After the battle, we were supposed to 'lead' the conquered worlds to the Empire. However, Sandora made a bolder decision. She wanted to build a new defense line on the spot. She wanted to turn the four conquered worlds and a few contiguous universes that the four worlds could control into a new frontier. This would permanently change the map of the New Empire and the Abyss.
"The planetary fortresses that we brought can be stationed on the spot. Let them build colonies and guard fortresses in these few worlds." Sandora explained her plan. "We will anchor these universes and let them stay in their current positions. From now on, the Abyss will be directly connected to the New Empire. There will be no more void barriers between the Abyss and the New Empire."
Other than Shallow Shallow, who expressed that she didn't understand anything and wasn't surprised, everyone else was dumbfounded. Icetis was even more straightforward. "Hey, Sandora, you have to think this through. This way, the Empire and the Abyss will have more than a dozen 'frontlines'. The Empire and the Abyss will only need one jump to reach each other. From now on, no matter who fights who, you can just carry a brick and fight."
"I know. And I didn't make this decision because I was hot-headed." Sandora nodded calmly. "After a long period of accumulation, the New Empire has the ability to maintain many such frontlines. The Fallen Apostle doesn't have the extra energy to cause trouble. So, this is the best time to build a border. The New Empire will indeed be connected to the Abyss in the future. But there are benefits too. We can monitor the Fallen Apostle's movements more easily. We can also know if the Abyss Schilling is doing what she promised. "
"It seems that you don't trust me." The Abyss Schilling's voice suddenly came. I looked towards the source of the voice and saw the figure of the Abyss appearing on a MDT not far away. Icetis was stunned. "Oh, you didn't leave?"
"I am a network consciousness. As long as I am connected to the Internet, I am everywhere. So, it doesn't matter whether I leave or not. I just haven't opened my interface yet. Before you close the Sovereign Hub of this universe, I will always be —"
"Bang!"
Brendel threw a Bible at the MDT and smashed it into pieces. "Well, now you're gone."
Abyssal Schilling's image appeared on another MDT. "Don't overreact. We are at least half a partner now, aren't we? At least for the time being, I don't have any intention of finding trouble with you. "
Icetis took out a second Bible (I really don't know how many of these meteor hammers she has modified), "If you keep talking nonsense, I will tear this place down. Do you believe me? We are discussing confidential matters! "
Abyssal Schilling looked at Icetis seriously. "If it was really a secret, would you discuss it openly in my base?"
Seeing that Icetis really wanted to smash the place, I quickly reached out to stop her, "Hey, don't smash, don't smash, this place is already the property of the Empire, okay? You are smashing my stuff!"
Icetis had an indifferent look on her face. "It's fine. Anyway, I've already smashed a tower outside … I don't have to pay for it, right?"
I was speechless. "…"
It seemed that Abyssal Schilling also felt that it was meaningless. She left us with one last sentence and left. "Anyway, just don't disturb me anymore. I don't care what you want to do. Also, I look forward to meeting you again. "
"What does she mean?" Icetis looked at me, puzzled. "Why does she always like to say such nonsense?"
I ignored her, thinking about how Sandora's plan would affect the situation once it was implemented. Pushing the border of the Empire directly to the Abyss and permanently solidifying it would undoubtedly change the situation between the Fallen Apostles and the New Empire forever.
We can imagine the Empire District and the Abyss District as two 'nets'. The nodes of the nets are worlds, and the lines that connect the nets are direct passageways with 'one's number of jumps. Before today, the two nets were completely isolated from each other. Between them was an endless void, and both sides had to traverse the void by way of fleets, be it scouting or attacking.
There were two main ways to travel from one world to another. The first was to directly jump. The second was to open a Field of Order and travel to other universes using the conventional method of 'sailing'. Before today, the only method of transportation between the Empire and the Abyss was the second. Even the Gemini Star, which was sandwiched between the Abyss and the Empire, couldn't be directly reached through a void jump.
In the previous border battles, we would 'drag' the universe that we seized from the Fallen Apostle's hands into the Empire's territory, completely rewriting the world barrier to remove it from the Abyss region's' net ', merging it into the empire's territory. This was equivalent to seizing the nodes of the other net, but it never changed the current situation of the two nets being isolated from each other.
But Sandora wouldn't do that this time. She wanted to preserve the original coordinates of the border worlds that the Imperial Army had just occupied. She would directly build Empire fortresses and World Gates there. In other words, she would establish our own sovereign hub.
From then on, the two isolated 'nets' would connect. The closest point between the Empire and the Abyss would no longer require a long voyage. Instead, it would only require a single jump with a deviation of one hundred percent. If the deviation of the void engine was less than one hundred percent, then the spaceship wouldn't need to enter the void. Instead, it could directly jump from one universe to another. This was the so-called 'number of jumps'.
This was a complete change in the situation. The far-reaching implications were self-evident. But it was still unclear how long the impact would be. As for the current impact, it was just as Sandora and Icetis had said. The good news was that we could more easily keep track of the movements in the Abyss and attack the enemy. The bad news was the same. From now on, the Fallen Apostles and the Imperial Army would be in a situation where they would be able to attack whoever it was … Icetis's analogy was really too unsophisticated.
