The strategy chamber remained silent after Evelyn’s final words.
No one rushed to speak.
The leaders gathered around the circular table simply studied the enormous map before them, each lost in their own thoughts. The floating projection of the Null Realm slowly revolved above the carved Prime Territory, casting shifting shadows across every face in the room.
The atmosphere no longer resembled that of a gathering between allies. It had become what it was always meant to be, a war council.
"When I invited each of you to the Ironheart Settlement," she began, "I explained that our next objective would be the Twelfth Soul Current."
Several leaders gave small nods.
None of them appeared surprised.
After all, every civilization represented in this room possessed records stretching back farther than human history itself. They all knew the legends surrounding the Twelfth Soul Current. They knew that it had once developed consciousness, that it had become a calamity threatening the Null Realm, and that the mysterious Ruler of the Null Realm had ultimately sealed it away inside a hidden dimension.
Some of the older races had even attempted to reach that prison in ages long past, only to return empty-handed after losing countless Saints.
"The destination," Evelyn continued, "has never been the secret."
Her eyes slowly swept across the gathering.
"The strategy has."
She rested both hands upon the edge of the stone table.
"What I am about to present is not an Ironheart strategy. It was not devised by me, nor by Marcus, Samuel or Dean. It did not originate from the Astrals, despite their ability to glimpse fragments of the future."
For the first time since entering the chamber, she looked directly at me.
"This proposal belongs to Billion."
Dozens of eyes immediately shifted toward me. There was no ridicule in those gazes.
Only curiosity.
Every person seated around this table commanded an ancient civilization. They weren’t interested in who conceived the plan. They wanted to know whether it was capable of saving their people.
Evelyn gestured toward the floating projection of the Null Realm.
"The expedition itself remains unchanged. We will locate the hidden dimension housing the Twelfth Soul Current and gather enough strength to break through whatever remains of its prison."
Her hand moved across the projection before coming to rest over the carved Prime Territory below.
"What changes is everything that comes afterward."
She paused just long enough for everyone’s attention to settle completely upon her.
"Billion believes that destroying Verilux before confronting the Twelfth Soul Current is impossible."
No one interrupted.
"If one Eternal falls while Verilux remains, another Eternal will eventually replace him. Even if that takes centuries, we will have accomplished little more than delaying our own extinction. Instead, he proposed reversing the order."
Her fingers traced an invisible line from the floating projection above to the map below.
"Our first objective after reaching the prison will not be destruction. It will be capture."
The single word echoed softly throughout the chamber.
"The ideal outcome is to bring the Twelfth Soul Current under our control."
Several expressions changed almost imperceptibly.
Even Kaelra’s relaxed posture disappeared.
"If circumstances make that impossible," Evelyn continued calmly, "our secondary objective will be to capture and release it into the Prime Territory."
Aster Essari’s brows furrowed slightly. Evelyn noticed but continued before anyone could interrupt.
"The reasoning behind this strategy is straightforward."
She looked around the room.
"The Eternals cannot ignore the Twelfth Soul Current."
Her voice remained calm, carrying neither excitement nor fear.
"If we succeed in capturing it, they will have no choice but to confront it before it can be turned against them."
She allowed those words to settle before continuing.
"If we fail to capture it and are forced to release it instead, the result remains largely the same. A conscious Twelfth Soul Current loose within the Prime Territory threatens every civilization."
Her gaze hardened.
"It threatens ours. And it threatens theirs."
No one questioned that statement.
The legends surrounding the Twelfth Soul Current had survived for millions of years for a reason.
No Eternal empire would willingly allow such a force to roam unchecked.
"Our objective," Evelyn said, "is therefore simple."
She raised a single finger.
"Force the Eternals to divide their attention."
A second finger.
"Either they move their strongest force which is Verilux against the Current..."
A third.
"...or they risk allowing it to spread beyond their control."
She lowered her hand.
"In either outcome, Eternals lose the greatest advantage they had possessed for thousands of years - Verilux."
For centuries the resistance had reacted to Eternal movements. This strategy proposed the exact opposite.
Forcing the Eternals themselves to respond. Evelyn slowly walked around the circular table.
"That brings us to the final phase."
She stopped beside the carved representation of Eternal territory.
"While the majority of Eternal forces remain committed elsewhere, every civilization gathered in this room launches the largest united offensive in recorded history. We destroy Verilux. We eliminate every Eternal commander capable of resisting."
"We reclaim the Prime Territory."
She looked at each leader individually.
"And we ensure that no civilization will ever again have to hide inside the Null Realm."
The strategy chamber became so quiet that I could hear the faint hum of Soul Crystals embedded within the walls.
No one objected or praised the proposal.
Every leader simply stared at the enormous map before them, mentally following the path Evelyn had just described.
Locate the hidden prison.
Capture the Twelfth Soul Current.
Force the Eternals to commit themselves elsewhere.
Launch a decisive war while their attention remained divided.
On paper...It was astonishingly simple.
In reality...It demanded the greatest military campaign the Prime Territory had ever witnessed.
Evelyn took a slow breath before speaking once more.
"I will not insult any of you by pretending this strategy comes without sacrifice."
Her voice softened ever so slightly.
"If we commit to this course, every civilization represented in this chamber will be required to send the very best it has to offer. I mean your strongest Saints. And many of them....will never return."
The weight of those final words settled heavily over the chamber.
No one looked surprised or frightened.
Every leader seated around the table had witnessed enough wars to understand a simple truth. Victories that reshaped history were never purchased cheaply.
It was Kaelra who finally broke the silence.
The Dragon leader leaned forward, resting both forearms against the edge of the stone table as her golden eyes remained fixed upon the map.
"Evelyn, what guarantees that the Eternals will even care?" she asked. "Suppose we succeed in releasing the Twelfth Soul Current. What if they simply abandon the Prime Territory altogether and retreat from the Null Realm instead? Why would they fight something that dangerous?"
There it is. The question I had been expecting since the beginning of this meeting.
Before Evelyn could answer, I spoke.
"They won’t."
My voice wasn’t loud, but it was firm enough to draw every eye in the room toward me.
"And you’re certain of that?" Kaelra asked.
I nodded.
"Because the Eternals no longer have the luxury of abandoning the Prime Territory."
A faint crease appeared on Aelion’s brow, while Sue’s clock hands slowed almost imperceptibly.
"What do you mean?" the Griffon Chief asked.
I looked around the table before answering.
"While all of you have been preparing within the Null Realm, the war has continued in the outside universe."
I paused briefly.
"The resistance has begun pushing the Eternals back."
Several leaders exchanged glances.
"More importantly..." I continued, "...my home galaxy has already been liberated from Eternal control."
The strategy chamber fell completely silent.
Even Gerald didn’t interrupt.
"At this very moment," I said, meeting each leader’s gaze in turn, "the Eternals know I’m somewhere inside the Null Realm. They’ve been searching for me ever since I arrived."
A wave of restrained reactions spread across the chamber.