# Chapter 1988: It Begins
After Igor and the other two left, the President's office fell back into dead silence!
Quinn sat in his chair, staring up at the ceiling, the cigarette between his index and middle fingers burning slowly!
Even as ash fell onto the floor, Quinn paid it no attention!
No one knew what was going through his mind at that moment!
He murmured to himself: "I thought I wouldn't care, but it turns out I still have a soft spot..."
"Even someone like me still can't clearly see what it is I truly want? Hah~"
The smell of burnt tobacco filled the air, the cigarette in his hand had burned down to the filter sponge...
Quinn stood up tall, crushing the cigarette filter directly, as infinite flames burst forth from his body, sweeping through the entire office!
Incinerating every trace of Igor and the others' presence!
At this moment, a blazing inferno seemed to burn within Quinn's eyes!
"I, Quinn, cannot protect everyone in this world. I can only protect the few I care about!"
"Don't blame me for being ruthless! I'm sorry!"
With a deafening "BOOM," golden holy flames erupted, and Quinn's figure completely vanished from the room!
...
Kyoto Star Palace, Blue Star United Conference Room!
All of Blue Star's top brass had gathered, each person's aura wild and suppressed!
But this was not the suppression of despair—it was the holding back of a raging force!
At this moment, Yang Jian was assigning tasks to everyone, formulating war strategies, simulating every possible scenario once the battle began!
Wang Gang stood tall and upright!
"Reporting to the Commander, most ordinary citizens of Blue Star's various nations have completed evacuation and refuge transfer. Once the war breaks out, the likelihood of them being affected is very small!"
Thanks to the experience from the previous global spirit calamity, and the complete deployment of refuge spirit ruins in all cities,
Plus Jiangnan's earlier notification, Blue Star had made extremely thorough preparations this time!
Fearing that once the war erupted, it would uncontrollably cause massive civilian casualties!
(┘⊙～⊙)"Jian Ge? Are you listening? Jian Ge?"
Everyone looked at Yang Jian in confusion. He stood there frozen, looking completely absent-minded!
Yang Jian snapped back to reality, his expression turning serious: "It's nothing. The civilians have mostly been transferred, right?"
Wang Gang nodded: "Yes!"
Piers pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth: "Hey~ Doesn't this seem somewhat meaningless? The Planet Destroyer only needs one move to blow up our Blue Star!"
"No matter where we hide, where can we go? This battle won't be easy to fight!"
Xiao Chuihuo's expression was steady, his face glowing red: "Then we do our utmost to protect Blue Star. That's exactly why we've gathered here!"
"As the saying goes, one should not fight an unprepared battle! Early evacuation, preparedness prevents calamity!"
Piers scratched his head: "Makes sense!"
So he pulled out a lighter and brought it to his face to light up, but just as the lighter ignited,
With a "BOOM," a huge ball of flame burst out from the lighter!
Startled, Piers flinched as his eyebrows and hair caught fire, slapping at his face in panic!
That burst of flame took human form in the air, eventually becoming Quinn's figure!
He landed in an empty seat nearby, his face full of apology:
(⌒ㅂ⌒;)"Sorry, just borrowing your light. Just finished dealing with Spirit Martial Alliance business, came a bit late!"
Piers darkened his face, veins bulging on his forehead:
(●°᷄益°᷅)"You really did just borrow my fire, huh? Wait until I also become Transcendent, damn it!"
Getting his face burned just from lighting a cigarette?
Xiao Chuihuo watched the scene, his eyes sparkling: "Oh? You're pretty good, catching up quite fast!"
Quinn said humbly: "Basking in Senior Xiao's light, I'm still far from it!"
"So, where have we gotten to in the meeting? Did I miss anything important?"
Yang Jian grinned: "Calling it a meeting, there's really not much to prepare!"
"There are only three key points! Once the war breaks out! Blue Star, the Star Core, and the Moon will be the main targets of the Holy Star!"
"I don't need to explain the importance of the Star Core. Once the war starts, the Holy Star will never allow the Blue Moon to continue existing. These are all places we need to focus on protecting!"
As these words were spoken, the discussion in the conference room suddenly intensified!
Quinn's expression turned solemn: "Indeed! My ability is fire-attributed, and the environment at the center of the earth's Star Core is extremely hot and dry, quite suitable for my abilities!"
"How about I lead a team to guard the Star Core? If we send Senior Xiao there, it would be somewhat overkill!"
Yang Jian's heart tightened. So that's it? He was going for the Star Core!
Cooper's information was true. At this point, this most deeply buried nail had finally been found, hadn't it?
Yang Jian nodded: "Good suggestion! I don't need to emphasize the importance of the Star Core. Can we trust you?"
"Are you willing to guard the Star Core with your life?"
Quinn took a deep breath, his gaze firm: "At a time like this, any words are empty! But I, Quinn, can guarantee!"
"As long as I, Quinn, am here! The Star Core is here! I am willing to give my all for this!"
Yang Jian smiled: "Very well! Since you have such determination, I'll send you to lead a team to guard the Star Core!"
But in his heart, he was full of melancholy. The last hope had been extinguished...
Quinn was still insisting on walking the path he had chosen, wasn't he?
"We'll finalize the personnel deployment later. As for the Blue Moon..."
