Chapter 11: Just the Beginning 6300
Star Cluster World, one full year after the Great Flanking Campaign, one month after the 'Abyss of Tomorrow' summoning ritual in the Central Courtyard.
The world was being changed, colored.
Within the territory of the Guardian Alliance, which had endured thousands of years of intense warfare with scarcely a peaceful place except for the deepest rear areas, a brand new transcendent power had emerged.
This transcendent power was different from other transcendent forces like 'Magic,' 'Elements,' and 'Holy Light,' which had been introduced with the arrival of a certain Sage and were largely unrelated to Psionic Energy. It could be described as a derivative of Psionic Energy, a peculiar mutation and transformation.
And just as Psionic Energy could be divided into schools like the 'Contemplation Faction' and the 'Extreme Emotion Faction,' this power also had its own internal divisions: they were the Red of Courage, the Gold of Wisdom, the Cyan of Perseverance, and the Blue-Purple of Determination.
Unlike transcendent forces such as Arcane Power, which required learning how to use and cultivate from scratch, this peculiar power, officially named 'Emotion Force,' could perfectly apply various Psionic techniques. It could even fully inherit the user's Psionic Energy and go a step further.
The only real difference was that Emotion Force had extremely high demands on the user's mental state, and even on the mental state of other living beings in the surrounding environment.
For example, on the front lines where the Guardian Alliance fought the Chaos Minions, the Red Light of Courage awakened the most people. Unless they were exceptionally talented and determined, other Emotion Light awakeners would have their light overshadowed by the Red. In the rear areas of the Alliance, awakeners of the Light of Courage weren't absent, but they were at an overwhelming disadvantage compared to the other three lights.
This situation also occurred across different races. For instance, some naturally warlike and indifferent races, even without frequent combat, tended to lean towards Red. Meanwhile, species focused on thought, even those with degenerated physical forms, receiving the favor of the Gold Light of Wisdom was not surprising.
Although, due the infectious nature and powerful vitality of the Chaos Minions, unless it was a true deep rear area, every galaxy within the Alliance would have a varying number of Chaos incursions, thus fostering the Light of Courage related to combat. However, this couldn't compare to the front lines, which required dozens of fleets attacking simultaneously and rotating suppression just to repel the Chaos Minions, fighting multiple battles a day.
The Alliance map displayed in the big data even formed a distribution resembling a rainbow—Cyan at the very back, Gold and Blue-Purple in the middle, and Red at the very front.
Setting aside this data, Emotion Force itself was an extremely peculiar power.
As soon as it appeared, it caused a massive change throughout the entire Galactic Guardian Alliance. During the 'Revelation' twenty-eight days ago, a total of thirty-one Omega-level Psionic users responded to the power of the various Emotion Forces, directly breaking through their current realm to become new Immortal Psionic users. This nearly doubled the high-end combat power within the entire Alliance. Furthermore, due to the existence of Emotion Force, they might be even stronger than previous Immortal Psionic users in pure combat.
The most representative among them was the wearer of the 'Ring of Courage,' Kedar Monan, a fleet commander of the Tanja people.
He had performed excellently in the recent Great Flanking Campaign, but his homeworld fell due to a counterattack by the Chaos Minions. This fleet commander was forced to destroy his own civilization's homeworld.
Everyone thought he might succumb to grief and self-blame, but the emergence of Emotion Force pulled him from the abyss. Now, having understood true courage and become an Immortal, Commander Kedar became the leader of the Emotion Force branch organization 'Blazing Courage Heaven.' He vowed to fight on the front lines forever until there was no more Chaos in the 'Tomorrow.'
Similarly, organizations for the other Emotion Forces were established in turn: 'Elevated Wisdom Heaven' for the Ring of Wisdom, 'Grand Perseverance Heaven' for the Ring of Perseverance, and 'Ultimate Resolve Heaven' for the Ring of Determination. Each branch organization had at least one 'Ring Bearer' perfectly aligned with its philosophy.
Of course, due to time constraints, the system of Emotion Force hadn't yet spread to every corner of the Star Cluster World. Nor had everyone received the Revelation to awaken this new power. According to the ratio, roughly one in a million emotionally rich individuals could awaken Emotion Force. While this number would gradually increase over time, it proved that this transcendent power had high requirements for individual aptitude, or 'mental conditions.'
However, even among the excellent individuals who could awaken Emotion Force immediately, not everyone could perfectly align with it. If the number of intelligent lifeforms awakening Emotion Force was one hundred billion, then the number of 'Ring Bearers' might not exceed ten. It wasn't just about responding to courage, but also to hatred, anger, and madness; it wasn't just about being full of curiosity, but also greed, passion, and indulgence. As the saying goes, one must have positive emotions and negative emotions. Having both, and being able to control both, makes a complete person. Only such an existence could become a 'Ring Bearer,' obtaining a physical artifact replica, a projection of the Four Emotion Rings.
