The Star Alliance Council officially commenced. All participants moved into the central holographic conference chamber. In the circular room, three-dimensional screens floated midair, displaying real-time data and surveillance footage from multiple battle zones.
Orc representative Raine Drake spoke first, his tone firm and uncompromising: “We have detected five unidentified lifeforms in the western border, designated E-01 through E-05. Their appearances vary, yet all possess massive physiques, strong psychic interference capabilities, and extremely high energy absorption properties.”
“We have yet to determine their origin. The only certainty is that their range of activity is expanding, and their combat effectiveness is unusually fierce, repeatedly breaching our defenses.”
The chamber grew tense. The emergence of these unknown creatures represented the greatest variable and threat to the current war situation.
Raine gestured, and a set of holographic images materialized: a colossal creature, mountain-sized, crushing defensive fortresses beneath its feet. Its body was covered in ever-shifting crystalline patterns. Wherever it moved, the terrain cracked and buildings collapsed; energy fields twisted and tore as if the surface of the entire planet were slowly being devoured.
Raine’s voice deepened: “In just seven days, three of our outposts have fallen, with over half our personnel lost.”
Merfolk representative Navien Vissel continued, calm but with unmistakable gravity: “Not only is there energy loss—our observations also indicate an extremely penetrating psychic shockwave. Many psionic warriors lost control, some self-harming, others descending into madness.”
Scanning the room, he added: “To this day, we cannot determine whether these anomalies are high-intensity hallucinations, autonomic nervous system disruptions, or an invasive psychic assault.”
Whispers of concern and fear spread among the representatives.
Milton frowned, asking, “Do they follow a discernible pattern?”
Raine shook his head: “None at all. They seem to sweep through high-energy zones. We set bait and traps, but they avoid them in advance, as if sensing ambushes.”
Navien’s expression tightened: “If they cannot be actively neutralized, we are forced into passive defense. Worse, psychic interference has spread among civilians; some newborns already show signs of psychic imbalance—a phenomenon never before observed.”
A long-eared representative in a white robe stood anxiously: “We attempted countermeasures with interference fields and high-energy recoil weapons, but experiments show—they alter their energy structure mid-attack, absorbing the output instead. The more we attack, the stronger they become.”
A red-and-silver-armored representative of a mechanical civilization added: “Our modular systems cannot detect their life signs; even basic structural readings fail. Nanoprobes are ineffective—they appear to be a flowing energy collective without a stable material substrate.”
Unease rippled through the chamber again.
The screens shifted to show another planet, its energy exhausted in mere moments, the surface scorched into black desert, mysterious silver particles drifting through the air.
Milton’s voice cut through cold and sharp: “Their objective is to destroy all foundations that sustain civilization.”
Raine’s tone darkened: “Currently, the Alliance’s main defensive positions are in the core energy system—the Aries star system. This system contains multiple resource-rich, energy-dense planets, vital to the Alliance’s energy supply network.”
“Monsters are invading from outer sectors, targeting high-energy facilities and planetary cores, rapidly consuming surface energy and defenses, plunging several planets into darkness and crippling infrastructure.”
Navien added helplessly: “We must deploy joint defense lines across the major planets to prevent further spread and protect energy cores.”
“Elite units must confront the creatures head-on, attempting to slow their advance.”
“Additionally, we must regain control over lawless colonies and cities, restoring order and protecting civilians from chaos and harm.”
Raine’s voice lowered: “This is a war for the survival of the Alliance.”
Before he finished, Sairo Rhein abruptly stood, arrogance dripping from his tone: “The insects will handle this. No other species need interfere. You should consider only how much the insects pay—and how much you are willing to compensate.”
The chamber erupted.
“You call this a transaction?” Navien demanded coldly. “We are sacrificing soldiers and resources, and you speak only of money?”
Raine slammed the table: “If your insect forces only seek glory, stay out of the battle!”
A long-eyed representative also shouted: “Do you see this catastrophic event only in terms of profit?”
Within seconds, dozens of representatives voiced criticisms in rapid succession, chaos reigning.
Aisha stared in disbelief, whispering to Blue Dae: “This insect actually became a general… insane.”
Blue Dae snorted softly: “A common flaw of the noble system.”