The meeting continued, discussing reasonable personnel deployments to protect several important strategic locations!
At this moment, Zhong Yingxue was somewhat distracted. Xiao Nan said he would return when the war started, arriving a bit later than the Holy Star!
In these turbulent times, nothing was more reassuring than having the people you care about by your side!
But Jiangnan's seat was empty!
Zhong Yingxue felt anxious, wondering how Xiao Nan was doing over at Thousand Stars City!
It wasn't just Zhong Yingxue who was anxious—Jiang Ning was even more worried!
Things definitely weren't going well for Jiangnan over there. It was hard to imagine what kind of storm he would face after revealing his human identity in Thousand Stars City!
Just then, spatial fluctuations emanated within the conference room, as Han Menglu teleported in anxiously, holding Pocket Rabbit!
Everyone's gaze focused on her!
Han Menglu looked nervous!
(งᵒ̌﹏ᵒ̌)ง"The star chart shows! The Star Path has opened!"
Yang Jian stood up abruptly: "All of Blue Star's top human elites! Battle positions ready!"
"I will communicate follow-up arrangements to everyone through the Eye of Heaven. Keep in touch!"
"Brothers and sisters, whether we shine across the starry sky or fall forever into the abyss—this one battle decides it all!"
At this moment, everyone in the conference room stood up. No one spoke, no one shouted!
There was only the wildness suppressed deep within their hearts!
Shouting—that was something to do after victory!
"Everyone! Set out for battle!"
...
On the other side, the Bose Star Domain!
This was the most ancient star domain under the entire starry sky, having existed since the beginning of the universe!
Even the stars existed in a Bose state, emitting a faint blue glow!
Among them, the Holy Star Domain's Martial Kui Star, on the Supervision Platform!
This was a massive platform floating on the star orbit, now filled with Bose entities!
All upper clan, close to ten thousand of them!
They wore different uniforms; from the insignias, one could tell they belonged to two different factions!
Most belonged to the Holy Star, while some belonged to the Lawkeepers!
Above the Supervision Platform, 21 war fortresses were parked!
The main body of each fortress alone exceeded 100 kilometers in diameter, not to mention the combat rings floating outside!
In addition, there was one Tianjing-class armed warp speed starship as supply!
Together with the 21 war fortresses, they formed a starry sky formation!
The scale was massive. On the war fortresses, the flags of the Holy Star fluttered!
Of course, all this equipment had already been signal-shielded!
At the front of the Supervision Platform stood a tall male Bose entity!
He had an ice-thread crew cut, handsome features without any flaws—perfect!
He wore a Source Quality Starlight Armor, carrying an excessively large Holy Judgment Broadsword on his back, almost as tall as himself!
Two liuli horns shone brilliantly on his head!
This person was none other than the Slaughterer, Jing Lie!
He tilted his head:
(￢_￢✡)"Lin Ya! Have you brought the Star-Gathering Sphere over? Why so slow?"
Beside Jing Lie stood a female Bose entity, her figure curvaceous, ice-thread hair tied into a bun at the back of her head!
A few strands of hair hung loose in front, giving a refreshing and capable look. Two short daggers were tucked behind her waist!
Her entire body was wrapped in Source Quality battle armor, even her face covered with a pure white mask showing no expression!
The mask bore the Lawkeepers' ✣ insignia!
Only a pair of blue eyes were visible!
Not just Lin Ya, but all Lawkeepers were dressed like this!
Lin Ya even had a white feather gauze cape hanging behind her!
"Hmph! I really don't understand what you Holy Star people are thinking. It's just a mere Blue Star. Is all this fanfare really necessary? And you're asking my Lawkeeper troops to help?"
"Helping you clean up your mess is one thing, but you're even bringing war treasures like the Star-Gathering Sphere?"
Jing Lie said calmly: "It concerns the interests of our Bose Race. We cannot afford any carelessness. This is also the will of the Star Lord!"
He let out a fierce grin: "Besides, a complete wipeout is more interesting, isn't it?"
"Has the Star-Gathering Sphere been brought over or not?"
Lin Ya rolled her eyes in annoyance: "It's coming!"
In the distant starry sky, nine massive pure white star dragons, armored and tied with thick chains,
were dragging behind them a giant translucent sphere over 300 kilometers in diameter!
Inside, brilliant starlight bloomed. Vaguely, one could see within the sphere what seemed to be a towering giant tree, like crystal...
The massive star dragons swam up to Lin Ya, wagging their tails ingratiatingly!
Lin Ya glanced at Jing Lie and said coldly:
(￢_￢〃)"I suggest you Holy Star people rely less on things made by Silicon-based beings. foreign things can never be trusted!"
Jing Lie sneered: (✡‾᷄৺‾᷅)"Just Silicon-based beings. What storm could they possibly stir up? If something is useful, it's a good thing!"
At that moment, Jing Lie suddenly stiffened, then his eyes lit up!
The Star Path had opened, hadn't it?
On the Supervision Platform, brilliant spiritual light flared up, countless drive sources being absorbed!
Below, a massive Star Gate vortex gradually formed!
Jing Lie let out a fierce laugh: "Let's go, brothers! The game begins!"
"Let's go kill to our hearts' content! Enjoy that feeling of an ant struggling in your hand as you crush it!"
"Let those arrogant humans see clearly! What true despair means!"