Chapter 320: There Is A Hidden Library
"Tell me, Billion," the Emperor said, his voice low but steady, "what do you think will happen if we go to war with the Holts?"
I let the silence stretch for a few seconds. Only the soft clinking of his teacup touching the saucer broke the quiet.
"If we plan it right," I finally said, "we can hurt them. Badly. I’m not talking about just a symbolic win—I mean real damage. Remove key pieces. Break their reach.
And if we do it right... we won’t have to suffer too much in return. They’ve been a threat growing inside the Empire for too long. Cut them out before they rot the rest of the body."
The Emperor nodded slowly.
"They have nineteen Grandmasters," he said. "The Empire has forty-two. But we can’t use all of ours like they can.
Ours are scattered, needed to keep back the Abominations, the Phantoms, and to monitor both Peanu and Sukra.
Holts can move their entire force at once. If we go to war... the cost won’t just be in soldiers. Civilians will die. Cities may burn. Are you ready for that?"
I leaned back, eyes narrowing as I thought about it. Then I looked up at the brightening sky.
"Then it becomes more important than ever that we get the strategy right before we make a move. I won’t sugarcoat it, people are going to die either way.
But if the Holts move first, we’ll lose even more, and not on our terms. So yes... I believe we should be the ones to strike first. Be ready to take losses, yes. But also ready to end it quickly."
He gave a thoughtful hum at that, not entirely disagreeing.
"But what about the Ferans?" the Emperor continued. "They’re stronger than us. More worlds. More resources. Better weapons. If we crush the Holts, what do you think they’ll do?"
That question made me recall what grandmother told me a few hours ago.
"It depends," I said quietly, "on how they treat weaker worlds. If they’re the type to control through fear, they’ll either come down on us directly, or worse... give support to our enemies and bleed us out from the shadows."
The Emperor raised a brow. "And if they aren’t?"
"Then maybe they’ll just watch. Wait to see what side is worth investing in. It depends on their goal here. Are they here to dominate, or are they just keeping watch for something else? Either way... I think it’s better to focus on what we can do. Not what they might do."
The Emperor went still. His fingers drummed lightly on the side of his teacup.
"You know," he said after a pause, "I can see it in you. You’ll break into Grandmaster soon. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you go even beyond that. Transcend past anything we’ve seen before."
I frowned slightly, caught off guard. "What are you saying your Majesty?"
He looked me in the eyes, calm and clear. "I’m saying I want to bet on you, Billion. You’re not just a soldier anymore. I want you to become the face of this world’s future."
My breath caught. "You want to what?"
"Yes," he said. "I’ll thrust you into the spotlight. Let the world see who you are. Let them see what you’re capable of. A symbol. Someone the people can believe in. A banner they can rally behind. I want to use you—not only as a weapon, but as hope."
"...How exactly?"
He smiled faintly, sipping his tea. "You’ll hear more once we’ve dealt with the Holts. But after that, I intend to make a move. An initial strike against the Ferans. Nothing physical, don’t worry. Just a political play. A test to see how invested they really are in this region."
I blinked. "A strike?"
He chuckled. "Again, not swords and flames. Just a quiet push. A diplomatic jab in the ribs to see if they flinch. But everything I plan... all of it fails if you’re not strong enough. I need a Grandmaster the world can’t ignore. The youngest ever. And the first Transcendent rank to rise from our people."
I stared at him, thoughts swirling in my head.
He wasn’t really asking me to do anything different from what I was already planning. Getting stronger, that had always been the goal. Whether he used me as a symbol or not didn’t change that.
I leaned forward slightly and asked, "Your Majesty... have you ever been to the Prime Galaxy?"
A faint smile touched his lips. "Yes, I have. What do you want to know?"
I didn’t hesitate. "What’s it like?"
He let out a low hum, as if searching for the right word, then answered, "Chaos."
I raised an eyebrow.
"It’s chaos there," he said again, this time slower. "The peace we’re used to in our world? It doesn’t exist there. There are wars every day. Betrayals. Power struggles. Egos clashing. Eternals, Phantoms, Abominations....all of them walk there."
He paused, then continued, "And the young ones there... they’re much stronger than here. Essence is abundant there. More potent. It fuels everything. And no one wants to die, so they fight harder. Every single day, they push themselves to survive. To rise."
As he spoke, I felt something stir in me.
A slow grin formed on my lips. I couldn’t help it.
That kind of place? Wild, dangerous, full of chaos?
It felt like the kind of battlefield I was meant to walk on.
He noticed my smile, but didn’t stop. "But remember, humans don’t matter much there. We’re not an important race. Not even in the top hundred, I’d say."
That made me frown. "Will that affect me if I go there?"
He gave a small shrug. "Maybe. They might mock you for where you’re from. Some might even try to target you just because you’re human. But in the end..." He looked me straight in the eyes. "Your strength is what will speak for you. That, and the choices you make."
I nodded slowly, letting his words settle in.
I’d expected something like that.
And it didn’t scare me.
Not at all.
Instead... it excited me even more.
The chaos, the danger, the constant struggle to rise, I wanted it.
Then the Emperor spoke again.
"All right. It was good hearing your thoughts. We begin action on the Holts tomorrow. You’re required at the meeting in the royal hall in the morning."
I nodded and stood. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
He didn’t say anything at first. Then he called out, "Dante."
I felt a faint ripple in the air. A subtle fluctuation. The old man appeared, but still hidden, cloaked in that layered space.
The Emperor continued, "Take the young man to the Hidden Library. Let him choose whatever skill he wants."
"Yes, Emperor," Dante replied.
A moment later, he waved his hand and the world spun again.
In the blink of an eye, I stood in a wide, cozy hall.
Tall shelves lined with ancient books surrounded me. Soft lights glowed above. Screens hovered in the air, displaying moving scripts and diagrams. The air was warm and quiet, thick with Essence and time.
Dante’s whisper came from somewhere beside me, low and amused. "How much time do you need?"
I took a slow breath.
"...Twelve hours," I said.
There was no reply.
He was gone.
I stood there alone in the library, my eyes scanning the knowledge around me.
It was time to prepare.