"This is..."
"This is the scene you wished to see."
Inside the Collapsed State starship that was Welt, Murata Ryusuke awoke from the churning black ooze. This was partly because Himeko's battle had been too intense—what looked like a simple exchange had actually involved her full power, making it impossible to maintain the stability of the "cage." It was also because the "damage" Murata Ryusuke had sustained from years of exposure to Honkai had been fully treated by a medically-purposed, albeit somewhat SAN-draining,蠕动 device.
Having lost his link with the Shoggoths, Murata Ryusuke was now just an ordinary human with feeble strength. The first thing he did upon waking was not to check his own condition, but to look directly at the magnificent scene on the bridge's main viewscreen: dozens of spacecraft were slowly emerging from the FTL channel.
Welt Yang picked up where Murata Ryusuke left off, adding.
"While you were unconscious."
"We witnessed an interstellar war firsthand."
"In less than half an hour."
"A planetary base the size of Earth, and a fleet so vast it seemed to stretch to the horizon, enough to fill a planet's sky, were all annihilated with ease."
Welt Yang let out a deep sigh. With a wave of his hand, a data window containing a recording of the battle flew directly in front of Murata Ryusuke... this information wasn't even considered classified.
"The Empire has hidden nothing from us."
"So I think I understand..."
"Dr. Murata, your ideas might have been correct. No, your ideas are the future for humanity, but absolutely not right now."
"To rashly step into space before we are ready, to make contact with the aliens you hoped to find."
Welt Yang glanced at the Shoggoths, who stood silently beside him.
"The Shoggoths are a peace-loving race, and the masters of this fleet before you are as well... at least in name."
"Perhaps the former gave you the wrong impression."
"But I think."
"If Earth were to really do that, then the more likely outcome would be—"
Elder Konpeitō of the Shoggoths finished the sentence:
"With a population that is but one-ten-millionth of our peak."
"We Shoggoths, who have been hiding and running for over five hundred years, are already considered the absolute luckiest among the many civilizations that have encountered the Sky People."
---o---
"When were these built!?"
Through the Deimos Base's observation systems, intelligence on the Imperial fleet was displayed for all to see without reservation.
Himeko was excitedly observing the never-before-seen warship models in the starry sky. Although Welt appeared very calm, the surprise in his eyes could not be hidden.
"They just rolled off the factory line not long ago," Vill-V's voice sounded again.
Among all the Apostles, Vill-V was one of the less elusive ones. Her figure could occasionally be seen in many of the Empire's research facilities... this referred to sightings by members of the Ninety-Nine Chambers, not civilians.
Scientific research cannot be done in a vacuum; communication and discussion are crucial.
Coupled with Vill-V's social personality (a social terrorist), the subjects of the Empire, especially researchers in various cutting-edge fields, held a sense of awe for her but were far from as intimidated as they were when meeting other Apostles.
Of course, this was limited to researchers.
The Eighth Chamber, which Welt was in charge of, and the Fifteenth Chamber, where Himeko previously served, were both important research bodies within the Ninety-Nine Chambers. Both had seen Vill-V far more than just a few times.
"While infiltrating a new Bubble Universe, Gray Serpent discovered a reactive metal that can respond to both Imaginary and Quantum energy."
Vill-V did not explain the details.
For instance, who Gray Serpent was, and why another member of the Empire had made contact with a new Bubble Universe before the Quantum Legion.
"It's a rare mineral with low output."
"We sacrificed a squad of Ghost Agents just to mine out the minerals from that Bubble Universe."
"..."
Hiss!
Everyone who finally heard a familiar term sucked in a cold breath.
Ghost Agents, subordinate to the Ghost Academy, were a professional "intelligence organization" under the [Tenth Flame-Chaser · Mebius]. Their status was similar to that of the Plague Legion to the Plague Templar, possessing a high degree of autonomy and not even answering to the Emperor. That's right, this was one of the very few organizations within the Empire, empowered by His Majesty himself, that was not directly accountable to him.
As for the reason...
"Mining" minerals through "sacrifice"... it was questionable whether that Bubble Universe even existed anymore. How could an organization whose actions so clearly contradicted Imperial policy be under the responsibility of the peace-loving Emperor?