Beyond these systemic peculiarities, Emotion Force could also achieve things on the battlefield and in daily life that pure Psionic Energy could not.
As a mixture of Psionic Energy and Life Energy, Emotion Force was far superior to pure Psionic Energy in affecting material existence. Emotion Force users could materialize their power, forming a visible energy field and temporarily using it as a physical object.
At lower levels, Psionic users might rack their brains to use Mind Thrust to attack others' minds for a psychological blow. Emotion Force users, however, could directly conjure a large iron spike and use mental power for a literal physical blow to the heart.
Of course, this isn't to say Psionic Energy is inferior to Emotion Force. For example, at high levels, Psionic users could use various telekinetic abilities to easily clear an entire battlefield, invisibly crushing thousands of Chaos Minions. The Emotion Force approach would be to materialize a Titan-class heavy armored crusher, physically grinding the entire battlefield to dust.
It's hard to compare which is stronger or weaker, but Psionic Energy tends to be a more versatile ability, capable of many things and proficient in many. However, unless one is a true genius or expert, it's difficult to reach the extreme. The requirement for Emotion Force, from the very beginning, is 'extreme' emotion. It was created for the purpose of killing, so in terms of combat, the energy utilization efficiency of the two naturally cannot be compared.
Rumor has it, according to a certain God of Steel from the Void, that if Emotion Force reaches the Immortal realm, or even the Infinite Light realm, materializing terrifying war machines like 'Armageddon-class Star Destroyers' or even 'Stellar Extinguishers' is not impossible. On the front lines, the 'Great Counteroffensive' against the Dark Star River, carried out by numerous powerful new Emotion Force users crushing Chaos Minion fleets, fully proved the superiority of Emotion Force in combat.
The 'Spectrum Fleet' materialized by thousands of Omega-level Emotion Force users could fight across half a battlefield, ignoring casualties, just like a game player controlling a character. This experimental fleet defeated enemies one hundred and seventy times its own number before being completely annihilated by the endless waves of Chaos Minions, achieving results beyond anyone's expectations.
Furthermore, even if a ship was destroyed, the user would simply enter a state of desireless Sagehood for a week or two, unable to muster any emotion. It didn't even cause soul damage like Psionic Energy.
Under the watch of the Titans and the Psionic Collective, without the intervention of the two super experts, the Galactic Guardian Alliance, which had been on the defensive, turned the tables and launched a large-scale cleansing and counteroffensive against the Chaos Minions. The entire Star Cluster World shed its decline and dark prospects, becoming filled with hope.
"Almost there. If there are no major changes, then there's no need for us to intervene."
In the Void, Joshua said this, scanning the galaxy and nodding slightly. "If there are no Evil Gods, or top-tier Chaos Minions close to the Evil God level, then our intervention wouldn't have much meaning."
After all, even with Joshua's power, cleansing a Dark Star River completely eroded by Chaos would take thousands of years. Killing a few more months or fewer months made little difference and could even be a waste of energy. Rather than killing minions here, he preferred to go outside the Star Cluster World to see if he could find the main bodies of the Evil Gods and kill the true source of the calamity.
[Invitation: The preliminary work is finished, Lord Radcliffe. The Triple Veil invites you to the Core Hub for in-depth discussion.]
"Ah, of course, no problem."
Hearing the request from the Immortal Lighthouse, Joshua naturally wouldn't refuse. In fact, this was a request he had made earlier. He had just been busy recently following the spread of Emotion Force, making small-scale corrections to the Four God Rings with the Immortal Lighthouse and its two other companions. "Alright, let's go now."
And while Joshua was spreading Emotion Force in the Star Cluster World and was invited to the Core Hub for further discussion with the Triple Veil...
Mycroft World, Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground, Multiverse Star River Star Gate Void Base.
Around the main plane of the Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground, numerous Void ships were constructing a massive steel ring base encircling the plane. This base would be the future site of the Mycroft Civilization's central shipyard and the hub of the plane fortress. Besides the Dwarves, who were the main engineers, a large number of Fairies had joined the construction crew as shipboard architects. These small beings, proficient in Elemental Force and deeply knowledgeable about planar mysteries, could monitor changes in the main plane of the Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground, ensuring construction safety.
And now, at the completed end, where the Cross-Dimensional Star Gate was located, a loud prompt sounded in the monitoring area.
"Intelligence shows a large-scale anomalous energy reaction in the Bloody Star River!"
