Published at 31st of December 2025 8:44 am

Chapter 1878 The deadly wait

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Middle Sector 100 Originus Planet

Step Step

The sound of elegant yet rapid footsteps echoed sharply through the vast corridor, each strike precise and confident. Every guard within the palace recognized that sound instantly-the distinctive resonance of metal high heels striking polished floors, a rhythm impossible to mistake, and naturally, its unmistakable owner.

"Your Excellency, Lady Renara."

The guards positioned along the length of the corridor continued to perform crisp military salutes, one after another, as she passed by, their movements perfectly synchronized.

Renara was not merely a wing leader subordinate to the Cradle Empire. She was, without exaggeration, the most influential and impactful Nexus State within the Centennial Empire, her contributions unmatched and uncontested. Though this status had never been formally declared, every individual within the military hierarchy understood the truth clearly-her standing within the empire was surpassed only by Marshal Caesar himself and the

Commander-in-Chief of the Special Forces, Peon, sons of His Majesty!

As for Renara, she paid not the slightest attention to the salutes directed at her. Her expression remained firm as she maintained her swift pace, stopping only when she reached a familiar door. With a sharp-Creeeak- she pushed it open and entered without hesitation.

"This is absurd... completely absurd!"

""

Several officers and high-ranking government officials seated within the reception hall unconsciously parted their lips, caught off guard by her sudden intrusion.

Renara entered with unmistakable anger carved between her brows, yet paradoxically, that fury lent her an added allure. Her already breathtaking face, combined with her softly furred ears and her nine fluffed tails swaying

rhythmically behind her with each movement of air, created a sight that was nothing short of mesmerizing.

"Hm..."

Caesar, meanwhile, lifted his gaze instinctively for a brief moment, casting a quick glance at the newcomer before calmly returning to the document in his hand.

"I believe I assigned you to a front line. What exactly are you doing here?"

"The battle is already finished. I pursued the Nexus State stationed there until he was forced to flee into space." Renara waved her hand dismissively, then slammed the table with one of her hands.

"Second- don't try to change the subject. You know perfectly well why I'm here."

Caesar remained silent, offering no immediate response.

The tension thickened as visible anger rapidly accumulated on Renara's features, yet she restrained herself, producing not a single sound.

After a full minute had passed, Caesar finally picked up his pen, pressed his soul imprint onto the document, and handed it to one of those present. He then set the pen aside deliberately and leaned back into his massive chair.

"Leave us for a moment."

"Understood."

Without hesitation, everyone except Caesar and Renara vacated the hall, their footsteps fading quickly.

"Every time you come to me in this state, you begin speaking about the Twilight Spectrum Empire... I was under the impression we've discussed this matter more than enough times." Caesar spoke with a heavy, authoritative tone that filled the room.

"Must we really repeat this conversation every single day? Is there truly no one standing behind me but you, and no issues demanding my attention other than yours?!"

"This time, it's different!!" Renara replied rapidly, her voice sharp with urgency.

"Seven new wings have sworn allegiance to you. It's only a matter of a few short years before we become a double Centennial Empire, comparable to the Grave Empire, and without any direct assistance from His Majesty, unlike the support they received."

Caesar suppressed the urge to smile as those words reached his ears...

A full one hundred newly produced fourth-generation Note fleets had arrived under his command, and he had deployed them with exceptional efficiency. At the same time, the empire saw a rapid increase in its so-called human tanks- those who had mastered the Fifth Cultivation Path, the Path of the Body. The convergence of these two developments within such a narrow timeframe rendered the advance of the Centennial Cradle Empire virtually unstoppable. They reclaimed the twenty planets previously taken from them with surprising ease and immediately resumed their invasion of the star field containing Originus Planet, striking with the crushing momentum of a warhammer. The sheer might of the fourth-generation Note fleets sent tremors throughout the entire star field. Space dominance became absolute, and aerial supremacy shifted decisively-overwhelmingly-into the hands of the Centennial Cradle Empire.

And although users of the Fifth Cultivation Path were still largely useless in direct, head-on combat-possessing nothing beyond sheer physical toughness and abnormal endurance, with no refined techniques or decisive killing power - their mere existence had a profound strategic impact. Their presence alone revived the regressive replacement strategy, breathing life back into it and transforming it into a mechanism that was once again in motion, now bordering on impossible to fully suppress or dismantle.

This blatant show of strength and confidence led to the rapid seizure of twenty additional planets from scattered and loosely allied empires. It also forced more than one empire to surrender outright and accept the status of a subordinate wing, while several additional human families chose to join willingly, sensing the inevitable direction of the tide.

Everyone knew that the Cradle Empire had already dispatched fifty fleets along with a massive army to support Lord Hedrick... so where was all this extra force coming from? What was the true source of funding that seemed to refuse exhaustion, no matter how much was spent? And just what were those so-called human tanks doing, relentlessly pushing forward at the very front

lines?

There were countless questions-and for many of them, the answer quietly converged into a single conclusion: if you cannot defeat them, then the only rational choice left is to join them.

...Caesar restrained the smile threatening to surface and fixed his gaze firmly

on Renara.

"Now that we have even more followers-more Nexus States-do you truly believe this gives us the right to attack the Twilight Spectrum Empire?" His eyes narrowed slightly as his tone sharpened. "You were a planetary empress for hundreds of thousands of years, and a wing leader and spearhead of war for centuries. Can't you think diplomatically, even if only for a moment?" "Not on this matter-especially not this one!" Renara snapped, her irritation breaking through her composure.

"If you gather every Nexus State under your command, we can strike Mikary Planet, the capital of the Twilight Spectrum, wipe them out completely, kill them all, and reduce everything they've built to nothing!"

"They possess two Nexus States now after we took out one. And if we include

your sister, that makes three," Caesar replied evenly. "Defeating them is well within reach, but..." He leaned forward slightly, his expression turning colder.

"How many Nexus States do you think it would take to ensure thatnone of them escape through the atmosphere? Twenty to encircle the planet and guard every space portal? Maybe thirty to be sure?"

"You can gather that many" Renara muttered, her voice tight.

"Yes-but I won't." Caesar waved his hand dismissively.

"Do you expect me to strip every active battlefield of Nexus States just for your

sake? And that's assuming they truly commit everything they have to stopping those three from escaping. In reality, one of them will almost certainly slip

away in the end."

He stared directly into Renara's face.

"And when that happens, what exactly am I supposed to do?" His voice rose as

he slammed his hand down onto the desk.

"Allow all our secrets to be exposed before the proper time ever arrives?"

"...That won't happen. It won't come to that. Just gather the team and leave everything else to me." Renara clenched her teeth so hard they nearly ground

together.

"I've..." Her eyes began to gloss over, a thin layer of tears forming.

"I've waited far too long for this."

"...."

Caesar lingered on Renara's beautiful face for several long seconds, studying

the pain she was trying to suppress, before finally letting out a slow, weary

sigh.

One of the reasons she had joined them from the very beginning was revenge-

and even now, it continued to be delayed. Even now, reports kept emerging from the Twilight Spectrum Empire about their prosperity, their peace, and their stability... and every such report tore at her from the inside, slowly but

relentlessly.

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