Chapter 523: Ch

"That only means that the enemy was far more prepared than we thought to let this leak happen just like that. I would not have known either if not for the price that the Seventh Elder paid."

The Supreme Elder, while speaking, looked at the little pale Seventh Elder, who simply nodded his head. "Something big is definitely coming for us, and for the future, something we can’t see through. It is covered by a dense fog."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "But there, in this darkness, lies a bright, shining light, proving that there is a way for us even in this storm. That is, if we manage to survive."

"After a period of weakness, the Star Empire will definitely rise once again and reach a level similar to those Tier 3 super states. But for that, your preparations are not enough." The Supreme Elder’s expression became solemn.

"Call the Dragon Star and Phoenix Star Legions, along with the Star Sword and Star Shield Legions as well." The Supreme Elder ordered.

"Hmm, take this as well."

As if thinking of something, the Supreme Elder flicked his finger, and a token-like object flashed and appeared before the Star Emperor’s eyes, hovering in the air.

On it was written: Annihilation Legion.

The Star Emperor was dumbfounded, and so were the other elders sitting among the pillars.

"Supreme Elder, the Fourth Elder just—"

The Fourth Elder had just begun speaking, but he quickly shut up when he felt the gaze of the Supreme Elder.

"Now is not the time for this and that, Fourth Elder. We have reached a critical juncture of our lifetime. We have reached a curve that we had always been looking for but never reached, and now we are about to reach it."

"But the dangers ahead are not simple, as I have told you and as the Seventh Elder has told you."

The Supreme Elder pulled himself back before continuing again as an overwhelming aura surged around him.

"So we must pull out all the stops and hold nothing back! Whatever can be converted into strength, we shall convert it. And we shall use it! Do you understand?"

His gaze swept across all the elders.

"Do you all understand?"

"When the time comes, I’ll demand your all, and you must give me that no matter what!"

"Yes, Supreme Elder." All the elders solemnly nodded their heads while also understanding the hidden meaning behind the Supreme Elder’s words.

’You all must stop fighting amongst yourselves. All the plotting and planning should be put aside for now.’

While the elders conversed with each other, the dumbfounded Star Emperor was now overtaken by excitement as he looked at the floating dark object. He was barely containing himself from reaching out and taking it immediately.

For this was a symbol of true power.

To take control of the Annihilation Legion meant that he could stand on equal footing against the other elders, though just below the Supreme Elder.

That alone was more than enough to make him excited.

The Supreme Elder, seeing that the others had agreed and understood his hidden meaning, looked back at the Star Emperor, whose excitement was completely out in the open.

The Supreme Elder shook his head with some disappointment.

’If I survive the upcoming time, I shall have him removed from the throne. He isn’t fit to be an emperor anymore. I was foolish to support him back then.’

Pushing those thoughts aside, the Supreme Elder spoke. "Pick it up, and you shall have commanding authority over the Annihilation Legion for now."

He paused before continuing. "And immediately call an Imperial Council meeting. Invite all noble houses, and specifically those who have tremendously ambitious towards the empire. Force them, and use any method necessary, to have them deploy their main fleets immediately toward the Central Star System."

"If they don’t... make an example out of a few."

"As for the rest, leave that to us..."

After a while, the Star Emperor, having changed into new clothes with all the injuries he had suffered completely healed, looked back toward the giant gate that led inward into the Ancestral Land.

He had a bitter look on his face, but there was also palpable anger—something he had hidden very expertly until now, but which had finally burst forth.

Damn that old bastard! How dare he attack this emperor just because I respect him and gave him face? Does he think that just because he has some power, he can act as if he has power over me? The Emperor?

He seethed with unconcealed anger and even hatred.

’If not for the untimely situation, I would have dealt with your faction in a much more brutal fashion for this disrespect. But don’t you worry. Soon, I’ll have my hands free after all these troubles are quashed away. With the Annihilation Legion, I don’t believe I won’t have any channel of dealing with you and those other old clots.’

Muttering this, the Star Emperor turned his back toward the gate and walked toward the Inner Palace.

Not knowing that this was something noticed by someone... And he was completely unaware of it.

Meanwhile, in another place, much closer to the Dark Angel-controlled territory, a giant spaceport could be seen.

More than twenty-two to thirty thousand distinctive ships belonging to the grand battle fleets of the Celestial Void Empire could be seen distributed around the spaceport.

There were also fleets belonging to the Dark Angel Legions. They were quite different and covered in dark paint jobs. From their appearance, they were quite new and shared some similarities with the Celestial Void Empire’s fleets, though only in their weapon departments.

Their hulls were completely different, based more on aesthetics. They possessed rectangular and angular, sharp shapes that gave them a different taste of simplicity, but at the same time, they weren’t actually that simple.

All in all, they looked quite magical.

Within a grand chamber, four people could be seen sitting around a round table.

At the center of the table was a hologram displaying various scenarios of what was happening across the Galactic Net, specifically the outrageous deeds of the Holy Light Empire that had been made public.

The revelations had now thrown the entire stellar region and Star Domain into turmoil.

"The trouble we were facing with integrating people onto our side has undergone a big shift. Now, we don’t have to please people anymore, nor do we have to bear the tantrums being thrown at our officials. Now, it’s completely the opposite. We are welcomed with open arms."

Lucifer looked at the other three with excitement.

"And not only that. People on the other side, ruled by those things, are literally asking us to integrate them with us."

"But that aside, I find it hard to believe that our opponents have completely become something else. No... not become. They were something else from the start," Lucifer said, with a hint of fear arising from his heart.

Ryn, hearing this, just shook her head.

"Those alien gods and beast-race people definitely have weird methods, no? I mean, look. Even you were not able to guess that the opponents who cornered you and had the Dark Angels erased from this universe were never beings of the same race, right?"

"But be that as it may, it has made things a bit easier for us, right? Earlier, we had to come up with a way to not appear bloodthirsty to your people, but now things have taken a different turn."

"Those are pawns of alien races, and something tells me that people would appreciate us for annihilating them entirely!"

Lucifer’s mouth twitched at the mention of his own race.

Yet, at one point, he thought about it.

Hmm... Dark Angels and White Angels were indeed of the same race, just like Dark Elves and Green Elves. It was simply that their nature was different compared to them.

Even so, the thought still made him feel somewhat bitter.

"Anyway, enough of this unnecessary topic."

Lucifer quickly spoke, not wanting to talk about this much more, knowing that he would feel that bitter feeling again.

He knocked on the table and looked at the other three, asking, "Now, how should we proceed?"

The other two exchanged looks with each other before turning to look at Grand Admiral Ryn, who was the person presiding over this meeting.

"Hmm. This time, we won’t be launching some small-time attack, but an all-out one. We want to completely crush all the legions of the White Holy Angel Theocracy before moving on to the Blood Moon Empire."

Ryn looked at him and paused, knocking on the table a couple of times before speaking again.

"So, I would need you to begin mobilizing your people, Legion Commander Lucifer."

Ryn paused briefly.

"Within two days, the last shipment of over eight thousand ships, along with additional supplies and weapon systems, should arrive for you and your legion as promised."