Compared to the frozen, oppressive atmosphere gripping the Deamon forces, the mood across the Endless Star Territory was far more vibrant. Having watched the Battle Droids self-destruct to instantly vaporize 1,000 elite Deamons, every observer showed a flash of genuine excitement. Most immediately recalled the terrifying, absolute weapon Sebastian had unleashed during the grand finals of the All-Stars Competition.
As the observer of this Origin Planet, Volkmar was naturally thrilled, immediately relaying the battle report upward to the command structure. Though it was merely an initial skirmish between the younger generation, it was a vital opening victory for their morale. Yet his joy proved short-lived. Volkmar's expression darkened as he spotted an imposing Castle suddenly tearing through the void outside the Origin Planet.
Frowning, Volkmar prepared to sound the general alarm. Before he could raise the signal, the Castle halted, and a sleek, high-speed vessel launched from its bay, diving straight toward the Origin Planet. Volkmar's heart sank with a terrible premonition. Moments later, an urgent communication from Nikolaus confirmed his worst fears.
"Everyone, quiet down," Volkmar's voice echoed across the staging ground via a rare public voice transmission, instantly cutting through the eager chatter. "I have an urgent announcement to make."
The crowd reluctantly quieted, having just been furiously debating whether the Deamons would dare send another wave against the terrifying power of the Small Nuclear Bomb. Sensing the gravity in his tone, veteran figures like Jörn and Kanna immediately narrowed their eyes, while the rest raised their ears to listen closely.
"According to intelligence," Volkmar continued, his voice heavy with tension, "the Deamons have deployed the leading prodigy of their younger generation, Illidan, the Son of the Deamon Lord. He has already arrived at this Planet via spaceship. Do not, under any circumstances, venture out to engage him."
"Illidan, the Son of the Daemon Lord?!" A shockwave swept through the crowd.
Even those unfamiliar with the Warp Deamons knew the weight of that title. In the Warp, across an entire era, only a single Daemon could bear the designation 'Son of the Daemon Lord.' Much like the jar theory to fight for dominance, this individual was the most terrifying survivor to emerge from the endless slaughter.
"I know of this person," Jörn said, his face grim. "He is widely considered the greatest talent the Warp has produced in uncounted millennia. He cleared the 99th floor of the Warp entirely alone, a feat unmatched in history, given that second place couldn't even reach the 70th floor."
The atmosphere turned instantly solemn.
"I've heard of him as well," Sergey chimed in, leaning against his weapon. "Word was he was appointed Captain but had no intention of participating directly. Why the sudden change of heart?"
Seeking an answer, numerous eyes turned toward Sebastian. The conclusion to Sebastian's recent battle with Eric had been far too bizarre, leaving 1,000 elite Deamons wiped out in a single breath without a direct clash.
"These hypocritical bastards," Lando muttered unhappily, his eyebrows furrowed. "The moment they lose a round, they send out the monster. They truly can't handle defeat."
"This isn't a mere youth battle anymore; this is war," Baroque countered, spreading his hands. "Morale is everything, and neither side can afford to yield. While the Son of the Demon holds supreme status, he still technically belongs to the younger generation."
"If they send him out next," Lando asked, his gaze sweeping over the heavy-hearted crowd, "do we still fight?"
Silence fell over the gathering. Sebastian's strength was undeniable, easily capable of crushing a standard young Deamon like Eric. In terms of sheer talent, he was not inferior to Illidan. However, time was his fatal flaw. Sebastian had awakened his Planet less than a year ago, whereas Illidan had developed his forces for far longer.
More importantly, the Endless Star Territory could not afford a high-profile loss. As the greatest newcomer in the history of the Endless Star Territory, if Sebastian faced Illidan head-on and suffered defeat, the blow to their overall morale would be catastrophic.
"Multiple Planets across the sector are already fully at war," Volkmar added softly, his tone weighed down by heavy truth. "The frontline situation is far from optimistic."
A collective weight settled onto everyone's chest. Knowing war had arrived was one thing; hearing of its grim realities firsthand was another.
"Do not act rashly," Volkmar warned once more. As the overseer on this Planet, Sebastian held the ultimate authority, leaving Volkmar only able to offer advice. If Sebastian insisted on stepping forward, Volkmar had no power to stop him.
