Chapter 804 The Great Khan (1/2)

Fort Pioneer was located at the edge of the galaxy, a chain of Void fortresses composed of many temporary research centers and large-scale observation facilities.

The colorful research centers and the ring of observation equipment coupled revolved around a rather uninteresting silver planet. The entire facility itself was built jointly by the various factions of the Mycroft Continent by absorbing the information and experience from Fort Glory and the Multiverse Sacrificial Grounds. Although most of it was operating in the Void for the first time, all of it had performed perfectly.

The outer circle of the fortress cluster was a stair-shaped Void observatory used for studying other galaxies, the inside of which was prism-shaped research points where data from the observatory was and otherworld information was analyzed. Both buildings that were completely different in both scale and design fitted together like gears, presenting the entire Void Fortress in an unusual aesthetic.

And within a special white Void facility at the edge of the fortress cluster, a race of eight-legged fungi that were a mix of black and gray were crowding around a single white one, waiting in the hall.

The white one had lifted its enchanted senses and 'looked toward' the sights of Void outside the window, maintaining its silence.

The Great Khan was thinking about its race's past and future.

***

The Starherders were a race of mixed fortunes.

Naturally, those words were not too meaningful for which civilization had not experienced mixed fortunes? Still, civilizations that had existed long enough to reach out for the Void must definitely have gone through much turmoil and calamity—no civilization in the world could progress without war or competition, and since both civil wars and fighting against other race would strengthen oneself, there should be no lack of strife.

Be that as it many, the Starherders remained a race that had lived through excessively mixed fortunes.

Even before they had completely developed Void technology, they were forced to evacuate their homeworld.

The Great Khan remembered that day until now.

As unimaginable dimensional presence tore the World Barrier apart, the constantly dull skies in the homeworld of the Starherders was suddenly illuminated by fiery light. It was a phenomenon caused by the simultaneous firing of energy projectiles from thousands of Void warships—the stream brighter than the sun drew streaks of blinding blue trials over the planet's yellow-gray sky, and in a split second, infinite energy beams and missiles rained down on the ground like meteors, easily destroying every Starherder defensive system.

And what followed right behind what was cannon fire from other civilizations was an invasion of Chaos. Countless Eaters were staying right behind the flames raining down from the skies, descending upon the world to devour and destroy everything.

The Starherder civilization, unwittingly drawn into a battle between a certain advanced civilization against the World Eaters fell instantly, the shockwaves and stray missiles reducing an entire civilization's future into nothingness.

At the time, being one of the greatest beings of their own race, the Great Khan had incidentally been in an exchange with a docile Void Behemoth. The Starherders hoped that it could spare some of its flesh, and in exchange, their civilization would provide the high-energy minerals it favored—a win-win for both as they obtain what they needed.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click visiting.

Being a race that mastered the aspect of soul, the Starherders could soothe the Void Behemoth's unfathomable temperament. Having already made many deals with beings from the Void, this particular occasion was mundane—but unlike before, the Great Khan realized in despair that its own civilization might perish in their homeworld. However, it also had a sudden inspiration, remembering sharply that the Void Behemoth's body had a cavity that was massive enough for normal lifeforms.

However, before they could think or plan, the continent was sinking and the mountains burning. As the shockwaves from the battle between the advanced civilization and the World Eaters destroyed the world, the Great Khan made the only choice it could.

It devoured the soul of the Void Behemoth, did it best to shelter citizens in its body and fled their home in a panic.

Thousands of years passed.

The Starherders that had lived in paranoia like refugees in the body of Void Behemoths became their namesake.

They herded the Behemoths, forging worlds over their backs, using planets and continents as pastures, earth crust, and magma being their grazing grasses. They pastured upon the galaxies, recuperating and reproducing over millennia to strengthen themselves immeasurably, the dozens of Void Behemoths and monarchs granting them power beyond the fleet that had destroyed their home planet. They could even perpetrate the tragedy that had befallen them—their race did not mind threatening other civilizations with planetary destruction so that they would offer the knowledge and resources they require.

The champion which had shouldered an entire civilization by itself and truly grasped the soul of all Void Behemoths was even less worth mentioning. Before the pioneer who had distributed and planted its own soul in every Void Behemoth's body and suppressing the bulk of their soul from resurrecting, every eight-legged fungi would earnestly bend their stems and cry out its name, the 'Great Khan'. Its power approached the pinnacle even in the entire galaxy, its name spreading to the very edge of the galaxy.

Recalling its labors in the past few millennia and dragging its civilization to rise from dire straits, even leading them to prosperity, the fungal cap of the white eight-legged fungus flashed slightly, revealing its stirred heart.

In the end, that light dimmed as it sighed heavily at the depths of its own soul.

But what use has that been? Ultimately, the Starherders were simply losing… And it was not on a single occasion. They had fled their Farms endless times, evading the terrible beings that wandered the Void.

There seemed to be no sacred grounds even within the galaxy that was so vast it appeared boundless. No matter how deep they did or how far they fled, the darkness would follow them like shadows, pursuing them.

***

”The thin veil of peace has been broken. Our home galaxy is naught but scorched, countless civilizations abandoning the balance and Order they hung on so bitterly for, thus trampling and slaughtering each other… I would not have the Starherders, a civilization that barely survived until now to be destroyed like weeds in meaningless battle. Therefore, I seek any little clue I could for the Lost Galaxy from the ancient texts, pursuing a single sacred ground in the dark Multiverse.”

Even these sacred grounds were ruins left from a much more terrible battle in the distant past.

Sighing deeply once more, the fungal cap over the Great Khan's head presented the red-black color of a 'bitter smile'.

Who could have imagined that the Lost Galaxy that was calm, ordinary and desolated was much more dangerous than worlds beyond!

How long has it been since they had crossed the zone of matter vacuum when they actually encounter an ancient World Eater's awakening! And yet, it was the Forerunner champions that proved more horrifying—two of them were already enough to subjugate one World Eater!

It was an utterly terrible thing even if the World Eater had been weak, having just awakened from its seal and had no minions with it. After all, even advanced civilization that rules the Void would have to be prudent if they intend to stop one World Eater's intrusion, even preparing an escape route like the Starherders did. Those calamities that wandered the Void could easily destroy every life in a world, with no firepower and magic capable of such utter destruction no matter how powerful.

In fact, the reason the Starherders had run away from their original galaxy was because the World Eaters were increasing. There were almost none in the first place—only the civilization with cases of terrible fortunes would encounter them. Nevertheless, their numbers grew by the day starting centuries ago, their very presence destroying certain weaker civilizations and laying waste to the already fragile balance in the galaxy, the latter which had wrought chaotic flames of war.

The civilizations of Order fought each other just as they repelled the invasion of Chaos, while weaker civilizations were callously destroyed as if leaves in a typhoon, while stronger civilizations like the Starherders could only flee in panic.

Now, it appears that they had fled into the maw of an ancient. slumbering beast.

At the very thought, the Great Khan turned towards the hall of the Void fortress.

After that powerful and ruthless Forerunner champion had slain the awakened World Eater, the entire Starherder civilization had been arrested by other Forerunner champions to the vicinity of the dark planetary region from leaving.