[The Anti-Matter Legion has reawakened, igniting the flames of war across the entire planet.]
[You know of the undying hatred between the Empire and the Legion. The Anti-Matter Legion is about to destroy the dawn that the Empire has just welcomed. As the Emperor, you absolutely cannot allow such a thing to happen.]
[However, regarding how exactly to respond to the war launched by the Anti-Matter Legion, you cannot help but fall into deep thought—]
[1. March into the Wind and Snow.
The march of the Anti-Matter Legion is destined to continuously destroy the planet itself. So that the people of the future can see the blue sky and not live upon a riddled and scarred planet, you must pull up the weeds by the roots right now, while the Anti-Matter Legion has just begun to gather.]
[2. Defend the High Walls.
The reason for building Belobog's Iron Wall was to defend against these flames of war that were destined to be ignited... The Empire is not yet ready to face such a powerful enemy. If you want to survive, you must plan slowly and bide your time.]
[3. Seek Advice.
Your understanding of military matters is still too scant... The power possessed by the Empire does not have a very clear standard in your mind. You are not prepared to command the Empire's army with your shallow knowledge. You decide to seek advice from the General of the Empire, the Shadow of Belobog, Ron.]
Looking at the choices on the light screen, Seele chose the third option without hesitation.
Although, according to her understanding, defending the high walls was the best choice right now... After all, she had witnessed the terror of the Anti-Matter Legion in her last simulation.
Even though the Empire's army was far stronger than Belobog's previous forces, she felt it would still be difficult to contend with the Anti-Matter Legion.
Only by holding the high walls and planning slowly could they save this world, avoiding being swallowed by [Destruction] and turned into a brilliant firework in the cosmos.
...But this time, there was an option to ask Ron for advice.
Why not hug a thigh when there's a thigh to hug? She felt that Ron would definitely have a better choice. This was her trust in this "super carry."
The selection box on the light screen faded, and new notes jumped out from it:
[The news of the Anti-Matter Legion's attack left you at a loss for a moment, making it difficult to make a reasonable decision.]
[You decided to seek advice from Ron.]
The text on the screen faded, and a new plot scene began to play:
"Ron... the Anti-Matter Legion has already attacked. Where should the Empire go from here?"
In the image, Seele wore a cold face, but this wasn't because she had any issue with Ron; rather, she had become accustomed to this expression.
The power of [The Hunt] was wandering through her body. As the will of cold-blooded reform emerged in her heart, the Path resonating with her brought about great changes in her.
She handled all affairs calmly, viewing the world with the coldest gaze, quantifying everything, and making choices based on the magnitude of numbers.
After a year or two, Seele's heart had become as cold as iron.
For the grand wish of saving the world, the current her could use everything as a bargaining chip, staking it all on the scales of salvation as a wager... absolutely everything.
"We cannot advance rashly... but we also cannot just defend."
Ron was long used to Seele's cold face. He pondered with a solemn expression for a moment before speaking:
"The threat of the Anti-Matter Legion is not small... Compared to the Legion, although the Stellaron's threat was a multifaceted trouble, its threat level was far lower than that of the Anti-Matter Legion."
"After all... the Anti-Matter Legion offers only unilateral destruction."
Ron sighed, speaking with some hesitation:
"Although defending the walls can delay things for a long time, Belobog occupies only a tiny area relative to the entire planet."
"If the Anti-Matter Legion bypasses us, their desire for destruction will go unchecked, sooner or later annihilating everything outside of Belobog."
"When that time comes, we naturally won't be able to survive either."
"So... we need to take the head of their leader while defending Belobog."
As Ron spoke, a trace of complex emotion flowed through his eyes.
He still wanted to see Belobog's dawn, to see a future for Belobog no longer shrouded by natural disasters.
But now...
He took a deep breath, his gaze gradually becoming firm:
"I have consulted the classics of the Architects—the Legion invading Jarilo-VI is merely a vanguard regiment. Most Voidrangers possess no intelligence, only a pure desire for destruction. Although their combat power is not weak, they are only about as troublesome as difficult Fragmentum creatures."
