Chapter 1008: Laid Fuse, Version Launch

Chapter 1008: The Buried Fuse, The Version Unveiled

"As Black Star has said, the moment is not yet ripe; patience remains our only prudent course," Sorokin spoke with a gentle smile.

"Indeed, we require an infusion of fresh blood," Manison nodded, his gaze sweeping over the newly ascended Super A-Grades present, before commanding his mechanical chassis to project a virtual emoticon—a bubbling smiley face hovering above his head.

You old bastard, you actually know how to play cute... Han Xiao thought, the notion surfacing instinctively at the sight.

Hela could not help but turn her head toward Han Xiao, words catching in her throat.

She had never imagined that a gathering of such Super A-Grades would revolve around a subject of such staggering magnitude.

The symposium had gradually drifted into uncharted territory; to Hela and the other nascent Super A-Grades, the titans' discourse stretched too far into the horizon, leaving them to listen in silent reverence, utterly devoid of the standing to interject.

To openly broach such matters on one's own turf... could it invite disaster? Hela fretted in the quiet of her mind.

Catching Hela's anxious glance, Han Xiao flicked her a reassuring look.

Noticing the silent exchange, Ames tapped Han Xiao with a pulse of force, drawing his attention before whispering, "You orchestrated this gathering with the very same ambition, did you not? Otherwise, you would never have lent Manison your territory to voice such grave designs."

"Everything proceeds according to calculation," Han Xiao replied, arching a brow.

After a period of heated debate, a voice finally broke the stalemate.

"Though a formal alliance remains out of reach, our circle undoubtedly demands tighter bonds," Kant declared, his voice heavy. "Our communications must grow more frequent."

"The Shining World offers a fitting pretext," a neutral peak Super A-Grade intoned slowly. "Previously, factional and regional boundaries severely limited our intersections. Now, however, every power present shall establish a foothold in the Shining World. That star cluster will become our forum, partially shedding the old shackles... Thus, we require a bridge. A courier."

At these words, heads turned almost reflexively, every gaze converging upon Han Xiao.

Within the explored cosmos, Super A-Grade factions could not expand at will, constrained by advanced civilizations and myriad regulations that effectively fractured their class. Yet the future promised them all entry into the Shining World—a development of profound consequence. Even if only branch offices took root, it would nonetheless transcend geographical barriers, facilitating communion among all Super A-Grades, fostering class cohesion, and granting their fragmented might a chance to truly unite.

Such an endeavor demanded a bridge, a central hub for information and resources to anchor the Super A-Grade class within the Shining World, binding them together like adhesive.

Whoever assumed this role required deep roots in that nascent frontier, and the Black Star Army stood as the greatest power in the Shining World, second only to the Empire itself...

There was only one ideal candidate to forge this bridge: Black Star!

Over seventy Super A-Grades fixed their eyes upon a single man; even devoid of malice, the weight of their attention was suffocating. Han Xiao drew a deep breath and offered a faint smile.

"Should you require it, I would be honored to undertake this duty."

In truth, this had always been one of Han Xiao's objectives; though the path diverged slightly from his expectations, the prize remained firmly in his grasp.

All along, his efforts to establish the Black Star Army's foundation in the Shining World harbored a deeper motive: to secure precisely this qualification.

Having ascended to the pinnacle of individual might, he could no longer evade this reality. Though the butterfly effect of his actions had altered the narrative's course, regardless of whether the World Tree War erupted before or after the Esper Catastrophe, he had to lay his own groundwork in advance.

To become the linchpin of the Esper Catastrophe would grant him far greater agency.

At the apex of individual power, absolute loyalty to a collective simply did not exist, unless one aspired to rule it. From the outset, the relationship was one of mutual exploitation; Master Mechanic Han had never entertained notions of bleeding himself dry for any faction. Even a child knows not to place all eggs in one basket, and he had to secure alternative retreats... No matter how slim the odds of being discarded once the hounds had caught the hare, he would never ignore them.

The interests of disparate classes could never truly align; unless one willingly submitted to being a pawn, or everyone was reduced to orange juice, complex dilemmas would never yield to simple solutions.

Alliances and enmities shift like the wind; only class interest forges a reliable covenant.

"Lord Black Star bears the weight with grace."

The assembly nodded to Han Xiao in respect, offered faint smiles, and withdrew their gazes.

"I wish to establish an unspoken pact among us," Manison announced, his eyes sweeping the room with solemn gravity. "When that day truly arrives, should one raise the banner, I expect every soul here to answer the call."

"You shall see it done," Kesuye replied, his tone detached.

Nods rippled through the crowd; a consensus was forged.

No formal alliances in peacetime; under ordinary circumstances, each would continue to war for their respective factions. Yet once the hour struck, they stood ready to act in concert.

...

The conclave touched upon myriad subjects, and only after two days and two nights did it formally conclude, the Super A-Grades taking their leave and departing the Black Star Army in steady succession.

Manison and Kesuye walked side by side along the path to the docking bay, their voices low in conversation.

"The contents of this meeting will inevitably reach the ears of the three Universal Civilizations," Kesuye inquired. "You make no effort to conceal it. Do you not fear provoking the Radiant Federation?"

Manison chuckled. "Even without this gathering, their wariness would persist. Better to apply a measure of pressure and bolster our leverage... With Black Star present, the Radiant Federation cannot discard me, and the reverse holds true. Factional divisions bind us, yet they also tether our adversaries."

"Anything is possible," Kesuye shook his head. "When a tool develops ambitions of its own, no matter how utile, it remains liable to be cast aside at a moment's notice."

