Chapter 2434

2434 - A Sudden Move

"...Marlik has arrived?" Finally, the look of superiority in Renara's eyes turned into anticipation.

Marlik the Butcher and his three swords were considered a legend among all the great icons in the universe.

Few had tested the power of the Cosmic Elder or The Archon, and of course even fewer had tested the power of ancient Athena... But those who had tested Marlik's power were many. That man had trampled on the heads of a massive number of Behemoths and academy heads to establish The Syndicate's footing in its early days.

If The Archon was the mind and the image, then Marlik the Butcher was the hand and the fangs. His existence was what drew the picture of the invincible Sevar.

So whoever wanted to test Marlik's power would have to ask about the power of the person who commanded him, the person who could control such a ferocious dog.

She had seen recordings of the battles between Helmor and Hedrick in Middle Sector 113, and since then she had been yearning for a fight of that level... Perhaps the time had finally come.

Some might say Marlik was stronger than Helmor, but Helmor had displayed a power far beyond any average Behemoth, a power that made even Arkail open his eyes wide as he watched. It was clear he was not constrained like the rest of the Behemoths.

As for how his power compared to Marlik's, that would be judged during the fight.

"Lady Renara... Lady Renara..." Aro began waving calmly but with a worried smile, "Wipe that look off your face, if you please. There won't be a fight between the two of you this soon."

"...?!" Renara furrowed her brows immediately, "Why? Have you found a way to stop the war?"

"...Not exactly." Aro hesitated in his reply.

"Tell her directly!" Grafour shouted at Aro.

"....." Aro let out a sigh after a quick glance toward Grafour, then smiled toward Renara, "Actually, I have two proposals. The first is that we simply attack. The war is coming inevitably, and waiting is not in our favor as before. Everyone knows the state of our supply chains... so let us advance, seize a spot in Middle Sector 89, and defend it."

Renara was surprised, "That will be difficult... with the Great Space Gates shut down and no way to launch a preemptive strike, they will know we are coming three years in advance. They will calculate our exit point and prepare an ambush for us... three years of preparation for an alliance like that is far too much."

"Look!" Grafour pointed toward her, "Even the lady here understands!"

"What is wrong with you?" Renara turned her entire body toward Grafour, "Since you arrived, I have noticed your manner is arrogant. Do you want me to redraw your facial features to adjust the way you speak to me?!"

"…." Grafour looked away in resentment, not daring to respond.

It had been a black day when he heard that scoundrel Glacion and took an oath to join them.. a black day!!

"Lady Renara," Arkail's voice finally came out since she arrived, "Brother Grafour has hot blood and cannot fully control his emotions, please just ignore whatever displeases you from him today."

"…Hmph." Renara looked back toward Aro, "It's clear you spoke about this plan before I came."

"Somewhat." Aro smiled happily at what had just happened, "Lord Grafour expressed legitimate concerns about what would happen to us if we went with this blitz approach." Then he pointed to himself, "But I have confidence that I can adjust the formation and plan so that we lose a maximum of 10% of our strength before we can uproot a solar system and begin defending and expanding it."

"10%? Do you think our forces and sons grow on trees?" Grafour shouted again, "That arrogant tone could have been spoken in the days of glory and money where you could request a replacement for whatever you destroyed and it would be sent to you without thinking twice, but now speak according to the poverty you are experiencing!"

Aro finally frowned, "The treasuries of the True Beginning Empire can still buy a few Behemoths with what they've collected over their lifetime."

"You!!"

"Enough." Renara turned toward Grafour, "Do not test my patience further." Then she waved toward Aro, "If you have a second plan, recite it. This is an extremely big risk. I have heard of your ability in military planning, but the other side were not all born yesterday either."

"This, or stay and defend." Aro shook his head, "Marlik the Butcher has just arrived at the other side and we don't know what they intend. Our chance is to take them by surprise and make them focus on defense, meaning we move immediately… If we miss the opportunity, then we must stay here, increase our defenses, and wait."

"Ugh…" Grafour wanted to say something but bit his lip and restrained himself.

"That wouldn't be right either…" Arkail spoke in a heavy voice, "We are forbidden from using the Great Space Gates, but they can use them… They can ignore us here and simply attack our galaxies directly with their Law Dominators, or head toward the intermediate Sectors 99 and 100 to destroy Lord Robin's foundations there." Then he sent a glance toward Aro, "This is why I and brother Grafour left a number of our sons in our galaxies and did not withdraw them all."

Then he turned to Renara, "And we cannot rely on going back to them for help. The Great Gates could simply be closed in our faces if we try to return. The only reason The Tyrant allows us to use them in a limited way so far is so that we don't forget them completely and they remain in our minds… But he will use them to give us a massive sting one day, without a doubt."

"What does that mean?" Renara was confused. "The Great Space Gates have paralyzed all our movements in attack and defense alike? We're now sitting in Sector 90, but the attack could strike 99 and we just watch?!"

"Actually, I wish they would attack Middle 99 where His Majesty is…" Aro muttered, "But they probably won't… Tsk tsk."

*Woosh*

At that moment, a Shadow Sword entered swiftly like a windstorm and shouted: "The united army in Middle Sector 89 has entered the Buffer Zone with hasty orders and without formations, all of them are on their way here!!"

"……"