In the mindscape, the little Tian Dao fell silent, murmuring: 【I think those creatures aren’t natural—they have strong psychic pollution… maybe some kind of demonic energy manifestation. But without seeing a body, I can’t be sure.】
Blue Dae nodded slightly, eyes sharpening with calm precision.
As the chamber teetered on the edge of collapse, Milton stood, his voice low but exceptionally steady: “Everyone.”
All turned to him. His measured tone cut through the noise: “Arguing now will only worsen the disaster. Focus on the priority—how do we stop it?”
He paused, then calmly proposed: “I suggest forming a cross-species joint command center, integrating forces and intelligence. All detections and combat records of E-class lifeforms must be shared in real-time. Every engaged unit must retain battle data, centrally modeled and analyzed by a joint intelligence division to discern patterns in attacks and energy absorption. Our forces will deploy first, coordinating with the merfolk and orcs at the front. Other species may participate freely.”
Silence followed for a few seconds. Raine Drake spoke first: “…The Orcs agree.”
Navien Vissel nodded: “We will cooperate as well.”
Several neutral representatives exchanged glances, expressing support.
Sairo scoffed but neither agreed nor opposed, remaining silent.
Blue Dae quietly observed his back in the hall, lips curving slightly, eyes calm as water.
【This… is the insect capable of leading a war.】
C-109 Wastestar, endless sandstorms raged, the dry air tinged with faint metallic scent. Caesar stood clad in black combat armor, the dark fabric molded to his muscular frame, shoulders steady and erect—like a lone wolf surveying the stars.
He stared across the boundless dunes, brow furrowed, voice low and steady: “Liyou, do you think—could this be the Celestial Palace? A place he once stayed?”
His fingers tightened around the green-luan flower ring on his necklace. The ring was no longer just a token; it was his sole link to the past.
In the comm-system, Liyou’s voice was icy as ever, yet tinged with rare hesitation: “Encrypted military data mentions anomalies here, possibly an unknown ancient ruin. But no detailed images or structural data remain; we cannot confirm it is the Celestial Palace.”
Caesar fell silent, scanning the lifeless land. Aside from the wind, nothing moved. A trace of coldness flickered in his eyes.
Several mechs descended, kicking up vast clouds of dust. A vicious-looking star pirate followed, kneeling on one knee, respect and suppressed fear written across his expression.
“Your Highness, we have scoured the wastestar repeatedly, but only found remnants of elite black-market squads… none survived. The ruins… show no tangible trace.”
Caesar turned, a cold smile forming: “A bunch of trash. To trap a single military general, they lost everything.”
The pirate lowered his head, sweat sliding down his brow. He knew well this military female had conquered the black market, crushed resistance alone, and killed numerous high-reward interstellar criminals. All high-grade energy cannons and forbidden weapons now belonged to her. The black market had become her private dominion, no one dared approach her newly constructed palace.
Caesar’s smile faded; his voice turned cold: “And the blue-haired female who killed all the guards—Blue Dae? And the one called Aisha? Any trace of them?”
“Highness, those names only appeared once in the mercenary registry. Likely aliases; true identities cannot be traced,” the female replied cautiously.
“Liyou, check again.” Caesar ordered.
Seconds later, the comm-system responded: “Both are currently on Onia, participating in the high-level Star Alliance meeting.”
Caesar raised an eyebrow, interest piqued: “The Alliance? Insects haven’t attended those pointless meetings for centuries. What’s happening?”
“Frontline intelligence reports recently unknown creatures appearing, with strong psychic interference, causing heavy casualties across species. The military dispatched General Milton Collins to assist,” the female replied.
“Hah—” Caesar chuckled darkly, a cold glint in his eyes. “Looks like all the insects I’m looking for have gathered at the Alliance.”
He narrowed his eyes, agitation barely restrained: “Go. Bring Milton, Blue Dae, and Aisha back. I’ll question them personally. Especially Blue Dae—I need to know who they really are.”
The female acknowledged and departed. Liyou’s voice whispered:
“Little Master… what about those creatures? Aren’t you going to intervene?”
Caesar’s eyes remained icy, prideful as always: “I have no interest in protecting this rotten world. If it weren’t for the Celestial Elder back then—this world could burn for all I care.”
The wind howled violently, whipping around him, yet failed to stir even an inch of emotion. Standing atop the wastestar, back to the endless sand, he was a harbinger of death.
This chaos had only just begun.