"We are not tools," Manison stated, his voice even. "Remember, we embody the zenith of individual might. Each of us is a treasure of this cosmos, not merely an avatar of violence, but a precious repository of unique genetics. We represent the boundless potential of evolution, never pawns to be slaughtered at whim... To discard us will always exact a price."

"I see. Your urgency stems from self-preservation," Kesuye shot him a sidelong glance. "Have you finally realized your faction has grown too formidable?"

Manison offered no reply, pausing abruptly before sighing. "A pity... The Mutated God is gone. Though he walked a different path, he held his uses. Had he not stood against the three Universal Civilizations, one wonders what immense aid he might have rendered us."

Kesuye's tone grew inscrutable. "You are aware his lifespan was already dwindling, are you not?"

"...What are you implying?"

"Heh, nothing of consequence. It is merely... he certainly understood his own expiration better than anyone," Kesuye murmured with a faint smile.

...

In the days following the symposium, time marched on, and the outside world gradually discerned a peculiar anomaly.

—Every Super A-Grade who had attended the meeting remained unexpectedly subdued, with not a single conflict erupting.

Originally, the convergence of so many apex beings brimmed with volatility; everyone had anticipated severe disruptions to regional security, all but guaranteeing clashes between Super A-Grades. Yet from beginning to end, these titans exercised remarkable restraint, preserving the stability of the Shattered Star Ring.

The entire cosmos watched in bewildered suspicion, sparking a tide of wild speculation.

The root of this unprecedented restraint undoubtedly lay in the symposium hosted by Black Star.

What exactly had Black Star discussed to keep so many apex beings so thoroughly in check?!

As rumors swelled, Han Xiao finally orchestrated a leak of the inner truth—Black Star had summoned all foreign Super A-Grades to champion the Shattered Star Ring, demanding absolute order and the preservation of regional peace.

The moment the news broke, the Shattered Star Ring erupted in an uproar!

The immediate, overwhelming sentiment among countless local interstellar citizens was one of profound gratitude!

Behold Black Star's sense of duty; to safeguard public order, he risked everything by gathering so many apex beings on his own soil, a veritable envoy of peace driven by boundless compassion!

A Super A-Grade willing to stand and speak on our behalf is a leader of true caliber!

Moreover, Black Star's approach proved remarkably effective; so many apex entities, all persuaded without incident, stood as irrefutable proof of his commanding influence and ability to rally the masses with a single call.

To have such a figure guarding our star cluster is a blessing indeed!

In an instant, Han Xiao's reputation across the Shattered Star Ring skyrocketed, his public image reaching pristine heights.

Having accomplished such a feat, countless interstellar citizens readily embraced Black Star as the official voice of the Shattered Star Ring.

The authority and identity of the region's paramount leader finally won universal recognition, his prestige eclipsing all local factions in a blaze of unmatched glory.

For the Black Star Army, the symposium functioned as a masterfully engineered publicity campaign; only through grand gestures could fame and status truly ascend.

The gathering itself was a milestone worthy of remembrance, a rare convergence of so many Super A-Grades destined to be etched into the annals of history.

Across the networks, a growing consensus hailed it as the defining prelude to the Shining World's opening, bestowing upon it a moniker that echoed through the stars... [The Council of Gods]!

...

[You have acquired 2 points of Cosmic Legend]

[Cosmic Legend: Voice of the Shattered Star Ring — You have earned the recognition of this star cluster. Henceforth, you hold the authority to speak on its behalf!]

[Cosmic Legend: Convener of the Council of Gods — After long years, the Super A-Grades have gathered once more. As the architect of this assembly, your name is now inscribed in history!]

"A Council of Gods? Why not simply dub it a Martial Arts Assembly or a Summit at Mount Hua?"

Within the headquarters of the Black Star Army, Han Xiao stared at the notification flickering across his interface, unable to stifle a silent scoff.

The moniker aside, he found little else to fault; the acquisition of two points toward his Cosmic Legend status proved a bountiful haul.

Moreover, the Crimson Empire’s mandate to preserve regional stability had reached its conclusion, yielding a windfall of billions in experience alongside a substantial sum of Imperial contribution credits.

With Hela’s ascension to the Super A Grade, he now held the clearance to requisition the Empire’s ultimate Esper lore; his credits had found a fresh purpose, and the deeper Hela’s debt to him ran, the tighter she would be bound to his legion.

Upon the mission’s completion, Ulan Ruier had personally called to lavish him with praise, yet carefully avoided any mention of the Super A Grades’ clandestine gathering… though clandestine was hardly the word, given how openly they had orchestrated it.

The Three Universal Civilizations were hardly blind to such maneuvers; their silence spoke volumes, and Han Xiao readily grasped the Empire’s stance—they knew better than to chastise their allies, preferring a quiet, mutual understanding.

“The Broken Star Ring is secure…” Han Xiao murmured to himself, idly turning a palm-sized automaton over in his hands. “Now, we merely await the Empire’s horn to herald the new age.”

…

With so many Super A Grades setting a precedent, the lesser factions dared not stir up trouble; all waited with bated breath for the Shining World to unfurl.

Han Xiao’s maneuvers had anchored the star sector in tranquility, leaving every faction to focus on their preparations as the days slipped quietly by in anticipation.

Months drifted past until, at last, the appointed day arrived.

On this day, the Empire formally proclaimed the opening of the Shining World, and every interstellar gateway leading into its depths roared to life!

At that very moment, a notification heralding the new expansion flashed across Han Xiao’s interface; after a long absence, the players had finally logged back in.