Imperial Territory, Center of the Sun.
A stream of turquoise light flashed and vanished in an instant, disappearing into the tide of a solar prominence.
"Wind..."
"There isn't much left."
The main body of the Grand Sovereign Entropy Dragon had just returned to the star's interior, re-merging with the avatar that was temporarily maintaining the sun's stability. The combination of the [Dominion of Finality] and the [Dominion of Immortality] was allowing the Monarch's main body to gradually adapt to the accelerated flow of time within. While his attributes did not increase, his size was changing with every passing moment.
Simply put, the Monarch's physical form was gradually approaching the size of a star at an unimaginable speed, progressively replacing the sun's position and function on a celestial level. Once he had fully mastered the newly acquired [Dominion of Voracity], he would likely devour the entire star.
After the Origin of 'Wind' was also obtained by the Monarch—
"The 'Will of Honkai' has made its move."
"Although it was a case of forcing growth..."
"Only a seedling like Durandal is worthy of being 'forced'."
[Palatinus Equinox] should not have been activated at this time. Although Durandal could withstand the power of "Palatinus," she was far from reaching the limit of her current stage. In truth, it was Prometheus No. 17 who had forcibly activated and drawn out the power within the "Kaslana" and "Schariac" stigmata.
Of course, Prometheus No. 17 did not do this by choice, but out of necessity.
Faced with an Apostle-level Wendy, there was currently no power on Earth that could match her. The [Shed Feather] unleashed by Wendy far exceeded the "predetermined path for a Herrscher of the current civilization." The Herrscher's Authority was not the issue; its raw power was simply too outrageous.
If that ultimate attack had been allowed to fall from the sky, Prometheus No. 17's mission could have been declared an immediate failure.
Given that certain late-game characters were still soaking in the Quantum Sea, the "Honkai Consciousness" could only borrow Bianka's power to counter this blow... even at the risk of exposing itself prematurely.
At the same time, this was not something that could be accomplished by a mere avatar. Prometheus No. 17 needed to use the "sealed" Honkai energy in the Moon Base, and her main body had to personally enter this time node to complete the task.
Even if it was only for an instant, for the Monarch...
"Too slow."
"Thrum—"
Using the avatar at the temporal origin as a coordinate, the temporal fluctuations in two different nodes resonated violently.
The power of time caused the vortex enveloping the Earth to become even more turbulent.
With the Honkai energy on the moon depleted and no support available in the short term, "fishing" a consciousness out of that vortex would not be so easy.
---o---
Several days ago.
M81 Galaxy, "Cosmic Island" Spaceport.
"Commander, Space Elevator 11 on Planet V has malfunctioned. The counterweight has deviated by more than two degrees."
This galaxy belonged to a certain humanoid civilization. A horned being with pale red skin was reporting methodically at a control console.
"It's too late. Sending anyone to repair it would be a death sentence."
"Have the transport ship return with half its cargo, and blow up the 'Climber' elevator on your way out."
"..."
"Commander, we've detected a large number of life signs inside the 'Climber.' Estimated individuals exceed twenty thousand!"
The operator, who was preparing to initiate the remote detonation, suddenly discovered something unexpected on the sensor radar.
"Hm?"
The commander, similar in appearance to the operator but with a more human-like face aside from a pair of mini-horns, twitched his tentacle-like mustache.
"Space Elevator 11 was supposed to be transporting rare minerals, wasn't it? Why are there life forms on it?"
"The evacuation order was issued fifteen days ago. Didn't the security chief say all personnel were evacuated three days ago?"
"Evidently," the operator's chair swiveled back, and she turned to address the commander in the command room.
"The value of those minerals was worth the risk for many. After all, the lives of these native miners aren't worth much... I'm guessing that's what some big shots would say."
"Right, Commander?"
"..."
"Clap."
The spaceport commander lightly tapped his forehead. The "sarcasm" from his daughter was clearly giving him a headache.
The problem was...
"Supervisory squad."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers in "burlap" robes holding "electric batons," standing guard on either side of the command room entrance, immediately snapped to attention.
