Chapter 368: Core Members! Inspecting the Multiverse! The Birch World!
After finishing his conversation with David about the "Heaven-Scorching Divine Armament," Paul made time to return home and visit his parents—Duke Leto and Lady Jessica.
He hadn't even stayed long enough to properly spend time with his younger sister, Elya, before heading off again—this time to the capital of the Star Wars universe: Coruscant.
Fortunately, Li Ang had already deployed heavy defenses in advance, so Coruscant remained untouched by the ravages of war. As the galactic situation gradually stabilized, the planet was officially integrated into the Greater Interstellar Trade Network.
Goods from countless parallel universes now circulated here. Endless fleets of starships traversed the systems, creating a vibrant, flourishing commercial hub that injected new vitality into the New Republic.
Kyber crystals and Mandalorian iron, both native to the Star Wars galaxy, had become the newest high-demand commodities within the megacorporation's empire, exported to various universes throughout the multiverse.
Kyber crystals could be used as fuel for supermatter reactors and to forge lightsabers for Force users.
Mandalorian iron, with hardness on par with Adamantium, was perfect for crafting blades, armor plating, power armor shells, and even battleship hulls.
Once the heart of the Galactic Empire, Coruscant had been thoroughly cleansed of all traces of the old regime following the transition of power.
After the Battle of Yavin, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader had finally reconciled and acknowledged each other as father and son at the right moment.
Although Luke had initially struggled to accept the truth, Obi-Wan's guidance helped him come to terms with reality. He let go of his resentment and embraced his lineage.
After all, blood ties couldn't be denied or escaped.
As for the dead—well, what could Anyone do? The dead don't come back to life. Luke simply honored his father with a symbolic three-cup offering and moved on.
That said, Vader didn't stay with Luke for long. Assigned by the Megacorp, he was sent to the Sith Empire to oversee operations there.
He remained the Sith Overlord, the ultimate master of the dark side of the Force—only now, he served the corporation.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Luke, with support from the Megacorp, rebuilt the Jedi Order. They even tracked down the long-hidden Master Yoda and the wandering Jedi Cal Kestis.
The Megacorp's intent in reestablishing the Jedi Order was simple: to counterbalance the Sith Empire, which embodied the dark side of the Force.
To maintain equilibrium between opposing Force philosophies, both factions were deemed necessary.
During this time, Chirrut—once a Force-sensitive monk—finally became a Jedi apprentice. No longer wielding just a staff, he now carried a lightsaber like any other Jedi.
When word of Paul's arrival spread, the members of Rogue One, along with Obi-Wan, Luke, and Princess Leia, all came to meet him.
Leia was the first to express her gratitude:
"Paul, we're truly thankful for everything you've done for the Galactic Council. If you hadn't stopped the Empire's Death Star, we might not even be standing here right now."
At the time, Leia had been imprisoned aboard the Death Star. Had Vader gone through with detonating it, she wouldn't have survived.
Paul, however, simply shook his head. "It was just something I had to do."
Truthfully, Paul hadn't thought much about whether he'd live through it himself. He'd had no time to care about his own safety, let alone Anyone else's.
The Megacorp had been preparing for that moment for far too long. He just didn't want everyone's efforts to go to waste—nothing more.
"In any case, the Galactic Council owes you a great debt. If you ever need anything, just say the word," Leia said with a smile.
Paul responded with a faint smile and a nod. He then turned to Captain Cassian and asked, "By the way, where's Din Djarin? I haven't seen that guy around."
Paul had long been interested in recruiting the formidable Mandalorian mercenary into his team.
Now that he'd been promoted to a core officer within the Multiverse Vanguard Corps, he needed his own personal strike team. So far, all the heavy-hitters—like the Master Chief—belonged to David Martinez.
Paul didn't have authority over them and could only borrow them temporarily.
At present, his team consisted of only a few people: Chani, Panam (pani) Wells, and Sam.
Pani was a political placement—while certainly capable, he was Marshal Jack Wells' son. Paul wouldn't dare let him risk his life on the front lines.
Looking back at past core teams of the Multiverse Vanguard Corps:
First Generation: Led by V. Members included Jack Wells, Johnny Silverhand, and Reed—all founding veterans of the Megacorp's main universe.