Moreover, just the name "Ghost Agents" was something that most members of the Ninety-Nine Chambers had never even heard of.
To be precise.
If not for contact through his field of work, Welt should have been the only one present who knew the name.
"Using this ore as a template."
"The Empire has made a small breakthrough in materials science. Although the materials used are not yet on par with cutting-edge products like the 'Valkyrie Armor,' they are more than sufficient for use in starships."
It should be noted.
The first prototype of the Valkyrie Armor came from a new [Blank Key] created by MEI. All subsequent versions were downgraded modifications of it.
That's right, downgraded.
The side effects of the new [Blank Key] were too extreme.
Even when worn by an Apostle, not all of them could utilize its full functionality, which led to the "downgrade." The technical differences between different versions of the Valkyrie Armor were mostly in how much of the original was "neutered." The newer the model, the more relatively complete its functions were compared to the prototype.
"The underwater shipyards rushed out a batch."
Vill-V's gaze focused on the flagship of this Imperial fleet.
"Although they haven't moved beyond the 'prototype' stage, the performance of this batch of starships is at least twenty to thirty percent higher than the Empire's standard models."
"Especially this one—"
As Vill-V's finger tapped lightly on the projection.
"Fleet Flagship 'Anti-Kevin Armament Model 4104'."
The smug expression on Vill-V's face was impossible to hide.
"You guys are in for a treat."
"This is a warship I built myself—built, not supervised. Its long axis is fifteen kilometers, and it's equipped with the 'Hybrid-097' energy reactor, fresh from my lab. Its standard energy output in cruise mode is equivalent to 17.5 standard units of a Higher Primordial Species."
Explaining further would be a hassle.
It was enough to understand that this fleet flagship's combat power was at the Apostle level.
"I'm even starting to wonder."
"With this thing around, if the mission objective of testing the fleet's combat power can even be achieved."
"..."
It had to be admitted.
Although the things "Lady Vill-V" created always had some structures with unclear principles and functions, these were always additional features built upon a perfected main function.
A brand-new fleet, plus this flagship filled with a classical aesthetic—exposed gears, rivets, and connecting rods, plus the "steam" that occasionally jetted out from various places. All of the above were standard features of a "Lady Vill-V" product... These features of uncertain necessity had even sparked a wave of imitation among the Empire's researchers.
There was reason to believe.
They would greatly reduce the pressure the legion was about to face.
"Is this a good idea?"
As the legion members returned to their posts, a conversation exclusive to the Apostles began, completely unnoticed by the others.
"What's not good about it?" Vill-V answered the Plague Templar's question nonchalantly.
"The Empire has been established for over four thousand years. Aside from some small-scale skirmishes, it has never suffered a defeat at the campaign level or higher."
"If that weren't the case."
"The Emperor would not have launched this 'cobbled-together' expedition... even if it's just a small piece of a puzzle whose full picture we don't even know."
"..."
The Plague Templar hesitated for a moment, but still continued, "Would it be wrong to tell them the truth?"
"I don't believe the legion members would fear a strong enemy."
Vill-V picked up where the Plague Templar left off, "In fact."
"I'm not worried about that either. I doubt that over ninety percent of these guys, with nothing but muscle in their heads, even know what fear is."
"But precisely because of that."
"That 'fear-nothing' attitude needs to be reined in with a dose of reality."
Vill-V had already obtained the coordinates of the Sky People's home world. The analysis that would take others ten days to half a month was, for her, a matter of minutes. Moreover, she had extracted unspoken intelligence from the destroyed information.
Vill-V chose her words very carefully.
"Just how strong the Emperor is, we can only get a glimpse from His titles."
"But in the vast cosmic sea, there will always be existences we can't afford to provoke, at least not for now. Including you, there are quite a few fanatics within the Empire, but I don't believe that the Emperor, whom you revere as a god, can truly match an Astral God."
Whether among the Flame-Chasers or the Apostles, Vill-V's way of thinking was definitely in the minority, but an indispensable minority nonetheless.