Before this, we had never thought of directly connecting the Abyss and the Empire because the Empire's strength was weak at that time. The void was our safety barrier. But now, Sandora seemed to feel that the reality was ripe. She decided to change this situation.
"Do you really think this is okay?" I looked at Sandora worriedly. "The Fallen Apostles are very aggressive. Under normal circumstances, they would be the ones to initiate the attack."
"I have already considered it for a long time. Don't worry, there won't be a problem." Sandora smiled. "They are indeed very aggressive, but they also know when to attack and when to retreat. And as long as the world barrier is locked down, it won't be that easy for the enemy to attack."
"That's fine." I shrugged. "You're the expert at this time anyway."
The group left the empty command center. When I saw the empty and lifeless city outside again, my mood was a little different. When I first arrived, this was still the territory of the Fallen Apostles. In the blink of an eye, this place was given to the Empire by Abyss Schilling as a "greeting gift." Who would dare to imagine the amount of information in this? We all held an attitude of distrust towards Abyss Schilling. So, we would naturally think of her every action as a conspiracy. But what could she be scheming by giving this universe to the Empire?
I wasn't the only one who had such doubts. The others were also pondering this matter. Sandora looked at the undamaged city buildings and muttered to herself, "She said that she used this universe to conduct an experiment. She wanted to see how she could safely communicate with the Void Creatures … Ah Jun, it seems like she is quite afraid of you."
I had a strange expression and didn't know how to answer. "To be honest, I am a little afraid of her … You can ask me to fight with my life on the line. But to deal with this kind of person who speaks 70% truth and 30% lies, and has a belly full of evil tricks, it is really terrible. Speaking of which, she wouldn't have buried a doomsday bomb in this universe, would she? When we move the base in, she will blow this place up … "
"What's the point of that?" Sandora rolled her eyes. "Not only will she lose a world, she will also lose so many bases here. What is she after?"
"Disgusting." I looked at the scenery of the city from afar. "Mental patients have a wide range of thoughts. Mentally retarded children have a lot of fun. Abyss Schilling's heart is like an advanced mathematics textbook. You can see it but you can't understand it …"
As I spoke, I saw a cloud of thick smoke rising into the sky from afar. It was the psionic obelisk that Icetis had just destroyed with a brick. I lowered my head and pondered for a long time. Thinking that everything here was actually the property of the Empire, I finally couldn't help but pat Icetis's shoulder. "This obelisk will be deducted from your pocket money next month."
Icetis was stunned. Then, she jumped up in rage. "Since when do I need your pocket money!?"
"Nonsense! Go and rummage through your personal dimensional pocket. Did you buy all those messy things with your own money!? "
Icetis thought for a while and came to a realization. "Oh, I have been scrounging for food for too long. I forgot. I thought I was at my own home …"
I was speechless.
"Don't think too much. This is actually a good thing." Icetis patted my shoulder casually. "With my looks and figure, I can become the richest person in the world just by swiping my credit card. It's just a tower. I have broken many things in my daily life. Don't take it to heart."
This was the first time I heard that someone could be so comforting!
This vigorous attack was considered to have ended. Regardless of the results of the battle or the actual situation of the Abyss, there was no need to continue advancing. However, our military operations were far from over. After the end of the advance, there were still many things to do. The first was to eliminate the remaining enemies in this "new border".
There were already four worlds under the direct control of the Imperial Army. These four worlds were used as nodes to interfere with other universes. This would create a blockage effect on all the secondary nodes. After the blockage, the worlds would be at the mercy of others. Rescue forces would not be able to enter, internal personnel would not be able to evacuate, and even the parameters of the worlds would be controlled by others. It would only take a small number of troops to conquer it. This was why we built the so-called "Fortress Worlds". These Fortress Worlds were actually equivalent to fireproofing nodes on the borders. They themselves were jumping nodes, and at the same time, they could prevent the nearby nodes from blocking other universes. Once they fell into enemy hands, the entire line of defense would basically collapse.
With the help of the 'road map', the Imperial Army controlled a few of the most valuable nodes. The next step was to use these nodes as a foundation to purge the surrounding universes that had already been sealed. Basically, there were wastelands without too many garrisons, so there was no need for us to personally interfere with them.
"Speaking of which, are we really going back just like that?" In the command hall of the Empire Admiral, Icetis leaned back on her seat, smacking her lips as she spoke. From the look on her face, it seemed that she had not had enough. "Feels like it started strong but ended weak …"
"We've done what we could. Now, we just have to see what Abyssal Schilling is up to." Sandora closed her eyes tiredly. "I keep feeling that she's not quite right. She's different from what I remember."
We had no idea where Liliana had been hiding all this while. Now, she suddenly popped up. The black-bellied pontiff, who had a habit of relying on conspiracy theories, nodded and analyzed. "So, Abyssal Schilling has made a deal with you. She and the old army will restrain the new army in the Abyss, and they will be 'well-behaved' in the short term. At the same time, she will hand over the borderline worlds. The price is that the Imperial Army will retreat and not disturb her 'great cause' … Now that we know that her 'great cause' is building a bridge, it's different from what we expected. Boss, what do you think will happen if she really builds this' bridge '?"
