At 3100 years old, as a newly appointed Aeon of Destruction, you were quickly granted command of an Antimatter Legion. Nanook's first mission for you was to destroy a star system alliance protected by the Aeon of Harmony, Xipe. This alliance was renowned for its internal harmony and unity, considered a paragon of Harmony's ideals. But you scoffed at such false Harmony. True destruction was not merely physical annihilation. You chose not to lead the legion in a frontal assault. That was too boring.
Subsequently, you personally infiltrated the alliance. You began to seek out cracks within the collective will of this alliance. Using mental manipulation, you lurked within, slowly amplifying their hidden exclusivity and fear of 'outsiders'. You wove illusions that made them suspect each other, showing them their 'companions' secretly plotting betrayal. You whispered in their minds, inciting them. Soon, this alliance, once considered a paragon of Harmony, began to rot from within.
The purges began. Fierce conflicts erupted between alliance members. Once 'united' planets began attacking each other, fighting fiercely over trivial reasons. Their starships exploded in each other's orbits, their cities turned to ruins under mutual bombardment. Ultimately, this star system alliance, protected by the Harmony's divine power, was not breached by external enemies. But under your manipulation, it completely self-destructed due to its own suspicion, fear, and internal strife, turning into a wasteland.
This method of destruction, disintegrating a civilization on a spiritual level without losing a single soldier, filled you with immense satisfaction. This was the true art of destruction.
[Villain Value +500!]
At 5000 years old, time was like sand slipping through fingers; in the endless universe, a few millennia were but a flick of the wrist. You, Aeon of Destruction Huanlong, were no longer that small Heliobus hiding in a mortal shell, surviving by devouring your kind. You were an Emissary under the Destruction Aeon Nanook, commanding the Antimatter Legion, sowing the seeds of destruction across countless star systems. Your reputation, accompanied by collapsing civilizations, echoed throughout the cosmos. You reveled in this power, this authority to easily destroy everything. But deep down, the humiliation of being imprisoned for a thousand years, the profound hatred for the Xianzhou Alliance, never faded.
At 6398 years old, Star Calendar 8098. The intelligence network of the Antimatter Legion reported the latest information to you. A piece of intelligence about the Xianzhou Alliance caught your attention. It seemed related to abnormalities from the Abundance faction, and some exploitable cracks had appeared within the Xianzhou. Nanook's grand will showed no displeasure at your focus. It seemed to welcome all forms of destruction, whether external invasion or internal collapse. Your heart stirred. It was time. It was time to let the civilization that once imprisoned you taste destruction as well.
Directly leading the legion in a strong assault? That was too uninteresting. True destruction begins with rot from within. You decided, as usual, to personally go to the Xianzhou Luofu. To find a suitable identity and infiltrate the heart of that giant ship. Your Golden Threads had already analyzed countless potential targets. Finally, your gaze settled on a Foxian girl from the Sky-Faring Commission—Tingyun. Her position was neither high nor low, yet she had access to a large amount of information, a wide network, and... seemed to be an easy target for possession. A perfect vessel, an excellent stepping stone. A grand conspiracy against the Xianzhou slowly formed in your mind.
What do you plan to do?
Proceed as usual, transform into Tingyun and lie in wait.
Prepare for contingencies, infiltrate various factions first.
Directly attack the Xianzhou Luofu with the legion.
When the options appeared, Orion did not immediately make a decision. Option one, proceed as usual, transform into Tingyun and lie in wait? That would be following the plot... but what would be the outcome? The risk of being defeated by Jing Yuan and the Dragon Lord working together was very high. He did not want to repeat such a failure. The risk was too high, the ending already set. Option three, directly attack the Luofu with the legion? A foolish option. Although the Xianzhou Alliance had cracks, the Seven Great Xianzhou had deep foundations, and several Emissaries were stationed there. Going head-to-head, even if he was an Emissary of Hui Ming in the simulation, he would not fare well. So, only option two remained.
Prepare for contingencies, infiltrate various factions first. This was more in line with Orion's style. The advantage of Golden Threads lay in information. Before acting, you needed to control more chess pieces, more intelligence. Infiltrate different factions, plant more hidden stakes, create more chaos. This way, no matter how the situation developed, you could stand undefeated and even guide the entire Xianzhou towards the desired destruction. Actions must be watertight.
Soon, Orion made his decision. "I choose 2."
You chose to prepare for contingencies, infiltrating various factions first. With the thought set, you began to consider which faction to infiltrate first. Infiltrate the Xianzhou Luofu first and become Tingyun? Inappropriate. Then, the Stellaron Hunters? Those guys were elusive, and behind them was Elio, who played with fate's script. As an Emissary, you were confident you could interfere with or deceive Elio's precognition to some extent, but there was no need. The Stellaron Hunters were not the best choice for stirring up trouble in the Xianzhou; the risks did not outweigh the benefits.
Your thoughts raced, finally landing on another target. The Astral Express. Those who inherited the will of the Trailblaze Aeon Akivili. Although Akivili had fallen, the navigator Himeko and the conductor Pom-Pom still guided the Express, traversing the star seas and trailblazing. Yes, it was them. If the Xianzhou's fate script was to be rewritten, the biggest variable often lay with these protagonists, who held the belief in trailblazing and were full of uncertainty. Infiltrating them to muddy the waters of the Xianzhou, wouldn't that be wonderful?
Having determined the target, the next step was disguise. You mobilized some of the Destruction Emissary's authority and began to forge a completely new temporary body for yourself. It was not a simple mimicry, but meticulously constructed based on your own memories. Light and shadow twisted, energy particles converged and dispersed. Soon, a young man with black hair and black eyes, a handsome face, and a hint of detachment in his brows, gradually became clear.
Orion looked at the body that had condensed in the simulation, stroking his chin with satisfaction. Although it was only a simulation, the appearance of this body was indeed impeccable. "Hmm, it's only a little bit less handsome than my true future self."