Chapter 1048: Multiple Actions, Gathering of Forces (Thanks to alliance leader Qing Ning Zi's 100,000 reward!)

Chapter 1048: Converging Forces, Gathering Storms (Gratitude to Alliance Leader Qing Ningzi for the hundred-thousand reward!)

Beyond the outer perimeter of the Black Star Palace, the Traveler sat cross-legged in midair, his staff resting across his knees, gazing toward the heavily fortified citadel, while before him lay a defensive fleet poised for battle.

“I have arrived at the perfect moment.” Observing the scene, the Traveler’s eyes narrowed slightly.

According to intelligence supplied by the Superstar Cluster Alliance, Black Star was a creature who relished challenges, yet now he offered excuses, refusing to even deploy a Dominant Clone to face him; indeed, Solokin’s information proved accurate—Hela had already been ambushed, and Black Star needed to sustain a Dominant Clone to guard her, leaving him stretched too thin.

Apostle Armaments and mechanized legions could wage war across multiple fronts at will, whereas a Dominant Clone shared the host’s combat prowess, permitting only a single manifestation at any given time.

“Yet Black Star declines to deploy Apostle Armaments against me; it seems Solokin’s conjecture holds true. Black Star has withdrawn his main forces, likely feigning his presence at the main base this entire time.”

The Traveler calculated within himself, “Since the Dragon Throne commands the vanguard, I must dispatch her swiftly to force Black Star’s hand. Even if he merely sends mechanized troops to engage me, I shall have achieved my strategic aim, diverting his attention.”

To secure a swift victory would require extraordinary measures, transcending the bounds of a mere duel, which would inevitably incur Black Star’s wrath.

Yet the Traveler cared little for such consequences. His ties to certain Superstar Cluster civilizations were peculiar, extending far beyond personal gain; though ostensibly hired, he would spare no effort so long as the endeavor benefited his own people.

The Superstar Cluster Alliance hoped that the maneuvers of the Void Spirits or the Radiance would proceed smoothly, desiring to witness these Super-A tiers squabble among themselves rather than unite… Though such discord might ostensibly plague the Three Great Civilizations and seemingly favor the Cluster, the outcome hinged upon timing, and for now, the Cluster preferred not to see it unfold.

In the eyes of the Cluster civilizations, Super-A tiers were merely valuable instruments to be wielded, and this era was far too premature; their numbers were still insufficient, rendering even a united front of limited utility to the Cluster.

The Alliance sought a more opportune moment; should the cosmos eventually amass a sufficient quantity of Super-A tiers, they might even orchestrate their unification—hence, they were unwilling to squander this “opportunity” prematurely.

Beyond considerations of power equilibrium, another reason for the Alliance’s stance was the dread that a premature Super-A coalition would provoke a reckoning from the Three Great Civilizations, birthing another “Tragedy of the Zenith.” Should such a purge commence, outsiders would undoubtedly bear the brunt first, meaning the Cluster’s own allies would once again be slaughtered under flimsy pretexts, leaving the Cluster itself to suffer the greatest loss.

The Traveler waited in silence for a time, until at last, Emrys soared from the base to meet him, the two standing opposite one another across the void.

“You seek to challenge Black Star? What is your design?” Emrys narrowed her eyes.

“Merely reverence for the mighty, a desire to scale the highest peaks. There is no hidden agenda.” The Traveler’s expression remained placid.

“The matter concerning Hela involves you, does it not?”

“I do not comprehend your words.” The Traveler shook his head.

“Hmph, continue your pretense.”

A verdant gleam flashed in Emrys’s eyes as a force field erupted, commanding several satellite slabs to crash downward with thunderous force.

Unhurried, the Traveler gripped his staff with both hands, unleashing a misty torrent of magical energy that coalesced into runes of varying sizes, interlocking to form a colossal sigil shield as intricate and exquisite as a clockwork mechanism, barring the path of the descending slabs.

Crack!

Several satellites struck the sigil shield, fracturing it with jagged fissures yet halting the assault; simultaneously, Emrys reached out across the distance, yanking sharply toward the Traveler, a potent gravitational pull dragging him directly toward her.

Suspended in midair, the Traveler’s gaze hardened, his vitality surging to stabilize his form before he pivoted and unleashed a barrage of devastating spells. Multidimensional energy transformed into kaleidoscopic magic, charging fiercely through Emrys’s former position, only to strike empty space.

