"Is there any new developnt regarding the Millennial Holva Empire and their ally making gas?" Wing Master Howard tightened his gelatinous brows even more, his voice carrying a faint tremor of unease. "Their recent movents
have been increasingly suspicious, even I noticed it."
"Indeed." Aro nodded slowly, his expression displaying a deep, simring concern-though still far from panic. "As everyone is well aware, the Millennial Holva Empire has already ford an alliance with another millennial empire. They've begun gathering supporters one after another, and every entity they contact is at least a Centurial Empire or stronger." He let his gaze deliberately sweep across all those present, as if weighing their reactions. "But just recently, we received a report stating that they are now communicating with a third millennial empire-and this ti the formation of a major alliance seems dangerously close."
"The third one?!"
"How many millennial empires even exist in the entirety of Middle Sector 99 to begin with? Aren't there only three in total?"
"Which ans the last one must be..."
"The Eternal Chaos Empire..."
The room erupted into murmurs. A tense shiver ran through nearly half the attendees, and beads of sweat began forming on several foreheads despite the controlled atmosphere.
The Eternal Chaos Empire governs more than seven thousand planets within a single, colossal starfield. They are the unquestioned rulers of that starfield-no Centurial Empire is even permitted to establish a foothold there. Even the smaller empires and minor kingdoms residing within its borders are forced to pay massive tributes every year just to remain as tolerated subordinates.
And the Millennial Eternal Chaos Empire doesn't rely rule a starfield; they stand as the strongest power in the entire Middle Sector 99. Their dominion is led by TWO Seventh-Stage Law wielders-two beings who have stepped firmly into the fearso Law Domination Realm long ago!!
They are also considered one of the most respected and fearso entities. After attaining overwhelming might, they ceased all external wars and abandoned the habit of provoking conflicts altogether. They beca fully satisfied with expanding and maintaining their vast, resource-rich starfield. Whenever they forged new fleets or expanded their armies, they simply dispatched them to peacefully-at least from their perspective-colonize yet another planet within their starfield filled with countless celestial bodies.
Of course, that so-called peaceful colonization usually cos at the cost of millions, sotis billions, of native inhabitants. Yet for all the surrounding powers, this is still considered the best-case scenario. Let the Eternal Chaos Empire expand inside its own starfield as much as it wants-and let them leave the rest of the sector intact!
"...There's no way the Millennial Eternal Chaos Empire would truly agree to join a grand alliance against us, right? They haven't involved themselves in any alliances or external wars beyond their starfield for nearly three million years!" The crowned woman whispered anxiously, her tone betraying how tense she had beco.
"I already dispatched envoys to the Millennial Eternal Chaos Empire the mont the information reached ," Aro said, his voice heavy. "I offered them colossal trade deals, enormous weapon-manufacturing agreents, and long-term economic cooperation. I even sent proposals for peace treaties and detailed non-aggression pacts. I gave them everything imaginable that could possibly convince them to view us as potential allies." Once more, he swept his gaze slowly across the entire assembly.
After a brief, heavy pause, he continued, "But none of their representatives ca out to et the envoys. They kept them waiting at the palace gate for three full days... and then simply ordered them to leave."
Crack
"They're pushing their contempt far... far beyond anything acceptable!!"
A number of the attendees clenched their hands so tightly that their knuckles cracked. This was one of the deepest insults any great force could deliver-only the direct execution of the envoys would surpass such disrespect.
The ssage couldn't have been clearer:
We do not view you as enemies significant enough to kill, nor as allies worthy of reception.
We do not acknowledge your existence at all.
"Can you really bla them?" Ranther said, his tone carrying a mixture of resignation and admiration. "The Millennial Eternal Chaos Empire possesses a history that reaches back more than thirty-five million years. Their legacy is practically older than most civilizations in Sector 99. They command nearly seven thousand planets that obey their rule without question, and they maintain close to a thousand fleets-massive armada backed by an overwhelming arsenal of inherited weapons and armor, all forged and preserved over millions upon millions of years with obsessive care and unmatched craftsmanship."
He rubbed his chin slowly. "Even if we ignore the sheer number of World Cataclysms they have, or the terrifying number of their Nexus State... the simple fact that they have two Guardians alone in enough!"
He then turned to the other Wing Lords beside him, his expression growing more serious. "Let's not forget that Lord Hedrick is leading an entire cosmic war even though his empire held only five thousand planets at its peak. He alone is the singular Monarch of that empire, its first and only cornerstone." He shook his head again, almost in disbelief. "By comparison, the Millennial Eternal Chaos Empire surpasses us in raw numbers, accumulated armant, historical depth, legacy strength, and even the number of internal power centers. They are superior on every asurable front."
"Lord Hedrick, the Son of Destruction, could still crush the two Guardians of the Millennial Eternal Chaos Empire without difficulty," the newest Wing Lord declared confidently, waving his hand as if it were obvious.
"I'm not going to argue that point," Ranther replied, "but can he physically appear in two places at the exact sa ti? They will not stand there and wait
for death."
"......."
"All right, there's no reason for us to waste ti bickering about details like this." Aro lifted his hand and the room imdiately quieted. After a brief pause, he continued, his voice steady but weighted with responsibility. "Even if we leave the Millennial Eternal Chaos Empire out of the equation entirely, we still face two other millennial empires that have already agreed to attack us. They have begun gathering their forces in complete secrecy, mobilizing their armies and fleets to launch a covert strike at the exact mont we least expect it."
A thin, mocking smile crept across Aro's face. "Our greatest advantage right now is that they have no idea that we know. That ignorance gives us a tiny window-a chance to actually take action before they do."
"Action like what?" The man with the antler-like horn furrowed his brows deeper, clearly unsettled. Even imagining confrontation with a single millennial empire was a nightmare; three was nearly unthinkable.
"First," Aro said, "I will try everything possible to expand trade with them, to send treaties, agreents, diplomatic gestures-anything that maintains the illusion that we are unaware of their intentions. If we notice even the slightest slowdown in their mobilization or interruptions in the pace of their outreach to other forces, then we can conclude that we've successfully defused the crisis."
But then his expression darkened noticeably. "However, if they continue contacting us while simultaneously continuing their buildup... then our list of options will shrink to almost nothing."
"We would end up fighting three millennial empires at once?" Wing Master Howard swallowed hard, his throat tightening.
"No," Aro said sharply, slamming his palm on the table with a loud thud. "We will
attack three millennial empires!" His voice rose, filled with fierce determination. "Why in the world would we wait until they finish all their preparations and march straight to our doorstep? Why allow them the
advantage of choosing the battlefield?"
Clamor! Clamor!
The room erupted in shocked murmurs as several Wing Lords recoiled from
the sudden declaration.
"Marshal Aro, I appreciate your enthusiasm, I genuinely do," the green-skinned
man said with a deep frown, "but don't let pride blind you. Do not forget who we are dealing with here. We don't even have a single Guardian on our side!" "It's fine, it's fine-" Aro said lightly, waving off the concern with a wide grin stretching almost from ear to ear. "They have their strengths, and we have our own... unique advantages." His grin widened even further. "Now that I think about it-rumor has it that Sky Opening City has been cooking up sothing enormous lately... sothing so groundbreaking it might just redefine the entire balance of the ga."
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