In the non-real-time monitoring area, a staff member responsible for information exchange with the dimensional Star River monitors froze for a moment after reading a report. But her body's instinct made her subconsciously press the alert button to notify the higher-ups. "Twenty-eight days ago, an anomalous energy fluctuation appeared in the Bloody Star River, within the border territory of the Amos Royal Court. A short time later, the same fluctuation appeared in the central region of the Takur Annihilation Order. The nature of this energy is similar to Psionic Energy, mixed with high-purity Life Energy. Its spread speed is extremely fast, and its energy level is very high. It has currently covered one-eighth of the world zones in the Bloody Star River, spanning both the Takur Annihilation Order and the Amos Royal Court!"
"Intelligence shows that the two major powers have taken no action against this anomalous energy reaction. Intelligence personnel speculate that they have indeed encountered a large-scale anomaly, more severe than we imagined, leaving them with no time to attend to anything else!"
The information was relayed layer by layer, quickly spreading to the relevant high-level officials of the Mycroft Civilization. However, most people were not particularly interested in this intelligence. Although the two calamity civilizations of the Bloody Star River were indeed very powerful and terrifying, they were extremely far from the Mycroft Civilization's actual sphere of control, and they lacked the capacity for further intervention. Currently, all of the Mycroft Civilization's strength was focused on a few major tasks: infrastructure, training, expanding the production system, and having children. Disasters in other civilizations were simply outside their scope of attention.
As for the anomalous energy reaction... at its current spread rate, it would probably take tens of thousands of years for it to reach the nearest Mycroft world colony from the Bloody Star River. And that was the most optimistic estimate.
The vastness of the Multiverse Star River was no joke.
However, contrary to what these high-level officials thought...
The Mycroft Civilization could not stand idly by.
"—Emergency Alert—"
Accompanied by a sharp, piercing hum, red warning light quickly filled the entire monitoring area. Even though all intelligence personnel had undergone specific mental training to withstand fainting in the presence of a certain Lord, they still subconsciously felt tense and alert upon hearing the alarm.
Soon, the alert content played rapidly: "Anomalous energy fluctuation detected in the Mycroft World... Tracing source, the starting point of the anomalous energy fluctuation is the Northern Continent, the Helgamos Empire, Northern Province, Moldavia Territory!"
"Repeat, the starting point of the anomalous energy fluctuation is 'Northern Province Moldavia Lord's Manor City'!"
The warning was issued very promptly.
But by the time the sound appeared, the invisible energy fluctuation had already spread, covering the entire Mycroft World and the surrounding star regions. Ordinary people were completely unaware of it. Only those at the Gold-rank could feel a slight palpitation, those at the Ultimate-rank could sense a clear anomaly, and those at the Legendary-rank could directly determine the source of the anomaly.
Multiverse Star River Star Gate Base, Seven Gods Church Holy Mountain Warship. The Pope of the Seven Gods, Israel, was currently immersed in the mental world, playing 'Continent of Strife' on his pocket watch-styled Psychic Terminal.
For an expert who had already traveled far on the path of the Legendary High-rank, the benefits obtainable from the game 'Continent of Strife' were nearly zero. The only thing of value was probably the various civilizational problems and choices encountered by the other dimensional civilizations. Using history as a mirror, a civilization's leader could better discover and check for problems within their own civilization.
However, Israel played 'Continent of Strife' not just for this simple reason... He was thinking, considering whether to set this game as part of the internal rank assessment for the Mycroft Civilization.
In other words, using it as a 'standard.'
For ordinary people, the game 'Continent of Strife' might just be an interesting simulation game with educational elements, spreading some small knowledge, and offering decent rewards if played well. But in reality, the game's connotation went far beyond that. It wasn't a simple game; it was an excellent educational template.
"Understanding the relationship and interests between civilization and the individual, understanding the conflict and origin of contradictions, the coincidence and inevitability of history, understanding that transcendent power and wisdom are not necessary for life, but are very important for our civilization..."
Opening his eyes, the old Pope, having cleared the game again, squinted slightly, looking at the star river map hanging before him. He said in a low voice, "The most important thing is to understand the current environment, this world, and how beautiful and precious it is compared to the many civilizations of the Multiverse."
In Israel's eyes, 'Continent of Strife' was the highest form of edutainment, a revolution in education, a sublimation of thought patterns. Even the most ordinary person, who only thought about their wife, children, and a warm bed, with no great ambition, would, while playing this game for 'benefits' or 'entertainment,' be involuntarily, or rather, guided to think, to become a leader of a civilization.
Perhaps once wasn't enough, but as long as one played enough times, even a fool could gradually awaken their sense of ownership and stimulate their motivation.
"Although it seems he doesn't really understand 'emotion' very well, in fact, he has always grasped 'emotion' very accurately."