"Nobody knows now, but it's certain that she wants the Abyssal Empire to rise. That itself is the biggest problem." I sighed. "We had no choice but to retreat this time. If there's a way, we definitely can't just watch as Abyssal Schilling continues with her plan. Actually, the outcome is almost the same even if she doesn't come. With the number of enemies in the Abyss, and the possibility of the old army regrouping with the new army, the Imperial Army should have retreated anyway. This time, it's like pushing the boat with the current to gain a favor … I wonder if Abyssal Schilling has the concept of 'favor'. "
As I said that, I closed my eyes in exhaustion like Sandora and curled up in my seat.
I still remembered my previous policy against the Fallen Apostle: no matter what they're up to, we can't let them succeed. But this time, facing Abyssal Schilling, we're basically just watching as she continues to toss her pile of schemes around. This is a compromise. Although there really isn't a better choice, it still makes me feel a little awkward. So, is this "cooperation" good or bad?
Building bridges … What meaning does it have for the Fallen Apostles? Is it worth it for them to continue with it no matter what price they have to pay?
These questions are still unanswered for the time being, but one thing is for sure: we must continue to increase our own strength. In this confrontation that feels like we're walking on a tightrope, we absolutely can't fall into a disadvantageous position.
"Boss, are you in a bad mood?" Liliana saw that I had my eyes closed and was pretending to be asleep, so she climbed up my leg. "Boss, I'm acting cute for you. Don't be so conflicted, okay?"
I opened one of my eyes and saw that Liliana's face was almost touching my nose. I could only helplessly pat her hair and pull her to the side. "I'm thinking about the country's affairs. It's not easy for me to do proper things. Don't interrupt me."
"Sometimes, when you're in charge of the overall situation, you have to take some detours." Liliana clung onto the armrest of my seat. "As long as you maintain an advantage in the overall situation, temporary and partial compromises are acceptable. This time, you allowed Abyssal Schilling to continue developing, but on the other hand, the Empire also received a period of stable development, didn't it? You and her were only discussing how to change the situation of the competition from a military conflict to a conflict of arms. Moreover, we've made progress, and that is, we already know what the Fallen Apostle's' great cause 'is. So, we just have to obtain the absolute right to speak before they build the bridges … "
I looked at the petite girl who looked to be only 1.09-meter tall in surprise. "You've thought it through quite thoroughly."
"I was just spouting nonsense just now. I can't continue spouting nonsense anymore." Liliana jumped onto my body again. "Boss, hug me! Don't you like loli … Hey, Boss, you can't do this! Put away that sinful wicker basket … At least let me face upwards! "
I was in a great mood after taking care of Liliana. I thought to myself that this fake loli who was constantly in trouble had at least one good point: She was indeed quite good at relieving boredom … especially when she was courting death.
Although I knew that she was only using this method to lighten the atmosphere, and I was quite grateful for her efforts, my actions after taking out the wicker basket had already become a conditioned reflex. As expected, I couldn't stop at all!
As the Imperial Army's military operations gradually came to an end, the Protoss's frontline also began to wind down.
Of course, Abyssal Schilling didn't go over to have a "negotiation" with the Protoss's general. Other than the Imperial Army's retreat signal, the Protoss's own considerations based on the current situation had prompted the Protoss to retreat. The Fallen Apostle's counterattack was getting fiercer and fiercer, the Abyss's army was beginning to gather, and the Fallen Apostle's fortress at the border was impregnable. With all these reasons added together, the military commander on the Protoss's side made the decision to stop while they were ahead. Everything was just as Abyssal Schilling had said to us during the "negotiation": Now was not the time for a final battle. Regardless of whether it was the Protoss or the Empire, neither of them had the strength to take down the Abyss in one fell swoop. In the end, continuing to advance would only increase the number of casualties. The retreat of both the Protoss and the Imperial Army was inevitable.
However, this war had still completely changed the situation in the void, and it had also allowed us to achieve glorious results. The Imperial Army had captured a considerable number of the Fallen Apostle's border worlds. Even though the number was small, every one of them was an important node. Now, we had already built a fortress right under their noses. From now on, the new Empire and the Fallen Apostles would officially enter a phase where they could stand on equal footing. As for the Protoss's side, besides occupying a large amount of territory, they had also completely reduced the Fallen Apostles' area of activity. Furthermore, they had built a large number of security points on the side of the Abyss that was "facing" the Divine Realm. With these arrangements, the Protoss's upcoming expedition would no longer have any worries.
The Abyss, on the other hand, had suffered a huge blow. Even though they weren't completely wiped out, at least for a long period of time, the Fallen Apostles would be well-behaved. Furthermore, Abyssal Schilling had promised to cooperate with us … Hopefully, she would really keep her promise.
Perhaps, I could finally have some free time.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