"Even if my thinking is different, the Emperor surely has his own considerations in this matter."
"Doesn't he?"
The Plague Templar hesitated once more.
"..."
"I can't win an argument with you."
"But since you chose to actively conceal the true intelligence, when the Emperor's wrath descends, I will not hide a single detail of our conversation."
"Hey!"
"Are you telling me you didn't guess?"
Faced with this betrayal from her "partner," Vill-V was extremely displeased. The reason she had laid her cards on the table was to have a "Baron Bunny" to share the blame, or well, calling him "Shanze Linji" wouldn't be a problem either.
"—"
The Plague Templar's voice, which usually sounded somewhat "dull" to the other Apostles, was now simply masked by a blank expression.
As the saying goes:
"Some things don't weigh a feather until you put them on the scales, but once you do..."
"...even a ton isn't enough."
---o---
In the center of the Viteriel Star Field.
At the edge of a massive star's gravitational field sat a huge red celestial body: this was the home world of the Sky People.
Today.
The star system where the home world resided was not peaceful.
A fleet, a fleet so vast it stretched beyond the horizon, no, it filled the entire sea of stars to the absolute limit of the sensor arrays!
This was the Sky People's once-in-a-century grand military parade.
The Imperial Guard that protected the home world and surrounding systems, the frontier forces led by the three frontline bases, and even the auxiliary armies composed of slave civilizations would all participate in this magnificent ceremony.
Currently.
The Sky People's Imperial Guard had completed their parade preparations.
Of the three frontline bases, two had also arrived at the home world as ordered. Only the Deimos Frontline Base, the farthest and most arduous post, had yet to arrive with its fleet... though their honor guard had arrived at the home world two weeks prior. This was understandable; after all, the Deimos Base was practically in the "semi-exile" zone of the Sky People's controlled territory. Those sent there were all "external faction" elements who could potentially destabilize the home world.
In addition to the four aforementioned "parade formations."
A "jump point" had been left in the space closest to the home world, an area completely cleared of space debris and without any spatial interdiction.
Normally.
Such a vulnerability would be fatal. If a hostile power were to obtain the corresponding coordinates and jump directly here, the home world, the very heart of the Sky People, could be easily wiped out.
But.
Only today, such a preparation was both rational and necessary.
Their backstage leaders, the Antimatter Legion, whom the Sky People had invited countless times, had for the first time expressed their willingness to travel to this "wasteland of the stars." A great personage would be gracing them with their presence.
The exclusive berth was prepared for this very purpose.
"Hasn't that Mammon fellow arrived yet?"
The Titan-class starship "Animus" was the only Titan possessed by the Sky People. Like most of their high-end technology, this Titan was also provided by the Antimatter Legion.
On a side note.
Although this Titan was a decommissioned ship from the Antimatter Legion, its technological level and firepower were no weaker than any other civilization's Titan in the cosmic sea.
On the main bridge of the Animus.
Upon the central throne, formed by a mass of writhing tentacles, the Emperor of the Sky People, "Scarab," spoke with a strong and powerful "gurgle-gurgle."
This being's size was far greater than that of an ordinary Sky Person, resembling a giant starfish with a radius exceeding ten meters.
"Your Majesty, the latest communication was from seventy-two hours ago."
"..."
On the surface of Scarab's starfish-like tentacles, the mucus-covered "cilia" on the connective fibers twitched involuntarily.
"That fellow."
"He isn't planning to arrive after the honored guest, is he?"
"..."
The probability was low, but it couldn't be completely ruled out. After all, Mammon's assignment to the Deimos Base was the result of a great deal of internal struggle and compromise among the Sky People.
Beep!
Just as Scarab was expressing his displeasure to his subordinate, the intelligence officer reported new sensor readings. From the direction of the Deimos system, the Animus's sensors were receiving a large number of clear-code broadcasts from an approaching fleet.
Using clear-code to reveal one's destination meant it certainly wasn't an enemy.
Which meant...
"That fellow knows his place."
VMMMM!!!
Concentric ripples bloomed in the void.
And then...
SWOOSH— -BOOOOOM!!!!!