt to approach Sector 114.

Destroying the sector? Entering it has become forbidden.

As for who will win in Middle 114… no one knows. Even the inhabitants there are terrified because of the number of planets destroyed every day.

For the two sides are not fighting over conquest and control—rather, it is a war of pure destruction on land that is neutral to them… In the meantime, local powers are communicating with both the Shadow Swords and the Syndicate's representatives to decide which side they will fight for so that this nightmare can end quickly.

And by the way…

This was the first military appearance of the Shadow Swords Wing—the assassination, deep-strike destruction, and sabotage operations carried out against the local forces of Middle Sector 114 that had submitted to the Syndicate became required study material in military science... So devastating was the carnage that rumors spread they were the silent counterpart of the black wasps.

...Unaware that they had, in fact, trained under them.

Three great epics were currently unfolding, each with its own character, splendor, and followers.

Among them was... Zavarus, sitting and watching from Middle Sector 107.

*Crack* Zavarus clenched his hand and stood up, "Is everything ready?!"

*Whoosh* One of Zavarus's sons approached quickly, "Yes, Your Majesty, all our armies have been summoned and stationed near the Buffer Zone."

"Good, we move now!" Zavarus shouted.

"...Would it not be better to wait for the Shadow Swords' report?" Zavarus's son advised, "Helmor the Destroyer has invested heavily in the defenses of Middle Sector 108—a full fortress and a number of his sons await us there."

"If I cannot even breach a sector like 108 on my own, then I had better go back and play in beast dung as I used to, and stop embarrassing myself!!" Zavarus roared as he began to rise, "Advance!!"