A spatial ripple flashed, and she had already employed void teleportation to shift her position, appearing not far behind the Traveler. Arching a brow, she glared at his back as a ring of energy shockwaves erupted from her forehead.

In the next instant, the Traveler’s figure froze in midair, utterly immobilized.

Force Field: Dragon’s Gaze!

The moment the enemy was restrained, her black skirt flared violently as Emrys’s long leg lashed out like a whip, flinging a concentrated force field straight toward the Traveler’s back.

Force fields projected directly from the body possessed the greatest potency; this one she compressed into a razor-thin line, transforming it into a severing strike that appeared as though she were whipping a cleaving wave from her leg.

Force Field: Sweeping Blade!

Swish!

The cleaving force field swept across, actually bisecting the Traveler.

Yet in the following instant, the severed halves suddenly shrank, popping into existence as an alchemical homunculus. Farther away, a small figurine resembling clay materialized from nothing, rapidly morphing back into the Traveler’s form.

“Puppet Substitution, a trivial parlor trick.” The Traveler remarked coolly.

Emrys, however, furrowed her brow slightly; she was an old acquaintance of Austin and possessed some knowledge of magical arts.

Puppet Substitution belonged to an obscure branch of alchemy and curse magic, carrying severe side effects; translated into intuitive panel metrics, each casting reduced vitality and stamina by fifty percent, while temporarily depressing all attributes by twenty percent—a grievous toll.

Due to its limited utility, it was typically reserved for low-tier mages desperate to preserve their lives, whereas high-tier sorcerers possessed myriad shields and defensive techniques, rendering such obscure spells virtually obsolete.

Against an assault of that nature, a Super-A mage possessed dozens of methods to evade or block it; even absorbing the damage outright would prove less detrimental than the substitution’s backlash. As the old saying went, anomalies breed hidden schemes, and Emrys sensed the Traveler’s maneuver must harbor a specific purpose.

Observing closely, she detected an inexplicable shift in the Traveler’s demeanor; the corners of his mouth curled into a faint, eerie smile, and his entire presence seemed suddenly imbued with a foul, malevolent aura.

“Tsk tsk, force field manipulation is a commonplace ability; reaching the Super-A tier with it is quite rare. You possess remarkable talent in ability control, and perhaps one day you will refine it to its ultimate form, evolving it into an ultra-high-threat ability—Mastery of Force. Though differing by but a single character, the implications are worlds apart.” As his demeanor shifted, the Traveler suddenly grew loquacious.

“Something is amiss.” Emrys silently heightened her guard, curling her hand into a claw and violently crushing the corner of a satellite slab; under the command of her force field, countless fragments shot forth like a meteor shower.

Force Field: Dragon’s Breath Meteor Fist!

While weaving spells to parry and counterattack, the Traveler observed a faint purple brand flickering on the back of his hand, his crystalline yellow eyes subtly reflecting a malevolent violet glow.

“Vitality remains insufficient; more must be sacrificed…”

The two clashed fiercely beyond the Black Star Palace perimeter; the Traveler fought with bizarre tactics, occasionally sacrificing his own health, while Emrys wielded her force field with multifaceted properties—traction, compression, vibration, detonation, severance, and more—demonstrating formidable control over her ability.

Having trained alongside Hela in the field, Emrys had also advanced, her mastery over her ability reaching new heights.

As the duel raged, Melos, observing from the base’s watchtower, quietly ordered the fleet to disperse, forming a colossal encirclement.

“Stay sharp.” Melos’s voice was low. “Preheat the spatial stabilizers. On my command, activate them and trap the Traveler.”

With the Vice Legion Commander at stake, who cared for martial honor? They simply threw everything they had into the fray, and even Emrys had no intention of engaging the Traveler in a proper, fair duel.

Misunderstanding or not, it was best to secure the Traveler first; Emrys’s primary objective in engaging him was to fix his attention, allowing the fleet to covertly set traps, lest he simply open a portal and flee.

……

Meanwhile, the Empire received Han Xiao’s dispatch and immediately mobilized; Super-A tiers stationed within imperial territories received orders, departing their respective domains to board vessels bound for the stargate stations for spatial jumps.