Second Generation: Led by David Martinez. His squad featured Valkyrie Rita, William Cage, and the Master Chief—now pillars of the Megacorp.
By comparison, Paul—now the third-generation leader—clearly had less to work with. Which is why he urgently needed fresh blood.
His targets: Luke Skywalker and Din Djarin.
Din was a versatile warrior with a wide skill set and exceptional individual strength.
Luke, the Force's chosen one, was the team's ideal "sword immortal," perfect for slaying monsters and purging evil.
If Paul could recruit them both, the burden on his shoulders would lighten considerably.
Cassian replied, "That kid Din Djarin? I heard he enlisted with some female Mandalorian named Bo-Katan Kryze. Haven't you heard? The Expansion Bureau just set up a Mandalorian Corps."
Bo-Katan Kryze was a native Mandalorian and a former member of Death Watch.
After Darth Maul seized control of Death Watch, she led a rebellion against him. It wasn't until Reed arrived that she finally avenged her fallen comrades.
Following Mandalore's liberation, Reed established a Mandalorian Corps, with Bo-Katan as a central commanding officer.
"No way—I have to find a way to steal that kid away!"
Paul grumbled inwardly, then turned his focus to Obi-Wan and Luke. Since recruiting Din would take time, he might as well go after Luke first.
"May the Force be with you."
Luke greeted him with the customary salute of a Jedi. After months of training, he'd clearly matured—no longer the naïve farm boy of old, but a capable Jedi Knight in his own right.
Obi-Wan, representing the reformed Jedi Order, addressed Paul:
"We couldn't have rebuilt the Jedi Order without your help in taking down Darth Vader."
"I won't forget this debt. Should you ever require it, the Jedi will answer your call."
Hearing that, Paul wasted no time and immediately requested to take Luke with him, explaining his intention to form his own dedicated strike team.
Obi-Wan was a bit stunned—that had just been a polite gesture, not an actual offer. If Luke left now, how could the Jedi Order continue to grow? They were already short-handed!
Still, Obi-Wan remained composed. He simply turned to Luke, clearly leaving the decision in his hands.
Luke: "..."
---
Universe 002: Pacific Rim
Li Ang boarded his personal shuttle to begin inspections across all eight universes under the Megacorp's dominion.
He had now arrived at Universe 002, Pacific Rim, and hovered 20,000 kilometers above the North American continent.
After years of terraforming, the Earth—once polluted by Precursors and Kaiju—had seen dramatic environmental recovery.
The vivid blue of water and lush green of land had returned. Grasslands and forests now blanketed continents. Rivers once corroded by acid rain had become clear again.
Murky oceans had transformed into deep sapphire seas, glowing with serene luminescence.
This universe now served as the Megacorp's main hub for mech production. Most large-scale mechas—including many Transformers—were serviced and maintained here.
Li Ang gazed out at the dense network of industrial complexes and facilities. Even from orbit, the sprawling, orderly layout of the factory zones was striking.
All systems were running at high efficiency, with mechanical arms and automation units tirelessly at work, and the production lines radiating with energy.
"Did the Preacher get the ten thousand Knight units he asked for to expand the Prometheus Legion? He said they were prepping for battle against the War Mongers."
Li Ang didn't turn from the window as he asked Xu Shiming, the planetary governor of Universe 002.
Xu responded promptly, "Sir, the Knight units are still in production. We've ramped up mecha output, but we're still about 3,000 units short of his order."
The Prometheus Legion was currently the Megacorp's most elite AI combat force. Each unit consisted of a trio: Knight, Infiltrator, and Observer.
Their high cost made them unsuitable for mass production.
The corporation's cheaper troops remained the Reaper ant-soldiers from the Harvesters and standard clone infantry.
Li Ang gave a satisfied nod. Around him stood the eight planetary governors—each one overseeing a separate universe.
Despite being top-tier leaders, they all stood like schoolchildren in Li Ang 's presence, hands behind their backs, silently listening to his questions and instructions.
This inspection tour wasn't just to "crack the whip." Li Ang wanted a clear picture of the Megacorp's reserves to determine if they could launch another multiverse conquest.
Thanks to careful strategic planning, the Star Wars universe had been conquered with minimal expenditure of troops and resources.
In fact, they'd gained far more than they spent—seizing the Empire's million-strong Star Destroyer fleet and the ultimate superweapon: the Starkiller Base.