"Arrest the security chief of Planet V. You know what to do with the rest."
"Yes, sir!"
The surrounding gazes shifted away from him. Everyone, except his daughter, returned their attention to their work. His daughter had clearly done the same, but the "of course you found a scapegoat" expression was on full display.
"..."
"Commander, your previous order?"
"The transport ship will continue its return journey. The detonation command... will be sent in fifteen minutes."
"There are still small shuttles in the space elevator. Whether they can find them or not is up to fate."
"Listen up—"
"First-Class Operator Ahsoka."
The commander very seriously cut off his daughter, who was about to object.
"Planet V has been implanted with a 'Stellaron'."
"The only thing we can do is to reduce the 'information content' on it as much as possible before the Stellaron devours the entire planet."
"Currently, besides the 'Stellaron Hunters,' no one can safely neutralize the threat of a 'Stellaron.' We can't avoid those madmen fast enough; no one wants to provoke them... not to mention the process is highly likely to anger the [Antimatter Legion]."
"To abandon an entire star system for one planet."
"Do you want our entire race to be buried with your naivety and impulsiveness?"
"..."
You could hear a pin drop in the silent command room.
"You are right, Commander Jorah Badoc."
Ahsoka ultimately gave up the argument.
Her father's will had been made very clear, and she had done what she could... even if it was only to offer advice.
[Stellaron]
The seeds of destruction sown by Nanook throughout the galaxy, and a planet-destroying weapon on par with the [Vanguard of Havoc]. The arrival of a Stellaron was random; no one knew when one had been implanted inside a planet. Some civilizations remained oblivious until the moment of their destruction. Only advanced civilizations could detect the signs in the brief period before a Stellaron erupted.
A Stellaron's eruption did not directly blow up a planet, but rather caused drastic changes to its ecosystem and species (bearing some resemblance to a Honkai Eruption). In its final stages, it would create a spatial distortion phenomenon known as a "Fragmentum" and cause the entire planet to collapse and be devoured inward.
Finally, using the "information content" absorbed during the creation of the "Fragmentum" as energy, the Stellaron would transform into a "super printer," creating all sorts of matter with "distorted" properties—from small rocks to massive starships, there was nothing it couldn't create.
It was even rumored that the [Vanguards of Havoc] were the products printed by some super-planets after being destroyed by a Stellaron.
A resource exploration team from the "Galactic Minerals Union" (a conglomerate that monopolized the trade of raw materials in M81) had accidentally discovered the existence of a [Destruction Stellaron] (the Antimatter Legion's official name for it) while drilling deep into the planet's core.
Originally, according to the "Galactic Minerals Union," they would certainly not have leaked information about the [Destruction Stellaron]. It was more in their interest to "transfer ownership" of the entire planet before the thing was activated.
But...
Ahsoka had accidentally discovered this secret during a conversation between the Union's resident representative and her father.
And then, this became the reason for the "Cosmic Island's" frantic activity. Not only did the off-world residents (cheap land) and natives (no money to leave) of Planet V need to be forcibly evacuated, but a large number of residents from another inhabited planet in the same star system also fled in panic.
After all, no one could guarantee what kind of things would be printed out of Planet V.
---o---
Just as the second hand ticked past the halfway mark...
"Commander!"
An unexpected report came from the radar room on the far left of the console.
"Unregistered hyperspace fluctuation detected."
"Unregistered?"
Commander Jorah's tentacles shot up forcefully—an action equivalent to a human furrowing their brow deeply.
News of the Stellaron's discovery on Planet V had been broadcast to all civilizations in the M81 Galaxy. No one would be foolish enough to get involved at a time like this... such an act was tantamount to suicide.
Before Commander Jorah could order the launch of an IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) signal, new intel came from the radar room:
"Warp energy..."
"Warp 9!"
"Warp 9!?"
Warp drive, jump drive, hyperspace... all collectively known as "WARP," a method of faster-than-light travel, were generally classified from 1 to 10. The principles won't be elaborated here, but in short, Warp 10 existed only in theory: an object at that speed could appear anywhere in the universe instantly.
