Hearing Shinji's declaration of war against the Hegemon, the 'Lampbearers' present all felt an inexplicable excitement.
In the universe, where time is measured in hundreds of thousands of years or even longer, Hegemons have always been at the very top of the food chain, beings unimaginable, unobservable, and insurmountable. So Shinji's declaration was likely the first time in the history of civilizations in the universe that a formal declaration of war was made against a Hegemon!
Shinji pressed his hands down gently, and the commotion in the conference room instantly subsided.
After the conference room quieted down, Shinji then said: "I don't need to elaborate on the danger of the Hegemon anymore. So this battle will be very dangerous; everyone must be mentally prepared!"
'Radiance' Alice stood up and said: "Captain, those who are still here have already prepared for the worst!"
'Greed Wolf' Hengo echoed: "Yes, the opponent is a Hegemon. We don't expect to retreat unscathed!"
Other 'Lampbearers' nodded one after another.
The number of 'Lampbearers' appearing in the conference room was actually fewer than the last time Shinji came. Presumably, some people didn't want to take risks and left early. Those who remained undoubtedly prepared for the worst.
"Very good!" Pausing, Shinji instructed 'Radiance' Alice: "Tell us about your plan!"
Alice came to the display instrument: "Because the situation in the Six Rings World is continuously deteriorating, several plans formulated before seem to have significant loopholes now. So we temporarily formulated a new plan."
Saying that, Alice looked at Shinji.
Shinji nodded gently, signaling Alice to continue.
Having received Shinji's approval, Alice manipulated the holographic display instrument with her hand, adjusting the display area to the artificial satellite where Shinji sealed part of the Propagation Hegemon's body with 'Chibaku Tensei'.
"After big data model analysis, among more than three thousand methods to provoke the Plague Hegemon to enter early and invade the Six Rings World, only the release of the Propagation Hegemon's remnant body has a success rate of 53.2%, which is at least eight percentage points higher than other methods."
While speaking, Alice brought up a list of success rates for various methods on the display instrument. The plan to release the Propagation Hegemon's remnant body indeed topped the list.
Then, Alice said: "Because through model analysis, the Propagation Hegemon's remnant body stranded in the Six Rings World is likely also one of the targets the Plague Hegemon wants to devour. So to prevent the Propagation Hegemon's remnant body from escaping, there is a high probability that the Plague Hegemon will invade the Six Rings World in advance."
"53.2%..."
Shinji's expression darkened slightly.
This success rate just passed half, obviously not secure enough. However, he also knew that once anything involved a Hegemon, there was no possibility of being secure.
Alice continued to manipulate the display instrument, adjusting the display area to the entire Six Rings World, and pointed to several prominent points on it: "These six points are the locations of the six Supreme Mages' Mage Towers. Once the war starts, these places are likely to be the Hegemon's primary attack targets. So we have arranged three layers of defensive circles around the six Mage Towers..."
Shinji interrupted Alice's introduction at this time: "Regarding the guarding of the Mage Towers, 'Lampbearers' should not participate."
Alice was stunned for a moment and asked puzzledly: "Captain, why is that?"
Facing everyone's curious gazes, Shinji explained: "Leave the defense of the Mage Towers to the mages of the Six Rings World. As 'Lampbearers', you have your own mission in this war!"
Hengo asked: "What mission?"
Shinji stood up and came to the display instrument, marked several areas on it, and said: "Your mission in this battle is to stabilize these areas and delay the collapse of the Six Rings World! Because it involves the Hegemon's pollution, only you can do this mission!"
Undoubtedly, after experiencing the contest with the Bewitching Hegemon behind the 'World Annihilation Society', Shinji knew very well that if a great battle broke out between him and a Hegemon within the Six Rings World, it would inevitably cause the accelerated collapse of the Six Rings World. Once the Six Rings World collapsed too quickly, leading to the loss of the spatial barrier's blocking effect, he would face even greater pressure from the Hegemon.
So maintaining the stability of the Six Rings World as much as possible was the key to victory in this battle!
Alice was still somewhat puzzled: "Captain, if we all go to stabilize the areas, does that mean you alone will bear the combat part?"
Hengo said: "Captain, we have developed many weapons during this time. They should be able to play a role in combat!"
Other 'Lampbearers' also chimed in.
They remained in the Six Rings World now, obviously wanting to arm-wrestle with the Hegemon!
Shinji first appeased everyone, then said: "Your mission is the key to victory or defeat in this great battle. Because once I engage the Hegemon, the interior of the Six Rings World will suffer a huge impact. If no one stabilizes the world, the Six Rings World will completely collapse in two or three days at most!"
"What!?"
'Arcane' was startled.
Others also had solemn expressions, seemingly re-evaluating Shinji's strength.
Out of trust in Shinji, the 'Lampbearers' quickly revised the battle plan, dividing the Six Rings World into eight areas, respectively stabilized by the eight participating 'Lampbearers': 'Arcane', 'Radiance' Alice, 'Greed Wolf' Hengo, the Old Warrior, 'Gladiator', 'Ghost', 'Whitebeard', and 'Nighthawk'.
With the end of the meeting, news of the imminent war was instantly conveyed to the Supreme Mages. Under the mobilization of the five Supreme Mages, the existing mage corps of the Six Rings World began to rapidly assemble towards the six Mage Towers, deploying lines of defense according to the previously formulated plan.
At the same time, the eight 'Lampbearers', including 'Arcane', quickly arrived at their defense zones and began setting up various instruments to delay the collapse speed of the Six Rings World after the outbreak of the great battle.
The entire Six Rings World seemed to instantly become active, welcoming the final battle!
Standing on a towering peak, Shinji looked up at the 'moon' hanging in the sky. That was the 'Chibaku Tensei' where he sealed the Propagation Hegemon's body.
Although he specially reinforced that 'Chibaku Tensei' when he came to the Six Rings World before, as time passed, that 'Chibaku Tensei' was eroded by the power of the Propagation Hegemon's residual limb again, gradually showing signs of collapse.
The ensuing war would mainly involve a three-way contest: the Plague Hegemon, the Propagation Hegemon, and the Six Rings World faction led by Shinji.
For Shinji, the best result would naturally be the two Hegemons fighting to the death, while he reaped the benefits. But this was hard to achieve because the Plague Hegemon already held a comprehensive advantage, and there was a high probability that the Propagation Hegemon would sacrifice the pawn to save the king.