With Starkiller Bases deployed across key chokepoints in the galaxy, the Megacorp could project overwhelming firepower in real time.
No rebel stronghold could gain traction, not when it could be wiped off the map in a single blast.
Starkiller Bases functioned like Halo Rings in other universes—absolute deterrents under Li Ang 's control, granting him unrivaled authority.
Now that the cost of administering the Star Wars universe had been driven to a minimum, Li Ang saw the potential for another expansion campaign.
With momentum from the triumphant Battle of Yavin and the follow-up pacification campaign, many Megacorp armies were still itching for more action.
Especially with the Heaven-Scorching Divine Armament at their side, even high-difficulty campaigns could be overcome.
"Sir, Director Alt Cunningham just reported that the Force Retrovirus Project is halfway complete. He estimates three more years to finish."
"In the meantime, he recommends having Vader and Obi-Wan each begin training Force-users for the Megacorp."
Naturally, the Jedi Order and the Sith Empire—both preserved by the Megacorp—weren't just symbolic. They were meant to fulfill specific roles.
Publicly, the Jedi Order would continue acting as the galactic peacekeepers, champions of justice and harmony.
The Sith Empire, meanwhile, would maintain the role of chaos and darkness.
Each institution had purpose: the Jedi to train Force users of the light, and the Sith to cultivate wielders of the dark side.
For every Jedi trained, a dark-side counterpart would be raised—ensuring balance in the Force.
Li Ang nodded. This had been his original intent all along, and Cunningham's suggestion aligned perfectly.
He then checked in with Morgan Blackhand on the progress of decrypting knowledge from the Halo universe's Forerunner Archives.
The good news: initial breakthroughs had been made in neural physics, but full results were still years away.
Still, it was progress. If Li Ang wanted to elevate the Megacorp to the level of gods, they needed access to reality-level weapons and knowledge.
The Megacorp already stood as a cosmic superpower, capable of waging high-tier multiversal warfare—but true godhood was still a step beyond.
"You're all dismissed. I'll call for you again later."
After getting a full situational report, Li Ang waved the governors away, choosing to remain alone in the observation chamber.
---
[Universal Megacorp Phase VIII – "Heaven-Scorching Divine Armament" unlocked]
[Universal Megacorp Phase IX – "Birch World" not yet unlocked]
[…]
When the system template switched over and the colossal structure known as [Birch World] appeared, Li Ang visibly froze for a moment—this wasn't the megastructure he had been expecting.
In his mind, by the time the Universal Megacorp reached Phase Nine, the system should've handed over something even more terrifying—perhaps a Laws-tier weapon, like an Aether Phase Engine.
That would've saved him the trouble of using the Blazing God Armament to go around blowing up stars to mine dark matter. But instead, the Phase Nine megastructure turned out to be—Birch World?
The so-called Birch World was, in essence, a celestial body wrapped around a supermassive black hole, consisting of 280 million concentric shell layers, each spaced 100 kilometers apart.
You could picture it as a structure of countless nested shell-worlds.
It bore some resemblance to the Shield Worlds constructed by the Forerunner civilization in the Halo universe, but the scale was drastically different—Birch World's shell layers numbered in the hundreds of millions!
> "Still… this thing is a rare gem."
Following along with the system's on-screen introduction, as well as memories surfacing in his mind, Li Ang gradually gained a clearer understanding of what Birch World truly was.
The structure operated using energy drawn from the black hole at its core, forming a closed-loop system.
Waste and refuse generated by Birch World could be dumped into the black hole, where it would be partially converted into usable energy that was then absorbed by the structure's outer layers.
In addition, floating above the inner surface of Birch World was a 120,000-kilometer-deep ocean of water and ammonia—a manifestation of the old adage: "At the end of science lies the boiling of water."
And yes—this water-ammonia ocean's purpose was quite literally boiling water.
On one hand, water's high specific heat made it an effective buffer zone. On the other hand, when the black hole emitted jets of energy toward the poles, the polar waters would heat up and flow toward the equator—generating electricity in the process.
Of course, this mind-bending mechanism wasn't even the most outrageous part. What truly defied comprehension were Birch World's numerical stats.
Thanks to its 280 million shell layers, Birch World's surface area had ballooned to an astronomical scale—over ten trillion times the surface area of Earth!
