The private chamber aboard Veldoza's flagship fell into a thoughtful silence.
The black heart of the child Viz continued its slow, rhythmic beating atop the table, each pulse reminding everyone present that an even greater threat existed somewhere beyond their reach.
No one spoke immediately. Every Oldest was calculating possibilities.
Every strategy came with unacceptable casualties. Ashura, however, remained composed. He leaned back in his chair before calmly speaking.
"Don't worry about the Okis."
Everyone's attention shifted toward him.
"I will handle it."
Veldoza folded his arms.
"Are you sure?"
He studied Ashura for a moment before asking,
"Don't you want to fight the adult Viz?"
Ashura gave a faint smile.
"I won't personally do it."
He stood from his chair and continued,
"But he will."
Everyone looked at him curiously.
"He will lead your army into their territory."
Ashura looked directly at Veldoza.
"Just tell me their location."
Veldoza answered without hesitation.
"They're from the Lower Expanse."
He pointed toward the endless darkness beyond the viewing window.
"Just outside this realm."
Ashura nodded once.
"I understand."
His crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"Armageddon."
The room instantly darkened. A circle of Black Light formed on the floor.
It expanded into a portal, swallowing the surrounding light before stabilizing into a perfectly black gateway.
A heavy presence emerged. One armored boot stepped through. Then another.
A towering figure clad in black armor walked into the room, a long black sword resting at his side. Without hesitation he knelt.
"Sovereign. You have called?"
Ashura looked down at his most loyal knight.
"Yes. You will lead the army outside into the territory of the Okis."
He paused briefly.
"Just outside this realm. The Lower Expanse."
Armageddon lowered his head.
"I understand."
Ashura continued.
"Try not to erase all of them. Leave at least two alive."
There was no hesitation or questioning. Only absolute obedience.
"By your order, my Liege."
Armageddon slowly stood.
Then he remembered something.
"By the way, my Lord…Titan is currently within the Palace of Twelve Shadows. He is watching over it."
Ashura nodded approvingly.
"Good…You can complete your task without worry."
Armageddon :
"As you wish."
The next instant Armageddon disappeared.
Outside the flagship…Thousands upon thousands of allied soldiers floated throughout the battlefield. Entire fleets stretched across the surrounding universes.
Then Space split apart.
Armageddon appeared silently above the assembled armies. Every soldier instinctively looked upward. His overwhelming presence commanded immediate respect. He slowly drew his black sword.
His voice echoed throughout space.
"I Armageddon have received orders…to lead you into enemy territory."
The armies became silent.
Armageddon lifted his blade toward the endless darkness.
"But fear not…"
A faint smile appeared beneath his helmet.
"Today…the enemy shall be wiped out."
The response was immediate. A deafening roar erupted across the battlefield. Weapons were raised. Warships activated.
Entire armies shouted with renewed determination.
"FORWARD!"
"TO VICTORY!"
"FOLLOW LORD ARMAGEDDON!"
Inside the command room…Veldoza watched everything through the enormous observation window.
Beside him stood Spartan, Denar, Crystal, Rome, Dronas and Giana.
Even they couldn't help but admire the scene unfolding outside. Armageddon raised his sword. Then he swung once.
Reality itself tore open. A massive wound stretched across space, revealing a crimson darkness beyond. The Lower Expanse.
Armageddon pointed his sword toward the opening.
"Let's move."
Without hesitation the allied armies charged. Fleet after fleet disappeared into the dimensional opening. Legions of warriors followed.
Warships vanished one after another into the Lower Expanse. Armageddon remained where he was until every last soldier had entered.
Only then did he step through himself. The dimensional wound slowly sealed behind him. Silence returned. Denar folded his arms.
"Well…We don't have to worry about the Okis anymore."
Spartan chuckled.
"Yeah. Only the Vizs are left."
Rome looked around the room thoughtfully.
"So what do we do?..An all-out war?"
Crystal shook her head.
"If we all go with the armies…this realm becomes vulnerable."
She crossed her arms.
"But if we stay…the Viz's remain unchecked."
Veldoza lowered his head in thought. Several moments passed.
Then….
"What if…"
He looked toward everyone.
"…we made duplicates of ourselves? Duplicates carrying the same signature…and the same power level."
Crystal considered the idea.
"It would be difficult…but not impossible."
Giana looked noticeably more concerned.
"I'm more worried about the Totem attacking."
The room became quiet. Ashura slowly turned toward her.
"The same Totem… The one that managed to slightly resist my Black Light Authority…Interesting."
He looked back toward the group.
"Using my powers would be the right choice."
Everyone turned toward him.
Ashura stood calmly.
"It will create a duplicate. The duplicate will possess the same power level. The same presence and signature."
He paused.
"But…It will also carry a trace of my Black Light."
Ashura's crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"The Totem isn't all that stupid. It won't dare pick a fight with me. At least not right now."
Veldoza looked around the room. First toward Ashura then toward Denar, Spartan, Crystal, Rome, Dronas and Giana.
"What do you think?"
Crystal nodded first.
"If it's legitimate…I have no problem."
Giana smiled.
"It's okay to try it."
Spartan shrugged.
"I'm in."
Rome nodded.
"So am I."
Denar grinned.
"If it works, why not?"
Dronas crossed his arms.
"I agree."
Veldoza smiled.
"Then it's settled."
Ashura raised one hand.
"Stand."
Immediately Spartan, Denar, Giana, Crystal, Rome and Dronas all stood from their seats. Veldoza stepped beside them.
Ashura slowly waved his hand.
"Black Light Authority…Duplication."
A tide of Black Light erupted throughout the room.
Dark radiance flowed around each of the Oldest before completely engulfing them. The room disappeared beneath the overwhelming brilliance. Seconds later the light faded. Everyone slowly opened their eyes.
Standing directly before each of them…Was themselves…Perfectly identical. Every expression, aura and every ounce of power.
Even their souls carried identical signatures. The duplicates blinked once. Then smiled.
Each possessed full consciousness. Independent thought. The same memories, goals and purpose. Giana stared at herself with wide eyes. Her duplicate waved cheerfully.
Giana laughed.
"This is incredible!"
She pointed excitedly between herself and her duplicate.
"I'm in love with myself!"
Denar let out a long sigh.
"…You're impossible."
Veldoza couldn't help smiling.
"Okay. So now it's decided."
He looked around the room.
"We're going to the territory of the Viz…in the Unknown Expanse."
With a wave of his hand a dimensional portal unfolded before them.
Without another word Veldoza stepped through first and Ashura followed. Then Denar, Crystal, Rome, Spartan, Giana and Dronas.
The portal closed behind them. A completely different dimension.
Outer space…Yet unlike any space Ashura had ever seen. There was no sun. No moon. No stars illuminating the darkness.
Only an endless black expanse stretching forever. A handful of universes still floated in the distance, each containing traces of life. Everything else… Had been annihilated. Silence dominated this realm.
Even space itself felt heavier. Dronas slowly surveyed the surroundings. His expression hardened.
"Where we found the child Viz…was never this dense."
Everyone instinctively looked ahead.
Far beyond the surviving universes…Massive silhouettes slowly moved through the darkness. One. Then another. Then another. Each one dwarfed universes.
Their enormous bodies drifted silently through the Unknown Expanse. Ashura glanced toward them only once. His voice remained calm.
"They know we're here."
Every Oldest immediately became serious.
The atmosphere tightened. Their eyes fixed forward. The immense figures finally emerged from the darkness. The Viz…had come to greet them.