Below that, any civilization whose starships could produce a Warp 9 engine was a true major player in the cosmos. The technological level of the M81 Galaxy was quite advanced, but even they, a not-so-obscure civilization, could only build starships that could barely achieve an unstable Warp 8.
Their radar could only determine that it was "Warp 9." As for its specific level—Warp 9 also had many different "gears"—they were completely out of their depth.
"IFF signal!"
"Garrison fleet, weigh anchor!"
A sudden thought struck Commander Jorah like a jolt.
An unannounced alien civilization appearing just as the Stellaron was about to erupt... besides the [Antimatter Legion], he really couldn't think of any other possibility.
"IFF signal unanswered!"
"Time to warp exit in 4... 3..."
"Beacon is lit, forward space is clear!"
"Fleet, engage! Broadcast a distress signal to the homeworld and the 'Endill' system, we need a Titan as soon as—"
"IFF signal responded!"
"..."
"Phew."
Jorah let out a long breath.
The [Antimatter Legion] would not respond to an IFF signal. The starship arriving here was most likely from some advanced civilization that had detected the [Destruction Stellaron].
"Main computer, display optical image of the visitor."
"Connect to their communication feedback, activate Type 2 Universal Language translation system."
The so-called Type 2 system was a special translation that included many "honorifics." Regardless of who the visitor was, a starship with a Warp 9 engine needed to be treated with respect... even though they were already overwhelmed with the Planet V situation.
The moment the optical image appeared...
"!!!"
"What is that!?"
The Warp 9 fluctuation they had detected did not originate from the starship of an advanced civilization. The being that appeared before the eyes of the "Cosmic Island" crew was an unbelievably massive space creature!
"A Dragon Clan member?" came an incredulous voice from one side of the console.
"Impossible, the Dragon Clan have standard identifying features, they don't look like that!" a deeply closeted dragon-lover immediately retorted.
"Could it be an Ancient Beast?"
"Ancient Beasts wouldn't just appear so brazenly, and expecting them to 'respond' to an IFF signal is no easier than getting one from the [Antimatter Legion]."
"Quiet!"
Seeing the control room instantly descend into chaos, Commander Jorah immediately silenced his subordinates' bickering.
"Communications, report feedback."
This was a bona fide planetary lifeform, with no signs of any artificial modification.
There were indeed many civilizations and related technologies in the cosmos that "tamed" large lifeforms, but this was definitely not one of them. The sensor technology of the M81 Galaxy was quite mature; they could distinguish between "wild" and "domesticated."
"—Hiss, crackle."
After a burst of sharp, distorted static...
"Friends from a distant star, whom we have not yet met."
A soft tone that was pleasant to the mind and body resounded simultaneously within the auditory organs of every crew member in the control room.
The only one unaffected, or at least the only one who did not feel a sense of "ease," was Jorah, the highest commander of the spaceport. The "Cosmic Island" was a hub responsible for the traffic and information transfer of a large number of star systems within the M81 large galaxy. As its person-in-charge, Jorah was a powerhouse holding the rank of Vice Admiral (the highest official rank for off-world assignments in the M81 civilization).
In Imperial combat units, that would be at least the peak of a [Higher Primordial Species]... which was already very strong. Not all civilizations possessed high individual combat strength; civilizations like the Empire or even the Sky People were a minority. Comprehensive technological level was the most basic and most important factor in measuring a civilization's strength.
"So strong..."
Cold sweat instantly trickled down Jorah's face.
An existence capable of exerting influence on a mental level, whether friend or foe, was the type to be most wary of.
Before Jorah could express his stance, a new voice, accompanied by the instantly vanishing mental influence, sounded in everyone's ears again:
"It seems you are in need of assistance."
"..."
"Friend from a distant star, who are you?"
Since the other party called them friends, Jorah had absolutely no reason, at least on the surface, to refuse their goodwill.
"..."
"My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself."
The massive space creature bloomed with a wine-red light.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, an unfamiliar figure appeared within the control room—
"My name is Eden..."
"An Apostle of the Empire."