"Rest assured, we won't be careless," Jörn said with a tight smile. "From what I know, every supernatural lifeform created by Illidan is a High Deamon, complete with distinct roles and complementary abilities. Forget this current monster, even a million years ago..." Jörn paused, sweeping his gaze across the quiet group. "The one who held the title back then also clashed with the elite youth of our Endless Star Territory."
"And do you remember the outcome? Our side was utterly crushed," Lando said, shaking his head.
"Indeed," Jörn agreed. "It was the same then as it is now. In the end, our forces were forced into hiding, unable to step out to challenge them. If the Son of the Deamon was that overwhelming in the past, imagine what this one, hailed as the strongest in history, is capable of."
"So we just avoid fighting altogether?" Lando frowned.
"That's impossible. It all depends on the decision from upper management," Jörn replied helplessly.
"Don't lose your composure just yet," Volkmar interjected. "The higher-ups are fully aware of the situation and are actively debating our strategy. An official directive should arrive shortly."
"They will likely deploy core disciples from the Star Palace or the Empire," Sergey speculated.
No one doubted his logic. While figures like Augustus, Iris, and Sergey were top-tier talents within the sphere of the Council of Stars, five other giant factions existed beyond it: the Star Palace, the Empire, the Eagle Alliance, the Star Council, and the Thirteen Organizations. Among them, the Star Palace and the Empire stood as the ultimate titans.
"We have to admit our limits," Sergey laughed self-deprecatingly. "When it comes to nurturing the absolute pinnacle of young powerhouses, the Council of Stars lags slightly behind those two."
It was a recognized fact. Even the weakest among the major factions, the Thirteen Organizations, produced terrifying geniuses year after year. Only this year, with the sudden rise of Sebastian as the strongest newcomer, had the Council of Stars finally held its head high.
"Especially the direct disciples of the Star Palace and the Empire," Jörn added. "They are groomed as the next-generation masters of their respective factions, backed by resources beyond what any other organization could ever dream of providing."
"Even so..." Sergey frowned, shaking his head. "I've met some of the Star Palace's top descendants. Their talent is extraordinary, but compared to Illidan, I fear they still fall short. Even if several of them joined forces to form a peak lineup, beating him would be a monumental task."
"Well, there's no point worrying endlessly," Lando said with a light chuckle. "Whatever challenge comes next, it likely won't involve us anyway."
As the discussion wound down, the atmosphere froze back into a tense quiet, the brief thrill of their earlier victory completely swallowed by anxiety.
Illidan? Sebastian thought, his mind rapidly calculating the variables.
Even after witnessing the catastrophic power of the Miniature Nuclear Bomb, the enemy remained entirely confident. The bomb was devastating, but it wasn't without weaknesses. If the enemy deployed Deamons capable of ultra-long-range bombardment, the tactic of self-destructing droids at close quarters would become useless.
Hearing Jörn's breakdown, Sebastian felt certain that Illidan possessed long-range units within his arsenal.
On the Origin Planet, a strange tranquility reigned. Neither Sebastian's anxious encampment nor the arriving Deamon reinforcements made a move, as if both sides were biding their time. Yet everyone understood this was merely the eerie quiet before an inevitable storm.
The Deamons' strategy was blatant: leverage the absolute power of Illidan to crush all resistance and shatter the sector's spirit. Conversely, the Endless Star Territory had no room to retreat. After millions of years of development, their foundation was far stronger than in ancient times; backing down without a fight was simply not an option.
During the agonizing wait, a massive vessel resembling a radiant bluebird suddenly breached the void outside the Planet. Seeing the starship materialize, Volkmar's eyes widened, his anxious expression instantly lighting up with newfound hope.
"They're actually here? They managed to mobilize that person?!" Excitement flashed vividly across Volkmar's eyes.
The sentry Planetary Lords stationed at the perimeter spotted the magnificent craft almost simultaneously. Shock rippled through the ranks, while Jörn and Kanna found it nearly impossible to contain their utter astonishment.
"That ship..." Kanna muttered, her eyes locked onto the towering vessel. "Could it really be that living legend from the Empire?!"