Chapter 586 Late Reward (2/2)

”It doesn't have to be that way.”

”It must be so, my lord.” Milhabus shook his head in return to Joshua's repetitive response. ”These aren't efforts to get in your good graces, but to prove that our enemy—those creatures of the Void had once appeared, destroyed and rampaged… but were also defeated. The value of those monuments isn't in flaunting victories, but to tell our citizens and generations to come, that we once defeated despair, monsters that came from the Void.”

And it would hence be unnecessary to fear the darkness and the unknown.

Milhabus left that last part unsaid, but both warrior and Tarquin were aware of his meaning.

After a short silence, Joshua nodded—an acknowledgment. ”Listening to you, does that mean your people are still prepared to stand against the Chaos, or what you call those Void creatures?” He asked in curiosity, before putting more weight behind his words, ”however, if you don't simply carry out the Void Door ritual, they would never come to this world again.”

”Unless it was some helpless situation, we would never carry out the Void Door ritual.”

Milhabus shook his head, slipping a glance at Tarquin beside him, who then spoke with a rather unusual tone. ”On another note—you might not believe it, my lord, but most of the leaders in the fleet and the government received a sign.”

Though the old Midgardian appeared fatigued, there was an extraordinary inspiration in his presence as he spoke with a deep voice. His eyes were turned to the gray and obscure sky from which snow was falling heavily, but appear tangible if one would just reach out with their hands. ”In that dream, there was a profound and warm being who presented us an omen for us Midgardians, or perhaps across the stars… It said that evil was already invading, and that there are enemies from the Void spying upon our stars from every corner of the galaxy. We must act first to defeat them, destroying them before they could grow—or we would never have a day of peace!”

Steel Python 'Star'.

Joshua quickly understood that the immune system of Stellaris was activating, which was why the World Will manifested, announcing the auguries of war to all its children. Through an indistinct foretelling, the warrior could see images of the future: Innumerable warships from different civilizations and races assembling on the edge of the galaxy, forming a river of steel in Stellaris and advanced against the seemingly endless swarm of darkness. The battle between the stars would rage across countless galaxies and lightyears, extinguishing millions of suns even as trillions of beings were fated to be reduced to ashes, dust indiscernible in the universe.

The sight was so profound and magnificent that it never ended over millennia. With the darkness of the universe as its stage, there would come limitless tales and stories—although Joshua did not know who was the final victor, he was willing to trust in the power of life.

It was exactly so that Joshua granted his counsel.

”Milhabus… I am aware that the Midgardians has a glorious civilization that stood for thousands of years. However, what you face are evils that existed before time, evils born even before your ancestors awakened their intelligence.”

”Your technology isn't weak—in fact, it far outshines my civilization's—but the peak of your military ability lacks much… It is caused by the special aspects of civilization, but whatever the case may be, you must never stand against them out of a moment of inspiration. At least allow your wounds to recover first.”

”Your counsel will be the principle by which we act.”

Lowering their heads in reverence, both Milhabus and Tarquin looked up, before the Grand Counsel spoke rather hesitantly.

”By the way, my lord… may we know when you plan to leave?” He asked, before pausing for a moment and lowering his head. ”It's not that we don't welcome your stay in Midgard, but your companion Nostradamus mentioned a few times that there are still work to do for both you and him on the other side of the Void. We would never dare interfere with your mission, which is why we wish to know your time of departure—we have a return ritual at the ready.”

Joshua's reply left the two looking up and staring at his back in astonishment.

”At once.”

Joshua looked up as well, never once turning towards the two most authoritative figures in Midgardian society. He watched as thick clouds swirled in the tempest as if his gaze could pierce the gloom and into some corner within the world. ”There's no need for some return ritual,” the warrior said calmly. ”In fact, I should have left seven days ago. I'm just here, waiting for a late reply and reward.”

”But now, it's here.”

Before Milhabus or Tarquin could understand what Joshua was talking about, a vague silver light flickered beneath the holy mountain in the very next instant. Light, who was helping Ling carve an ice sculpture, abruptly began to flash with obscure starry splendor throughout its body. It was as if time had stopped for all that its light touches—be it human or object. Snowflakes froze in the air, frost stopped their spread and soon, both Light and Joshua vanished from the real world.

Inside the world and beneath the Vault of Stars, the warrior looked up at the Steel Python 'Star' that wrapped itself around the galaxy.

”You're late,” Joshua said rather helplessly, shaking his head.