Yes, you read that right—over ten trillion Earths' worth of surface area—an absolutely staggering figure!
That was equivalent to a million Dyson spheres—ten times the combined surface area of all naturally occurring celestial bodies in the observable universe!
Moreover, due to the relativistic effects of the supermassive black hole at its core, time flowed more slowly within Birch World—53% slower than in the external physical universe.
This meant one year inside Birch World was equal to 22.5 months outside.
Now, you'd think that with 280 million shell layers, time differentials across layers would be scattered and chaotic. But in reality, the time gap between the topmost and bottommost layers was just three days.
The overall time dilation difference? A mere 0.8%!
Without a doubt, this was a miracle of megastructure engineering—a "pocket universe" so incredible that even Cheng Xin from the Three-Body universe couldn't have dreamed it up.
> "There's a mountain called Mount Sumeru, which rises from the sea; the sun and moon revolve around it."
At that moment, a Buddhist scripture line came to Li Ang's mind. And when he looked again at Birch World—with its poetic name and its myth-like design—he realized it did resemble that legendary Mount Sumeru in some respects.
> "So this megastructure is basically a fantasy realm continent?"
Li Ang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. No matter how he looked at it, the thing resembled one of those massive, all-encompassing fantasy continents from xianxia novels—complete with infinite size and endless variety.
There were even a few tongue-in-cheek doggerel verses used to mock those cliché settings:
> One continent, absurdly vast—
Ten trillion souls still don't fill it fast.
Ends of the land are light-years apart,
But I cross it all in three months, no chart!
After thinking for a while, Li Ang concluded that Birch World wouldn't offer any direct or immediate benefits to the Universal Megacorp at its current phase. However, it could serve as a strategic fallback base.
If things ever reached the brink of collapse, Birch World could house the Universal Megacorp 's core megastructures, military forces, citizens, and allies—a place to stage a comeback.
Even if it weren't used as an emergency refuge, it could serve as a literal creation sandbox.
He could toss in some Chrysanthemum Beasts, Force-wielding warriors, genetically engineered monsters, and so on—a chaotic mix. Give it a few billion years, and who knows? It might evolve into an entirely new xianxia-style fantasy world.
With 280 million shell-layer zones, Birch World had room for every realm imaginable—Kunlun Realm, Netherworld Realm, Celestial Palace, Abyssal Hell, and so on and so on…
A nesting-doll fantasy playground, filled with hackneyed map-hopping clichés—Birch World could accommodate them all!
> "Didn't expect the black hole core of Birch World could also traverse multiversal dimensions… pity it's not safe or stable enough."
At that moment, Li Ang noticed Birch World actually had a feature similar to Endor in the Star Wars universe—multiversal traversal capabilities.
After pondering for a bit, Li Ang made a decision: he would officially form a specialized team to explore multiversal dimensions and unravel the secrets of the cosmos. He couldn't just sit around waiting for the Infinite Divine Engine to figure everything out.
> "Might as well treat it as a colossal vanity project—something to flex in front of other civilizations."
Li Ang smiled faintly. He recalled that back when he first built a Ringworld, countless members of the galactic trade alliance had been awestruck by Universal Megacorp 's power.
But over time, as the Universal Megacorp expanded, that once-impressive, budget-burning vanity project had gradually lost its shine.
Now, if he suddenly whipped out a Birch World, it would no doubt draw massive attention from countless alien civilizations.
After confirming the identity of the Phase Nine megastructure, Li Ang turned his eyes toward the long-absent lottery interface.
The good news was: this time, he had access to the Level 11 prize pool, which meant he stood a real chance of acquiring another Laws-tier weapon like the Einstein Equator!
The bad news? There was no guaranteed drop—it could easily "drift."
He might pull something from another universe—rendering the weapon unusable in the sci-fi setting—or even get bumped down to the Level 7 or 8 pools and draw something totally useless.
But even if that happened, Li Ang wasn't too bothered.
After all, Laws-tier destructive weapons drawn from the Level 11 pool were frankly too much for him to handle at the moment. The Einstein Equator was powerful, sure—but still not as practical as the Starkiller Base.
Li Ang had no interest in playing a suicidal game of mutually assured destruction just to intimidate his enemies. That would serve no purpose.
> "Well, it is what it is. Let's just spin the wheel and see what I get."
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