Yes, how could he not understand? A general who could lead charges, a warrior who could fight without fear against enemies descending like the sea or the sky—how could he not understand 'emotion'? It was the sword oil applied to the blade of strife, the best maintenance and whetstone.
And at that very moment, an inexplicable energy fluctuation swept through. The old Pope had sensed it the moment it appeared in Moldavia, but knowing Joshua's plan, he just chuckled softly and let the fluctuation pass over him.
"Hmm... 'Elevated Wisdom Heaven'? The Ring of Wisdom? And 'Ultimate Resolve Heaven,' the Ring of Determination... The naming is still so simple and direct. Which one should I choose..."
Sitting in his seat, closing his eyes, and then opening them again, Israel looked at the golden rune ring that had appeared in the palm of his hand, raised an eyebrow, and chuckled. "But the design style isn't bad. Joshua has improved."
"Pretty."
The anomalous energy fluctuation continued to spread. Even the Star Gate did not become an obstacle but rather a port for converging it.
Some time later.
Starting Point Star River, edge of the Silent Void, within an Aether world shrouded in darkness.
Seven divine lights were flying within the dark world. In the vacuum, a massive, funnel-shaped silver machine was rumbling, converting the immense matter transmitted by endless divine power into Steel Force, then reshaping it into various parts, structures, and continental plates, placing them on a ring-shaped phantom orbiting a star.
This funnel-shaped machine was the size of a gas giant, but it was a solid entity. Its sheer mass was enough to ignite fusion flames within it. The Seven Gods cooperated with this machine, allowing it to run endlessly, converting and materializing matter, shaping structures vaster than stars.
A flickering magical projection hovered above the machine. She was a Winged Human, with black wings and blue hair. Number 3 coordinated with the Seven Gods, maneuvering the stellar machine.
It could be seen that around this giant machine, named the 'Star Shaper,' was a section of a Ring World framework that was one-seventh complete. Of course, this was just the foundation. After the framework was built, it would need to be filled with life support systems, self-power generation, self-repair, and even self-manufacturing living metal production modules. But regardless, everything was on track. According to this pace, the successful formation of the Ring World was just a matter of time.
The energy fluctuation surged in. It should have been blocked by the black body barrier, but because it was homologous with its creator and had been pre-set with a password, the fluctuation entered unimpeded, spreading throughout the entire Aether world.
Number 3 blinked. She sensed this inexplicable fluctuation resonating with her, but due to the divine power left by the mark of the Sky God's inheritance, the power originating from another God was blocked. However, Number 3 quickly remembered the source of the fluctuation. Knowing that the Artificial Intelligence Girl's plan was proceeding successfully, she revealed a faint smile, then continued controlling the machine's operation, manufacturing massive metal frameworks in the vacuum.
"Is that so? Lord Radcliffe is very fast."
"Impressive."
"He's always been like this. I'm almost getting used to it."
"Stop chattering. We have work to do... Mortals have their own lives, and we have our tasks."
"That may be so..."
"But still, it's a bit emotional."
Most of the Seven Gods were focused on building the Ring World. This task concerned the future survival of the Mycroft Civilization and many other civilizations, allowing not a single moment of distraction. So even though they admired and were moved by Joshua's actions, they didn't say much and continued their work.
Only one, the Dwarf God, the God of Protection and Progress, Yize, temporarily stopped his work.
This God, the oldest, who had recalled the most memories and had spent the longest time with the Sage in the past, looked towards the direction from which the fluctuation came, a look of nostalgia on his face.
"You bastard, can you see this..."
He murmured in a low voice, his materialized divine gaze flickering. Yize couldn't help but clench his fists, his expression a mix of crying and laughing. "Just like when you created the prototype of Holy Light back then... you arrogant, self-righteous, feigning benevolence and mercy bastard... Can you see this?! There is more than one genius in this world! Someone else can also reach this step, faster than you, much faster than you back then!!"
"Your successor has finally reached this step, stepping onto the same transcendent path as you!"
"...Can you see it..."
The Star Cluster World saw it. The Bloody Star River saw it.
The Amos Royal Court, the Takur Annihilation Order, the Mycroft Civilization, the Seven Gods, the various Legendary experts, and even other civilizations, other void civilizations around Mycroft's colonies—they all saw it.
The myriad things of the Multiverse Star River witnessed this.
Witnessed this moment of creating history.
And the origin of it all, Joshua van Radcliffe, did not care about the massive waves he had stirred up. Accompanying the Immortal Lighthouse to the Core Processor, he paid no attention to these matters.
Because all of this was merely the first step in his plan.
"This is just the beginning."
What he wanted to do, what he intended to do, was far more than anyone could imagine.