Within Kant’s vessel, the Super-A tiers assembled for this emergency gathered via remote projection, conferring as they traveled.

“The Void Spirits truly lack memory; over twenty years ago at the Lighthouse Star campaign, I… and Black Star gave them a thorough lesson. They’ve been quiet for less than thirty years, yet here they are stirring up trouble again.” Beony curled his lip, sparks slipping between his teeth.

“Their movements were sudden, targeting Hela. We are the closest available, so we must dispatch reinforcements as swiftly as possible.” Kant’s tone grew serious.

The majority of imperial allies had been assigned territories in the Radiant World, many engaged in open competition far away, rendering them too distant to provide timely aid.

The Super-A tiers currently remaining within imperial borders who could reach the Black Star Legion’s forward outpost battlefield most rapidly were, for the time being, limited to Kant’s Dominant Clone, the recuperating Ravenloft, the slacking Beony, and the idle Koller.

“I heard the Ksuye clone went as well. Isn’t that somewhat perilous…” Koller muttered quietly.

Kant’s large, expressive eyes narrowed sharply. “Pathetic. With me here, what is there to fear? I alone could defeat every last Void Spirit!”

“Really?” Koller’s face was etched with skepticism.

“Obviously not, you fool. You know it’s false, yet you ask. Can’t I simply indulge in a bit of bravado?” Kant rolled his eyes. “If I possessed such prowess, even the Dark Emperor would be my lackey.”

Ravenloft offered no comment, remaining silent, his expression shifting like storm clouds.

Having recently been soundly beaten by Han Xiao, he was genuinely reluctant to assist.

Yet with every deployment, the Empire provided substantial compensation and merit points…

One must eat to live.

“Never mind. I’ve heard the Black Star Legion faces a dire predicament this time. If I help them weather the crisis, he will owe me a favor, and I could later demand he procure a cosmic treasure for me…”

At the mere prospect, Ravenloft’s spirits lifted, his combat fervor igniting instantly.

……

Simultaneously, after dispatching reinforcements, the imperial high command turned its focused attention to the matter.

Within the conference chamber of the imperial capital’s administrative tower, Head of State Ulanrile observed the frontline combat footage transmitted by the Black Star Legion, his expression grim; on either side, remote projections of imperial dignitaries turned to watch the display in silence, the atmosphere heavy and solemn.

"The Void Spirits harbor undying malice, seeking once more to persecute our allies." Ulanruiel cast a cold glance across the room. "Does anyone have objections?"

The assembly exchanged wary glances. After a moment, Bekelodi raised a hand and spoke slowly. "Your Excellency, intelligence indicates the Void Spirits' target is Hela, and Hela is not among our Super-A tier allies."

"Hela serves as Vice Commander of the Black Star Legion, and the Black Star Legion is undoubtedly our ally."

"Yet she herself has consistently refused to join the Empire... Your Excellency, I propose we keep matters distinct. The Black Star is the Black Star, and Hela is Hela. Now that Black Star appeals for aid in his own name, we may assist out of treaty obligation, but this merely allows him to exploit imperial might at no cost to enrich his own faction. My view is... we may aid our allies, but we must not be leveraged without price. Shielding Black Star is our duty, yet shielding a Super-A who stands outside our alliance? Unacceptable. I believe we must set terms; no aid shall be rendered without compensation." Bekelodi declared with righteous firmness.

"And what terms do you propose?" Ulanruiel asked, her brows drawing together.

"Should Black Star survive this crisis only through our intervention, I see fit to demand one condition: Hela must formally join the Empire... Naturally, she may remain in service to the Black Star Legion, but her status must shift to that of an imperial ally, bound by solemn pact."

"Hmm... there is merit in that." Ulanruiel mused for a moment. "What if Hela falls in battle?"

"A loss to the Empire, certainly, yet other advantages would follow. Should Hela perish, Black Star would inevitably stand opposed to the Void Spirits. The Conclave of Gods would effectively collapse, the Super-A ranks would fail to unite, and a grave threat would be neutralized. Furthermore, a shared external enemy would draw the Empire and Black Star closer, cementing his loyalty. Thus, regardless of the rescue's outcome, the Empire stands to profit without risk." Bekelodi stated.

Several high officials nodded in agreement; rationally, they found Bekelodi's analysis sound.