"Only the head of this vanguard regiment, the Doomsday Vanguard leading them, possesses sufficient intelligence and the greatest threat..."
"Back then, it was hindered by the IPC's support and then sealed in ice by the Stellaron."
"And now... I will go deep into the Fragmentum and carry out a Decapitation Operation."
As he said this, he forced a smile and spoke in a teasing tone:
"Whoever violates Belobog's borders, Ron shall strike and destroy... I heard a play about me started at the Golden Theater recently. That line is my favorite."
"Rest assured, Seele... I will bring back victory. Definitely."
Seele looked at Ron's eyes and keenly perceived a trace of sorrow within them.
She believed Ron could complete his Decapitation Operation, but...
She did not believe Ron could come back alive.
The vanguard of [Destruction] was enough to annihilate a planet. While Ron might have a way to fight the Doomsday Vanguard, there would certainly be a tremendous price.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen not to bring a squad for assistance... It was obviously because he knew that the ending of this Decapitation Operation would certainly not be perfect.
So... should she stop Ron?
Complex thoughts surged in Seele's chest, but were cooled by her icy will.
Everything could be used as a wager for salvation. Everything.
As the final butterfly before the apocalypse, even if she had to abandon everything, she would dance with the most brilliant flame.
Ron's teachings were still engraved in her heart... She would not hesitate.
"...Go and do it."
She raised her eyes calmly, looking deeply at Ron, as if this were the final glance.
"I will support you with all my strength."
The image on the screen faded.
In reality, Seele was numb watching this scene—she didn't want Ron to die at all, okay?
She felt there should have been a better choice.
Really... why is the 'me' in the simulation so cold-blooded?
Ron had helped her so much. If it were up to her dashing and spirited nature, there was no way she would just let Ron go to his death...
The 'self' in the simulation was truly too excessive!
Seele looked at that icy version of herself in the simulation and couldn't help but sulk at her. She even wanted to pause the game, not wanting to watch Ron die later on at all.
But the Life Simulation Game had no concept of pausing.
New plot text jumped out on the light screen:
[With your full support, the Empire's army conducted tight patrols around the "Iron Wall."]
[Countless weapons of war, binding anti-particles, surged from the other end of the snowfields. Following their root desire for destruction and under the direction of the [Destruction] will, they surged toward Belobog's Iron Wall like a tidal wave.]
[Ron's previous proposal to build the wall was simply a perfect choice. Although the offensive of the Anti-Matter Legion was surging and precipitous like never before, relying on the massive walls surrounding Belobog, the Empire's army managed to maintain the situation.]
[At the front of the battle lines, anti-matter cores detonated in chain explosions every day. Tyrannical energy waves swept across the battlefield, yet they were powerless to shake the Empire's guards.]
[The situation on the frontline was stable and improving... until the true weapon of war walked out from the end of the snowfields.]
...
[You saw the Vanguard of the Anti-Matter Legion. Every Doomsday Vanguard has the ability to annihilate a planet single-handedly. You know exactly how powerful they are.]
[In this vast sea of stars, who knows how many fireworks were ignited and detonated by the Doomsday Vanguard before you... Jarilo-VI fades into the crowd of stars, no different from any other.]
[The Path still rejects you, and the "Crossroads" trait shines brightly.]
[Facing the source of disaster in the drifting wind and snow, you decide to make the most significant choice of your life—]
[1. The threat of Destruction is difficult to solve. To deal with it completely, you still need to calm down and plan slowly.
You know your power is not enough to solve the Doomsday Vanguard. Perhaps you should choose to abandon Seele, recommend Bronya, and conform more to the philosophy of [Preservation], drawing the power to counterattack from the Path.]
[2. Whoever violates Belobog's borders, Ron shall strike and destroy!
You have completely disregarded life and death—to guard and defend, and for the dawn of this world, you will pay any price.]
Ron looked at the choice on the light screen and sneered:
"Abandon Seele? Give me a break!"
He clicked on the second option without hesitation—
"Doomsday Vanguard? If you want a fight, come and get it!"