Ulanruiel offered neither assent nor dissent, her fingers drumming lightly against the table. Seeing no further objections, she spoke with grave finality. "Regardless, we shall throw our full weight behind the Black Star Legion. All else may be settled later."

"As you command."

The distant holographic projections flickered and vanished one by one.

Ulanruiel departed the chamber, and Clotilde, the Dark Sovereign who had waited silently outside, draped the Chancellor's greatcoat over her shoulders and fell into step behind her.

After a stretch of quiet walking, Ulanruiel suddenly spoke. "Clotilde, what are the odds you give Hela for emerging unscathed this time?"

"Very low." Clotilde's face remained utterly still.

"Even with the Empire's intervention?"

"Precisely."

"And your reasoning?"

"The Radiance will not stand idle."

"How can you be certain?"

"The Mechanist Dominion informed me."

Ulanruiel was momentarily left without words.

Very well. A formidable and irrefutable justification. I have nothing to counter.

"It seems the Mechanist Dominion truly places great weight upon the Super-A front."

Ulanruiel halted, turning her head to regard Clotilde.

"You yourself are a Super-A. Do you hold no opinion on this matter?"

Clotilde's expression remained placid. "My first allegiance is to the Crimson Empire. My second is to the office of Captain of the Imperial Chancellor's Guard. Only my third identity, in that order, belongs to the Super-A classification."

Ulanruiel shook her head and turned back toward the path ahead.

She fell silent for a moment before speaking in a soft tone:

"You have served as my personal guard for far too long. Take leave of your post for a time, go out and slay a few Super-A's, then return. Do not let this universe forget the name of the Dark Sovereign."

"Understood."

Clotilde replied with quiet detachment.

...

Meanwhile, at the stronghold of the Beast Ancestor.

"Hahaha, they have indeed made their move!"

Within the grand hall, Golutan roared with laughter, his formidable lungs unleashing soundwaves so dense they nearly took physical form, shaking the entire base to its foundations.

Only moments prior, he had learned from Sorokin that the intelligence he had leaked had driven Hela into a dire corner.

The scheme had succeeded, an old arrow of vengeance repaid, and Golutan could not suppress a surge of profound satisfaction.

Sorokin's vessel stood before him, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Lord Beast Ancestor, your territories lie but a short distance from the battlefield. Might you care to join the spectacle?"

At these words, Golutan's laughter died. His sharp gaze locked onto Sorokin, his voice rough and edged with anger. "Are you attempting to bewitch me once more?"

"I would never dare," Sorokin hastened to say, waving his hands in haste.

"Hmph." Golutan snorted, snatching a specially crafted oversized goblet from the table and draining it in one long gulp. "I shall remain here to watch the play unfold, waiting for word of Hela's death. I go nowhere."

"Rest assured, I do not urge you to enter the fray. The Empire has undoubtedly dispatched reinforcements, and they are en route. Should imperial forces arrive, Hela might yet escape her fate. Thus, rather than sit idle, it would be prudent to offer subtle assistance."

"What fresh scheme do you harbor now?"

"Heh heh. By my calculations, the Void Spirits' assault on the Black Star stronghold will inevitably begin with the destruction of the stargate station, activating spatial stabilizers to sever Hela's retreat. Therefore, imperial reinforcements can only approach via the nearby gates... Lord Beast Ancestor, should those adjacent stargate stations be disabled or dismantled, the imperial forces would be forced to take a longer route. This would prolong Hela's isolation considerably, dramatically increasing the probability of our plan's success."

A sharp glint flashed in Golutan's eyes as he set the goblet down. "Hmm... your words hold a certain logic..."

Sorokin offered a gentle smile.

...

In the Ancient Star River, within the dominion of the Mechanists.

Manixion slowly opened his eyes and activated an encrypted communication channel.

"Mornisa, have you deployed?"

"Master, the high-dimensional Apocalypse Array has begun its alignment. We are prepared to launch at any moment."

"Acknowledged."

Manixion nodded, switched frequencies, and addressed the Apostle Armament Corps:

"Keep the Beast Ancestor under strict surveillance. He may well make a move. Whatever he attempts, stop him."

"Understood."

Having issued several orders, Manixion closed his eyes once more, murmuring to himself in a low voice.

"Black Star, I have aided you thus far today. Do not fail to meet my expectations."